There are still five minutes until the hero escapes from marriage.

In reality, the system hoped more than anyone that it was just talking nonsense.

“Hey, stop playing dead! Speak up!” Wen Zhao banged her phone on the table a few times, creating visible cracks on the screen.

“What exactly is going on? I didn’t die in my previous life, so I affected the plot and caused it to collapse, and that’s why you had to bind me, making me, the malicious supporting female character who deviated from the plot, reincarnate?”

[Yes, just as you guessed.]

She was a bit suspicious as she stared at her phone. She felt that the system’s response was too quick, making her think it was brushing her off.

If the system knew what she was thinking, it would definitely cry out in injustice!

Because herguess was indeed correct!

In her previous life, she fell into the sea but was luckily saved by a passing fishing boat. She didn’t die but returned to Li City. Because of her return, the originally happy ending for the main characters fell apart.

“So what exactly happened after I went back in my previous life?” She pressed on.

[Based on your own actions, can’t you think of what you did yourself?]

The system wanted to play dead but saw Wen Zhao lifting her phone high again.

As expected of you, Miss Wen, the malicious supporting character. You’re even threatening a poor, humble system like me.

Wen Zhao propped her chin with one hand, looking deep in thought, as if seriously considering what she would do if she had luckily survived in her previous life.

The system was now scared to death, grateful it had erased that part of her memory. Otherwise, who knows what she would do after reincarnating.

“Did Gu Xianting fall in love with Su Mengyao because of the plot?” She suddenly asked.

[Of course…]

[Wen Zhao, no matter what the reason, everything is already set in stone. Are you asking this because you still have feelings for him?]

After all, in matters of the heart, even knowing the other half had cheated, people would desperately make excuses for them, clinging to even the slightest possibility like a lifeline.

Wen Zhao gave the phone a death stare, then turned her head and pretended to retch. “Are you trying to disgust me so you can achieve your goal of a happy ending for the main characters? Don’t worry, even if I die, I’ll drag your main characters and you down with me as my companions!”

[It’s clearly your own problem that caused misunderstandings! Can you be reasonable?]

“I’m just curious, can’t I be?” She snorted coldly. “Because of the plot setting, I unconsciously followed the plot at the beginning. So I guess Gu Xianting suddenly fell in love with Su Mengyao because of the plot. This is quite reasonable, right?”

[Ah, yes, yes, you’re right about everything!]

“So, what exactly did I do in my previous life?” She took advantage of the system’s distraction to steer the conversation back.

[You obviously…]

The system barely stopped itself in time; it didn’t want to give her another idea. It really would be in big trouble.

Meeting her expectant gaze, the system silently displayed a row of ellipses on the screen.

[Wen Zhao, the past is the past. Why do you need to know? Now that you have a second chance, you should make the most of it, right?]

Wen Zhao smiled. The system was quite cautious. Fine, she didn’t absolutely need to know what she did in her previous life.

However, whatever caused the world’s plot to collapse, making it impossible for the main characters to achieve their happy ending, and forcing the system to make her reincarnate to fix the timeline, it couldn’t have been something small or good.

Well done, me! Good job.

Her smile grew happier. Knowing that she didn’t die miserably in the sea, she felt relieved.

If she had died and her enemies had gone on to have a happy and successful ending like in some story, she might have gone crazy.

Ah, but speaking of which, wasn’t she already crazy when she came back to life?

“Boss is in a good mood.” The butler came to find her, and what he saw was a beaming Wen Zhao.

He had seen many kinds of smiles from her, smirks, sneers, sarcastic grins, fierce and ferocious smiles—but none of them were truly happy.

But this smile made even his lips curve up slightly.

“Yes, I learned something interesting.” Wen Zhao turned her head to look at him. “Is there something you need, Mr. Butler?”

“The madam is asking when lunch will be served,” he replied.

“Is the kitchen ready?” She noticed it was almost noon.

“Everything is prepared,” the butler said.

“Alright, let’s start eating then.” She put her phone away.

Chen Shan rested for a while, and her body had recovered. Whatever Jiang Xinyan had said to her seemed to have lifted her spirits.

The dining table was filled with dishes meticulously prepared by the chef. Chen Shan and Jiang Xinyan sat together, while Wen Zhao sat beside Jiang Xinyan.

Gu Xianting was wheeled in by Su Mengyao, but neither of them looked happy.

Not long ago, they were a couple who would risk everything for each other, but now the atmosphere between them lacked the intimacy of lovers.

