Chapter 111: Your Treasure Cannot Compare to Mine Bonus chapter for reaching 4,500 diamonds.

That evening, after Lin Wanbai had fallen asleep, Aunt Rong finally left the house and headed to the security office.

Liang Zhixia was being kept in a small, dark room. She was being provided with food and drink, and no one had done anything to harm her. When Aunt Rong arrived, the captain of the bodyguards escorted her in.

Upon entering, Liang Zhixia was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, looking quite comfortable. When she saw Aunt Rong, she merely shifted her position and watched her with a smile. "So? Did Xiao Bai finally fall asleep, and that’s why you’ve come? Feeling anxious, are you? Let me tell you, days of feeling this kind of anxiety will only become more frequent. There is no such thing as an airtight wall in this world, especially when it’s a wall made of paper."

Aunt Rong, however, was not flustered in front of Liang Zhixia. She sat in the chair opposite her and nodded, saying, "You are right. Some things truly cannot be hidden forever. Sooner or later, Xiao Bai will find out."

Liang Zhixia raised an eyebrow, staying silent for a moment as she stared intently at her. After a long while, she dropped her smile and said seriously, "Aunt Rong, I know you have always been a reasonable person. Will you help Xiao Bai?"

"Miss Liang, I know you sincerely want to help Xiao Bai. In your eyes, the young master is a heinous villain, and her staying here is like being trapped in hell and suffering. Yes, I have seen her in pain, even to the point of jumping off a building to commit suicide."

"So, that time she jumped off the building—that was real?"

"Yes, it was. I watched her with my own eyes jump from the window without a second thought, head-first toward the ground. If I hadn't been there at that moment, she wouldn't be here today."

Liang Zhixia bit her lip tightly, her eyes slowly turning red. The anger in her eyes intensified, and she suddenly swept the items off the table. "Then how does Fu Juxing have the nerve to keep her imprisoned here? Who does he think he is?! A car accident and amnesia—that’s the best lie you could come up with! Tell me, what kind of falsehood has Fu Juxing woven for her?"

Aunt Rong replied, "Miss Liang, I ask that you do not appear before Xiao Bai again, nor should you try to make her remember the past. Not if you don't want her to die a second time."

Liang Zhixia paused, then began to laugh. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

"She is happy right now."

"Happy without her memories? Can you guarantee she will never remember? The events of that time were sensational. As long as she goes online or leaves this place, she will find traces of the truth! Can you guarantee she will stay in this manor for the rest of her life until she dies of old age? Aunt Rong, I never expected you to be so muddled. Then again, you are one of Fu Juxing’s people. How could you possibly consider things from Xiao Bai’s perspective? What do you take her for? A pet or a toy? Have you ever asked for her consent in anything you’ve done?"

Liang Zhixia stood up abruptly. "I did wrong in the past. My mistake was becoming Fu Juxing’s eyes and ears just to deal with a scumbag. I share the blame for Xiao Bai ending up this way. So, no matter what price I have to pay, I will definitely rescue her. I will make her remember everything. I will make her realize what a happy home she once had and what kind of person she used to be! I will also make her know exactly who destroyed that happy family with his own hands!"

"Fu Juxing has no heart! After all these years, how Xiao Bai treated him—doesn't he know? Don't you know, Aunt Rong? I can understand him taking revenge on the Fu family, but how could he hurt Xiao Bai like this?! Is he even human?!"

Aunt Rong closed her eyes. Just then, the security captain entered. "Miss Lin has woken up."

Aunt Rong stood up immediately, but as she was about to leave, Liang Zhixia grabbed her. "Let me see her!"

"No!" Aunt Rong said, leaving no room for negotiation. "I can only tell you this: if you make Xiao Bai remember everything, you are condemning her to death! If you persist, who will bear the burden of that tragedy? You can curse the young master all you want; he has indeed done many wrong things, but he was also helpless. You young ladies and gentlemen could never understand the pain he has endured. Of course, you might say that even if he is in pain, he shouldn't hurt Xiao Bai. Yes! That is a very correct statement, and I agree. I believe the young master does not want to hurt her either. He would rather die himself than see Xiao Bai die."

