Due to the influence of coastal typhoons.

While the rain was still fine drizzle in the mountainous small town, heading east to Hangzhou, dark clouds gradually pressed down, and torrential rain poured.

The windshield wipers were on their fastest setting, but just as they swept away one wave of water, new raindrops instantly filled the view.

The driver couldn’t help but slow down: “Young man, the rain is too heavy, I can’t see the road. Should we stop for a bit?”

The repeated busy signal tones in his earpiece and the WeChat calls that could no longer connect.

Made Yan Tingli almost tremble with laughter.

“Young man?” Seeing no response, the driver carefully stole a glance through the rearview mirror.

To be honest, if this young man hadn’t offered such a high price, he probably wouldn’t have taken this ride.

Dressed all in cold black, with an oppressive aura all over him—who knew if he was going to someone’s house for revenge? If he got involved in a lawsuit, he couldn’t escape either.

After asking for the third time, a cold “mm” finally came from the back seat.

They stopped on the road for half an hour.

From the back seat came the sound of fingernails tapping the seat cushion repeatedly.

Unhurried.

But the driver just felt he was very impatient, breaking out in a thin sweat on his back. Seeing that the road surface was visible, he quickly started the engine and continued driving.

Li Yin had just finished work and returned home when she received an unexpected phone call. She answered in surprise: “Xiao Li?”

Shi Yue, who was drying her hair with a towel beside her, was also stunned when he heard this address and looked toward Li Yin.

On the other end was the patter of rain, making the young man’s usually clear voice sound muffled and unclear.

“Auntie, I’m in Hangzhou on a business trip,” he said. “There are no hotel rooms available. Could I stay at your house for one night?”

Li Yin and Shi Yue, who had leaned over to listen, exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.

The places Yan Tingli would be willing to stay at were probably only top-tier hotels, and they might have been all booked.

But their home wasn’t spacious, and worried he wouldn’t be comfortable, Li Yin opened her mouth hesitantly, trying to prepare him.

But the other end seemed unable to wait, and before she could speak, the phone carried: “Auntie, I’m already downstairs.”

“The rain is a bit heavy.”

“Then come up quickly,” Li Yin instinctively replied. “Don’t get soaked.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, Shi Yue asked her puzzledly: “Why did you agree so quickly? What if he can’t stand staying at our place?”

“I don’t know,” Li Yin held the hung-up phone, her face also looking confused.

How did she inexplicably agree?

She said, “I’ll quickly tidy up Sui Sui’s room.”

Shi Yue took an umbrella and went downstairs to meet him, while Li Yin rushed back to Shi Sui’s bedroom, changing the bedsheets—still the ones Sui Sui had brought back from the dorm, with craftsmanship that Li Yin found unusual.

Until one day, when washing the comforter, she saw the Hermès label in the corner and was startled, asking her daughter how she bought it. After hemming and hawing for a long time, she said it was a gift from Song Jie.

Coming back from the memory, sounds of entry came from outside the door, and Li Yin went out to greet them.

Seeing Yan Tingli standing by the door completely soaked, water droplets falling from his chin, she was stunned: “Oh my, why didn’t you use an umbrella?”

“I forgot,” he smiled.

As he spoke, his gaze carefully swept around the interior.

Shi Yue felt uncomfortable under his gaze and rubbed his hands nervously.

This was their old house in Hangzhou, a small two-bedroom apartment.

A few years ago, they had emptied their savings to buy a house in the capital, but later, when the industry declined, they sold the house to pay off debts.

Returning to Hangzhou to live in the old house again, the décor was still from over ten years ago.

Seeing his expression, thinking he was dissatisfied, Shi Yue said somewhat embarrassedly: “The house is simple, we can only trouble you to—”

His words were cut off unexpectedly.

“Where is Shi Sui?”

Yan Tingli spoke slowly, his eyes darker than the thick night outside the window.

Neither of them didn’t reacted immediately, somewhat stunned.

Then they saw Yan Tingli tilt his head, slowly revealing a gentle smile: “School just started, I can go back with her.”

