Chapter 36 

Snow continued falling for half a month. Dai Ning stayed indoors every day, lazily curled up in her cozy little room.

This year, she seemed less active, but Uncle Qian didn’t think much of it, assuming it was because of the challenging rural conditions.

As her birthday approached, Uncle Qian went to great lengths to contact the Ji family’s patriarch despite the limited signal.

When he got through, the elder inquired about his beloved Dai Ning’s well-being and said, “Everything at home is fine now. The Yan family recently cleared up the matter—Yan Mingkou’s accident had nothing to do with Mo Jue. Ning Ning can come home. We’ll throw her a birthday banquet when she returns.”

Uncle Qian relayed the message to Dai Ning. Glancing at the calendar, she realized it was already December 4th, just four days from her birthday.

Qingtuan, her companion, grew nervous. “I have a feeling that if anything happens, it’ll be within these days. Dai Ning, we can’t go back yet.”

Dai Ning, however, appeared calm. “Don’t worry. We won’t make it back anyway.”

Pointing to the village, she told Uncle Qian, “Look at all this snow. It hasn’t stopped, and the accumulation is so thick. Forcing our way out of the mountains right now would be unsafe. Even if we’re in a hurry, we have to wait until the snow stops.”

Uncle Qian frowned but nodded. “That’s true. But what about your birthday?”

Dai Ning shrugged. “When the time comes, you and the cooks can just make me a cake.”

Given the circumstances, Uncle Qian was touched by her modesty, thinking she’d matured. He promised, “We’ll prepare a big cake for you, Miss Dai.”

Coincidentally, the snow showed no sign of stopping. When Dai Ning stepped outside, the snow nearly reached the tops of her boots.

The day before her birthday, there was still no news from Zhao Yu, leaving the situation of their conflict a mystery.

Qingtuan hesitated. “I can use my power to trace what’s happening, but you know I only have enough energy for one try. Do you want to take a look?”

The ability felt like a double-edged sword. After considering for a moment, Dai Ning said, “Don’t look at Zhao Yu or Cui Yao—check Shen Tuo Feng.”

“Alright, close your eyes.”

She shut her eyes, and a scene appeared in her mind. A middle-aged man in a suit, smoking a cigarette while listening to a phone call.

It was Shen Tuo Feng.

The voice on the other end was inaudible, but Shen Tuo Feng responded, “Your suggestion is to use his parents to force that Zhao kid to trade the treasure mine? Indeed, the simplest approach… There’s also a woman, Zhao Yu’s love interest. I’ll consider that too.”

Dai Ning opened her eyes as Qingtuan panted. “Did you see anything?”

“Yes. Tomorrow morning, Shen Tuo Feng’s men will cross the snow-covered mountains to capture us,” Dai Ning replied nonchalantly.

“Are you up for it?”

“Of course.”

Judging by Shen Tuo Feng’s words, it seemed Zhao Yu had acquired the treasure mine. Shen Tuo Feng chose not to intervene earlier, waiting for the opportune moment to strike, following the “mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind” strategy.

If Dai Ning’s guess was right, the person who suggested leveraging Zhao Yu’s weakness was Du Tian.

Du Tian likely wanted to see whether the protagonist with great fortune would fall at Shen Tuo Feng’s hands. If not, perhaps in the ensuing chaos, she could take out Dai Ning too.

Women’s grudges run deep. Du Tian could never forgive Dai Ning for ruining all her plans.

To confirm her suspicions, Dai Ning checked the neighboring house. Sure enough, Du Tian had even taken her “mother,” Du Yuexiang, away, evidently prepared for what was to come.

Resting her chin in her hand, Dai Ning sighed, “See? The female lead can target the male lead without consequence. The world’s rules are so biased.”

Qingtuan silently nodded in agreement.

—

At dawn, Uncle Qian got up to prepare Dai Ning’s birthday cake.

Dai Ning also woke early, leaving only the two Zhao siblings still asleep. She dressed beautifully, draping herself in her signature red cloak.

The first to sense trouble wasn’t her bodyguards but a stranger—a dark-skinned man and a younger man in a blue down jacket.

The dark-skinned man knocked on the door, waking Zhao Ping and Zhao An’an. With a stern expression, he announced, “There’s a group of suspicious people outside the mountain. I suspect they’re Shen Tuo Feng’s men. Everyone needs to leave immediately. Brother Yu instructed us to head to the mountain path.”

Dai Ning figured these were Zhao Yu’s informants, clearly well-trained.

She couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration. The Ji family’s men earned higher salaries but weren’t nearly as capable as Zhao Yu’s.

Zhao Ping’s face grew serious as he nodded resolutely.

The dark-skinned man said, “We’ll carry Zhao’s parents on our backs. You all follow us.”

Dai Ning’s bodyguards exchanged uncertain glances, looking utterly clueless. Dai Ning sighed. “What are you standing around for? One of you, go warn Uncle Qian to hide. The rest, follow me.”