"In Xiao Bai’s world, she can still live a good life without Fu Juxing. But if Fu Juxing loses Xiao Bai, he would find it hard to even stay alive."

Aunt Rong spoke the last sentence softly, her gaze deep. After giving Liang Zhixia one final look, she left immediately. She instructed the security captain to release the woman and to strengthen the perimeter defenses of the manor.

Liang Zhixia was driven out of Ningjiang Village by the bodyguards.

When Aunt Rong reached the door, Lin Wanbai had just opened it and was standing there. She was wearing only a thin nightgown and remained inside the doorway, watching Aunt Rong approach.

"What's wrong?" Aunt Rong asked with a smile, her face showing no signs of anything unusual.

"Where did you go?" Lin Wanbai asked, staring at her.

"I didn't go anywhere. Isn't there a hole in the back fence? I arranged for someone to patch it up and, while I was at it, sent away someone who had snuck in."

"Did you send them away?"

"I did. They were just trying to sneak in to steal things."

Lin Wanbai didn't speak. She looked at Aunt Rong with some hesitation, but since Aunt Rong was still the person she trusted most, she thought for a moment and said, "But she said she was my best friend."

"And you believe that?"

"She was very sincere. I saw her eyes; it didn't look like she was lying to me."

"That’s because you don't remember anything right now. You maintain goodwill toward everyone, so you believe anyone who comes to claim they know you. If I had told you from the beginning that I was your mother, you would have believed me too, wouldn't you?"

"But I don't think she looked like a thief."

Aunt Rong pulled her inside. "Don't judge a book by its cover. Never look only at appearances; a thief will never have the word 'thief' written on their face. Does an honest person necessarily mean they won't kill? Not necessarily. She was just discovered by you by accident and tried to use that line to get away."

"If she wanted to get away, she could have just run. But when she saw me, she rushed over to grab my hand and even called me Xiao Bai." Lin Wanbai still didn't believe the person was a thief; she didn't look like one at all.

"The fact that she was able to dig a hole at that location shows she must have scouted the area in advance and figured out the layout of this manor. It's not surprising she knew your name." Aunt Rong didn't want her to keep asking. "Alright, it's time for you to sleep. Don't think so much. Do you really think I would lie to you?"

Lin Wanbai nodded. That was true; Aunt Rong would never lie to her.

Afterward, Aunt Rong took her back to her room, watched her get into bed and close her eyes, then went out to stand guard at the door for over an hour before returning to her own room to rest.

***

The next day, the incident reached Fu Juxing’s ears.

Liang Zhixia had been dumped on the road leading to the city. She tried to call for a car, but could not get one, so she began walking back along the road. After nearly an hour of trekking, her phone rang.

She picked it up. There was silence on the other end for a moment before a man's steady voice came through. "Where are you?"

"On the road."

"What road?"

"The road back to Ningjiang! I was discovered, and they dumped me on the way to the city. I can't get a cab or flag down a ride, so I have no choice but to walk back."

The person on the other end gave a light scoff and hung up.

Liang Zhixia was already in a rage; being hung up on like that only fueled the fire, and she nearly threw her phone away. She stopped in her tracks and began screaming at the phone. Just as she was in the middle of her rant, a car horn blared—piercingly loud, startling her. She turned around sharply and saw Lu Peng with one arm draped over the car window, a cigarette between his fingers, squinting at her.

"You sound like a lunatic. What are you yelling about?"

Liang Zhixia’s anger vanished instantly. After glaring at him for a moment, she immediately put on a flattering smile. "Mr. Lu, you're here."

He wore a roguish grin. "I heard my name five times from your mouth just now."

"Well, I... I was just missing you. How long has it been since we last met? I missed you so much it was killing me. As the saying goes, 'beating is affection, scolding is love'—what I’m feeling is love."

Lu Peng snorted and took a drag of his cigarette.

