Tick-tock, tick-tock.

The heavy scent of gasoline filled the air.

The pungent smell overwhelmed everything else, strong and suffocating.

Shang Xinglu suddenly snapped back to her senses.

Her eyes hadn’t even opened yet, but she felt pain all over her body.

Her mouth was filled with the taste of rusted iron.

At that moment, someone patted her cheek.

“Wake up, wake up.”

It was Lin Heng’s voice.

Shang Xinglu opened her eyes, and the scene before her made her wish she could lose consciousness again.

Before the fall, she had already confirmed that the driver was dead.

Now, the bodyguard in the front seat had been flung forward, sprawled across the hood of the car, his waist trapped in the shattered windshield, motionless.

Shang Xinglu’s pupils contracted. Even though she didn’t scream, her expression was dazed.

Lin Heng’s face suddenly appeared in front of her.

Shang Xinglu instinctively raised her hand to shield herself, but Lin Heng caught her head, forcing her to look at him.

“Louise, it’s me. Stay calm.”

Lin Heng frowned, his expression serious. “We fell down, but it’s over now. We’re safe.”

Shang Xinglu slowly nodded.

Lin Heng continued, “But staying in the car is dangerous. The gas is leaking. We need to get out of here. Can you walk?”

In her state of extreme fear, Shang Xinglu finally found her voice.

She nodded again and said, “Mm… I can walk.”

Lin Heng nodded as well.

He released her.

Shang Xinglu unfastened her seatbelt.

Fortunately, it wasn’t jammed.

However, the car had fallen from a considerable height, and the doors were deformed from the impact. Lin Heng had to push, shove, and ram the door before he finally managed to force it open.

He helped Shang Xinglu out.

They were surrounded by dense forest, struggling down the steep slope, stumbling with each step.

Looking up—

The area above them was eerily quiet.

And the sky had already turned completely dark.

Even in summer, the forest was unnervingly cold. Shang Xinglu rubbed her arms, unsure if it was from fear or the chill—her skin was covered in goosebumps.

Not far away, Lin Heng was making a phone call.

She looked up again. The silence above seemed terrifying.

Lin Heng finished his call and walked over. Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but ask, “There was another car behind us. Why hasn’t anyone come down to look for us…?”

Lin Heng’s suit was still intact, though his face was smudged with dust. Surprisingly, his expression remained calm.

“If they haven’t come looking for us, it’s either because they’ve been held up, or…”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

Lin Heng put an arm around her. “I just made a call. Someone will be here soon.”

Shang Xinglu buried her face in his chest, frowning deeply.

“Aren’t you just a regular CEO? What the hell is going on…”

Given the situation, Lin Heng found her description of him as a ‘regular CEO’ somewhat amusing. After a moment of thought, he said, “Sometimes, when faced with enormous profits, competitors’ methods can be even darker and more despicable than you imagine.”

Shang Xinglu didn’t respond.

The two of them sat there in silence, staring at the stars.

No one spoke again.

The night deepened, and the darkness became absolute.

Shang Xinglu didn’t want to turn on her phone—bugs would be drawn to the light.

In fact, even without using her phone, she was already being swarmed by insects.

She couldn’t help but say, “I’ll definitely need to see a dermatologist when we get back.”

Lin Heng chuckled, but before he could reply, beams of flashlight light flickered in the distance.

They heard someone shouting, “Lin Heng—Shang Xinglu—!”

Shang Xinglu jumped to her feet.

“Someone’s here to rescue us!”

She started walking toward the light, but Lin Heng suddenly pulled her back.

At that moment, one of the flashlight beams briefly shone directly on them—then quickly shifted away.

Along with that beam came a muffled, short sound.

Lin Heng reacted instantly.

He grabbed Shang Xinglu, pulling her into his arms and turning his back to the direction of the sound.

Shang Xinglu’s vision spun as she was suddenly embraced. Almost simultaneously, she heard Lin Heng grunt in pain near her ear.

In the darkness, right before her eyes, she saw his brows furrow uncontrollably.

A wave of alarm surged through Shang Xinglu’s heart.

She didn’t dare make a sound, only frantically feeling around Lin Heng’s body.

When her hands reached just below his shoulder, Lin Heng let out another suppressed groan. Her palm was damp and hot.

