Chapter 156: Disappear, Never to Return
She forced herself to keep walking, step by step, but the road seemed endless. No matter how far she walked, she couldn't reach the end. It was as if her life, too, had no horizon.
As Liang Xiaoluo neared the window, her vision went black. Just before she collapsed, she glimpsed a shadow climbing in through the window—a tall, familiar figure. Who was it?
Could it be that, at the brink of death, Death itself was granting her final wish?
A faint smile formed on her lips. How foolish she was, to still think of him, Ye Tianlin, in her most desperate moment, despite the pain and betrayal he had caused her.
"Liang Xiaoluo, wake up! Wake up, you foolish woman!" Ye Tianlin roared, catching her as she fell into his arms. His voice was filled with panic and rage.
When she didn't respond, and the fire around them grew fiercer, Tianlin quickly tied a rope to secure both of them together. He carried her and began descending the water pipe outside.
Once they reached the ground, Liang Hui rushed forward. "Xiaoluo! Xiaoluo!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. If anything happened to her, how could he face her late mother?
"Uncle, I'll take her to the hospital. You and the others follow in the car behind us," Tianlin instructed urgently.
Holding Liang Xiaoluo in his arms, he carried her to his car and laid her gently in the passenger seat. He jumped into the driver's seat and floored the accelerator, the car speeding toward the hospital.
With one hand gripping the steering wheel, his other hand clung tightly to Xiaoluo's cold fingers. His eyes darted between the road and her pale face. An hour earlier, a phone call had shattered his composure.
The call was from Xiluo. Multiple voices could be heard in the background, but amid the chaos, Xiluo's desperate cry rang out, "Tianlin, save Xiaoluo! Save her!"
The line went dead, but Xiluo's plea echoed in his mind. Unease gripped him as dread tightened its hold on his chest.
Speeding toward Xiaoluo's home, he smelled smoke in the air and saw faint flickers of firelight in the distance. A terrible premonition took hold, and he ran as fast as he could.
Fortunately, he arrived in time. If he hadn't… he didn't dare imagine the consequences.
"Xiaoluo, you can't leave me. I won't allow it! I promised you a future, and that promise will soon become a reality…" Tianlin's voice broke as he tightened his hold on her icy hand. His fear was palpable.
Liang Xiaoluo was rushed to the hospital, where doctors assured Tianlin that her condition was stable. Hearing that her life was no longer in danger, Tianlin exhaled deeply, relief washing over him.
He sat at her bedside, gazing at her sleeping face. Pain coursed through his chest. He had thought that pushing her away would protect her, but instead, it had exposed her to even greater danger.
His dark eyes burned with fury, his clenched fists trembling with rage. Veins bulged beneath his skin as he struggled to suppress the storm brewing within him.
A knock on the door broke the silence.
"Come in," Tianlin called.
Zuo Lun entered. "Young Master."
"Have you found him?" Tianlin asked, referring to Xiluo.
Though Tianlin and Xiluo were not friends, he couldn't shake the nagging concern for Xiluo's safety. Memories of their childhood together resurfaced—once, they had been inseparable. But learning of Xiluo's status as an illegitimate son, combined with Tianlin's own childhood traumas, had bred resentment. Xiluo's presence was a stark reminder of the world's filth and hypocrisy.
Had circumstances been different, they might have ruled the world as allies, controlling global economics side by side.
Zuo Lun's face darkened as he shook his head. "I searched the entire area. All I found were traces of blood, but no sign of Prince Xiluo."
Tianlin grunted in acknowledgment.
Zuo Lun hesitated. "Young Master, I'll continue searching. I won't return until I've found him."
"No need," Tianlin said, his tone cold.
"But…"
"If we can't find him, it means he's still alive," Tianlin explained. A dead body would have been discovered easily, but a living person could evade detection. Besides, Xiluo's loyal aide, Ryan, was no ordinary man. He would appear when needed.
Xiluo, you've never let me down. I trust you won't disappoint me this time.
Zuo Lun nodded, understanding Tianlin's reasoning. "I see, Young Master."
"One more thing," Tianlin added.
Zuo Lun paused, awaiting instructions.
"When she wakes up, move her to my private residence. Keep it confidential—especially from that woman," Tianlin commanded.
"Yes, Young Master. I'll handle it," Zuo Lun replied before leaving.
Tianlin remained by Xiaoluo's side, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "Promise me you'll be okay. Don't make me worry anymore. Believe me when I say I'll love you forever and never abandon you," he murmured.
His phone buzzed, breaking the quiet moment. The caller ID displayed the name: Gu Lingzi.
A frown creased Tianlin's brow as he reluctantly answered the call.
"Tianlin, where are you? Come to the Royal Hotel and check out the decorations for our wedding!" Gu Lingzi chirped sweetly.
Despite Tianlin's cold demeanor toward her, she always found reasons to feel hopeful. As long as the Ye family needed hers, she believed Tianlin would eventually succumb to her demands.
"I'm busy at the office," he lied curtly. Spending time with Xiaoluo was far more important than entertaining Gu Lingzi's whims.
"I called the office. They said you left hours ago," Gu Lingzi countered, her tone coy yet insistent.
Tianlin's jaw tightened as irritation flared. He resisted the urge to smash his phone, instead responding coolly, "Fine. I'll be there."
Ending the call, he glanced back at Xiaoluo's unconscious form. How he wished he could stay until she woke up, but…
Tianlin's lips curved into a sly smile. He kissed her forehead softly before leaving the hospital and driving to the Royal Hotel.
At the hotel's top floor, Gu Lingzi greeted him with an exaggerated pout. "Tianlin, you're so slow! I've been running myself ragged here. You'll have to take over now."
Feigning patience, Tianlin smiled gently. "Alright, Lingzi. Go home and rest. I'll handle the rest. I'll make sure the decorations are perfect for your dream wedding."
Gu Lingzi's eyes widened in surprise. "You… you mean it?"
"Of course," Tianlin replied smoothly.
With practiced efficiency, he began directing the staff, orchestrating every detail. Yet his vision was not of a wedding with Gu Lingzi—it was of Xiaoluo.
Gu Lingzi, unaware of his true intentions, watched him work. Her phone rang, and after a brief conversation with her mother, her face paled. She mumbled an excuse and left in a hurry.
Tianlin watched her retreating figure with a smirk. The game had begun earlier than expected. He turned back to the wedding scene he was crafting, his eyes glinting with resolve.