In early June, the city of C gradually embraced the summer's scorching heat. It was said that Huo Dinglin and Fang Minjun were going to get engaged.
The decline of the Huo family had not affected Huo Dinglin's household, as they belonged to a civil servant family. Therefore, Ms. Zhao Xiu was overjoyed about this engagement ceremony.
Bei Yao's high fever slowly subsided, leaving her somewhat melancholy. "Minmin still didn't end up with Chen Yingqi in the end. She clearly didn't have much affection for Huo Dinglin, so why is she getting engaged to him?"
Logically speaking, as long-time neighbors and childhood playmates, Bei Yao's family should attend.
But Pei Chuan was a very cautious person and naturally wouldn't let her go out at this time.
"Your health hasn't fully recovered yet. When you're better, I'll take you to see her, alright?"
Bei Yao nodded. She knew the current situation was severe and naturally wouldn't oppose. Pei Chuan was already under enough pressure.
However, one evening in June, Pei Chuan received a text message.
["Xiao Chuan, can Mom see you one last time?"]
It was actually Jiang Wenjuan, whom he hadn't seen in years.
Pei Chuan remained silent for a long time. Bei Yao had already fallen asleep. He gently kissed her forehead, put on his clothes, and went out.
The evening in City C lacked beautiful, dazzling neon lights, featuring only dim, old street lamps.
Pei Chuan's last memory of Jiang Wenjuan was from his junior high school years when she said she was going on a business trip and never returned.
Whether it was Pei Haobin's incident, Pei Chuan's imprisonment, or later Pei Chuan's marriage, he never saw this woman again. The only connection was the bank card she had given Pei Haobin.
Jiang Wenjuan sat on a wooden bench in the lakeside park.
When Pei Chuan approached, he spotted her at a glance. Compared to the Jiang Wenjuan who used to wear an apron while cooking, she now appeared elegant, with dyed and permed hair, dressed quite well.
Seeing him arrive, Jiang Wenjuan was momentarily stunned.
How many years had it been?
From when Pei Chuan had his legs severed at age four until now, her memory of her son had grown increasingly blurry. Seeing the tall, upright man today, Jiang Wenjuan suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.
Pei Chuan asked, "What's the matter?"
He couldn't say he hated Jiang Wenjuan. She had carried him for ten months and given birth to him, and there was a time when she had mentally broken down over his legs, cooking, washing clothes, and bathing for him. Before she left him, she hadn't been a bad mother—Jiang Wenjuan just wasn't that strong.
Jiang Wenjuan stared at him blankly, lowering her head after a long while. "It's nothing. I returned to City C and wanted to see you."
Pei Chuan's expression remained unchanged. "You've seen me now. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
After saying this, he turned to leave. Jiang Wenjuan, perhaps not expecting her once obedient and sensible son to be so cold, couldn't help but chase after him a few steps. "Xiao Chuan!"
Pei Chuan turned back.
Jiang Wenjuan covered her mouth, tears glistening in her eyes. "Is Yao Yao good to you?"
Pei Chuan glanced at her. "Very good."
"That's good... that's good..." Jiang Wenjuan seemed caught between crying and laughing, her voice choked with emotion.
Pei Chuan didn't speak. After a long silence, he turned and continued on his way back.
Pei Chuan frowned slightly. This time he had come out, he was actually using himself as "bait." Pei Chuan understood better than Jiang Huaqiong that Huo Xu, driven to desperation, would resort to any means.
Personally, he didn't possess the vast financial resources that Jiang Huaqiong and Huo Xu had. Though he was clever, they had long-standing accumulated wealth.
Huo Xu had probably known where he and Bei Yao were for a long time, yet he hadn't made a move so far.Most likely out of fear of Jiang Huaqiong, he had also kept himself well-hidden. Jiang Wenjuan hadn’t contacted him for years, and now, suddenly wanting to meet him, Pei Chuan instinctively suspected it was Huo Xu’s scheme.
As long as Huo Xu was alive, no one felt more threatened than Pei Chuan. That was why he’d rather take the risk to come out once—even if Huo Xu targeted him, it would be better than targeting Bei Yao.
