The man did not walk far before stopping. He ducked behind a large tree to answer a phone call.
"Say that... again?" After a wary glance around, the man let out a cold snort, as if the matter were trivial. "Cleaning up messes isn't my job... Who intervened?"
A second later, a flicker of fear surfaced in the man’s chilling eyes. The name mentioned by the person on the other end must have terrified him, as he began to stutter. "I, I, I never intended to get involved in a homicide; the person wasn't—fine, give me five million, and I’ll handle it for you...
"Heh, a lion’s share? You’re lucky I didn't ask for ten million. I’m a man with nothing to lose; I’m not like you, walking around in polished shoes...
"Fine. Once the funds arrive, I’ll make the arrangements."
The caller must have agreed to his terms. The man hung up, cursing under his breath: "If I’d known it would be this much trouble, I should have just chopped that woman into pieces and fed her to the dogs. That would have ended it once and for all."
I was struck with horror. Was that "woman" me? Was he planning to chop me into pieces and feed me to the dogs?
He was a true devil. Even though I was already dead, hearing those bone-chilling words filled my heart with a profound sense of fear.
The man’s phone vibrated. It was a deposit notification. He glanced at it, then reached out to flag down a passing taxi.
The heavy sound of the door slamming pulled me back from my terror. The killer was escaping!
Instinctively panicked, I looked at the car parked nearby and floated back to Fu Hanyi’s side, pleading with him inside: "Fu Hanyi, the murderer who killed me has appeared. Catch him, quickly..."
*Ding—*
Before I could finish, my words were interrupted by the ringing of a phone.
Fu Hanyi answered. "Manager Chen... I’ll be there immediately."
After hanging up, he ordered Zhou Zheng: "Drive."
Zhou Zheng started the car at once.
The taxi carrying the killer was passing by Fu Hanyi’s car. Seeing him about to slip away, I pounded frantically on the window. "Fu Hanyi, hurry! Follow that car! The killer is inside. Please, Fu Hanyi, let the police find my body so my soul can rest..."
I sobbed helplessly, forced to watch as Fu Hanyi’s car sped away, disappearing into the distance.
Two patrol officers passed by. I rushed to them, desperate. "The killer who murdered me is in that car! Go catch him, please, I beg you to catch him..."
But the two officers couldn't hear my cries; they walked right through my body. I was filled with despair, finally understanding the helplessness of calling out to heaven and earth with no one to answer.
"Don't tear them down! Please don't!" Suddenly, my mother’s frantic scream erupted from behind me.
I turned in a hurry. Two men, who looked like municipal officials, were tearing down the flyers posted on the wall.
My mother grabbed their arms, crying out, "That’s a picture of my daughter! I posted it to find her—she’s been missing for four days!"
"If she’s missing, go to the police. Posting pictures is useless. Besides, posting unauthorized flyers here isn't allowed."
The men pried my mother’s hands away and continued tearing at the wall.
*Rip.*
My face was torn.
With a look of utter agony, my mother ignored everything and tried to stop them. "Don't tear it! Don't rip my daughter apart! I had no other options, so I posted her portrait to find her. Just leave me a few..."
She gripped their arms, her body trembling, her legs buckling until she collapsed onto the ground.
That submissive sight pierced my heart like a blade. She had once been a woman of status and dignity, yet now, for my sake, she was kneeling in the street before strangers.
And I could do nothing.
Meanwhile, those who could have done something stood by as cold, detached onlookers.
***
Hours later, I returned to Fu Hanyi’s side.
He stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, his figure tall and straight, his presence radiating an inherent sense of command. Back when I didn't know his true identity, I had secretly felt sorry for him, thinking that he was so handsome that even the heavens were jealous, denying him wealth because he was otherwise too perfect.
How ridiculous I had been to think that. He was a darling of the heavens, possessing everything others envied. But he had no heart.
I stared coldly at his back and drifted toward him. I didn't know why my soul insisted on returning to his side; it was as if an invisible force held me captive.
Fu Hanyi was completely unaware of my presence as I drifted closer. He kept his head down, looking at something in his hands.
I glanced over, and my heart shrank. He was looking at the Longevity Lock I had given him!
Back then, he lied and said he had liver disease. I believed him, so I went to a temple to pray for his safety and had a master consecrate the lock. I wanted to protect him.
The lock was gold; it had cost me the only two thousand yuan I had in savings. To someone of Fu Hanyi’s status, it was nothing but a cheap, worthless trinket. But when he received it, he had looked so happy, pulling me into his arms for a deep kiss and whispering sweet nothings: "Yuanyuan, as long as I live, I will always treat you well."
When he said that, he looked so sincere. I couldn't see a hint of deception.
With my shallow experience, I naturally believed him. "Hanyi, don't lie to me."
"Of course," he had answered without a moment’s hesitation. "My heart belongs only to you."
Filled with sweetness, I leaned against his chest, pressing my cheek to his heart, listening to his strong, steady beat. I teased him lightly: "Hanyi, if you lie to me, I will take your heart!"
"Fine," Fu Hanyi said, holding me as he pushed his acting to the absolute limit. "If I lie to you, I’ll cut my heart out and give it to you."
He had said it so earnestly that I was moved to tears, losing myself in his masterful performance and passionate kisses.
That very day, I gave him my virginity. I was filled with the sweetness and warmth of being his woman, foolishly pouring all my sincerity and love into him, believing we would be together forever.
In return, he trampled on my heart and held me in contempt.
He had lied to me, after all. And he hadn't cut his heart out for me as he had sworn. He was still living well, while I lay abandoned in the wilderness, ignored by the world.
Yet, despite his indifference toward my disappearance, why would he gaze at the gift I gave him when he was alone? Was he remembering me, or did he finally feel a shred of worry for me?
No!
I immediately rejected the thought. He had remained unmoved by my mother’s desperation as she posted flyers, even calling me cheap and ill-fated. How could he possibly be worried about my disappearance?
A chill rose in my chest. I suddenly reached out to grab the Longevity Lock in his palm. A liar did not deserve to possess something with such a beautiful meaning!
But I only passed through his hand; I couldn't touch the lock. Fu Hanyi, however, suddenly curled his fingers, cradling the lock within his palm.
He looked up at the blue sky outside the window and let out a soft sigh.
"You won't die," he whispered to himself.