Liang Zhixia walked over, intending to get in the car, but when she pulled the door handle, it wouldn't open. She crouched slightly, smiling at him. "Mr. Lu, please open the door."

He turned sideways, resting his arms on the window frame with the cigarette hanging from his lips, and gestured for her to come closer with his finger. "Bring your head over here."

Liang Zhixia kept the smile on her face while cursing internally. She licked her dry lips and, as he requested, obediently leaned her head in.

He reached out and gripped the back of her neck, the lit end of his cigarette uncomfortably close to her face. Liang Zhixia’s expression didn't change; she kept smiling. "Mr. Lu, what are you doing?"

"Didn't you say 'beating is affection, scolding is love'? I thought I’d give you a kiss."

She laughed, reached out, and took the cigarette from his mouth, quickly kissing him on the lips. "Is this how you wanted to be kissed?"

Lu Peng raised an eyebrow and tightened his grip on her neck. She let out an 'ouch' and cried out in pain, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. She looked delicate and fragile.

Lu Peng released her and pinched her cheek. "I hadn't even done anything yet, and you’re already crying out."

Liang Zhixia said, "I'm a woman, after all. You should be a little gentler."

"You seemed pretty hyped up when you were cursing just now."

"I told you, that was because I missed you. You haven't paid any attention to me for so long."

He glanced at her sideways and unlocked the central locking. Liang Zhixia exhaled in secret and quickly got into the car, bowing her head to rub her cheek.

The car started and headed toward Ningjiang Village.

"Didn't I tell you to wait?"

Liang Zhixia said, "I just wanted to sneak in and scout the situation. Regardless, I saw her, and I learned a little bit: Xiao Bai has amnesia."

Lu Peng rested his hand against the window and glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "How soap-opera dramatic."

"Who's to say it isn't."

Upon entering Ningjiang Village, several people were standing at the entrance. After the car passed, they flagged them down.

Liang Zhixia clicked her tongue. "We’ve alerted the enemy."

Lu Peng stopped. When the people outside knocked on the window, he lowered it and looked over. "What is it?"

"We are the village guard team. There was an incident in the village recently, so we've increased security. Everyone not from the village must register. Please cooperate, sir. Did you make a reservation at a guesthouse in advance?"

"My girlfriend is inside."

"Which guesthouse?"

"Happy Sunshine."

They made a call, verified the situation, and let them pass.

Liang Zhixia was huddled under the seat. When a flashlight beam swept over, she covered herself with a dark blanket. Since it was dark outside and the lighting was poor, she wasn't discovered.

The car entered the village smoothly.

The two returned to Happy Sunshine. A woman in a red dress was standing at the door. When the car stopped, she walked over to open the door.

"Brother Peng." The woman had a graceful figure and draped her slender hands over Lu Peng’s shoulders. "You're late."

Liang Zhixia opened the door herself, climbed out, shot them a glance, and quickly retreated into the house to avoid being spotted by Fu Juxing’s men.

Lu Peng locked the car, watched her back as she disappeared, then withdrew his gaze and looked at the beauty before him. He tilted her chin up. "A-Jiao, you’re becoming more charming by the day. You must have quite a few men around you, don't you?"

"What are you saying? I will always be yours, Brother Peng."

He chuckled, wrapped his arm around her waist, and entered the house.

A-Jiao arranged a room for them. As a distinguished guest, Lu Peng was to sleep in her private quarters, which was on a different floor.

***

The night was late. Liang Zhixia took a quick shower and changed into clothes, preparing to sleep. Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw Lu Peng sitting on her bed, a cigarette in his hand, puffing slowly.

She froze, clearly not expecting him to appear there at this hour. It was truly illogical that the landlady hadn't locked him away.

She quickly buttoned her clothes, forced a smile, and walked over. "Mr. Lu, aren't you going to rest?"

"Isn't that why I'm here?"

She squinted with a smile. "That young lady earlier looked quite fresh."

"She’s older than you."

"Huh?"

"You're fresher."

