Astonishing!

Xia Xiaolan thought she had seen it all, but tonight’s events still left her amazed!

The truth kept twisting, leaving her dizzied.

Not just Zhang Jiadong – who among them could accept this?

Cui Yiru, this woman, had an affair with Zhang Jiadong, panicked upon discovering her pregnancy, and wanted to end things with him.

She indirectly caused Xu Zhongyi to become a fugitive, destroying their family’s life.

Zhang Jiadong must have truly loved her – how could he not cherish a woman he had worked so hard to win?

But Cui Yiru hadn’t even been honest with Zhang Jiadong.

Her silence was why Zhang Jiadong firmly believed Tina was his daughter!

Was Cui Yiru a good person?

Her marital infidelity was a fact, completely contrary to the traditional Chinese definition of a good woman!

But was she evil?

Though unfaithful to Xu Zhongyi, she was devoted to her children. When Zhang Jiadong insisted on helping raise the children, she went along with it, not wanting to investigate Tina’s true paternity… Who Tina’s father was didn’t matter – what mattered was that her mother was Cui Yiru. Both Tina and Xu Langle were Cui Yiru’s children, and she wouldn’t abandon either, wanting to give them the best life possible.

Most people in the world can’t be simply classified as good or bad. Cui Yiru exemplified the complexity of human nature!

Tina stood behind Pan Bohua, tears in her eyes.

Even Xu Zhongyi hadn’t imagined his son could accomplish such a thing.

How old had Langle been then?

With all those people Zhang Jiadong had monitoring Langle, how had he managed it…

“Langle, come here.”

Xu Zhongyi’s throat choked with countless words. “I did try to contact you, I tried many times—”

Waves of emotion rippled across Xu Langle’s cold eyes.

“I know. You tried to contact me. I remember when Tina and I were kidnapped, a homeless man helped us call the police. I knew it was you then. You couldn’t acknowledge me, and I couldn’t acknowledge you. But from that day on, I knew you were alive – you saved me and Tina!”

Tina had been too young then to remember much about the kidnapping.

But Xu Langle remembered clearly.

Zhang Jiadong had already married his mother by then. He was 11, and Tina was only 4.

Tears finally fell from Xu Zhongyi’s eyes.

He had thought Xu Langle hadn’t recognized him – he hadn’t dared show himself then.

He never imagined Langle had been so in tune with him, father and son working toward the same goal.

Back then, Xu Zhongyi couldn’t even be sure Zhang Jiadong was the mastermind…

Father and son gazed at each other, both filled with tender emotion.

Xia Xiaolan felt this was heading toward a happy ending.

Except Zhang Jiadong still needed to be dealt with.

Right, Zhang Jiadong – wasn’t everything tonight going too smoothly?

Just as this thought crossed Xia Xiaolan’s mind, Zhang Jiadong, stung by the father-son tenderness, suddenly laughed:

“How touching. After all that pointless talk, why haven’t you pulled the trigger?”

Xu Langle’s gun hand trembled.

Zhang Jiadong pulled open his jacket, revealing rows of explosives strapped to his body: “We’ve been ‘father and son’ for years – you know me well. I always think three steps ahead. How could I have agreed to board without being fully prepared?”

As he spoke, he pulled out handcuffs and quickly cuffed himself to Cui Yiru.

Cui Yiru didn’t resist, like a puppet, submissively letting Zhang Jiadong cuff her.

“It’s not just me wearing explosives – I had them planted throughout the entire cruise ship. I’ve already lost too much today. If I can’t leave this ship alive, everyone will die with me. How does that sound?”

Du Chenrong stood up, clapping his hands:

“Your grudges have nothing to do with me. At most, I’ll stay neutral. Zhaohui, follow me off the ship.”

Zhang Jiadong didn’t try to stop Du Chenrong from leaving.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help looking at Zhou Cheng. He gently scratched her palm with his finger, immediately calming her heart. If the ship was rigged with bombs, would Zhou Cheng have allowed her to stay and hear this entire tale of love and revenge?

But Du Zhaohui didn’t trust Zhou Cheng as much.

Hearing the ship was full of explosives, with Xia Xiaolan aboard, he refused to leave.

Du Zhaohui’s eyes darted around. “This is your family’s grudge, why involve others? Why not let the uninvolved parties leave together!”

It wasn’t just about Xia Xiaolan dying.

All those innocent tourists – so many deaths at once would turn the sea red with blood.

The thought made Du Zhaohui shudder.

Zhang Jiadong sneered, “Out of my old friendship with Chairman Du, I’m willing to let you leave. Don’t leave now, and you can die with everyone else. As for the others, if you dare meddle in Zhang Jiadong’s affairs, you can die with me!”

Du Zhaohui’s mouth gaped.

The old bastard knew Zhang Jiadong.

Why hadn’t he told him?

No, wait – he had picked them up at the airport, with Xu Zhongyi disguised as the driver. It should have been flawless – how did Zhang Jiadong know?

In a flash, Du Zhaohui realized the only one who could have betrayed him was his father, Du Chenrong.

Many of his men had come from Du Chenrong.

His investigation into “Master Qiu” probably hadn’t escaped the old man’s notice either.

That’s how Zhang Jiadong knew about his contact with “Master Qiu.” Du Zhaohui nearly went mad with rage – Zhang Jiadong was betrayed by his adopted son, and Xu Zhongyi was betrayed by his wife, those were nothing!

He had it worst of all.

Played like a fool by his father…

“Zhaohui, hurry up! This is their family business – why get involved?”

“I’m not leaving. Let him blow me up if he dares.”

Du Zhaohui suddenly turned with a grotesque smile. “Master Qiu, I’ll lend you a hand. Remember this favor well – next time I come to buy a vase or something, you’d better agree quickly! With all of us against one Zhang, don’t we stand a chance?”

Du Zhaohui’s sudden fearlessness surprised Du Chenrong.

“You really won’t leave?”

Du Zhaohui stubbornly shook his head.

Du Chenrong was truly capable of it – he turned and left without looking back. As he passed Zhang Jiadong, he suddenly kicked Cui Yiru. Unable to withstand such force, she stumbled.

Years of caring for Cui Yiru were ingrained in Zhang Jiadong – he instinctively moved to support her, his body tilting.

At that moment, Zhou Cheng and Pan Bohua fired simultaneously.

Their draw was so fast that even Xia Xiaolan standing beside them couldn’t see clearly. With several bang-bang-bangs, Zhou Cheng and Pan Bohua, as if competing, each fired at least three shots at Zhang Jiadong.

They hit Zhang Jiadong’s hands, feet, and both sides of his neck arteries.

Blood spurted from his carotid arteries as Zhang Jiadong fell to his knees:

“…What use is it? Even if I die… the entire cruise ship will still… explode… I told you, if we die, we all die together!”