The man turned around, his face mostly hidden under the brim of his hat. His bloodless lips curved into a faint smirk. “Have you made up your mind? Are you ready to join me in hell?”
“I think you’ve misunderstood something. I have no intention of going to hell. Someone once told me that even if I were to die, someone like me would still end up in heaven.”
“That’s a pity.”
She could tell he wasn’t genuinely regretful; it was just an offhand remark. Scanning her surroundings, she asked, “Where’s An Yi?”
“You’re very concerned about him.”
“Of course I am! He’s my boyfriend. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He seemed genuinely puzzled. “I remember you’re terrified of ghosts. How could you fall for him?”
“My feelings for An Yi have nothing to do with his identity.”
“In that case, why don’t you feel the same way about me?”
She froze for a moment, caught off guard by the question. Quickly regaining her composure, she replied, “I’d have to be crazy to fall for someone who wants to kill me. Besides, before you showed up to try and kill me, I didn’t even know who you were. How could I have liked you?”
“You’re right.” His lips curled into a sarcastic smile, dripping with mockery. “He’s smarter than I am. We both know what you truly love and what moves you the most. There’s no difference between us, except that he approached you with warmth and tenderness while I’ve been stuck waiting for you to rot with me in the shadows. So yes, I lost.”
“I don’t understand…” She bit her lip. “According to your letter, we’ve only met once. Why are you so fixated on me?”
“You wouldn’t understand because I don’t even understand.” He chuckled softly. “All I know is that the moment I saw you, a voice inside me said, ‘It’s her.’”
That day, the temple had been bustling with people seeking blessings. If he hadn’t agreed to go with his friend to the Temple of the Matchmaker, and if she hadn’t accidentally stumbled into his arms, he would’ve remained the same sickly man resigned to fate.
But there were no “ifs” in life.
From that fleeting moment of contact, his calm heart of over 20 years began to stir. Yes, even he couldn’t comprehend why fate had made them meet that day.
If he had to describe this inexplicable feeling, perhaps he’d quote an old saying: “I searched for her a thousand times among the crowd. When I turned around, there she was, under the dim lantern light.”
If he were to use plainer words, though…
It would be: This is the woman. She’s meant to be mine.
That thought had consumed him from the moment they met. And just like that, the orderly trajectory of his life was thrown off course. The idea of “leaving everything to fate” became a laughable notion.
As he had written in his letter, she would never understand the courage and determination it took to defy the impossible, nor the frustration and anguish that came with it.
Feng Guang couldn’t fathom his obsession with her, just as she couldn’t imagine the terrifying desires he had kept hidden. How could a man fall so deeply for someone he had only met once that he would want to kill her? Such a tale would hardly inspire envy.
Her heart trembled with fear, but she stubbornly pressed on, “Where is An Yi?”
“I made him disappear for a while.”
“What… what does that mean?”
“Don’t worry. He’ll reappear.” He took a step closer, grabbing her hand and pulling her forcefully into his arms. Lowering his head, his icy lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, “Everything you’ve done with him… I’ve seen it all. How about this? Do those same things with me. If you satisfy me, I’ll bring him back to you. What do you think?”
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 66.1