“Sit tight.” says Ouyang Lin as his foot slams on the accelerator.  

As a result of they’re travelling in a excessive velocity, the automobile swings to 1 facet as they’re turning the nook. Bo Jinyan places his arm round Jian Yao’s waist so she might be extra regular.  They handle to catch as much as the black Porsche.  They’re simply behind  him.

“Oh no!” says one of many officer that has joined them of their automobile: “It’s the Sai Kung evening markets forward.”

They’ve left the freeway.  They’re now driving on a highway with extra site visitors.  There’s additionally pedestrians strolling alongside both facet of the highway. Quickly they lose monitor of the black Porsche.  

Clearly, he has his escape route deliberate.  

“I’ve requested for highway blocks to be set on the fifteen exits that the highway would possibly result in.” Anam says as he rapidly sorts on his laptop computer.  

“That’s of no use.” says Bo Jinyan: “He’ll abandon his automobile and stroll.  Have your individuals guard the entrances to the evening market.”

Ouyang Lin nods.  They’re so near catching him.  They’ll’t let him sneak into the evening market.  It will likely be very laborious to search out him amongst the large crowd.”

They’re now in an space full of individuals and vehicles. Ouyang Lin has to cut back the velocity of the automobile.  He takes out his telephone and calls the opposite officers: ”Get a workforce over right here and guard the west finish of the market entrance…”

“Boss!” says the officer on the opposite facet: “We have now an emergency scenario right here.  There’s a bomb.”

Everybody appears to be like forward to the tip of the road.  A wave of individuals are immediately speeding down in the direction of them.  All of a sudden, the place is in chaos.  There are individuals in every single place. 

It’s too late.  He has brought about chaos.  

“What’s taking place?” Ouyang Lin asks the officer over the telephone: “Have you ever notified the bomb squad but?”

The officer replies: “Sure, now we have.  They need to arrive in 5 minutes.  There’s a person strapped with a bomb in his physique.  He’s mendacity in the course of the highway.  We’re evacuating the individuals and residents within the space.”

Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao are holding one another’s hand tightly.  Bo Jinyan is scanning by way of the gang.  Jian Yao is aware of he’s looking for No.1.  

“I simply obtained the information that the household has been rescued from the villa.” says Anam: “They’ve accidents on their our bodies, however none of them are deadly.” 

Jian Yao is relieved.  

Then she pauses.  If the entire household is rescued, then who’s the ‘human’ bomb mendacity on the bottom?

She begins strolling in the direction of the location,  Her palms are sweating.  By now, the gang has dispersed.  Her eyes are blocked by the police vehicles and officers that encompass the road.  

——————

A person is mendacity on the bottom, immobile.

There are wounds on his physique.  He’s solely sporting a unclean singlet, and a pair of torn trousers.  His hair appears to be like prefer it hasn’t been lower for a month.  It’s protecting half his face.

“Is that him?” Bo Jinyan asks.

Jian Yao appears like there’s a lump in her throat.  She solutions: “It’s too far-off.  I can’t inform.  However from the form of the physique…. sure.”

It’s him.  One thing in her coronary heart tells her. 

An officer subsequent to them passes her a pair of binoculars.  She places it to her face and appears.

His wounds look worse in shut up view.  A well-recognized and good-looking face that has clearly misplaced numerous weight…

Jian Yao places her hand over her mouth.  Her imaginative and prescient blurs as tears fill her eyes.

“He’s nonetheless respiratory.”  says Bo Jinyan.  He holds her hand tightly.

The bomb squad is right here.  Two specialists sporting protecting gear walks in the direction of Li Xunran.  When they’re shut sufficient, they study the bomb, then they depart him and get again behind the protection line.  

Jian Yao’s coronary heart begins to sink.

One of many knowledgeable takes off his helmet.  He shakes his head and says to Ouyang Lin: “We will’t dismantle it in time.  The arrange is sophisticated, we are going to want no less than an hour.  However there’s solely 5 minutes left on the timer.  Except the one who assembled it stops it by distant management, we will’t save him.”

—————————

Time passes slowly.  Though it’s solely a minute, it’s like they’ve gone by way of a couple of incarnation and dwell a number of lives already.  

