C2 Is One Million Expensive?

The man's hands were braced on the handrails on either side of the elevator, trying to minimize the pressure on Chiang Ci beneath him. Lifting either hand might upset the balance inside.

Chiang Ci, at the bottom, had more freedom to move. Carefully, she reached toward the man's suit pocket, her fingers brushing against the warmth of his body through the thin shirt, causing her to flinch slightly. The close proximity made her uncomfortable for a moment, but she paused only briefly before continuing to retrieve the phone.

"How about now?" Her voice was sweet and soft, even in such a life-threatening situation, making the man almost want to turn around to see if the owner of the voice was as gentle as she sounded.

"You hold it, and I'll do the talking," the man instructed.

Chiang Ci raised the phone a bit higher, and he commanded, "Hey Siri, call Jiang Chu."

After a couple of rings, a male voice came through on the other end, "What's up, Peiyan?"

"I'm stuck in the elevator shaft of the Jeyu Building. The elevator's out of control. Get someone to rescue us. If they can't make it in time, proceed with the original plan."

The man paused before continuing, "Oh, and there's a young lady in here with me. If something happens, please help reassure her family. She's caught up in this because of me."

What did he mean by caught up? And needing to reassure her family? Rich people, huh!

Looking up at the camera, she noticed there was no red light—it wasn't working. This man was right; it wasn't an accident, but deliberate. Talk about a golden opportunity falling into your lap!

The persistent "clank, clank, clank" of metal scraping continued. Chiang Ci raised an eyebrow, realizing she couldn't wait any longer. She wrapped her arms tightly around the man's waist.

He was taken aback, a bit surprised, but managed a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, even if we fall, I'll be with you. You won't be alone."

Chiang Ci rolled her eyes. He sure was optimistic, but she wasn't ready to die just yet. Her right thumb brushed against the ancient, intricately designed ring on her middle finger.

"Mister, would a million dollars be too much to get you out of here?" she asked softly.

The man could only manage a bitter smile, a hint of despair flickering in his eyes. Money was just a number to him, but some things he might never get a chance to do again.

"Not just a million, even five million wouldn't be too much!"

"Alright~"

A soft, delicate hand covered his eyes, a faint fragrance wafting through the air. It seemed like a white light flashed, and after a moment of disorientation, the hand was removed. Shaang Peiyan slowly opened his eyes.

He found himself standing in the greenery next to the 32-story building.

As she noticed the man's bewildered expression, Jiang E glanced at the ring on her middle finger. She had found it in a small box where the original owner kept miscellaneous items. The ring had an ancient design with a beast's head biting its tail, and though its material was unclear, it had a subtle metallic sheen.

While trying it on, she accidentally cut her skin, and her blood seeped into the ring. To her surprise, this activated the artifact spirit within, revealing that it was a miraculous creation from the ancestors of the Fang family, capable of teleporting its wearer. However, the spirit's soul was partially lost, and currently, its power was limited to a single teleportation within a 328-foot range per day. If she could recover the spirit soul, the distance would increase.

Moreover, the ring held many treasures, including divine medicine, mystical fruits, and spirit springs, which could gradually be unlocked. Such a heaven-defying artifact was precisely what she needed to rely on in this unfamiliar world, just like now.

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