The group moved efficiently. The snow crunched underfoot as they reached a sheltered area along the mountain path.

Zhao Ping, with a sense of responsibility beyond his years, offered, “Miss Ji, lean on my shoulder if you’re worried about slipping.”

Dai Ning flicked his forehead, dismissing him. “Go away, ugly. You’re annoying.”

Zhao Ping, unfazed, turned to the dark-skinned man. “Brother Chen, will the villagers be in danger?”

Chen shook his head. “Brother Yu said they won’t be. Shen Tuo Feng is cautious. He won’t act openly and risk attracting the authorities. His targets are just you and your family. As long as you stay hidden, they’ll be safe.”

Despite Chen’s reassurance, Zhao Ping remained tense. The younger man in blue tried to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. Brother Yu will be here soon.”

Upon reaching the shelter, everyone relaxed slightly.

Dai Ning looked back at their trail. Zhao Yu’s plan was meticulous, even including measures to erase footprints in the snow. If they followed his strategy, Shen Tuo Feng’s men might truly fail to find them.

But Dai Ning, bored, idly played with the snow, leaving subtle signals. She hoped Shen Tuo Feng’s men were smart enough to notice.

As snowflakes began to fall again, the dark-skinned man stiffened. “How could this happen?”

Everyone followed his gaze and saw a group of heavily armed men approaching.

“Run!” Chen shouted as he and the others tried to carry Zhao’s parents to safety.

But their speed was no match for the trained pursuers. Within moments, they were surrounded.

Terror etched across everyone’s faces.

The armed men quickly identified Zhao’s family, separating them. Even as Chen and the younger man in blue tried to intervene, they were subdued at gunpoint.

One man grabbed Zhao An’an, who trembled in fear.

The group’s leader glanced at Dai Ning, who held her head high. “Don’t touch me. I’m not part of the Zhao family. If your boss harms me, he’ll face the consequences.”

Her words made the group hesitate. Clearly, they weren’t entirely unaware of her identity.

Before they could decide, another group arrived. Chen’s face lit up—Brother Yu was here!

But the tension only escalated. The first group dragged Zhao An’an forward, a gun pressed to her head. “Stop, or she dies!”

It was Zhao Yu, flanked by over twenty men. His face was taut with resolve.

“Let her go,” he demanded. “What you’re doing is illegal. Isn’t Shen Tuo Feng afraid of ending up like Shen Tuo She?”

Zhao An’an cried out, “Brother! Brother!”

The intruders, unfazed, replied, “We want the Wudong treasure mine in exchange.”

Without hesitation, Zhao Yu agreed. “Fine!”

Dai Ning cast him a sidelong glance, surprised at his decisiveness. For Zhao An’an, he was willing to give up the treasure without a second thought.

Lowering her gaze, she whispered to Qingtuan, “Was Zhao Yu the one who hurt my grandfather?”

Qingtuan hesitated. “I wasn’t trying to keep you in suspense—I genuinely didn’t know.”

Dai Ning understood. To her, her grandfather was everything. But to this story, he was barely even a footnote.

Who would spend effort writing about a minor character?

Even Dai Ning’s death was merely a simple summary in the book. Their entire lives were captured in just a few strokes, insignificant and fleeting.

Zhao Yu said, “Even if I agree to the transfer, you must give me time. Don’t harm my sister and family.”

The group exchanged glances. It was clear they hadn’t expected to encounter Zhao Yu and his people here.

One of them wavered, saying, “We’ll take the hostages but won’t harm them. Bring the transfer papers for Wudong in exchange.”

Zhao Yu replied calmly, “Fine.”

Arriving a step too late, this was the only concession he could make. He could recover the mining rights, but Zhao Ping and An An’s safety couldn’t be compromised.

Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, “There are police with Zhao Yu!”

The words were like a lit fuse, instantly heightening the tension. No one knew who fired the first shot, shattering the uneasy peace.

With negotiations rendered impossible, Shen’s men decided to go down fighting.

The sun began to rise over the snow-covered mountains. Zhao Yu dove forward, shielding Zhao Ping, but he couldn’t protect everyone.

Dai Ning glanced at Zhao An’an, who was trapped by the thugs. For the first time, she could clearly sense the little girl’s impending death. Such a small body, lying lifeless in the snow, would be colder than any snowman.

This time, it wouldn’t be Zhao’s parents sacrificing their lives—it was Zhao An’an’s turn.

“Miss Ji!” a bodyguard shouted.

Zhao Yu’s heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Dai Ning clutching Zhao An’an and rolling on the ground.

The black-faced man and the man in the blue coat reacted just as swiftly, saving Zhao’s parents.

With the hostages out of reach, the police gained the upper hand and wasted no time subduing the kidnappers.

“Drop your weapons! Hands on your heads!”

The chaos erupted suddenly and ended just as quickly.

Several of the ringleaders were killed, and the rest were disarmed and forced to kneel.

