Li De was not a local of this seaside town, just a passerby. This town was his midpoint station. That morning when the train stopped at the platform, he had just awakened in the sleeper cabin. He opened the window, and warm sunlight and gentle sea breeze swept over him. Then he saw her, walking outside the platform carrying books. What attracted him was the gardenia pendant on her neck, its brilliant and transparent light so piercing he could barely keep his eyes open. Involuntarily, he picked up his simple luggage, got off the train, and began following her, waiting for the right moment to strike.
He was well aware of his current situation – the police were pursuing him, and he was on the run. If this operation went slightly wrong, endless imprisonment awaited him. But the diamond necklace deeply attracted him, and he couldn’t control himself.
After so many years of stealing jewelry, he had never seen such a dazzling and uniquely styled diamond pendant. So he decided to take a risk. If successful and able to escape, he would retire, return home, and start a small business. If he failed, he would accept it – such was the luck of their trade.
Qian Zhi said: “Perhaps. But Tang Xuanzong fell in love with Yang Yuhuan, and for this, he almost paid the price of a dynasty’s destruction. The An Shi Rebellion, the six armies did not move, and he bore the curse of a thousand generations. And Yang Yuhuan? What was her ultimate fate? Graceful eyebrows dying before the horse, flower ornaments fallen to the ground with no one to collect, emerald hairpins and golden sparrow jade headdress. The king covered his face, unable to save her, looking back at blood and tears flowing together. Tang Xuanzong was the ruler of a nation, yet he could not save the woman he loved most.
Even if he loved her deeply, before the state and society, he could only watch her die before his eyes. If Li Longji were not the emperor of the Great Tang, and Yang Yuhuan not a favored concubine, perhaps things would have been simpler. But many things in this world are beyond our control. Two people who cannot be blessed, if they forcibly stay together, will not find happiness, just like Tang Xuanzong and Yang Yuhuan.
Nan Nan listened quietly, then said: “Although they say Yang Yuhuan was a femme fatale who brought disaster to the country, if there was a man who loved me like Tang Xuanzong, I would rather be Yang Yuhuan, even if it means death.”
Qian Zhi smiled faintly, noncommittal.
Nan Nan, seeing her smile, said: “Sister Qian Zhi, I think you look beautiful when you smile. You should smile more often.”
Qian Zhi was stunned, suddenly flashing back to distant fragments… Who said you look better when you smile… Who said that?
She lowered her head and caressed her increasingly swollen belly.
“Oh, why aren’t you wearing that necklace today?” Nan Nan keenly noticed her gardenia flower necklace was missing.
Qian Zhi took a sip of tea and said calmly: “Some things, if they are yours, they are yours. If they are not, even if you possess them, they are destined to be lost.
Nan Nan nodded, seemingly understanding, then said: “But I think one should fight for what they want.”
Qian Zhi asked: “Would you still do something even if you know it’s impossible?”
Nan Nan replied: “How can you know it’s impossible without trying? This world is full of possibilities. I’ve always believed this. Because I tried, even if I don’t get the result I want in the end, I have no regrets.”
Shi Lei began to feel something was wrong when Xing Tuo had not appeared at the company for three days. His phone was turned off, and no one answered his home phone. He called Lei Xi, but Lei Xi was still abroad. He went to Xing Tuo’s home and rang the doorbell for a long time with no response. However, the property management staff said they had seen him return three days ago and had not seen him leave. Shi Lei asked the manager to open the door, only to discover Xing Tuo was in a state of high fever and unconsciousness. Shi Lei immediately sent him to the hospital.
After being discharged, Xing Tuo locked himself in the company office, numbing himself with work and alcohol. Shi Lei observed his abnormal behavior, not knowing what had happened to him.
Not long ago, he had seen him looking jubilant. Shi Lei felt that during his time in the United States, Xing Tuo’s emotions were barely noticeable, but after returning to the country, he became moody. Shi Lei had already gotten used to this over time. Was it because of the woman named Xia Qianxi? Although he had barely seen her a few times, she gave him the impression of a calm-faced woman with a faint smile. Just such an ordinary-looking woman, but Shi Lei knew her actions could always influence Xing Tuo’s mood.
Shi Lei glanced at the still-closed office door and looked at his watch – it was already past eight in the evening. Xing Tuo was still inside, and he had been in this state for months, with Xia Qianxi never appearing. Shi Lei began to worry.
Shi Lei hesitantly knocked on the door. There was no sound inside. The door was not locked, so he gently pushed it open. A pungent smell of alcohol hit him, making him cough involuntarily.
“Manager?” Shi Lei looked at the dim room littered with alcohol bottles and frowned.
“What is it?” Xing Tuo’s hoarse, low voice finally came after a long pause.
Shi Lei said, “Uh… would you like to go out for dinner? I know a restaurant with good food.”
Xing Tuo answered, “Hello? … Still no news?”
Chapter 98: Brother’s Lover
“Is your efficiency always this slow?” Xing Tuo roared into the phone.
Xing Tuo suddenly threw the phone onto the desk, startling Shi Lei. He watched as Xing Tuo swept everything off the desk onto the floor. The computer screen instantly went dark when it hit the ground, and the smell of electrical short-circuit spread through the air.
“Leave! I want to be alone,” Xing Tuo’s tone contained suppressed anger.
Shi Lei came back to his senses and slowly walked out.
Li Deqiang pretended to be calm: “I’ve never seen this necklace.”
“Is that so?” Ou Rui looked at him with a half-smile, walking to the sofa and sitting down, picking up the remote control to turn on the wall-mounted LCD TV, which showed the entire process of Li De’s transaction at the pawnshop.
Li De looked at the man in front of him and couldn’t help but feel afraid. Who was he exactly? Could it be that the woman whose necklace was stolen was someone not to be trifled with?
As the man approached, Li De looked carefully and saw that the earring was actually a gardenia-shaped diamond stud.
Chapter 99: Brother’s Lover
“Mr. Xing,” Ou Rui stood up and respectfully said.
Xing Tuo nodded, staring at Li De, “Is this him?”
“Yes,” Ou Rui handed over the necklace for his inspection.
Xing Tuo took the gardenia-shaped necklace, its cold light shooting directly into his eyes. His hand trembling slightly, he tightened his fingers, the hard outline of the gardenia leaving a painful mark on his palm.
Xing Tuo stared at Li De, his gaze icy: “Where is she?”
Li De swallowed nervously under his intense stare: “Who?”
“How did this necklace end up in your hands?”
“I… I found it.”
Xing Tuo slowly approached, causing Li De to involuntarily retreat. His eyes were deep and dark, showing no emotion, with an aura that made one shiver. “Is that so?”
Before Li De could finish saying “yes,” a delicate gun was pressed against his forehead, causing him to fall in terror onto the cold marble floor.
“The truth,” Xing Tuo’s tone was soft, but his phoenix eyes revealed a sinister message.
Li De’s vision went black, and he fainted…
Xing Tuo handed the gun back to Ou Rui: “I want to know the result before dark.”
After speaking, he coldly turned and left, not sparing another glance at the unconscious Li De.
