Trapped in a Sea of Fire, Third Brother Regains His Memories

Fu Yanzhi and Qiao Shuyan first went to find Bo Qing and Kong Fanyue. Bo Qing was standing outside the carousel, taking pictures of Kong Fanyue as he rode a big white horse.

When Bo Qing saw his eldest brother walking toward him, he hurriedly waved. Fu Yanzhi saw him and walked over with Qiao Shuyan.

Noticing Qiao Shuyan beside his eldest brother, Bo Qing asked, "Sister Yan, what are you doing here?"

Qiao Shuyan smiled. "Your eldest brother asked me to come."

Bo Qing looked at Fu Yanzhi, who told him everything that had just happened.

After hearing him out, Bo Qing hurriedly asked, "Are Xingxing and the others okay now?"

Fu Yanzhi smiled. "They're fine. They're on the roller coaster with Third Brother now."

At that moment, Kong Fanyue, who had gone around once on the carousel, spotted his eldest brother and Sister Yan and called out to them. "Big Brother, Sister Yan, look! I'm riding a big horse!"

Qiao Shuyan smiled. "Yueyue, you're amazing! Be careful, though. Don't fall off the horse."

Kong Fanyue nodded. "Don't worry, Sister. I'm holding on really tight. I won't fall."

Fu Yanzhi pulled his phone from his pocket. "Come on, Yueyue, look at the camera. Big Brother will take some nice pictures of you."

When Kong Fanyue saw his eldest brother taking pictures, he struck all sorts of poses on the big white horse.

After Fu Yanzhi had taken pictures for a while, the carousel ride ended. Bo Qing lifted Kong Fanyue off the horse, and once he was down, Kong Fanyue took Bo Qing's hand and walked over to his eldest brother. "Big Brother, let's go find Xingxing and the others."

Fu Yanzhi said, "Okay, let's go find them. It's getting late, so I'll treat you all to a meal in a bit. Yueyue, think about what you want to eat."

Kong Fanyue thought for a moment. "Big Brother, I can eat anything. What do you want?"

Fu Yanzhi thought for a while. "How about barbecue? Do you all want some?"

Qiao Shuyan nodded. "Sure. I was just craving it too."

Bo Qing and Kong Fanyue said, "Agreed, Big Brother."

The group headed toward the roller coaster area. From a distance, they could hear Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan shouting in their unmistakably loud voices, "That was so exciting! So much fun!"

As they drew closer, they saw Kong Fanxing, Li Huanhuan, and Wen Shiming getting off the roller coaster. Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan were beaming with excitement, while Wen Shiming looked perfectly calm.

Kong Fanxing spotted them at once and came bouncing over. "Big Brother, you're here! That roller coaster was so much fun!"

Li Huanhuan smiled at Fu Yanzhi. "Yeah, Big Brother, do you want to go on it again with us?"

Fu Yanzhi took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Li Huanhuan's face. "As long as you had fun. We're going for barbecue. How about playing some more after we eat?"

Kong Fanxing's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! What's barbecue? I've never had it, but it sounds delicious."

Wen Shiming and Li Huanhuan said, "Okay, we'll do as Big Brother says."

Everyone chatted and laughed as they walked toward the amusement park exit. Just as they reached the entrance, a light rain suddenly began to fall.

Fu Yanzhi quickly ushered everyone under a nearby pavilion to shelter from the rain. He checked his phone and called two cars. They arrived shortly, and everyone got in and headed for the barbecue restaurant. None of them noticed a car following closely behind. The rain gradually grew heavier, and everyone looked forward to the delicious barbecue awaiting them.

At the restaurant, everyone found seats, and the server soon brought out an assortment of meats and side dishes. Kong Fanxing excitedly picked up the tongs and was about to put some meat on the grill when Fu Yanzhi stopped him. "You're still young. Let me grill it for you. Have some snacks to tide you over first."

Qiao Shuyan watched Fu Yanzhi grilling the meat so attentively, the corners of her mouth lifting of their own accord. "I didn't expect you to be such a good cook, Xiaozhi."

Fu Yanzhi said proudly, "Of course. Sister Yan, make sure you eat plenty once it's ready."

Before long, the meat sizzled on the grill, giving off a tempting aroma. Fu Yanzhi deftly served everyone some cooked meat, and they all ate with relish. Kong Fanxing spoke around a mouthful of food. "The meat Big Brother grilled is so good."

Kong Fanyue nodded beside him, while Li Huanhuan ate with grease all over his mouth. Bo Qing and Wen Shiming took big bites too.

As they were enjoying their meal, Wen Shiming suddenly clutched his stomach. "Big Brother, keep eating. I need to go to the bathroom."

Bo Qing put down his chopsticks. "Do you want Second Brother to go with you?"

Wen Shiming waved his hand. "No need, Second Brother. You all go ahead and eat. Don't wait for me."