Her heart clenched, as if the bullet had hit her instead.

The voices calling their names continued, and the rustling footsteps drew closer!

They quickly hid. Using the faint moonlight, they signaled to each other. Shang Xinglu kicked off her high heels, barefoot, as she silently led Lin Heng away.

The group found the crashed car and began inspecting it.

One of them cursed, “Are you sure you saw them?”

“I swear! I saw them just now! And…”

The voices faded as they moved further away.

Upon hearing this conversation, Shang Xinglu and Lin Heng suddenly realized something.

Almost simultaneously, they pulled out their phones, turned them off, and flung them as far as they could.

In the darkness, they pressed forward at a faster pace.

Lin Heng was still wearing trousers and leather shoes, so he was slightly better off. But Shang Xinglu was barefoot, wearing a dress. Even though she tore the hem of her skirt to make walking easier, going barefoot was excruciating.

After just a few steps, the rough ground covered in small stones formed blisters on her feet.

Before long, the blisters burst, and the stinging pain intensified.

Lin Heng, despite his injured shoulder, crouched down to carry her.

Shang Xinglu refused. “This is the outskirts, not the wilderness. We’ll see people soon. Walking in heels would be worse—going barefoot is nothing. I can manage.”

Yet, they walked for another full hour.

They climbed up a dirt slope, then followed a highway for a while. Gradually, they saw scattered houses. Continuing on, they reached a densely packed village.

Shang Xinglu spotted an elderly woman and asked, “Excuse me, is there a hotel nearby?”

The woman eyed her suspiciously.

Shang Xinglu, though dirty, still had exquisite makeup on. The torn dress revealed her fair, shapely legs.

The woman’s expression turned disdainful.

“You prostitutes are taking business here now?”

Shang Xinglu didn’t argue. She smiled. “You misunderstand. We were in a car accident on the highway. My husband is injured.” She gestured toward Lin Heng. “We’ve been waiting for a tow truck, but no one came. We can’t just sit out in the open all night, so we’re looking for a place to rest.”

The woman took a closer look.

Sure enough, Shang Xinglu had no shoes, and she had injuries.

Feeling awkward, the woman muttered, “Sorry, I misunderstood.”

After getting directions, Shang Xinglu also bought an old set of clothes from her.

When she returned, Lin Heng was leaning against a dusty wall, eyes closed.

Forcing a smile, Shang Xinglu said, “Look, I got us new clothes!”

Lin Heng attempted to raise his hand to touch her head but lost strength. He collapsed forward.

Shang Xinglu’s pupils shrank.

She caught him—barely.

Her palm felt his burning skin, and his sleeve was soaked in blood.

She needed to act fast.

Then, a thought struck her—she didn’t know anyone’s number.

Until suddenly, a number surfaced in her mind.

She dialed.

After a few rings, someone picked up.

A puzzled voice answered, “Hello?”

Shang Xinglu’s heart leaped.

“Shen Wang? Is that you?!”

Shen Wang quickly contacted Fang Liao. Due to the inaccurate location of the broken phone obtained by Shang Xinglu, it took an hour before the rescue arrived.

The unconscious Lin Heng was taken away by a black business car.

Shang Xinglu walked out of the guesthouse.

She watched the car with Lin Heng in it drive away, and her anxious heart finally settled. Shang Xinglu let out a sigh of relief.

Shen Wang quickly got out of the car, hung up the phone, and walked over to Shang Xinglu.

In the urgent situation, they hadn’t said much over the phone. Once Shen Wang knew her location, he immediately contacted Fang Liao and helped arrange the rescue.

It was only then that Shen Wang realized, “You must have been very anxious? You even called me.”

Shang Xinglu said, “Sorry for the trouble. At the time, I could only remember this number…”

“…That’s not what I meant.” Shen Wang paused in surprise, “I’m not blaming you.”

He just… found an unexpected sense of joy upon hearing Shang Xinglu’s answer.

Shen Wang didn’t want to admit that joy, so he stiffened his expression.

He then asked, “Are you okay?”

Shang Xinglu originally wanted to say that she was fine, but instead, a sound of pain escaped her lips. She gasped and realized her foot was in pain. She couldn’t even take a step, not even half a step.

