Chapter 77: A Gift, A New Game

No one truly knew what depths of darkness hid within Jiang Yao’s heart—not even Jiang Yao herself.

Nearly everyone believed Jiang Yao was an unfortunate victim, but she refused anyone’s pity. Almost all thought she was tormented by Zeng Qiwen, desperate only to escape him. Yet, somewhere along the way, Jiang Yao had begun to anticipate his arrival. When he came to find her, she could finally claim, openly and without shame, the debts he owed her.

In the shadows where sunlight never reached, Jiang Yao’s heart harbored this darkness, ever-present. Now, she had finally exposed it, and nothing could stop her from ending it with her own hands.

“Do you know what your greatest crime is?” Jiang Yao’s cold gaze pronounced judgment on Zeng Qiwen.

Zeng Qiwen was so stunned he couldn’t form words; he only shook his head, again and again.

Jiang Yao sneered, raising her hand to slice him once more. “You shouldn’t have smeared Chen Zui’s name—destroyed his reputation.”

Blood oozed slowly from the wound.

“You shouldn’t have ordered your father to run Chen Zui down. You shouldn’t have targeted Ye Yiyi. You shouldn’t have hurt Cheng Yanchi’s hand. You shouldn’t have stabbed my mother those few times. You shouldn’t have…” Jiang Yao paused, turning her gaze to He Yunqing, who lay weak and slumped nearby.

“You shouldn’t have touched him,” she said, her face drawing close to Zeng Qiwen’s. “Is someone like you even worthy of him?”

Zeng Qiwen stared at Jiang Yao in bewilderment, unable to speak for a long time.

“Why isn’t your face full of terror?” Jiang Yao tilted her head, watching him as if savoring a performance. “I’ve always wanted to see you afraid—every time I looked at your face back then, I thought to myself, I truly want to see you frightened.”

She raised her hand—another knife wound.

Jiang Yao showed no mercy.

“Zeng Qiwen, if this is my destiny, I choose to walk toward it with a smile. And you—are you ready to meet yours?” Her smile held a trace of mockery. “I ought to give you a few more cuts, but you’re not worth the extra effort. This last cut will send you on your way.”

With that, Jiang Yao aimed the sharp blade at Zeng Qiwen’s throat.

Zeng Qiwen struggled to move back, his shock overwhelming his fear. After all, she was just a frail woman.

What could possibly make such a gentle woman utter words so chilling—

As the knife in Jiang Yao’s hand was about to fall, a man’s figure suddenly lunged forward.

He Yunqing, using the last of his strength, toppled her, holding her tightly in his warm embrace. He looked at her with heartbreak and deep affection. “A-Yao, don’t…”

Jiang Yao met his gaze, and all her resolve evaporated in an instant. It was as if she fell into the whirlpool of his eyes, tears bursting forth like a river she could no longer restrain.

Crying, she said, “He Yunqing, you don’t know, you don’t know…”

She struggled, trying to get up. “Let go of me, He Yunqing. If you truly care about me, let me go.”

“I won’t let go.” He Yunqing’s strong hand used every last ounce of strength to hold her fast. “I know everything—I know it all. But I can’t lose you.”

His deep, hoarse voice drifted softly to Jiang Yao’s ears.

Her struggling hands lost their strength. “I know I shouldn’t do this, but… there won’t be another chance.”

He Yunqing held her even tighter. “A-Yao, calm down. There will be many chances—in the future, with Ye Yiyi, with Cheng Yanchi, with me, with so many others… I’ll give you my hand, if you’re willing to take it. Don’t walk toward your so-called tragic fate, because it would break my heart—it would break it for a lifetime…”

Jiang Yao gazed at He Yunqing’s face, so close, feeling his warm breath stir her. She seemed to be making a difficult decision. Slowly, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“A-Yao, when I came, I already told Cheng Yanchi to call the police.”

Jiang Yao opened her eyes, stunned, and looked at He Yunqing.

“I promised Cheng Yanchi that I’d come here first to rescue you. If I don’t contact him within three hours, he’ll bring the police here.” He Yunqing’s voice was grave. “They should be arriving any minute now.”

Jiang Yao took two deep breaths. The knife she’d gripped so tightly finally slipped from her fingers.

“Are you not going to get up?” Jiang Yao bit her lip and spoke softly to He Yunqing.

Only then did He Yunqing realize he’d been pressing down on her the whole time, and at this moment, they were tangled in a rather intimate pose.

He gathered his strength and, with Jiang Yao’s support, managed to sit up.

In the distance, the wailing of police sirens could be heard.

Jiang Yao wiped her face—whether sweat or tears she couldn’t tell—and sat on the floor, glancing toward where Zeng Qiwen had been lying moments ago.

The spot was empty—Zeng Qiwen was nowhere to be seen!

Anxious, Jiang Yao looked around.

She caught sight of Zeng Qiwen, now somewhat recovered, standing at the window, his face twisted in a vicious smile as he stared at her.

“You can’t escape now,” Jiang Yao said in a voice drained of color.

Zeng Qiwen shook his head, gazing at the flashing police lights in the distance, his smile growing ever more sinister. “My little princess, you’ve really given me plenty of surprises. I’m not interested in playing this game with you any longer.”

“But I’ve left you a gift. The next game will be played by him with you. I hope you aren’t too shocked when you receive the gift—and don’t surrender too quickly.”

Jiang Yao was confused, unable to grasp his meaning. “What gift? What game?”

Zeng Qiwen offered no explanation.

Now, he was truly cornered.

He sneered, then suddenly leaned back, falling heavily from the window—where the glass had yet to be installed.

Jiang Yao froze, then rushed to the window.

But Zeng Qiwen was already gone.

She leaned out, and could just make out his body lying in a pool of blood at the base of the building.

Jiang Yao stared at the scene for a long time, her body suddenly collapsing to the floor, lost and dazed…

She had dreamed of Zeng Qiwen’s death.

Someone so steeped in evil should die, shouldn’t they?

But now, as he truly lay dead, Jiang Yao felt none of the satisfaction she’d imagined.

It was as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart, yet also as if something essential had been stripped from her life…

She looked up, stunned, at He Yunqing. “He Yunqing, he’s dead.”

The sirens grew louder and louder, now right below the building.

He Yunqing stood and offered Jiang Yao his hand. “Let’s go.”

Accompanying the sirens was a swelling crowd of the curious, drawn to the scene.

In the midst of the crowd, Jiang Yao immediately spotted Cheng Yanchi, his face dark and grim…