In the fifth year of marriage, Tang Jin was dissatisfied with the bitter taste of the Vitamin C her husband bought, so she took the medicine bottle to the hospital. The doctor looked at the bottle, shook his head, and said, “This is not Vitamin C.” “Can you say that again?” Tang Jin asked nervously. “No matter how many times I say it, the conclusion is the same,” the doctor pointed at the bottle, “What’s inside is clearly mifepristone, and taking too much can not only lead to infertility but also cause greater harm to the body.” Tang Jin felt as if something was stuck in her throat, and her hand gripping the medicine bottle turned pale. “That’s impossible! This was bought by my husband, Cheng Fengyan, who is also a doctor at your hospital.” The doctor looked up at her, his expression becoming strange, filled with an indescribable complexity, but he finally smiled and said, “Miss, you should go see a psychiatrist. We all know Dr. Cheng’s wife; she just gave birth a few months ago. Don’t scare yourself; there’s no hope.” He took out his phone and showed a group photo. In the photo, Cheng Fengyan was wearing a white coat, holding a baby, and the woman standing next to him was smiling brightly. That was Chen Qingqing, the younger sister Cheng Fengyan often mentioned. With a buzzing sound, Tang Jin’s mind went blank. The doctor said that woman was Cheng Fengyan’s wife, and the child was theirs. Breathing heavily, she staggered into the elevator, staring intently at the button for the first floor, wanting to go to the fifteenth floor to confront Cheng Fengyan. Just as the elevator door closed, she heard two familiar voices. Perhaps because she was dressed warmly and wearing a hat, the people in front did not recognize her, but their conversation was completely unguarded. “Cheng Ge, aren’t you afraid Tang Jin will find out? Why did you insist on bringing her back? You should have married Qingqing early; now you don’t have to sneak around like a thief to see the child.” It was Chen Fu’s voice. Cheng Fengyan replied coldly, “She won’t find out. Chen Fu, you should know what to say and what not to say when you see A Jin.” “I really don’t understand you,” Chen Fu mocked, “Qingqing became your child bride at five; you treated her so well, but she grew up and was taken away by Tang Jin.” “Who do you really love? You sent Qingqing away for Tang Jin, but later tried every means to bring her back.” Cheng Fengyan was silent for a long time before saying, “I love A Jin, but I can’t let go of Qingqing. Just thinking about how she suffered abroad for those years makes my heart chaotic.” “The title has already been given to A Jin; let Qingqing take care of the child; at least she has someone to rely on.” Chen Fu sighed and then asked, “But if you and Tang Jin have a child, how can you ensure fairness? After all, Qingqing is my cousin.” Ding— the elevator arrival alert sounded. As the door opened, Cheng Fengyan’s words came out just in time: “That won’t happen.” Chen Fu was stunned, not understanding whether he meant they wouldn’t have children or wouldn’t be biased, and he followed out of the elevator in confusion. Only then did Tang Jin understand that he meant they wouldn’t have children. Because he had secretly prepared sterilization medication for her, blocking the path for his child bride. The elevator was crowded and hot, but Tang Jin felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, a chill running through her body. It wasn’t until the elevator returned to the first floor that she coughed out her first breath of air like a drowning person. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and the screen lit up—it was a screenshot of a plane ticket sent by Cheng Fengyan. “A Jin, see you at the competition tomorrow; remember to wear the talisman I asked you to get for you.” Looking at this message, Tang Jin instantly broke down, tears streaming down her face. No matter how busy the doctor was, since they got married, he had always been there at the finish line for every competition, regardless of how early the flight was. That day, he would also book a restaurant in advance, buy flowers, and welcome her back in triumph, year after year, without interruption. She still remembered how his brothers teased him, saying she was the white moonlight that Cheng Fengyan exchanged half his life for. To bring her back to the country, he fought with foreign clubs for players, experiencing countless dangers; to keep her, he spent heavily to hire a top coaching team and even opened a racing club just for her. After marriage, he spoiled her endlessly. If she casually mentioned missing her mother, he would use all his connections in the middle of the night to help her find her mother’s belongings before dawn. But such a Cheng Fengyan had secretly built another family behind her back. Tang Jin suddenly understood why Chen Qingqing knew more about every corner of the Cheng family than she did, why someone who had been abroad for a long time could name all his friends’ nicknames, and why a “younger sister” could make him cancel half a year’s worth of surgery schedules to accompany her to race. What kind of younger sister was that? Clearly, she was a child bride promised since childhood. Just now, she was still thinking that if Chen Qingqing dared to intervene, she would never agree. Now she understood that she was the one who had intruded, and the one who should exit was her. In an instant, a bone-chilling cold surged from her feet, numbing her limbs. She used to think that when a person collapsed, they would cry and make a scene, but when it truly collapsed, they couldn’t even make a sound. Only the unstoppable tears and the heart sinking to the bottom reminded her: she was close to dying from the pain. That heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, desperately draining her last drop of blood. Her phone vibrated again; it was a family photo sent by Chen Qingqing, accompanied by a message: “Sister Tang Jin, don’t occupy a position that doesn’t belong to you anymore. I thought you would be more self-aware, but it seems you are still too thick-skinned. Fengyan said the child looks like him; what do you think?” Tang Jin glanced at it and immediately exited. If she wanted it, then let her have it. But Tang Jin knew Cheng Fengyan too well; once he was determined about something, even if he didn’t want it, he would never let go easily. Her fingers lingered on the dial pad for a long time before finally pressing that number that had almost been forgotten. As soon as the call connected, she heard her voice tremble slightly: “Fu Tingyu, about that bet from back then… is it still valid?” There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by Fu Tingyu’s deep voice: “In half a month, the Fu family will relocate; I will come to pick you up.” Tang Jin was stunned for half a second, then couldn’t help but laugh. She hadn’t said anything yet, but he had already assumed she would leave. And he was right. “Okay.” With Fu Tingyu’s ability, in half a month, even if Cheng Fengyan dug three feet into the ground, he wouldn’t be able to find her. That night, Tang Jin didn’t reply to Cheng Fengyan at all. Cheng Fengyan was extremely anxious, leaving work early to catch the next flight. As soon as he opened the door, he froze, the anxiety in his eyes instantly dissipating by more than half. Under the warm yellow light in the living room, Tang Jin was sitting on the sofa watching TV. “A Jin? Why are you back?” He quickly walked over, “I sent so many messages…” Before he could finish, he reached out and hugged her, gently resting his chin on her hair, “It’s good you’re okay. I was so afraid… A Jin, I can’t live without you.” The love in his eyes was undisguised. Tang Jin also knew he truly loved her, but she was even clearer that his love was not only for her. A lump rose in her throat, and she pinched her palm hard to suppress this emotion. In that moment, she almost revealed everything, but her mind fought to dismiss that thought. If she said it, she really wouldn’t be able to leave. She gently broke free from his embrace, trying to keep her voice calm: “The competition has been postponed; my phone was off, so I didn’t see the messages.” Cheng Fengyan didn’t notice the turmoil behind her calmness; he smiled and poked her nose: “If you didn’t see it, then why are you