Liang Zhixia paused, sat down beside him, and draped an arm over his shoulder. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. "Really?"

He let out a low hum, crushed the cigarette, and grabbed her waist.

Years ago, Liang Zhixia had been dumped in a city in India. It was very backward and chaotic. She had nothing—no money, no identification, and she didn't speak the language. She was truly helpless.

Fu Juxing had been truly cruel. That place was notoriously dangerous, and more importantly, women there held no status. Being a lone woman who was somewhat attractive meant he was pushing her into an abyss from which there was no return.

She barely scraped by for a month, living with extreme caution every day. She covered herself in mud to look filthy and smell foul, all to avoid those beast-like men.

However, what had to come, came. She couldn't hide forever.

She was eventually targeted. She ran for a long time, screaming for help the whole way, but no one intervened. Everyone steered clear.

At that moment, she just wanted to die. So, when she reached the road, she threw herself toward an oncoming car, wanting a "close encounter." She would rather die than be defiled and toyed with by those people!

It must have been that her time wasn't up yet. The car stopped before hitting her, but she leapt onto the hood anyway. No matter how hot the metal was, she clung to it, refusing to come down.

Most importantly, there was the person in the car.

She had encountered Lu Peng there.

It was truly a case of "after the dark hills, a new village"—her life was spared!

Lu Peng immediately had his men put her in the car and took her back to the hotel. He might have been going through something himself at the time; back at the hotel, he didn't say a word and just... did it with her, not even caring that she was so dirty and smelled so bad.

Afterward, when he recovered his senses, he spent two or three hours scrubbing himself in the shower and threw a tantrum.

Liang Zhixia had originally thought Lu Peng would have some impression of her, given that she was Lin Wanbai’s best friend and he had pursued Lin Wanbai quite intensely in high school. However, she had overestimated the depth of Lu Peng’s attachment to Lin Wanbai.

After so much time had passed, he remembered Lin Wanbai, but he had absolutely no recollection of her.

Once he finished showering, he prepared to give her some money and send her away.

Liang Zhixia took the money but had no intention of leaving. Over the years, she had grown a skin thicker than a city wall, and she had long lost the unrealistic fantasies of her youth. She knew the advantages a young woman with some beauty possessed. She also knew the reality of society: to get something, one must pay a price.

Fu Juxing had thrown her into this place, giving her no way out. Thinking of Lin Wanbai’s situation, she knew she had to do something—whether for herself or for her friend.

Lu Peng was right there, and she had no better options. First, she had to leave that place; without Lu Peng, she couldn't even reach the embassy, let alone return home.

"You don't remember me? Brother Peng."

She knelt before him, looking up, exposing her face to him.

Lu Peng glanced at her. "Who are you?"

"It’s normal that you don't remember me, but do you remember Lin Wanbai?"

"The name sounds familiar, but who are you?"

"I am Lin Wanbai’s best friend, Liang Zhixia."

He twisted his injured wrist, glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and scoffed. "So? Are you trying to pull rank with me?"

Now that she was clean, she looked much more pleasing to the eye—her skin was fair and quite tender.

Liang Zhixia smiled pleasantly. "Look, didn't I help you out just now?"

He finished bandaging his wrist, rested his hands on his legs, and looked at her directly. "If I'm not mistaken, I saved you on the street just now, didn't I? Besides, I was the one driving that car. If I hadn't reached out, your car would have been wrecked by others."

He patted her face. "Take the money and get out. I don't have time to deal with you."

"No, you don't have to deal with me. I'm very sensible. Just bring me with you, and I promise, absolutely, 100 percent, I won't cause you any trouble. Just... just for Lin Wanbai’s sake, can you take me with you? I have no money and no ID; I can't get back to my country. And I'm not that kind of woman—after we’ve 'driven' together, shouldn't you be responsible?"

Lu Peng raised an eyebrow. "Mentioning Lin Wanbai reminds me—I spent so much effort on her, and she didn't even look at me properly, did she? And now you want me to do it for her sake? For her sake, I should throw you out right now just to feel better. Also, this money is for the 'ride'—I don't have the word 'responsible' in my dictionary. Understand?"