Nice unhappiness overwhelms Jian Yao.  She stands there Li Xunran.  Her face is pale as a sheet of paper.  

“Sorry, we will’t save him.”  He quietly tells Bo Jinyan. Ouyang Lin has been knowledgeable of Li Xunran’s identification.

“Anam, get ‘his’ telephone quantity from the household that’s simply been rescued.”  Bo Jinyan says.

Jian Yao and the others flip to him.  They watch as Bo Jinyan reaches to his jacket pocket and takes out his telephone. 

He needs to talk with ‘him’?

Jian Yao appears to be like up at him.  Is ‘he’ going to reply the decision?  

Even at this essential second, Bo Jinyan appears to be like calm and totally in management.

The telephone rings – Do…Do… Do… He manages to get by way of.  Anam rapidly connects his telephone to his laptop computer.   He’s attempting to hint the placement of the telephone. He provides Jian Yao a pair of headphones so she will be able to take heed to the dialog. Ouyong Lin appears to be like at his watch.  He indicators to Bo Jinyan –  We have now 4 minutes earlier than the bomb will explode. 

Everyone seems to be holding their breath.  

After about 5 rings, there’s a click on sound.  Then a background noise of site visitors and other people speaking on the street.

“Hello.” says Bo Jinyan

The opposite finish is silent for a second earlier than he additionally says Hello. 

“Have you ever managed to flee but?”

Like he’s speaking to an outdated good friend.  

The person on the opposite finish of the telephone laughs: “Oh…. nearly.”

Everyone seems to be tensed up.  Ouyang Lin appears to be like at his watch: 3 minutes and 30 seconds.  He appears to be like at Anam.  Anam is his laptop display.  However he doesn’t look very pleased.  Clearly, he’s encountering issue with tracing the placement of the decision.

“Let’s commerce.  I’ve one thing for you in alternate for Li Xunran’s life.”  He says slowly, like he’s chatting to a good friend.  

Everyone seems to be amazed.  What does he should commerce?  

On the opposite finish of the telephone, ‘he’ is curious as properly: “Oh… inform me…”

————————

The world surrounding Li Xunran is empty and quiet.  The officers standing at a distance is ready for the ultimate final result.  Is a miracle going to occur? 

A whole lot of metres away, there’s a large crowd standing within the streets.  A few of them are rapidly leaving the world.  A few of them are standing round to search out out what’s occurring.  A variety of them are on telephone, updating their mates of the occasions taking place.  A tall man sporting a trench coat can be holding his telephone.  He walks in the direction of a quiet lane within the facet road. 

Some policeman is holding a sketch of ‘him’ primarily based on the descriptions of the rescued household.  They’re scanning by way of the gang to see if they’ll find him by any likelihood.

“He” walks into one other facet road so that he’s away from the officers with the sketches.  Then he says to Bo Jinyan: “Simply wait a second.  I’ve to take one other name.”  ‘He’ appears to be like round and makes positive he’s alone.  Then he tears off two faux thick eyebrows, a faux beard and a silicon patch on high of his nostril.  All of a sudden he appears to be like like a unique man.  

He shoved these brows and so forth into his pocket.  He then picks up the telephone once more.  He leisurely walks previous the cops, and talks to Bo Jinyan on the identical time: “My apologies.  You could proceed now.” 

As he walks previous the officers, they took a have a look at him, seemed on the sketch once more, and let him cross.  

————————

Ouyang Lin indicators Bo Jinyan once more.  2 minutes and 50 seconds left. 

Bo Jinyan sweeps him a glance.  He says faintly: “Tomorrow, each newspaper will reveal {that a} budding author named Mei Yuanjun is a psychopathic killer.”

‘He’ smiles: “That’s nice.”

Bo Jinyan continues: “Human beings are curious.  You’ll grow to be their favorite subject of dialog.  Everybody will learn your e-book. You didn’t acquire the favour of the judges from the Galaxy writers competitors.  But it surely doesn’t matter anymore.  The general public could make up their very own thoughts about you.  They are going to discover that you’re a gifted and proficient author.  That’s at all times been a part of your purpose.  You’ve succeeded.  Congratulations.”

