3: Chapter 3 A Shocking Escape

Time rewinds to thirty minutes ago.

2:45 PM.

Jiangcheng City, Yunfeng Villa District.

In front of a detached villa covering nearly a thousand square meters, a white Maserati Quattroporte slowly drove out.

In the driver's seat was a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties.

She had an extremely exquisite face.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, her nose bridge high and straight, and her lips a pale pink.

Her skin was so white it was almost transparent, appearing as if it could be broken by a mere touch.

Her long black hair was casually tied into a high ponytail, revealing a swan-like slender neck.

She wore a white silk shirt with a beige trench coat over it, and slim-fitting black trousers that outlined her straight, slender legs.

Her entire being exuded a cold and aloof temperament, like a flower on a high mountain peak that could only be admired from afar but not trifled with.

This was the belle of Jiangcheng University, Ye Qingxue.

Twenty-two years old, a senior student, the belle of the Finance Department, and the eldest daughter of the Ye Group.

In the passenger seat sat an even younger-looking girl.

If Ye Qingxue was a flower on a high peak, then this girl was the girl next door.

She had similarly exquisite features, but with a bit more youthful innocence and softness.

Her face still had some baby fat, her eyes were large and bright, and her eyelashes were as long as a doll's.

Her waist-length black hair flowed naturally, with the ends slightly curled.

She wore a pink sweater with a denim miniskirt, revealing a pair of slender, fair legs, and white sneakers on her feet.

She looked sweet and cute, like a girl who had just stepped out of a manga.

This was Ye Qingxue's younger sister, Ye Qingyue.

Nineteen years old, a freshman, and also one of the belles of Jiangcheng University.

"Sis, do we really have to go to school now?"

Ye Qingyue looked out the window, feeling somewhat uneasy. "I feel like the weather today is really strange."

Ye Qingxue glanced at her and said coldly, "Didn't you leave your lab report in the laboratory? How are you going to submit it if you don't get it back?"

"But... but it's not due until next Monday," Ye Qingyue muttered softly.

"You have other things to do before next Monday."

Ye Qingxue remained expressionless. "While we have time now, go get it back quickly."

Ye Qingyue curled her lip, not daring to argue.

She had been afraid of her older sister since she was a child.

Although her sister had never hit or scolded her, that innate aura and calmness always made her afraid to disobey.

The car drove out of the villa district and entered the main road of Jiangcheng.

Traffic flowed endlessly on the streets, and everything looked normal.

But less than ten minutes after they started driving—

The sky suddenly brightened.

"What?!"

Ye Qingxue slammed on the brakes.

The car stopped in the middle of the road.

Surrounding vehicles also stopped one after another, as everyone looked up at the sky.

A rainbow-colored aurora was flowing across the daytime sky.

It was so beautiful it seemed unreal.

"Sis... what is that?" Ye Qingyue's eyes widened.

Ye Qingxue frowned as a strong sense of unease surged in her heart.

As a top student in the Finance Department, her intuition had always been very accurate.

And now, the feeling this aurora gave her was...

Not right.

Very much not right.

"Qingyue, we're going back," Ye Qingxue made the decision immediately.

She turned the steering wheel, preparing to pull a U-turn.

But at that moment, a patch of pure white fell from the sky.

White snowflakes suddenly drifted down in Jiangcheng during the month of May.

"It's snowing?!"

Ye Qingyue exclaimed, "How can it snow in May?"

Ye Qingxue's face instantly turned pale.

Her intuition was screaming warnings!

Danger!

There was something wrong with this snow!

"Don't touch it!" Ye Qingxue shouted sharply.

Ye Qingyue was startled and instinctively pulled back the hand she was about to stick out of the car window.

But others around them had already begun to excitedly reach out to catch the snowflakes.

"Wow! Snow in May!"

"It's so beautiful! Quick, take a photo!"

"What kind of wonder is this?"

And then—

Screams rang out.

"Ah!!"

"It's so cold! My hand!"

"What's going on?! Why is my body so cold?!"

Ye Qingxue saw that those who touched the snowflakes were all clutching their bodies and screaming in pain.

Some people's hands began to turn purple.

Some people's lips turned blue.

Some people collapsed directly onto the ground, their bodies trembling.

"This... this is..." Ye Qingyue's face turned white with fear.

Ye Qingxue immediately took out her phone and dialed her father's number.

The phone rang three times before it was picked up.

"Qingxue?" Father Ye's voice was very serious.

"Dad, it's snowing outside. There's something wrong with the snow; everyone who touches it is..."

"I know."

Father Ye interrupted her. "Where are you now?"

"On the main road, about five kilometers from the school."

"Come back immediately! Do not touch the snow!"

Father Ye's voice was more solemn than ever. "There's something wrong with this snow. Our Ye family has already received news; this might be... a disaster."

Ye Qingxue's heart sank. "Dad, are you saying..."

"The Apocalypse."

Father Ye uttered those two words.

"The family's private security team has already been fully deployed, but the roads are too chaotic now; we might not be able to reach you. You must protect yourself and Qingyue. Find a safe place to hide and wait for us to come and get you."

"I understand."

"Remember, absolutely do not touch the snow, and..."

Father Ye paused. "If you encounter danger, survival is the first priority. Nothing is more important than your life."

"I know."

The call ended.

Ye Qingxue took a deep breath.

"Sis... what do we do?" Ye Qingyue's voice was trembling.

"Let's leave here first." Ye Qingxue started the car.

But at that moment, a snowflake drifted through the half-open car window.

It landed on the back of Ye Qingxue's hand.

"Hiss—"

A bone-chilling coldness instantly spread out.