Chen Shan’s smile faded as soon as she saw them together. She turned her head away, not wanting to spare them a glance.

Wen Zhao watched this scene and felt delighted. To prevent a couple from being together, forcibly tearing them apart is the worst strategy. It’s better to let them fall deeply in love, thinking they can’t live without each other, and then make them see each other’s worst sides.

She looked at Su Mengyao, the woman who risked everything for love, and saw that the affection in her eyes for Gu Xianting was almost gone.

“Now that everyone is here, let’s eat.” She acted as if she didn’t notice the strange atmosphere. “These seafood dishes were caught fresh this morning by the islanders. Try them and see how they taste.”

“Alright, this crab looks good.” Jiang Xinyan took a crab claw and tasted it. “Yes, it’s very fresh and delicious.”

Gu Xianting sat silently, watching the three of them enjoying their meal.

No one cared if he, recovering from his injuries, could eat seafood, and no one paid him any attention.

Su Mengyao stood to the side, and as a maid, she certainly wasn’t qualified to join them at the table. She felt extremely uncomfortable.

When Chen Shan and Jiang Xinyan weren’t around, she had a resigned attitude. But now, with these two present, she felt like a fish being dragged under the scorching sun, repeatedly humiliated. Her uniform and her relationship with Gu Xianting made her feel ashamed.

“Xianting, you shouldn’t have argued with your mother earlier. Now that everyone is here, apologize to her. There’s no lasting grudge between a mother and her son, right?” Jiang Xinyan suddenly directed the topic to him.

He stiffened for a moment. He looked at Chen Shan and, without struggling, followed Jiang Xinyan’s lead. “Mom, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things before. It was my fault. Please don’t be angry.”

Chen Shan felt a bit better hearing this, but her expression remained indifferent. “Is that all you’re apologizing for?”

He pressed his lips together and remained silent.

“Is the only person at this table you need to apologize to me?” Her tone turned cold. “Xianting, the person you owe the most apologies to isn’t me.”

She wiped her mouth and stood up to leave. Just seeing him made her feel suffocated.

After she left, only Gu Xianting, Wen Zhao, and Jiang Xinyan remained at the table.

Jiang Xinyan didn’t rush to leave. She looked at him and said slowly, “Xianting, I’ve watched you grow up. I don’t know what happened between you and Zhao Zhao, but it’s no longer just between the two of you.”

Gu Xianting’s mood grew increasingly anxious.

He understood what she meant. In fact, he knew the kind of comments people were making about him online. Wen Zhao had confiscated his phone, preventing him from contacting the outside world, but just a few days ago, she had someone give him a new phone.

His first instinct was to seek help, but after scrolling through his contacts for a long time, he realized there was no one who would unconditionally come to his aid in this situation.

He saw the online comments, where he was being vilified and called a scumbag, a blind fool. People seemed eager to nail him to the pillar of shame, wishing for his immediate downfall to cheer and declare that a scumbag had received his comeuppance.

There were people who contacted him, but he could hear the malice, sarcasm, and gloating in their voices.

In the end, he chose to turn off his phone.

Wen Zhao asked Su Mengyao, if Gu Xianting had nothing left, what would she have?

Chen Shan asked him what he had done over the years.

Only then did he realize that over the past few years, he had drifted apart from his former friends because he was always rushing to find Su Mengyao, either solving her problems or backing her up.

He and Wen Zhao had grown up together, which meant that many of their social circles overlapped.

Many people had already grown tired of his blind support for Su Mengyao, but they hadn’t fallen out with him outright because of the Gu family. They had simply distanced themselves from him.

After all, in their eyes, a person who could betray a lover of over ten years of childhood friendship couldn’t be trusted not to stab a friend in the back.

Back then, the Gu family was in its prime, and he hadn’t experienced neglect. He was surrounded by admirers and hadn’t noticed these changes. Besides, he didn’t have time to maintain these friendships.

For the past five years, he had been the perfect tool, providing Su Mengyao with everything she wanted.

“Actually, no matter what happens between you two, I can accept it,” Jiang Xinyan said. “But there’s one thing I can’t tolerate: no one can make my daughter suffer.”

Jiang Xinyan’s gaze swept over Su Mengyao, who felt like she was being cut by a cold, sharp knife. Instinctively, she wanted to seek protection, but when she looked at Gu Xianting, she realized that the person who could protect her had long become a stray dog.