crying? I wouldn’t blame you.” He shook the car keys in his hand, his shirt and trousers making him look tall and spirited, his coat casually draped over his arm, “Are you hungry? I ordered the hot pot you’ve been talking about for a long time; let’s go, princess, and eat to your heart’s content.” He extended his hand to her, palm up. Tang Jin’s gaze fell on that hand, and she suddenly felt dazed. On the basketball court that afternoon when she was eighteen, that boy had also reached out to her like this, his white T-shirt soaked with sweat, a basketball tucked under his arm, smiling even more brightly than now: “Let’s go, princess, I’ll treat you to a feast today!” At that time, he only had her in his heart. Tang Jin didn’t want to neglect her stomach and followed him into the hot pot restaurant. He was still the same; although he wasn’t one to serve others, he skillfully rolled up his sleeves and carefully picked food for her, always handing her the first bite of the cooked food. The bowl was piled high like a small mountain, the sesame sauce swirling, and Tang Jin was finally pulled back to reality by the sudden ringing of her phone. If it weren’t for this incessant ringing, she might have continued to immerse herself in that seemingly endless love. “Answer it.” She lowered her head, her fingers stirring the sesame sauce in the bowl. Cheng Fengyan glanced at the phone, smiled, and coaxed her, then stood up to answer the call. When he returned, his eyes were filled with anxiety and apology: “A Jin, there’s an emergency surgery at the hospital; I have to hurry over, sorry I can’t finish this hot pot with you. I’ll take a day off tomorrow to accompany you properly.” Tang Jin had already seen who the caller was, but she didn’t expose his lie, just gently nodded: “Okay, you go.” Cheng Fengyan got permission and didn’t linger, turning to leave the hot pot restaurant. Looking at the empty seat across from her, Tang Jin felt a sharp pain in her heart like being pricked by a needle. Just as she was about to sort out her emotions and pick up her chopsticks again, her phone popped up with a video call from Chen Qingqing. She hung up, but Chen Qingqing called back again and again, more than a dozen times. Finally, Tang Jin answered. Chen Qingqing’s innocent smile appeared on the screen: “Sister Tang Jin, you’re not eating hot pot, are you? I knew it; someone came home today, why do you smell like hot pot?” She emphasized the word “home,” her tone clearly provocative. Tang Jin’s expression turned cold: “Chen Qingqing, you’re being too childish.” “Have you forgotten who is the legal wife now? If I send your chat records to Cheng Fengyan, do you think he will choose you or me?” Tang Jin spoke with a hint of threat. Chen Qingqing’s eyes flickered, then she smiled: “Then send it; don’t hang up, let me see who is more childish.” Tang Jin didn’t know why, but she didn’t hang up. Not long after, the background in the video moved, and Cheng Fengyan’s figure appeared in the frame. Chen Qingqing immediately turned around, leaning softly against him, just blocking his line of sight as he stared at the screen. “Fengyan, are you still angry with me for eloping with someone else back then? If I hadn’t left, wouldn’t you have married Sister Tang Jin? Wouldn’t you have married me?” Chen Qingqing’s eyes turned red, her voice lowered, carrying a hint of pleading. Cheng Fengyan frowned: “There are no ifs.” “I’m just asking…” Chen Qingqing’s voice grew softer, with no other meaning. After a few seconds of silence, Tang Jin saw Cheng Fengyan finally speak, his voice hoarse: “Yes.” That one word seemed to instantly hollow out Tang Jin’s heart. It turned out that from that time on, he had never only had her in his heart. She suddenly remembered their wedding day. Cheng Fengyan held her hand and swore in front of all the guests, using his beloved grandmother’s name: “I, Cheng Fengyan, in this life, whether past or future, will only love Tang Jin.” “My person, my money, my life, all belong to her.” “She can be willful, make mistakes, not love me, or even love someone else, as long as she doesn’t leave me.” At that time, she cried so much, truly believing she had captured the most genuine love in the world. But now she understood that those vows had been false from the beginning. She had never been his only one, not in the past, not now, and never in the future. She was merely a pawn in his bet with Chen Qingqing, and over time, they had developed some feelings, making it hard for him to let go. Thinking of this, Tang Jin forced out an extremely ugly smile, laughing and crying at the same time, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She thought she had at least once received that passionate love, but unexpectedly, from beginning to end, she was just a thief who stole someone else’s position. Lowering her head, tightly gripping her clothes at her chest, Tang Jin struggled to catch her breath. But the lump in her throat couldn’t be suppressed, and tears fell one by one onto the table. That night, Cheng Fengyan didn’t come home. But Tang Jin received a real-time photo of him sleeping sent by Chen Qingqing. She stared at that face for a long time until dawn, her heart finally dying, becoming calm and still. She picked up her phone and dialed her lawyer friend Lin Nuan’s number. “Nuan Nuan, help me draft a divorce agreement.” The next day, she woke up to an empty house. Her phone had a message from Cheng Fengyan: [Baby, the hospital is too busy today; my day off is ruined, don’t be angry. No matter how busy I am tomorrow, I will accompany you and prepare a gift; wait for me to come back.] Below this message was a photo sent by Chen Qingqing an hour ago. The two of them were smiling so brightly by the hot spring pool. She held her phone, her fingers almost burning, nearly pressing that dial button, wanting to ask him whether he was busy with surgery or busy accompanying his child bride. But thinking of her plan deep down, she ultimately suppressed her anger and simply replied, “Okay.” It was better that he didn’t come back; it would be convenient for her to pack her things. The clothes Cheng Fengyan sent her were already packed, ready to be donated to children in the mountains. The photos hanging on the wall were taken down and thrown into the shredder. Those hundred wish cards she had written for him were also taken out from the drawer and burned to ashes on the balcony. She didn’t dare to throw away too many things, fearing that Cheng Fengyan would notice something unusual when he returned home. The next day, Cheng Fengyan finally came back. As soon as he saw Tang Jin, he immediately put down the cake in his hand and rushed towards her: “A Jin, I’m exhausted; give me a hug to recharge.” But Tang Jin didn’t move, taking a step back and shaking off his embrace. Cheng Fengyan raised an eyebrow, smiling as he said, “Still angry? Don’t make a fuss; I prepared a special surprise for you, let’s go.” Before he could finish, he pulled Tang Jin into the car. All the way to the training ground, Tang Jin was full of confusion, not understanding what it was, when Cheng Fengyan pulled her out of the car. “Do you like it?” he asked, pointing to the car in front of them. It was a modified racing car, covered in sparkling pink diamonds, dazzling enough to make one dizzy. A hint of surprise flashed in Tang Jin’s eyes, and the coaches from the club stood nearby, their tone filled with envy. “I heard this car’s modification cost nearly a hundred million; he really spent a lot!” “What’s this? Everyone doesn’t know? These diamonds were all personally stuck on by Boss Cheng, and he almost went blind doing it.” “Tang Jin, try it out; after you’re done, let us drive it too; the boss really spoils his wife.” Listening to these words, Tang Jin’s surprise gradually cooled, and her eyes turned a bit red. She forced a bitter smile, self-deprecatingly pulling at the corners of her mouth. Everyone said he spoiled his wife, but who was the real wife in his heart? His love was indeed as passionate as summer, but that flame had never only illuminated her. The emotions she had bottled up for several days finally found an outlet. Tang Jin sat in the driver’s seat, took a deep breath, and pressed the accelerator to the floor, the racing car shot out like an arrow. She sped around the track, throwing all her