But Jiang Wenjuan did nothing, and even now, there was no sign of Huo Xu.
The night breeze in June carried a chill. Just as Pei Chuan turned to leave, he heard the sound of splashing water behind him.
Pei Chuan looked back.
The spot where Jiang Wenjuan had been standing was now empty. Pei Chuan strode over.
A woman in the lake was almost completely submerged. So this was the "last meeting" Jiang Wenjuan had mentioned…
The mother who had once told him stories and shed countless tears for him.
For a moment, Pei Chuan’s heart turned cold. He couldn’t swim, but the next moment, he snapped back to reality: “Come out and save her!”
Two or three men in black hurried out from their hiding spots, and one jumped into the water to rescue Jiang Wenjuan.
Soon, Jiang Wenjuan was pulled ashore, coughing violently, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Pei Chuan stood still for a long while before walking over. He looked down and asked, “Why did you jump into the lake?”
Jiang Wenjuan sobbed, unable to form words: “I’m sorry for you.”
Pei Chuan frowned.
Jiang Wenjuan refused to say anything else.
A sense of foreboding washed over Pei Chuan. He ordered, “Take her to the hospital.”
Without another glance at the weeping Jiang Wenjuan, he rushed desperately toward home.
The streetlights flickered in the night as the city sank into darkness. He arrived at the temporary residence he shared with Bei Yao.
The door was open.
Pei Chuan’s heart sank instantly. Clenching his fists tightly, he charged into the bedroom. The bed was empty.
The living room was in disarray. Several men, their faces covered and covered in injuries, approached him: “They had guns.”
Pei Chuan closed his eyes.
Forcing himself to stay calm, he said, “Send someone to inform Jiang Huaqiong that Huo Xu has shown himself.” But after a moment, he added, “Never mind. All of you, leave.”
Logically, Huo Xu wouldn’t be so reckless, but having resorted to kidnapping and acquiring illegal firearms, it seemed something had pushed him to the brink.
These bodyguards had been beaten up, clearly in retaliation for Huo Xu’s earlier beating by thugs.
The lead bodyguard said, “Boss, they left this for you.”
Pei Chuan unfolded the note—
[No rush, the game has just begun. If you want to see Bei Yao, come alone to ‘Dreamgather Villa’ tomorrow at 9 a.m.]
Pei Chuan crumpled the note, biting his lip until it bled.
For the first time, he hated the years he’d wasted in prison, leaving him ill-equipped to contend with people like Huo Xu and Jiang Huaqiong. He couldn’t involve Jiang Huaqiong—she could handle Huo Xu, but she wouldn’t care about Bei Yao’s safety.
If someone like Huo Xu were cornered, he’d likely take Bei Yao down with him.
Pei Chuan remained calm for a long time, not sleeping a wink all night.
After what felt like an eternity, he dialed another number.
Once the call ended, he threw himself into developing software, working nonstop, afraid that any moment of idleness would make him think of Bei Yao.
When Bei Yao woke up, she found herself in a white room. Surprisingly, two other people were locked in with her.Before losing consciousness, she had inhaled some gas and now felt groggy. In the corner were two people, both with chains around their necks.
One was an unfamiliar woman, the other a familiar-looking little boy.
The little boy was trembling all over, his mouth sealed with tape.
Bei Yao spoke uncertainly, "Pei Jiadong?"
The boy was terrified, tears streaming down his face. Yet Bei Yao confirmed it—this was Cao Li and Pei Haobin's son, also Pei Chuan's half-brother.
Among the three people in the room, only Bei Yao was lying on a soft bed. The other woman's mouth wasn't taped, but her gaze was filled with undisguised hatred.
Bei Yao's wrists and ankles were bound with soft fabric. The next moment, the room door opened.
Everyone looked over simultaneously. Huo Xu entered with a smile, pushing a food cart.
It was late at night.
He picked up a bowl of porridge, ignoring Pei Jiadong and Shao Yue chained in the corner, and approached Bei Yao. His tone was gentle, "Awake? Are you hungry? Let me feed you."
He sat by the bed and brought a spoon to her lips.
Bei Yao leaned back and turned her face away, "Huo Xu, what exactly are you doing?"