He leaned down, looming over her.

Liang Zhixia didn't retreat or dodge. "Xiao Bai is in trouble now. Are you not planning to take advantage of the situation? If you still have feelings for her, I can help you."

"They say first love is the most unforgettable. I think any man would find a woman like Xiao Bai unforgettable. Now that such a good opportunity is right in front of you, do you really not want it?"

Just as Liang Zhixia said, men rarely forget a goddess-level woman like Lin Wanbai, especially one they had never managed to win over. Lu Peng had indeed never forgotten her. Even though he had countless women around him, Lin Wanbai remained the "white moonlight" in his heart—sacred and inviolable.

Liang Zhixia saw that he was wavering and pushed harder. "She doesn't have a single person to help her right now; she is isolated and helpless, just waiting for someone to rescue her. I was dumped in this place precisely because I tried to help her. I have no other way, and I can't find anyone else to assist her. But heaven has been kind to me, letting me meet you here. This is my way out, and it is Xiao Bai’s way out too."

"Brother Peng, I know you’re doing very well now. After thinking it over, you are the only one with the ability to help me—and to help Xiao Bai."

Lu Peng: "How do you know that if I save her, she will definitely marry me?"

"I’m here, aren't I? I’ll help you persuade her."

Their negotiation hadn't finished when trouble struck—Lu Peng's rivals found them, leading to a shootout. During the chaos, Liang Zhixia took a bullet for him. Because of that, Lu Peng took her in and agreed to help rescue Lin Wanbai.

For the past two years, she had worked in Lu Peng’s company as an agent for new artists. As for her relationship with Lu Peng, it was complicated. They occasionally slept together; sometimes he would visit her, "take a ride," provide some benefits, and leave. He never stayed the night, nor did he say much.

Just like tonight. After the "ride," paying the maintenance fee, he went to the bathroom to shower.

Liang Zhixia put the card he gave her into her bag and collapsed onto the bed, her body aching. She had spent too much energy today, and the bed was exceptionally soft; she fell asleep in no time.

When Lu Peng came out, he saw her hugging a pillow, sleeping soundly. He turned off the lights, leaving only a nightlight on, and went out.

Downstairs in the kitchen, A-Jiao had already cooked noodles and was waiting. She checked the time. "Three and a half hours."

Lu Peng walked over, pulled out a chair, sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat.

A moment later, two men entered from the back door and reported the situation to him.

"Brother Peng, the Tianhe Association is here too."

"What are they doing here?"

"Their target seems to be that manor as well."

Lu Peng ate his noodles and chuckled. "How interesting. Could it be that the Third Master is also interested in Lin Wanbai?"

"It’s not clear. To avoid exposing our identities, we didn't investigate too closely. Besides, I found that it's not just the Tianhe people; another group is also watching the manor. But the security is so tight that no one can get in. We could have succeeded, but Liang Zhixia was too impatient and insisted on sneaking in to scout, which alerted the enemy. I’ve noticed another batch of bodyguards has been added. Not to mention the surveillance cameras everywhere."

"Then stay put for now. With so many people watching, let's see how things play out."

"Yes."

A-Jiao brought out some wine and poured a glass for Lu Peng. "This is from my private collection. Want to try it?"

Lu Peng glanced at it and shook his head. "I’ve had too much to drink lately. I don't want any."

"Then drink some tea." She brought out a teapot; while she was in the kitchen, she had brewed some tea as well.

"Mm."

A-Jiao said, "What kind of world-class beauty is hidden in that manor to have so many people interested in her? A few days ago, a young man next door went in to weed the garden, and when he came back, he acted like he was on drugs, sending food over there every day. Now even Brother Peng is interested in the woman inside. I’m dying of curiosity—what kind of woman is she to make so many people lose their minds over her?"

"Don't worry," he said, finishing the last of the noodles and setting down his chopsticks. He turned to look at her. "No one could ever be as seductive as you."