grievances, anger, and unwillingness into the roar of the engine. Cheng Fengyan stood nearby, hands in his pockets, smiling, his eyes fixed on her without blinking. By the fortieth lap, Cheng Fengyan made a heart gesture to her, and in a daze, she lost control of the steering wheel, and the car crashed into the guardrail with a loud bang. Pain shot through her toes, and before she could recover, Cheng Fengyan had already run over, opened the car door, and pulled her into the lounge. “Does it hurt?” he frowned, gently lifting her foot, applying iodine to her wound repeatedly, “It’s my fault; I let you drive for too long.” His movements were gentle, as if afraid of breaking glass, his eyes filled with concern. But Tang Jin only felt a chill all over. It turned out that such love could be acted out so genuinely. She groggily reached out to touch his head, but he seized her wrist and lowered his head to kiss her. Bang! The door to the lounge was suddenly pushed open. Cheng Fengyan didn’t even look up, casually grabbing a mineral water bottle from the table and throwing it at the door. “Get out!” Tang Jin turned her head to look, and at the door stood Chen Qingqing. Only then did Cheng Fengyan recognize her, and his expression changed slightly: “Qingqing? What are you doing here?” Chen Qingqing covered her forehead, which had been hit, biting her lip and looking down, her clothes stained with mud, looking particularly disheveled. “I didn’t hit the brake while practicing driving and crashed… I came to get the first aid kit.” Cheng Fengyan was silent for a few seconds, ignored her, picked up a band-aid, and gently applied it to Tang Jin’s toe. “Sit here, don’t move; your foot is injured, so you can’t walk around.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and gently kissed her cheek, “I’ll go check her injury; I’ll be back in a few minutes; just shout if you need anything.” After saying that, he took the first aid kit and walked out. The lounge suddenly fell silent, quiet enough to hear the wind blowing outside. After a few minutes, Tang Jin slowly opened the door, and the doorway was empty; there was no sign of “just outside the door”. The disappointment in her heart flashed only for a moment, and she quickly forced it down. She should have guessed this, shouldn’t she? She leaned against the wall, limping toward the racing car. She really liked that car, and with the rain about to fall, she thought she would drive it into the garage first. But when she reached the car, she suddenly stopped. The car was slightly shaking, accompanied by soft voices, coming from the slightly ajar window… The shadows of two people were reflected on the car window, leaving only a narrow gap. Cheng Fengyan had Chen Qingqing pressed against the driver’s seat, his fingertips gently stroking her forehead, “Did you get hurt from being hit just now?” Chen Qingqing tilted her head, pressing her lips against his, her eyes filled with a flattering smile. “It doesn’t hurt; I shouldn’t have disturbed you and sister-in-law; I should have been the one hit.” Cheng Fengyan frowned, gently biting her cheek. “Don’t talk nonsense; you’re both my treasures.” He pinched her waist, his words carrying a hint of playfulness, still joking, as if the hit hadn’t been enough. Before she could react, he held her waist with one hand and pinched her chin with the other, kissing her fiercely. Chen Qingqing struggled a couple of times, pushing him away, her tone filled with bitterness: “This is the car you gave her; I don’t want to…” “Besides, Sister Tang Jin is still waiting in the lounge for you. You said you’d be back in a few minutes.” Cheng Fengyan held her wrist with one hand, pinning it above her head, while the other hand slid down her waist, his voice hoarse and deep, “Still thinking about someone else? A few minutes is enough for you.” Not long after, Chen Qingqing’s gasping sounds began to grow fragmented, softly entwining around his shoulders. Those ambiguous sounds drifted out with the wind, and Tang Jin felt as if she had been nailed in place, her blood freezing instantly. Her legs went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground, her chest feeling like someone had dug a hole in it, painfully darkening her vision. She suddenly remembered the day the club was established, when Cheng Fengyan had waited like a child begging for candy, hoping for her praise. But at that time, she was too excited, tears streaming down her face, unable to speak. He simply hugged her into the back seat of the racing car, his breath hot against her clothes. She had also been moved, but she still gritted her teeth and pushed him away. “Fengyan, racing is my most sacred ideal; I hope it remains pure forever.” At that moment, Cheng Fengyan was stunned. She thought he would be angry, but he suddenly straightened their clothes, sat up straight, raised three fingers, his eyes shining with a painful brightness. “I swear, this will also be my ideal from now on. No matter how many lifetimes, I will always respect racing and never do anything in the car—” The last few words, he whispered into her ear, making her face flush. Because of this sentence, she was convinced that she could not live without him for the rest of her life. But now, he was in her racing car with another woman, trampling on her most precious thing. Tang Jin felt so much pain that she couldn’t stand, the car keys in her hand clattering to the ground. She suddenly came to her senses, wanting to turn and run, but the people in the car didn’t notice the commotion outside. She forced out a smile that was uglier than crying, biting her knuckles tightly, stifling all her sobs in her throat. At that moment, the rain began to fall, and the gap in the car window closed with a click. Tang Jin took one last glance at the car that was still slightly shaking, bent down to pick up the keys, and threw them hard into the nearby drain. Chen Qingqing in the back seat just happened to look up, seeing her back gradually fading away, a smug smile appearing on her lips. The rain came quickly and left just as fast. When Cheng Fengyan pushed open the lounge door, Tang Jin was still sitting in the same position. He let out a sigh of relief, tugged at his collar, and squatted down in front of her: “A Jin, let’s go home.” When Tang Jin looked down, she happened to see the fresh red mark on his neck. Strangely, she felt no ripple in her heart. She didn’t let him carry her, supporting herself against the wall, limping to the car. Opening the passenger door, she saw Chen Qingqing sitting in the driver’s seat. Cheng Fengyan hurried over to explain: “Qingqing signed up for a small competition; this stretch of road is for her to practice; can you help guide her, A Jin?” Tang Jin was stunned for a moment, then nodded. No matter how much she hated Chen Qingqing, she respected every true racing enthusiast. But if she had known that Chen Qingqing didn’t even have the most basic E-class driver’s license, she would never have let her open that door. The car suddenly swayed and rushed out, and Tang Jin’s heart jumped to her throat. She reached out to grab the steering wheel, but Chen Qingqing pushed her away, the force light yet painful. “If you don’t want to die, let go!” Tang Jin’s eyes turned red, her voice filled with warning. But Chen Qingqing didn’t loosen her grip at all; instead, she pressed the accelerator deeper. Suddenly, a violent crash sounded, accompanied by Cheng Fengyan’s shout: “A Jin!” Tang Jin gritted her teeth, enduring the pain in her leg, barely responding: “Cheng Fengyan… I’m in…” But there was no response. She suddenly opened her eyes, her vision blurred by blood, looking around the car, only to find herself alone. The person who had just called her name hadn’t come to save her. As her consciousness gradually faded, Tang Jin fell into a dream. In the dream, it was the scene of Cheng Fengyan chasing her to Los Angeles that year. The club she was in was holding her tightly, but he, with red eyes, wanted to bet his car against the club, and if he won, he would take her away. At that time, he had just obtained his professional driver’s license for her, daring to drive on mountain roads for the first time. She sat in the passenger seat as the navigator, but they still had an accident. The car lost control and crashed through the guardrail, rolling