The moment Wu Yulan gestured with her finger, Wu Man felt the resentment she’d held toward her all these years seemed to dissipate.

Living to her mother’s age back then, living to her mother’s position, Wu Man couldn’t help thinking—if the child she’d been pregnant with had been born and she’d consequently withdrawn from the entertainment industry, what would her feelings have been?

She’d thought about it. She probably wouldn’t have had much maternal love for that child either.

It would have been filled with hatred, regret, and unwillingness.

Whenever this happened, she would try to persuade herself to understand her mother a bit. Wu Yulan was also a person. Maternal instinct was part of human nature, but not all of it. So if she didn’t love her, she had to learn to understand.

But understanding was one thing, accepting was another.

She still couldn’t get past that barrier in her heart.

She thought, why should she have to suffer this injustice? What a ridiculous original sin.

Therefore, she’d brought Wu Yulan to LA, not depriving her materially, yet not letting herself get too close to her. You raised me to adulthood, I’ll support you in old age—their mother-daughter bond for this lifetime was just that.

All these years, she’d never stayed properly by her side, not even for an hour—not just treating her like a trash bin to dump her troubles into, leaving hastily after venting, but actually looking at her carefully.

Looking at her to see the love and tenderness hidden in her subconscious beneath those hatreds that had crushed her entire life.

She had once wanted to love her properly, hadn’t she?

*

Wu Man emerged from the nursing home distracted. Right now she really missed Zhui Ye, wanted to talk to him. But it was already evening in American time—he should be filming over there.

She had to give up, wandering aimlessly along the streets.

She was so deep in her emotions that she didn’t notice that since she left the nursing home, a low-key black sedan had been following her at a distance.

After she walked into a slightly more deserted area, that car suddenly pulled open its door. Two black men jumped out—one grabbed her from behind, the other pressed a handkerchief soaked with ether over her nose.

Wu Man only had time to let out a short scream before her limbs went limp, being half-carried and dragged into the car by those two people.

*

The dosage of ether wasn’t much. Wu Man regained consciousness after a while.

Her hands and feet had already been firmly bound with black tape, along with her mouth and eyes. Her phone had also been taken.

She vaguely sensed someone sitting beside her, but the other party remained completely silent.

The car was so quiet she could only hear her own heartbeat nearly jumping out of her chest. Wu Man tried to move, but was bound too tightly—completely futile.

After brief dizziness and panic, she silently told herself to stay calm, must stay calm, while her brain raced to assess the current situation.

They’d only bound her and put her in the car—not robbing her of money or violating her, seemingly purposefully taking her to a specific place.

At least for now she was safe. Wu Man calculated, but an even greater unease rose in her heart.

The car drove forward in eerie silence, passing through bustling streets toward a desolate suburb adjacent to the harbor, finally stopping before a manor villa.

But Wu Man had no idea where she’d been taken. Her eyes remained pitch black as she was staggeringly brought out of the car.

The other party’s movements were very rough, directly hoisting her onto a shoulder like carrying livestock.

Wu Man felt herself constantly moving forward. She’d lost all sense of time now, being carried could only be in an inverted position, her head constantly engorged with blood… She vaguely sensed the sun hadn’t completely set yet—the black tape couldn’t block the fiery red sunset, a few thin rays of light seeping through.

Just as she calculated based on the sunset how much time had passed from getting in the car to here, an aged voice reached her ears.

“Let her take it off.”

Broken Chinese-accented English.

Then Wu Man was put down. Her tender eyelids felt a violent tearing—the black tape was forcibly ripped and peeled from her skin, followed by her mouth.

That pain was like going to an unlicensed sketchy hair removal salon and having brutally crude methods used for an inhumane hair removal session.

Wu Man blinked several times, adapting to the surrounding light. She realized she was in a huge villa. The entire villa was luxurious to the point of desolation, with an extending garden leading directly to a private harbor where a motorboat currently sat stationary on the water.

And the person who had spoken had just come down from the motorboat.

He stood backlit, momentarily preventing Wu Man from seeing his face clearly. But that lifeless, sinister aura immediately made her realize who this person was—

Yu Jiaze’s father.

