Yin Feng, hidden in the undergrowth, tensed completely when he saw You Mingxu suddenly burst into the cabin with her gun drawn. Still, he kept his composure, watching the situation inside intently from the doorway.
He watched as Chen Zhaoci was easily subdued, and saw You Mingxu’s face turn utterly cold as she glanced out the window before starting to beat the man.
For some reason, whenever You Mingxu showed such ferocity, Yin Feng never felt afraid. Instead, his heart ached with an inexplicable tenderness, and his feelings for her grew even stronger.
He crouched in the bushes, watching silently.
When he saw You Mingxu push Chen Zhaoci and gesture for him to surrender, Yin Feng’s heart began to ease. He prepared to stand and assist once she brought the suspect out.
The night was falling, the mountain vast and dark, cold winds whispering through swaying vegetation.
That’s when it happened.
It was a sensation that came suddenly, without warning, and utterly impossible to resist. Yin Feng felt as if the entire world violently shook at once. Then everything began to spin. Something in his mind was collapsing, breaking through, the speed bringing pain. His entire body gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, his head throbbing unbearably.
He had experienced this sensation once before, several days ago at the hotpot restaurant when he suddenly got a headache and fainted. But this time it was stronger, more distinct.
No.
He heard a voice in his mind saying: No.
But those surging currents, that pain, that dizziness, wouldn’t listen to him at all. He was in such agony he almost moaned, barely managing to cover his mouth to avoid making any sound that might compromise You Mingxu’s operation. Lying on the ground, tears nearly forcing their way out, he looked up hazily and witnessed a heart-stopping scene.
He saw Gu Tiancheng, still wearing that devil-like cold and calm expression. He held a gun pointed at You Mingxu. You Mingxu was on the ground. Behind her, Chen Zhaoci held a knife.
Don’t faint.
He bit through his lip, blood flowing.
Don’t faint now.
His Ah Xu was still dealing with the most vicious criminals. He was her man, he had to protect her. Tears in his eyes, he stumbled to his feet.
But a broader wave of grief and unease silently washed over him. Dimly, he sensed what was about to happen to him. Whether this meant falling back into the abyss or finally opening a long-closed window, he didn’t know.
But he no longer wanted to go anywhere else—the former fame and fortune, thirty years of experience and schemes, he wanted none of it.
He was already with her!
Now he only wanted to be Yu Yingjun, to accompany her through spring’s birth, summer’s growth, autumn’s harvest, and winter’s storage.
The pain intensified, the entire world between his eyes swaying.
“Ah Xu…” he heard his choked voice, “Ah Xu…”
—
“Throw the gun away,” Gu Tiancheng said. “Far away.”
You Mingxu’s mind raced, but she said, “No.”
Gu Tiancheng gave a small laugh and said, “Mingxu, you know I don’t have much time left. Guess whether I love you more or hate you more right now, whether I can bear to kill you. I’ll count 5, 4, 3…” His finger slowly moved to the trigger.
You Mingxu gritted her teeth and threw her gun away.
“How did you survive the river?” You Mingxu asked. “Who’s helping you?”
He said, “Good girl, don’t waste time. There’ll be chances to tell you later. Now I’m taking him away. Come on, get out, clear the path for us.”
You Mingxu slowly stood up, laughing softly. “Since when did you start keeping company?”
Chen Zhaoci watched her warily as he backed out of the cabin.
Gu Tiancheng kept his gun steady on her, pushing her waist, saying, “People like us, whom you look down upon, have to find our way to live.”
His words were ambiguous. You Mingxu suppressed her confusion and slowly walked outside, immediately noticing Yin Feng’s hiding place was empty. The bushes were too dark to see if he had retrieved the gun.
Gu Tiancheng looked, and Chen Zhaoci dove into the bushes, quickly searching for the gun.
“You won’t escape,” You Mingxu said. “This mountain is surrounded by police, layer after layer. Surrender. Resistance will only make things worse.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt Gu Tiancheng’s large hand pat her face from behind. “Still trying to fool me? You know well that even if I die out here, I’d rather that than fall into the hands of police like you again.”
You Mingxu clenched her teeth.
But Gu Tiancheng knew time was short—once the police cordon formed, escape would be impossible. He said, “Kneel.”
You Mingxu didn’t move.
Gu Tiancheng watched her stubborn, graceful figure from behind. Even in the plainest, most unfeminine clothes, even without makeup, she could easily stir both desire and hatred in his heart. He watched as his gun barrel traced from her delectable head, slowly down past her full chest, to her slender waist, and long legs, finally stopping at her knees.
“Darling,” he said, “I can never bring myself to kill you. Never.”
You Mingxu’s entire body tensed as she stared ahead.
At that critical moment, just as Gu Tiancheng’s hand was about to pull the trigger, an even colder gun barrel pressed hard against the back of his head. His eyes flew wide open as You Mingxu, seizing the moment between life and death, rolled away with lightning speed. Chen Zhaoci, startled in the bushes, straightened up.
Gu Tiancheng raised his gun in anger but heard a breathless voice behind him: “Drop the gun! Gu Tiancheng, move an inch… and I’ll kill you!”
That somewhat familiar voice was truly ironic. Gu Tiancheng slowly lowered his gun, saying, “Fool, still protecting her? Heh… fine, very well.”
“Shut up!” Yin Feng shouted, gripping the gun tightly, using all his strength to keep it from slipping. His mouth was full of the taste of blood. Now, the throbbing in his head gradually receded, replaced by increasingly hazy consciousness. It was as if before him wasn’t a forest but a vast ocean, and he was floating in it, about to sink.
Hazily, he saw You Mingxu roll up from the ground and subdue Chen Zhaoci, the gleaming knife now apparently in her hands. Yin Feng smiled vaguely, thinking: Thank goodness. He hadn’t failed her in this life-or-death moment, hadn’t left her side.
You Mingxu was unaware of Yin Feng’s condition. His sudden appearance had completely turned the tables. Chen Zhaoci was no threat now, already in her grasp. Her knife pressed steadily against his throat, leaving him completely at her mercy. And even Gu Tiancheng had been subdued by Yin Feng. It had to be said, that Yin Feng’s timing and angle of attack had been perfect. With someone of Gu Tiancheng’s skill, the slightest mistake would have given him away, ruining everything. But Yin Feng had succeeded.
She quickly glanced at Yin Feng. He stood in the tree’s shadow, his reddened eyes fixed on Gu Tiancheng. He even gave a foolish smile.
You Mingxu looked at Gu Tiancheng: “Second time.”
A thin anger clouded Gu Tiancheng’s face—this woman always knew how to pierce his heart. It was the second time he’d fallen into her and this little fool’s trap. He thought he should have ignored their concerns earlier, disregarded that vague feeling in his heart, and just killed her. Whenever he met her, his heart always stirred. And once it stirred, he wasn’t ruthless enough.