With that, he hurried off toward the bathroom. But after quite a while, Wen Shiming still hadn't returned.

Bo Qing grew worried. "Big Brother, why has Third Brother been gone so long? Could something have happened?"

Fu Yanzhi also sensed something was wrong and got up. "I'll go take a look."

Bo Qing went with him. They found no sign of Wen Shiming in the bathroom. Fu Yanzhi and Bo Qing called his name, but there was no answer.

Fu Yanzhi's heart tightened. He quickly took out his phone and called the police, then told Bo Qing to stay near the bathroom and keep looking for clues while he went to check the restaurant's surveillance footage.

In the footage, Fu Yanzhi saw that shortly after Wen Shiming entered the bathroom, two people wearing hats and masks followed him in. None of the three came out again.

Fu Yanzhi noted the person's build and features, contacted the police, and led everyone in a careful search around the restaurant.

Suddenly, Fu Yanzhi spotted a black sedan by the roadside with its door ajar. He went closer and saw signs of a struggle inside.

Just then, his phone received an anonymous text: "If you want to save your younger brother, come to the abandoned factory alone."

Fu Yanzhi gritted his teeth and decided to go. He couldn't let anything happen to his younger brother. Anyone who dared lay a hand on his brother had a death wish.

Fu Yanzhi told Qiao Shuyan to take his younger brothers home first while he went to find Third Brother. Bo Qing was worried and wanted to go with Fu Yanzhi, but he knew he couldn't change Fu Yanzhi's mind, so he could only go home with his younger brothers.

After getting into the car, Bo Qing thought of someone and took out his phone to make a call. It was answered shortly afterward. Instead of exchanging pleasantries, Bo Qing went straight to the reason for his call. After hearing him out, the woman on the other end told him to leave it to her, then hung up.

Following the address in the text, Fu Yanzhi drove alone to the abandoned factory. His mind raced the whole way as he pondered the kidnappers' objective.

He entered the factory. Everything around him was deathly silent. Fu Yanzhi approached cautiously and saw Wen Shiming tied to a stool not far away.

When Wen Shiming saw Fu Yanzhi, he shouted, "Big Brother, run! Don't worry about me. It's a trap!"

The moment he finished speaking, a crowd of people wielding clubs poured out from all sides and surrounded Fu Yanzhi. His eyes turned icy. He had known all along it was a trap, but he had come anyway for Wen Shiming's sake.

"Who are you? Why did you kidnap my brother?" Fu Yanzhi asked coldly.

The man in the lead sneered. "Kid, someone you offended wants to buy your life today."

Fu Yanzhi wasted no words. He quickly assessed his surroundings and the positions of his enemies. Before they could fully close in, he lunged at the nearest man, striking with fists and feet and taking several of them down in an instant.

The leader hadn't expected the kid to be such a good fighter. Seeing that they were no match for him, he pulled a knife from his pocket and held it directly against Wen Shiming's neck.

The leader said, "Stop right there, kid. Move again and I'll kill him."

Fu Yanzhi sneered. "Threatening me with my brother? You're despicable."

The leader laughed. "How could I do this job well if I wasn't?"

Wen Shiming shook his head. "Big Brother, don't worry about me. Fight back!"

Fu Yanzhi merely smiled at Wen Shiming without a word and let the enemies' clubs strike his body. Before long, they beat him to the ground.

The leader then ordered his men to tie Fu Yanzhi up as well. Once he was bound, the leader moved the knife away from Wen Shiming's neck, walked over to Fu Yanzhi, and kicked him several times.

The leader sneered. "Kid, looks like you really love your brother. If we hadn't relied on him today, we really couldn't have taken you down. But too bad for you, you have a weakness. Don't worry. How about I let you die together today?"

Fu Yanzhi's eyes blazed. "You dare!"

The leader roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Just watch me."

With that, the leader had his men bring several barrels of gasoline, then poured it onto the floor. Dark yellow gasoline gushed from the containers.

The leader threw his lighter onto the gasoline. The next second, the instant a spark touched the trail of fuel, pale blue flames shot up, spreading across the floor in a dancing net of fire. Tongues of flame licked at the air with soft crackles, constantly igniting the gasoline at the edges. The ring of fire expanded at a visible pace, scorching air billowing upward with black smoke and sweeping dust and debris into the flames. Even the air grew searing hot and painfully bright.

Seeing that the fire had caught, the leader fled the factory with his men. Only Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming remained inside.

Fu Yanzhi was closest to the fire, and its scorching heat had already licked at his pant legs. He stared at the coarse hemp rope around his wrists. It dug painfully into them, its rough fibers rubbing his skin red.

Fu Yanzhi fixed his eyes on a rusty protrusion on the leg of Wen Shiming's chair behind him. Suddenly, he tensed his back and shoved his wrists hard against it.

