SABA Chapter 74

Nie Jin arrived at the hospital to find Luo Xingwen sitting in a daze. Several days of surgery and coma had left him gaunt. His cheeks were slightly sunken, his face devoid of flesh, and his lips were dry and cracked from lack of moisture.

Nie Jin felt both angry and heartbroken. She considered it her professional failure that her artist had to endure such an experience.

“How are you feeling today?” Nie Jin forced a cheerful smile onto her usually stern and capable face. “The doctor said you have a good constitution and will recover quickly. As long as you don’t get a secondary infection, you’ll have your stitches removed in another half a month!”

“Sister Jin,” Luo Xingwen’s eyes curved slightly downwards. “This really doesn’t seem like you.”

Nie Jin: “…”

Luo Xingwen smiled. “I saw Weibo.”

The forced smile on Nie Jin’s face faded. The events of the past few days had caught her off guard. She couldn’t control other people’s affairs; all she could do was try to protect Luo Xingwen from further public damage during this storm.

Luo Xingwen: “Help me issue a statement to explain the ins and outs of this matter.”

Taking away Luo Xingwen’s phone was precisely to prevent this! Nie Jin walked back and forth in the hospital room with a headache, barely managing to suppress the frantic tone in her voice.

“A statement? What can you possibly state? Han Cheng currently holds the text messages you sent him asking him to come to your room as evidence. How will you prove to the public that it was non-consensual?”

Even the drug components found in his blood tests were being argued by the other party’s lawyer as being voluntarily consumed for arousal.

“Once the victim is labeled as impure, no one will care how much you were actually hurt.”

“If you sell your body to climb the ladder through sexual favors and unspoken rules, then everyone will assume it was a dispute over payment or that you couldn’t handle the abuse in bed, leading to a dog-eat-dog situation. Your statement will only be interpreted as a blackmail attempt over unfulfilled price negotiations.”

“Why do good people always have to yield to bad people? Why can’t the wicked be punished as they deserve?” Luo Xingwen’s eyes seemed to hold a flame. “Did I suffer these injuries in vain? This is unfair.”

“He has been punished,” Nie Jin said with a blank face. “That beating from the second young master of the Chu family, the one that crushed his testicles, means he may never be able to be a man again for the rest of his life.”

Luo Xingwen could almost visualize the scene. He let out a light laugh but shook his head. “It’s not enough. I want him to receive the punishment he deserves.”

It made no sense for someone who committed such acts to enjoy high compensation for medical care and attention for the rest of his life. If that were the case, where would justice be in this world?

Luo Xingwen recalled Han Cheng standing smugly by the bed that night, his disgusting and lecherous appearance, and the arrogance in his tone.

“According to what he said at the time, I wasn’t the first victim. There must have been many more victims over the years.”

Seeing Luo Xingwen’s determined expression, Nie Jin felt a surge of frustration. In his shoes, if she encountered this, she might also fight to the bitter end. However, as Luo Xingwen’s agent, she couldn’t just act on personal feelings and loyalty.

After a long silence, she finally relented. Seeing Luo Xingwen like this, she asked somewhat exasperatedly, “Are you doing this for yourself, or for the second young master of the Chu family?”

Luo Xingwen smiled. “Can’t I do it for both?”

Nie Jin remained silent, and Luo Xingwen said nothing. Only the rustling of the sheer curtains stirred by the gentle breeze filled the air, peaceful and long.

“I remember when you first took me on, you asked me a question – why are you in the entertainment industry?”

This was the first question Nie Jin asked every artist before taking them on. The answer often determined how high they could climb and how much they were willing to sacrifice for that position. The first time Nie Jin met Luo Xingwen, he was an extra in Hengdian. His appearance and aura stood out among the crowd of extras. Whether it was the crew’s difficulty or the needs of the shoot, she watched him, dressed in a single layer of clothing in the bone-chilling wind, jump into an icy pond three times without flinching.

She asked for his name and later looked him up, surprisingly discovering he was the third-place winner in a popular singing competition variety show. However, for some reason, he had rejected offers from several reputable agencies during the show. It wasn’t until half a year later, when his popularity had almost completely faded, that he signed with a small record and cultural company.

Why would a singer debut and then work as an extra in Hengdian? Nie Jin investigated further and learned that he had fallen out with the record and cultural company he signed with, had been blacklisted, and was currently involved in a lawsuit, potentially facing hefty compensation.

