An Qi sprinted with all her might. Her long dress hindered her movement, so she tore both sides up to the thigh, turning it into something resembling a qipao. She loved this dress, but she loved Qin An more.

The old pier was eerily silent. Starlight spilled onto the sand, beautiful and desolate like frost.

Sitting alone on the beach, An Qi heard only the waves. She opened the gift box—a harmonica and a letter folded into a heart lay inside.

Qin An had written this letter carefully. The song inside was unfamiliar—surely he’d composed it just for her. He must have prepared it for so long!

“But this isn’t enough,” An Qi muttered to herself, rubbing her reddened feet. “He has to explain in person why he didn’t come! Or I’ll hate you forever.”

Minutes stretched into hours. Only the ocean’s furious roar broke the silence.

“Liar. Liar. Big liar…”

Huang Jiajun weaved through clattering construction sites until she reached the new pier. Bright lights flooded the area. She spotted Qin An standing on the dock instantly. Step by careful step, she crept forward like a hunter stalking prey, afraid any sudden movement would scare him away.

“Qin An, get aboard. Now.”

“Isn’t departure at eight?”

“This is a smuggling ship. We leave when full. Hurry.”

Qin An scanned the surroundings. Huang Jiajun ducked behind a trash bin, heart pounding. When she peeked out again, Qin An was already on the ship. She sprinted forward, screaming his name: “Qin An! Qin An!”

But the ship’s engine drowned out her cries. She could only stand frozen on the dock, watching it vanish into the dark water.

*This is punishment. It has to be. For lying. Now I’ve lost everything—even the chance to say goodbye.*

At An Tie’s luxurious villa, the guests had long departed, but he remained.

“Master, it’s time.”

“Where’s An Qi?”

“Miss An Qi is at the old pier.”

“As long as she’s safe there…” An Tie’s voice cracked. “I can’t accept this. Why did they still find us? I became Nan’an’s richest in three years. I bought Imperial Splendor, built Joyland… and now I must abandon it all.”

“Master, survival comes first. Our men outside can’t hold them much longer.”

Screams pierced the night, growing louder, closer. Darkness’s claws finally closed around him—a reckoning for his greed years ago.

“I’d planned to take An Qi overseas when she entered high school. By then, our foreign capital would’ve been strong enough to fight back. Now… we start from scratch again. Not the first time.” An Tie’s smile was bitter.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Master.”

After An Tie left, blood flowed like rivers through the villa. The stench of iron choked the moonlit sky.

“Did that old fox escape again?” A man with twin pistols kicked aside a corpse and spat.

“Tian Tai, who *is* this guy? Why’s the Hunter Academy pulling out all the stops?”

“Luo Quan,” Tian Tai’s hands trembled so badly his guns nearly slipped, “just remember this: the old dean’s two daughters died because of him.”

At the old pier, the suspiciously new shipwreck suddenly shuddered to life. *Clank. Clatter.* The noise jolted An Qi awake. She rubbed her swollen eyes and turned—her father stood there.

“Dad… leaving again?”

“Yes.”

“Where to this time?”

“A very, very far place.”

Aboard the smuggling ship, the air reeked despite Qin Yuqing paying double for the cabin. Qin Yage slept soundly—the past two days had shattered her. Qin Yuqing lay drunk in a stupor. Qin An carried little Qin Chan onto the deck, gripping the railing. “Japan? After all this hiding… we end up back at the start.” He gazed up at the brilliant stars.

Beneath the same starry sky, An Qi touched the damp railing and looked up. Tonight, the stars outshone the moon.

In her dark room, Wang Luoran stared at the pitch-black window of the house next door. *I’d just made up my mind… but you left first.* She clutched Qin An’s letter, eyes fixed on the glittering heavens.

Huang Jiajun walked home alone. Though it was June, cold seeped into her bones. *How beautiful the stars are tonight. So bright.* But she felt unworthy to witness them. *Sinner. Villain. Hypocrite…*

Beneath the same starry sky, I’m thinking of you. I wonder—are you thinking of me too?