Zhao Yu exhaled deeply—it was finally over.

The sun bathed the mountain trail in light.

The silence was broken by a faint sobbing sound.

Everyone turned to see Zhao An’an crying.

“Wahhh… Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

Underneath the girl, a pool of blood stained the pristine snow red.

Zhao Yu’s heart went blank for a moment, his mind numbed. Time slowed, stretching unbearably long, as the sunlight chilled him to the bone.

He let go of Zhao Ping and stumbled toward Dai Ning, his head spinning. Kneeling by her side, his hands trembled as he picked her up.

Her red cape fanned out like the sole bloom in the wintry landscape.

Zhao Yu’s fingers shook as he cradled her in his arms.

The girl’s eyes were dim, her gaze vacant as she looked at the man before her.

“Zhao Yu… I don’t feel well.”

A bullet had lodged in her chest, and blood seeped out, mingling with the red of her dress and blooming against the snow.

Zhao Yu pressed on her wound, her blood soaking through his fingers. He was on the verge of losing his sanity. “I’ll take you to the hospital—right now. Hang on.”

Dai Ning’s weak fingers clutched at his shirt. “It hurts… Am I going to die?”

“You won’t die! I won’t let you die!” Zhao Yu shouted, his voice breaking.

He lifted her into his arms and ran down the snowy trail, Zhao An’an’s cries echoing in the background.

The policemen exchanged glances, some shaking their heads. Zhao Ping sat on the ground, dazed, tears streaming down his face after a long silence.

Zhao Yu had never known a road could feel so long.

Slippery, endless, and shrouded in darkness.

Only her warm blood against him kept him freezing with fear. He had never been so terrified. He ran desperately down the mountain, chanting in his mind: This can’t happen. This can’t happen.

Someone like Ji Dai Ning couldn’t possibly die.

Zhao Yu stumbled and fell, shielding her with his body. He knelt, clutching her protectively.

“Zhao Yu… it hurts so much,” she whimpered. “Don’t move. It’ll hurt more.”

A despair unlike any he’d known took over, his chest aching as though he were dying alongside her. He was so pained he couldn’t even speak, helpless to save her.

She, always so delicate and pampered, now barely had the strength to cry.

Dai Ning sobbed softly, “Zhao Yu… today’s my birthday.”

Zhao Yu clawed at the snow, his emotions unraveling. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes, falling onto her pale cheeks.

Her gaze grew dimmer.

“Zhao… Zhao Yu.”

“…Yes?”

“Between me and An’an, who’s cuter?”

Blood trickled from Zhao Yu’s lips as he spoke hoarsely, “You’re cuter.”

“And between me and her… who’s more important?”

He trembled uncontrollably. “You’re the most important.”

Every word was torture, like being carved alive. These questions, for him, were unbearably cruel.

Her body grew colder. No matter how tightly he held her, her warmth slipped away bit by bit.

The girl whispered faintly, “Liar. You must be relieved An’an is still alive.”

“I’m not lying. I love you. I love you… I always have. I always will.”

She no longer had the strength to reply. “I… I want to go home.”

“I’ll take you home.”

“Not with you.” Her voice faltered, her eyes losing focus. “Uncle Qian… will take me home. Don’t follow me. And don’t… don’t die with me. I’ve never loved you.”

Her hand slipped from his grasp as snowflakes landed softly on her porcelain face.

“Dai Dai… Dai Ning.” Zhao Yu’s voice cracked.

No one answered.

The snowstorm howled through the mountains as Zhao Yu held her tightly. For the first time, he tasted the agony of being worse than dead.

He murmured, “It’s okay if you don’t love me. Really, it’s okay.” His love for her was enough. She had always been so radiant and proud, never meant to be held back by anything in this world.

He took out a small agate tiger from his pocket and placed it in her hand.

She remained motionless, her lashes dusted with snowflakes, as beautiful as the day he first saw her.

Zhao Yu carried her step by step down the mountain, not knowing how long the journey took. It felt like a lifetime.

If only it truly were a lifetime.

In the years that followed, Zhao Yu couldn’t recall what the path looked like.

All he remembered was that he had loved a beautiful girl with every fiber of his being—and lost her so utterly it left him hollow.

That year, the snow fell heavier than ever, blanketing the mountains for an entire month.

It buried his love and his happiness forever.

He never inquired about her hometown, choosing instead to believe she was still living well somewhere out of his sight.

Zhao Yu would think of her from time to time, and when the pain became unbearable, he would deliberately try to forget her.

Later, Lan Rongrong brought him a candlestick.

It was the one he had bought on the night of Huan County’s traditional festival but had hesitated to give her.

Suddenly, a flood of memories about her came rushing back: the starlit nights on the threshing floor, her playful grumbles when she woke up hungry, and the way she pouted, acted spoiled, or threw little tantrums.

Dai Ning, does it still hurt?

Have you grown up now?

(End of Volume 1)