Chapter 73: Game 5 – Scumbag Reborn Chasing Wife with Fiery…

Ming Jiayao really wanted to hear Bai Yuanzhi’s opinion.

So,

when he went to pick her up after class in the evening, he took her to the night market.

Bai Yuanzhi had quite a few opinions about this, “A Yao, have you made a lot of money recently?”

Ming Jiayao froze.

He widened his eyes, momentarily unsure how to make something up.

Bai Yuanzhi teased, “Is it because you’ve made a lot of money that you don’t want to do the wonton noodle business anymore?”

Ming Jiayao chuckled.

“As long as you still like eating it, I’ll keep making it,” he said, raising the bag in his hand. “Inside, there’s broth I’ve simmered, along with wrapped wontons and Bamboo Pole Noodles. But the wontons and noodles are raw, so take them home and put them in the fridge. Cook them when you want to eat, but they can only be kept for two days at most.”

Bai Yuanzhi beamed upon hearing this, “Wow, thank you so much!”

Ming Jiayao went to ask the night market stall owner for a menu and let Bai Yuanzhi order.

Bai Yuanzhi ordered a bowl of plain congee, a plate of fried oyster omelet, and a serving of blanched lettuce.

Ming Jiayao ordered a plate of spicy stir-fried river snails and a bottle of beer.

Bai Yuanzhi stared at the bottle of beer for a while.

Ming Jiayao explained, “Sis, I’m an adult now.”

Bai Yuanzhi, of course, knew that.

—He had said his birthday was on New Year’s Day, January 1st!

That was just a few days ago.

Originally, she wanted to ask him out for a meal to celebrate his birthday.

But he was just too busy.

So, Bai Yuanzhi sent him a pager message right on time, wishing him a happy birthday.

But now,

Bai Yuanzhi stared at the bottle of beer he ordered, not because she doubted whether he was an adult,

but because—

What exactly was wrong with him?

It had already been so long…

Was he still unhappy?

Yes, Bai Yuanzhi had sensed A Yao’s low spirits early on.

It probably started about seven or eight days ago.

So?

What exactly had happened to him? Why had he been sad for so long?!

Ming Jiayao opened the beer bottle, poured two glasses, then raised his glass and clinked it with Bai Yuanzhi’s. “Sis, can you give me a blessing?”

Bai Yuanzhi readily complied, “May your sadness last no more than seven seconds, and may the rest be filled with joy and happiness.”

Ming Jiayao’s eyes curved into a smile, his face lighting up. “Thank you, sis!”

It had to be said,

A Yao’s appearance was already that of a young man, but he still retained the clear, youthful aura of a boy.

When he smiled, the dimples at the corners of his mouth appeared. His eyes were half-closed, yet they shone brightly under the streetlights.

He raised his glass, tilted his head back, and took a sip of beer, revealing his slender neck. Below his slightly raised Adam’s apple were delicate and elegant collarbones.

Bai Yuanzhi’s face flushed, her heart pounding like a drum.

She quickly took a sip of beer as well, then asked, “…Is there any gossip you want to talk about recently?”

Ming Jiayao smiled.

He knew she would understand him.

But, before coming,

Ming Jiayao had already thought about the question of “how exactly to tell her.”

In truth, he was also troubled.

He didn’t want to hide his identity,

but now was the most critical moment—Liu Rong had already accepted Ming Jingxing’s baseless orders and was preparing to deal with Chen Shen and Xu Wenrui.

Next,

what actions Chen Shen would take remained to be seen;

but Xu Wenrui was an out-and-out lunatic!

Ming Jiayao was not afraid of retaliation from the Chen Family or the Xu Family, whether they targeted the Ming Family or him personally.

But he could not accept those people taking their anger out on Bai Yuanzhi.

Bai Yuanzhi was his weakness.

Ming Jiayao could not afford to lose.

Therefore, he still could not confess his identity to her.

