Night had fallen completely.

The streets were nearly empty as midnight approached, with few cars and almost no pedestrians.

You Mingxu opened her eyes and slowly sat up straight, supporting herself on the front seat. Her limbs were still numb, but strength was gradually returning. Chen Feng was driving, with Champion in the front seat. Xiao Yan and Tu Ya sat beside her. Seeing her move, Xiao Yan immediately lowered his head: “How do you feel? Is anything still uncomfortable?”

You Mingxu replied, “I’m fine.”

Beside her, Tu Ya turned his head—he had regained consciousness at some point. His tiger-like eyes were red as he looked at You Mingxu, words caught in his throat.

“It wasn’t your fault. The warehouse, the hot air, the water, the bombs—it was all Yin Chen’s calculation,” she said.

These words made Tu Ya’s eyes redden again as he turned away, staring fixedly ahead.

Ahead.

They were driving on the national highway, about to cross Hunan’s border. Twenty minutes ago, police had reported spotting traces of Yin Chen’s vehicle nearby. But they hadn’t caught him yet.

Silent rice paddies and towering trees lined the road, with quiet mountains in the distance. Only the faint glow of multiple headlights on the mountain road revealed one of the police teams tracking Yin Chen. Before You Mingxu woke up, Chen Feng had been following police movements.

“Chen Feng, phone,” You Mingxu said.

Chen Feng immediately handed her his phone, and she called Xu Mengshan.

On the other end, Xu Mengshan was nearly frantic. Tonight, shortly after You Mingxu left the chicken coop, he received news from Ding Xiongwei about an explosion at her location. Both You Mingxu and Yin Feng’s phones had gone dark simultaneously.

When they reached the exploded complex and contacted Chen Feng, they finally learned what had happened. By then, Chen Feng’s group was already in mad pursuit of Yin Chen with You Mingxu.

Ding Xiongwei immediately ordered all available police forces to check surveillance footage, set up roadblocks, and launch a full pursuit and containment operation.

Although Yin Chen’s counter-surveillance abilities were exceptional, avoiding most cameras and following an unpredictable route, he had one weakness—the trace left when Yin Feng and Xiao Yan had caught up to him. This proved crucial—Yin Chen’s car had been exposed. Under the police’s overwhelming dragnet, the vehicle’s trail became increasingly clear.

The net was closing in.

However, this advantage had been bought with Yin Feng’s life. He had exchanged himself for You Mingxu and provided the crucial lead to catch Yin Chen. Now every detective was enraged, vowing not to rest until Yin Feng was rescued.

You Mingxu quickly coordinated with Xu Mengshan, gaining more intelligence and a clear picture of police deployment. After brief contemplation, she began directing Chen Feng’s route. They followed her instructions without question.

This feeling was different from following Yin Feng’s orders. They would execute any of Yin Feng’s commands without hesitation, even knowing they might be foolish or wrong. Because their lives belonged to him.

But with You Mingxu, it wasn’t just because she was Yin Feng’s woman—her mountain-like composure and piercing cold gaze somehow commanded their submission. They had blind faith that following her would lead them to Yin Feng’s rescue.

—

Yin Feng lay in the back seat, temporarily unable to feel his limbs. His eyes lowered slightly, watching the nearly lightless sky ahead, his mood surprisingly calm. He thought: So this is how A’Xu felt earlier.

This helplessness. How much pain must have been in her heart?

At this thought, a stifling sensation began to swell in Yin Feng’s chest.

Yin Chen drove in silence. Yin Feng knew without looking that his brother could easily escape the police cordon. But this time, Yin Chen’s ultimate escape wasn’t certain. If he had taken You Mingxu without leaving any traces, he might have had a chance. But now, with the vehicle information and escape route exposed, Ding Xiongwei and Xu Mengshan weren’t to be underestimated.

His thoughts shifting, Yin Feng spoke: “Brother?”

Yin Chen: “Mm?”

Perhaps this was the most harmonious moment between the brothers in years.

Yin Feng: “Where are we going?”

“Don’t know.”

“What happened between you and Yu Ruixue back then?” Yin Feng asked.

Yin Chen fell silent for a moment.

Even as a top criminal mastermind, he wasn’t superhuman. After a night of constant tension, his temples throbbed. The endless dark road ahead looked like a black void ready to swallow them. He didn’t know where they would ultimately end up, or what he could truly possess anymore. Even now, with the brother he had always wanted to kill within his grasp.

But Yin Feng was more composed than he had imagined.

When he mentioned Yu Ruixue on this cold night, the name struck a chord in Yin Chen’s mind. Memories wafted up like clouds.

Back then, he was only 23, just a year out of university. How miserable were his days then? He had opened a small trading company, borrowing money from everywhere to gather a large sum, only to be cheated and lose everything. Those creditors weren’t easy to deal with. Of course, his business and the source of his money weren’t legitimate either, so he had to flee, running from Beijing back to his hometown in Xiangcheng, getting beaten several times by debt collectors. Finally, he found respite hiding in the poor apartment he had rented.

As a result, with old injuries unhealed and both body and mind exhausted, he fell seriously ill, lying at death’s door in that tiny, filthy room. Perhaps he would have died there without anyone knowing.

That’s when he saw Yu Ruixue.

On the balcony of the opposite room, a beautiful woman was hanging laundry. She looked a few years older than him, with black hair and snow-white skin, somehow radiating an air of pure gentleness. Yin Chen was nearly dead from illness then, so he just lay on his balcony, watching her shamelessly.

She noticed and turned around, her eyes surprisingly sharp for a moment. But when she saw he was just a sickly, skinny young man, she paused and called across, “Are you alright?”

Yin Chen ignored her completely, turned around, and slammed his door shut.

At that time, a rapist and murderer was active in the area, targeting independent sex workers.

When Yin Chen learned from the building’s doorman that she was a woman who could be bought for 200 yuan a night, he felt indescribable emotions.

Once when Yu Ruixue was drying clothes on the rooftop and saw the silent young man who had also come up to hang laundry, she just smiled slightly. Somehow, they started talking. Though her tone was gentle and calm, every word of his carried thorns.

“When did you move in here?”

“None of your business.”

“Did you eat gunpowder?”

“I can’t afford gunpowder.”

“Goodbye.”

He followed her downstairs.