paranormal★ 0

Total Control

👁 0 reads·22 min read

“Niannian, I can’t pay back the loan sharks. Remember that accident insurance you bought? Disability claims pay out too,” my boyfriend said, his tone half-joking.

I stared at him in terror.

Zhou Ci bit down on a cigarette and let out a reckless laugh. “Just messing with you. Don’t take it seriously.”

But I knew in my heart—he wasn’t joking at all.

Zhou Ci was a middleman who trafficked people to Maichuan, and he’d already set his sights on me.

“Watch out for that boyfriend of yours. He’s bad news.”

When I got that call, I brushed it off as a prank. “I’ve got the National Anti-Fraud app on my phone,” I said carelessly, then hung up.

The phone rang again. I was about to snap, but then I realized it wasn’t mine ringing.

“Zhou Ci, your phone’s going off,” I called toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water must have drowned me out.

When the call dropped, the caller tried again persistently. Worried it might be urgent, I answered.

“Brother Zhou, is Su Nian taken care of yet? Maichuan’s pushing hard—they’re short on hearts and corneas.”

A thunderclap hit me, and before I could process it, Zhou Ci snatched the phone from my hand. He frowned, his tone displeased. “What kind of joke is that? You scared Niannian.”

The other person laughed and apologized to me. “Sorry, sis, just a joke. A joke, I swear. I’m throwing a party at the bar tonight and wanted to invite you both.”

Zhou Ci said “We’ll go” and hung up. He teased me, “What, you didn’t actually believe that, did you?”

I felt a little embarrassed.

Zhou Ci and I had met at a banquet. After he pursued me passionately, we ended up together.

That night, at our usual spot.

Zhou Ci took my hand and led me upstairs.

“Sis is here!” Fatty greeted me, an arm around his new girlfriend. He’d changed partners again.

I wondered how Zhou Ci ended up hanging around thugs like this.

They didn’t look like decent people at all.

Zhou Ci lit a cigarette, smoke curling up and blurring the outline of his profile.

He never smoked around me, but with these guys, he was like a completely different person.

I felt like something was slipping past me.

“I’m going out for some air.”

Zhou Ci asked, “Want me to come with?”

“No need.”

I leaned against the railing on the terrace, replaying that phone call in my head. It made me uneasy for no reason.

How could Fatty have been so sure I’d answer? What if Zhou Ci had picked up?

“Hey, hey.”

Lost in thought, I heard someone whispering to me.

It was Fatty’s new girlfriend.

She glanced around, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me into an empty booth.

Seeing how secretive she was, I asked, “Do you need something?”

Her eyes reddened instantly. “Sis, those guys are human traffickers. They sell women to Maichuan. We need to get out of here, now.”

“How do you know that?” My voice trembled uncontrollably.

Before she could say more, I caught a glimpse of Zhou Ci through the glass door.

He stood at the entrance, expressionless, his dark eyes utterly cold. He stubbed out his cigarette, walked in, and took me away.

Fatty went into the booth after that.

The bar was too noisy for me to hear clearly, but I thought I caught the sound of a girl getting hit.

Zhou Ci led me back to our booth. Everyone’s eyes were on me.

I grabbed a beer bottle, smashed it on the table, and pointed the jagged glass at Zhou Ci. “Who the hell are you?!”

Zhou Ci looked stunned. “Niannian, what are you doing?”

“I got a call from the police, and Fatty’s girlfriend told me everything.”

Hearing that, Zhou Ci smirked and gestured for me to look outside.

Fatty was all over his girlfriend, and Gu Xiao’s face showed no trace of the fear she’d had moments ago.

Fatty rubbed his nose, looking sheepish. “Sorry, sis. That call you got today was from my girlfriend. We were playing Truth or Dare and lost. It was their stupid idea—my bad, really.”

Zhou Ci’s crew all chimed in with apologies.

I didn’t buy Fatty’s story. I turned to Gu Xiao. “Is he telling the truth?”

“It’s true. I’m sorry.” Her face carried a hint of guilt, like she thought the game had gone too far.

I slowly set the bottle down. Something felt off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Zhou Ci pulled me into his arms. “Scared?”

