In the mountains, it’s difficult to call the fire department when encountering a fire. Most people choose to just watch.

If there happened to be a kind-hearted person, they might choose to draw water from a well to put out the fire. Unfortunately, I had poured kerosene, so encountering water would only make it more dangerous.

Soon I heard violent coughing sounds. The pampered Jindou probably couldn’t endure it anymore either.

I’m sorry, truly sorry.

Although I don’t have a deep grudge against you, for personal reasons, I can’t let you leave.

If you leave, my crime will be confirmed. Tonight, no one can see me, so you can only die.

Intentional homicide, punishable by death penalty, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years. For relatively minor circumstances, fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years.

I stood at the door crying bitterly. I didn’t know why I was so sad.

I had clearly cured my “illness” with my own hands, yet I felt so terribly sad.

What kind of life is this…? Why does it cause such suffering?

The fire quickly spread throughout the entire house. Jindou’s screams came through. She certainly wouldn’t survive.

Before others noticed the fire, I immediately concealed myself, went to the village entrance, then turned off the car lights and left the mountain village before causing a bigger commotion.

Only after carefully descending the mountain did I turn on the car lights, speeding away on the road. A few minutes later I arrived at the town, found a roadside car wash, and spent thirty yuan to have all the mud on the car body and wheels completely washed off.

I took out my phone to check the time, parked the car by the roadside, took out the stickers from inside the Jay Chou fan merchandise, stuck them on my arm, then turned on a glow stick and posted a photo of my arm.

“Tonight was really happy.”

Yes, tonight was happy.

A huge boulder that had been pressing down on me fell into the valley.

I got back on the road. This time I still didn’t take the main road, choosing instead to pass through various small paths in the villages. Because it was so dark and most villages didn’t have streetlights, it took me much longer to finally return to Chengdu.

When the car entered Chengdu, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

This city was just like my mood. My dark past was about to disappear together with the pitch-black night. From now on, I would live peacefully here.

As for my parents and younger brother, they accidentally had a fire tonight and died in the mountains.

I didn’t “annihilate my entire family.” I was just an unfortunate person.

I constantly comforted myself in my heart, until tears streamed down my face.

All my life I’ve been deceiving myself. It was like this before, and it’s like this now.

Having the most unfortunate childhood, yet fantasizing that through my own efforts I could become superior to others. Clearly annihilating my entire family, yet fantasizing about embracing a brand new life.

What right do I have?

There are so many criminals in this world. If I could escape legal punishment, it would be unfair to everyone.

But right now, I really wanted to experience “unfairness” just once.

I wanted all these things to completely turn the page. I wanted to spend the rest of my life peacefully with Jiaqi.

I wanted to wear a wedding dress once and be a normal woman.

Today Chengdu had heavy fog. Everything before my eyes was murky.

“Jiaqi… wait for me…” I kept wiping the tears from my face, trying to console myself, but my heart hurt as if a knife had been inserted. “I’m back… from now on we’ll wake up together every day…”

“Welcome to listening to music radio during morning rush hour.” A muffled voice came from the car radio. “Yesterday Jay Chou came to Chengdu, stirring up memories for all those born in the eighties and nineties. If you weren’t at the scene, please follow this next song ‘In the Name of the Father’ and return together to the supreme era of Chinese pop music.”

“The slightly cool morning dew dampens the black suit.”

“There’s fog on the stone road, father whispers lowly.”

“Helpless awakening can only be more cruel, all for the road leading to the cathedral.”

“The fog that won’t disperse conceals the intention.”

“Who gently paces, then stops.”

“Before there’s time to cry, the bullet that pierces through takes away the warmth.”

“We each have sins, committing different sins”…

“No… that’s not it…” I muttered to the air. “I didn’t kill my own family, it’s just… someone defrauded me of two million… this case involves a huge amount of money and is extremely serious in nature… I just went to collect evidence for the court hearing… Jiaqi… you believe me, right?”

That person not only extorted me… he even borrowed high-interest loans… Jiaqi… you must understand me, right…?

I don’t want to be a demon… I just want to be an ordinary person.

I really have no burdens now… let’s be together?

As long as the police don’t find me… let’s be together?

Once the heavy fog in Chengdu lifts today… let’s be together?

I passed by Du Fu Thatched Cottage, driving from Qingyang Main Street toward Wuhou Temple.

I was about to call Jiaqi when I suddenly felt the world spinning—an earthquake came. Unlike the several earthquakes I’d experienced before, this time the tremor was extremely strong. The epicenter seemed to be right in Chengdu.

I saw the ground ahead cracking open in the distance. I could only brake immediately, stopping steadily in front of the crack. But the car behind me couldn’t avoid it in time, causing a rear-end collision.

I kept wiping away my tears, trying to calm myself down.

Why is there another obstacle?

Why is it so difficult for me to move toward a new life…?

Cars kept rear-ending, beginning to push me toward the crack in front of me.

“Don’t do this…” I cried in the car. “Heavens, please don’t test me anymore… I just want to survive… can’t you be unfair to me just once?!”

But this miserable life was no different from the thirty-three years I’d experienced before.

Until my car plunged into the abyss, I never saw any hope.

…

This place brings back bad memories for me.

This game is called “The Letter Carrier.”

As the “hostage,” I was locked inside a huge microwave oven.

What was terrifying was that the area of this microwave was even smaller than the room Butcher Ma gave me.

Those painful memories kept surging into my mind, plunging me completely into despair.

Why did I end up in a place like this?

And why was I locked up?

It must be because I annihilated my entire family. Heaven has sent me another test.

Yes, this is very fair.

But I’m so afraid. What should I do?

I won’t be roasted alive by this giant microwave, will I?

I was sitting inside the microwave trembling with fear when the door suddenly opened. I looked up and met his gaze.

Just like last time, someone came to save me. The light from outside came in, illuminating the refined-looking man before me like a shining beacon.

“Qi Xia!!”

I couldn’t control my trembling body and rushed forward to hug him.

“I…” His expression was somewhat awkward, not knowing where to place his hands.

“Thank goodness… I was so scared…” My whole body was trembling. I was truly too frightened. “I thought I would be roasted alive inside…”

“Lawyer Zhang, Lawyer Zhang, I remember you don’t seem to like being touched by others,” Qi Xia said awkwardly.

“Ah…” I quickly let go, wiping my eyes. “I’m, I’m sorry… I didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?”

“Not really trouble, just startled me,” he shook his head. “I don’t really like things that exceed expectations. In my impression, you’re not that kind of person.”

“I’m, I’m sorry.” I slowly lowered my head, returning to my usual demeanor.

These people don’t know…

They don’t understand me.

I’m a monster who killed my entire family. I’m worlds apart from anyone here.

No matter how many evil people are here, none could possibly be more evil than me.

How laughable…

They think I’m a meticulous lawyer, never imagining that my heart could be so dark. So this matter absolutely cannot let anyone know… after all, I’ve already prepared my alibi in advance.

As long as I can get out of here, I can return to normal life.

I’m waiting for Jiaqi to put a wedding dress on me and walk toward that better future.

I am not Zhang Laidi.

My name is Zhang Chenze.

Although it’s unfair to you all, I’m sorry, but I’m going to start lying.