Chapter 48 Could You Love Me Again?

After completing her discharge procedures, Han Wenxue didn't return to her grandfather's home. Instead, she went alone to the "love nest" she and Chen Yi had once shared.

"Xiao Han, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell? Has Chen Yi been bullying you these past few days? If he dares to mistreat you, just tell me, and I'll make sure he gets what's coming to him," the landlady said warmly, as enthusiastic and caring as ever, holding Han Wenxue's hand with genuine concern.

"No, Chen Yi has been very kind to me. He hasn't bullied me at all," Han Wenxue replied, her expression somber. Forcing a faint smile, she gently freed her hand and slowly ascended the stairs.

Chen Yi had never bullied her. On the contrary, it was she who had constantly made things difficult for him.

Suddenly, she felt a wave of shame wash over her. She had manipulated the landlady's kindness and sympathy to aid her in her schemes against Chen Yi.

In stark contrast to her deceit, Chen Yi had never once tried to explain himself to the landlady, nor had he ever revealed her true nature. He hadn't told the landlady that she was a vile woman who had exploited her goodwill.

He must have refrained from doing so to spare her feelings and to protect the landlady from the guilt of realizing her good intentions had been misused.

Before, she hadn't understood Chen Yi. She hadn't realized how magnanimous, how kind-hearted he truly was. But now, as the truth dawned on her, it was too late—everything had already reached an irreparable point.

Could she really continue to stay here, clinging on shamelessly? Could she keep exploiting the landlady's warmth?

Han Wenxue shook her head. If she did that, even she wouldn't be able to respect herself anymore.

Listlessly, she packed her belongings. After some hesitation, she cleaned Chen Yi's room one last time. Dragging her suitcase to the door, she found herself unable to take the final step out.

There was a time when she had yearned to complete her "mission," to leave this shabby place and return to her old life as soon as possible.

But now, when the moment had finally come, when she could leave without any qualms, her heart was filled with reluctance and regret.

Han Wenxue wished desperately that Chen Yi would once again stay up all night calculating her fate, that he would cook for her a simple yet delicious meal, that he would cast even a single glance in her direction—no matter if it was filled with disdain or contempt. She would accept it all. At least then, she might still have a chance to make amends.

But it was too late. After being discharged from the hospital, Chen Yi hadn't returned. Perhaps he truly didn't want to see her, this ungrateful woman, and had chosen to cut her out of his life entirely.

Unconsciously, Han Wenxue wandered over to Chen Yi's desk. She sat down, gazing at the hundreds of sheets of draft paper covered in his bold, forceful handwriting.

She gently ran her fingers over the objects on the desk, as if trying to feel his presence through them.

As she flipped through the pages filled with his meticulous calculations, a shocking sight stopped her—one sheet was stained with a vivid, crimson red.

On the paper were twelve bold characters: "At the third quarter of the hour, a sharp weapon pierces the crown, one foot from the ground."

But those characters were obscured by a layer of blood—fresh blood.

Han Wenxue's mind reeled. Memories of the moment Chen Yi had answered her call without speaking, and of his somber expression when she returned, came flooding back.

Chen Yi had coughed up blood.

Just like on the highway, when he had saved her life, revealing heavenly secrets and suffering the backlash as a result, he had done it again.

Her head buzzed, her slender fingers clutching the bloodstained paper as if it bore witness to all her sins. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Suddenly recalling something, she rushed into the bathroom. In the corner, she found faint traces of blood.

Now she understood why Chen Yi hadn't answered her questions that day.

She understood why he hadn't cooked dinner that night, why he had gone to bed so early, like an elderly man utterly drained of energy.

It wasn't because he was disappointed to see her alive—it was because he had no strength left, not even enough to take a few steps.

And yet, she had foolishly misunderstood him.

Why had he never voiced a single complaint? Why had he done so much for her without asking anything in return—not even the smallest favor, like a simple meal?

Was it because he didn't want to, or because he didn't care?

What kind of man could do all this? Could someone like this truly be just a mere fortune-teller on Feng Shui Street?

If the world's most perfect man was a gentleman, then in Han Wenxue's eyes, Chen Yi surpassed any gentleman by countless measures.

But now, what kind of person did he see her as? Ignorant, unreasonable, self-righteous—perhaps all of these. Otherwise, why wouldn't he even want to see her one last time?

Drip... drip...

Her tears fell like a broken dam, soaking the bloodstained draft paper. The crimson marks began to dissolve, as if mingling with her tears.

