During that period, Luo Yu never slept well, relying on alcohol to numb himself, and keeping two guns at his bedside. The situation was far too precarious. If his identity as a mole was exposed even slightly, he had no doubt Xing Jifu would take his life; if his police identity was revealed, none of the three major gang forces would spare him—they would hunt him to the ends of the earth and cut him to pieces.

Then, he truly understood what his superior meant about undercover work being like walking on a blade’s edge. That thin, sharp blade lay densely beneath his feet. He had to tread extremely lightly and carefully—one wrong step meant death by a thousand cuts, with no place even for his corpse.

The news that Guo Xing might be an undercover agent and could be silenced by the Yunnan gang at any moment came from within their ranks—Luo Yu learned of this before anyone else in Xiangcheng.

He couldn’t easily leak this information, as it might expose his own identity and destroy the entire operation. He immediately contacted his superior to confirm Guo Xing’s identity. His superior made a quick decision, ordering Guo Xing to hand over his collected evidence to Luo Yu, letting him determine the overall plan.

Thus, Luo Yu was supposed to have a secret meeting with Guo Xing.

But man’s plans pale before heaven’s will. When Luo Yu arrived at the fish restaurant, he found only chaotic footprints and no trace of Guo Xing. Following the trail, he happened to see three youths nervously leaving a lake deep in the mountains. His heart thundered—looking at the calm lake surface, he seemed to see his fate reflected there.

He dove into the lake and found the bound corpse.

From Guo Xing’s inner pocket, he retrieved a carefully hidden USB drive.

In the end, he decided to leave everything as it was, erasing all traces of his presence. The USB drive contained only evidence of the Yunnan drug dealers’ crimes. Revealing it now would inevitably disrupt his overall plan, so he decided to keep it for the time being.

As he left the lake and stood on a distant hilltop, he turned back silently and saluted toward that watery grave.

At that moment, he suddenly thought of You Mingxu.

But his former vague hopes and bitter disappointments had long since dissipated. He only wondered if someday, when it was his turn and You Mingxu learned his true identity, would she feel even a little sad.

Surely… she would.

Suddenly, he hoped she would never find out.

—

For countless nights, Luo Yu sat before a chess board, methodically reviewing his plan.

He placed the first black piece. That was Ah Hua, Guo Feirong’s capable right-hand man and the designated contact for this transaction. Regarding Guo Feirong, Luo Yu always felt he couldn’t see through him completely. He appeared to be Xing Jifu’s longest-serving, most steady, and least conspicuous associate. Unable to find any leverage against him, Luo Yu could only remain vigilant.

Unexpectedly, after removing Ah Hua, a white piece appeared on the board—You Mingxu.

Once again, she had entered his field of vision.

On that dark, windy night, he brought his men to follow Ah Hua to the riverside pond. Just as he was about to reveal himself, he saw Ah Hua preparing to shoot You Mingxu. Without hesitation, Luo Yu shot Ah Hua dead.

After all, his hands were already stained with more than one life!

Now an influential gang leader, what he told her was true: whoever threatened her, he would kill them.

However, with so many trusted subordinates watching, he needed an explanation for sparing You Mingxu rather than silencing her.

He hadn’t expected that his long-dormant heart would stir with restless discontent upon seeing that woman again.

So he drew her in.

Let him be selfish just this once. Perhaps for the last time.

Moreover, as he needed to quickly rise in status beside Xing Jifu, what better role than that of a future son-in-law to move an old man preparing to retire? Xing Jifu, though ruthless, was deeply loyal to those he cared about. This was something Luo Yu had observed clearly over the years.

So Luo Yu cast out his bait—to You Mingxu, to the police, and to Xing Jifu.

Half truth, half lies, playing at lovers with You Mingxu. She naturally couldn’t fathom his true nature, but he had correctly read her character, knowing she would willingly enter the tiger’s den. He deliberately leaked information to her, knowing full well that the police initially planned to strike in Northwest Guizhou. When the police later thought he was creating a diversion, that too was within his calculations.

You Mingxu was his chess piece, as was Xing Yanjun. The Yunnan and Xiangtan gangs were too.

Even Jing Ping and Xu Mengshan’s police unit were pieces. But he would try his best to preserve their lives. So when these police officers were captured, he told the Yunnan and Xiangtan gangs: “Leave them to me.” They agreed without hesitation—after all, who wanted the blood of so many police officers on their hands? They were grateful Luo Yu would take on this responsibility.

After they left, Luo Yu immediately used a satellite phone to notify his superior to rescue them. While most officers could be saved, Jing Ping and Xu Mengshan posed a particular challenge. Fortunately, his typically arrogant persona and Use of You Mingxu as leverage helped secure their safety.

Having played his part this far, no one would suspect him as an undercover agent. He orchestrated a situation where all three criminal factions and the police would be wounded, with people, money, and goods all in play. The Yunnan and Xiangtan gangs thought victory was assured. Luo Yu added You Mingxu and Xing Yanjun as additional bargaining chips, knowing this would force Xing Jifu to appear. Whether negotiations or gunfire followed Xing Jifu’s appearance didn’t matter.

Because as long as Xing Jifu appeared at a transaction site for the first time in many years, he could arrest him. Arrest all of them.

That would be when the police reinforcements his former superior had secretly mobilized from Beijing would finally surface.

…

Eight years undercover, orchestrating an intricate plan almost single-handedly to take down three major criminal organizations.

As far as undercover operations go, he had achieved something worthwhile.

…

When Luo Yu fell wounded into You Mingxu’s arms, his mind went blank for a moment. He struggled to open his eyes, looking at the grey sky, hearing her choked voice, feeling her presence. He suddenly recalled that this journey had contained many beautiful, tender memories.

Her sitting in his home, offering him a bottle of water. That was the only time she had shown him kindness, though immediately afterward, she planted a listening device in his phone. She didn’t know he had deliberately allowed it.

They sat in the car, her nearly furious as he rested his feet on her legs. He wasn’t trying to take advantage—he just wanted to see her exasperated expression.

When he carried her into the car, everyone thought he would violate her, but she was like an angry lioness, glaring at him as if she would tear him to pieces the next second. She was foolish—how could he bear to harm her? Without such pretense, how could he save her brothers? His brothers too?

Luo Yu felt his vision growing increasingly blurred, his consciousness gradually slipping away, beyond his control. He felt her arms embracing him tightly for the first time in his life.

In his mind flashed one final scene—

That day in the riverside restaurant, smoking while looking out the window at the endless flowing water, in complete silence.

She seemed to be studying him.

Suddenly, she asked: “You’re not… an undercover agent, are you?”

His heart felt stung, almost crumpling, but when he raised his head, his expression was utterly contemptuous and incredulous: “What did you say?”

She believed it and never mentioned it again.

…

Suddenly, Luo Yu felt an overwhelming pain, sensing liquid flowing from his eyes.

He thought, in the end, I still wouldn’t be able to stand with her in the sunlight, wearing our police uniforms together.