"Oh, Brother Peng, why do you say such things?" She twisted her body and pressed herself against him.

But Lu Peng had just had his fill, so he didn't have the interest. He waved her aside and turned to his men. "Send more people to keep watch. Think of another plan to rescue her. If any of them make a move first, we can swoop in to profit from the chaos."

"Yes."

He stretched. "I’m tired. I’m going upstairs to sleep. Don't disturb me unless it's urgent. I’m exhausted lately, my back aches."

After he finished, he held his back and headed to the second floor. Seeing him like that, A-Jiao naturally didn't pester him and just offered a fawning "goodnight."

***

The next day, the events in Ningjiang reached Fu Juxing’s ears. He had just finished surgery when Lei Sen reported on company matters.

"Lin Zhouye hasn't made any moves yet. He is in Xiang Sheng Fu, which is Tianhe’s territory."

Fu Juxing nodded, drank some water, and remained silent for a while. "Find another place with a better environment. Ningjiang is no longer safe to live in."

"Yes."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hospital door was pushed open. Liang Xi entered with a food container. She glanced at Lei Sen. "This is a hospital. He’s in this condition, and you’re still talking to him about work? If there’s anything, tell my father. Let him get some rest. If this leg injury keeps recurring, not even the best doctor in the world will be able to save it."

She was stern-faced, her eyes serious. Lei Sen lowered his gaze, walked to the side, and said nothing more.

Liang Xi walked to the bed, set up the small table, placed the food container on it, and sat down. She looked at Fu Juxing. "The doctor said you have to use a wheelchair this time so you don't act impulsively again. I was thinking, I need to find someone to stay by your side at all times to keep a close watch on you. How many times has this been? Last time it was because of mountain climbing—there was a sightseeing bus, but you insisted on walking up. If you were healthy, that would be one thing, but you have no sense of the injury in your foot."

"If you want to pray, sincerity is what matters. Why insist on suffering? If you ruin your body, will the Buddha grant your wish? Let me ask you, has your wish been fulfilled?"

Fu Juxing glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his expression cold. Clearly, he didn't want to talk to her.

Lei Sen coughed. "You don't have to believe, but you should still respect the spirits."

"Am I being disrespectful? You can believe, but don't go overboard, okay?"

"Get out. I want to rest." Fu Juxing rubbed his forehead, not wanting to hear her noisy voice.

Lei Sen left quite consciously, but Liang Xi stayed in the room. She softened her tone, put on a smile, and took the food out of the container. "I made these myself. Aunt Liu was watching, of course. I stewed this bone soup for a long time; it took quite a bit of effort, and the heat was just right."

"The caregiver will bring me nutritional meals. You eat these yourself." He remained cold, showing no gratitude.

Liang Xi was patient. She scooped a bowl of soup herself, took a spoon, and fed it toward him. "Have a little. Consider the effort I put in all night."

"Take it away."

"Just one sip."

"Take it away." His tone turned colder and he began to grow impatient.

Liang Xi didn't persist. She placed the bowl on the nightstand and sat back down. She looked at him. "If you don't like it, fine. I’ll have the caregiver dump it all later."

Fu Juxing didn't speak. After looking at his phone for a while, he closed his eyes.

Liang Xi remained silent, watching him quietly, until the caregiver entered with the hospital’s nutritional meal. Seeing a family member had brought food, the caregiver prepared to leave, but Fu Juxing stopped them. "Throw those away. Bring me the nutritional meal."

Upon hearing this, Liang Xi subconsciously clenched her fists. The caregiver glanced at her, hesitating.

Fu Juxing: "Do it."

The caregiver tidied up the food container. Seeing the bone soup, the caregiver whispered, "This bone soup is quite good."

Liang Xi’s eyes trembled slightly, and she smiled. "Throw it away. It wasn't cooked properly."

"Alright." The caregiver quickly cleaned up, carried the bag out, and left the two of them alone.

