A faint smile played at Su Wantang’s lips as she took her place on stage, dancing gracefully to the music. Suddenly, the floor beneath her gave way with a loud crack, and she plummeted to the ground with a cry of shock.
Police officers rushed in, stunned to see Su Wantang lying in a pool of blood.
Her eyes, once bright and proud, now dulled with disbelief as she clutched her abdomen, looking up at Gu Yanze.
“Why… why didn’t you save me this time? Why, after everything I did to save you, did you just let me fall?”
But before she could hear an answer, Gu Yanze had already called for an ambulance, sending her off to the hospital himself.
The entire incident was broadcast live, and rumors spread like wildfire.
Gu Yanze ignored it all—he cared only about finding Lingyuan.
If she was hurt, he was willing to use his own blood to water the Swallowflower, just to keep her by his side forever, never to part again.
Su Wantang lost her child, and her leg was left permanently disabled. She would never dance again.
After everything, Gu’s father nearly beat Gu Yanze to death in a fit of rage.
Covered in whip marks, Gu Yanze barely survived, and when his father finally collapsed, he dragged himself back to the ruined herb garden—like a walking corpse, with no hope left.
He fell to his knees in the ashes, sobbing uncontrollably.
Regret. Guilt.
It was all his fault—the dependency, the Swallowflower, none of it was Lingyuan’s fault.
He had destroyed everything she loved, nearly killed her.
He was a sinner, beyond redemption.
The empty garden echoed with his cries.
In a daze, he seemed to see Lingyuan on that hopeless night, pinned down in the garden, forced to watch everything she loved burn.
She had begged, she had cried, but he’d shown no mercy.
He was worse than a beast.
What had become of Lingyuan after she escaped? Was she still suffering from burns?
She’d always been delicate—even a hot bowl would make her drop it in panic, her eyes filling with tears. He’d always comforted her, promising to protect her from everything she feared.
His father had spoiled her, but he’d thought she needed to be hardened.
His brothers had teased him for never touching other girls, for being so obsessed with his niece.
But after Lingyuan confessed, terrified he’d fall for her for real, he’d started seeing Su Wantang in secret.
He even made Su Wantang Lingyuan’s dance teacher, sneaking behind her back—it was thrilling, but he never realized how much it would cost.
He’d thought Su Wantang was the one.
Now, he took out the photos and recordings Lingyuan had given at Gu’s father’s birthday.
She wasn’t the only one who’d taken secret pictures; he’d done the same, replaying her awkward confessions over and over, whispering, “Lingyuan, I like you too…”
Those were the best memories he had, but after the accident, he’d thrown them away—only for Su Wantang to retrieve them and use them as weapons.
“Gu Yanze, I like you…”
Her voice echoed on the recording, growing fainter and fainter.
Pain radiated down his back as he collapsed, clutching the damp earth, weeping.
“Lingyuan, I’m sorry…”
He was lost in his torment when a servant suddenly burst in, shouting,
“President Gu! We have news of Miss Lingyuan!”
Learning that Lingyuan was running Jishitang in Australia, Gu Yanze, battered and wounded, immediately flew overseas.
He finally saw her again.
He wanted to tell her he was free of the Swallowflower’s effect, that he was himself again.
But Lingyuan gave him no answer.
Late that night, he rushed to Jishitang, only to see her in a cheongsam, radiant and calm. His heart leapt—only to shatter as he watched another man, handsome and gentle, step up to hold an umbrella for her.
“No… it can’t be…”
Gu Yanze’s excitement turned to darkness. He glared at their backs, fists clenched in fury.
Lingyuan, sensing a chill, broke out in a cold sweat. Pei Qingyan, noticing her discomfort, gently reassured her and led her inside.
“Don’t worry, go wait for me inside,” he said, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.
As Lingyuan disappeared, Pei Qingyan turned and strode toward Gu Yanze, lightning illuminating his determined face.
He grabbed Gu Yanze by the collar and punched him hard.
The pain in Gu Yanze’s back flared, but he could only groan and fall to the ground.
“That punch is for letting her be humiliated in those photos!”
Chapter 13
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