Something seemed to trigger Huo Xu. He suddenly grabbed her face, "Look at me! Look right at me!"
Forced to meet his gaze, Bei Yao complied.
His eyes showed a satisfied obsession, "Yao Yao, yes, just like that. Only have me in your eyes. You did like me once, didn't you? It's just that I was too bad at first, with ill intentions, so you never looked at me."
Bei Yao's heart raced, but she remained silent.
Huo Xu continued, "See, I've changed. I no longer want to use you as Shao Yue's shield. Look at that woman in the corner. If you're unhappy, I'll vent your anger for you, okay?"
Hearing this, Shao Yue trembled but didn't dare utter a word.
So it was Shao Yue in the corner. Bei Yao's heart pounded with fear. All along, she had known that Huo Xu deeply loved Shao Yue. But the Shao Yue in the corner wore tattered clothes, her face gaunt, curling up as a whole, clearly terrified.
Huo Xu picked up the bowl again, "I saw your diary and learned your secret. But don't be afraid. You were married to me in your previous life, right? I won't treat you like that again. Now, you're the only one in my heart. I dream of you every night, missing you, but it's okay now—you're back with me."
Bei Yao's breath hitched, "What did you say?"
Huo Xu smiled, "I said I know you're supposed to be my wife. I'll take good care of you. Once Pei Chuan dies, we'll go abroad and live well. Here, have something to eat first."
Bei Yao sensed his unstable mental state. Her fingers trembled. If even Shao Yue was this afraid of Huo Xu, it showed this condition had persisted for a long time.
Facing a mentally unstable man with vast wealth, she suppressed her fear and her worry for Pei Chuan. Having read many psychology books for Pei Chuan's sake, Bei Yao knew not to provoke someone like Huo Xu further.
She forced a smile and said, "I'm not hungry right now. Can I eat later when I am?"
Seeing her smile, Huo Xu was delighted, "Okay, eat whenever you want."In the corner, Shao Yue gritted her teeth fiercely, a trace of fury gleaming in her eyes. She hadn't eaten for a whole day. However, Huo Xu's desperate attempts to please Bei Yao clearly provoked her. She tugged at the chain around her neck, screaming, "Ahhh! Why don't you all just die! I'll kill you!"
Hearing her voice, Huo Xu's expression instantly turned cold. "How noisy," he muttered.
He opened a cabinet in the room and pulled out a whip. Shao Yue immediately fell silent, trembling uncontrollably. "Don't hit me, please don't hit me!"
Yet Huo Xu proceeded to lash her twice with brutal force.
The little boy, Pei Jiadong, had been weeping quietly, shrinking in fear. Bei Yao was also stunned by the scene. She never imagined that Huo Xu, who had once appeared so refined and gentlemanly, could transform into this monstrous state in such a short time.
Bei Yao struggled to suppress her trembling.
Huo Xu approached her, speaking in an ingratiating tone, "I won't let her curse at you. No one is allowed to bully you."
Bei Yao forced a faint smile. "Thank you." She also restrained herself from glancing at little Jiadong in the corner, terrified that Huo Xu's volatile temper might redirect his anger toward the boy.
Huo Xu drew closer to Bei Yao, scrutinizing her face intently.
After a long moment, he leaned in to kiss her.
Bei Yao's heart tightened, and she could bear it no longer. Instinctively, she recoiled.
Huo Xu's face darkened, his expression turning ugly.
He felt a surge of rage but swallowed it back, remembering this was the person he had longed for day and night. Forcing a smile, he said, "It's alright. Once Pei Chuan is dead, we'll have plenty of time. The moment is almost here. Let me treat you all to a show."
He pressed a remote, and a surveillance feed appeared on the screen before them.
In the June mountain scenery, Pei Chuan's figure emerged on the monitor.
He had climbed the mountain alone on foot, as Huo Xu demanded, and now looked somewhat disheveled. Yet the man stood tall and straight, his voice calm and steady. "Huo Xu, I'm here. Where is Yao Yao?"
Huo Xu glanced at Bei Yao beside him, then sealed her mouth with tape before dialing Pei Chuan's number. The phone on the table rang, and Pei Chuan picked it up.
