She loved him recklessly, willing to bear the scorn of the whole world and the heavy chains of morality, just to stand by his side. In that moment, he was the only one in her eyes; a single affirming glance from him, and she would walk through fire and water, without hesitation. Her heart felt as though it were roasting over a fire; she had never felt life to be such an ordeal, both wishing time would pass faster and slower. However, the verdict finally arrived. "Ji Lanyi, I have never loved you, not once. Let this thought die." In that moment, her world was apocalyptic, completely shattered and destroyed. She suddenly started laughing madly, tears streaming down her face, her laughter unsettling and ghostly against the backdrop of lightning. "Why, why do you treat me this way?" Her voice was so shrill and desperate, like a drowning person who could no longer grasp the last straw, helplessly watching their body being engulfed by the torrent, powerless to stop it. "So, we are incestuous, you’re not my husband, but my own brother, brother, brother..." she cried out repeatedly, her calls strangely unnerving and unsettling. "Hahaha... no wonder your son was born a deaf-mute, no wonder your daughter is so clever it’s nearly pathological, no wonder she... it’s all retribution, all retribution..." Those eyes that once loved him most now brimmed with boundless hatred and decisive madness. He watched quietly, as his heart sank into the abyss. Stumbling out of the study, a small silhouette stood quietly in the shadow of the door. She walked towards the girl, grabbing the hem of her skirt, "Mommy...." The little girl instinctively afraid, yet she tried to be strong, wanting to give her mother comfort. Ji Lanyi suddenly reached out and grabbed the girl’s neck, so delicate that she could break it effortlessly... "You should never have existed in this world. If I had known, I should have strangled you the moment you were born. The blood flowing through your veins is the filthiest thing in the world..." The woman’s voice was cold and mocking, imprinted in the girl’s heart on this torrential rainy night. The little girl didn’t cry or make a fuss, but just looked at her with clear, wide eyes. Reflected in those eyes was the deepest ugliness of this world. As if stung by such a gaze, Ji Lanyi suddenly withdrew her hand, and the girl fell hard to the ground. She passed by the girl without looking back, disappearing into the rainy night, and from then on, she vanished from her life. She would always remember Ji Lanyi’s last silhouette, lightning tearing through the skies, pale and staggering... The proud woman who never bowed her head, now fleeing headlong, without choosing her path... Life was divided into two stages: before Ji Lanyi’s disappearance, and after. Ji Lanyi was strict with her, but those days were peaceful; after Ji Lanyi vanished, her life changed forever. She went away, and that was the end of it. But all the pain had to be borne by her and Miaomiao. Why... If I am filthy, then what are you, who created me? Yun Ya slowly opened her eyes, her consciousness slightly muddled for a moment. That dream again, the rainy night. "You’re awake?" A surprised voice sounded by her ear. Yun Ya turned slightly to see the happy smile of a young man, his vibrant eyes looking at her with amazement. "Yan Ke? Why are you here?" The moment she woke up, the strong smell of disinfectant told her she was in a hospital. She just hadn’t expected to see Yan Ke. Yan Ke blinked: "What, you don’t want to see me? Hmph, do you know how worried I was about you, I didn’t sleep well all night! Heartless... hmph, I’m not going to bother with you anymore." The young man turned his head away. Yun Ya smiled and reached for his sleeve: "I’m sorry, is that not enough? Yan Ke, my little brother, can you forgive me?" Yan Ke glanced at her from the corner of his eye: "Hmph, I’ll forgive you this time, seeing as your attitude is good." Yan Ke didn’t press further and immediately asked: "Do you feel discomfort anywhere? I’ll call the doctor right now." Fresh chapters posted on NoveI~Fire.net Yun Ya smiled and shook her head, sitting up in bed. Yan Ke rushed to support her and placed a soft pillow behind her, but Yun Ya threw off the covers and got out of bed. Yan Ke grabbed her: "Sister Yun Ya, you are not to get out of bed. The doctor said you have anemia and must rest."