As I stood up, my bones creaked, and my body reached its limit. After three days and nights of hunger, could I stop Zhiye?

"Zhiye..." Even though my body was weak, my throat still functioned.

"Stop, please!"

Zhiye seemed possessed by spirits, as the silver gleaming sword attempted to destroy everything.

"I am not who I was before. The me who couldn't protect Jie no longer exists. I have become powerful, and I can protect Jie. I won't let Jie suffer any harm."

Zhiye didn't stop. An Lisi threw everything she could, but they were all deflected. Is this really the same Zhiye from back then?

"Stop, Zhiye. It won't do you any good."

"It doesn't matter. What's important is that I protected Jie and eliminated those who hurt her. It's my wish."

"Zhiye!"

"Jie... I am so happy to see you, just like escaping from a dark prison and finally seeing the light of day. So... no one can take away or harm the only thing that gives me solace, the only source of fire in my heart."

"Prepare yourself! I will show you how ignorant you are."

Zhiye swung the sword with all her might. An Lisi barely managed to dodge, but the wardrobe was split in half.

If this continues, An Lisi may be in real danger. Even if she did something foolish, I don't want to see her in that state.

Is it all my fault? If I hadn't interfered with An Lisi, if I hadn't made up a lie, wouldn't she have met a tragic end? But because of my actions, I find myself in this sorry state. Don't I deserve it?

Damn it! This is infuriating!

Why did Zhiye lose control too? Su Yuqian faints from the shock of their struggle.

Now it's up to me, just me, to stop this. But my body feels weak and powerless, making it so difficult to stand up.

No matter how many times I try, I end up sitting back down.

I can't do it anymore. I am powerless. I can only watch the tragedy unfold.

The thought of giving up has already emerged, accepting this as the current state of mind.

But am I really willing to give up like this, watching the tragedy unfold without taking any action?

"Ah!" Roaring gives me strength. I try one last time.

With the support of the wall, I manage to stand up, feeling pain from an unknown part of my body. With sheer determination, I push forward, leaning against the wall.

Zhiye feels both far away and close. When I hear, "Pay the price of death,"

Zhiye swings the sword forward. An Lisi seems too weak to dodge anymore. If this continues, she will be hit. Seeing this, I rush forward without hesitation, giving it my all.

I protect An Lisi, but at the same time, I feel a burning pain in my back.

"Jie?"

Zhiye panics in an instant, releasing the grip on the sword. It falls to the ground, its blade stained with red.

"Why would you do such a thing?"

Zhiye supports me.

"I told you to stop, didn't I? Yet Zhiye still insists on doing something so foolish."

"She hurt Jie. Shouldn't she be punished?"

"Even so, don't joke about taking someone else's life. Besides, I'm fine."

"How is it possible that you're fine, Jie... you're bleeding,"

"It feels... like my body doesn't know if it's freezing cold or scorching hot,"

"Don't joke around at a time like this, I'll call an ambulance,"

Zhiye took out her phone and dialed for emergency assistance.

"An Lisi... are you okay?" I asked, looking at An Lisi collapsed on the ground,

"I'm fine... Yu Gege protected me,"

"That's good to hear. My only wish is for An Lisi to live on positively and optimistically,"

"But without Yu Gege, I can't..."

"But just like a bird, it must learn to fly on its own. What kind of love is An Lisi's love for me? Is it built on emotions or dependence?"

I helped An Lisi, helped her overcome her addiction, and started working independently myself. But unintentionally, it made An Lisi dependent on me. An Lisi said that I am her spiritual support, that her feelings for me aren't real love, but rather a sense of security and reliance. But I can't always fulfill her like this.

So I made a decision.

An Lisi bowed her head and remained silent,

"Jie, don't fall asleep. The ambulance will be here soon,"

"But I'm so tired..."

Hungry, exhausted, in pain, I really wanted to close my eyes and rest for a while,

My eyelids felt heavy, and Zhiye's voice seemed to fade further and further away. My consciousness seemed to fall into an abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.

When I opened my eyes, it was a white space,

"Am I in heaven?" I murmured,

"This isn't heaven."

"Zhiye?"

"Jie, you're finally awake," Zhiye hugged me directly, and I felt a soft touch but also pain, causing me to cry out.

"I'm sorry... I got too excited," Zhiye quickly let go of me.

"If this isn't heaven, then what is it?" I took a moment to recover and continued asking.

"It's a hospital..."

"Hospital?" I looked around at the white bedsheets, white ceiling, and the IV drip in my hand.

"Yes... Jie has been unconscious for two days. If you didn't wake up, I was planning on ending my own life."

"Why would you do such a foolish thing?"

"If we can't live together, then we must die together."

"But I already have a girlfriend, and I rejected you, didn't I?"

I spoke the truth.

"...I'm not willing to accept it, not at all. I won't give up. Let me peel an apple for you to eat,"

Zhiye's eyes filled with tears as she picked up a fruit knife.

"Ah... Jie still doesn't like me..." she said, aiming the knife at her own wrist. I immediately stopped her and exclaimed, "What are you doing?!"

Zhiye's tears flowed even more.

"You're acting like a child."

"Jie, you're so annoying."

"...Anyway, stop crying. It hurts my heart to see Zhiye crying when I wake up. Also... I don't dislike Zhiye,"

"Does that mean you like me?"

"Zhiye can cook delicious meals and is very gentle. There's no one who wouldn't like you,"

"So... Zhiye will have someone of the opposite sex who likes her?"

Zhiye's smile disappeared for some reason, and she stood up from the chair and picked up the katana.

"Zhiye, where are you going?"

"I'm going to kill the woman Jie likes, Jie can only like me."

"....calm down."

"I am calm now...I am calm now."

What's with this dark atmosphere?

"Anyway, I won't allow you to do such a thing," I grabbed Zhiye's hand.

"Jie, don't stop me, I must kill her, why, why...she keeps tormenting me like a curse."

"Don't be impulsive..."

"Youjie, I'm here to see you," Su Yuqian pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a basket of fruits.

"Youjie! You scumbag!" She shouted while throwing the basket of fruits at me, hitting me right in the head as I didn't have time to dodge. I instantly felt dizzy while Su Yuqian angrily stormed out of the room.

"Jie, are you okay?"

"I'm fine..." I rubbed my head and sighed, realizing I had another injury.

"I'll stay here and take care of you...I'll peel an apple for you to eat."

"At least you're calmer now."

"No, I haven't changed my mind about wanting to kill her."

It's really careless,

While Zhiye was carefully peeling the apple, I changed the topic,

"How did you know I was there, Zhiye?"

"Telepathy..."

"But there's no such thing."

"...I finally got the opportunity to come back here. I wanted to surprise you, so I told Aunt Meihong first. But when I found out you were missing, I hurried back. But it was thanks to Su Yuqian that I knew you were there...she got the news from a teacher...although that's the case, I'm still the first one..."

"Thank you, Zhiye...if it wasn't for you...I might not have survived."

"I'm glad I could help you, Jie...because you are the most important person to me."

Zhiye's face turned slightly red.

"The apple is peeled...," Zhiye handed me the peeled apple, I took it and said thank you.