I forced a smile. “Don’t ever play games like that again.”

Zhou Ci immediately swore he’d never do it again.

When the party broke up, Zhou Ci drove me home. “Niannian, my mom wants to meet you. I booked tickets for tomorrow.”

“But I haven’t prepared anything.”

Zhou Ci stopped at a red light, flicked my forehead gently, and said, “Leave it to me.”

“Alright. I’ll let my dad know.”

I called my dad. “Sweetheart, missing your old man?”

The noise of a mahjong parlor came through.

“Dad, you’re playing mahjong again. It’s late—why aren’t you home?”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say. I’m wrapping up.” I heard him tell his buddies they were done and to meet up tomorrow. “Sweetheart, what’s up with the sudden call?”

“I’m going to City A tomorrow to visit Zhou Ci’s parents. Just letting you know so you don’t worry if you can’t reach me.”

My dad chuckled. “Where in City A do Zhou Ci’s parents live?”

I leaned lazily against the seat and tilted my head. “Where do your parents live in City A?”

Zhou Ci kept one hand on the wheel. “Huai County, City A.”

I froze.

Huai County?!

That’s where my mom was kidnapped by traffickers years ago. And Zhou Ci’s hometown was there…

My dad went silent. I knew he was thinking about Mom again.

“Dad, I’m not going. I…”

“Nonsense. That was an accident. You can’t avoid meeting Zhou Ci’s parents forever.”

He left me with a “Stay safe” and hung up.

Zhou Ci noticed my mood shift. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it.

The next day, Zhou Ci and I got up early and arrived in Huai County by ten.

“Uncle, Auntie, these are gifts for you.”

Zhou’s mother said, “Thank you.”

Zhou’s father added, “Come in, sit.”

I thought they were a little too “polite,” like they weren’t really family.

Zhou Ci, while they cooked, wrapped an arm around my waist. “I was raised by my grandma, so I’m not that close to them.”

Ah, that explained it.

I placed my hand over his. “You’ve got me now.”

At dinner, Zhou Ci’s parents barely spoke. The table was quiet.

After a while, they seemed to realize it was awkward.

“Niannian, what did you study?”

“Auntie, I majored in chemistry with a minor in psychology. I’m a therapist now.”

Zhou’s parents exchanged a glance.

“Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

That night.

I couldn’t sleep. I put on my clothes to take a walk and accidentally overheard Zhou Ci talking to his “parents” in the hallway.

Zhou’s mother said, “Why’d you bring her here? Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for her.”

Zhou Ci took a drag of his cigarette, his tone vicious. “None of your business. Just play your part. If Su Nian finds out who you really are, I’ll kill you.”

*Thud.* I accidentally knocked over a succulent.

In the next second, Zhou Ci flipped on the light, flooding the hallway.

“Niannian, you shouldn’t have come out.” He frowned slightly.

Zhou’s mother said, “Zhou Ci, since she knows, why don’t we just…”

Zhou Ci stubbed out his cigarette, his half-smile chilling. “You think you could replace her?”

With that, he took my hand and led me back to the room. He opened the window, and the night wind rushed in, biting cold.

I spoke first. “Zhou Ci, was your pursuit of me planned from the start?”

Zhou Ci dropped the act, sneering. “You already know, don’t you, Niannian?”

“Alright. Get some rest.”

There was no way I could sleep in such danger, but somehow, drowsiness crept over me.

Just before I lost consciousness, I caught a glimpse of the incense on the table.

The road to Maichuan was rough. When I woke up, I heard crying. In the dim container, I couldn’t see clearly.

“Sis, you’re awake.”

It was Gu Xiao, Fatty’s girlfriend.

“Where is this?” I already knew the answer, but I needed confirmation.

Gu Xiao gave a bitter smile. “We’re on our way to Maichuan. I’m sorry, sis, I lied to you. I couldn’t take Fatty’s beatings anymore, so I helped them trick you. That call wasn’t from me.”

She started crying on me.

I felt no sympathy for her.

I peered through a gap in the container. The truck drove for over three hours before stopping. When the doors opened, I saw two burly guards.

“Move it, hurry up!”

Some girls were too scared to get out and were yanked down, hitting the ground. “Get up!”