Nie Jin hesitated. While an artist’s image and aura were crucial for an agency, their cooperativeness was also an important consideration. No one wanted a difficult artist who caused trouble. But Luo Xingwen’s image and aura were so outstanding that Nie Jin was very tempted. After half a month of observation and consideration, Nie Jin finally decided to approach him.

Luo Xingwen’s answer then was different from many others. He gave a self-deprecating laugh and said that the reason he entered the entertainment industry was no longer important. He said that he was still here now to be able to see someone again.

Nie Jin found his wording strange because he used the word “to be able to.”

Luo Xingwen’s smile softened slightly. “Yes, that person is Chu Yanhao.”

Nie Jin was stunned. This was unexpected. Because of Chu Yanhao’s status… if the person Luo Xingwen wanted to see was Chu Yanhao, then even if he climbed to the top of the entertainment industry, that person might not even give him a second glance.

Luo Xingwen: “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

When one is young, one always believes that with enough effort and willingness to sacrifice, one can obtain what one desires.

“I abandoned him for my dreams back then and swore not to look back.”

But fate seemed to play a trick on him. He abandoned him, and the bridge to his dreams collapsed. He regretted it day and night, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to go back to him. He abandoned him, yet achieved nothing. What then was the meaning of their countless arguments and resolute abandonments?

It might seem childish now, but that was the spirit of youth. He wanted to achieve fame and success – whether or not it was on the path to his dreams – before finding him again.

He accepted his agent’s arrangements, acting in dramas, attending events, and participating in variety shows. He would do anything to become famous. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, for a full four years, he never took a single day off. He gained recognition and popularity, finally establishing a foothold in the entertainment industry. Just as he felt he finally had the qualification to find him, he learned that Chu Yanhao was the young master of the Chu family.

How laughable! The person he liked in his youth turned out to be the second son of ELEGANT Group, which dominated half of the domestic entertainment and fashion circles.

All his efforts became a joke in the face of that status.

If he approached him with such status and told him he regretted leaving, who would believe him? Even Nie Jin, upon learning of his interactions with Chu Yanhao, had asked him if it was for resources.

Nie Jin’s eyebrows furrowed, and silence permeated the hospital room. Luo Xingwen had been very cooperative in various aspects over the years, never causing her any worry. It wasn’t until he had been interacting with Chu Yanhao for nearly a year that she began to suspect something. But she had always assumed their relationship was a fleeting encounter or a hormonal impulse, never expecting so many hidden circumstances behind it.

However, why hadn’t Luo Xingwen spoken up earlier? Why was he suddenly bringing this up now?

Nie Jin pondered for a moment and suddenly realized. She looked at Luo Xingwen, who had, after much meandering, brought the topic back around, and said somewhat helplessly, “You’re not suddenly telling me about your past together at a time like this just to reminisce, are you? Just say what you need to say.”

Luo Xingwen smiled. The biggest problem now was that even if they issued a statement, people might not believe he was non-consensual. But if they had the timeline of his relationship with Chu Yanhao as proof, it would solve this problem effectively.

Nie Jin: “You want to use some evidence of your past relationship as a couple to make people mistakenly believe that you have always been in a romantic relationship?”

Luo Xingwen: “I also have some evidence of Han Cheng harassing me before.”

Indeed, in terms of appearance alone, Chu Yanhao was leagues ahead of Han Cheng. Moreover, Chu Yanhao was the brother of Chu Qingchao and could provide Luo Xingwen with resources no less than Han Cheng. Unless Luo Xingwen was blind and crazy, he had no reason to abandon Chu Yanhao and get involved with Han Cheng.

But the outcome was still not much better!

“Not to mention that all your previous efforts would be considered resource-driven feeding,” Nie Jin said, her brow furrowed. “You should know the public’s attitude towards homosexuality. It’s fine for you to play with the idea of being gay and create a CP, but once you admit that you are truly gay, you won’t just get praise and sweetness. Perhaps initially, many people will speak up for you out of novelty, but as the public’s curiosity drives them to dig deeper into your private lives, there will only be more and moreShou and prejudice. Moreover, you should also know the attitude of the domestic entertainment industry towards homosexuality. Whether it’s due to the general environment or for censorship and sponsorship, no producer dares to use artists who openly admit to being gay. If you publicly admit it, the price will be a permanent farewell to the mainstream market.”