Everyone seems to be confused.  What does this should do with bargaining with ‘him’?

However ‘he’ continues to talk leisurely to Bo Jinyan: “Are you attempting to suck as much as me?”

Bo Jinyan smiles: “No.  I’m threatening you.”

Everyone seems to be surprised.  Then they hear Bo Jinyan continues: “Our recreation is honest.  I gained’t intervene with the eye you’re going to get from the media.  But when Li Xunran blows up earlier than me, then I’ve to alter the foundations of the sport.

I’m positive the media is focused on listening to your hidden and secret tales from a world famend felony psychologist.”

For the primary time, ‘he’ is quiet. They’ll solely hear his respiratory from the opposite finish of the telephone. Gradual, calm and deep. 

There’s not a lot time left.  Bo Jinyan continues: “For instance, the way you have been deserted by your mom once you have been younger.  However once you turned an grownup, you bodily abused and killed her to vent your anger.  And naturally, I can not omit the truth that throughout your teenage years, you had an incest relationship together with your aunt over an extended time period.  

I don’t thoughts telling them that you’ve had intercourse with each women and men of various age group and ethnicity, in addition to with animals.  That is maybe greater than what they’ll bear.

However they are going to be most dissatisfied to search out out that you just dropped out from college,  A budding proficient author who didn’t even end his research…. If this stuff are made recognized, what do you suppose the general public’s reactions might be?

Oh, I do know.  Human beings are curious. However there’s a line of morality you can’t go previous.  After getting previous that line, you might be not a legend.  You’re a disgusting piece of rubbish.  Folks will solely consider all of the terrible and soiled acts of yours at any time when they see the title Mei Yuanjun.  Nobody will keep in mind you to your writing skills.  Is that the legacy you might be after?”

Ouyang Lin indicators Bo Jinyan once more.  60 seconds left.

‘He’ speaks once more, with an icy smile: “What a pathetic menace.”

Bo Jinyan cuts him off: “Oh yeah, you wanna guess?”

Bo Jinyan begins to stroll in the direction of Li Xunran.  Jian Yao rushes out after him. He turns round and says to her: “Don’t fear.  Return.” Then he turns to Ouyang Lin and says: “Take her again.”

Ouyang Lin is surprised too.  He pulls her again and palms her to a different officer.  Then he steps ahead and says to Bo Jinyan: “Don’t go over, the bomb will get you too.”  

Bo Jinyan indicators him to return.  Ouyang Lin pauses for some time.  Then he stands again. He calls the bomb squad workforce.  Considered one of them rushes ahead to place a protecting high and helmet on Bo Jinyan.  He doesn’t even have a look at him.  He simply asks him to depart.  Then he stands subsequent to Li Xunran.

Jian Yao is held again by a couple of officers.  Her coronary heart is pounding laborious.  She is respiratory very closely.  Tears begin to run down her cheeks.  

Jinyan…

She is aware of what he’s doing. She is aware of he’ll win.  However she will be able to’t bear the sight of him risking himself in such harmful circumstances. 

She hears by way of the headphones.  “He’ is talking once more: “Do you need to die with that police?”

Jian Yao takes the binoculars.  She will see Bo Jinyan bending down and putting his cell phone on high of the timer of the bomb.  “Click on… Click on… Click on…” They’ll all hear it.  ‘He’ can hear it. 

Bo Jinyan provides a small snigger and says to ‘him’: “I’m proper subsequent to the bomb.  I gained’t die.  I do know it.  You aren’t going to blow the bomb up.  As a result of I perceive you. ‘Mei Yuanjun’ is a vital identification for you, you treasure it such as you treasure your life.  Additionally, I believe I perceive you greater than you suppose… Oh… You may have 10 seconds to think about.  Good bye,”

“Click on…” Bo Jinyan cling up on ‘him’! 

The officers there are dumbfounded.  They’ll’t imagine what’s occurred.  Jian Yao is shaking.  She has a smile on her face, however her tears are nonetheless streaming down. 

Solely Bo Jinyan stays calm.  He stands in addition to Li Xunan, them.  