Ye Qingxue jerked her hand, but it was too late.

That coldness seeped into her skin from the back of her hand, spreading through her blood vessels to her entire body.

"Sis!" Ye Qingyue cried out.

"I'm fine."

Ye Qingxue gritted her teeth. "Close the windows! Quick, close the windows!"

Ye Qingyue immediately sealed all the car windows.

But a few more snowflakes drifted in through the air conditioning vent and landed on Ye Qingyue's arm.

"Ah—"

Ye Qingyue let out a soft cry, her face instantly turning pale.

"So cold... Sis, I'm so cold..."

Ye Qingxue's heart sank to the bottom.

Both of them had been affected.

"It's okay, it'll be okay."

Ye Qingxue feigned composure. "We'll find a place to hide. Dad will come to save us."

She stepped on the gas, trying to drive away.

But the road ahead was completely blocked.

People were abandoning their cars and fleeing everywhere; some were lying on the ground wailing, while others were frantically running into buildings.

Within just a few minutes, the entire city had fallen into chaos.

"Get out of the car!" Ye Qingxue made a decisive choice.

Since they had already touched the snow, touching a bit more wouldn't make much difference now.

The two sisters pushed open the car doors and rushed out.

The snow was still falling.

Ye Qingxue pulled her sister's hand and ran desperately toward the shopping mall by the roadside.

As long as they got indoors, they should be safe.

But just as they had run a few steps—

A figure walked out from an alley and blocked their path.

It was a tall and burly man wearing a black hoodie, his hood pulled low, hiding his face.

But Ye Qingxue instantly felt a sense of danger.

This man's eyes were like those of a wild beast.

Full of aggression and greed.

"Where are you two beauties going in such a hurry?"

The man spoke slowly, his voice coarse and raspy.

His gaze swept back and forth over the two sisters, finally lingering on their faces and bodies, a lewd light flashing in his eyes.

"Move aside."

"Heh." The man laughed.

He licked his lips. "I was just worrying about how to pass this boring time as a fugitive, and then the heavens sent me two peerless beauties."

"I'm definitely taking this pair of sisters."

Ye Qingxue's expression changed.

Wang Hu?

She reacted instantly.

She had seen this name in the news.

A recent fugitive in Jiangcheng, suspected of multiple violent crimes, whom the police had been hunting.

She hadn't expected to encounter him here.

And right when the eerie snowflakes had just arrived.

This was the worst-case scenario.

"Qingyue, run!"

Ye Qingxue pulled her sister and turned to run.

Wang Hu gave a sinister laugh and stepped forward to chase them.

He had also been affected by the snow poison, and his body was very cold.

However, his years of criminal experience had allowed him to develop a physique far beyond that of an average person.

Although his body temperature was dropping, he still had his mobility.

And seeing this pair of peerless sisters, the desire within him was completely ignited.

"You can't escape!" Wang Hu laughed loudly as he pursued them.

Ye Qingxue pulled her sister along in a frantic run, dialing the police as she went.

"Hello! Police? There's a fugitive! Wang Hu! He's chasing us!"

"I've sent you our location! Come quickly!"

After hanging up, she called home again.

But the other end kept showing a busy signal.

Obviously, her father's side was also busy dealing with this sudden disaster.

Ye Qingxue's body temperature continued to drop.

She could feel her body getting colder and colder, her limbs starting to grow stiff.

Her sister's condition was even worse; her face was already frighteningly pale.

"Sis... I can't run anymore..." Ye Qingyue said, crying.

"Just hold on a little longer!" Ye Qingxue gritted her teeth.

She saw a shopping mall ahead and immediately pulled her sister toward it.

In a place with many people, Wang Hu shouldn't dare to act recklessly.

But when they rushed into the mall, it was already in total chaos.

There were people affected by the snow poison everywhere; some were wailing, while others were fighting over supplies.

Wang Hu pursued them relentlessly.

Moreover, he seemed to have seen through Ye Qingxue's intentions, always managing to block their path in advance.

"Damn it!"

Ye Qingxue realized that this man was very intelligent.

He wasn't the type of criminal who acted impulsively.

If they ran toward crowded areas, he could predict their movements.

They could only run randomly.

To stall for time.

Wait for the police.

Or wait for the family's people.

Ye Qingxue pulled her sister, rushed out of the mall, and into an alley.

Alley after alley.

They ran further and further into remote areas.

Finally, they arrived at a dilapidated urban village.

This place was filled with old residential buildings, narrow alleys, and a dim environment.

Ye Qingxue was panting heavily, feeling her physical strength about to be exhausted.

Her sister could no longer run and was being dragged along entirely by her.

"Sis... I can't go on..." Ye Qingyue wept.

Ye Qingxue gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening.

Since childhood, she had been the smartest and calmest one in the family.

No matter what the predicament, she could always find a solution.

But now, she was truly at her wit's end.

Her body was getting colder.

The pursuer was getting closer.

The police hadn't arrived.

Her family's people couldn't reach them.

Were they really going to die here?

Just then, she saw a six-story residential building ahead.

There was an electronic lock on the door downstairs.

"Get inside!"

Ye Qingxue made her final decision.

The two sisters stumbled to the bottom of the building.

Ye Qingxue frantically pressed the doorbell.

"Is anyone there? Help!"

"Please! Open the door!"

But there was no response.

Wang Hu's figure appeared at the entrance of the alley, walking over leisurely with a mocking smile on his face.

"Run, why don't you run anymore?"

"In a dump like this, no one's going to save you."

Ye Qingxue looked despairingly at the figure gradually closing in.

It was over.

It was truly over.