The situation had reached a stalemate.

You Mingxu held Chen Zhaoci hostage. He struggled unsuccessfully, panting, his neck already bleeding, laughing like a complete psychopath. Gu Tiancheng’s gun was pointed at them, but with You Mingxu using a human shield, his chances of hitting her were uncertain.

Yin Feng’s gun was aimed at the back of Gu Tiancheng’s head.

With no clear advantage, every passing second worked against Gu Tiancheng and Chen Zhaoci. In the distance, the footsteps of approaching criminal investigators could be heard.

Suddenly, Gu Tiancheng burst into wild laughter, both unrestrained and desolate, lowering his gun as his body swayed with laughter. You Mingxu watched him warily while trying to signal Yin Feng. But to her alarm, Yin Feng’s gun was drooping, pointing who knows where his head hanging down, expression hidden. You Mingxu’s heart jumped, but she maintained her composure, tightening her hold on Chen Zhaoci while watching them both.

What’s wrong with him? Looking closer, You Mingxu noticed Yin Feng’s body swaying. Her heart clenched—had Gu Tiancheng done something to him? Or was it another headache attack?

“You think…” Gu Tiancheng slowly began, “That our meeting in Tibet—you, me, Yin Feng—was a coincidence?”

Gu Tiancheng looked at her, his eyes full of mocking coldness.

You Mingxu felt as if an ice sheet in her heart suddenly cracked, revealing long-buried truths. She stared at him intently, her peripheral vision fixed on the other man, whose gun had completely lowered as he pressed his hand against his forehead. You Mingxu could only hear her rapid breathing echoing in her ears.

“You think!” Gu Tiancheng’s voice grew more sardonic, more unrestrained, “that you’ve uncovered the whole truth in your solved cases? What do you police amount to?”

Chen Zhaoci let out a “hehe” laugh, suddenly grabbing You Mingxu’s arm, trying to catch her off guard. But she was prepared, driving her knee hard into his leg, making him crumple in pain.

“Bang.”

You Mingxu’s whole body shuddered as she watched helplessly as Chen Zhaoci, still in her grasp, acquired a hole in his forehead, his eyes wide as life instantly left him. Gu Tiancheng held his gun, his face expressionless.

“You!” You Mingxu raged, lifting Chen Zhaoci’s corpse as a shield. But Gu Tiancheng showed no intention of firing again, merely smiling and saying quietly, “Since we couldn’t take him with us, we had to judge and execute him ourselves. No need to thank us.”

You Mingxu clenched her teeth, her entire body tense, looking past Gu Tiancheng at the man behind him, her heart slowly sinking.

Gu Tiancheng was also startled.

You Mingxu and Yin Feng’s arriving with such a police force today had been unexpected. That fool Yin Feng had actually managed to stay hidden so long, waiting for his chance to strike, and with Gu Tiancheng’s attention focused entirely on You Mingxu, one wrong move had left him at their mercy.

With police encirclement imminent, already living day by day, he hadn’t harbored hopes of escape. He’d spoken those words to distract You Mingxu, taking the chance to shoot Chen Zhaoci, preventing him from falling into police hands.

As for himself…

He’d expected Yin Feng would surely shoot him dead.

For some reason, while You Mingxu might not be capable of it, he knew this fool could pull the trigger.

If he died by Yin Feng’s hand, wouldn’t it be interesting if this Teacher Yin got blood on his hands? Haha.

After all, killing, once begun, was like opening a door to dark tides—those currents would flow through your life forever.

But Yin Feng hadn’t acted.

Behind him was silence, save for weak breathing.

Even Gu Tiancheng, who had believed his death certain, sensed something was wrong.

“Ah, Xu.”

Both Gu Tiancheng and You Mingxu heard that very soft, hoarse voice filled with pain.

“Ah Xu!” Yin Feng cried out.

Gu Tiancheng spun around, gun aimed at Yin Feng’s head. You Mingxu dropped Chen Zhaoci and lunged forward.

But there was only a “clang” as Yin Feng’s gun slipped from his hand. He could no longer see Gu Tiancheng’s threat, only struggling to look in You Mingxu’s direction. His face was paper-white, and in his daze, he reached toward the figure rushing toward him, calling out foolishly again: “Ah Xu…”

Ah Xu, I’m sorry.

Yu Yingjun might need to lie down and rest for a while.

I will wake up.

I’m also afraid of waking up.

I just got you, after using all my strength, and waiting humbly for so long, I finally got you. I’m afraid that when I wake up, I won’t be someone you like anymore.

I’m also afraid that when I wake up, my feelings for you might change even slightly.

Don’t give up on me.

Please don’t give up on me.

Maybe I’m just a part of that person’s soul, but I love you deeply.

No matter what face or personality I show you in the future, my soul, has fallen in love with you.

He certainly won’t forget.

“Yin Feng!” You Mingxu watched helplessly as he collapsed like building blocks with their support removed. But Gu Tiancheng was closer, faster, grabbing Yin Feng’s upper body and holding him at gunpoint.

You Mingxu fell to the ground before them, feeling as if her entire being was being torn apart. She rolled to get up, but it was too late.

Gu Tiancheng, having lucked into such an advantage, retreated while holding Yin Feng hostage, laughing almost maniacally.

“Back off! Back off!” he shouted.

You Mingxu stared fixedly at the man in his grasp, who looked as lifeless as a corpse as Gu Tiancheng dragged him along the ground. She felt as if her heart was being crushed, aching dully. Gu Tiancheng was now a cornered beast, capable of anything. She slowly backed away, her concerned and emotional expression clear to Gu Tiancheng, inflaming his jealousy until he could no longer contain it. He said coldly, “You think… this thing you’re keeping is an angel? Not a beast like me?”

You Mingxu’s lips were nearly bleeding from biting them, her voice hoarse: “Don’t touch him. If you need a hostage to escape, take me instead. He’s unconscious, I’ll be more convenient than him.”

Gu Tiancheng roared, “Even now, all you think about is him? You Mingxu, I won’t kill him, because someday you’ll regret loving him. Now, turn around and run, run for your life. Run too slowly, I’ll shoot one of his legs. Even slower, I’ll shoot the other. Run!”

His gun was aimed at Yin Feng’s leg.

You Mingxu’s eyes blazed with fury. She bit her lip and turned to run, exposing her completely defenseless back to the killer.

Cold wind whipped past her face. In the distance, she could see several flickering beams of light. She ran desperately, her heart as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, but her blood burned as if about to ignite.

Yin Feng, wait for me. I’ve placed my life at the mercy of his gun to buy you a chance of survival.

“Bang—” a gunshot rang out behind her.

You Mingxu’s entire body tensed, but she felt no pain—she hadn’t been shot.

Not far away, several police officers had appeared, closing in quickly. You Mingxu turned and ran back.

The short distance felt like endless torment with each passing second. Her eyes were red with held-back tears. Finally emerging from the woods, she could see Chen Zhaoci’s corpse still lying where it had fallen by the cabin, with Yin Feng lying on the other side, his condition unknown. Gu Tiancheng had vanished.

You Mingxu ran to Yin Feng, and seeing no visible wounds, her heart finally dropped from her throat.

“Yin Feng! Yin Feng! Yu Yingjun!” she called out many times, holding him in her arms. But he remained unconscious, completely unresponsive.