Pei Chuan heard Huo Xu's voice on the other end. "Let's not talk about Yao Yao just yet. Let's discuss what you and Jiang Huaqiong have done to me lately. Without you, I wouldn't be in this position today. But what gives you the right? A cripple like you—where do you get the confidence to challenge me?"
Pei Chuan showed no anger. He surveyed his surroundings discreetly.
Operating in such a confined location would be highly inconvenient. He frowned almost imperceptibly, his only relief being that this place was remote, meaning Huo Xu hadn't spent much time alone with Yao Yao.
Huo Xu continued, "Today, I've prepared three multiple-choice questions for you. If even one person chooses you, you get to walk out alive."
"For the first question, I gave your mother, Jiang Wenjuan, a choice: betray her son or let her current husband get hurt. Clearly, she didn't choose you. So, I successfully took Bei Yao. Yao Yao looked utterly adorable while she slept—such a pity you, a worthless cripple, failed to protect her."
Pei Chuan's face remained composed, though he pressed his lips together tightly.
"For the second question, I'll let you hear it for yourself."
Huo Xu dialed another number. Immediately, an anxious middle-aged man's voice came through. "Who is this? Where have you taken my son?"
Huo Xu switched to a voice modulator. "Pei Haobin, no need to panic. I just have a gift for you."Huo Xu tore the tape off Pei Jiadong's mouth, and Pei Jiadong burst into loud sobs: "Dad, save me, Dad... mmmph."
Huo Xu sealed it back on, smiling as he said, "Both your sons, Pei Chuan and Pei Jiadong, are here with me. This gift is quite simple. Do you want to save Pei Jiadong's legs or Pei Chuan's hands? You have one minute to think it over and give me your answer."
In the June mountains, a thin mist enveloped the area.
Bei Yao's eyes widened, tears slowly welling up in them.
On the surveillance screen, Pei Chuan remained silent.
Everything around was quiet.
Only the speakers scattered around crackled with an anxious hoarseness. Pei Chuan seemed to be instantly transported back to that hot summer when he was four years old. They had said it was because of his father that he ended up there.
"One minute has passed, Pei Haobin. Tell me your answer. If you choose neither, their limbs will be delivered to your home simultaneously. This scene isn't unfamiliar to you, is it?"
"I choose!"
Pei Chuan closed his eyes.
"Don't hurt Jiadong." Pei Haobin sounded utterly broken, while Cao Li wept bitterly on the other end.
Huo Xu laughed heartily and hung up the phone: "Pei Chuan, what a pity. Neither of your parents chose you."
Pei Chuan said coldly, "If you want to do something, just say it. There's no need for these tricks."
"No, no." Huo Xu flexed his wrist. "When you schemed with Jiang Huaqiong to deal with me and then married Yaoyao, why didn't you play fewer tricks? I'm merely repaying you in your own coin. You haven't even seen the most thrilling multiple-choice question yet—how can we end it here? For the final question, I'll let Yaoyao make a choice."
"See the box in front of you? Take a good look. Inside is Yaoyao's notebook from a long time ago."
Pei Chuan frowned. He opened the box and immediately saw the yellowed notebook. The handwriting was both unfamiliar and familiar, the pencil strokes seeming labored.
As Pei Chuan looked at it, for a moment, the world felt utterly empty.
Many memories suddenly became vivid—the hailstorm in '96, after which the little pink-clad girl stopped being afraid of him and began to approach him. For Pei Chuan, those were unforgettable days, etched clearly in his mind.
Huo Xu said, "You know what? When I first saw this, I couldn't believe it either. But later I thought, sometimes the most impossible things in the world are also the most reasonable. Otherwise, why would she refuse to even glance at me when I pursued her, yet marry you, a cripple? Think carefully—which year did Yaoyao start being kind to you?"
Pei Chuan's knuckles turned white: "Enough. I don't believe it."
"Don't believe it? Then let's have Yaoyao make a choice. Who should we compare you to? Let me think..." Huo Xu said, "As her former benefactor, who do you think you can measure up to? Her mother, her father, or her brother?"
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