Ming Jiayao carefully told Bai Yuanzhi that something had happened in his family recently:

—His grandfather discovered that his aunt was having an improper relationship with the neighbor’s uncle. So, his grandfather told his uncle that if he resolved this matter, he would hand over the inheritance rights of the family property to him.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuanzhi’s eyes immediately lit up with the blazing fire of gossip!

“Wow, your grandfather is amazing!” Bai Yuanzhi exclaimed in admiration. “He’s killing three birds with one stone. Indeed, ginger is spicier when it’s old!”

Ming Jiayao paused, the corners of his lips curling slightly.

But he quickly restrained himself.

He had always known she was smart.

He just hadn’t expected her to be this smart!

“H-how did you know?” Ming Jiayao said awkwardly. “I’ve been worrying about this…”

Bai Yuanzhi replied, “It’s simple!”

In her view, A Yao’s grandfather definitely hadn’t just found out about his younger daughter-in-law’s improper relationship with the neighbor.

“One is a family member living under the same roof day and night, and the other is a neighbor they’ve known for years… Your aunt and the neighbor’s uncle aren’t young anymore, right? If there really is something between them, it’s highly likely that it started when they were young.”

“That means your grandfather has known about it for a long time.”

“But he waited until now to act. It must be because—”

Bai Yuanzhi tilted her head and thought for a moment before continuing, “—your grandfather thinks you’ve grown up. With his and your combined strength, you can now stand up to your uncle and aunt. That’s why he chose to act at this moment.”

Ming Jiayao nodded repeatedly and asked, “Then why do you think this is my grandfather’s plan to kill three birds with one stone?”

Bai Yuanzhi smiled and said, “Since even your grandfather knows about your aunt’s improper relationship with the neighbor’s uncle… Your uncle is your aunt’s husband, sharing the same bed. How could he not know?”

“Besides, your family’s ancestral home is in Guangdong, right? People from Guangdong place great emphasis on family etiquette and rules. Your grandfather is the elder. If he wanted to, he could even force your uncle and aunt to divorce…”

“But your grandfather didn’t do that. Instead, he handed this mess over to your uncle to handle.”

“This proves—”

“A Yao, in your family, your aunt holds a fairly high status, doesn’t she?” Bai Yuanzhi asked.

Ming Jiayao nodded repeatedly.

Bai Yuanzhi continued, “And that neighbor’s uncle’s family must be quite wealthy too.”

Ming Jiayao nodded repeatedly again.

Bai Yuanzhi added, “So, your grandfather is having your uncle handle this matter himself because he actually wants to see all three of them suffer.”

“Think about it: a simple, introverted, and silent man—what can he do to deal with a wife whose family is particularly wealthy and a lover who is even wealthier than him?”

“Even if he really tries to resolve it…”

“A Yao, how could your wealthy aunt and her wealthy lover possibly respect your honest, simple-minded uncle?”

“This conflict is irreconcilable. Once your aunt and that neighbor’s uncle are exposed, they’ll only feel humiliated and angry… They’ll take revenge on your uncle.”

“The stakes involved here are so clear even I can see them. Your grandfather must have thought it through even more deeply than I have,” Bai Yuanzhi said.

Ming Jiayao nodded. “Sister, what do you think my aunt and the neighbor uncle will do?”

Bai Yuanzhi thought for a moment and asked, “Do your aunt and that neighbor uncle know their affair has been exposed?”

“They already know,” Ming Jiayao replied.

After pondering for a while, Bai Yuanzhi said, “If that’s the case, then I think… A Yao, you shouldn’t get involved at all. Just focus on taking care of yourself.”

“At this point, your aunt and the neighbor uncle won’t face any trouble.”

“On the contrary—you are the one in the most dangerous position.”

Ming Jiayao was stunned. “What…”

Bai Yuanzhi took a sip of the refreshingly cold beer before continuing. “Your uncle is a coward.”

She stated this matter-of-factly.

Ming Jiayao nodded. “Yes.”