“Oh, Sui Sui went to England for an exchange. She just left yesterday and is probably still on the plane,” Li Yin said, handing Yan Tingli a fresh towel, smiling. “You probably don’t know about this yet. I’ve already told your mother that Sui Sui won’t need to live at your house anymore.”

“England?” Yan Tingli laughed coldly.

“Good,” he nodded, repeating, “Very good, seeing the world.”

“Right, it’s good for young people to go out and see more.” Shi Yue casually agreed, then said, “Quickly dry off, don’t catch a cold.”

“Sui Sui’s room is just empty, you can stay there tonight.” Li Yin led Yan Tingli into the bedroom, standing at the door. “Take a shower quickly, we won’t disturb you.”

Yan Tingli’s gaze stopped on the room’s bedding, staring fixedly.

“This is what Sui Sui brought back from the dorm,” Li Yin glanced at him. “She said it was a gift from your mother.”

“Is that so?” Yan Tingli smiled.

The ones his mother sent were all thrown away by him.

After explaining everything, Li Yin left, and the door closed behind her.

Yan Tingli slowly scanned the room’s furnishings.

Shi Sui had lived here until before high school. All the time he hadn’t participated in was spent here.

Having left not long ago, the sweet scent from her body still lingered briefly here.

He bent down, burying his head in the bedsheets.

Taking a deep breath.

Opening one eye, he casually picked up the photo frame propped on the bedside table.

In the photo, a teenage girl poked her head out from behind an easel, chin propped, looking toward the camera.

His cold fingertip slowly traced along her dimpled smile.

He laughed lowly: “I’ve thought of how to punish you.”

When he bought this house.

“I’ll catch you and lock you on this bed day and night.”

“Everyone will think Sui Sui is still in school, including mom and dad.”

“But actually, you’ll have become a little dog who can’t live without me anywhere on your body.”

Yan Tingli turned the photo face down and threw it expressionlessly into his suitcase.

“I wonder how you’ll beg me then.”

Thinking of the terror and tears that might appear on the girl’s face.

Crying and begging for mercy.

His chest trembled as he laughed continuously.

Laughing and laughing.

Suddenly, he felt warm droplets flowing down his jaw.

He frowned, wiping with his fingertip.

Wasn’t the water dried off?

Staring for a long while, his expression was somewhat cold.

“I hate rainy days.”

But London was a place full of dampness, gloom, and rain.

Even if it was clear skies the moment before, a torrential downpour could come at any time.

The plane landed at dawn. Unluckily, London was experiencing endless rain.

Yan Tingli frowned, looking coldly at the sky.

He hated this place.

Twelve hours of flight.

Two days without closing his eyes.

He must not look very good right now.

He should probably change clothes, too.

Yan Tingli thought.

Then he laughed again.

He was still too kind.

Otherwise, when he met that little liar, she might think he cared so much about her.

Flying here day and night to find her.

Yan Tingli sneered.

He just wanted to catch her and lock her up.

He wouldn’t believe anything she said anymore.

Keeping her by his side would be fine, too.

Thinking of this.

All the blood in his body seemed to boil with excitement again.

He was rarely this impatient.

Yan Tingli took a taxi directly from the airport to the school registered on her application.

“Oh, poor girl.”

Suddenly, a blonde little girl selling flowers by the roadside was knocked down by someone, and her flowers were scattered on the ground. The white driver sighed leisurely.

“Poor girl.” Yan Tingli echoed with a sigh, but his lips curved in a smile.

Didn’t she think that school system websites were as fragile as paper wings to him, and her IP location was transparent in his eyes?

Well.

His Sui Sui was always naively adorable.

Getting out of the car, the dampness hit his face.

Rainwater everywhere soaked his trouser legs.

Yan Tingli frowned at the sight.

—Choosing London, this city he hated most.

He would punish her by doing it once in the water.

Sliding his phone screen, Shi Sui’s IP location decoded clearly in his phone.

Through the rain curtain, he squinted toward this ancient art academy.

His Sui Sui.

Which corner would she be hiding in now?

