“You Mingxu,” Gu Tiancheng said, “when have I ever broken my word to you? Come out.”

You Mingxu glanced at Jing Ping, who grabbed her hand. But You Mingxu knew that Jing Ping didn’t understand Gu Tiancheng like she did—the man grew more vicious when provoked and had no regard for his own life. If this continued, the officer would truly be in mortal danger. Besides, Gu Tiancheng was right—he kept his word to her. When he’d promised not to kill Yin Feng before, he’d actually spared him. You Mingxu pulled free from Jing Ping’s grasp and stood firmly, gun raised.

After a moment’s pause, Jing Ping also stood, aiming at Gu Tiancheng’s forehead.

Nearby, Yin Feng had joined Chen Feng and the others. Watching this scene, his expression grew colder. “Gun,” he commanded.

Chen Feng hesitated, not moving.

Yin Feng glanced at him.

Chen Feng reluctantly handed over his weapon.

Yin Feng stood with the gun. His stance was surprisingly practiced and smooth as he advanced slowly, brows slightly furrowed.

Gu Tiancheng looked at You Mingxu, then glanced at the two men following not far behind her, both wearing protective, fierce expressions. Gu Tiancheng seemed unconcerned, smiling as he said, “Another new lover?”

You Mingxu stopped two meters away, holding her position. “I’m here. Release him.”

“I’ll release him after we talk,” Gu Tiancheng said. His gaze lingered on her, expression momentarily distant. “You look beautiful in that.”

You Mingxu smiled slightly. “Thanks for the compliment.”

Gu Tiancheng’s eyes returned to her face, his gaze quiet, focused, and unabashedly yearning, with barely suppressed desire churning beneath.

You Mingxu stared back intently, not daring to relax for a moment. Their gazes clashed silently in the air between them. He chuckled softly and said, “You Mingxu, you know I love you.”

You Mingxu’s heart jolted, her brows furrowing, but her gun didn’t waver.

Jing Ping kept his eyes on Gu Tiancheng, the red outline of You Mingxu’s dress at the edge of his vision.

Yin Feng stood further back but heard these words. Cold filled his heart as his grip tightened on the gun.

But Gu Tiancheng only looked at her, at how she’d grown more beautiful yet colder than before. In his daze, he seemed to see Tibet again—the woman sitting beside him saying, “I’ve been waiting for someone to appear.” Their moment under the tree, him holding her while she pretended to care. He’d said: “Whether I was ever truly mad or not, I’ll never forget this moment.” She’d replied: “Alright.”

My life wasn’t completely without light.

But when I met you, I was already nearly extinguished.

When I say I love you, I mean it.

I keep my word to you.

A cornered assassin, falling in love with the female officer hunting him.

No one would believe it was just one day. That day, he pretended to be normal, like her—brave and righteous. That feeling of spiritual connection was a late ray of light in his life, gently illuminating his heart. He knew she had felt something too, however briefly, though she’d denied it afterward.

But for social scum like him, for a beast who deserved death like him, it had been enough.

Gu Tiancheng looked up, tears gleaming. You Mingxu was startled to see him smile through his gaunt face.

Gathering himself, Gu Tiancheng hadn’t forgotten his ulterior motive. He lowered his voice to where only they could hear: “Mingxu, listen to me, those two files were real.”

You Mingxu just stared at him, her expression unchanging, giving no indication whether she’d heard or understood.

“Don’t fall in love with him,” Gu Tiancheng said. “He’s like me.”

Suddenly, Gu Tiancheng shoved the officer forward. You Mingxu quickly caught him, but this action shielded Gu Tiancheng’s body. Before Jing Ping and You Mingxu could react, a shot rang out.

Gu Tiancheng fell backward, gun in hand, a bullet hole in his temple, eyes still open, smiling.

You Mingxu suddenly remembered his words: I’d rather die out here than fall into police hands again.

Yin Feng rushed forward, taking the severely wounded officer from You Mingxu’s arms. As You Mingxu looked down at Gu Tiancheng with her gun lowered, Yin Feng turned to hand the injured officer to Chen Feng.

But Jing Ping hadn’t moved. His heart suddenly raced—something in the air, so subtle it might have been imagination. It was the terrible intuition of an officer who’d walked the edge of life and death for years. Though the car showed no movement, two people were still inside—the wounded Wei Lan and another man.

Jing Ping shouted, “Get down!” You Mingxu was closest to the car, and he lunged for her. She instinctively dove forward, looking toward Yin Feng, but Jing Ping had already thrown himself over her, pulling her into several rolls away from the car. Others also dropped at his command.

Yin Feng’s eyes widened as he dove forward, but Tu Ya had already leaped over to shield him.

“BOOM—” The explosive blast shook the entire garage as a fireball rose from the car, flames shooting out like venomous tongues, the massive shock wave instantly sweeping outward.

By then, Jing Ping had rolled with You Mingxu behind another car. At the moment of explosion, he suddenly turned, using his back to shield her from the blast, pressing her head down and holding her tightly against him.