Chen Shanyi's heart pounded violently, as though each pulse brought with it a deeper danger. She stood in the center of the room, her gaze sweeping around, the air thick with darkness, as if even the very atmosphere had become sticky and hard to breathe. Lin Hao's last words were like a knife, deeply embedded in her chest, leaving her unable to break free.
She had never felt so alone. Even though Lin Hao, with his mysterious and unfathomable presence, was by her side, she still felt that the further she ventured, the farther she got from the truth about herself and her father. She had once believed that she could control the direction of her fate, but now, facing this dark world, she felt powerless to resist.
"What are you thinking?" Lin Hao's voice suddenly broke the silence. He stood behind her, his eyes still deep, as though he could see through everything.
"I'm thinking, maybe I've already fallen into an abyss that I can never escape," Chen Shanyi replied softly, her voice trembling.
Lin Hao didn't answer immediately, and the air was thick with tension. After a long pause, he spoke. "You've already made your choice. You can't turn back. No matter how you feel, things have reached this point."
Chen Shanyi's hands clenched tightly, her fingertips almost feeling the pain. The fear inside her spread like wildfire, and that sense of uncertainty left her feeling suffocated. She wanted to give up, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"I'm not doing this for myself," she finally looked up, her eyes gleaming with resolve. "I'm doing this for my father. I need to know the truth about his death. I need to know who's behind it."
Lin Hao's gaze suddenly became sharp, like a blade sweeping across her face. "You think your father's death was just an accident? The more you know, the greater the cost of the truth. You'll become a pawn in this game, and by the time you realize that, it may already be too late."
"Are you saying I've already been pulled into this conspiracy?" Chen Shanyi's voice turned cold, her heart stirring like a violent storm inside her.
Lin Hao nodded. "Your father's death wasn't a decision made by one person, but part of a vast and intricate plan. You're just a cog in that machine, or rather, you're its tool."
Chen Shanyi's heart sank like a stone, and it felt as though the weight of the world had pressed down on her chest. "Then what am I? I thought I was fighting for the truth, but now you're telling me I'm just a puppet?"
"You already are," Lin Hao said, his voice calm, but his eyes held a chilling depth. "No matter how hard you try, the truth you seek will always remain just out of reach. This world itself is like an abyss—endless and all-consuming—and you, Shanyi, have already fallen into it."
Her heart jolted painfully, as if something had seized it tightly. Her hands instinctively balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She had always wanted to uncover the truth, to avenge her father, but now, everything she had believed in crumbled under Lin Hao's words. She was forced to face a cruel reality: she had never been in control of her own fate.
"What about you? Did you know all of this from the beginning?" Her voice trembled, filled with both doubt and anger.
Lin Hao was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing how to respond. "I know far more than you can imagine," he finally spoke, his eyes as deep as the ocean. "But I can't tell you more—not yet. You're too fragile. The truth will destroy you."
Chen Shanyi stepped forward, fury flashing in her eyes. "So, you've been treating me as a pawn from the very start? I'm just a part of your plan?"
Lin Hao slowly turned to face her, his deep eyes locking onto hers, his brow furrowing slightly. "You can choose not to believe me, Shanyi. You can choose to live in your illusions. But let me tell you, the truth will never be what you expect."
"Then what should I do?" she whispered, her voice trembling. She understood that Lin Hao's words were not just a threat, but the cold, hidden reality behind them.
"The only thing you can do is keep moving forward," Lin Hao's tone suddenly became more resolute. "No matter what, you cannot stop. If you give up now, all your efforts will have been in vain, and your father will never come back."
A complex mix of emotions surged in Chen Shanyi's eyes. She had once thought that her father's death was just an unsolved puzzle, but now, she finally understood that behind that puzzle lay a massive conspiracy, and she had long since lost the ability to turn back.
"I understand," she took a deep breath, her gaze growing resolute. "If there's no way back, then I'll move forward. Whatever lies ahead, I'll face it."
A faint smile curled at the corner of Lin Hao's mouth, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes. "That's the attitude you should have," he said, turning toward the door. "But remember, Shanyi, the truth will show no mercy. You must pay the price for every decision you make."
Chen Shanyi clenched her fists tightly, her gaze following him. Her eyes burned with the flames of revenge. No matter how difficult the road ahead, she had made her decision. She would continue, no matter what, until she uncovered all the mysteries.
However, as Lin Hao's words faded into the distance, a faint sense of unease crept into Chen Shanyi's heart. She sensed that this path ahead might hide dangers far greater than she had imagined.