The distance on his phone grew shorter and shorter.

Thinking of this.

He let out a pleased laugh.

No longer minding the rain splashing his trouser cuffs, he strode forward.

One thousand meters.

One hundred meters.

Ten meters.

Yan Tingli held an umbrella, walking coldly into the Royal Mail, making eye contact with the only white person inside.

“Mr. Yan?” The man handed him the package in his hand, confirming his Asian features. “A package from Miss Shi.”

A package from Miss Shi, but the sender’s address was Zhou Xuyan’s.

Yan Tingli’s lips revealed a calm smile.

That’s right.

If the cat-and-mouse game ended too quickly.

It wouldn’t be interesting.

But the white man in front of him looked at him a few more times, his gaze sweeping over his bloodless face.

He kindly reminded him in English: “You look like you need rest.”

Yan Tingli said nothing, turning to re-enter the rain.

The package in his hand was very light.

It seemed she had put an old phone here, leading him on a wild goose chase.

Good. She had become much smarter.

His steps quickened.

Finding a random hotel to stay at, before even sitting down, Yan Tingli unwrapped the package as he walked.

The more he unwrapped, the more impatient he became. His breathing grew heavy, and he applied more force—

The packaging box was torn apart.

Everything inside spilled onto the floor.

He was stunned for a moment.

Kneeling, he picked them up one by one.

The photo she had taken was printed and put in a frame.

The only part of her visible was a small section of her fingertip.

His lips curved in a cold arc as he set down the frame: “I should have smashed your CCD then.”

His gaze slowly moved to the side, his fingers picking up the letter from the floor, with a few words written on it: To Yan Tingli.

He smiled carelessly, his brows heavy with darkness: “When I catch you, let’s see if you dare to say it to my face.”

Tearing open the envelope, delicate handwriting came into view.

[If you can see this letter, you must be in London now. Sorry, I lied to you again. I don’t dare ask for your forgiveness for leaving without saying goodbye, and you definitely won’t forgive me. But you bullied me for two years, so my lying to you a few times makes us even.]

[Also, I formally propose to you: let’s break up. Don’t look for me anymore. This time I’ll hide very well.]

[Although during the two years with you, I was unhappy most of the time, the few moments of happiness were enough for me to generously offset my dislike of you.]

I never gave you any gifts because I couldn’t think of anything that would catch your eye. The only thing of value might be some insignificant sincerity. Before leaving, I went to the highest mountain in the small town, made a wish for you, and got a blessing sachet.]

[Brother Tingli, you are strong, intelligent, and determined. You’re not what they call a cursed fate. It’s just that you’re too lonely, sometimes unable to control your obsessiveness. You just need more people to accompany you, more confident and strong friends, more people who care about you, then you won’t need to be obsessed with a coward like me anymore.]

[Finally, I wish you smooth paths ahead and good weather every day.]

All expression disappeared from Yan Tingli’s face.

He read it over and over, his fingertips white with force: “You dare, you’re something.”

“This time I really won’t let you go.”

But the hand holding the letter trembled uncontrollably.

Rainwater dripped down his whole body, falling on the paper, gradually spreading into large water stains.

He wiped away the water droplets on his face, not letting them fall and wet the letter.

At this moment, he suddenly clutched his stomach and bent over, resting his head against the bed.

A sharp, stabbing pain that had been ignored and deliberately suppressed since the small courtyard suddenly became a knife grinding his internal organs at this moment.

He tried to relieve this strange, indescribable reaction.

But for the first time, he was completely helpless.

“I’m not happy,” he closed his eyes, speaking softly. “Sui Sui, I’m not happy.”

“Come coax me a little, and I’ll forgive you.”

Opening his eyes.

Still only silence, no response anymore.

His stomach suddenly churned violently.

Yan Tingli held onto the trash can, convulsing for a long time. Having not eaten for two days except for breakfast in Hangzhou, there was nothing to vomit.

Water droplets kept falling.

Very strange, they seemed to be increasing.

No matter what, he couldn’t wipe them clean.