“Mom, don’t worry.” Wen Zhao smiled. “Your daughter can endure anything except being wronged. Whoever makes me feel wronged, I’ll make them pay back tenfold or a hundredfold.”

Jiang Xinyan had been observing Wen Zhao throughout the meal. Seeing that she truly didn’t care about Gu Xianting and Su Mengyao, she finally relaxed.

“Your happiness is what matters most,” she said, standing up and leaving the table.

Now, only Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting were left. She asked calmly, “How do you like my arrangement? Having your true love as your little maid so you don’t have to sneak around anymore. Now you have plenty of time together. Why don’t you seem happy?”

“You did this on purpose!” He growled. “Wen Zhao, what do you want?”

“Maybe a guilty conscience?” Her smile turned into a smirk. “Dr. Xia said to help the patient recover quickly, we need to keep him in a good mood.”

“I thought letting you see your true love all the time would make you happy,” she said. “Don’t worry, as your wife, it’s my duty to keep you in a good mood.”

His face turned red with anger. “Do you believe your own nonsense? Wen Zhao, can we let each other go now?”

“Let each other go?” She looked surprised. “What are you talking about, my dear husband? We’re doing fine, why talk about letting each other go?”

He took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. “You exposed everything online just for this result, didn’t you?”

“Nope.” She shook her finger. “I wasn’t the first one to act. Why don’t you ask your precious Mengyao and your dear sister why they exposed the recordings online?”

“I’m just a poor, helpless woman trying to clear my name,” she said innocently. “You know, I love you.”

Gu Xianting looked at this woman who said “I love you” but whose eyes were full of malice.

Su Mengyao stood to the side, shivering uncontrollably at Wen Zhao’s words. This woman was terrifying. Hadn’t she caused enough trouble? Did she have no intention of letting them go?

“Give up. I have no intention of letting you go for the rest of your life.” Wen Zhao’s smile grew even brighter.

The system said she had narrowly escaped death in her previous life and had destroyed the HE (Happily Ever After) storyline upon returning to Licheng.

If she could do it once, she could do it again. What? You say she already took revenge in her last life? That this time, she should let go?

Ha, what a joke! Revenge in the last life was for that life; this life’s revenge must be settled in this life to be considered fair!

You can’t clear the slate just because the revenge was settled in a past life, right?

Gu Xianting looked at her smiling face and felt a chill all over. In his memory, there was also a Wen Zhao who smiled just as brightly, but back then, her eyes were full of unmistakable love.

The Wen Zhao who loved him was dead. What sat before him now was a madwoman filled with rage.

And this madwoman intended to make his life miserable for the rest of his life. Madwomen are called madwomen because they don’t listen to outside voices. They have their own set of rules and won’t stop until they reach their goal!

After delivering her warning, Wen Zhao stood up and left the table. The butler glanced at Gu Xianting and quietly followed Wen Zhao out.

The dining room was left with only Gu Xianting and Su Mengyao, a deathly silence making it suffocating.

It had only been a few days, yet it felt like years had passed. The two of them, who used to have endless things to say when Wen Zhao wasn’t around, suddenly had nothing to talk about.

Su Mengyao looked at him, the table full of delicacies making him appear even more desolate.

She knew that now was the best time. When the whole world had abandoned him, she knew how to make this man completely devoted to her.

But her feet felt like they were glued to the floor, unable to move.

Gu Xianting, feeling irritated, turned around and saw her sympathetic gaze. In that instant, the long-suppressed anger within him erupted. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He grabbed the chopsticks beside him and threw them at her.

She screamed and stumbled back several steps, looking at him in horror, not understanding why he suddenly lost his temper.

In the past, he liked it when she looked at him like this. He said that her gaze made him feel real. Everyone else depended on him, seeing him as an invincible warrior who couldn’t show weakness. Only in front of her could he be vulnerable, could he be himself.

After throwing the chopsticks, he realized what he had done when he saw Su Mengyao’s frightened eyes. Had he just lashed out at her?

“I’m sorry, Mengyao… I just… I just…” He wanted to explain, but he didn’t know how. In the past, he only needed to say this much, and she would complete his unfinished sentences.

But this time, she stood there stiffly for a long time before she muttered, “I know, you’re just… upset by what they said. You weren’t mad at me, I understand.”

“Yes, as long as you understand.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “As long as you understand.”