The commotion caught Zhou Ci’s attention. He looked over.

“What’s going on?”

The guard glanced at the girl on the ground dismissively. “Just dragging their feet.”

Zhou Ci exhaled smoke and walked toward me. “Niannian, if you cooperate, I won’t hurt you.”

I shot back sarcastically, “Cooperate how? Hand over my heart or donate my corneas?”

Zhou Ci’s face turned cold. “Mr. Fu is coming tonight. If you can please him, you’ll live.”

I wanted to kill Zhou Ci. I knew he was scum, but I never imagined he’d sink this low.

“Well, thanks for that. First thing after I climb the ladder, I’m coming for you.”

“Su Nian!” Zhou Ci glared at me. “This isn’t home. If you want to die, just say the word, and I’ll send you off.”

*Slap!* My palm stung. “Zhou Ci, you played me and sold me here. Just wait—it’s either you or me!”

Fatty saw this and strolled over with a smirk. “Brother Zhou, you’re pathetic. Getting slapped by a woman. How embarrassing.”

“Get lost!”

We were all locked in a damp, dark basement. From the guards, I learned Mr. Fu was coming that night.

I’m a therapist.

From their expressions, I could tell they respected—no, feared—this Mr. Fu.

To survive, I threw myself into standing out. Eventually, I was chosen to serve Mr. Fu.

The night was quiet.

Lying in bed, I could hear my own heartbeat.

The door opened from outside.

He sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette. The faint glow flickered in the dark.

I threw off the covers and got up. In the darkness, I couldn’t see his face, but I felt the pressure of his presence.

I stood obediently beside Mr. Fu.

“Turn on the light.”

His voice was beautiful. I felt like I’d heard it somewhere before. I didn’t dawdle—I hurried to the door and flicked the switch.

*Click.* The room flooded with light.

I was stunned.

“Uncle?!”

The words barely left my mouth when Fu Beiyan’s gaze fell on me.

His dark eyes were deep as a frozen lake, sharp as a blade. “Who brought you here?”

I hadn’t even processed that my uncle was the revered Mr. Fu of Maichuan.

Fu Beiyan was my dad’s friend. I should’ve called him “big brother,” but my dad, after too much to drink, insisted I call him “uncle.”

Back then, we both made the same ugly face.

I was annoyed at being demoted a generation.

I guessed Fu Beiyan thought it made him sound old.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

I shook my head frantically. “Zhou Ci trafficked me here. There are other women my age too. You’re not with them, are you, Uncle?”

I asked cautiously.

Fu Beiyan stood up, walked over, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear with his slender fingers. “Kids shouldn’t worry about so much. Get some rest.”

He turned to leave.

I grabbed him from behind, calling out softly, “Uncle.”

I felt him tense up.

His voice carried a strange hoarseness. “Let go.”

“Uncle, are you going to abandon me again?”

“Su Nian, do you even know what you’re doing?”

The next morning, I came out of Fu Beiyan’s room and went downstairs to find Zhou Ci and Fatty.

“Su Nian, didn’t think you had it in you. You actually latched onto Mr. Fu.”

Fatty’s words dripped with mockery. In their eyes, even if I stayed in the villa, I was just Mr. Fu’s plaything to toy with.

I deliberately showed the marks on my collarbone. “Zhou Ci went to all that trouble to set me up. How could I disappoint him?”

Zhou Ci’s face darkened.

I stepped closer to him and lowered my voice. “Remember what I said? The day I climb the ladder is the day you die.”

Fu Beiyan came downstairs in a black shirt and black trousers, sleeves rolled up. “What are you all talking about?”

I walked over and linked my arm through his, acting coy. He glanced at me, his eyes flickering, but he said nothing.

“Mr. Fu, have some coffee.”

“Mr. Fu, try these grapes.”

Fu Beiyan took my hand and sat me down. “Stop fooling around.”

His indulgent tone carried a hint of resignation. Zhou Ci and Fatty exchanged looks, both in disbelief.

Was this gentle man… Mr. Fu?

I said “Oh” and sat obediently on the sofa. Fu Beiyan pushed the fruit plate toward me and turned to Zhou Ci, his warmth fading. “Speak.”

