Qiao Chuchu's eyes lit up, and she quickly took the rope offered to her.
Pei Youchuan, in a daze, opened his eyes but found himself unable to move: "Chuchu..."
Qiao Chuchu was busy tying him to herself when she heard his voice and became elated: "You're awake?! Can you move?!"
His eyes were barely open, and he couldn't even manage a shake of his head. In a foggy state, he mumbled, "I... made a will... If I die... all my assets... will go to you. The bank card password... is your birthday..."
Qiao Chuchu's heart clenched as she secured him to her back: "No way, who cares about your will? I want you alive! Don't say such gloomy things!"
"You... can't carry me," Pei Youchuan mustered a little strength. "Give up on me, live well... Losing me doesn't matter... You still have... other brothers..."
Looking at his face, Qiao Chuchu felt as if she were staring at a photograph of Pei Youchuan.
If she didn't try her best,
the living, breathing person in front of her would turn into a photo, capturing the smile he used to have.
A wave of acidity surged from her nostrils to her skull, blurring her vision with watery mist.
Qiao Chuchu blinked hard to clear her sight and continued to firmly bind him to herself.
She recalled being eleven years old, when she had a high fever. No matter how much medicine or warm water she took, it only got worse. She was getting delirious, dangerously close to death.
Back then, her eldest and second brothers were already studying abroad, and the other brothers had no money. They could only turn to their grandparents, who had taken over their family's fortune.
As an adopted child with no blood ties and not even registered in the Pei household, the Pei matriarch and patriarch naturally didn't care.
She had collapsed weakly into the arms of her seventh brother, watching as her brothers negotiated with their relatives.
Only their third brother, unable to contain himself, suddenly leaped into action.
He was like the character Runeng described by Lu Xun, poised under the moonlight with a fork, ready to stab a wild boar. He jumped over the table and grabbed the old lady's precious grandson, pressing a pencil firmly against the plump boy's eye!
"If you don't give us the money, I'll stab this pencil right into his eye!"
She wasn't sure if it was because her vision was blurred, but she saw Pei Youchuan trembling.
Even so, his hand holding the pencil was as steady as Mount Tai, his voice resounding with conviction—
"Give us the money!!!"
That day, their relatives looked at Pei Youchuan as if he were a madman, tossing two stacks of cash at him in disgust.
Their sixth brother, as slippery as an eel, deftly picked up the money from the floor: "Let's go!"
Their fifth brother carried her away in a hurry,
while Pei Youchuan, still holding the boy hostage, didn't let go until they reached the front door, fearing they might take the money back.
Leaning against her fifth brother, Pei Youchuan quickly caught up to her, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Despite his bravery earlier, he was terrified seeing her in such a sickly state, pleading, "Chuchu, you have to hold on!"
"Don't die!"
"Promise me you won't die!"
The rising water had already reached her knees, and Qiao Chuchu had finished tying herself to Pei Youchuan.
She had learned rescue techniques from firefighters, and this method allowed her to carry someone heavier than herself.
Despite the correct technique, she wobbled precariously, barely able to stand, each step feeling like she was drunk.
Walking on the slanting ship deck was even harder.
But a tremendous force within her made her ignore the unbearable weight and grip the railing to climb upwards.
Pei Youchuan's weight dragged heavily on her.
The icy water rose above her knees, ruthlessly pulling her towards the unknown depths of the sea.
Qiao Chuchu held onto the railing, and after a few steps, she felt utterly exhausted. She glanced at Pei Youchuan leaning on her shoulder.
Once, when all the Pei family members had passed away, she and her brothers stood before the family tomb at the Pei family cemetery, looking at the photos on the graves.
Though the photos showed them smiling,
she felt as if the spirits buried there were giving them the middle finger.
She felt a bit guilty: "Brothers, if there really is karma, will we end up having a miserable death?"
Pei Youchuan, with his hand behind his head, laughed carefreely: "Don't worry."
She looked at him.
Pei Youchuan showed a little toothy grin, looking quite pleased: "Even if someone were to die miserably, it'd be us brothers. Not you, because you're pure."
Qiao Chuchu snapped back to reality, gazing at the scene that resembled hell on earth.
"No, brother,"
Qiao Chuchu gritted her teeth and continued to climb, "We're a family. If we're going to hell, we go together. Only later, not sooner!"
"Now, I want you to live!"
Her fingers dug into the railing, muscles straining with pain, as she shouted furiously, "I will make sure you live!!!"
As her words echoed, an incomprehensible strength surged through her, allowing her to grip the railing and move steadily up the slope!
Pei Youchuan felt her voice pierce through his ears. He opened his eyes dazedly to see Qiao Chu's hand gripping the railing.
His eyes moistened, and tears began to fall, dripping onto her neck.
If his world had a deity,
it was undoubtedly Qiao Chuchu.
Qi Xiaojia clung to the railing, watching the frail Qiao Chuchu climb step by step, moved to tears, "Oh my God! I don't even know what to say! Qiao Chuchu, keep going! You've got this!!"
Many people were holding their phones, recording the scene for TikTok. They cheered in unison, "Come on, Qiao Chuchu!!"
Other passengers leaned out, joining in: "Go Qiao Chuchu!!"
Qiao Chuchu's teeth were clenched almost to breaking point as she gripped the railing and continued to climb.
Several strong passengers reached out their hands, ready to help her bear the weight: "Just a little higher, and we can grab the person behind you! Don't give up!"
She felt as if she were hanging on by a single thread, gripping the railing with all her strength to climb higher!
She wouldn't give up!
She would fight until the very end!!!
The onlookers, witnessing this scene, were also motivated. They cheered her on: "You're doing great! Go, Qiao Chuchu!!"
Qi Xiaojia helped spread the word: "The person she's carrying is her brother! She's doing this to save her brother!!"
Qiao Chuchu climbed step by step, her face turning red from the strain. It was hard to tell if it was from pain or sheer effort.
Her tears dripped down in heavy drops, her steps resolute and heavy.
Xia Xuechun watched as Qiao Chuchu's hands gradually came into view. Many passengers went to help her, and Xia Xuechun let out a bitter laugh.
Everyone who could lend a hand did so, pulling both Qiao Chuchu and Pei Youchuan to safety.
When Qiao Chuchu straddled the railing, applause erupted around her!
Those who could spare a hand were clapping for her: "Well done!"
"You're incredibly brave!"
Qiao Chuchu's hands trembled as she mustered her strength to thank everyone: "Thank you all for helping! I really appreciate it!"
Qi Xiaojia was overjoyed: "You're amazing! You really did it!"
She also expressed her gratitude: "It was thanks to your good rope-tying skills."
Qi Xiaojia shook her head, expressing her gratitude: "No, no, you also saved me first, otherwise, I would have died already. We're all in this together."
Xia Xuechun, on the other side, stared coldly at the two of them.
Qi Xiaojia felt her gaze and her eyes filled with resentment as she looked back.
Xia Xuechun sneered, then turned her gaze elsewhere, as if nothing had happened.
Qi Xiaojia was incensed but, after glancing at Qiao Chuchu, refrained from saying anything.
She wanted to tell Qiao Chuchu about Xia Xuechun's actions.
But—
After hesitating, Qi Xiaojia decided to stay silent.
She'd find another opportunity to ask Xia Xuechun why she had acted that way.