Ignoring her foot for the moment, Shang Xinglu felt as though the stones had pierced through her flesh and embedded into her bones. The pain made her tears flow uncontrollably, and she curled up, collapsing to the ground.

Shen Wang was startled by her reaction. He hurriedly picked her up in a bridal carry, noticing the bruised and bloodied area on her foot. His heart tightened, and an unspoken anger flared up inside him. He shouted toward the busy crowd, “Quick, bring a wheelchair!”

The crowd froze.

Shen Wang frowned, shouting again, “Hurry up! Doctor!”

The paramedics finally rushed over.

The wheelchair was brought over.

It was pushed by Shang Xingyu, who had arrived as well.

Shang Xingyu took Shang Xinglu from Shen Wang.

Shen Wang hesitated for a moment. He had intended to say, “I’ll carry her to the car,” but Shang Xingyu, seemingly anticipating his intention, took Shang Xinglu from his arms firmly.

Shang Xingyu said, “Isn’t this inappropriate?”

Shen Wang frowned and stared at him.

Shang Xingyu continued, “Thank you for your help, but you and my sister are no longer related.”

After saying this, he didn’t even wait for the wheelchair; instead, he picked Shang Xinglu up and turned to leave.

Shen Wang stood there, watching them leave. In the chaotic street corner, the streetlights only illuminated one side of his face, making his expression appear especially dark and gloomy.

---

When Shang Xinglu woke up, she was already in the hospital.

It was quiet, and no one was around.

She didn’t feel very uncomfortable.

Looking down, she saw her feet wrapped in bandages, resembling two snow-white rice dumplings.

She didn’t feel like calling anyone.

Shang Xinglu stared at the drip, watching the medicine drop down, monotonous and repetitive. She just lay quietly on the bed.

Not long after, she grew tired of lying down… Her butt hurt.

At that moment, someone opened the door and walked in with a basket of fruit.

Shang Xingyu hurried over to her bed, “Sister!”

What was he so excited about?

Shang Xinglu glared at him, suddenly feeling too lazy to respond.

Shang Xingyu shouted again, “Sister! You’re finally awake!”

Although her younger brother was still as foolish as ever, Shang Xinglu could almost imagine him wagging his tail. But she just didn’t feel like talking.

The two siblings exchanged a few words.

Shang Xingyu rushed out, shouting as he went, “Doctor, my sister can’t speak anymore!”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

I can speak! Who says I can’t! This idiot!

For the next few days, Shang Xinglu’s consciousness was still a bit hazy.

Though her body wasn’t tired anymore, she felt like she hadn’t slept enough.

She spent most of her time sleeping, waking up to eat a little soft food, though not much, and her figure visibly became thinner.

Shang Xinglu lived like a pig in the hospital for a few days—sleeping, eating, and sleeping again.

Various tests were done repeatedly, and doctors explained to the family multiple times that her physical condition was fine.

Her inability to speak was likely not due to any physical problem.

They said all this while standing outside her room.

Shang Xinglu overheard.

Though she hadn’t tried, she felt she should be able to speak. She could walk now, though her feet were still wounded.

Standing on the ground caused pain, and after lying in bed for a long time, she felt weak and exhausted after walking a short distance. So she was reluctant to walk.

She understood now—she could walk, but she didn’t want to, and walking caused pain and fatigue. She just didn’t feel like speaking either—didn’t know what to say.

A few days later, the hospital had no more treatment options to offer.

Shang Xinglu was transferred to a private rehabilitation center, where she received three meals a day and saw a psychologist.

In the rehabilitation center, Shang Xinglu sat in a wheelchair, enjoying the air conditioning while basking in the sunlight through a glass window.

She watched the brightly blooming flowers in the garden, unmoving, as she herself was also still.

She suddenly realized that she had achieved her long-held life goal—to become a pig who did nothing.

But then, she realized something felt off.

Time seemed to slow down here.

She didn’t know how long she had been there. Normally, her younger brother, Shang Xingyu, would visit her at noon like clockwork, but today, he hadn’t come.

Her feet had begun healing, and every night she would itch terribly, though she couldn’t scratch. Shang Xinglu slept poorly.