Zhou Ci’s hands clenched at his sides. “Mr. Fu…”

He glanced at me, the implication clear.

I arched a pretty eyebrow and cooed at Mr. Fu, “Guess I’m in the way here. I’ll just leave.”

Fu Beiyan rubbed his temples, grabbed my wrist, and said, “Sit and eat your fruit.”

He nodded at Zhou Ci. “From now on, no need to hide things from Niannian.”

Zhou Ci disagreed but had no choice but to comply. “Fine.

“We brought in a lot of people from the Capital this time, including some med and chem students. If we can use them, that’d be ideal.”

Fu Beiyan lit a cigarette. Behind the haze, his eyes seemed to be calculating. After a moment, he nodded slowly. “Keep the compliant ones. Send the rest away.”

My grip on the fruit fork turned white. All night, I’d been convincing myself that my uncle couldn’t possibly be in this business—that there must be a misunderstanding.

But hearing them talk now, I couldn’t deny it anymore.

I hated traffickers more than anything. When I was little, my mom was sold to Maichuan. By the time they found her, her organs had been stripped.

Fu Beiyan didn’t restrict my freedom, but I couldn’t leave the villa without a tail.

That day, Zhou Ci took me to the Maichuan market. I acted interested in everything, but I was really scouting the area.

Zhou Ci dropped his cigarette butt and crushed it. “Su Nian, drop your little schemes. You’re not getting out of here.”

I ignored him. “Idiot.”

Zhou Ci was furious. “You!”

I walked into a dress shop. “Ma’am, can I see that cheongsam?”

The shopkeeper, sizing up my clothes, smiled and handed it over. “Of course, miss.”

I took the dress toward the fitting room. Zhou Ci tried to follow.

“Are you crazy? I’m changing clothes—you’re coming in? Want me to call Mr. Fu and ask if he’s okay with that?”

Zhou Ci checked his watch. “Five minutes. If you’re not out, I’m coming in myself.”

I opened the fitting room door. A woman covered my mouth and whispered, “I’m the officer who contacted you before. We’ll get you safely back home soon.”

The police?

“You’re the one who warned me about Zhou Ci?”

The officer nodded. “Yes. We’ve got a solid plan to take down this criminal ring.”

“Let me pass messages for you.”

I saw the surprise in her eyes. Who would willingly stay in this hellhole? I explained:

“My mom was trafficked to Maichuan years ago. They gutted her for organs.”

The officer hesitated. “These people aren’t just traffickers. Staying would be incredibly dangerous.”

“Su Nian, are you done?” Zhou Ci’s impatient voice came from outside.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

“Stay safe. Here’s a phone. Contact us anytime if something comes up.”

I hummed in acknowledgment and yelled toward the door, “Yeah, yeah, quit rushing me!”

I pushed the door open. Zhou Ci glanced suspiciously into the room. My heart was in my throat, but when he didn’t find anyone, I breathed again.

“What are you looking at? Pay up.”

Zhou Ci reluctantly paid.

Back at the villa, the sky turned gray. A storm was brewing.

I stood on the second floor, hearing screams not far off. My nails dug into the window frame until Fu Beiyan came up beside me.

“Scared?”

I nodded honestly. “Scared. Terrified.”

He laughed, a wildness in his eyes I’d never seen before.

*Knock, knock.* “Mr. Fu, I need to speak with you.” It was Zhou Ci.

“Got it.”

Fu Beiyan said gently, “Get some rest.”

“Don’t go. I’m scared.” I tugged his sleeve, not letting him leave.

Fu Beiyan sighed and took me along. Zhou Ci was used to it by now. He opened his mouth to say something but held back.

“Mr. Fu, those top students I mentioned before have all agreed.”

“Good. Make the arrangements.”

Zhou Ci hesitated. Fu Beiyan shot him a look. “Spit it out.”

Zhou Ci said, “Mr. Fu, the N9 batch has hit a critical point, but it won’t solidify. If this drags on, we’ll miss the deadline.”

I watched my uncle’s expression carefully. For once, he looked troubled.

“Uncle, I studied chemistry. Maybe I can help.”

