He Duoye held Lin Mian’s hand and fired a series of small holes around the patch of wild grass, forming a heart shape.
Lin Mian: “…”
Only when the magazine was empty did He Duoye casually toss the gun onto the table and pick up another silver-white pistol. It was larger and heavier than the other handguns, its body inexplicably exuding a fierce aura.
He Duoye still stood behind Lin Mian, holding her waist, unhurriedly unloading the magazine, checking the bullets, and finally, with a click, chambering a round.
Lin Mian’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
At the same moment, a pickup truck drove into the open space below.
Zhang Zhiwen, whom she hadn’t seen for days, was in the truck bed, his hair disheveled and his appearance wretched, like a beggar who had endured great suffering.
The vehicle stopped, and one person each stepped out of the driver’s and passenger’s seats, striding to the back of the truck and throwing Zhang Zhiwen directly onto the ground.
He rolled twice on the ground, slowly crawling up on his knees. Only then did Lin Mian notice that his hands were bound.
Zhang Zhiwen raised his head and, spotting Lin Mian standing on the balcony in the distance, immediately grew agitated.
A subordinate beside him pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him to kneel properly in place.
Unable to approach, Zhang Zhiwen knelt with his hands raised, pleading and kowtowing to Lin Mian, hoping she could help and spare him.
Lin Mian averted her gaze.
Behind her, He Duoye suddenly chuckled softly, lowering his chin so that his voice brushed against Lin Mian’s ear, ambiguous and dangerous.
“How long were you two together that your feelings run so deep? Look at him—the moment he sees you, he’s so excited he’s kneeling.”
Lin Mian: “…”
He’s clearly begging for mercy.
“Seeing him like this, does your heart soften?” He Duoye asked, tilting his head slightly. Lin Mian could feel his gaze very clearly, inch by inch, carefully fixed on her face.
“Do you want to plead for him, Mianmian?”
Lin Mian really wanted to pull away.
He Duoye’s current demeanor sent shivers down her spine. She had seen him when his possessiveness flared up before, but back then, he wasn’t as terrifying as he was now.
It felt as though if she answered incorrectly, she would face severe consequences the next second.
Lin Mian cautiously defended herself: “If you don’t want to let him go, just pretend I never mentioned him.”
But He Duoye said, “So heartless.”
Lin Mian: “…”
Not as heartless as you, thank you.
“Then if I asked you to kill him, you certainly wouldn’t hesitate.” He Duoye made Lin Mian grip the silver gun, its muzzle aimed directly at Zhang Zhiwen below.
Before Lin Mian could react, her index finger was guided to pull the trigger.
A gunshot rang out abruptly.
The far more powerful recoil than before made Lin Mian tremble all over. She stared wide-eyed in horror as Zhang Zhiwen collapsed to the ground.
Her mind instantly went blank, her ears echoing with the buzzing sound of the gunshot.
Had she… hit someone?
He Duoye suddenly clicked his tongue beside her ear, impatient and annoyed: “So timid.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the fallen Zhang Zhiwen was grabbed and hauled back up.
It turned out the shot hadn’t hit him—Zhang Zhiwen had simply been scared stiff.
Lin Mian took a breath, her heart slowly settling back into place. She tried to pull her hand back, but He Duoye held it firmly.
“Don’t you want to go home?” He Duoye said. “Let’s play a multiple-choice game.”
His tall body caged Lin Mian like a prison, holding her hand and guiding the gun’s muzzle to aim at Zhang Zhiwen once again.
“Now, there’s a chance to go home right in front of you. You go back, he stays; or, you stay, he goes back.” The moment he finished speaking, He Duoye fired the second shot with her.
This time, the bullet struck the ground just in front of Zhang Zhiwen’s knee, leaving a noticeable small crater.
The gunshot was too deafening, and Lin Mian couldn’t help but tremble.
He Duoye’s tone was leisurely as he continued, “What will you choose, Mianmian?”
Lin Mian didn’t hesitate much before making her choice: “I’ll stay, He Duoye. You… don’t make me kill anyone.”
This was the answer He Duoye wanted to hear, but for some reason, Lin Mian felt his breath hitch for a moment—or perhaps it was just her imagination.
Because immediately afterward, He Duoye said, “But you were always meant to stay. So, if you want to save him, you’ll have to give up something else.”
Lin Mian was so provoked that she gave up.
After all, she was penniless now, and her life was in the hands of her ex-boyfriend, who had evolved into a complete psycho after their breakup. Whatever happened, happened.
It wasn’t like he was going to take her life anyway.
“Fine,” Lin Mian agreed without asking any questions. “I’ll give you whatever you want.”
They’d already slept together, she’d already become the third wife—what more could happen?
He Duoye paused for half a second before suddenly letting out a low chuckle. The sickly air around him dissipated considerably, and even the madness in his eyes seemed to lessen.
“I haven’t even said what it is yet.”
Lin Mian nodded and asked, “Then tell me, what do you want?”
He Duoye looked down at her.
Lin Mian had become fearless. She raised her eyelashes and met his gaze, but as their eyes locked, she couldn’t help wanting to look away.
Every time she looked into He Duoye’s eyes, she always had the illusion that he still liked her.
Before He Duoye could speak, his ever-present right-hand man suddenly walked over, stopping a few steps away and frowning slightly as he called out, “Boss.”
The subordinate’s expression conveyed three words: something’s wrong.
The relaxed smile on He Duoye’s face vanished instantly. The corners of his lips were still curved, but his smile was cold and impatient.
Lin Mian got back onto the sightseeing vehicle and was taken back to the villa. As for what would happen to Zhang Zhiwen, Lin Mian didn’t ask again.
She had just asked one too many questions last night, and today she had been put through all this.
One really shouldn’t be too kind.
The next morning, Lin Mian still didn’t see He Duoye. According to Uncle Jixiang, he would be away for several days this time. However, He Duoye had shown great mercy this time, allowing Lin Mian to leave the bedroom and move around the estate.
Finally, Lin Mian no longer had to lie in bed watching TV all day.
In the evening, she strolled through the garden. The greenery here was lush and abundant, making it feel like walking through a park.
It was just that being alone made it somewhat boring and dull.
As Lin Mian was wandering around, she felt a strange sensation in her lower abdomen—her period had come early. Lin Mian hurried back and ran into Uncle Jixiang on the way. Seeing her anxious expression, he asked with concern what was wrong.
“My period,” Lin Mian said, her face slightly flushed.
Uncle Jixiang understood and smiled, saying, “I’ll have a maid bring you supplies right away.”
Lin Mian quickly replied, “Thank you.”
She hurried upstairs and pushed open the door, only to find someone waiting in the small living room of her room.