She stood there silently, feeling an indescribable sadness well up inside her. It seemed as if her five years of effort were about to go to waste. She felt like she was standing at a crossroads, unsure of where to go.

The man before her was the only lifeline she could cling to, but even this lifeline was starting to rot.

“Mengyao, push me upstairs,” he said.

She silently stepped forward, pushing hos wheelchair out of the dining room. As they were about to go upstairs, a Filipino maid followed them.

At first, he didn’t pay much attention, assuming the maid also needed to go upstairs. But she followed them all the way into the room and stood there like a statue, her eyes like searchlights, constantly watching them.

“We don’t need you here, please leave,” Gu Xianting said, trying to control his anger and keep his voice calm.

“But sir, this is BOSS’s order,” the maid said fearlessly, even puffing out her chest with pride. She had fought off twenty-eight other competitors to get this job and was determined to perform her surveillance task perfectly. “Boss wants me to watch you at all times to prevent you from making any irreversible mistakes.”

The implication in her words was clear.

After all, what kind of irreversible and malicious mistakes could these two possibly make?

At this, not only Gu Xianting but also Su Mengyao turned red with embarrassment. Did Wen Zhao see them as animals in constant heat, needing someone to watch them at all times? Why had she even allowed her to take care of Gu Xianting?

Meanwhile, Wen Zhao was in a great mood.

With the increasing public outcry against Gu Ruoxian online, Gu Corporation’s stock price had finally been affected. Billions were wiped off the company’s market value overnight, enough to catch the higher-ups’ attention.

At the Gu family home, Gu Yuanchen’s face was livid as he looked at the report delivered to him, his breathing heavy with rage.

He angrily threw the report in front of Gu Ruoxian. “Ah Xian, why did you do this? Now the Gu family is in this predicament, are you satisfied?”

Gu Ruoxian’s face was ashen. Wen Zhao had played her hand too well. She was willing to destroy her own reputation just to drag them all down into the mud, a move she had not anticipated.

Her original plan was to expose Wen Zhao’s illegal actions. After all, illegally detaining Gu Xianting was a fact. Any forced confinement against someone’s will was illegal.

But she hadn’t intended to completely ruin her, lest Gu Xianting end up benefiting from the chaos. So when she released the video, she aimed to kill two birds with one stone, dragging Gu Xianting down as well.

In the end, it was her impatience that led to this mess.

But she understood that even if she hadn’t implicated Gu Xianting and Su Mengyao, Wen Zhao wouldn’t have missed this opportunity. When she released that video, she had walked right into her trap.

Maybe it was even earlier when she approached Su Mengyao and sent her to the island. That was all part of Wen Zhao’s plan!

But even so, Gu Ruoxian would never admit that it was all her fault.

“So it’s all my fault?” She found it absurd and ironic. “In the end, isn’t it all because of your precious son?”

“If Gu Xianting hadn’t been so indecisive, hadn’t tried to have it both ways, hadn’t messed around even after getting engaged, none of this would have happened!”

She had had enough!

Her life had been disrupted by Gu Xianting’s arrival. Everyone told her that she only needed to be an excellent Gu family daughter and nothing else.

She felt like a puppet controlled by others, with her future and choices tightly predetermined by them.

“Ruoxian, I know you have grievances,” Gu Yuanchen said, rubbing his tired forehead. He had grown more gray hairs in the past few days. “But now, this mess is your doing!”

“No matter what happens between Xianting and Wen Zhao, as his sister, you shouldn’t have intervened!” Gu Yuanchen was a man who had single-handedly brought the Gu family to the top of Licheng’s elite, with impeccable strategy, methods, vision, and tactics.

“You are too obsessed,” he said. “If you wanted to become the head of the Gu Corporation, you could have come for it openly. But what did you do?”

“When Xianting was kidnapped at twelve, I thought you had learned your lesson. At that time, I already had some regrets. I saw your pride and planned to give you some start-up funds and a branch company for you to gain experience.”

“But your actions made me abandon that idea,” he said with regret. He regretted not being harsher, even though he had known about his eldest daughter’s extreme tendencies.

“Hah, anyone can say things in hindsight,” Gu Ruoxian scoffed, not believing a word. “After Gu Xianting was born, you only had eyes for him. What was I to you? I worked so hard to join the Gu Corporation, and what did I get? You either didn’t see or just condoned all the treatment I received in the company! You were afraid I would outshine Gu Xianting!”

