Chapter 284 - 124: One-Life Clear (Middle)

Chapter 284: Chapter 124: One-Life Clear (Middle)

The man had wandered this land for four long years, a ghost searching for another ghost.

Life, in the end, is about being able to answer to yourself.

The countdown was down to ten seconds.

Zhang Shutong got out of bed. He steadied himself on whatever he could reach as he made his way to the desk. Zhang Shutong opened the bottle of sports drink. He now had his answer.

It wasn’t as simple as protecting a girl’s life. Or rather, merely saving her life was far from enough. After eight long years, he finally understood the true purpose of his return.

It wasn’t about sitting around and waiting for the killer to be caught, but about going out and stopping her.

To stop her outside the villa.

And to end this matter without a sound.

Zhang Shutong knew the spot. Since the camera had captured the woman in the early hours of the morning, he just had to get there—under that very camera—before she did.

Zhang Shutong knew where that camera was, too.

But he knew even better that he was no match for the woman. With his half-crippled body, he would only be a liability if he went. Worse, he would be more than just a liability.

’I must be insane,’ Zhang Shutong thought.

’What did he even have right now? A feverish body, a motorcycle out of gas, and no one by his side.’

Looking at the wall covered in photos, he suddenly laughed.

"Damn it." Zhang Shutong rarely swore, but in that moment, he muttered softly, "I was all set to turn over a new leaf. What happened to not being so conceited? What happened to ’nothing is so important that only I can do it’?"

’But who else could he tell?’

’The police? The bodyguards? Gu Qiuyan? Her father?’

’Sometimes, you just have to do something crazy.’

The countdown was over. He slammed the can down on the desk and muttered to the man far away on some distant island:

"Since you can’t keep going, just leave it to me."

"I can still move."

"I’ll bring this to an end."

...

Zhang Shutong turned and walked out the door. The sports drink seemed to have ignited the last ounce of his potential. The night wind howled, but he didn’t feel the cold.

Zhang Shutong wasn’t foolish enough to act like a lone wolf. He knew that the only person who could be brought in on this and actually help was Lu Qinglian. But Lu Qinglian didn’t have a phone. On foot, she probably hadn’t even reached the villa yet, and Zhang Shutong had to tell her to change course immediately.

Ring Mountain Road was covered in a thick layer of snow. The slightest mistake could trigger an avalanche. It was absolutely not a good place to intercept the killer.

So, he dialed Ruoping’s number first, praying she would pick up quickly. To his surprise, the call connected in just a second, and he was met with her irritated voice:

"What is it now?"

He could also hear the howling of the wind on her end.

Zhang Shutong was taken aback:

"I thought you were asleep?"

"Sleep? How could we? We called Du Kang. He said you were still trying to stir things up, insisting on waiting until the early morning. Who could possibly rest easy with you, you little troublemaker? Qingyi and I are riding over now. We’re almost at the hospital, so if you have something to say, say it fast."

He quickly explained his plan. Qingyi took the phone:

"Got it. I brought the motorcycle. Ruoping and I will switch. I’ll have her ride to the hospital to meet you, and I’ll go find Lu Qinglian. Hanging up."

The guy was impossibly cool. He hung up right after he finished speaking, without asking a single question—a boy as free as the wind.

Zhang Shutong was stunned for a second, then he started pedaling with all his might. The ride from the dorms to the hospital usually took ten minutes; he could make it in eight. He lifted his head and could just make out a room on the hospital’s second floor where a girl was sitting in a chair.

It was 11:34 PM when Zhang Shutong reached the hospital. He took the stairs two at a time and arrived at the observation room at the end of the hall. He didn’t really need to go upstairs, but he still wanted to see how she was doing.

Gu Qiuyan was still asleep.

’In another future, maybe the two of them would just sleep in the observation room until dawn. Then she’d stretch and say he was making such a fuss, and that nothing had even happened.’

Zhang Shutong didn’t wake her. Instead, he turned off the TV.

He lifted Gu Qiuyan into his arms, placed her on the single bed, and covered her with a jacket.

He glanced downstairs. Ruoping hadn’t arrived yet. He still had a little time. He could say something to the girl in front of him, but she was already fast asleep; she wouldn’t hear a word. Which meant he could say anything he wanted.

"I’m sorry," Zhang Shutong said softly. "I couldn’t stay to finish the movie with you again. I’ll make it up to you if I get the chance."

’But he immediately felt he had broken his promises to her too many times. A pledge like that was meaningless.’

Even though Zhang Shutong had been running himself ragged for her, he’d never actually said the words, "I’ll protect you." Now, with Gu Qiuyan asleep, he hesitated for a moment before finally saying:

"Just leave it to me. Everything will be fine when you wake up. I promise."

’Since you came out with me, I’ll make sure you get back safely.’

’There won’t be pools of blood. There won’t be a brutal truth. And I won’t let you cry.’

In her sleep, Gu Qiuyan’s brow furrowed, as if troubled by a dream. Zhang Shutong apologized to her again, but the frown didn’t leave her face.

He sighed and noticed the cup of hot water was empty. Zhang Shutong wasn’t good at taking care of people. His only thought was that the air-conditioned room was dry and she might be thirsty when she woke up. He took the cup and went to the nurses’ station, where a young nurse was cracking melon seeds while scrolling through her phone. The audio sounded strangely familiar to Zhang Shutong. After a moment, he realized it was Journey to the West.

The young nurse asked without looking up: