23rd December 2005
In a grand mansion, a strikingly handsome man with dark eyes and thin eyebrows stood locked in a heated argument with a beautiful woman. His features bore the elegance of a mixed heritage, blending both Eastern and Western traits. In her arms, she cradled a one-and-a-half-year-old child, whose innocent eyes took in the scene before him, unaware of the storm brewing between his parents.
Ye Tian, hailing from a prestigious and influential family in Beijing, excelled in every aspect of life—academics, sports, arts, and business. As the second heir to his family's empire, his exceptional achievements led to his selection as the future master of the household. However, during his university years, he made what his family deemed an unforgivable mistake—falling in love with an ordinary girl, Ling Xiao. Their relationship spanned more than five years, built on love but now shattered by circumstances beyond their control.
When Ye Tian revealed his relationship and the existence of his son to his family, he faced immense opposition. After a month of relentless pressure, he ultimately caved. And now, that decision had led to this very moment.
"Get out!" Ye Tian's voice echoed through the mansion, his expression a mask of cold detachment.
He tossed a check for one million yuan at Ling Xiao's feet, his once tender love now replaced by ruthless pragmatism. Guards entered, their presence imposing, and without hesitation, they seized her by the arms and dragged her toward the grand gates.
Ling Xiao stumbled as she was thrown outside, the heavy gates slamming shut behind her. Tears cascaded down her pale cheeks, her gaze fixed on the entrance as though willing it to open again. For half an hour, she stood motionless in the freezing cold, the weight of betrayal pressing down on her. Then, with a deep breath, she wiped her tears, adjusted her grip on her son, and started walking.
She had come from Qingshan City and now found herself stranded in Shanghai, abandoned and alone. With one last glance at the mansion that had once been her home, she hailed a cab and returned to her rented apartment. That night, she clutched her son tightly in her arms, finding solace in his presence as sleep eventually claimed her.
The next morning, she packed her belongings and made her way to the train station. She purchased a ticket for Qingshan City, determined to rebuild her life. Upon arrival, she rented a small apartment and began searching for work, unaware that fate had far more cruel twists in store.
One Month Later
A cab descended the winding roads of Qingshan's hilly outskirts. Inside, Ling Xiao sat with her child, Ye Feng, in her arms. His name, Feng, meant 'wind'—symbolic of the unpredictable journey his life was destined to take.
Then, out of nowhere, a massive truck appeared, barreling toward them at breakneck speed. Before the driver could react, the impact sent the cab flying off the road, flipping mid-air before plummeting down the hill.
The Next Day
At the crash site, men in white uniforms combed through the wreckage. Among the debris lay two lifeless bodies, their limbs broken, their souls departed. A lone child sat nearby, bruised and trembling, his cries piercing through the morning mist. A policewoman knelt beside him, attempting to console him, but his sorrow was beyond words.
The bodies were soon identified and sent to the mortuary, their fates sealed by orders from unknown higher-ups. As for the child, he was taken to an orphanage, his past erased as though it never existed.
Days later, tragedy struck once more. Five members of Ling Xiao's family perished in a suspicious house fire in a village near Qingshan City. The official report cited an electrical fault as the cause, but no one cared enough to investigate further.
Four and a Half Years Later
In a dimly lit, damp room, a six-year-old boy knelt on the cold floor, his small body trembling under the sting of a leather lash. His face, though still round with childhood, held a sharpness beyond his years. His western features were faint, but his piercing eyes gleamed with silent fury. He did not cry out, though silent tears streamed down his cheeks.
For the past six months, Ye Feng had endured this torment. The orphanage's warden, a cruel drunkard, found twisted pleasure in taking his frustrations out on defenseless children. Ye Feng, with his unyielding spirit, had become his favorite target.
The warden's phone buzzed. With a smirk, he answered.
"Yes, Boss."
A pause. Then, his lips curled into a greedy grin.
"Three pieces this time? Of good quality? Understood."
He ended the call, chuckling. "Ten million… Ha!" His laughter filled the room before his gaze fell on Ye Feng. With a sudden kick to the boy's stomach, he sent him sprawling.
"You're lucky, brat. I was starting to enjoy breaking you. But it seems your fate lies elsewhere. What a shame." He spat on the ground before locking the door behind him.
Ye Feng curled against the wall, coughing violently. Pain radiated through his body, but he gritted his teeth, swallowing his cries. Slowly, he crawled to a small water pot, taking a few gulps before collapsing onto his stone bed. Sleep came swiftly, his battered body too exhausted to fight it.
Few Days Later
A truck rumbled down the highway, its cargo split into two compartments. One held fine artworks, a cover for the true cargo—twenty frightened children, crammed together in the second compartment. Some wept, others sat frozen in fear.
In the corner, Ye Feng remained motionless, observing his surroundings with cold detachment. For the first time in years, he had not been beaten or berated. That, at least, was an improvement. Perhaps his new fate would be kinder.
The truck's journey spanned ten days, stopping at designated locations where the children were fed and forced into obedience. Fear had silenced them. Some had accepted their fate, while others were subdued through force.
Ye Feng, however, was different. He did not cry. He did not fear. He merely watched, waiting.
At night, whispers filled the cramped compartment.
"What will happen to us?" one boy asked.
"I heard they sell kids for dirty work," another murmured.
"No, they take our organs and sell them to rich people," someone else whispered, his voice quivering with terror.
Silence followed. The fear of death loomed over them all, gripping their young hearts like a vice. But Ye Feng remained skeptical. If they intended to harvest their organs, why transport them alive? There had to be another purpose.
He closed his eyes, pushing aside his thoughts. Whatever awaited them at their destination, he would face it head-on. He had already survived more than most. This was just another chapter in his story.
As the truck rumbled forward, twenty children drifted into uneasy sleep, their fates hanging in the balance, swallowed by the darkness of the unknown.