Bai Yuanzhi explained, “Your grandfather’s original intention was good—he didn’t want to dirty his own hands, he just wanted to watch them tear each other apart.”

“The problem is, how could a coward with no ability, yet still foolishly dreaming of seizing your family’s fortune, possibly have the courage to confront his wealthy and powerful wife, and her even wealthier, more powerful lover?”

“Moreover, your aunt is still his wife… As long as they remain married, he can still benefit somewhat from her family’s influence.”

“As for his wife’s lover, your uncle has already tolerated it for so many years. What’s a little more to endure?”

“A Yao, seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human instinct. Applied to this situation, it means—pick the softest target to bully.” Bai Yuanzhi advised him, “If you carefully review the situation, you’ll realize—in this entire affair, in his eyes, you, who just became an adult, are that soft target.”

“Think about it. You and your uncle are your grandfather’s heirs. Your grandfather has endured all this time, waiting for you to grow up. If something happens to you at this critical moment, no matter how unwilling your grandfather is, he would have to pass the inheritance to your uncle. Otherwise, your family would have no successor…”

Ming Jiayao nodded repeatedly.

He had already reviewed the situation many times.

In fact, his thoughts were quite similar to Bai Yuanzhi’s—both concluded that Liu Rong would pick a soft target to bully.

But in Ming Jiayao’s imagination,

He even thought Liu Rong might target Chen Shuojie as the soft target…

It wasn’t until he heard Bai Yuanzhi’s analysis that he realized, in Liu Rong’s eyes, he, Ming Jiayao, might be an even softer target than Chen Shuojie!

Bai Yuanzhi took a bite of the crispy, fragrant oyster omelet and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

—Oyster omelet is a representative dish of Chaoshan cuisine. It is made by shucking fresh oysters, mixing them into a prepared batter, and frying them in oil until they form a pancake-like shape.

The batter should be a mix of flour and sweet potato starch in proportion, blended with a generous amount of egg liquid.

It must be eaten hot, right after it comes out of the pan.

The bottom is crispy and crunchy, while the batter is exceptionally tender… The complex texture, combined with the freshness of the eggs and the oysters,

Makes it absolutely delicious even without dipping it in fish sauce!

She ate two pieces of oyster omelet in one go, took another sip of the cold beer, and finally stopped.

“So A Yao, is this the reason why… you’ve hardly been looking for me lately?” Bai Yuanzhi asked, “You want to protect me, don’t want your uncle and aunt, that neighbor uncle… or even your grandfather to know I exist?”

Ming Jiayao was taken aback for a moment, quickly lowering his head.

He softly hummed in agreement, his eyes slightly reddened.

“Sorry, sis,” Ming Jiayao whispered.

Bai Yuanzhi smiled, “It’s okay… I was already wondering if you had run into some trouble. Or maybe, in your eyes, your situation… was a little too difficult to talk about, which is why you’ve been keeping silent all this time.”

“Never thought—”

“You actually told me!”

Ming Jiayao was uneasy, “Then will you…”

“No!” Bai Yuanzhi said firmly, “I won’t think your family situation is complicated, nor will I find you annoying because of it, or feel like I want to keep my distance from you.”

Ming Jiayao suddenly looked up, staring blankly at Bai Yuanzhi.

Unbidden tears welled up in his eyes…

All the accumulated unease and anxiety were completely released in this moment.

“Sis—”

Bai Yuanzhi raised her glass, “A Yao, let’s toast to ourselves!”

“May we, who have been through the mud, first climb ashore in our own fields… then keep climbing upward, all the way to the peak, until we shine brightly!”

Ming Jiayao stared at Bai Yuanzhi for a long time before finally sniffing.

“Okay!”

The two glasses lightly clinked, producing a clear, pleasant sound.

Bai Yuanzhi tilted her head, smiling at A Yao,

While Ming Jiayao’s eyes were reddened.

= =

A day later, Bai Yuanzhi accompanied Zhou Sier to the hospital for a follow-up check.