Wu Man’s heart shook. She didn’t dare speak rashly. Father Yu also turned around unhurriedly. The bodyguard beside him immediately presented the prepared fishing chair and related tools. He sat down contentedly, as if she didn’t exist, casting his fishing rod into the sea, eyes on nose, nose on heart, entering a realm of his own.

Wu Man’s hands and feet were still bound, sprawled awkwardly on the ground. The excessively suffocating silence made her unable to hold back from speaking out.

“You think just because this is America, you can kidnap people at will?”

“Shh—” He didn’t turn back. “Don’t shout. You’ll scare away my fish.”

His tone and demeanor were exactly like Yu Jiaze’s, even more so, making Wu Man instantly break out in goosebumps all over.

But she wouldn’t obediently surrender. If she shut up just because he told her to, she’d truly only be at others’ mercy.

Wu Man pondered briefly, staying calm while probing: “Mr. Yu, you kidnapped me here because of Yu Star’s suspected tax evasion recently, right? You know I released that information.”

He said lightly: “Smart of you.”

Wu Man bit her teeth: “I still have more crucial evidence. It’s not impossible for me to destroy it, but only on one condition—you let me go. We’ll stay out of each other’s way. But if something happens to me, that information is beyond my control. If it leaks out, it’s not my business.”

Father Yu only then lazily turned back, glancing at her.

“Interesting. At this point, you still think you’re in a position to negotiate with me?” He laughed dully. “Worthy of being something Jiaze kept by his side for so many years. If I were younger, I’d probably be interested in you too.”

Wu Man involuntarily shivered.

“You think this news will cause much damage to Yu Star? Threatening me with this, heh, you’re too green.” Father Yu cast his bait. “To play a good game of chess, you must know in advance what the most fatal weakness is. Capture the king—other losses of horses and chariots are temporary.”

The bodyguard on the left suddenly stepped forward, whispering to Father Yu. He nodded slightly, shifting his gaze to the fishing rod in his hand, watching the slightly rippling sea surface with interest: “The fish is about to come.”

Not long after he spoke, Wu Man heard footsteps behind her. She barely twisted half her body around—Yu Jiaze’s black coat hem swayed before her eyes.

Yu Jiaze saw Wu Man bundled up on the ground. A flash of extremely quick astonishment crossed his eyes. He immediately lowered them, and when he looked at Father Yu again, his expression had returned to normal.

“Father.”

He called out emotionlessly.

Father Yu didn’t even lift his eyelids, still focusing intently on the sea surface, saying casually: “Your timing is really unfortunate. The fish was just about to bite, and your arrival scared it away.”

“I came late.” Yu Jiaze rubbed his knuckles. “Because I was just looking for her.” He pointed at Wu Man. “Wasn’t it you who told me to handle this matter? Why trouble yourself to make this trip specially?”

“Because your efficiency is really too poor, Jiaze.” Father Yu methodically scattered some fish food. “A few years ago, when you did foolish things, that was one thing. How can you still cause such big trouble at this age? And still because of a woman? I’m very disappointed in you.”

Yu Jiaze’s hands hanging at his sides lightly clenched into fists inside his coat.

Wu Man quietly observed their confrontation. Remaining silent and not interfering in their conversation was the wisest choice right now.

She had to find a way to save herself.

Yu Jiaze said expressionlessly: “This was just an accident. I’ll handle it properly.”

“Accident? This woman beside you—how many times have I warned you about her?” Father Yu narrowed his eyes. “Accidents are never really accidents.”

“I guarantee there won’t be a next time.”

“Then do you know how to guarantee it?”

“…”

“Didn’t I teach you?”

Wu Man’s heart violently contracted. Her body’s subconscious surged with an extremely strong warning.

She widened her eyes slightly, listening in terror to Father Yu’s emotionless voice.

“—Destroy it, to eliminate future troubles.”

Yu Jiaze’s body shook, squeezing out a few words: “Need I remind you? She’s not some small star I kept by my side anymore. She’s Tang Jiarong’s daughter.”

“Just an illegitimate daughter. Tang Jiarong’s tricks can fool others.” Father Yu snorted coldly. “Although handling it is a bit troublesome, a dead person’s kidney can also be used for transplant, can’t it?”

Yu Jiaze smiled without humor: “Dad, from a realistic perspective, this isn’t the most rational approach. I think you’re being a bit impulsive.”