Although she had never said it before, Nie Jin had watched Luo Xingwen’s journey, seeing how much hardship and how many grievances he had endured. Their relationship was no longer just that of an agent and an artist; she genuinely felt it was a bit unfair to Luo Xingwen.

“This matter is clearly an internal struggle within the Chu family. You were originally an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.”

Nie Jin tried to persuade him earnestly, almost pouring out her heart. “Mr. Chu can hire the best lawyers for him. Even if something happened, he has countless opportunities to start over. Xingwen, you are different from him…”

“It’s okay,” Luo Xingwen shook his head. “Without him, I wouldn’t have entered the entertainment industry. He is the one who supported me to this day. I cannot stand by and remain aloof.”

“Sister Jin, please help me one more time.”

…

With Luo Xingwen having said all this, what else could Nie Jin do? Whether as an agent or as a friend, she could only offer advice; she could not impose her own ideas on him.

Nie Jin contacted Chu Qingchao, who was naturally happy to oblige. As for Chu Yanhao’s opinion, Chu Qingchao refused to comment – or rather, his words were not so polite. His words were: “He’s irrelevant. Tell him to get lost.”

Nie Jin’s expression was complicated. She felt that the rule prohibiting direct contact with those in custody might have, to some extent, protected Chu Yanhao, otherwise, he might have been beaten countless times by now.

The news of Luo Xingwen being drugged and illegally violated by Han Cheng trended on the hot search. Due to a lack of evidence and to avoid diverting attention, they did not mention Chu Xu and Ye Qinghan in the statement.

People are visual creatures, and given the status difference between Chu Yanhao and Han Cheng, people couldn’t find any reason for Luo Xingwen to be attracted to Han Cheng.

Public opinion, as expected, overwhelmingly sided with them.

Several past victims also came forward, recounting their experiences of being victimized. Han Cheng became a public enemy overnight.

…

Chu Family Old Residence.

Ye Qinghan scrolled through Weibo, his expression anxious and irritated. He couldn’t sit still or relax. The situation online had reversed, and most people believed Luo Xingwen’s account. Even though they tried to shift the public’s focus to Luo Xingwen’s sexual orientation to slander him, the effect was minimal.

Chu Hongzhen saw Ye Qinghan’s distracted demeanor and subtly curled his lips in disdain.

Ye Qinghan’s fingernails were gnawed into unevenness. He unconsciously clenched his fist, and beads of crimson blood seeped out, but he didn’t feel any pain.

“Didn’t you say he was definitely going to die? Didn’t you say Han Cheng would definitely stage a sexual assault leading to death by suffocation?”

This was not the first time Ye Qinghan had asked such a question, and Chu Hongzhen was thoroughly annoyed. Not only did Chu Xu and Ye Qinghan fail to handle things properly and suppress Chu Qingchao, but they had also completely angered him, making him reckless and disregarding the cost, willing to inflict eight hundred points of damage even at the cost of a thousand. Due to Chu Qingchao’s report, Chu Hongzhen was currently being investigated by economic investigation departments, restricting him in various ways, and making him extremely stressed.

“He didn’t die, so what are you panicking about? What’s the point of repeatedly asking questions about the past? What you should be considering is what to do next!” Chu Hongzhen had initially thought this person was quite obedient and a useful pawn, but he hadn’t expected him to be so incapable of handling pressure.

Ye Qinghan: “But the last person he saw was me, and he knows I took his phone!”

“So what? You have no evidence, what are you afraid of?” Chu Hongzhen showed a hint of a sarcastic smile. “What? Or are you saying your initial plan was to treat everyone as fools, stay behind the scenes, and reap all the benefits in the end? Heh, is there such a good thing in the world? Do you think it’s realistic to get everything without dirtying your hands?”

Ye Qinghan’s eyes were filled with resentment. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

Chu Hongzhen couldn’t bear to converse with this person who had lost his reason. Arranging for Ye Qinghan to take Luo Xingwen’s phone was indeed intentional, but Luo Xingwen surviving was an unforeseen mistake. No one expected Luo Xingwen to be so ruthless; to gain time, when he couldn’t deal with the other party, he stabbed himself. Han Cheng was also useless; he was so easily scared, hesitating for so long, which resulted in Luo Xingwen being left alive!

