What’s meant to come will come. Since I can’t avoid it, I’ll face it bravely.
The rain outside the black umbrella seemed more ethereal in the raging wind, much like their uncertain future.
“Although my mother’s cause of death is important to me, she has passed away. Now, you and Tianli are the most important people to me. For you, I’ll stop at nothing,” Owen declared resolutely. He sighed, “Isn’t there a chance to give him one more opportunity? This time he truly has feelings for you.”
Ou Xueman lifted her head from his embrace, gazing at him silently. The confusion in her eyes gave him an answer.
He patted her head and sighed softly. “He’s in London. If anything happens, don’t be stubborn. Be sure to find him. I’m quite certain he can confront the Yamaguchi-gumi. Over the years, he seems to have gained control of the financial groups secretly supporting them. Although I’ve never known why he did this, it seems to be for Di Ying.”
“For Di Ying?” Ou Xueman was stunned, suddenly clear about her confusion.
——Dividing Line——
In London? Looking towards that direction, her eyes were covered with misty nostalgia, blurring the scenery before her. She deceived herself, thinking it was the foggy rainy day obscuring her vision.
Wiping away the mist, she inhaled the damp air and slowly walked back to her temporary residence, Tong Yifeng’s home.
Suddenly, the quiet street became agitated. Police cars were more numerous than usual, their sirens piercing the air. People rushed towards her direction, waves of unease rippling in her heart.
Her footsteps quickened. Upon seeing the area cordoned off by serious-looking police, her unease turned to fear. A white ambulance was parked outside, and medical personnel systematically entered the house.
She could wait no longer and ran towards the scene but was stopped by the police.
“Let me go; I live there. What happened?” She struggled, forgetting they wouldn’t understand Chinese.
As she prepared to ask in English, she saw medical personnel wheeling out a person covered in blood. Despite the bloodied stretcher, she recognized him immediately—it was Tong Yifeng.
In that moment, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and darkness descended.
By her bedside, he silently guarded her, his once cold and ruthless eyes never leaving her.
“What exactly does Di Ying want?”
“Her voice was like a cold wind sweeping through a deep valley, carrying a mournful howl.
The silence between them was heavy and oppressive, making even breathing feel painful.
His silence ignited a hint of hatred in her heart, and she roared, “How many people do you want to take away from me before you’re satisfied?”
He slowly lowered his eyelids, the shadow of his long eyelashes casting on his face, making him look bleak and melancholic.
His thin lips relaxed, and after a few slight movements, he finally spoke, “Xuan Xuan,” his voice fragile, “I’m sorry. Although I’ve never wanted to acknowledge her, she is my mother. I cannot abandon her, even though I know everything she has done is unforgivable.”
Ou Xueman coldly laughed, “She is your mother, and the people she has taken from me mean nothing to you. So you let her run wild. The last person by my side is of unknown life and death. If you’ll only be at peace by taking my life, then take it.”
I have nothing left to cherish. I hope to have no more dealings with you.”
She raised her hand, trembling, and pointed at the door. “Leave. I never want to see you again.”
Di Xihuang felt his heart being torn apart. Even eight years ago, when he had hurt her, she had never been so resolute. Now, nothing could be recovered.
He tilted his head back, swallowing the pain, knowing it would hurt him more. Slowly, he opened his eyes to look at her. “I will leave if that’s what you want. I will never appear before you again.”
He paused before continuing, “But please allow me to leave a few people to protect you. They won’t disturb you for long. I will resolve this matter quickly and give you the peaceful life you hope for.”
A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face. He was the one who had disrupted her life. Her world had been calm before he entered it. If he left, she could return to her previous life. Yet he selfishly continued to destroy her peace—eight years ago out of blind hatred, and now simply because he didn’t want to leave her, clinging to a marriage that violated ethics.
A heartbreaking laugh rang out, “After losing everything, let me be peaceful again. Di Xihuang, you make it sound so easy.”
Di Xihuang lowered his eyes, full of guilt. “For Tong Baichuan and you, I can do nothing to make amends. But for Tong Baifu, he brought this upon himself. He actually went to Japan using my identity to threaten Di Ying, wanting the media to expose her past…”
“Is this the secret you speak of? You stood by and watched her harm others?” Ou Xueman interrupted angrily.
After a moment of silence, Di Xihuang continued, “If Tian Muyi had known about Di Ying’s deception eight years ago, he wouldn’t have let her off…”
“So you struck first to eliminate future trouble,” Ou Xueman coldly interrupted. “Tong Baifu brought this upon himself, but what about Brother Ai Feng? How did he provoke you into such action?”
He seemed to age significantly with the effort of standing, moving slowly to pick up a coat from the sofa. A strange light reflected through the window, carrying a melancholic black, falling to the ground.
He hurriedly bent down to examine it as if it were a rare treasure, then held it in his hand.
It was just a flash of light, but she recognized the black crystal tie clip she had given him.
“That was my negligence,” he said softly. “I was focused on your safety and forgot about the people around you, the people you valued.”
She never knew he cherished that tie clip so much. A fragile corner of her heart was unexpectedly touched.
She tightly closed her eyes, covering her ears, refusing to hear his explanations, refusing to acknowledge that vulnerability.
After a time, when she opened her eyes again, the hospital room was filled with golden sunlight streaming through the window. A slight breeze carried a faint trace of his scent, reminding her that he had been there.
Perhaps for others, the taste of waiting involved unease and anticipation, with hope for the future. But her waiting felt predetermined, like a puzzle with a known solution, devoid of suspense or hope.
Recalling the people who had appeared in her life, those who once made her happy had all left, leaving her alone, gazing blankly at an unclear future. She felt exhausted, not wanting to struggle anymore, letting fate drag her along like driftwood, even if the end would be an endless abyss.
But when she was wandering in despair, fate gave her a glimmer of hope.
“Selina,” an excited voice rang out from the suddenly opened door.
Ou Xueman slowly shifted her gaze. Her once clear, pure eyes now resembled a pearl covered in dust, lacking radiance.
It was Grace, Tong Yifeng’s secretary, embodying grace, propriety, and wisdom. However, her behavior was exaggerated, and she even forgot the basic courtesy of knocking.
Breathless and slightly disheveled, Grace collapsed at the doorway, tears flowing as her voice trembled, but Ou Xueman understood her.
Disregarding the cold air on the floor seeping into her bare feet, she rushed down the corridor, her weakness preventing her from running far, yet she dragged her body towards the miracle.
Pressing herself against the intensive care unit’s glass window, unstoppable tears wet her face and the glass.
The man inside had his eyes tightly closed, white bandages wrapped around his head, and his lips, which often carried a gentle smile, were now slightly pursed under the oxygen mask. Although his chest rose weakly, it soothed her fears and gave her hope.
