Chapter 3: He Wants Me to Die
That day, I passed out from the pain.
Six days before the incident, when I woke up, it was already daylight.
After the rain, the sunshine was pleasant. I struggled to get up from the ground, noticing the dried blood between my legs.
“Min Yu, I’m so scared. What should we do? What should we do?”
In the living room, Bai Yuan was crying. She kept trembling, saying she was being stalked by a murderer.
She was afraid of dying.
“Min Yu, we checked the surveillance footage. It’s true that Sister Bai Yuan is being followed. Should we call the police?”
“No… Min Yu, don’t call the police. This murderer is brutal and targets young women. The police have already found six bodies but haven’t caught him. If we provoke him…”
Bai Yuan shook her head in fear, refusing to report it to the police.
“Yuan Yuan, don’t be scared.” Fu Min Yu held Bai Yuan, gently comforting her.
He wasn’t incapable of being gentle; he just never showed me an ounce of that gentleness.
I stood there awkwardly and stiffly. It was neither appropriate to leave nor stay.
“Sister Bai Yuan, what were you wearing when you walked through the Hongtong alley yesterday?” Min Yu’s close friend Zhang Ze asked.
“A red dress.” Bai Yuan answered and glanced at me. “Xi Xi…”
I didn’t respond, turning my gaze away. My legs trembled as I walked to the kitchen, trying to get something to eat.
“Min Yu, I have an idea to lure the murderer out. After we catch him, we can report it to the police to avoid any mistakes and prevent him from retaliating against Sister Bai Yuan. This way, we can ensure safety.” Zhang Ze looked at Fu Min Yu.
Fu Min Yu nodded. “Tell me your plan.”
“Find a woman, have her wear Sister Bai Yuan’s dress, and go to the Hongtong alley at night. We’ll lure him out. The area is surrounded by cameras; we’ll keep watch, and nothing will happen.” Zhang Ze suggested.
Fu Min Yu frowned. “What kind of stupid idea is that? Are you going to send your girlfriend?”
Bai Yuan’s eyes landed on me again, and she softly asked, “Xi Xi, you don’t look well. Are you okay?”
“Why do you care about her? She almost killed you, yet you’re still concerned about her.” Fu Min Yu held Bai Yuan tighter, his tone filled with disgust.
My hand, holding the kettle, froze, and the pain in my chest spread through my entire body.
“Let her go! She almost killed Sister Bai Yuan; she owes her. Let her go to repay the debt!”
“Yeah! Let Cheng Xi go. Cheng Xi and Sister Bai Yuan do look somewhat alike. Let her go!”
I panicked and looked at Fu Min Yu, hoping to hear him reject the idea.
He knew I was afraid of the dark; how could he let me go to such a desolate place at night…
Fu Min Yu hesitated for a moment, then looked at me coldly. After a while, he finally spoke. “You owe Yuan Yuan, and you must repay her.”
With one sentence, he pushed me into the abyss.
My fingers went numb, and the cup filled with hot water slipped from my hand, spilling all over the back of my hand.
The scalding water felt like nothing.
Ten years—after ten years, I still couldn’t warm this man’s heart.
But Bai Yuan could easily have it.
“I’m not going…” I refused. There was no way I’d gamble with my life.
“Min Yu, don’t force Xi Xi…” Bai Yuan’s eyes reddened. “Xi Xi didn’t push me down the stairs on purpose.”
“Stop defending her!” Fu Min Yu suddenly snapped.
Even Bai Yuan was startled.
He stood up and stormed toward me.
I shook my head in fear. “Fu Min Yu, I’m not going!”
“It’s not up to you!” Fu Min Yu was determined to send me.
“Our people will be watching; you won’t die.” Fu Min Yu seemed to be reassuring me.
I lowered my head, tears burning my eyes.
“Once you’ve repaid what you owe Yuan Yuan, I’ll consider that you’ve made amends. I won’t hold anything against you anymore.” He lowered his voice, as if offering me hope.
And I, foolishly, believed him. “You’ll really… guarantee my safety?”
“Of course,” Fu Min Yu replied impatiently.
“Fu Min Yu, I don’t owe Bai Yuan anything. But after we catch the murderer, will you agree to one thing?” I looked at him with despair.
I wasn’t bargaining with him; I just had something to tell him.
“Don’t push your luck,” Fu Min Yu’s face darkened instantly.
I lowered my head and said nothing more.
Living in the Fu household, I had always been dependent on others. I loved him, but I feared him too.
“Fine… I’ll go.” I agreed. “Consider it repayment for saving me all those years ago.”
I handed my life over to Fu Min Yu.
Once this was over, I would ask to break off the engagement and give him his freedom. I would leave the Fu family and go abroad forever.
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