Chu Xu stood far away by the living room window, ignoring the pointless argument.

Jiang Tiao had blocked all his contact methods. To contact Jiang Tiao, he had gotten a new phone number. He told Jiang Tiao that if he was willing to return to his side, he could make Han Cheng withdraw the lawsuit, and even if he wanted, he could give him the relevant evidence against Han Cheng. However, Jiang Tiao had only replied with a single word – “Idiot, get lost.”

He was furious, unable to understand how Jiang Tiao dared to reply to him like that. The next day, he saw the announcement published by Luo Xingwen online.

No wonder Jiang Tiao was so fearless, no wonder Jiang Tiao hadn’t even considered his proposal. Chu Xu gritted his teeth in hatred.

Arranging for Ye Qinghan to take Luo Xingwen’s phone was indeed a deliberate suggestion he made to Chu Hongzhen. Ye Qinghan wanted to use him, so how could he allow Ye Qinghan to easily extricate himself? Only by all getting their hands dirty could they truly be on the same boat.

But he never expected Luo Xingwen to survive! He knew Han Cheng had long coveted Luo Xingwen, and he also knew about Luo Xingwen’s relationship with Chu Yanhao. He deliberately sent Luo Xingwen to Han Cheng – Han Cheng knew that Luo Xingwen, upon waking, would definitely not let the matter rest, so he would not leave Luo Xingwen alive. And Chu Yanhao, seeing Luo Xingwen tragically die at Han Cheng’s hands, would surely lose his composure.

This was originally a flawless plan.

If Luo Xingwen had not been rescued, none of the subsequent events would have occurred, and Chu Qingchao would have been unable to sway public opinion. To save Chu Yanhao, they would have had to come to him for negotiations.

After all this effort! It all fell apart!

In the past, no matter what he plotted, he always succeeded. Sometimes he even felt like he was the protagonist of this world. Because whatever he wanted to do, even with various loopholes and twists, it would eventually achieve its intended purpose according to his wishes. But at some point, nothing he did went smoothly; he seemed to always lack a bit of luck, and whatever he plotted ended in failure.

Come to think of it, it all seemed to have started after Jiang Tiao was hit on the head at the airport while trying to save him!

The sound of a chair overturning made him turn his head irritably. He saw Ye Qinghan standing up for some reason, holding his phone, his face pale, his lips trembling, and his face filled with panic and disbelief.

“Ding— Ding—” Weibo messages kept pushing.

“Explosive! Top CP car shaking door solid evidence! Ye Qinghan and Chu Xu car shaking video leaked.”

“Exclusive bombshell! Ye Qinghan indecently dressed, three-minute HD explicit video exposed!”

“Movie star’s drug history exposed! Ye Qinghan used marijuana in Canada during his trip to the US!”

“Defying the ban! Ye Qinghan’s video of using marijuana in Canada leaked!”

…

The internet exploded.

[OMG! Ye Qinghan actually used marijuana in Canada?!]

[Canada seems to have legalized it. I wonder if it’s legal or illegal for domestic people to use it abroad?]

[Regardless of legality, marijuana is addictive! How can one quit it just like that? I suggest thoroughly investigating his activities domestically!]

[What’s going on? Did the paparazzi just pick up a KPI for reporting on homosexuals?]

[Is it true that the entertainment industry is full of gays as rumored online?]

[Oh my god, so explosive, so high definition. But didn’t these two just say in an interview that they were single?]

[Maybe hooking up doesn’t count?]

[Looking at the video, it seems like a group of people, and some even took off their clothes. Drugs and sex are inseparable. I think it’s just group sex.]

[Then Chu Xu and Ye Qinghan… he’s not… too? I really suggest a thorough investigation!]

[Oh my god, people are meant to be compared. Before, I felt Luo Xingwen was quite disgusting, but compared to this, it doesn’t seem like much? He’s just dating a man. And he never intended to go public from the start, nor did he intend to influence anyone or lead anyone astray.]

[I agree. Compared to indiscriminate hooking up, he’s much more devoted, having been together for six or seven years. Moreover, Luo Xingwen never put up a single persona; when asked about relationships in interviews, he always said he had someone he liked.]

[Looking at it this way, Luo Xingwen is truly a clear stream in that circle. I take back what I said before about scolding him. I hate gays who mess around. But for someone like him, although I don’t understand, I respect it.]