toward the cliff. In the chaos, he desperately protected her in his arms, his head bleeding but not letting go, finally using all his strength to lift her onto the protruding rock on the car roof, shouting hoarsely, “Hold on tight!” He himself was sliding down the deformed car body, half of his body hanging over the cliff, almost about to fall. Later, they were rescued, and he lay weakly in her arms, delirious, still murmuring that he wanted her to return to the country. “A Jin, they just want you to make money; I just want to protect you… No matter how dangerous it is in the future, I will protect you; come with me, okay?” She was about to agree when the scene suddenly went black, and she was pulled out. This time, he hadn’t been able to protect her. Tang Jin’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and as she opened her eyes, a tear slid down her cheek, hitting the pillow. The person at the bedside immediately brightened: “A Jin, you’re awake!” The nurse changing the dressing also smiled: “Finally awake; Dr. Cheng has been watching over you for a whole day and night, his eyes are red; I almost want to be his sister to share this blessing.” Tang Jin hadn’t reacted yet, still in a daze, asking: “Sister?” “Yes, aren’t you Dr. Cheng’s sister?” The nurse said while packing up, “This morning, Dr. Cheng’s wife, Sister Qingqing, also came to see you, crying so hard she could hardly breathe, specifically instructing me to call her as soon as you woke up.” Suddenly, a loud bang broke the air, and the glass cup in Cheng Fengyan’s hand shattered into pieces. The nurse was startled and quickly closed her mouth, hurrying to call for cleaning. Tang Jin was also startled by the sound, and the fragmented memories in her mind suddenly pieced together. Cheng Fengyan stood there, watching Chen Qingqing’s back gradually fade away. She had been on the verge of death, reaching out for help, but he had seemed to ignore her, leaving her in despair. Tang Jin looked up to meet his gaze, panic swirling in his eyes. She smiled, a coldness in her voice: “Explain it to me clearly.” Cheng Fengyan was stunned for a moment, quickly holding her hand and saying urgently: “It’s all their nonsense! It must be a case of mistaken identity; they saw our intimacy and thought you were my sister.” “Okay, I believe you.” Tang Jin interrupted him, her tone cold enough to be unfathomable. Cheng Fengyan wanted to say everything but was choked up. Something was off; how could Tang Jin be like this? She should be crying and shouting, questioning him why he saved Chen Qingqing first, why he didn’t clarify the misunderstanding, why he let others say they looked like siblings. But she had no reaction at all, calm as dead water. Cheng Fengyan’s heart tightened, panic rising. He wanted to explain, to salvage, to say something. Tang Jin squinted, her voice dry: “I’m tired.” Cheng Fengyan felt a pang of guilt, his face full of pain: “A Jin, it’s all my fault; I shouldn’t have let Qingqing drive; I’ve scolded her. If you’re angry, you can hit me; just don’t hold it in.” Tang Jin pulled her hand back, and when she opened her eyes again, her gaze was filled with dead silence. “I’m really tired.” This was not right! Cheng Fengyan panicked; that kind of ungraspable loss felt like a black hole, wanting to swallow him whole. He hadn’t even had the chance to say a heartfelt word before the doctor called him out for rounds. Just as he turned around, Tang Jin’s eyes suddenly turned red. But this time, no matter how much pain was in her heart, no tears could flow down. The moment Cheng Fengyan left, Tang Jin’s heart completely died. She raised her hand to wipe her dry eyes, just wanting to sleep well, and when she woke up, she would leave this man. Just as she closed her eyes, the bed next to her suddenly became noisy. “Why are you crying!” a woman scolded sharply, “The sister next door is a racing driver; her leg is broken and can’t drive anymore; she’s not crying, what’s there to howl about!” “Ah! I don’t want a broken leg; I don’t want to!” a little boy cried, his voice echoing throughout the ward, reaching Tang Jin’s ears. A broken leg? Tang Jin’s mind exploded with a loud bang, as if something had detonated. She pressed her hand against her leg, her fingertips touching the hard outline of the cast. The leg was still there. But the next second, her heart tightened, beating wildly. She pressed down on that leg with her fingertips, whether gently rubbing or forcefully pinching, the leg showed no response, completely like a foreign part that hadn’t been installed. “It can’t be… it can’t be…” she murmured, trying to sit up, but as soon as she lifted her body half an inch, her right leg suddenly went soft, and she fell heavily to the ground. At that moment, Cheng Fengyan’s anxious voice came from the doorway: “Old Zhao, is there really no other way? She’s a racing driver!” The doctor sighed, his voice filled with helplessness, “It depends on the recovery situation, but I really don’t recommend her going back on the track. That kind of intensity, if she gets injured again, the consequences… are too serious.” After a brief silence, Cheng Fengyan replied in a low voice: “Okay, thank you.” Every word felt like a heavy hammer, smashing Tang Jin’s last bit of hope to pieces. She was born for racing. From the moment she first held the steering wheel, she knew her life was tightly bound to the roar of the engine. But now someone was telling her she could never drive again. This was more despairing than death. When Cheng Fengyan entered the room, he saw her on the ground, and he hurriedly squatted down to help her, but when he saw her tear-stained face, he froze. “You heard everything?” he asked. Tang Jin didn’t look at him, pulling away his outstretched hand, her voice trembling: “Where’s Chen Qingqing?” Cheng Fengyan’s eyes flashed with complexity, seemingly afraid she would do something foolish, and quickly explained: “Qingqing is still young and doesn’t understand. She didn’t mean to drive; I’ve scolded her harshly. She’s hurt too; A Jin, don’t blame her anymore, okay?” Tang Jin suddenly looked up at him, her eyes red. So he knew Chen Qingqing didn’t have a driver’s license but still let her get in the car, even helping her sign up for the competition. This was the fourth time. Four car crashes, four times she lay in the hospital. Each time, Chen Qingqing hadn’t even offered a real apology. She suddenly wanted to laugh, but the smile hurt her lips. Countless tears, like beads from a broken string, fell one by one. At this point, he was still protecting her. “What about me?” Tang Jin’s voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, “Not blaming her, who should I blame? Should I blame myself? Blame my leg that may never stand again? Not her! But you still defend her!” Cheng Fengyan frowned, his tone growing impatient: “A Jin, I’ve said it; she didn’t mean it. Why do you have to cling to it?” He paused, his tone carrying a hint of reproach, “Besides, if you hadn’t grabbed the steering wheel at that time, maybe the accident wouldn’t have happened. Have you ever thought that the problem might lie with you?” Tang Jin felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of ice water, her blood freezing instantly. But she just blinked and smiled. That smile was uglier than crying. Every time Chen Qingqing was mentioned, she was always the wrong one. That heart, which had already died, felt like it was being pried open and crushed into powder. She closed her eyes, her voice devoid of any emotion: “I’m tired; you can go.” Cheng Fengyan felt a pang in his heart at the grayness on her face, suddenly realizing how hurtful his words had been. He opened his mouth to apologize but ultimately didn’t say it. When he turned to leave, his footsteps were even a bit unsteady. For the next three days, Cheng Fengyan stayed by her side almost without leaving. He personally fed her the bitter medicine, made her favorite dishes in various ways, and even set up a folding bed by her bedside, waking up at the slightest noise. But Tang Jin was like a soulless puppet; he fed her, and she opened her mouth; he helped her, and she stood up, never saying a word or looking at him. Until Cheng Fengyan could no longer hold it in and said, “I want to hold a fake wedding with Qingqing.” Only then did she finally respond: “Okay, I will go.” Her tone was still as flat as water. Cheng Fengyan’s heart sank. He had thought she would cry and make a scene, questioning him, but unexpectedly, she was so indifferent. He quickly explained, his voice hiding an unnoticeable panic: “A Jin, the Fu family has their eyes on Qingqing; they want to force her to marry. I can’t just watch her jump into the fire.” “So, I want to take this opportunity to publicly announce our divorce and then hold a wedding with Qingqing. But you have to believe me; this wedding is fake, and the divorce is just a temporary measure. Once the Fu family’s matter is over, everything will return to normal.” Upon hearing this, Tang Jin suddenly laughed lightly. That laughter was neither self-deprecating nor mocking, but a genuine sigh of relief. Fu Tingyu was finally going to take action. The Fu family Cheng Fengyan spoke of as a den of devils was, for her, the only lifeline that could help her escape this suffocating cage. Seeing her finally smile, Cheng Fengyan’s gloom lifted, and he said softly: “A Jin, don’t worry; I only have you in my heart.” “That day, I spoke too harshly; whatever you want, just say it, and I will agree, as long as you don’t stay angry with me.” He cautiously leaned forward, his voice filled with grievance, as if tears were about to fall. In the past, Tang Jin would have easily softened at this, but now, she only felt that the person in front of her was so unfamiliar it made her heart cold. Tang Jin looked at the pleading in his eyes, and a smile suddenly appeared on her lips. “Okay, then let Chen Qingqing marry someone else.” Cheng Fengyan’s smile instantly froze, his lips curling into a forced smile. “A Jin, don’t joke around.” He reached out to touch her face, but Tang Jin turned her head to avoid him, “She’s your sister; you’re jealous of this? Change the request, okay? Whatever you say, I will agree.” Tang Jin laughed even more. She knew that as long as Chen Qingqing was mentioned, his vows were nothing but paper, easily punctured. “I’m just joking.” She put away her smile, her tone cold: “You can do whatever you want; there’s no need to tell me specifically.” Seeing her no longer entangled in Chen Qingqing’s matter, Cheng Fengyan let out a sigh of relief, a smile returning to his face as he gently patted her head. “I knew A Jin was the best. I’ll go get busy now; you rest well.” After he left, the last trace of expression on Tang Jin’s face crumbled. It turned out that his attentiveness and care over the past few days were not out of guilt or concern for her, but simply because he was afraid she would make a fuss and delay his plans for Chen Qingqing. She smiled bitterly, pulling out a self-deprecating smile from under her pillow, dialing Lin Nuan’s number. “Nuan Nuan, is my divorce agreement ready?” There was a moment of silence on the other end, long enough for Tang Jin to think the signal had been cut off, before Lin Nuan’s stammering voice came through. “Tang Jin… you and Cheng Fengyan, actually, you’re not married. The marriage certificate you showed me before is fake.” Tang Jin’s whole body stiffened, her ears buzzing, her fingers tightly gripping the phone, her voice trembling: “What… did you say?” “It’s true.” Lin Nuan said cautiously, “I had someone check; you’ve never had a marriage relationship; he is divorced.” “His ex-wife is Chen Qingqing, and they just finalized their divorce two months ago. The steel seal on your marriage certificate is fake, and the documents are counterfeit from a two-yuan store. You’re not legally married at all.” Lin Nuan’s words became more and more choked. The wedding that had caused a sensation in the city, the enviable good marriage, who would have thought that this so-called marriage was completely fake? Tang Jin trembled as she opened the query screenshot Lin Nuan sent. The phone screen emitted a pale light, illuminating her face as pale as paper. Lines of cold text were like poisoned needles, stabbing into her eyes, causing her pain. That heart, which had been crushed countless times, had finally been pieced together with great difficulty, was now brutally overturned, shattered into nothing. She had actually intruded into a marriage, and for ten years, a full decade, she had been the third party. Ten years, from seventeen to twenty-seven, all her best years had been spent on that man, and in the end, she hadn’t even gained a proper support. It was truly laughable. The intense pain in her leg and the pressure in her chest hit her at once, and Tang Jin couldn’t hold on any longer, her facade of calm completely collapsing. The ward suddenly erupted with her heart-wrenching cries, each sound tearing through the air, making even the person in the next bed unable to hold back tears. Finally, she struggled to sit up from the bed, gritting her teeth, filled with hatred, grabbing the crutch and limping toward Cheng Fengyan’s office. When Cheng Fengyan saw her standing at the door, he was first surprised, then noticed her trembling legs and pale face, his brows furrowing tightly, filled with concern as he approached her. “A Jin, what are you doing here? Does your leg still hurt?” He reached out to help her, but Tang Jin violently shook him off. She held her phone up to him, her eyes filled with coldness and bitterness: “Cheng Fengyan, I truly regret meeting you in this life.” Cheng Fengyan frowned at her words, but when he saw the content on the phone screen, his face instantly turned pale. He hurriedly snatched the phone, his fingers sliding quickly, his expression gradually darkening, finally stopping at the chat records between Tang Jin and Lin Nuan—”I want a divorce.” “You said you want a divorce?” He suddenly raised his head, panic flashing in his eyes, turning into a cold glare, “You want to leave me?” Tang Jin took a breath, her tears mixed with hatred, staring at him. “Yes! You’re too terrifying; I want to stay far away from you!” After saying that, she snatched back her phone, her fingers trembling as she pressed Fu Tingyu’s number. At first, the call didn’t connect; Cheng Fengyan snatched the phone from her hand and smashed it to the ground. With a loud bang, the screen shattered instantly. Tang Jin was shocked, looking up just in time to meet his bloodshot eyes. His face held no tenderness, only a terrifying possessiveness, cold enough to instill fear. “I will never let you leave me.” Tang Jin trembled all over but still gritted her teeth and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, a sharp pain shot through her neck, and her vision went black, losing consciousness completely. When she woke up again, Tang Jin found herself locked in the car. Her neck still ached, and she felt around for the safety hammer in the passenger compartment, just as she gripped it tightly, the car door was opened. Cheng Fengyan stood outside, his face dark: “Where do you think you’re going?” Tang Jin ignored him, preparing to lean out, but he yanked her arm and threw her back into the seat. He leaned against the car door, gritting his teeth, his eyes red with rage: “I told you, you can’t go anywhere; stay by my side!” Tang Jin glared at him, not saying a word. Cheng Fengyan stared at her, suddenly reaching out to tear her clothes. A chill instantly filled her body, and Tang Jin trembled all over. “Cheng Fengyan, what are you doing?!” He said nothing, violently stripping her clothes, then kissed her. His hands slid down with force, not allowing her to resist. Tang Jin realized what he was trying to do, struggling desperately, but he held her down tightly. “Let go of me! If you do this, I will hate you in the future!” But Cheng Fengyan seemed to have heard nothing, no matter how she kicked, screamed, or even bit his shoulder, he didn’t stop. Finally, Tang Jin exhausted her strength, her voice pleading: “Cheng Fengyan… don’t do this in the car… this is my racing car…” Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a painful cry. Cheng Fengyan suddenly pressed down harder, his hot breath against her ear, his tone strangely warm: “A Jin, this is your punishment. Do you still want to leave?” Tang Jin bit her lip, the taste of blood spreading on her tongue. Tears fell onto the black leather seat, soaking a dark stain. Chen Qingqing had only ruined her leg, but Cheng Fengyan was going to completely destroy her as a person. In the following days, Cheng