Father Yu heavily threw down his fishing rod. The hook flew out and landed on the lawn not far from Wu Man.

An opportunity!

Wu Man’s eyes lit up, then immediately lowered her head, not letting them notice her emotional change. Right now everyone’s attention was focused on the confrontational father and son. She had to minimize her presence as much as possible, get close to that hook. At least untie herself first, look for a chance to escape.

Father Yu roared angrily: “Do I not know what’s most profitable?! But why am I doing this? You still don’t know even now?!”

Yu Jiaze’s throat rolled violently, letting out a trace of mocking light laughter.

“How would I not know? I couldn’t be clearer. Tormenting me is your lifelong pleasure, isn’t it?”

“Are you confused? What nonsense are you saying!”

“Isn’t it? You hate me, so you want to clear away everything I love around me. This is your way of tormenting me.”

Father Yu seemed to hear some fantasy, coldly throwing down four words: “Hopelessly obstinate.”

“Am I the obstinate one, or is it you? You hate my mother, and by extension you hate me too. All these years, rather than constantly tormenting me this way, why not give me a quick end? Just like you personally strangled my mother to death?!”

Wu Man, who was moving toward the fish hook, couldn’t help being shocked hearing Yu Jiaze’s heart-wrenching accusation.

“I’ve said it was just an accident. Don’t make me repeat it again.” Father Yu explained calmly. “You just need to remember, you are Yu family blood. Everything I do is for your good.”

The blood-red setting sun was about to fall, hanging precariously on half the curtain like a candle in the wind.

Father Yu glanced at the sky, raising his chin at the bodyguard. The other immediately moved, handing his pistol to Yu Jiaze.

Father Yu said lazily: “Hurry up and resolve it. You don’t need to worry about cleanup afterward. The marriage with Tang Yingxue won’t be affected either. I’ll handle it all for you.”

Yu Jiaze looked at the heavy gun barrel in his hand, his voice ethereal: “You really worry about me.”

Madmen, two madmen.

Wu Man, seeing the gun handed to Yu Jiaze, disregarded everything and increased her movements, struggling hard toward the sharp fish hook. A little more, just a little more…

She was so anxious she was covered in sweat, like a fish just salvaged from the sea about to die, sliding forward through the grass, but getting nowhere for a long time, unable to advance a single step.

Yu Jiaze raised the loaded gun, aiming at the center of Wu Man’s forehead, releasing the safety.

With a click, she saw the dark gun barrel aligning in a straight line directly opposing her.

Father Yu had already turned his back, sitting down again, starting to fish with a new rod.

He yawned: “Before I catch the next fish, that’s all the time I’m giving you to prepare.”

Yu Jiaze gritted his back teeth, squeezing out a few words.

“Must I do this?”

“Only by doing this can you shoulder the Yu family’s future.”

“Why must I be the one to shoulder it?” Yu Jiaze’s bloodshot eyes stared at Wu Man but had completely pierced through her to look at the void. “What about Yu Chenyang?”

Father Yu shook his head: “He’s not as smart as you, not as capable, soft personality—not good.”

“Then why does he have Yu family shares second only to mine?”

“You’re the older brother—are you being this petty? He already has no ability, naturally needs those shares to settle down.”

Yu Jiaze fell silent. Wu Man, seeing he hadn’t fired for a long time, opened her eyes again. From his hollow eyes, she glimpsed tears that hadn’t fallen.

From those sparse words, she actually felt that Yu Jiaze’s fate was so similar to her own.

Except he was more tragic than her.

She was an illegitimate daughter who’d basically been strangers with Tang Jiarong all these years—his favoring Tang Yingxue was natural.

But what about Yu Jiaze? Born so many years earlier, living under the same roof as his father, yet molded in an inhumane way into a cold weapon for the family, also an umbrella protecting his younger brother.

No one had ever taught him how to love people properly. What he saw, what he learned, had always only been destruction.

The mynah destroyed by his own hand, his mother destroyed by his father.

Everything he cherished.

Now it was her turn.

Yu Jiaze tremblingly raised his hand, struggling to swallow, ears ringing loudly.

That aged voice possessed by Satan issued the final command.

“The fish is coming.”

A thunderclap.