The moment I spoke, Zhou Ci shot it down. “No way.”

“Why not?”

“Su Nian, you were kidnapped. Days ago, you said you’d kill me. Now you want to help? You’re probably up to something. Mr. Fu, don’t trust her.”

I knew earning their trust wouldn’t be easy.

“Then how do I prove myself?”

Zhou Ci thought for a moment. “Simple. Someone needs a heart and corneas. If you personally harvest both from a living person, we’ll believe you. Deal?”

My heart lurched. That bastard Zhou Ci!

I looked at Fu Beiyan. He said nothing. I knew if I didn’t agree now, I’d never get inside.

“Fine.”

Under their skeptical stares, I faked calm, not letting them see my nerves.

Zhou Ci sneered. He didn’t believe a woman who couldn’t even kill a chicken could suddenly change so much.

He led me to a medical room. Harsh white lights blazed down on the bed, where a pale-faced woman lay—Gu Xiao!

The surgeon who should have been operating stood still, clearly under orders.

Zhou Ci shoved a scalpel into my hand, a smirk on his lips. “Get to it. What’s wrong? Don’t want to be one of us? Or are you really a police plant?”

The moment he said it, everyone in the room fixed their eyes on me.

In this line of work, they’d rather kill a hundred innocents than let one slip.

“Zhou Ci, you keep calling me a plant. Maybe you’re the real one?”

Zhou Ci raised his hand to hit me. I lifted my chin. “Go ahead. Hit me. Let’s see how Mr. Fu reacts.”

His face twitched with rage, but he didn’t dare. He dropped his hand.

“Hurry up. Stop stalling.”

He sat down, determined to watch me the whole time.

I looked down at the scalpel in my hand, my fingers trembling.

Two voices screamed in my head:

*Use the knife to kill Zhou Ci!*

*No! That’ll get everyone killed.*

I hesitated. Zhou Ci clicked his tongue in annoyance, lit a cigarette, and grabbed my hand to force the cut.

He was insane!

Surgery required a sterile environment, and he was smoking in here. He didn’t care at all.

I gripped the scalpel. Zhou Ci read my mind. “If you want to kill me, you’d better aim well. Haven’t you heard? ‘Bad weeds grow tall.’”

The blade was about to fall.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Stop. Let her go.”

At my uncle’s voice, my legs nearly gave out.

Zhou Ci and I turned. “Mr. Fu, the surgery hasn’t even started yet. Why…”

My uncle said nothing, gesturing for us to follow him out.

Still shaken, he comforted me gently. “That scared you, didn’t it? Go rest. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the lab.”

I lay in bed, confused. Why did he suddenly trust me?

Was it because of my dad? Or did he think I’d never report him?

Something about my uncle’s expression earlier felt off,

but I couldn’t figure out what.

My head started to ache, and I drifted off.

When I woke up, it was the next day.

I went downstairs to find Zhou Ci waiting. “You’re a pig—you slept for a whole day and night!”

I glanced at the clock. Sure enough, a day had passed.

“What do you want?”

Zhou Ci gave me a look before speaking slowly. “Su Nian, I always knew you were a quick learner. I just didn’t know you were such a good actress.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“What do you mean?”

Zhou Ci didn’t notice my panic. “You and Mr. Fu are uncle and niece. I almost got the wrong idea.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, but something still felt heavy.

Had he kept Zhou Ci behind last night just to say that?

Curious, I asked directly, “Is that all Uncle talked to you about last night?”

Since he already knew nothing happened between my uncle and me that night, and I’d faked the marks myself, I didn’t need to keep up the “Mr. Fu” act.

“Of course not. He also told me something shocking. Su Nian, you were born for this business.”

“What’s that supposed to be? Spit it out.”

“Come on. I’ll show you.”

When I saw the actual lab, I understood what my uncle had been doing all these years.

Fatty spotted us and came over to greet us. “Brother Zhou, Miss Su.”

He used to covet my heart and corneas. Now he was respectful.

Zhou Ci read my mind. “Since you’re one of us now, you deserve respect.”

If I didn’t know Zhou Ci better, I might’ve believed him.