—It had always been Qiao Yusen accompanying Zhou Sier, but recently, through Bai Yuanzhi, the batch of orders Qiao Yusen collaborated on with the Chen Group was about to be delivered. Qiao Yusen simply couldn’t get away, so he had to call Bai Yuanzhi and ask her to take his place, accompanying Zhou Sier to the hospital.

On the phone, Bai Yuanzhi teased, “Wow, it’s rare for Brother Qiao to trust me so much, actually entrusting such an important task to me… Hey, wait, isn’t Zhou Sier my sister? Why does Brother Qiao have to ask me like this?”

On the other end of the line, Qiao Yusen was embarrassed; aside from awkward laughter, he couldn’t say a word.

Meanwhile, Zhou Sier beside Bai Yuanzhi flushed red, scolding, “Bai Yuanzhi! Why do you have so much to say!”

Bai Yuanzhi laughed heartily before telling Qiao Yusen not to worry and hanging up.

And so, the next day, Bai Yuanzhi accompanied Zhou Sier back to St. Maria Hospital for the follow-up.

After examining Zhou Sier, Dr. Huang was very pleased, “Wow, Sier, your recovery is really going well. Keep working hard to take care of your health. If things continue like this, you might fully recover before summer arrives.”

Then Dr. Huang praised Bai Yuanzhi, “Ah Zhi is really thoughtful! Sier, you’ve recovered so well, your sister deserves a lot of credit!”

Zhou Sier tightly held Bai Yuanzhi’s hand. The two sisters smiled at each other, then thanked Dr. Huang together.

After the check-up,

Just as Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier were about to head home,

Suddenly—

A man let out a heart-wrenching cry of “Zhou Pan’er”…

Bai Yuanzhi was startled.

To be honest,

She had long grown accustomed to her new name,

So much so that when she heard the name “Zhou Pan’er,” it actually felt unfamiliar.

Yet,

the man’s voice was oddly familiar…

Bai Yuanzhi turned her head in shock and confusion,

only to see—Song Junshu.

And—

Song Junshu wasn’t alone on the third-floor atrium;

he was entangled with Luo Jiaojiao.

Luo Jiaojiao looked disheveled and dazed.

She seemed to be trying to break free from Song Junshu,

but he kept a tight grip on her wrist…

The two were locked in a stalemate.

When Song Junshu suddenly caught sight of Bai Yuanzhi, he froze, letting Luo Jiaojiao claw and strike at him.

Luo Jiaojiao screamed hysterically, “Let me go! Let me go!”

“I’m not crazy! I’m not!”

“I was just with Ming Zhixuan… Ming Zhixuan isn’t dead! I saw him! It’s true! He even X me, he even XXXX…”

“Let me go! I don’t want to go to the hospital, I don’t want to see a psychiatrist, I’m not crazy… Get away from me! Get away!!!” Luo Jiaojiao broke into loud sobs and tantrums.

Yes, that day, Luo Jiaojiao had stumbled to Bai Yuanzhi’s house in a crazed state, looking for Zhou Sier. After recounting her bizarre experience, she left in a daze.

At the time, she had vowed as she left, “Sier, even if you no longer see me as a close friend, I… I’ll still live well. I’ll get my diploma, find a decent job… Even if we’re not together in the future, I won’t let you look down on me!”

Who would have thought that when they saw Luo Jiaojiao again, she would still be mixed up with Song Junshu!

And…

she seemed to be getting crazier!

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier exchanged a glance, both understanding the other’s thoughts: this was no place to linger.

Sisters hand in hand, they turned to leave.

“Zhou Pan’er!!!” Song Junshu roared again at Bai Yuanzhi’s retreating figure.

Zhou Sier was bewildered, “Zhou Pan’er… who is that?”

She looked at Bai Yuanzhi in confusion.

After all, Bai Yuanzhi’s original name was Zhou Pandi, so was Song Junshu calling out to Ah Zhi?