Fu Juxing picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

Liang Xi took a deep breath. "How have things been lately? Getting along with Xiao Bai well? Since she’s forgotten everything, you two should be able to start over. She should be able to fall in love with you all over again, right?"

"Actually, I think she’s being a bit hypocritical. Old Man Lin’s death had nothing to do with you. He already had one foot in the grave; wasn't death only a matter of time? The way she acted, it was as if you had personally strangled him."

Fu Juxing stopped eating. He turned to look at her, saying nothing, but his gaze alone was enough to inspire fear. Liang Xi held her back straight, remaining calm.

"Don't think that just because your uncle is protecting you, I wouldn't dare to touch you. And don't think I don't know what tricks you played in front of Xiao Bai. If you’re smart, you’ll crawl back to the Hidden Kingdom. If you dare to play any more tricks, I will make you pay dearly!"

Liang Xi kept a smile on her face, meeting his gaze for a moment. Then, she laughed and shook her head. "A-Xing, everything I do is for your own good. When you recover, you will understand my good intentions. You and Lin Wanbai are simply not from the same world. Two people from different worlds forced together will only result in tragedy. Are you still unwilling to accept the facts? She would rather die than be with you. Keeping her by your side will only be a curse."

She stood up and straightened her clothes. "You should think carefully about your original intentions. Don't let a woman change your path. Get some rest. I’ll come to see you tomorrow. I’ll keep boiling the bone soup. I have to stay for a while this time. You’re injured, and Father can't handle two companies on his own. I have to help him. As for you, don't think about anything; just focus on recovering."

After speaking, she left without staying a second longer.

In the afternoon, Fu Changjun also stopped by. The old man hadn't been able to sit still lately; he was getting restless. When he arrived, he didn't say a word, just watched him with a complex expression. After a long while, he finally sighed. "Why do you bother? Since she can't understand you, why must you insist on keeping her by your side? In this world, there are plenty of women better than Xiao Bai."

"Lin Zhouye has been released from prison. Did you know?"

"I know." His tone was flat, showing little reaction.

"Since you know, why haven't you taken any action? Now that he’s out, he will definitely try every possible way to reclaim the Lin family business, and then he’ll come for Xiao Bai. You should nip it in the bud now, while he can't do anything, to avoid future trouble."

Fu Juxing said nothing, holding a teacup and sipping slowly, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Fu Changjun waited for a while. Seeing him remain silent, he was about to speak again when his phone rang—someone was calling via video. He immediately raised a hand, making a 'hush' gesture, telling Fu Changjun to shut up.

The video call connected, and Aunt Rong’s lowered voice came through. "She played with the three cubs for a while today, then watched TV in the living room. She’s asleep now."

As Aunt Rong spoke, she turned the camera toward Lin Wanbai. She was lying sideways on the sofa, clutching a pillow, sleeping soundly.

Fu Juxing looked at the phone, his expression softening significantly. Fu Changjun watched from the side.

Aunt Rong briefly explained what happened the previous day. She knew the captain of the bodyguards must have told him, but she felt the need to repeat it. "Xiao Bai didn't grow suspicious. I’ve explained everything clearly, so don't worry."

Fu Changjun listened from the side, restraining himself. He waited for two hours, until Lin Wanbai woke up, before they finally hung up. Fu Changjun had been sitting there the whole time, feeling uncomfortable, his brow furrowing without him realizing it.

Fu Juxing put his phone away. He glanced over and said, "Grandfather, if you’re tired, go back and rest. I will handle these matters myself; you don't need to worry."

"Not worry? If I don't worry, someone will snatch your Xiao Bai away, and you won't have these happy days anymore."

The softened expression on Fu Juxing’s face vanished, turning cold again. The devil resting in his heart began to stir. No one could touch his Xiao Bai! No one could snatch Xiao Bai away from him!

The devil told him that anyone who tried to take his treasure away was a bad person—all of them deserved to die.

He bit his lip. "You don't need to worry. I know what I'm doing."

