Perhaps back then, I couldn’t foresee that our love would not end well because our time together was simply too perfect. Neither of us were talkative, but even just sitting together in silence, I felt immense happiness, an overwhelming sense of contentment. We understood each other’s thoughts and feelings, and all flaws seemed trivial. Everything was so harmonious, as if we were born for each other, our very existence meant to be together, which is why there’s the saying “deep love knows no bounds.” But soon, misfortune struck. Fang’er was taken back by the Dong family and locked up. They forced her to marry, even using her mother as leverage. I was warned repeatedly, and they even kidnapped Ah Di to threaten and intimidate those around me. Fang’er and I refused to comply. We gritted our teeth, determined to be together no matter what. But even if we could endure the torments inflicted upon us, we could not bear to watch each other suffer.
The Dong family, in an attempt to make Fang’er yield, captured me and beat me half to death in front of her. At that time, I was just a powerless, penniless youth, brave but no match for many. The Dong family was powerful, though not omnipotent, they could easily deal with a nobody like me without anyone noticing. They genuinely intended to beat me to death to make Fang’er give up. Finally, Fang’er couldn’t take it anymore; she agreed to their demands if they would spare us. Seeing Fang’er’s unbearable yet helpless expression, my heart felt like it was breaking. I swore to myself then that I would rise to prominence, to become the one giving orders. I could no longer watch my beloved suffer like this; I wanted us to live freely. At that time, I thought one day I’d return for her, no matter what she had become or who she was with, I would take her away, and we would never be apart again. But who would have thought, when we met again, we were already separated by life and death.