Fengyan seemed to have gone mad, taking her to every racing car, doing the same cruel things to her in each one. Tang Jin went from crying and begging for mercy to cursing in anger, and finally, she was left with a numb shell. She lay there, her gaze hollow, staring at the ceiling, letting him manipulate her like a soulless doll, even her tears had dried up. Until the last car’s torment ended, Cheng Fengyan finally held her, softly asking: “Do you still want to leave me, A Jin?” She mechanically shook her head. In fact, she no longer wanted to leave; she just wanted to die. When she returned home, as soon as she entered the door, Tang Jin saw the unopened cake on the coffee table, feeling nauseated just looking at it. She silently walked to her room, wanting to lock the door, but was stopped by Cheng Fengyan. “A Jin is not obedient,” he said. He pulled out handcuffs from his pocket, directly locking her to the headboard, then forcefully pried a piece of the blade from her hand. “Be good; don’t make me unhappy; otherwise, you’ll suffer.” Tang Jin glared at him, and just then, the door opened. Chen Qingqing walked in, shaking something in her hand: “Fengyan, which wedding ring looks better?” Tang Jin’s pupils constricted. Those were her national championship medal and the jade pendant left by her mother. “Cheng Fengyan!” she screamed, her throat dry as a broken gong, “Those are my things!” Cheng Fengyan, however, looked triumphant, kneeling by the bed and tapping the jade pendant, “You know it’s yours.” He raised his eyes, coldly smiling: “If you dare to commit suicide again, I can’t guarantee these things won’t be thrown away.” Tang Jin gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with intense hatred. “Hate me?” Cheng Fengyan raised an eyebrow, “Then you better not think about leaving. Otherwise, I have even more painful means.” Tang Jin thought he was threatening her until that night when Cheng Fengyan suddenly yanked her up from the bed, forcing her to kneel by the bed, gripping her face, facing the center of the bedroom, where Chen Qingqing was disheveled, leaning against him. “Angry? Or disgusted?” Cheng Fengyan’s voice was like poison, “Look at it, don’t close your eyes!” He said all this as punishment for her “disobedience.” But Tang Jin only looked on with a blank expression, not even blinking. Her heart had died; what was there to care about? To prevent her from seeking death again, Cheng Fengyan began to strictly control her diet, giving her only a little water and bread each day, leaving her with no strength even to bite her wrist. In the end, he even put that jade pendant around Chen Qingqing’s neck, stroking her hair, softly saying: “If you still want to leave, this jade pendant will forever belong to Qingqing.” The day before the wedding, Cheng Fengyan surprisingly didn’t touch her. He lay in bed, hugging Tang Jin from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, using a gentle voice to nag: “Don’t blame me, okay, A Jin? I just love you too much.” “After the wedding with Qingqing, once the Fu family stabilizes, I’ll take you to the civil affairs bureau to get the real marriage certificate, okay?” Tang Jin tightly closed her eyes, not answering. On the morning of the wedding, Chen Qingqing walked in wearing a pure white wedding dress, deliberately bringing the jade pendant to Tang Jin’s face. “So pitiful, Sister Tang Jin.” She smiled triumphantly, “I warned you long ago to leave early. I thought you would be self-aware; it seems you’re still too thick-skinned. Fengyan said this jade pendant is so tacky, he insisted on giving it to me as a dowry.” She had no idea that Tang Jin had long lost the desire to survive. Forget a jade pendant; even if Cheng Fengyan threatened her with her mother’s ashes, she wouldn’t even blink. So when Cheng Fengyan and Chen Qingqing walked out hand in hand, Tang Jin turned to use her right hand, which could still move, to bite down. Although she felt nothing, only warm blood slowly seeping out. Just as the blood soaked a patch, the floor-to-ceiling window in the bedroom suddenly shattered with a loud crash. A fake corpse was thrown in, followed by a handsome face. Fu Tingyu stood in the pile of broken glass, extending his hand to her: “Let’s go; I’m here to pick you up.” The villa ignited in flames, the fire soaring, leaving nothing behind. That fake corpse replaced Tang Jin, dying in the fire. When the fire first started, the nanny remembered that Tang Jin was still locked in the room. But Cheng Fengyan had specifically instructed that no one was allowed near that room. The flames grew fiercer, and the nanny was anxious, still calling Cheng Fengyan. As soon as the call connected, she almost cried out: “Xiao Cheng, the villa is on fire! Miss Tang is still upstairs—” “Hello? On fire? What’s going on?” But on the other end, it was Chen Fu’s voice. Then came Chen Qingqing: “Whose call? What fire?” Chen Fu briefly explained, and Aunt Zhang’s voice was urgent: “Oh dear, Miss Tang is still upstairs! I can’t open the door without a key; hurry and let Cheng come back!” Chen Fu was about to agree when Chen Qingqing pressed down on his wrist. “I’ll handle it,” Chen Qingqing said. “Aunt Zhang, it’s me, Qingqing. I’ll tell Fengyan to hurry back; you leave quickly, don’t get into trouble.” Aunt Zhang quickly agreed, and in a few minutes, she left the villa. But after hanging up, Chen Qingqing didn’t tell Cheng Fengyan about it at all; instead, she deleted the call records. Chen Fu suddenly grabbed her hand, asking urgently: “What are you doing? Aren’t you going to tell Fengyan? This could involve lives!” Chen Qingqing lightly shook off his hand, her eyes red, her tone resolute: “Brother, I’ve been a child bride for thirteen years; because of Tang Jin, I’ve lost everything.” “Now even the child has to be careful to hide from the father; I’ve waited eighteen years for this wedding; don’t you want a groom to show up?” “The villa is on fire; it’s not our doing; we can’t save her; what does this have to do with us?” Chen Fu fell silent, staring at her. Chen Qingqing felt a bit guilty, forcing out a few tears: “Please, brother, don’t say anything; just pretend you didn’t hear it, okay?” Chen Fu looked at her crying like that, his heart softened, hesitating for a long time before finally saying: “I… didn’t hear anything.” Chen Qingqing immediately wiped away her tears, revealing a naive smile: “I knew it; brother, you care about me the most.” At that moment, Cheng Fengyan walked in, rolling up his sleeves: “Qingqing, what are you doing with my phone? Did someone call?” Chen Qingqing’s heart tightened, quickly hiding her phone: “It’s nothing; just a spam call I accidentally answered.” Cheng Fengyan found her flustered demeanor amusing, reaching out to pat her head: “What are you nervous about? It’s fine if you answered; I won’t blame you.” Chen Qingqing quickly agreed, “Mm, okay.” The wedding started on time, but suddenly the guests began to stir, one by one rushing outside. Cheng Fengyan was puzzled when he heard someone say, “I heard there’s a fire in the east of the city; I don’t know exactly where.” “Someone in my circle posted a video; the fire is raging, and the fire department is overwhelmed.” The east of the city? The villa was in that direction. Cheng Fengyan’s heart tightened, and he was about to go check when Chen Qingqing stopped him. “The wedding has started; where are you going? Today is our wedding night; Ah Zhe is waiting for you.” Cheng Fengyan felt something was off, retracting his steps, wanting to check his phone for the situation. Chen Qingqing had long been prepared, her face filled with guilt: “I didn’t hold it steady just now; my phone fell and shut down, but I just asked Aunt Zhang, and everyone at home is fine.” Even though she said that, Cheng Fengyan’s unease didn’t lessen, growing heavier. But he thought, since she had asked, it should be fine, and figured she was just nervous about the wedding. The guests’ novelty quickly wore off, and soon they returned to their seats. Cheng Fengyan extended his hand, walking up the red carpet again, but with each step, it felt like he had lost something important, something he couldn’t grasp. When he reached the emcee, a sharp pain shot through his chest, and sweat broke out on his forehead. Chen Qingqing asked softly, “Are you okay?” Cheng