Bai Yuanzhi urged anxiously, “Sister, let’s ignore him, hurry up and go!”

Considering her elder sister had several fractures, though mostly healed, Dr. Huang had just advised her to continue resting quietly…

So Bai Yuanzhi let Zhou Sier walk ahead while she stayed behind to protect her.

“Zhou Pan’er… Bai Yuanzhi, stop right there!” Song Junshu bellowed, “Don’t go! Don’t you dare leave… Ah!!!”

Song Junshu suddenly let out a sharp cry.

Startled, Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier turned to look,

only to see that Luo Jiaojiao, in her struggle to break free, had bitten Song Junshu’s hand hard!

Then—

Perhaps out of shame and anger, Song Junshu cursed “bitch” and shoved Luo Jiaojiao violently.

The accident happened just like that!

—Maybe Song Junshu pushed too hard, or perhaps Luo Jiaojiao was too frail. In any case, Luo Jiaojiao was shoved straight toward the railing of the atrium!

She crashed heavily against the railing, then, losing her balance, swayed a few times…

And then,

Luo Jiaojiao tumbled headfirst, straight over the railing!!!

This sudden accident

made Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier scream in unison!

After all, this was the third floor!

And below the courtyard was the bustling hospital lobby!

Most importantly, Luo Jiaojiao had just fallen headfirst…

At that moment, almost all the medical staff, patients, and family members who witnessed this were stunned.

A few seconds later, everyone panicked like ants on a hot pan.

Meanwhile, Song Junshu was also stunned for a moment before suddenly turning to look at Bai Yuanzhi.

He rushed over, grabbed Bai Yuanzhi’s hand, and forcefully dragged her away with an absolute air of dominance.

Bai Yuanzhi was terrified. “Song Junshu, are you insane? You’re a murderer… What are you doing? Let go of me!”

Zhou Sier screamed in fear, “Help! Help… Please, someone help my sister!”

But Song Junshu didn’t seem to intend to flee. With a grim expression, he held Bai Yuanzhi’s hand, took her to an empty, unoccupied examination room nearby, locked the door behind him, propped a mop against the handle, and pushed a heavy cabinet against the door.

By then, Bai Yuanzhi had already fled to the window.

She tried to push it open to call for help, but the window seemed welded shut…

Song Junshu grabbed her, forcing her to face him, and called out to her in a hoarse voice, “Pan’er!”

Bai Yuanzhi suddenly fell silent.

So—

Had Song Junshu also been reborn?

Otherwise, how could he suddenly call her by her name from her previous life?

Song Junshu gazed greedily at Bai Yuanzhi’s face, wearing an expression that seemed both tearful and joyful.

“Pan’er, you’ve been reborn too, haven’t you?” he said frantically. “In this life, you came to Hong Kong City six years earlier… Why did you change your name to something completely different from your previous life?”

“Why are you avoiding me? Why are you deliberately steering clear of all the moments when our paths would cross?”

“You took Zhou Sier’s luggage and notes, didn’t you?”

“Pan’er… why?”

“Why?!” Song Junshu suddenly lost control of his emotions.

Song Junshu didn’t get an answer from Bai Yuanzhi.

Or rather,

Bai Yuanzhi just stared at him warily, completely unwilling to respond.

Song Junshu broke down and said, “Do you know, the day before yesterday, Luo Jiaojiao beat me up. She went crazy! She smashed a wine bottle over my head, and I fell to the ground, bleeding profusely…”

When he woke up, his mind went blank for a moment,

and then—

a vague, elusive memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.

It turned out that ten years later, he would become a rising star in Hong Kong City’s elite circle.

His girlfriend, Zhou Pan’er, was a beautiful and financially savvy girl,

and he loved her deeply.

He had already proposed to her, and she had shyly agreed.

However, just before their wedding was about to take place, Zhou Pan’er suddenly discovered his secret.

It wasn’t much of a secret.

It was just that, ten years ago, Song Junshu had once had a… relationship that wasn’t quite a romance with the late Zhou Sier.

