The river flowed murmuring, the wind ruffling my hair and skirt. I stood barefoot on that patch of bloodstains.
The same location, but I no longer felt anything.
No pain, no cold.
I looked at the man kneeling before me, his eyes completely bloodshot, appearing both conflicted and agonized, as if he truly loved me deeply.
Yet, wasn't he the one who said to report it only after my body was fished out?!
Wasn't he the one who rolled in bed with my own sister on our wedding night?!
Wasn't he the one who ignored me and told me to hurry up and die?!
I was curious, with what mindset did he utter these words? Did he think saying this would make others see him as a devoted lover?
I reached out, held his chin, and slapped his face.
Even though he couldn't feel the pain, only a gust of cold wind brushing past.
At this point, it was basically determined that the possibility of my survival was very slim.
After all, Huang Ying said those words before she died; she had seen me being taken away by a car.
By then, I had probably bled dry; it was likely already a corpse.
Lu Shiyan shouted my name loudly towards the river and finally fainted due to excessively intense emotions.
Recently, he hadn't been eating or sleeping well, hadn't slept for a day and a night, and hadn't eaten anything since coming down the mountain. Fainting was understandable.
After he lost consciousness, I heard the forensic expert say with a worried expression, "It's been over a month. If the body were to be found, it would have been found by now. There are no clues until now. I suspect it was disposed of long ago. It won't be easy to find."
"Even if it's not easy, we must search! Start by investigating the place where Huang Ying worked. I believe justice has long arms; we will definitely bring the mastermind to justice."
Lu Shiyan was sent to the hospital.
In just a few days, he had tormented himself beyond recognition, visibly much thinner.
Lu's father hurriedly rushed over from the hospital. Seeing his son in this state, one could imagine how heartbroken he felt.
He stayed by Lu Shiyan's side until he woke up. Lu Shiyan struggled to open his eyes and looked around.
He had seen me several times before when he was physically weak and disoriented. I deliberately waved in front of him, but he showed no reaction.
His eyes moved mechanically, scanning the room, finally resting on the IV drip.
"Yan'er, how could you let yourself get like this?" Lu's father was deeply distressed.
Lu Shiyan's voice sounded extremely weak, hoarse and低沉: "Dad, Su Wan is dead."
He said this very calmly.
But the next moment, I saw two lines of tears slowly slide from the corners of his eyes, finally soaking into the pillowcase.
Lu's father looked serious. "I've heard. The investigation is still ongoing, right? There might still be a turnaround."
"A turnaround?"
A helpless smile twisted Lu Shiyan's lips. "I saw it with my own eyes. The blood on the riverbank... how could she still be alive!"
At this point, Lu Shiyan's voice choked up. He beat his head with his hands. "Dad, I deserve to die! I deserve to die! I stood by and watched her die without saving her..."
Due to his violent struggle, the IV needle in the back of his hand caused blood to flow back, immediately turning a large section of the transparent tube red.
"Shiyan, calm down! Don't move recklessly!"
Lu Shiyan simply tore off the IV needle. A spurt of blood flew out, staining the white bedsheet with a glaring bloodstain.
"Dad, Su Wan... she was stabbed through the waist with a knife. She lost so much blood... she must be dead. And what was I doing? What have I been doing all this time!"
Lu Shiyan, acting crazed, jumped out of bed. "She's dead, why should I live? She must be so scared all alone down there. It's my fault. She shouldn't have died. I should be the one who died."
After saying this, he ran out, ignoring his father's attempts to stop him. Lu's father thought he was too weak to have much strength, but who knew Lu Shiyan was as stubborn as an ox now? Somehow, he found the strength to shove his father aside.
Lu's father held his waist, which had hit the table corner, muttering, "Has this brat gone mad?! Stop him, quickly stop him!"
Fortunately, this was the Lu family's private hospital, and there were bodyguards outside. Upon hearing Lu's father's voice, the bodyguards swarmed into action.
Lu Shiyan had already run to the rooftop.
It was already sunset, nearing darkness.
Although it wasn't snowing, the cold wind whipped up a floral-patterned bedsheet someone had hung on the rooftop, making it dance.
I could guess the temperature must be very low today.
I followed him unhurriedly, thinking if he died, would he be able to see me?
Would I be able to take my revenge then?
The cold wind lifted his thin patient gown, revealing the skin on his waist.
From behind came the bodyguards' forceful voices: "Young Master, calm down!"
To prevent suicide jumps, the rooftop had long been heightened; without steps, it was impossible to climb up.
One bodyguard swiftly lunged forward, tackling Lu Shiyan to the ground just as he was about to climb the wall, even sending his shoes flying.
"Young Master, apologies."
Lu Shiyan was restrained by three bodyguards, his arms twisted behind his back.
Tears of unwillingness streamed from his eyes. He looked up at the sky indignantly. "Let me die!"
Su Ning'an's voice came from afar: "Die? Don't dirty my sister's path to reincarnation."