Fengyan shook his head, feeling uneasy. After the wedding, that sense of panic hadn’t dissipated. He didn’t even change his suit, grabbing the car keys and preparing to return home, but was stopped again by Chen Qingqing. “Fengyan, where are you going? Today is our wedding night; Ah Zhe is waiting for you.” Cheng Fengyan’s eyes flashed with a hint of apology as he said, “I’ll go home and be back to find you soon.” Chen Qingqing wouldn’t let him go. This time, if he returned, everything would be exposed, and she wouldn’t even have time to destroy the evidence. She immediately pouted, looking pitiful: “Are you worried about Sister Tang Jin? But I’ve been looking forward to this wedding for eighteen years.” Cheng Fengyan’s footsteps paused, wanting to say to take her back with him, but at that moment, Chen Qingqing had already pulled out a tablet and handed it to him. “Aren’t you just wanting to see Sister Tang Jin? Here, I’ll show you.” The tablet contained a surveillance video. In the video, Tang Jin was handcuffed to the headboard, curled up in a ball, her voice carrying a sob: “Fengyan, I know I was wrong; I don’t want to escape anymore.” Cheng Fengyan’s brows instantly relaxed, the gloom in his heart dissipating by more than half, and he became even more eager to return home to check. But Chen Qingqing tightly gripped his wrist, her voice soft: “Fengyan, you don’t understand a woman’s heart.” “At this time, you need to let her stew for a few days, so she knows how important you are. Let’s stay at my house for a few days, okay?” Cheng Fengyan thought for a few seconds, then nodded. To be honest, he also wanted to change things up. That week, Tang Jin faced him with no expression on her face. Even if he still wanted to punish her, looking at her face, which was devoid of waves, he couldn’t help but feel bored. In the following days, as soon as Cheng Fengyan got off work, he would dive into Chen Qingqing’s place. On the living room carpet, by the kitchen counter, behind the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows, on the big bed in the bedroom… they tried every place they could. He even took her and the child camping for two days, living in a daze, temporarily forgetting the person in the villa. Every day, he would open the surveillance of Tang Jin to take a look. The woman in the video was becoming more and more haggard, her words of apology growing more sincere. The anger in his heart gradually dissipated, and he felt it was about time to return. That day, before getting off work, he specifically made an appointment to go to the civil affairs bureau the next day, planning to take Tang Jin to get the marriage certificate. This way, A Jin wouldn’t be able to escape. But the next morning, when he finally returned to the villa, he froze. The once grand house was now nothing but a pile of charred ruins. Among the broken walls, he could still see unburned wood chips, and as the wind blew, it raised choking ash. He stumbled into the ruins, relying on memory to find the room where Tang Jin lived. The sight before him made his pupils shrink, his blood running cold. The room was left with only a twisted rebar, the bed frame collapsed into a black iron mass; there was not even a person, let alone anything recognizable. The Tang Jin in the surveillance, haggard and humble, and that surveillance camera, had all vanished without a trace. Cheng Fengyan’s eyes instantly filled with red blood, his head buzzing. It’s impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could Tang Jin, so smart, have an accident? Moreover, Aunt Zhang was also on the scene; if something really happened, Aunt Zhang would definitely call to inform him. But… on the day of the fire, it seemed no one had called him. The nanny hadn’t called, and the property management hadn’t called. Suddenly, he remembered that on the day of the wedding, his phone had been “accidentally” broken by Chen Qingqing, shutting down. She had said she had already asked Aunt Zhang, and everything at home was fine. His heart raced, and he pulled out his phone, dialing Aunt Zhang’s number in a panic. “The number you dialed is no longer in service…” The cold prompt rang three times in a row, like a sharp blade cutting into his heart. His head went black, and his chest felt heavy, making it hard to breathe. The security guard nearby quickly supported him: “Sir, was that your home?” Cheng Fengyan couldn’t hear what he was saying, his mind a mess, desperately trying to grasp something, wanting to ask someone to clarify. Just then, his phone rang again, sharp and piercing. He wearily answered, his voice hoarse: “Hello?” The voice on the other end was silent for a moment, then a cold, mechanical voice came through, as if processed: “Dr. Cheng, congratulations, Tang Jin’s death certificate has been processed. However, there’s something you might be interested in— the body found at the fire scene has been DNA tested, and the results do not match the sample you provided for Tang Jin.” Cheng Fengyan’s fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning white, even his breathing paused for half a second. “What did you say?” His voice was hoarse, like it had been sanded down, each word trembling with disbelief. “I said, that wasn’t Tang Jin.” The other party repeated, their tone devoid of any emotion, “Someone used a substitute to forge her death. Dr. Cheng, it seems… you’ve been played.” The busy tone rang in his ears, like a heavy hammer striking his heart. He suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the charred ruins in the distance, a wave of madness rising from his feet, instantly sweeping through his body. It wasn’t Tang Jin… she didn’t die! This realization was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly dispelling the despair in his heart, replaced by a more surging obsession and anger. She didn’t die; she did it on purpose! She teamed up with someone to deceive him, just to escape from him! “Tang Jin…” he whispered her name, his voice filled with gritted teeth and hatred, yet mixed with a barely perceptible, twisted joy of having regained something lost, “Hello, very good…” He turned around, like a gust of wind, rushing back to the car, the tires screeching against the ground as he sped toward Chen Qingqing’s residence. Chen Qingqing was at home, holding the child and feeding him, and when she saw Cheng Fengyan burst in, exuding a terrifying rage, she was so startled that her hand trembled, nearly dropping the child. “Fengyan, what’s wrong?” Cheng Fengyan grabbed her hair and slammed her to the ground, his eyes dark and fierce enough to devour a person. “The surveillance! What’s going on with that surveillance?!” he roared, “On the day of the wedding, the villa caught fire; why didn’t you tell me?! You said Aunt Zhang said everything at home was fine; where is she?” Chen Qingqing was so frightened by him that she lost her mind, tears streaming down her face as she cried: “Fengyan, you’re hurting me! I don’t know! I really didn’t know it would catch fire… Aunt Zhang, she… she might have gone back to her hometown…” “Back to her hometown?” Cheng Fengyan sneered, kicking the nearby sofa, the leather sofa instantly sinking in. “Her number is already out of service! Are you still trying to deceive me?!” He leaned down, grabbing Chen Qingqing by the neck and lifting her up, his eyes filled with madness almost spilling over: “It’s you! You hid her, didn’t you? You were afraid she would come back to compete with you for me, so you set the fire to burn her to death during my wedding, right?!” “It wasn’t me! I didn’t!” Chen Qingqing’s face turned red, struggling to breathe, desperately shaking her head. “Fengyan, believe me, I really didn’t! I just… I just didn’t want her to disturb our wedding… I saw her in the surveillance, and she was very obedient, thinking she wouldn’t be in danger…” “Surveillance?” Cheng Fengyan’s eyes sharpened, “That surveillance is fake, right? You knew she would be rescued, so you recorded the video in advance to deceive me!” Chen Qingqing was stunned by his questioning, and her eyes flickered, not daring to meet his gaze. It was this look! Cheng Fengyan instantly understood. He threw Chen Qingqing to the ground, turning to leave. “Fengyan!” Chen Qingqing cried, scrambling to grab him, “Where are you going? Fengyan!” Cheng Fengyan kicked