And Zhou Sier was the older sister of his current girlfriend, Zhou Pan’er.

Song Junshu didn’t think much of it.

In his view,

—he had never truly been in a relationship with Zhou Sier.

—he had carried forward Zhou Sier’s scientific research ideas.

This misunderstanding could be cleared up.

Zhou Pan’er had to forgive him, even be grateful to him—otherwise, her sister Zhou Sier’s scientific research ideas would never see the light of day.

But what Song Junshu didn’t expect was

Zhou Pan’er’s intense reaction.

She insisted on breaking up!

In a moment of desperation, Song Junshu argued with her and accidentally pushed her down the stairs.

Then,

Song Junshu witnessed a scene that made his eyes widen in horror—Zhou Pan’er’s limbs were twisted, blood gushing wildly!

He rushed her to the hospital,

but the hospital, finding Zhou Pan’er’s injuries suspicious, reported it to the police.

Song Junshu was arrested and taken to the police station, and from then on, he lost all news of Zhou Sier.

 

It wasn’t until a year later, when he was sentenced to ten years in prison for manslaughter, that he learned… Zhou Pan’er hadn’t made it through and had passed away over half a year ago.

The ten-year prison sentence made Song Junshu’s life a living hell.

Day and night, he was consumed by regret—

regret for not destroying Zhou Sier’s belongings sooner,

regret for laying hands on Pan’er back then…

After enduring immense suffering, Song Junshu was finally released upon completing his sentence.

His company had long since vanished into thin air.

With no other options, he turned to Luo Jiaojiao, relying on their past connection.

His original intention was to use Luo Jiaojiao as a stepping stone to get close to Ming Zhixuan. Little did he expect that Luo Jiaojiao had already become Ming Zhixuan’s kept woman, and even less did he anticipate that Ming Zhixuan would misunderstand the relationship between Song Junshu and Luo Jiaojiao. As a result, both of them were relentlessly suppressed by Ming Zhixuan.

With nowhere left to turn, Song Junshu starved to death beside a garbage dump.

And then, with a sudden opening of his eyes—

he had actually returned to 1982, ten years in the past?!

At this moment, Song Junshu didn’t know whether to feel relieved or filled with regret.

—In this life, Zhou Sier hadn’t died! She had come back to life!

Luo Jiaojiao hadn’t yet become Ming Zhixuan’s mistress, but she had already gone mad!

Even Ming Zhixuan, the powerful figure from his previous life… was already dead???

Song Junshu found it hard to believe.

And then—

Song Junshu suddenly realized that in this life, the biggest variable was Zhou Pan’er!

Song Junshu knew Zhou Pan’er quite well.

This girl had suffered a great deal on the mainland, and all the pain she endured came from the harm inflicted by her closest family members.

She was a girl starved of love.

At first, when Song Junshu approached her, it was actually just to help the big boss Ming Zhixuan collect women.

—Ming Zhixuan had no other hobbies; he was simply lustful!

And Song Junshu, by continuously presenting Ming Zhixuan with all sorts of beautiful women, had gained many benefits from him in return.

But the more time he spent with Zhou Pan’er, the more Song Junshu grew to like her, and the more reluctant he became to let anyone else know about her.

He had fallen for her.

He wanted to marry Zhou Pan’er.

But he never expected…

Recalling the past, Song Junshu felt somewhat agitated.

So???

Pan’er had also been reborn, hadn’t she?

The more Song Junshu thought about it, the more convinced he became that his speculation was correct.

Then,

since Pan’er had also been reborn, why hadn’t she come to find him earlier? Why had she changed her name? Why had she avoided any and all interaction with him?

Why?!

Faced with Song Junshu’s furious shouts and accusations, Bai Yuanzhi remained silent.

She didn’t want to speak,

because someone outside was already banging on the door, trying to force it open.

So, Bai Yuanzhi didn’t want to provoke Song Junshu.

