Song Qi Nian waited until Song Jia Shu disappeared through the school gates before finally pulling out her phone to reply, Where are you?


The message from Gao Dashang had arrived earlier that morning, along with a video that made her blood run cold. The footage showed Liu Xiaohan sprawled on the floor, her face so swollen it was barely recognizable, angry red handprints marking her skin. Her clothes were in tatters, leaving her exposed and humiliated.


"Niannian, save Mom!" Liu Xiaohan sobbed into the camera, her voice breaking. "I know I was wrong. They're going to cut off my hand! How can I take care of you and your brother without my hand? Please..."


The camera shifted to reveal Gao Dashang lounging in a gray bathrobe that gaped open at the chest, showing off an expensive Hetian jade pendant. He took a long drag from his cigar, two women draped over him like accessories, while Liu Xiaohan's desperate pleas echoed in the background.


"Song Qi Nian," he said, his voice dripping with contempt, "your mother hasn't paid back a single cent she owes me, and the deadline's long past. What do you think I should do about that?"


Liu Xiaohan's voice grew more frantic. "Niannian, I'm your mother! Don't let me die here. Please..."


"I know your brother's taking his college entrance exams today," Gao Dashang continued, satisfaction evident in his tone. "I'm not completely heartless. You have one hour. Get your brother to his exam, then come see me. Otherwise..." He paused meaningfully. "Well, I hope you're prepared to deal with a crippled mother."


Song Qi Nian's hands shook with rage and fear as she watched, but she forced herself to stay composed for Jia Shu's sake. She'd sworn she was done with Liu Xiaohan's endless troubles, but despite everything, this was still their mother. No matter how many times she told herself she wouldn't care anymore, she couldn't stand by while Liu Xiaohan was in danger.


Besides, Gao Dashang's knowledge of Jia Shu's exam schedule was a clear threat. There was no telling what this psychopath might do to her brother if she refused to show up.


She couldn't let anything interfere with Jia Shu's exams. Not today.


Decision made, Song Qi Nian flagged down a taxi and gave the driver the address Gao Dashang had sent.


"Niannian..."


Guan Ming Xu had been up until 2 a.m. helping his father with business matters. Despite his exhaustion, he'd skipped breakfast and rushed out to find Song Qi Nian.


He reached the school just in time to see her getting into a taxi, her face tight with worry.  "Niannian!" he called out, but his voice was lost in the morning noise. As the taxi pulled away, unease settled over him. Something wasn't right.


He was about to follow in his car when movement near the school gate caught his eye. Lin Lanxing stood there, handing an envelope to a student and giving what looked like instructions. He dismissed it as her probably having a relative taking the exams, and turned his attention back to following Song Qi Nian's taxi.


Inside the school, Song Jia Shu stood in the corridor, quietly memorizing the periodic table while waiting for the science comprehensive exam rooms to open for the next day's test.


"Song Jia Shu..."


He looked up to find another student approaching.


"Yes?"


"Someone asked me to give this to you." The boy held out an envelope.


Song Jia Shu stared at it. "Who was it?"


"Don't know. Just a really pretty young lady."


His first thought was of his sister, but that made no sense. If Qi Nian had wanted to give him something, she would have done it at home that morning. Besides, she knew better than anyone that students weren't allowed to bring anything but scratch paper into the exam room.


"If it wasn't my sister, who was it?"


The classroom doors opened ten minutes before the exam, and students began filing in.


"Jia Shu, I'm heading in!" The boy turned to leave.


"Wait—did she say anything when she gave you this?"


"Yeah, she said you'd regret not looking at it. See you inside!"


Song Jia Shu stared at the envelope, his stomach tightening with dread.


"Student, time to enter the classroom," an invigilator called out, walking toward him. "You can't bring that inside."


"Right." He placed the envelope on a desk in the hallway and found his assigned seat, but his thoughts kept drifting to what might be inside. The feeling of unease grew with each passing second.


"Students, today's science comprehensive test—"


Before the teacher could finish, Song Jia Shu bolted from his seat toward the door.


"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"


His hands shook as he tore open the envelope. Inside were photos that made his blood freeze—Liu Xiaohan, beaten and broken, just like in the video his sister had seen.

At the bottom was a message:


"Your mom was taken over her debts. Your sister's gone to save her. What are you, her son, going to do about it?"


Song Jia Shu's fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white, his entire body trembling.


"Student! The exam is starting! Return to your seat immediately!"


The teacher's voice seemed to come from far away, like he was underwater, everything around him becoming distant and unreal.


The pieces clicked into place—his sister's tense behavior this morning, the worry she'd tried to hide. She must have seen these photos too but stayed quiet so he could focus on his exam.


He looked around at his stunned classmates, at the teacher striding toward him, and felt his chest tighten with despair.


The college entrance exam could shape his entire future. His sister had given up so much to make sure he could take it without distractions. But now his mother and sister were in danger.

What was he supposed to do?


His hands clenched into fists as tears burned in his eyes. Before the teacher could reach him, he made his choice. Snatching up the envelope, he ran for the stairs.


Nothing mattered more than his family.


Across town, Song Qi Nian followed Gao Dashang's directions to the foot spa's back entrance. 

Two thugs led her down a hallway to a private room. Even through the door, she could hear her mother begging.


"Please don't cut off my hands! My daughter's coming. Boss Gao, just wait a little longer, please..."


Song Qi Nian's face went white. She shoved the door open and burst inside.


Liu Xiaohan was pinned to a table by two men, her hands spread flat against the surface. Gao Dashang lounged on a nearby sofa, one foot propped on the table, idly toying with a military knife.


Everyone turned to stare at Song Qi Nian. Liu Xiaohan's face transformed from terror to desperate relief.


"Niannian! My precious daughter! You came!"


Song Qi Nian started forward, sweat running down her back, but the thugs blocked her path.


"Boss Gao, look!" Liu Xiaohan called out frantically. "My daughter's here! She has money! She'll pay you back!"