[I feel so sorry for him! Just dating normally, he was almost drugged and violated, his boyfriend beat up the perpetrator, but the perpetrator preemptively took control of public opinion. He had to issue a statement and was then ostracized and cursed like this because of his sexual orientation. Oh my god, I think he should be awarded ‘Artist of the Year – Most Tragic’ at the end of the year.]

…

People are like this; only when worse things happen do they realize that what they were boycotting before was nothing. Luo Xingwen’s coming out suddenly became more acceptable, even those who cursed him for disrupting public order and negatively influencing teenagers. Those who had previously righteous indignation and cursed Luo Xingwen turned their anger towards Ye Qinghan. Luo Xingwen’s reputation gradually improved.

Ye Qinghan clenched his fists, making a cracking sound. He glared at Chu Hongzhen with eyes like a erupting volcano. “Why did it leak? That video was in your hands!”

Chu Hongzhen didn’t know either. It was the video he had always used to control Ye Qinghan and make him do his bidding. He quickly reacted, “It must be Chu Qingchao! It’s definitely Chu Qingchao!”

Ye Qinghan didn’t want to listen. He felt the string that had always been taut in his mind finally snap. He lunged at Chu Hongzhen like a madman, grabbing his neck. “You ruined my life! You knew that producer had improper intentions towards me back then, yet you still introduced him to me. You got me addicted to marijuana, all to film such a video to threaten me. Forcing me to sell my body, forcing me to complete one power-for-sex transaction after another for you!”

Chu Hongzhen’s face turned red from being choked, his eyes filled with anger. He seemed surprised that a mere pawn dared to lay hands on him. “So you seduced Chu Xu to retaliate against me?”

Chu Xu’s mind felt like it was exploding. The veins on his forehead throbbed. He couldn’t tell whether he was more enraged by the fact that these two had hidden so much from him, or by the fact that these two fools’ secrets had led to such an irreversible situation!

“Bang!” Ye Qinghan and Chu Hongzhen began to wrestle. Ye Qinghan pushed Chu Hongzhen, who crashed into the railing. The old wooden railing had rotted and couldn’t bear the weight of two people. The wrestling pair fell. In a critical moment, Chu Hongzhen grabbed the broken railing. His expression finally changed. Those eyes, which had always divided people into useful pawns and useless trash, finally showed fear and panic.

“Chu Xu!” he roared at Chu Xu, who was rushing towards them, his voice filled with a desire to live and the terror of dying.

Chu Xu knew that no matter what, he had to save Chu Hongzhen. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Whether for Chu Hongzhen’s connections built over the years or for his remaining assets, Chu Hongzhen was his only chance to turn things around.

Ye Qinghan’s upper body was already hanging out of the corridor. He desperately clung to the broken railing to prevent himself from falling. He looked at the person who had always professed to love him, but who hadn’t even looked at him.

They were using each other; he should have realized that long ago, shouldn’t he? But why did his heart feel so much pain and indignation? Hatred surged like a tide, like the last straw on the string that had been weighing on his heart. He suddenly burst into laughter, his expression manic. Before anyone could react, he let go of the railing he was holding onto. He let himself fall, crashing into Chu Hongzhen. He grabbed Chu Hongzhen’s neck with both hands, hanging onto him entirely, in a crazed manner, as if wanting to drag them both to hell.

“Ye Qinghan! Are you crazy?!” Chu Xu couldn’t hold the weight of two people alone. The veins on the back of his hand bulged, and his muscles felt like they were tearing. He desperately held on, trying to bring Ye Qinghan back to his senses. “Without him, we’ll have absolutely nothing left! If you want to turn things around in the future, you must keep him alive!”

Future? What future was there? From the moment Chu Hongzhen started threatening him, he had no future!

Ye Qinghan’s crazy eyes showed a hint of sadness. “Do you know what he did to me?”

Chu Xu’s forehead was covered in sweat. He gritted his teeth and held on tightly. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t mind. Let him go first.”

Ye Qinghan laughed, laughing heartily, tears streaming down his face.

Chu Hongzhen felt extreme fear rise within him. He shouted loudly, struggling desperately to pry Ye Qinghan off him.

“Let go! Hurry, save me! Without me, you have nothing!”

Ye Qinghan’s eyes were filled with madness and determination. He acted as if he couldn’t hear anything.