“You suppressed me, you couldn’t tolerate me, so why should I tolerate a so-called brother who took everything from me from the moment he was born?” Her anger and resentment spilled over. She had tried and struggled, but the world seemed so cold.

“I later resigned myself because Gu Xianting was indeed excellent. Even if I didn’t like him, he was getting better day by day.”

“But everything changed when he went to university. He became dismissive, his temper grew worse, and he never worked properly. Yet, just because he’s a man, he could rightfully become the head of the Gu Corporation. And what did he do in that position?”

“He used his status to support a woman recklessly. He never made a good decision for the company and relied solely on the team you left him.”

“Why should I lose to someone like him? Why must I lose to him?”

She had torn all pretense away. She knew she was now the family disgrace, but these words had been bottled up inside her for so long with no one to tell. Her peers would think she was being unreasonable, ungrateful. They’d say, wasn’t a life of luxury without any effort enough?

Isn’t it ridiculous? Why are sons taught responsibility and the need to fight for their future while daughters are taught to be content with handouts of money, jewelry, and branded bags? No one tells them they can fight for power, wealth, and status too.

They could shower her with love, beautiful clothes, and fine food, but in the end, all the assets would go to Gu Xianting, who didn’t even cherish them!

No one understood her; she was on the brink of madness!

“So what did I do wrong?” She shouted in rage. “It’s all Gu Xianting’s fault, Wen Zhao’s fault, Su Mengyao’s fault, and your fault for knowing everything yet still being too soft on Gu Xianting, trying to paper over the cracks!”

After this outburst, she felt a sense of release. She knew she had lost this battle, lost badly. But so what?

“Get out, get out of my sight!” Gu Yuanchen roared, his face livid with anger, pointing to the door.

“Fine, I’ll go!” She grabbed her handbag and walked out. As she walked, she became calmer and quickened her pace.

She wasn’t willing to accept failure, but at least she lost to Wen Zhao, not to that fool Gu Xianting.

A black Cayenne slowly drove up and stopped beside her.

The window rolled down, revealing Xu Nian’s face. She frowned. This person was allied with Wen Zhao, though she still didn’t know when or why they had teamed up.

“Ms. Gu, interested in a chat?” Xu Nian greeted her with a smile.

Her expression changed several times before she finally smiled. “Since Mr. Xu invited me, it would be impolite to refuse.”

The car door opened and closed, and she disappeared.

On the island, night had fallen.

Chen Shan thought for a moment and decided to talk to Wen Zhao alone.

Wen Zhao didn’t mind. In fact, even if Chen Shan hadn’t invited her, she would have sought her out for a chat.

In the tea pavilion outside the villa, warm, beautiful lights were shining all around. Chen Shan held a cup of flower tea, feeling a bit nostalgic. It had been years since she last had such tea.

“You have a very good butler,” Chen Shan praised sincerely.

Wen Zhao was happy to hear her praise the butler. She smiled and nodded. “Yes, Mr. Butler is excellent. I plan to give him a promotion and a raise.”

“Really? I wanted to hire him to work for me before, but he turned me down. It seems I didn’t offer enough,” Chen Shan joked, easing the initially stiff atmosphere.

“It’s not that. He loves the life on this island, saying it’s priceless,” Wen Zhao said.

Chen Shan genuinely felt a bit regretful. For some reason, she really liked this little housekeeper after spending only half a day with him.

“Zhao Zhao,” she ran her fingers over the rim of her cup. “Can I ask what you’re thinking?”

Looking at her, she couldn’t help but recall the old Gu Xianting, who wasn’t as stubborn as he is now.

When Gu Xianting was three, Wen Zhao had just learned to walk. Little Gu Xianting would always drag her around everywhere. She watched them grow from toddlers rolling on the ground to kids playing house together. Wen Zhao always played the bride or mother, and Gu Xianting played the groom or father.

As they grew older, they started wearing small backpacks and holding hands on their way to school. Although Wen Zhao was younger and in a different grade, she skipped levels just to stay with Gu Xianting.

They seemed inseparable, and everyone believed their childhood romance would last forever.

There’s a saying that tragedy is showing the destruction of all things beautiful.

To Chen Shan, Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting’s relationship was a beautiful story turned tragic, revealing all its ugliness in the end.

“I’m also disappointed with what Xianting has become,” she sighed. “I owe you an apology for not correcting him when I first noticed his infidelity. Ultimately, this situation is also partly our fault.”

An afternoon was enough for her to figure some things out.