In the lab, I saw some of the women trafficked with me.

They were gaunt, with dark circles under their eyes—clearly sleep-deprived.

Zhou Ci had a few supervisors brief me on the problem.

“The solidification issue is easy to fix.”

Zhou Ci raised an eyebrow. “Don’t talk big. These are experts in the field. If they can’t do it, how can you?”

“Experts? More like experts at earning a life sentence.”

The moment I said it, everyone, including Zhou Ci, changed color.

“Niannian, watch your mouth. Mr. Fu is back home. No one’s here to protect you.”

I fiddled with a glass dish. “If you could kill me, you’d have done it by now.”

Zhou Ci gritted his teeth but didn’t act. I guessed my uncle had ordered him not to touch me before leaving.

Half an hour later, I solved the problem.

The whole lab breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Ci gave everyone two days off, saying they’d earned it.

On the way back, I quickened my pace to catch up with the women. “Have you been working on this all this time?”

They kept their heads down, silent.

Something was wrong. I stopped them. “What’s wrong with you?”

One of them gestured frantically with her hands.

She couldn’t speak.

Zhou Ci grabbed my wrist and pulled me away before I could react. “Be grateful you’re connected to Mr. Fu. Otherwise, you’d end up like them.”

Over the next few days, Zhou Ci started including me in meetings.

I felt like I’d earned their trust too easily.

After hearing their plans, I went back to my room, took out the phone the officer gave me, and tipped them off about everything.

After several shipments were intercepted, Zhou Ci got suspicious.

“Damn it! If I find out who the rat is, I’ll kill them myself.”

His eyes landed on me. My heart raced. “What are you looking at me for? I’m on your side now. Would I rat myself out?”

“What if you’re a plant? Nothing went wrong before you showed up. As soon as you arrived, we started losing shipments. It has to be you.”

“I agree. Zhou Ci, Mr. Fu’s not here. We’re all listening to you. Make the call.”

Zhou Ci’s gaze turned murderous.

“Search every room. Leave no stone unturned. I want to know how this person is contacting the cops.”

My nails dug into my palm.

When I saw the guards bring down the phone, I knew I was done.

“It’s that bitch! She’s the one tipping off the cops, costing us money and men. She can’t live.

“Mr. Fu’s got her under his spell. If he comes back, we won’t be able to touch her. Zhou Ci, decide now.”

Just when I thought I was dead, Zhou Ci stepped in front of me. “Wait until Mr. Fu gets back.”

I was locked up, confined to my room. That night, Fu Beiyan returned.

And with him came my dad.

Seeing them step off the helicopter, I finally felt real fear.

My dad was the only family I had left.

The door opened. I tried to rush out, but Fu Beiyan blocked me.

“Fu Beiyan, I’m the one who tipped off the police. Take it out on me. My dad knows nothing. Why drag him into this?”

Fu Beiyan sat on the bed, a hint of strain in his brow. “I thought you’d never betray me.”

I took a breath. “The uncle I remember would never do this kind of thing.”

He lit a cigarette. “You went to college abroad, didn’t you?”

I didn’t know why he was asking. “Yes.”

He let out a light scoff. “Didn’t it ever occur to you how your dad, a mahjong addict, could afford to send you overseas?”

With that, his dark eyes locked onto mine.

A horrible truth dawned on me.

I backed away, shaking my head, muttering, “No, no.”

Fu Beiyan’s cold gaze held a trace of reluctance. “Uncle Su, come in.”

“Dad, tell me this isn’t true. Don’t you remember how Mom died? She was trafficked to Maichuan and gutted. You said you’d avenge her.”

My dad helped me up from the floor. “I did think that way once. I hoped the police would find the killer and give your mom justice. But instead of avenging her, I almost lost you. Beiyan saved you. Years ago, you would’ve died at their hands.”

I remembered a kidnapping in middle school. The kidnappers warned my dad to stop going to the police, or they’d kill me.

A big brother saved me back then.

“Niannian, I pushed you to study chemistry so you could one day help your uncle.”

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, like a thousand needles piercing my heart.

It hurt. A deep, searing pain.

“Niannian, only when you’re strong can you protect the people you love.”

“Get out! Both of you!”

