Anyone familiar would immediately recognize the voices—Cheng Yunying’s, Lou Tinglan’s, and numerous servants—all weeping and begging for mercy.
These sounds were cleverly spliced together, set against the eerie rhythm of a “hundred demons’ night parade,” as if evil spirits were truly whispering demands for lives right beside one’s ears.
No one knew how she managed it, only that the piercing notes felt like a path straight to the underworld, chilling them to the bone and making their entire bodies tremble.
Lou Tingwen’s face turned livid with rage. “Quick! Make him stop!”
But whenever anyone approached the stage, flames would erupt from the ground with a “boom.”
Standing amid the fire, Lou Qiyun curled her lips into a smile. “Goodbye, old fool!”
Before the words faded, she spun around and dashed into the bamboo grove, leaped into a car, and slammed the accelerator, speeding straight toward the harbor.
“Nan Yi, the keys!”
Lu Lingchuan’s heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst from his chest.
Lou Tingwen had also sent pursuers, and over twenty cars were now engaged in a life-or-death chase on Qicheng Highway.
“Something’s off. The numbers don’t add up,” Lou Qiyun muttered, swerving sharply to avoid obstacles while keeping her eyes glued to the rearview mirror.
Wei Junyi maintained contact via Bluetooth, ensuring every route remained clear for her.
“Indeed, it’s strange. Since when does the Lou Family have so many vehicles? Wait… half of them have out-of-town license plates!”
Lou Qiyun suddenly recalled the man from that night.
The accent in his pained groan was unmistakably authentic Beijing dialect.
“Any way to shake them off?”
“Let me think!”
Wei Junyi quickly pulled up the city’s traffic dispatch system.
Lou Qiyun floored the accelerator.
She swore she would never be dragged back to the Lou Family again!
Roaring—
A helicopter appeared overhead.
Lu Lingchuan witnessed the scene.
He even saw Lou Qiyun’s car beginning to sway uncontrollably as the helicopter descended lower, almost skimming the roof of her vehicle!
“Madwoman!”
Lou Qiyun gritted her teeth, refusing to let go of the wheel.
The fierce wind distorted her face, blurring her vision until she could barely see ahead.
The Lou Family’s cars closed in rapidly. Through her earpiece, Wei Junyi’s voice came through: “Damn it! The pier is blocked too. You can’t board the cruise ship!”
A ruthless glint flashed in Lou Qiyun’s eyes. The harbor was right in front of her—even if it meant a dead end, she would crash through to carve a path to survival!
“What is she trying to do?”
Lu Lingchuan was stunned once more.
Lou Qiyun jerked the steering wheel, ramming through the obstructing vehicles and racing wildly toward Huaihai direction.
Amid the deafening crash of metal, an intercepting SUV was forcefully shoved aside, its side scraping a long trail across the pavement.
Could it be…
Was she planning to jump into the sea?
Lu Lingchuan’s pupils contracted sharply. His heartbeat raced not just from adrenaline, but from an indescribable, profound tremor that shook his very soul!
This woman was utterly insane!
And yet…
He felt an inexplicable sense of admiration!
“Lou Qiyun!”
Spotting the man suddenly pulling up alongside her, Lou Qiyun recognized him instantly.
Her expression remained icy cold, but she pressed the accelerator even harder.
The moment she breached the guardrail, she yanked the door open and leaped out.
“Splash, splash…”
The Lou Family members pursued her into the water immediately.
Though she fought with all her might, within seconds, someone seized her ankle in a viselike grip.
Why…
Just…
A little more…
“Slap!”
The pier was crowded with onlookers.
Dragged ashore, Lou Qiyun received a sharp slap across the face from Lou Tingwen without a word of explanation.
Discarding all pretense of decorum, he grabbed her by the hair and hauled her brutally toward the car.
Lu Lingchuan was about to step forward when he was immediately surrounded by a swarm of reporters.
Through the jostling crowd, she actually…
Was still smiling!
“Nan Yi.” Lu Lingchuan’s voice was low and cold, his eyes radiating terrifying pressure.
“Arrange some men for me.”
He had never seen a woman so unafraid of death.
She knew perfectly well that Lou Tingwen wouldn’t let matters rest, yet she still chose to jump into the river.
Even if she was insane, he would still snatch her back and take a good look at her!
Inside the Maybach, Lou Qiyun’s hands were already handcuffed.
Lou Tingwen grabbed her by the throat.
“Tell me, who’s helping you?”
Lou Qiyun was under his constant surveillance every day, her movements restricted, even phone calls requiring approval.
How could she possibly have contact with outsiders?
This couldn’t have been done by her alone!
There must be someone behind this.
Lou Qiyun looked up with a cold laugh, her eyes provocative, “Guess?”
Lou Tingwen’s fingers tightened, her face gradually turning purple, struggling to breathe, yet her gaze toward him remained full of disdain!
How dare she look down on him like this?
“Fine, you really think I can’t handle you? Today, I’ll make you admit defeat.”
As the car drove toward the cemetery, Lou Qiyun finally showed a trace of panic.
She frantically slammed her arms against the car window, her expression terrified.
“Let me out!”
“Scared? Too late.”
Lou Tingwen sneered viciously, dragging her before a tombstone.
The stone was cold, engraved with three characters: Lou Yixu.
“Remember? He died in your place.”
Lou Qiyun’s throat tightened, not daring to look up, “No… it was you, you and Cheng Yunying killed him!”
That year, she was eighteen.
Just after learning she wasn’t a biological member of the Lou Family, she was gradually distanced by Lou Tingwen and Cheng Yunying.
Until one time, when Lou Tingwen drunkenly barged into her bathroom, from that day on, the way he looked at her completely changed.
Her brother Lou Yixu noticed something wrong and confronted Lou Tingwen directly. During their argument, everything was overheard by Cheng Yunying.
Cheng Yunying stood outside the door, her fingers digging tightly into her palms.
She hated Lou Qiyun for taking her biological daughter’s place, and hated her even more for seducing her husband.
In a fit of rage, she pulled out a fruit knife and charged forward…
Lou Yixu threw himself in front of her, the blade severing his artery, blood gushing out, and he stopped breathing on the spot.
Before dying, his last words were begging Lou Tingwen to treat her well, that she would always be his sister, Lou Yixu’s sister.
Lou Tingwen nodded in agreement, but pinned the murder charge on her.
Now, her black robe was torn open. Realizing what Lou Tingwen intended to do, Lou Qiyun’s face turned deathly pale.
“Get away! Brother is still here!”
Lou Tingwen’s expression remained impassive.
“Then let him watch clearly how I deal with you.”
She glared at him fiercely, “I will kill you.”
“Then try.”
He sneered.
Brother, close your eyes…
Don’t see me in such a wretched state.
Don’t see the person you fought so hard to protect, living so miserably.
“Master.”
The Butler approached.
Seeing the bizarre scene before him, his expression remained calm, “Mr. He is looking for you, says it’s urgent.”
After two seconds of silence, Lou Tingwen shoved her away.
“Lucky you, escaping again.”
Lou Qiyun collapsed to the ground.
Before her was the gentle smile in Lou Yixu’s memorial photo.
Behind her stood the Butler waiting to take her back to her confinement.
After being taken back to the Lou Family, Lou Qiyun was directly escorted to the second basement level.
Her hands and feet were shackled, and her personal belongings were thoroughly searched.
Cheng Yunying had a particular aversion to this place. Frowning, she urged her, “Hurry up and tell me, who exactly is helping you? Do you know how much it cost the Lou Family to suppress today’s chaos?”
“Mom.”
Lou Qiyun suddenly spoke.
“I… saw brother today.”