Binnan City and Binbei City are more than fifty kilometers apart, separated by an artificial river, Xiao Kai River. The two cities face each other across the river, connected by a north-south bridge. Normally, it takes about forty minutes for Chu Xuelin to drive from Binbei City to Binnan City. But today, as if deliberately opposing him, he found the bridge closed for repairs when he arrived at the entrance. Frustrated, Chu Xuelin cursed the timing of the bridge maintenance workers as he thought about his next move. With the main bridge closed, there were two alternatives: take a longer route to another bridge at the eastern end of Binbei City, or use a smaller bridge nearby. The latter was a narrow floating bridge often used as a shortcut when the main bridge was congested. However, people like Chu Xuelin, who drove luxury cars and at high speeds, rarely used this route.
Which route should he take?
Looking towards the small bridge, Chu Xuelin saw a long queue of cars crawling like beetles.
Considering the current speed of the traffic, it would take at least an hour to cross the small bridge, unless it was late at night when traffic was lighter. Chu Xuelin calculated silently; taking a detour might take around an hour and twenty minutes.
Weighing his options, Chu Xuelin decided to detour. He immediately turned his car around and sped towards the eastern end of Binbei City...
Mu Zi didn't hide anything, telling Ouyang Liuse all about his past and his current plans.
Ouyang Liuse's face was filled with surprise. She stared at the young man in front of her as if looking at a character from a novel. Although she knew from the start of their relationship that this young man was extraordinary, she never imagined his story would be so startling...
"So, that's my entire story," Mu Zi said after finishing his narration, looking intently at Ouyang Liuse. "Simply put, the person sitting in front of you is a murderer, someone who has taken six lives so far."
His tone was calm. Ouyang Liuse looked at his face, her lips moving slightly but no words coming out.
"I personally don't like the term 'murderer,' as I don't feel guilty," Mu Zi said, smiling as he stared into her deep eyes.
Ouyang Liuse remained silent.
She silently withdrew her hand from Mu Zi's grasp, stood up, and walked towards the door without a word.
Mu Zi watched Ouyang Liuse walk towards the door, dazed.
Any girl would be upset upon learning that the boy she loves is a ruthless killer, right?
But I didn't want to hide it from her anymore... These things had to be told to her sooner or later. Since I've told her, whether we part ways or stay together is now up to Ouyang to decide!
Yet, why did his heart feel so pained watching her leave? As if a blade was slicing through it?
He stood up, watching helplessly as Ouyang Liuse reached the door and opened it to leave.
He wanted to stop her but couldn't find the words.
Ouyang Liuse had already stepped out of the door.
Mu Zi's heart sank completely.
The sound of high heels on the stairs was deafening, crushing his heart.
He closed his eyes tightly, his fists clenched.
A tear slipped from the corner of his eye, leaving a wet trail on his youthful face, slowly trailing into his mouth...
"Now that I know everything about you, are you going to kill me to silence me?"
A clear and melodious voice suddenly sounded at the door. Mu Zi's eyes snapped open.
There stood Ouyang Liuse at the doorway, a charming smile on her face.
Mu Zi rushed over without hesitation, embracing her delicate body tightly.
"Why did you come back..." Mu Zi inhaled the faint fragrance of her hair, asking in a daze.
"Because of that tear you shed..." Ouyang Liuse said breathlessly, the tight embrace making it hard for her to breathe. Just as she tried to struggle, Mu Zi captured her soft lips.
For this couple, it was their first intimate contact. As their tongues intertwined, time seemed to stand still. Everything else - Chu Xuelin, Jiang Xiaofen, Chu Xiao Group, the murders, Chaoyang School - all were forgotten, leaving only each other in their world, and that was enough…
Li Tian, holding a newspaper, had just walked up the stairs when he saw the couple kissing intensely at the door. He quickly turned and silently walked back down. Reaching the stairwell door, he lit a cigarette, blowing rings and muttering to himself, "Looks like I'll have to find a new place to live soon…"
Ten minutes later.
"This newspaper tells me that Chu Xuelin must have gone to Binnan City!" Li Tian, sitting on the sofa and waving the newspaper, said to Mu Zi, who was chugging water.
"The reason," Mu Zi asked after finishing a large glass of water, placing the empty cup on the coffee table.
"It's because he has a branch office there, and it faced some trouble yesterday. It's all there in the newspaper," Li Tian said proudly.
"What trouble could make Chu Xuelin rush over so urgently?" Mu Zi wondered.
"Audit," Li Tian replied. "Chu Xuelin's rapid development is closely tied to his tax evasion. For some reason, the tax authorities are now scrutinizing his branch office. They're conducting an audit. If the branch's off-the-books accounts are exposed, his main company is doomed! So, he must be rushing over to handle this personally!"
Mu Zi nodded. "I planned to make a move near his company. But now that he's gone to Binnan, we must follow him."
"Make a move in Binnan?" Li Tian exclaimed.
"Or perhaps on the road," Mu Zi answered indifferently. "In any case, we must hurry to send him on his way, to deliver the final blow to Jiang Xiaofen!"
Li Tian immediately stood up: "Then let's go!"
"Hold on. Isn't dealing with such matters quite troublesome?" Mu Zi asked, frowning.
"It can be complicated or simple," Li Tian said with a cold smile. "It actually just takes two steps: destroy the off-the-books accounts as much as possible, and bribe heavily to gain favor. I think this time he's going to be heavily extorted."
"Good," Mu Zi said. "The longer he's entangled in trouble, the easier our plan will be to execute… Let's go now!"
Without delay, the two quickly gathered their things, locked the door, and went downstairs.
"By the way, what did that young girl whisper in your ear before leaving that made you smile for so long?" Li Tian, walking ahead, suddenly turned and curiously asked Mu Zi.
"She said to beware of the overly curious," Mu Zi smiled…
Mu Zi, I'll be by your side, wherever you go.
Mu Zi rubbed his slightly sore lips, silently savoring Ouyang Liuse's sweet words before parting…