He said hoarsely.

“I hate rainy days.”

You lied again, there’s no good weather at all.

Zhou Xuyan had been hiding in deep mountains and forests with her mentor filming documentaries for a month before daring to quietly return to the capital.

If it weren’t for her grandmother’s birthday celebration, she would have wanted to hide abroad for another three months.

Seeing that if she didn’t return, her mother threatened to freeze her cards, Zhou Xuyan reluctantly came home three days before her grandmother’s birthday banquet.

Her grandmother was someone Yan Tingli could call a great-aunt by generation. Unless there was an accident, he would most likely appear at the birthday banquet.

And now, because she was also going, this probability became one hundred percent.

Zhou Xuyan didn’t dare imagine whether Yan Tingli, unable to find the person, would capture her for interrogation.

With such anxious feelings, she nervously accompanied her mother to her grandmother’s birthday banquet.

Among the second generation, sure enough, Zhou Xuyan saw Yan Tingli at the center, surrounded by people.

In their generation, Yan Tingli was the most accomplished.

Although these people would curse him behind his back for acting, when they met face to face, each one was more fawning than the next.

The reason was simple: AI was currently the most cutting-edge trend domestically. These old-established families faced enterprise transformation issues to varying degrees. If they could build good relationships and get a word of guidance, who knew how much benefit it could bring to their families.

Previously, at such gatherings, Yan Tingli would put on a dignified act, gentle and polite. Zhou Xuyan was constantly compared to him by her family, which made her sick inside.

But today, seeing Yan Tingli, who had lost a lot of weight and looked paler than usual, Zhou Xuyan couldn’t help but be stunned, even feeling somewhat sympathetic.

Anyone looking at him now would probably think he was ill.

But soon, Zhou Xuyan couldn’t feel sympathetic anymore.

After congratulating her grandmother, she wanted to slip away while there were many people, quietly going to the garage.

Walking while constantly looking back, afraid Yan Tingli would appear out of nowhere.

Seeing no one around, she relaxed, pressed the key to unlock, and got in the car.

Just as she sat down.

From behind came a pleased yet sinister voice: “Long time no see, cousin.”

Yan Tingli was three months younger than her, but from childhood to now, he had never called her sister once.

This untimely “cousin” now almost made Zhou Xuyan’s hair stand on end.

Never mind Shi Sui—anyone would be scared to death!

But what was more terrifying was—

Zhou Xuyan turned around to look at Yan Tingli, who had somehow already been sitting in the back seat, and screamed: “When did you get in! Why can you get into my car?”

He tilted his head slightly: “The intelligent system in your car is all from my family.”

“Is it difficult to hack it?”

“Ahhhh!!!”

Zhou Xuyan continued screaming.

Male ghost! What on earth could restrain this kind of person?

“Shut up.” Yan Tingli’s brows showed impatience as he said coldly, “Very noisy.”

Zhou Xuyan pulled the car door, trying to run out.

She didn’t know what Yan Tingli had set up, but the car was locked and wouldn’t budge no matter how she pulled.

At this moment, she truly experienced Shi Sui’s despair firsthand.

She even wiped away a tear in her heart.

Sui Sui had finally managed to escape. No matter what, she would not betray her.

Moreover, Zhou Xuyan truly didn’t know where Shi Sui had gone.

She knew her nature—she easily confessed under pressure. When discussing schools with Shi Sui, they used A and B as code names. Except for the country, she didn’t know Shi Sui’s specific location.

The only one who knew specifically where Shi Sui went was probably Su Ye, who had helped her directly.

Under Yan Tingli’s stare, Zhou Xuyan calmed down for a few seconds, rolled her eyes, and made up lies: “Not in England, probably France. Anyway, it’s just those few European countries. You can search for them one by one.”

Her small movements were full of flaws, and her acting wasn’t even as good as Shi Sui’s.

Yan Tingli sneered: “Good, not in England, not in France either. So she’s not in Europe either?”

Damn!

Zhou Xuyan felt the intellectual crushing and simply shut her mouth.

