Thinking of this, Shi Nian became even more certain of her deduction.
The details of Jack’s appearance grew clearer in her mind little by little —
His hairstyle, almost like that of a girl’s, halfway to long.
The shy expression he often wore on his face.
He was always the first to get up every morning, avoiding everyone’s gaze as he quietly slipped out for a run, rain or shine.
In the darkness, Shi Nian smiled quietly: "That’s right, S and Marina bullied you too. Even though you’re a guy, even though the two of them seem to never bully boys— but with you, it’s different. Because they never saw you as a boy to begin with."
Shi Nian thought about how, even though S was sexually assaulted before she died, no trace of a man was found, and even Tang Yanqing said, "It might not have been a man"...
She took a deep breath: "Jack, are you— ED?"
"Enough! Stop talking!" Jack growled low, pulling the headband taut with both hands.
It was a bright red headband, red like blood. It once adorned S’s head, complementing her golden-brown long hair splendidly. When she walked on the school’s lush green lawns or rowed on the artificial lake, she was undoubtedly the queen, and her beauty was like a flame that ignited his heart.
But last night, he used this headband to strangle her to death with his own hands.
Strangle her to death!
Every time he thought of these four words, two emotions would entwine in his heart: a painful yearning, and a quietly rising pride.
That high and mighty woman, he finally killed her with his own hands, his own hands!
The satisfaction, the thrill, kept him unable to settle down for the entire day. He wanted to do it again, doing it slower this time, mastering the strength more precisely, enjoying it longer, avoiding ending everything as quickly as it happened with S.
Jack was silent for a long time, and Shi Nian could see his tense arms continually pulling on the rope in his hand — through the darkness, she could only roughly distinguish its silhouette, knowing only that it was something rope-like, not knowing it was a headband.
Shi Nian still had many questions to solve, but at the moment, she had to endure it.
Otherwise, it would only escalate Jack’s criminal pleasure, or provoke his anger, neither of which would be good for her.
Time was running out, Shi Nian quietly fixed her gaze on the computer chair to her right. Seizing the moment when Jack’s guard was down, she calculated the distance, then suddenly dashed forward, grabbing the computer chair and smashing it against the wall!
With a muffled "bang," Jack, like a provoked beast, let out an injured wail, and charged forward, strangling Shi Nian’s neck tightly with that headband!
Breath suddenly stopped, and Shi Nian felt her consciousness rapidly retreating.
Although Jack was a guy who seemed feminine, his strength was entirely masculine. Shi Nian could only tightly grasp the headband with her hands, trying her best to slow down the headband’s intrusion into her throat.
But vast swathes of darkness still fell over her head and face, and she knew she couldn’t withstand it.
Mr. Tang, you said you would protect me for 24 hours. So where are you now?
At this moment, the room’s lights suddenly turned on bright!
Several people suddenly appeared, as if they emerged from nowhere.
Tang Yanqing, Jia Tianzi, and Marina. Read full story at novel[f]ire.net
Jia Tianzi drew out a gun: "Jack, let her go, or I will shoot!"
Before Jia Tianzi finished speaking, Tang Yanqing moved like a ghost and flickered to Jack’s rear, delivering a fierce karate chop to the back of Jack’s neck.
Jack didn’t have time to react, his neck snapped backward. Tang Yanqing followed up by grabbing his throat, dragging him straight back. Jack’s hands had to relax, releasing Shi Nian.
Tang Yanqing pinned Jack to the ground, kneeling down with one leg on the floor, hand gripping his throat, staring at him fiercely for a moment. Only then did he slowly exhale and look up at Jia Tianzi: "He’s all yours."
Jia Tianzi rushed forward, gun in hand, to pin down Jack. Tang Yanqing couldn’t be bothered to look back anymore, only turned and took Shi Nian into his embrace, softly coaxing her: "It’s over. Nian Nian, don’t be afraid, it’s over."
Only then did Shi Nian let out a choking sob, slowly extending her hands and hesitantly hugged his neck.
This time Shi Nian only had a brief nap in the hospital.
She didn’t faint, just took a nap.
She was exhausted this day, always with her heart in suspense, but now she could finally relax, so the sleepiness naturally consumed her.
She dreamed the same dream again.
In the dream, it was still pitch black, without a single glimmer of light.