That night, as a torrential storm raged, I cried alone in my room for hours.

At dawn, I placed the police phone on the table.

“Uncle, I’m sorry.”

“Figured it out?” He raised an eyebrow.

I nodded with a hum. In the days that followed, I locked myself in the lab, ignoring everything outside.

Back at the villa, Fu Beiyan and the others were discussing a deal with Country T.

My dad took a sip of tea. “Beiyan, do you think Niannian really wants to help us this time?”

Fu Beiyan chuckled lightly. “She’s been holed up in the lab, working on the new product nonstop. Are you doubting her, Uncle Su?”

“I know my daughter. She’s stubborn. She swore revenge—she won’t change her mind that fast.”

Fu Beiyan said nothing. No one could guess what he was thinking.

He ordered Zhou Ci, “You and Fatty go this time. No mistakes.”

“Understood.”

After everyone left, Fu Beiyan poured my dad a cup of tea.

“Uncle Su, after this is over, I want to step down. You planned all this behind the scenes, hoping to groom Niannian as your successor. But she doesn’t want this.”

I listened from outside the door, my fingers clenching.

My dad wasn’t happy with Fu Beiyan’s decision. He didn’t take the tea.

The day of the deal came quickly.

Zhou Ci and Fatty left early. I was heading to the lab as usual when my dad stopped me.

“Niannian, come have some tea with your dad.

“Niannian, I know you must hate me right now. Back then, I had no choice. To protect you, I…”

Before he could finish, I cut him off.

“So you built this criminal empire and made Uncle your scapegoat?”

My dad froze, then laughed. “Ha! Just as I thought—sharp as a tack, my daughter. If you took over my business, you’d make it even bigger.”

I asked the question that haunted me. “Did Mom’s death have anything to do with you?”

His teacup clattered against the table. Just as he was about to speak,

I stood up. “Never mind. I already know the answer.”

“Niannian, you’re my only daughter. I’d never hurt you. Don’t go to the lab today. Rest in your room.”

“The research is almost done. If I stop now, everything we’ve done will be wasted.”

“Someone else will take over. Go rest.”

I heard the steel in his voice and knew I couldn’t leave. I’d have to think of another way.

Sirens wailed outside. I’d been in contact with the police all along. The intercepted shipments were a ruse—the real intel was the layout of this place.

I looked out the window, gauged the height, and tore my sheets into strips to climb down.

Chaos had erupted outside. No one expected the police to storm in so easily.

“Niannian.”

I heard Fu Beiyan’s voice. I glanced back at him and ran straight for the lab.

Inside, I grabbed a glass dish and finished what I’d been working on.

My dad and his men had taken refuge there.

“Stop! This is years of work—you can’t destroy it!”

All this time in the lab, I’d been developing a self-destruct compound to burn everything to the ground.

“I never thought I’d hate you one day.”

I let out a bitter laugh, ready to take it all down with me.

My dad sighed. “Niannian, you’re tougher and smarter than your mother ever was. I never thought I’d be brought down by my own daughter.”

Then came the explosion. The whole lab went up.

I opened my eyes to a white ceiling.

“Niannian, are you okay?” A few faces crowded around me. Their concern left me at a loss.

“I’m fine.”

Seeing my discomfort, one of them explained, “We were your mother’s colleagues. She graduated from the police academy and went undercover. Your father was too cautious—never slipped up for years. In the end, it cost her life.”

A question nagged at me: Could an undercover cop fall in love with a criminal?

“You’re not your mother’s biological daughter.”

*Boom.* It hit me like a thunderbolt. But it made sense. My mother was too proud to bear a criminal’s child.

“If you ever need anything, come to us.”

I said thanks and checked myself out of the hospital as soon as I could walk.

I went to the address Fu Beiyan had given me before he died.

In that explosion, I’d been ready to die with everyone. But at the last moment, Fu Beiyan shielded me with his own life.

“Niannian, I’m sorry.”

He used his last strength to push me out.

I unlocked the warehouse door with the key he’d left me.

Inside, I found several suitcases by the entrance. When I opened them, they were full of cash.

“Niannian, this money is clean. It’ll set you up for life.”