After a lackluster lunch, Shang Xingyu still hadn’t come. Shang Xinglu thought to herself, “The world’s boss finally lost its value.”

After all, the material drop rate was just too terrible.

But that day, an unexpected visitor came to see her.

Lin Heng had arrived.

Since that night, Shang Xinglu hadn’t seen Lin Heng again.

At this moment, Lin Heng was sitting on the sofa in the rehabilitation center’s reception area, drinking tea. Despite it being summer, he still wore a suit, and his glasses rested on his nose—he didn’t have the pure scholar look, but instead an air of a refined bad boy.

Shang Xinglu’s feet had healed well enough. In addition to seeing a psychologist three times a day, she had been practicing walking.

When the nurse told her someone was visiting, Shang Xinglu thought it was her brother, Shang Xingyu. She gripped the handrail and hobbled into the lobby, and immediately saw Lin Heng.

Lin Heng had lost some weight.

Strangely enough, it didn’t affect his looks. It seemed that attractiveness truly lay in the bone, not the skin.

Shang Xinglu unceremoniously sat down in front of him.

Lin Heng’s gaze, originally focused on the garden, returned to Shang Xinglu. He scrutinized her carefully.

Then, he picked up his cup of tea and casually took a sip.

He said plainly, “You’ve lost weight.”

Shang Xinglu nodded.

Lin Heng asked, “How’s your foot?”

Shang Xinglu nodded again.

Lin Heng continued, “I’m better too. They wouldn’t let me leave the hospital before, but I just got out yesterday.”

It almost sounded like he had been in prison.

Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but laugh, a smile tugging at her lips.

Lin Heng seemed to see through her thoughts. He said, “Isn’t being in the hospital just like being in prison? You can’t do this or that, and you can’t eat this or that.”

Shang Xinglu nodded again.

Lin Heng fell silent for a moment.

Then, he asked, “Do you want to go out?”

Shang Xinglu thought for a moment. Then she thought some more.

Go out?

…What’s so good about going out?

It’s safe here. Why would she want to leave?

She firmly shook her head.

Lin Heng’s hand reached across the table. He took her hand, gently lifting her fingers, and then interlaced his fingers with hers.

Shang Xinglu unconsciously looked at him.

Lin Heng’s voice was soft, with a rare tenderness that resembled a lullaby, coaxing her to sleep.

“Tell me, what do you want?”

“…”

“Anything, I can give it to you.”

Something seemed to flash in Shang Xinglu’s eyes.

“What do you want? Say it out loud,” Lin Heng coaxed.

Shang Xinglu’s mouth opened and closed, then opened again.

She wanted to speak, but it was as if she had forgotten how. A strange, hoarse voice escaped her throat.

She quickly closed her mouth, her face turning red.

Lin Heng said, “It’s okay, just try a few more times. Keep going, it’s fine.”

Shang Xinglu opened her mouth again. The sound was still strange, but this time she didn’t stop immediately. She held her breath, trying several more times.

Her throat was tight, and it hurt.

But the sound gradually returned.

That strange, hoarse, unclear sound slowly became her voice and eventually turned into words.

Lin Heng kept encouraging her to speak.

Shang Xinglu gripped his hand tightly, staring into his eyes.

She said, “I… want a divorce.”

For the first time, Lin Heng’s usual soft expression froze on his face.

Shang Xinglu said it again. This time, her voice was clearer.

She said, “I want a divorce.”

Immediately, the rare softness in Lin Heng’s eyes disappeared, and the gentle words of comfort, his tenderness and thoughtfulness, all vanished.

No, it was more like it froze on his face and then slowly faded away.

Lin Heng took a slow breath.

Another breath.

His expression remained unchanged.

That face, which was handsome but cold and indifferent when not smiling, was facing Shang Xinglu.

Even though she was usually so cowardly, this time, she didn’t look away.

She didn’t care.

She wasn’t concerned.

Or maybe she regretted it, but the fear inside her pushed her to do it.

Lin Heng pulled his hand away.

At the moment their hands parted, it felt like the heat between them instantly disappeared.

Then Shang Xinglu heard Lin Heng’s response.

Lin Heng said, “Okay.”

“…”

“As long as you want, we can get a divorce.”

Then,

Shang Xinglu quietly nodded and fell silent again.