“I’ll give you five more minutes.” Yan Tingli rotated his phone, which could control the driving here. “After five minutes, the car will drive forward at eighty kilometers per hour.”

“Then.” He slowly leaned closer, breathing a sinister word in her ear.

“Bang.”

Zhou Xuyan’s scalp exploded, almost screaming again.

Thinking of Yan Tingli’s earlier irritation, she didn’t even dare shout, saying aggrievedly: “Go ahead and crash! You’re in the car too, aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“Not to mention, I can get out, but I’m willing to accompany you.”

Yan Tingli laughed lowly in the back seat, saying like a ghost in her ear, “In four minutes, we’ll go to the hospital together. Let’s see how long Shi Sui can keep hiding.”

Ahhhhh!

Zhou Xuyan was almost going crazy. She covered her face, saying in terror like spilling beans: “I don’t know! I also know I can’t hide it, we used letter codes with her!”

After speaking, she didn’t hear any response for a long time.

She secretly opened her eyes.

Yan Tingli looked at her with emotionless eyes.

Like examining, judging.

Seeming to see she wasn’t lying this time, he finally looked away, but his face was even worse.

“Then, which country did she go to?”

Zhou Xuyan didn’t dare breathe heavily, her hands on the steering wheel breaking out in sweat.

“Not in Europe,” he tapped the seat cushion methodically. “Australia?”

Zhou Xuyan held her breath, determined not to speak.

“Or—” Yan Tingli paused, “America?”

Zhou Xuyan’s pupils contracted.

Afraid of saying too much and making mistakes, she pinched her palm hard but still didn’t make a sound.

Yan Tingli’s lips curved upward, withdrawing his gaze.

He didn’t continue asking about this question.

Just when Zhou Xuyan thought she had finally gotten through this question, she heard Yan Tingli ask lightly: “Who helped her?”

“What?” She played dumb.

“I said,” Yan Tingli emphasized, “who helped her cover her information to go abroad?”

Zhou Xuyan simply broke the jar: “Me.”

“You don’t have that ability.” Yan Tingli said expressionlessly, “I tried tracking her IP through her parents, but it was all intercepted.”

Zhou Xuyan gasped.

“Who could bypass me to help her?” At this point, his voice became extremely cold.

Zhou Xuyan was almost going crazy, randomly saying: “Maybe it’s some computer expert she knows.”

“You mean Fang Huaijing?”

Who? Who?

Zhou Xuyan had never heard Shi Sui mention him, so she randomly said: “Yes, yes, it might be him.”

Yan Tingli let out a “heh” laugh from his throat: “That waste has never beaten me in his life. What could he rely on to help her?”

Zhou Xuyan: “…”

“I’ll give you one last chance.” Yan Tingli raised his chin, every word carrying overwhelming pressure. “Who did she find?”

Zhou Xuyan remained silent.

Planning to just stubbornly confront him to the end.

She didn’t believe he dared to kill her.

This thought had just formed when the next second—

“Ding dong, time’s up.”

Yan Tingli’s cheerful voice rang out, accompanied by the car starting and rushing forward at a deadly speed.

“We’ll see Sui Sui very soon.” He kept laughing in the back.

Zhou Xuyan’s pupils dilated in terror, watching the car head straight for the wall, covering her ears and letting out a sharp scream.

“Su Ye!!!” she shrieked, “It’s Su Ye!!!”

The car braked sharply.

Due to inertia, Zhou Xuyan’s whole body lurched forward, like a roller coaster dropping from a great height at extreme speed.

Only when she saw the car had stopped, still more than ten meters from the wall, did her violent heartbeat gradually calm down.

The back door was opened, and having extracted all the information.

Yan Tingli walked away without looking back.

Leaving Zhou Xuyan with a pale face, her whole body limp in the driver’s seat, unable to move for a long time.

Madman. This madman.

She closed her eyes, taking long breaths, guilt for Shi Sui welling up in her heart.

But fortunately.

In the short term, Su Ye was an insurmountable mountain for Yan Tingli.

He would never be able to know where Sui Sui was.