Ouyang Lin’s face is pale.  He’s counting:  “8 , 7, 6, 5, ….”

Jian Yao holds her breath.  She fixes her eyes on Bo Jinyan.

“3, 2, 1!”

———————-

Quietness.  

Bo Jinyan curls his lips to kind a smile.

All of a sudden there’s applauses from the officers.  

The bomb didn’t go off.  

Everybody appears to be like excited. The bomb squad hurries to Li Xunran once more.  Jian Yao runs in the direction of Bo Jinyan and throws herself into his arms.  Bo Jinyan holds her tightly.  She is again to his heat and acquainted embrace.  She hears his sturdy and regular heartbeat.  Her coronary heart appears to soften into one along with his.  

——————-

One hour later.  

Bo Jinyan is holding palms with Jian Yao.  They’re standing subsequent to the ambulance.  Li Xunran remains to be unconscious.  He’s placed on a stretcher.  

“He’s very weak, however his very important indicators look good.  We might want to do additional examinations after we get to the hospital to make certain.”  says the medic.

Jian Yao nods and watches the ambulance drives off.  

The encompassing roads are nonetheless blocked off.  The police are nonetheless busy screening individuals. Though he managed to flee tonight, no less than they’ve rescued the household and Li Xunran.  It’s an enormous breakthrough.  And so they have much more details about him.  It shouldn’t be lengthy until they seize him.

It’s late at evening.  One of many officers drive Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao again to the lodge. 

The 2 of them are sitting on the backseat.  Jian Yao appears to be like at him.  A burst of unspeakable bitterness fills her. Everybody thought Bo Jinyan was utilizing the strain of the media to ‘commerce’ with ‘him’.  And that Bo Jinyan is so courageous to face with Li Xunran. 

However she understands why Bo Jinyan did that.  He used himself to commerce with ‘him’.  ‘He’ wished Bo Jinyan as his companion, so he gained’t blow Bo Jinyan up.  The one approach Bo Jinyan may make certain that he would win is to place his personal life on the playing desk too.  

However why?  Even she is aware of that in her head, her coronary heart nonetheless feels so painful?  

————————

In one other nook of this metropolis.  

A black Cadillac is ready on the roadside.  

After an extended wait, a person in uniform will get out of the gang and will get into this automobile.

“Drive.”  He leans again, loosens his tie. He sounds drained. 

“Sure, sir.” The motive force solutions.  

The automobile leaves the busy city space and drives to a villa within the nation facet. This is likely one of the most prosperous areas of Hong Kong, the place all of the wealthy individuals reside. 

The safety guard opens the door of the automobile and greets the person: “Sir, welcome again.”

He walks in slowly.

———

He’s sitting on an costly and indulgent couch.  He opens a bottle of purple wine and pours himself a glass.  On the TV, it’s exhibiting the information of the serial killer.  They’re exhibiting pictures of officers on the evening market. 

The person stored smiling till the picture of Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao seems on TV. Then his smile disappears.  He throws his glass on the bottom and walks leisurely down the hall.  He opens the thick metallic doorways of the final room.  It’s a secret chamber.  He whistles as he walks in.  

It’s dim place.  A person is chained in his palms and toes.  He’s swatting on the ground.  His good-looking eyes look empty and unfocused. When the prisoner noticed the person come on, he tenses up.  

After some time.

The sting of the knife is pushed into the prisoner’s flesh.  He yells in ache.  However all of the sound is properly contained inside these specifically sound proofed partitions.

The person who’s torturing is happy by his prisoner’s response.  He continues to chop him with the knife. 

“I… thought.. we’re mates…” his prisoner begs him: “Please let me go.  I’ll provide you with something.”

The person immediately freezes his smile.  He lifts his knife and chop off one in all his prisoner’s fingers.

The prisoner screams painfully.  

The person throws the knife apart.  He appears to be like at his prisoner and says slowly: “Don’t be mistaken.  I solely have one good friend.” Then he lifts up his head and mutters to himself: “However he gained’t come to me proper now.” 

Then he smiles: “However quickly.  After I destroy him, he’ll belong to me.”