The roar of the BMW engine was captivating as it sped wildly down the open Ruìlì Avenue. Soft music played in the background. I glanced at Ma Lan, her gaze empty as she stared out the window. I didn't ask her what she was thinking—I already knew she wasn't thinking of anything at all.
Pressing the accelerator hard, I drove us back to Ma Lan's villa. The moment we stopped, she rushed toward me eagerly. Her passion was palpable. I brushed her long hair aside, gazing deeply into her face until I could see her clearly.
This ruthless woman was so gentle in this moment.
Ma Lan opened the car door and led me into the villa, where she fetched a bottle of red wine. She placed it on the coffee table after opening it. I knew we both needed an outlet—a release to purge the fear and shadows lingering in our hearts.
After a long kiss, Ma Lan pulled away, looked at me, and said, "Thank you for choosing me in that moment."
I smiled faintly in response. Although her happiness was evident, I knew someone else had been irreparably hurt.
"Tonight, I'm your lamb to slaughter. Do whatever you want to me, crush me to pieces—just make me feel pain," Ma Lan said.
She gulped down the wine in her glass, refilled it, and turned off the lights. She moved beside me in the darkness, passing me the wine glass. Her eyes were filled with emotion as she took it from my hand and drained it in one go. I was both excited and nervous as I sensed her anticipation.
"Ma Lan, are you afraid?" I rested my hand gently on her soft shoulder.
"To be honest, I am," she said. "I'm terrified of dying. There are so many dreams I haven't fulfilled. I truly feared death in that moment—it was the first time in my life I felt such dread. You don't understand what went through my heart. The fear was so overwhelming, I felt I might wet myself. If you hadn't chosen me, I would've hated you forever. I would've compromised with Liu Qiang and then come after you."
She lifted her delicate hand and placed it on mine.
"You're scared… You're capable of fear too," I said, gripping her small hand tightly. I didn't mock her—I wasn't surprised. This was just her nature. She would never choose death. If pushed to the brink, I wouldn't either. Neither of us wanted to die.
"I'm not afraid now," she murmured, clutching my hand firmly. "Not with you holding me… I just regret that I didn't meet you first. Instead, I had to endure that pig Zhu's torment…"
Ma Lan closed her eyes and held onto me tightly. In the dim light, I looked at her—her chest rising and falling unevenly. How could anyone not fear? I was afraid too. Only in this moment of calm could we awaken from the terror we had endured, filled with lingering trepidation.
"If we had died at Ma Dong's hands yesterday, would you have regretted it? Regretted gambling on jade with me?" I whispered against her lips.
"No regrets… Kiss me," she replied, lifting her head and closing her eyes, her voice soft and enticing.
She embraced me tightly, and together, we released the fear and unease buried deep within us.
Afterward, there was a deathly silence. Holding each other, we drifted into sleep, casting aside everything—forgetting it all.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of splashing water. Rising from bed, I walked outside and saw a woman swimming in the pool. It was Ma Lan. She moved gracefully through the water. Sitting on a lounge chair, I watched her elegant strokes. The events of the previous night had faded from my mind, leaving only a sense of joy—and an eagerness to relive it. Unknowingly, I sat there for over ten minutes until she finally swam to the edge. I grabbed a towel and walked over.
Her figure was captivating, making it hard to look away.
"What are you staring at? Come sit. Haven't you seen enough?" she teased with a dazzling smile, gesturing toward the chair beside her.
"I've forgotten last night's happiness. I wish to relive it," I replied.
She bit her lip with a mischievous grin. "You really want to go again? Aren't you afraid of missing the time to split the money?"
Her words jolted me. Frowning, I asked urgently, "Did Qian Guang call?"
Ma Lan grabbed me playfully, saying, "I don't know. Let's enjoy ourselves—there's plenty of time."
Pushing her away, I stood up and rushed inside to grab my phone. Seeing several missed calls from Qian Guang, I cursed under my breath, "Damn troublesome woman."
Quickly, I called him back. "Brother Guang, what's up?"
Qian Guang laughed, his voice cheerful. "Boss Wei called me this morning. Last night, two merchants from Guangdong saw his jade online and bought it on the spot."
"Didn't they bargain?" I asked, surprised.
"No. Guangdong merchants are straightforward and wealthy. They were from Jieyang, where jade dealers don't haggle if they like something. The money arrived this morning. Boss Wei wants us to come split the profits."
Excitement surged through me. What could be more satisfying than dividing money? But suddenly, I remembered something. "What about Liu Qiang? Can we handle him cleanly? He borrowed a lot from Chen Xi and Skinny Monkey. I don't want another mess like Fat Zhu."
"Don't worry. I've already sent dozens of men to take over Liu Qiang's place. Four-Eyed Dog will keep an eye on things. If he can't handle it, I'll replace him. As for Chen Xi and the others, they have no evidence to trace it back to us. Even if they do, I'm not afraid."
Relieved, I replied, "I'll head over soon."
Hanging up, I hurried to dress. Ma Lan entered, beckoning with her finger. "Why leave? Weren't you having fun?"
"Enough. Get dressed—we're going to split the money," I said.
Ma Lan chuckled slyly but said nothing more. She went upstairs, put on a long sheer dress, donned sunglasses, and slung her bag over her shoulder. Then we drove toward Ruìlì City Center at full speed in the BMW 760.