“Bang—”

The first bullet grazed her leg, flying into the grass.

“Bang—”

Another shot. This time it hit, but too far off.

Wu Man tremblingly lowered her head, seeing hot blood gurgling from her abdomen.

Perhaps today she would really die here. The powerlessness throughout her body and the desolation of certain defeat strangled her pervasively—the contract she’d made with the devil ultimately backfired on herself, unable to die well.

In this moment approaching death, Wu Man felt no fear.

The only thing that came to mind was that night in the cramped dwelling, the image of Zhui Ye covering his arm and weeping with joy.

She had just been possessed by him. That little fool had been so happy.

If he heard news of her death, how sad he would be. He’d definitely cry even uglier than then.

But you absolutely must not do anything foolish, following me during such a good time in your life.

If reborn as human, I’ll wait for you on the Road to Yellow Springs for a few more decades, so you won’t have to chase me so hard anymore.

So don’t rush to follow.

Unknowingly, an extremely tender yet immensely sorrowful smile curved Wu Man’s lips, stabbing Yu Jiaze’s eyes.

Countless memories related to her rotated like a kaleidoscope in this instant.

Her cautiously probing gaze when they first met, panicked eyes.

Her brilliant gaze smiling at him beneath the fireworks.

Her uneasy gaze when deliberately lying yet showing timidity.

Her secretly observing gaze when giving him gifts while pretending not to care.

Her ashen gaze after losing their only child.

This person who’d been the only one to accompany him through the past ten years—every little bit about her, every gaze he thought he didn’t care about had actually become frames so clearly etched in his memories.

And these would ultimately vanish with her gently closing eyes.

His finger on the trigger had turned white.

Father Yu frowned, urging at the moment the fish was about to bite: “Why can’t you hit her? Have you thrown away all the marksmanship you learned?”

“Bang—”

A hit.

The sea surface rolled violently. The fish escaped in shock. Fire clouds filled the sky, competing in splendor with the blood gradually spattering in the air.

Wu Man squeezed her eyes shut but didn’t feel any pain of death.

…Not dead?

She opened her eyes in a daze. What met her eyes was Yu Jiaze having moved the gun’s aim—pointed at the back of Father Yu’s head.

The old man hadn’t even turned his head, dying at the hands of what he thought was his loyal dog.

Yu Jiaze surveyed the entire scene, silent for a few seconds, saying: “The master who hired you is already dead. Get lost.”

He had now become a complete madman.

Who would want to provoke a madman? Those bodyguards, seeing this, all fled in panic. The old man’s still-warm corpse immediately lay alone by the harbor, so desolate.

Unfortunately, Wu Man’s hands and feet were still bound, shot in the abdomen—even wanting to run, she couldn’t. She could only watch helplessly as Yu Jiaze walked to Father Yu’s side, kicked him, saying coldly: “Hey, old man, are you really dead?”

Father Yu’s eyes were wide open, dying with remaining grievances.

Seeing him like this, Yu Jiaze laughed hoarsely.

He crouched halfway, one hand grabbing the old man’s head to lift it, the other hand pressing the gun barrel against his temple.

“Bang—”

“Bang—”

“Bang—”

“Bang—”

Yu Jiaze fired several more shots without blinking until empty. That blood of the same lineage splattered all over his face. He laughed loudly.

He had no more tears, could only laugh, laughing until exhausted, before looking at Wu Man.

Wu Man’s body was instinctively trembling.

But she still used all her strength to keep herself from avoiding looking at him.

The two faced each other from several meters away.

The last bit of sunlight in the sky submerged. His features became blurred. He straightened up, walking toward her step by step.

The pitch-black villa had no lights. Neon was so far away. This place abandoned by the sun had become Satan’s graveyard. The defecting demon crouched before her with bloody hands.

He held the gun in one hand, the other removing his leather glove to reveal clean skin beneath, touching her wound.

Despite the warmth of blood, it was still so cold, unable to warm her no matter what. Her blood kept flowing away.

He used his last bit of tenderness, his tone soft: “Does it hurt?”

Wu Man’s lips trembled. She couldn’t say a word.

He pulled out a Swiss Army knife from his coat, cutting the black tape binding her, staring at her: “You can never forget me.”

“Fly,” he said.