She curled up in the chair, covering her mouth to stifle her sobs, yet the tears continued to flow, as though she wanted to cry out every last drop. But no amount of tears could wash away her regret, her sorrow, her pain.

"You shouldn't go out today—it's dangerous."

"Dangerous? What kind of danger?"

"Today is the day of your greatest calamity. You'd better stay put. I didn't want to tell you, but you need to know."

"Being near you is the greatest danger!"

...

"Let me go! Let me go, you pervert!"

"I'm saving your life!"

"Han Wenxue, listen to me carefully. This is the last time I'll help you. From now on, we'll go our separate ways, but until then, you must do as I say. Otherwise, whether you survive today or not is uncertain. Do you hear me?"

...

Fragments of their conversations replayed vividly in her mind. She could see herself storming out, hear Chen Yi's voice filled with suppressed anger.

She didn't know how much time had passed when the door creaked open.

Han Wenxue quickly turned her head. Was it Chen Yi?

How should she face him?

Would he drive her away?

She resolved that no matter how Chen Yi treated her, she wouldn't leave. She wanted to be his wife—not a pretend wife, not someone forced into the role by her grandfather's persuasion, but truly his wife.

But when she saw the visitor's face clearly, her heart plummeted into an icy abyss.

"Feng Kun? What are you doing here?"

Han Wenxue immediately stood, her expression guarded as she glared at the man before her.

It was him—he was the one who had made her misunderstand Chen Yi, who had caused her to hurt him.

She didn't blame him for drugging her, but she hated him for sowing discord between her and Chen Yi.

"What am I doing here? Wenxue, aren't we friends? Isn't this a bit too cold of you?" Feng Kun said mockingly, stepping into the room and glancing around.

"Wenxue, what's so great about that fraud? What makes you so devoted to him? In what way am I inferior to him? My looks? My family background? My sense of romance? In every aspect, I surpass him a thousandfold!"

"Shut up! You're not even worthy to carry Chen Yi's shoes!" Chen Yi's name seemed to touch a nerve in Han Wenxue, igniting a sudden, inexplicable fury. "Get out! Leave now! You're not welcome here!"

"Hahaha..."

Instead of leaving, Feng Kun burst into wild laughter, his arrogance unrestrained.

"You want me to leave? You think you can make me?"

After his laughter subsided, Feng Kun looked at her as though she had just told the most ridiculous joke.

Han Wenxue instinctively shrank back, reaching into her bag as she warned, "Leave now, or I'll call the police!"

Slap!

Feng Kun suddenly strode forward and struck her across the face, sending her sprawling onto the desk. The self-defense taser she had been clutching flew from her hand.

"Ha! Playing with toys now, Wenxue? You've gotten feisty!" Feng Kun sneered, picking up the taser and watching the sparks crackle with amusement.

"What are you trying to do?" Han Wenxue asked, her voice trembling with fear.

Feng Kun's excitement grew as he watched her terrified expression. If not for Ai Chu's strict instructions to preserve her purity, he would have already forced himself on her, showing her his dominance.

Though he regretted holding back, he knew her upcoming fate would be far worse—an existence of torment, despair, and agony, just like the eight girls before her who had died with unspeakable suffering.

"Take her away," Feng Kun ordered the two bodyguards standing at the door.

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

No matter how much strength Han Wenxue mustered, she was no match for two burly men.

Like capturing a helpless chick, they easily subdued her. One of them pulled out a syringe and plunged it into her neck, injecting its contents.

Her consciousness began to fade, her vision swirling with colors. Her limbs felt foreign, unresponsive.

"eedtoknownow, canyouloveaga, canyouloveaga..."

As she teetered on the edge of darkness, her phone rang, its melodic ringtone echoing faintly.

The music stirred her memories, and images of Chen Yi began to surface in her mind.

It was their first meeting.

"I've heard about you. Grandpa often mentioned you when I was in America. Every time he called, he'd urge me to come back quickly and meet his new apprentice. He even joked that if I liked you, I should take you back to America with me. Haha, little junior brother, would you agree to that?"

"Huh?"

"Haha, you didn't take it seriously, did you?"

"No, I mean... not really..."

"Haha, little junior brother, you're so adorable. I might just take you back with me after all!"

Those days had been so wonderful, so harmonious.

But in just a matter of days, their relationship had deteriorated to this point. Was it fate, or was it self-inflicted?

Han Wenxue desperately wanted to ask, "Could you love me again?"

But would she ever have the chance?