But Song Junshu broke down completely. “Pan’er, I love you! I truly love you…”

“You don’t love me,” Bai Yuanzhi said softly. “What you love is a woman who can bring you absolute returns.”

“For example, Zhou Sier from your previous life—she genuinely looked down on you. You couldn’t do anything about her, so you knocked her unconscious, intending to offer her to Ming Zhixuan for his pleasure. But she woke up and, because of her fiery temper, ended up falling from a building and losing her life.”

“You gained no benefits or returns from Zhou Sier, so you went all the way, stealing her scientific research achievements. Relying on her half-finished research notebook, you deceived one investor after another, and that’s how you earned titles like ‘Outstanding Young Entrepreneur’ and ‘Distinguished Research Scholar’!”

“Take Luo Jiaojiao from your past life, for example—after Zhou Sier died, the only one left by your side was Luo Jiaojiao, who was utterly loyal to you and loved you to the point of madness. Though she wasn’t as beautiful as Zhou Sier, she would risk everything for you. That’s why she went to great lengths to please Ming Zhixuan, securing investments for you…”

“Finally, you fell in love with Zhou Pan’er—but did you truly love her? Or was it her experience and ability to predict the stock market that you actually loved? Your tech company had long been unsustainable, and it was only by relying on Zhou Pan’er extracting money from the stock market time and again that you could maintain your lavish, respectable lifestyle…”

“Is this what you call true love?” As she spoke, Bai Yuanzhi looked at Song Junshu with a mocking expression.

Song Junshu shook his head desperately. “No! It wasn’t Pan’er, listen to me! I truly loved you! Otherwise, why would I have proposed to you?”

Bai Yuanzhi sneered, “When you proposed to Zhou Pan’er, wasn’t it just to tie her to your side, to make her serve you alone forever?”

Song Junshu scratched his head anxiously. “Pan’er! I really do love you! Why… why won’t you believe me?”

“Oh, really?” Bai Yuanzhi said calmly. “Since you claim to love her, why doesn’t she believe in your love? How exactly did you love her? Be specific—don’t just keep repeating ‘I like you’.”

Song Junshu opened his mouth.

He wanted to say, I truly loved you. When I was in prison in my past life, I thought of you every day, I…

But when he tried to follow her request and explain in detail how he had loved her,

he found he couldn’t say anything at all.

He had never given her a proper gift,

never taken her out for a fancy meal,

none of his friends knew her,

he had never even publicly announced their relationship!

But he kept it low-key for her own good—what if Ming Zhixuan found out he had such a beautiful and intelligent woman? He would surely try every means to take her!

His intention in keeping things discreet was to protect her.

Why couldn’t she understand?

Song Junshu felt both wronged and heartbroken.

“Admit it!” Bai Yuanzhi said. “In both your past life and this one, the only person you truly love is yourself.”

“Everyone else was just a stepping stone for you!”

“And one more thing—”

Bai Yuanzhi spoke word by word: “Don’t try to hurt me! When the police come in later, if I’m unharmed, your punishment will be lighter.”

Song Junshu froze.

Soon, he understood her warning.

The hospital must have called the police, as someone outside shouted, “Listen up inside! We are Hong Kong City police! Please remain calm and do not harm the hostage.”

Shortly after,

with a loud “bang,” the clinic door was violently broken down.

Bai Yuanzhi immediately pushed Song Junshu over and quickly ran toward the door.

Caught off guard, Song Junshu fell to the ground, staring blankly at Bai Yuanzhi.

Meanwhile, several police officers who had broken in surrounded Bai Yuanzhi, protecting her and escorting her out.

Several other officers rushed over with electric batons, surrounding Song Junshu.

Song Junshu’s eyes were bloodshot as he gazed obsessively at Bai Yuanzhi’s retreating figure, muttering, “I truly loved you… I really did! Why won’t you believe me?”

But Bai Yuanzhi had already walked away without looking back.

Song Junshu’s tears streamed down.