He ferociously dug his fingernails into Chu Xu’s hand. The sharp pain made Chu Xu unable to hold on any longer. The old wooden railing completely broke. Chu Xu watched with widened, bloodshot eyes as the two of them, along with the broken railing fragments, plummeted from the third-floor corridor.

Blood flowed from the back of Chu Hongzhen’s head, staining the ground. His slightly plump body twitched a few times, and then he lay still. Ye Qinghan, whether he had broken his leg or injured some other part, fell beside Chu Hongzhen’s corpse, covered in blood. He blankly pressed his hands to the pool of blood. He watched his hands become stained with Chu Hongzhen’s blood. He started laughing, a mad, hysterical laugh. It sounded like panic, like revenge finally served, or perhaps like freedom finally attained after years of suppression.

Everything happened too suddenly. Chu Xu’s heart was filled with fear. He scrambled downstairs, his hand trembling as he reached out to check Chu Hongzhen’s breath. However, he could feel neither breathing nor a pulse.

He furiously grabbed Ye Qinghan by the collar. Huo Shen’s stock market manipulations had caused his leveraged investments to be fully liquidated. The massive debt from the leverage alone was enough to overwhelm him for the rest of his life. Chu Hongzhen’s death now completely extinguished all his chances of a comeback. His life’s toiling had come to naught. He wished he could tear Ye Qinghan to pieces a thousand times!

Ye Qinghan chuckled, like a madman. He looked at Chu Xu’s distorted face, contorted with anger, and felt an immense sense of exhilaration. “Hahaha, cough, hahahaha— He’s dead. You’ll never get the Chu family’s power and wealth! You’re finished, hahahaha— Chu Xu, you’re finished!”

Chu Xu’s eyeballs were bloodshot and red with anger, spiderweb-like blood streaks covering the irises. He slapped Ye Qinghan fiercely.

Ye Qinghan’s expression was manic. Disregarding the pain of his broken bones, he stumbled towards Chu Xu. During the struggle and pushing, his sharp fingernails tore Chu Xu’s face. The stinging pain and blood triggered Chu Xu’s already taut nerves. He instinctively shoved Ye Qinghan away forcefully.

Ye Qinghan fell into the broken railing fragments. A sharp wooden splinter pierced Ye Qinghan’s chest. Chu Xu froze. He felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, his blood running cold. He stumbled over and tried to help him up, wanting to perform first aid. Ye Qinghan could die, but he absolutely could not die by his hand!

Ye Qinghan coughed up blood as he laughed, struggling to raise his hand and grip Chu Xu’s neck. The blood on his hands landed on Chu Xu’s neck, faintly showing five finger marks. “That’s good. Cough, cough. Now you’re with me.”

Together they would be murderers, together they would have no future.

Chu Xu violently threw him to the ground, kicking him several times as if venting his rage.

“Hahaha—After being confused for so long, deceiving yourself so much that you don’t even know who you like. You’re so pathetic! You got what you wanted, but you pushed it away with your own hands. You deserve it! Ha, cough, hahahaha—Chu Xu, I curse you, you will never get what you want in this life. I curse you to live a miserable life, to survive humbly like a rat in the gutter…” Ye Qinghan hunched over. He couldn’t tell where he was hurting; he felt pain all over his body. He felt cold. Chu Xu’s rage-filled appearance looked desolate and painful in his increasingly unfocused pupils. He didn’t know why, but he felt a mix of sorrow and exhilaration.

They were like two vines growing in the gutter, entwining and using each other. Both wanted to strangle the other to grow towards the light, but the dark, lightless parts had already become entangled.

Since he was destined for hell, why should they be safe?

Ye Qinghan smiled and delivered the final blow to Chu Xu’s mind, which was close to losing his sanity. “You’ll never be as good as Huo Shen.”

Chu Xu’s movements stopped. The irrational anger in his eyes slowly transformed into a cold sharpness like a blade. He looked at Ye Qinghan, lying in a pool of blood like a dead fish, devoid of even the strength to struggle. His face was as dark as the night sky.

Ye Qinghan saw Chu Xu’s lips move, seeming to say something, but he could no longer discern it. He felt the air around him becoming thinner and thinner, gradually turning into a vacuum. The sounds from the outside seemed to come from deep underground, distant and hollow.

Perhaps he was going to hell.

Ye Qinghan smiled and closed his eyes, as if hearing the Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor from that year.

…