Huang Yu gave the forensic examiner a meaningful glance to take samples from the statue. Next, what they had to do was find a way to open the sculpture—to see whether a corpse was hidden inside.The sculpture belonged to Lu Shiyan, so Huang Yu had to proceed by the book.
As a result of this commotion, everyone soon knew about it.One car after another arrived.
Lu Shiyan, looking flustered, got out of his car.He didn't care about the old master still sitting inside; the first thing he did was run to Huang Yu's side.
Father Lu and Bai Lan supported the old master, who leaned on his cane. The assistant quickly draped a cloak over him, held up an umbrella, and accompanied him forward slowly.
Behind them came the Su family's car.As soon as the door opened, my mother rushed out in a panic.
Her high heels sank into the snow; she lost her footing and fell straight down.
My brother hurried to help her up. He didn't even bother brushing the snow off her clothes before she started running anxiously ahead.
"Mom, slow down! The road's slippery in the snow!"
My father came out from another car door. His expression was calm and cold, but the flicker of emotion in his eyes betrayed his turmoil.
Su Ning'an, on the other hand, appeared utterly indifferent—so different from before.
Thus, both the Su family and the Lu family were all gathered.
As evening descended, the lights in the courtyard turned on. Under the dim yellow glow, snowflakes kept falling—growing heavier by the minute.
It reminded me of the night I died.That night, it was also snowing hard—so cold, so painful, so full of fear and helplessness.But now, I couldn't feel the cold anymore.
My mother anxiously stepped forward and grabbed Huang Yu's sleeve."Captain Huang, Su—Su Wan, has she been found?"
For her, she both wanted to find my body and feared that she would.Sometimes, no news is the best news; once there is news, it crushes the last bit of hope.
Huang Yu's expression was grave."We suspect that Miss Su Wan's body is hidden inside this statue."
My mother's face changed drastically. My brother's smile vanished."What? Captain Huang, you can't be serious. Even if my sister really is dead, who would hide a corpse inside her new bridal home?"
"The most dangerous place is often the safest one—that saying exists for a reason."
Su Ning'an slowly stepped forward and asked, "Captain Huang, may I ask how you determined that my sister's body is inside? What evidence do you have?"
The statue was sealed and heavy; just by appearance or weight alone, it was impossible to tell whether a body was inside.
To avoid damaging evidence, the police decided to drill a small hole in the statue and scan the interior with instruments to see if a body was present.
Before the hole was made, in response to Su Ning'an's questioning, Captain Huang said stiffly, "From our observation, this sculpture is… different from the ordinary ones. So we suspect—"
Su Ning'an smiled faintly."They say the police handle cases carefully and rely on evidence. Yet now, without any solid proof, you're causing such a commotion. What's next—if you suspect something's hidden in this house, are you going to blow it up to check?"
"Miss Su," Huang Yu said sternly, "we called Mr. Lu and got his permission before taking action. Are you doubting us—or do you perhaps not want your sister's body to be found?"
How could Huang Yu not suspect Su Ning'an?But the most cunning thing about her was that even when suspicion surrounded her, there was never a trace of evidence to hold her down.As she said—without proof, they couldn't just cuff her and send her to trial.
Su Ning'an replied calmly, "Of course I want to find my sister. I only question your methods."
At that moment, someone called out beside them: "The hole's open."
Huang Yu didn't bother arguing further. "Check it. Is there anything inside?"
I watched nervously from the side.They didn't hide the whole body—inside the statue, it's empty.
That was Su Ning'an's smartest move: even if someone suspected the statue, once it was opened and found empty, her innocence would be cleared.And the secret of the statue would never be discovered.
After precise inspection, the conclusion came:"Captain Huang, there's no body or suspicious object inside."
Father Lu frowned."I must say, your investigation seems unreliable—this is reckless!"
"Dad, the snow's too heavy. Let me take you home first."
The old master had probably come in person because he truly wanted to find out what happened to me. But now, his face was full of disappointment, and he sighed helplessly.
My mother began to complain, and my father started criticizing as well.
I looked toward Lu Yancheng, who hadn't spoken a word from beginning to end. His cold gaze was fixed on the statue.
"Wait a moment."
Lu Shiyan frowned at him. "Wait for what? Uncle, you tricked me into leaving and then came back with the police for sampling. What are you suspecting? Do you think I killed Su Wan and hid her here?"
"It doesn't matter what I think. Let's wait for the results," Lu Yancheng said, as calm and immovable as a mountain—his presence instantly silenced everyone.
My mother's complaints grew quieter.My father, though displeased, also restrained himself.
Until a car arrived in a rush—The door opened, and a man jumped out, shouting breathlessly, "We found it! Captain Huang, we found it!"
Huang Yu, burdened with pressure, asked, "Found what?"
"The body—it's inside the statue!"
"Impossible! We just checked—there's nothing there!" Lu Shiyan immediately denied.
The officer, panting, explained, "The reason no body was visible is because someone mixed the victim's flesh and blood into the building material! After testing the surface samples, we found the victim's DNA—matching the blood from the wedding dress. That means the killer broke down the body completely and fused it into the statue!"
At those words, everyone's faces changed drastically.
Lu Shiyan grabbed the man by the collar. "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Mr. Lu, I know this is hard to accept. But our test results confirm it. We'll now take the statue back for further analysis."
Upon hearing that, I finally exhaled.The truth was finally revealed.
Lu Shiyan, however, went mad."You're saying—you're saying this statue is… Su Wan?"
The officer nodded cautiously."Yes… you could say that."
Boom!
My mother fainted.Lu Shiyan collapsed.
He fell to the ground, his entire body limp, murmuring in disbelief, "No… no, impossible… my Wanwan, how could she… how could she end up like this…"
He staggered to his feet, stumbling toward my statue.
I looked at him—at the man running toward me—and thought of the time I was trapped in the mountains.He had once run toward me just like that, ignoring all danger.Back then, he was the man who loved only me, heart and soul.
But, Lu Shiyan—when did you change?
He trudged through the snow, step by heavy step.It was as if he felt my gaze.
He looked up at me, disbelief in his eyes."Wan… Wanwan, you've come back?"
Yes—he finally saw my spirit.
I was wearing a white dress, barefoot in the snow.I spoke softly, "Lu Shiyan."
"Wanwan, I know what they said can't be true. You'll come back, you will. We promised—we'd grow old together, we'd…"
The cold wind scattered my hair. I stared into his eyes and said, word by word:"The thing I regret most in this life… is meeting you."
"No… no, Wanwan, I'm sorry—I don't know how it came to this. I didn't mean for it to—please, I…"
Tears fell from Lu Shiyan's eyes.He stammered, desperate, taking step after step toward me."Wanwan, tell me—who hurt you? I'll avenge you. I swear I will."
My gaze slowly turned toward Su Ning'an.I opened my mouth to speak, "The one who killed me was—"
But in that instant, no sound came out.My body began to turn transparent.
Panicked, Lu Shiyan lunged forward, trying to hold me.
The moment he reached me, my body shattered—just like Huang Ying before me—into countless fragments, scattering like silver-white butterflies into the snow.
Finally… was this freedom?
Lu Shiyan let out a heart-wrenching scream."Wanwan! No!!!"
He reached out to grasp me, but the faster he moved, the faster I disappeared.
With a sharp crack, the prayer beads on his wrist snapped apart without warning—
[All the past vanished in one night; with a new name and face, life begins anew.]