Chapter 4

When I collapsed, I heard exclamations in the comment section.

"He's down!"

"Not even two miles. I won!"

Leonardo stuck his head out the car window, looked at me for a second, then his tone suddenly took on a deliberately panicked quality.

"Russell, I think James passed out from heatstroke!"

Russell frowned, her tone indifferent.

"Really passed out?"

"Really!"

Leonardo's voice was urgent.

"Russell, I heard that people with heatstroke need to be doused with cold water immediately, or it could be life-threatening!"

Russell looked at him, her gaze so tender it could drip water.

"Leonardo, you're just too kind. After how he treated you, you're still thinking about him."

Leonardo frowned, his voice deliberately low.

"No matter what, he's still James. I can't just watch him die."

Russell patted his shoulder and turned to the bodyguard.

"Go get the high-pressure water gun from the trunk."

The high-pressure water gun was connected to the vehicle's water tank.

Russell personally gripped the water gun. Leonardo stood beside her, and together they aimed at me.

"Ready?"

Russell's tone was relaxed, like she was playing some kind of game.

Leonardo nodded lightly.

"Russell, don't turn the pressure up too high. I'm afraid James won't be able to take it."

"You're too soft-hearted." Russell shook her head with a smile. "For heatstroke you need cold water. Low pressure won't work."

The moment the water jet shot out, my whole body bounced up from the ground.

This wasn't cooling down—this was being hit by a truck.

The high-pressure water jet slammed into my body, hitting my wounds directly. The pain was so intense I couldn't even scream, could only open my mouth in silent convulsions.

Water rushed into my nostrils and mouth, choking me until my lungs felt like they would explode.

I was sent rolling across the ground by the force. The back of my head hit the asphalt, and everything went black.

The water jet chased me, sweeping back and forth. Russell was laughing. Leonardo beside her was shouting, "James, don't move around, the more you move the more it hurts."

His voice was still so considerate.

The comments went even more insane. Some cheered, some said it was too much, but most were just watching the spectacle.

"This is way more exciting than just apologizing."

"Miss Russell really knows how to have fun."

"That water pressure has to be over two hundred pounds, right?"

"Leonardo is so kind. Even at a time like this, he's still thinking about saving someone."

The water stopped. I lay on the ground, shaking all over.

My wounds had been blasted until they turned white at the edges. Blood and water mixed together, spreading beneath me.

My soaked clothes stuck to my body. I couldn't tell what was water and what was blood.

Russell crouched down. A bodyguard grabbed my hair and yanked my face up.

"James, have you thought it over?"

Blood frothed from my mouth. I couldn't speak.

She gently stroked my hair, her tone like coaxing a child.

"It's just an apology. Is it worth torturing yourself like this? Apologize to Leonardo and I'll take you to the hospital right away."

Leonardo stuck his head out behind her, looking at me with a nervous expression.

"James, stop making Russell angry. Just say you're sorry. I won't hold it against you."

He moved closer, lowering his voice so only the three of us could hear.

"James, just admit you were wrong. My life is cheap anyway. You can even kowtow to me—I won't think it's humiliating. You're the one suffering by being stubborn like this."

I looked at his face, so close.

That face wore an expression of utmost concern, his brows tightly furrowed as if he was worried sick about me.

I gathered the bloody water in my mouth and spat it forcefully at his face.

The bloody water splattered all over his face.

Leonardo grunted, staggering back two steps, frantically wiping his face and smearing blood streaks all over it.

Russell slapped me hard across the face. I staggered to one side, my face burning, my head ringing.

"You don't know what's good for you!"

The bodyguard held me down. She crouched down, her voice dropping to an icy whisper.

"Still daring to bully Leonardo in this condition? Do you think I won't kill you?"

Leonardo grabbed her arm from the side, his voice tight.

"Russell, forget it. James didn't mean it. He must be feeling too terrible to act like this..."

Russell pulled Leonardo behind her with one hand, pointing straight at me.

"Since you're so ungrateful, then don't blame me."