Hearing Animals' Hearts: I Run for My Life
Jiang Xiaoxiao has been different since childhood: she can clearly hear what animals are thinking. She once used this ability to warn people at a zoo about a gorilla that was about to snatch bags and attack, but her gift was never taken seriously. That all changed when a traveling animal exhibition set up at her community gate. Outside the cage of a mysterious exotic beast advertised as a “rare wonder of the world,” she heard its low, greedy voice—it was thinking about eating humans. Her warnings fell on deaf ears. Her ex-boyfriend Lin Dong and former best friend Zhang Wei led the crowd in mocking her for seeking attention, while the profit-driven show owner dismissed her as a troublemaker trying to ruin his business. That night, the beast broke free and snuck into the community. Jiang Xiaoxiao sent warnings in the residents’ group chat overnight, but everyone thought she was crazy. Zhang Wei even started a live stream outdoors, planning to publicly expose her “lies,” inadvertently drawing a crowd of neighbors who couldn’t sleep in the heat due to a power outage. The beast finally struck, killing many. Only Jiang Xiaoxiao, who had locked herself in early, survived. Even after calling the police, the rescue team didn’t believe her at first—until they arrived at the scene and witnessed the horrific carnage with their own eyes. The next day, the deranged show owner tried to reopen the exhibit for profit as if nothing had happened. When Jiang Xiaoxiao went to stop him, everyone called her crazy—until the beast broke free again, and they finally realized the grave danger they were in. Jiang Xiaoxiao and the rescue captain hid in the guardhouse, while the surviving residents fell into infighting. Zhang Wei even tried to push Jiang Xiaoxiao out as bait for the beast. It was then that they realized the creature was the legendary Nian Beast, which is naturally afraid of the color red, bright light, and loud noises. Jiang Xiaoxiao volunteered to act as bait to lure the Nian Beast away, while the captain used bright lights and firecrackers to kill it. She was then invited to join the rescue team. No one expected the show owner to have survived. He had gained the ability to control exotic beasts by using the Nian Beast’s blood. He planted bombs around the community, poisoned the water supply, and even turned Zhang Wei—who held a grudge against Jiang Xiaoxiao—against her, planning to eliminate all survivors. In the end, a remorseful Zhang Wei joined forces with Jiang Xiaoxiao and the rescue captain to expose the owner’s conspiracy, defeat the mutated beasts, and put an end to the crisis once and for all. Jiang Xiaoxiao’s special ability finally found its true purpose in rescue work—yet in the shadows, more unknown threats seemed to be quietly closing in.
