"ShuYi, it's still early. Let's chat for a bit."
Lee Tian pulled a chair over and sat down, a slight smile on his lips as he fixed his gaze on Han ShuYi.
"Aren't you curious why I went after you?"
"Not really. The Han family has pushed you too hard. Honestly, I've been on guard against you since school started."
ShuYi didn't bother to lie; he stated it plainly, and his frankness left Lee Tian momentarily stunned. But then, with a clap of his hands, Lee Tian burst into laughter.
"Well, well! You're certainly thorough, but you're still a step behind. But truthfully, I had no intention of kidnapping you."
Lee Tian's words made ShuYi's brows knit tighter. He scrutinized Lee Tian's face, searching for any hint of deception. But Lee Tian's expression remained unchanging, making it seem it was the truth.
This puzzled ShuYi even more. If he wasn't the target, then who was?
Seeing ShuYi's confused look, Lee Tian couldn't help but smile, fully aware of the terrifying scope of HuMing's actions. Without Yu YueLuo's warning, he would've died without understanding what was happening.
Leaning closer, Lee Tian's smile grew sly as he spoke.
"You're not the one I want---Han HuMing is."
At the mention of that name, ShuYi froze in shock.
He hadn't imagined that Lee Tian's real target would be HuMing. But why? As far as he knew, HuMing hadn't done anything to Lee Tian recently. In fact, he'd only embarrassed HuMing at a banquet not too long ago.
"It's no surprise you don't know why. After all, you have no idea what he's been up to. But once you do, you'll be afraid---afraid that he'll take everything from you, leaving you with nothing."
Lee Tian's words were like a siren call, a dangerous allure pulling ShuYi in. But what he didn't realize was that even without his persuasion, ShuYi already wished HuMing would disappear from this world.
Lee Tian chuckled softly as he looked at ShuYi, then dialed Zhou WenLi's number.
The call connected quickly.
"Lee Tian, what do you want?!"
"What do I want? Zhou WenLi, it's simple. I only want one thing from you---a person."
On the other end, Zhou WenLi froze, her entire body paralyzed as if struck by lightning, her eyes widening in shock.
She couldn't believe it---Lee Tian actually wanted HuMing!
"What are you planning? What exactly do you want to do?"
Zhou WenLi was unwilling to comply, but if she didn't, ShuYi wouldn't make it back alive.
"You don't need to worry about what I'm planning. All you need to know is that if you want Han ShuYi to return safely, send Han HuMing to the address I give you next. Otherwise, you'll soon receive your son's corpse."
With those chilling words, Lee Tian hung up.
Zhou WenLi's phone slipped from her hands and fell to the floor. She slumped onto the sofa, her face pale as death.
The situation she faced now was of her own making.
She had pushed the Lee family too hard, forcing Lee Tian to go to any length to take ShuYi.
But now, Lee Tian was demanding HuMing in exchange for ShuYi. And HuMing---he was the child she had raised for more than ten years.
In anguish, Zhou WenLi buried her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
What she didn't know was that HuMing was standing at the corner, silently watching her despair.
Kang Xin whispered softly, her gaze also directed at Zhou WenLi.
She had to admit that before ShuYi returned, Zhou WenLi had been the one who cared the most for HuMing in this family.
She'd poured all her love into him, defending him no matter what mistakes he made. But everything had changed the moment Han ShuYi appeared.
At this point, Zhou WenLi indeed bore undeniable responsibility for how things had developed. If she had made more rational choices between the two children, perhaps HuMing wouldn't have considered leaving this family.
This was the conclusion Kang Xin came to after thinking deeply.
HuMing had always encouraged her to think for herself; to form her own views---and this was the result of that growth.
HuMing remained silent in place before he suddenly turned to Kang Xin with a question.
"Kang Xin, if it were you at this moment, what would you do?"
"Do you really want me to answer?"
"I would accept it voluntarily as it won't change the final outcome."
"Because the Han family has raised me for so many years, and I want to be the one to sever that bond myself."
HuMing slowly turned to look at Kang Xin, observing how she had evolved---from passively following his commands to forming her own ideas, and now, to making independent decisions.
He felt that his time in the Han family hadn't been wasted.
"Then go ahead and handle it as you see fit. Consider it your reward," HuMing said softly.
He then walked toward Zhou WenLi, while Kang Xin quietly stepped back, disappearing into the darkness.
When Zhou WenLi looked up, she saw HuMing standing in the light, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Mom, I heard everything just now."
Zhou WenLi shook her head and clutched his hand tightly, her voice trembling.
"No, I can't let you go."
"But if I don't, Han ShuYi will die, won't he?"
"Then let's ask your father; he'll know what to do!"
"What if Dad's being watched? Lee Tian wouldn't be foolish enough not to plan for that."
At that moment, Zhou WenLi felt on the verge of breaking down. HuMing picked up her phone, still glowing with the address displayed on the screen.
"Let me handle this. I'll bring ShuYi back."
"HuMing, don't act recklessly."
"Mom, do you remember what I once told you?"
"I'll repay your favor."
With that, HuMing gently set down the phone and turned to leave.
Zhou WenLi watched his departing figure, feeling an emptiness in her heart as though someone had torn her heart out. Some things, once lost, never come back.
HuMing pulled a motorcycle from the garage. Although riding without a license was against the rules, but meh, following rules was never his style.
Kang Xin emerged with a helmet in hand, looking first at HuMing, then back at the villa where they had both lived for over a decade.
This parting would likely be for a while.
Taking the helmet from her hands, HuMing gestured to the sole of his shoe.
"I'm leaving it up to you to make the decisions later, Kang Xin. I trust you completely."
"Young Master, please be careful."
"Don't worry. Your young master is a monster, after all."
He wore the helmet, revved the motorcycle's engine, and soon disappeared from her view.
By the floor-to-ceiling window, Zhou WenLi leaned against the glass, closing her eyes in pain.
Sensing a presence, Kang Xin looked in Zhou WenLi's direction before turning away and leaving.