her hand away, not looking back as he rushed out the door. He was going to find Tang Jin; even if he had to dig three feet into the ground, he would find her. Did she think she could escape like this? In her dreams! He pulled out his phone, dialing a number, his tone cold and commanding: “Check for me, check Fu Tingyu’s recent movements, check all the train and flight records leaving the city; I want to know Tang Jin’s whereabouts, immediately, right now!” Meanwhile, in a secluded villa far from the city, Tang Jin was lying on a soft bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Fu Tingyu sat in the chair beside the bed, holding a document, softly saying: “Cheng Fengyan already knows you’re not dead; he’s frantically looking for you.” Tang Jin’s body trembled slightly, her face still pale without blood. In the past few days, Fu Tingyu had hired the best doctors for her; her body was slowly recovering, but the trauma in her heart felt like an unhealable scar, constantly aching. “I knew he would come looking for me,” Tang Jin’s voice was soft, carrying a sense of exhaustion that saw through everything, “He’s like that; what he can’t have, he wants to destroy.” Fu Tingyu looked at the despair in her eyes, feeling a slight pain in his heart. He had known Tang Jin for many years, since she was a spirited racing girl. Back then, she had a light in her eyes, like a dazzling star. But now, that light had gone out. “With me here, he can’t touch you.” Fu Tingyu put down the document, his tone firm, “I’ve arranged everything; in a few days, I’ll take you abroad to a place he can’t find you.” Tang Jin turned her head to look at Fu Tingyu. This man always appeared when she was at her most vulnerable. Back then, when she was angry with Cheng Fengyan, she jokingly said that if he dared to betray her, she would marry Fu Tingyu. At that time, it was just a joke, but unexpectedly, it had become true. “Thank you, Tingyu,” she said softly, a hint of emotion in her eyes. Fu Tingyu smiled, reaching out as if to pat her head, but then restrained himself. “We don’t need to thank each other.” Just then, a series of urgent braking sounds came from outside the villa, followed by intense fighting sounds. Fu Tingyu’s expression changed, and he immediately stood up: “Stay here; I’ll go check.” He had just reached the door when it was kicked open. Cheng Fengyan burst in with a group of people, his eyes locking onto Tang Jin on the bed, filled with a terrifying joy and anger. “A Jin, I found you.” He walked step by step toward the bed, his tone carrying a sickly tenderness, “Come home with me, okay?” Tang Jin looked at him, instinctively shrinking back, her eyes filled with fear and disgust. “Don’t come near me!” “A Jin, why did you run away?” Cheng Fengyan ignored her resistance, reaching out to touch her, “I love you so much; why did you betray me?” “Love?” Tang Jin felt as if she had heard the biggest joke, suddenly laughing, tears streaming down her face, “Cheng Fengyan, your love is feeding me medicine, locking me up, letting other women destroy everything I have? This kind of love, I can’t bear it!” “I did that because I love you too much!” Cheng Fengyan’s emotions became agitated, “I can’t lose you! A Jin, as long as you come back with me, I can pretend nothing happened, and we can start over, okay?” “Start over?” Tang Jin’s eyes turned cold, “Cheng Fengyan, it’s already over between us. It ended the moment you gave me the first pill.” Fu Tingyu stood in front of Tang Jin, coldly looking at Cheng Fengyan: “Cheng Fengyan, she doesn’t want to go with you; please leave.” “Cheng Fengyan, this has nothing to do with you!” Cheng Fengyan’s gaze was like a knife, shooting at Fu Tingyu, “Get lost!” “As long as I’m here, you can’t take her away.” Fu Tingyu stood his ground, unafraid. “Then don’t blame me for being rude!” Cheng Fengyan waved his hand, and the people behind him rushed forward. Fu Tingyu’s bodyguards were no pushovers either, and the two sides immediately got into a brawl. The villa was suddenly in chaos, tables and chairs overturned, glass shattered. Taking advantage of the chaos, Cheng Fengyan circled around Fu Tingyu, grabbing Tang Jin’s wrist. “A Jin, come with me!” Tang Jin struggled desperately but couldn’t break free from his grip. “Let go of me! You’re insane, Cheng Fengyan!” “I’m crazy; I’m crazy for you!” Cheng Fengyan pulled her off the bed, disregarding her resistance, forcibly dragging her toward the door. Fu Tingyu saw this and immediately broke free from the person beside him, rushing over and punching Cheng Fengyan in the face. Cheng Fengyan staggered back, releasing Tang Jin. “A Jin, run!” Fu Tingyu shouted. Tang Jin hesitated for a moment, looking at the two men grappling with each other, then at the door, finally gritting her teeth and turning to run upstairs. She knew she couldn’t let Cheng Fengyan catch her again; that would be an irreversible abyss. Cheng Fengyan saw Tang Jin running and roared, attacking Fu Tingyu even more frantically. “I’m going to kill you!” Fu Tingyu was also provoked, and the two fought fiercely. Tang Jin ran upstairs, finding a small staircase leading to the attic. She quickly climbed up, hiding in the attic. It was dark in the attic, with only a small window letting in a bit of light. She curled up in the corner, hugging herself tightly, listening to the sounds of fighting and Cheng Fengyan’s shouts downstairs, trembling all over. She didn’t know how long it had been when the fighting sounds downstairs gradually stopped. Tang Jin’s heart rose to her throat, not daring to breathe. Footsteps climbed the stairs, getting closer and closer. Tang Jin closed her eyes, thinking Cheng Fengyan had come to find her. But the footsteps stopped at the attic door. After a while, the door was gently pushed open, and Fu Tingyu’s figure appeared at the door, his face marked with injuries, blood at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were calm. “It’s okay, Tang Jin,” he said softly, “Cheng Fengyan has been driven away.” Only then did Tang Jin let out a sigh of relief, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She stood up and ran toward Fu Tingyu, grabbing his arm like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline. “Tingyu…” Fu Tingyu gently patted her back, comforting her emotions. “Don’t be afraid; I’m here.” He led Tang Jin down the stairs, and the villa was in shambles. Bodyguards were cleaning up the mess, and several of the people Cheng Fengyan had brought were lying on the ground, knocked out. “We must leave immediately,” Fu Tingyu said. “Cheng Fengyan won’t give up; he will come back soon.” Tang Jin nodded; she didn’t want to think about anything now, just wanted to get as far away from Cheng Fengyan as possible. Fu Tingyu took Tang Jin and quietly left through the back door of the villa. The car drove away from the city, heading toward the airport. Sitting in the car, Tang Jin looked at the scenery flying by outside, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Her ten years had been like a ridiculous dream, and now she was finally awake. Although she was covered in scars, at least she was free. She turned her head to look at Fu Tingyu, who was driving, softly saying: “Tingyu, thank you.” Fu Tingyu glanced at her, smiling: “I said, we don’t need to thank each other.” He paused and added, “Tang Jin, the past is the past; I will walk the future path with you.” A hint of warmth rose in Tang Jin’s heart as she looked into Fu Tingyu’s serious eyes, nodding. Perhaps, her life still had a chance to start over. Meanwhile, Cheng Fengyan, after being driven away, didn’t leave. He sat in the car, watching Fu Tingyu’s car disappear into the night, his eyes filled with a terrifying rage. “Tang Jin, Fu Tingyu…” he whispered these two names, a cold smile creeping onto his lips, “You think you can escape like this? Just wait; I will definitely bring you back, no matter the cost.” He started the car, driving in the opposite direction. He needed to redeploy; this time, he would bring Tang Jin back to his side at any cost. A new chase had just begun. And Tang Jin and Fu Tingyu would face even more severe tests. But this time, Tang Jin was no longer alone; she had someone who wanted to protect her by her side. She knew that no matter how difficult the future was, she had to walk bravely forward.