Li Weiyi’s heart leaped with joy. She turned and rushed toward Zhong Yi. His expression also relaxed as he reached out his hand toward her…

“Bang bang.”

Sounds like firecrackers erupted right by Li Weiyi’s ear—not loud, but very clear. She froze.

Some among the onlookers also heard it and looked up in confusion, but no one took it seriously.

Only Zhong Yi’s body suddenly stiffened, as if struck twice by an extremely fast and sharp force. He seemed frozen in place, looking down in disbelief at the two bloody holes in his chest.

Finally, one of the onlookers cried out in alarm, “Guns! That’s gunfire! He’s been shot!” Instantly, everyone scattered in panic. The entire supermarket entrance descended into chaos.

Li Weiyi let out a piercing, anguished scream. Watching Zhong Yi fall backward, she was about to rush over and catch him when two men charged from behind. One lifted her struggling body at the waist while the other pressed a cloth to her mouth and simultaneously pulled a black bag over her head. Li Weiyi’s vision went pitch black. A drowsy sensation rapidly invaded her brain. Her tear-stained face lost consciousness.

Taking advantage of the chaotic scene, the van sped away from the site.

—

Zhang Jingchan sat leaning against the hotel bed, taking the photo from Li Yunmo’s hand and looking at the boy’s delicate and familiar features from years ago.

Xu Conglan.

This name hadn’t been heard in a long time—so distant it felt like a previous life. In that very first lifetime, after Fu Ming went bankrupt, Xu Yi had gone abroad to study. After returning to the country, he changed back to the name “Xu Conglan.”

But in every subsequent lifetime, Xu Yi never went abroad again, always staying by Li Weiyi’s side, and thus never changed his name.

So it was him. Of course it was him.

Zhang Jingchan rested one hand on his knee, a faint smile floating on his face, but his eyes looked as if they were tempered with frost. Seeing this expression on his boss, Li Yunmo felt somewhat alarmed.

Li Yunmo voiced his speculation, “Xu Conglan… is Xu Yi, right?”

Zhang Jingchan nodded and pulled out his phone. In the end, he said nothing and just sent the photo and information to Li Weiyi. Then he tossed the phone aside.

After waiting a while with no reply from her, Zhang Jingchan directly called.

No answer.

Zhang Jingchan’s brows furrowed. He called Zhong Yi next, but still no answer.

Zhang Jingchan was someone who rarely panicked. Even back when he had shielded Li Weiyi from the crane, his resolve had been firm and calm, like burning his bridges behind him. But at this moment, a restless anxiety rose from the depths of his heart.

At this time of day, it was clearly dinner time. Li Weiyi and Zhong Yi might be eating together and miss the call. But Zhang Jingchan still couldn’t remain calm and called Li Xiaoyi.

It rang for a long time. No answer.

Li Yunmo had just taken a shower and was about to sprawl on the bed when he saw Zhang Jingchan flip off the bed, “Back to Xiang City.”

Li Yunmo’s mouth fell open, “Now?”

“Don’t waste time with questions—now!”

Night had fallen deep. The two drove onto the highway, heading straight for Xiang City. But this time, Zhang Jingchan had Li Yunmo drive while he kept making phone calls.

Even Li Weiyi’s father and mother didn’t answer their phones.

Even Li Yunmo sensed something was wrong. His hands gripping the steering wheel were covered in sweat.

Finally, after more than ten minutes, someone picked up Li Xiaoyi’s phone.

“Hello, where’s Weiyi?” Zhang Jingchan asked.

On the other end was only the sound of continuous gasping for breath. Li Xiaoyi answered hoarsely, “They’re both dead. Zhong Yi and Weiyi… were killed.”