“Mom, you’re being too harsh on yourself.” Wen Zhao’s smile remained warm. “Xianting just lost his way for a moment. We grew up together; I won’t give up on him.”

Chen Shan was stunned. “You don’t want to divorce Xianting?”

Even after everything, Wen Zhao didn’t want a divorce?

What is she planning?

When Chen Shan almost divorced Gu Yuancheng over a mere hint of infidelity, she couldn’t understand why Wen Zhao wouldn’t do the same after such a blatant betrayal.

“We just got married,” Wen Zhao said, showing her hand with the wedding ring. 

This was the ring they didn’t have time to exchange on their wedding day, later sent to her.

“Mom, Xianting is being scorned by everyone. If I abandon him now, wouldn’t he be pitiful?” Wen Zhao’s voice was sincere. “Especially now, I can’t leave him. He’ll understand who truly cares for him after this.”

Chen Shan was taken aback. “Is that really what you think?” She began to doubt her initial thoughts.

After seeing Gu Xianting’s condition, she believed Wen Zhao was seeking revenge, intending to publicize his affair and divorce him.

“Of course. Don’t worry, Mom. And besides, the Gu family and our family are closely tied. I can’t abandon Xianting publicly or privately,” Wen Zhao said. “Rest assured, after this ordeal, Xianting and I will live a good life together.”

Chen Shan was touched. Not every woman could do this. No matter how much Gu Xianting suffered, it was deserved. Given what Wen Zhao had endured, staying by his side was not undeserved.

“Alright, Zhao Zhao, you’re a good child.” Her eyes reddened. “This time, I’ll take care of everything.”

The next morning on the island, a scream woke everyone.

Wen Zhao stood by the window, watching as a few bodyguards dragged Su Mengyao away.

“I don’t want to go, don’t take me! I want to stay here!” She was nearly hysterical.

Chen Shan stood there coldly, unmoved by her struggle.

“Mom, what are you doing? Let her go!” Gu Xianting hurriedly had the maid push his wheelchair downstairs to save Su Mengyao.

Chen Shan glanced at him indifferently. “Xianting, what are you worried about? We’re law-abiding citizens. We won’t do anything to Miss Su. Given the scandal you’ve caused, Xinyan and I need to return. Didn’t Miss Su always want to leave? I’m just kindly helping her.”

“But what about me?” Gu Xianting blurted out.

“Slap!” She couldn’t hold back and slapped him hard.

She looked at him coldly. “What is she to you? Gu Xianting, have some self-awareness. You’re Wen Zhao’s husband, still on your honeymoon. Why do you want Miss Su here?”

“You’ve seen everything, why leave me here?” He was almost mad. “Wen Zhao is deceiving you; she doesn’t want to live with me. She’s torturing me! Don’t you see? Are you still my mother?”

“If I weren’t your mother, I’d have beaten you to death!” Chen Shan shouted. “Gu Xianting, apologize to Zhao Zhao. She’s still willing to forgive you and be with you. You should be grateful!”

She looked past him at Wen Zhao. “Zhao Zhao, Xinyan and I need to go back and handle the scandal. Try to return to Li City soon. I hope to see you two reconciled by then.”

“Alright.” Wen Zhao, having watched from upstairs, came down after seeing Gu Xianting slapped.

Seeing her, Su Mengyao struggled more. “Wen Zhao! I don’t want to leave! Xianting, say something! I can’t go, I don’t want to leave!”

Gu Xianting’s heart ached. He wanted to rush to her, but his wheelchair was firmly held by the maid.

“Take care of him,” Chen Shan said, turning to the bodyguards. They dragged the screaming Su Mengyao into a car.

Jiang Xinyan, standing by, said nothing, only nodding at Wen Zhao before leaving.

Gu Xianting collapsed from his wheelchair. “Mengyao! Mom! You can’t take her!”

Wen Zhao walked up, looking down at him. “Feeling sad your lover is gone?”

“Wen Zhao, you’re evil! You’ll die miserably!” He glared at her.

She kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him rolling. “Getting too comfortable? You dare shout at me?”

He curled up in pain, familiar agony rushing back. His body trembled uncontrollably as he tried to call for help, but Wen Zhao stepped on his head.

“Want to call for help? Want your mom to save you?”

“Hahaha.”

“Gu Xianting, don’t you get it?”

“Whatever I do to you, your mom agrees!”

“Think about how much of a failure you are!”

“Loser!”