The instant the rope scraped against the metal protrusion, it made a grating rasp, and fine fibers began to snap. He didn't dare stop. Every effort drove the marks on his wrists deeper, and cold sweat ran down his temples, mingling with the sweat on his palms and soaking the knot.

Suddenly, a soft snap sounded, and the tightest loop of rope broke first. He immediately seized the loosened end and yanked it along the direction it had been wound. The remaining knots came apart like a collapsing skeleton. At last, both his hands were free, several distinct red marks left on his wrists, still burning from breaking free of their bonds.

As soon as Fu Yanzhi freed himself, he helped Wen Shiming with his ropes. The heat wave slapped their faces and arms like countless scorching hands, instantly leaving their skin red and stinging.

Black smoke, thick with the smell of burning, forced its way down their throats, making them cough nonstop. The heat brought streams of tears to their eyes. Once Fu Yanzhi had untied Wen Shiming, he took off his own clothing and handed it to him.

Fu Yanzhi urged him, "Third Brother, cover your nose and mouth with my clothes for now. I'll get you out."

Wen Shiming nodded. "Okay, Big Brother."

Thick smoke and waves of heat rushed at them, choking them until their lungs ached. A Ming gripped A Jie's wrist, his knuckles white with the force—sparks still clung to Fu Yanzhi's pant legs, creeping up the fabric. He didn't dare hesitate and half pulled, half dragged Wen Shiming toward the door.

Tongues of flame rolled on either side, and the searing blast of heat nearly knocked them over. Charred fragments fell onto their hair and shoulders. Fu Yanzhi stared at the faint light showing through the crack in the door ahead and forced a hoarse cry from his throat: "Follow me! Don't stop!" He abruptly quickened his pace.

He took Wen Shiming through a gap between two walls of fire. Flames brushed the hem of his clothing, sending wisps of smoke rising at once, but he forced his way through the burning pain and stumbled out into the open space beyond the door. When the two fell to the ground, the fire behind them was still licking wildly at the doorframe.

By now, Wen Shiming's legs had gone weak, and he stumbled with every step. Fu Yanzhi half dragged, half supported him, shielding him in front of his own body. Tongues of flame occasionally licked Fu Yanzhi's back. The searing pain made him grit his teeth, but he only kept pushing Wen Shiming toward the door.

At last they reached the entrance. Thick smoke and scorching air rushed down his throat as Fu Yanzhi half carried the weak-kneed Wen Shiming to the door, only to discover that the iron door was locked tight, its handle already glowing red from the heat.

"Hang on, Third Brother! Big Brother will take you home right away!" Fu Yanzhi shouted. He let out a low roar, pulled Wen Shiming behind him, raised a leg aching from the sparks that had scorched it, and kicked the door with all his might.

Clang! The first kick only made the door shake and opened a narrow crack; at the second, the iron lock gave an ear-splitting screech as it twisted; at the third, the door finally burst outward with a bang, letting in a breath of fresh air. But just then, a creak of breaking wood came from overhead, and a charred roof beam came crashing straight down, trailing sparks.

Fu Yanzhi's pupils contracted. Without the slightest hesitation, he shoved Wen Shiming, who stood in front of him, outside.

Wen Shiming stumbled out of the blaze. When he looked back, all he saw was his eldest brother swallowed by the falling beam, flames instantly wrapping around the hem of his clothes. The hand he had stretched out froze in midair, and he was finally hidden completely by thick smoke and flames.

Wen Shiming scrambled up and tried to rush back in, but the heat forced him back. He could only lie on the ground, beating his hands against it, his voice breaking: "Big Brother, come out! You promised we'd go home together!"

Inside the blaze came the thunderous crash of collapsing timber. Fu Yanzhi's voice carried out in fragments through the crackle of the fire: "Don't... don't come back... stay alive... go home." Thick smoke choked off the rest of his words. All that remained were Wen Shiming's heart-rending cries and the ever-growing flames inside the inferno, separated by a doorway that had become the boundary between life and death.

The instant tears blurred his vision, something suddenly exploded in Wen Shiming's mind—it was when he was ten, a fire just like this one. Shattered memories suddenly surged back: the same sky filled with flames, his younger self held tightly in his mother's arms, his father using his body to hold back a collapsing cabinet as he shouted hoarsely, "Take Mingming and go!"

His mother carried him toward the door, only to trip. At the last moment, she used every ounce of strength to push him outside, while she herself was swallowed by the pursuing flames... Those lost scenes, deliberately forgotten, were now as clear as if they were happening before his eyes. Tears mixed with ash and struck the ground. Wen Shiming gazed at the blurred figure in the sea of fire, a choked, hoarse cry rising from his throat.

Wen Shiming said, "I remember now. I remember everything. A fire has already taken my family from me once. I can't lose my family again."