Fu Changjun wanted to say more, but Fu Juxing’s entire face had chilled, his gaze turning icy. He looked at the old man, his eyes saying: *If you dare say one more word, I will pull your tongue out.*

Fu Changjun opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat.

After a long time, he heard himself cough. "Fine. I believe in your ability, and I believe you know what you're doing. You love Xiao Bai so much, you certainly wouldn't allow anyone to take her away. With your current power, there are very few who can compete with you. As long as you keep your footing, no one will be able to take her from you."

"You are my, Fu Changjun’s, most outstanding and best grandson. I am proud of you."

Fu Juxing didn't respond, only glanced at Fu Changjun’s personal caregiver. The caregiver immediately walked over and escorted Fu Changjun away.

Once out of the ward, the old man let out a long breath, his heart pounding violently. He said to the caregiver behind him: "He really is mentally ill. He’s truly sick."

Fu Juxing was left alone in the room. He lay quietly on the bed for a while, then removed his IV drip, pushed himself off the bed without a cane, and limped toward the bathroom. The pain in his foot made it hard to stand, so he reached out to steady himself against the wall.

After using the restroom, he stood before the sink, washed his hands, and looked up at his reflection in the mirror. He twitched the corner of his mouth, but he couldn't manage a smile.

Just then, the person in the mirror seemed to act independently of his control, revealing a sinister smirk. It said: *You can't even protect the person you love. All those people are trying to tear you and Xiao Bai apart—how can you stand it? If it were me, I would have finished them off long ago. You are too useless. Xiao Bai will be snatched away by them sooner or later.*

He gritted his teeth, his hands gripping the sink so hard his knuckles turned white, the veins in his forehead bulging.

*If Lin Zhouye doesn't die, he will never let Xiao Bai go. He likes Xiao Bai. Didn't you see it back then? He didn't come to save Xiao Bai; he came to take advantage of the situation. Not only did he not take Xiao Bai to the hospital, he took her to a hotel...*

Fu Juxing: "No!"

*No? Then tell me, what did he take her to the hotel for? To heal her wounds? Did he heal her wounds personally?*

In the next second, Fu Juxing suddenly raised his fist and smashed it into the mirror with all his might. The glass shattered, and the voice vanished completely. He collapsed to the floor, his back against the cold wall.

He breathed lightly. After an unknown amount of time, his emotions calmed down slightly. He took his phone from his pocket. Blood dripped onto the screen. He had no expression on his face as he opened his contacts and sent a message.

He had originally typed the word "Die," but after his finger hovered over it for a long time, a memory of Lin Wanbai jumping from the building flashed through his mind. He deleted the character and changed it to: [Capture.]

***

Fu Juxing recuperated in the hospital for a few days, having Lei Sen arrange for two people to guard the door. He wouldn't see anyone except the doctors.

He wouldn't even see Liang Yusheng, so Liang Yusheng called Wang Mingcheng. Fortunately, he was still willing to see Wang Mingcheng.

When Wang Mingcheng heard about him shattering the mirror with his fist, he knew something was definitely wrong. When he entered and saw his expression, he could clearly feel that something was off.

He remained smiling, walked to the bedside, and sat down. "This is the third time for your foot, isn't it? What happened this time?"

Fu Juxing regained his focus, looked over, and gave him a faint smile. "Dr. Wang."

Wang Mingcheng nodded. "Don't be nervous. I’m not here to treat you today; I’m just here to visit. I’m just a friend right now. Call me Old Wang, like you used to."

He didn't speak, looking down at his phone.

Wang Mingcheng glanced over, seeing him looking at a photo of Lin Wanbai. He leaned in. "The latest photo?"

Before he could see clearly, Fu Juxing had already turned the screen off.

"What’s wrong? We’re good friends. It wouldn't hurt to let me see your wife. At worst, I’ll show you my little treasure."

As he spoke, he took out his phone and showed him a photo of his daughter.

Fu Juxing glanced at it from the corner of his eye, let out a light scoff, and pushed his phone away. "Your treasure can't compare to mine."