Summer, July 7, 2012. Jialan City, night. Exactly one o’clock in the morning.
A black Ferrari drove into the luxury villa district at No. 22 Cuihuan Mountain, then silently came to a stop on a tree-lined road three hundred meters from the villa. The shade by the roadside concealed the body of the car, merging it with the black curtain of night.
A woman sat inside the car. She wore a skintight black night-suit that wrapped around her tall, elegant figure, outlining graceful curves and a delicate, well-proportioned form. Her long hair was secured behind her head with a black hair clip, not a single strand left over her forehead, making her look clean and efficient.
On her fair oval face was a pair of sunglasses that covered half her face. Outwardly, they looked no different from ordinary sunglasses, but anyone who truly knew the trade would recognize the difference at a glance. These were the TX-798 infrared see-through lenses newly developed by the American Security Bureau and not yet officially put into use.
Other than that, there was not a single unnecessary adornment on her body.
The interior of the car was dim. Even with the air-conditioning turned to its lowest setting, it could not conceal the woman’s indifferent, icy aura.
The woman looked at the villa ahead and remained motionless for a long time. An hour later, she withdrew her gaze, took out her phone, and dialed a familiar number.
“Qianqian?” A low male voice came from the other end of the line, seeming to carry a thick weariness.
Hearing the man’s voice, the indifferent coldness on Bai Qianqian’s face softened in an instant. Her gaze fell once more on the villa she had been staring at earlier. Perhaps because she had not spoken for so long, her voice was somewhat hoarse. “Yalin, were you asleep?”
“Mm!” the man replied.
“Then go back to sleep. Tomorrow’s wedding…” Bai Qianqian pressed her lips together slightly and said softly, “I’m fine. I just couldn’t sleep, so I called you.”
“Qianqian, are you so nervous you can’t sleep?” The man’s low voice held a trace of teasing.
“Mm!” Bai Qianqian could not help lowering her lashes.
“All brides are very nervous. I hear it’s called premarital anxiety. How about… how about I come over and sleep with you?” the man asked tentatively.
“I’m afraid if you came, I’d be even less able to sleep… Go to sleep!” Bai Qianqian looked at the villa, a flicker of struggle flashing through her eyes.
“Qianqian, I miss you so much…” the man coaxed gently. “Anyway, we’re getting married tomorrow…”
The corners of Bai Qianqian’s mouth curved up, and a faint blush tinted her fair little face. She said softly, “Be good. You said it yourself—we’re getting married tomorrow. Rest well tonight!”
“Mm. Then you should sleep early too.” The man seemed to compromise helplessly.
“Mm, I know!” The lines of Bai Qianqian’s face, hidden behind the black sunglasses, softened even further. “Good night!”
“Good night!” The other side hung up first.
Bai Qianqian held the phone and remained in the posture of gazing at the villa. After a long while, the smile on her face faded, and she returned to her indifferent coldness. Her fair fingertips swiftly tapped out a string of numbers on the phone.
“I’ll take the mission.” The moment the call connected, Bai Qianqian spoke coldly, completely different from the softness and gentleness of moments before. “If it succeeds, I’ll leave the organization forever.”
“Good!” An even colder voice came from the other end.
Bai Qianqian quickly hung up. She cast one last look at the villa lying silent in the night, her lips pressed tightly into a resolute arc. A moment later, she glanced at the watch on her wrist. Exactly one forty. She turned the steering wheel, swung the car around, and the Ferrari sports car—modified by CHK, the world’s finest designer—departed like the wind.
Ten minutes later, the sports car was on the overpass.
Bai Qianqian held the steering wheel with one hand and lightly tapped twice on the tracking locator inside the car with the other. The target appeared five hundred meters ahead. Her foot slammed down on the accelerator, and the car’s speed instantly doubled. Two seconds later, at the bend ahead, a luxurious Rolls-Royce 200EX came driving toward her.
Behind the sunglasses, a trace of struggle flashed through her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. Bai Qianqian pressed the detonation device inside the car.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…
She pressed the accelerator to the limit once more and charged straight toward that car.
Five, four, three, two…
With a thunderous boom, an earth-shaking explosion rang out. The two cars crashed together, flames soaring into the sky, burning half the sky above Jialan City’s highest overpass red.
One minute later, Bai Qianqian emerged from beneath the bridge and retracted the specially made chain hanging from it. She cast an indifferent glance at the two cars burning together in the raging flames on the bridge, clutched her wound, and rushed into the night without looking back.
Ten minutes later, police cars and fire trucks arrived at top speed with sirens blaring all the way. But the car, which had been infused with a special combustion accelerant, had already burned through its final spark, and even the Rolls-Royce had been reduced to ashes.
There was no driver in either car.
July 12, eleven o’clock in the morning. No. 11 luxury villa, Beishan Park, Jialan City.
In the luxurious bedroom on the second floor, Bai Qianqian carefully wrapped and adorned herself from head to toe. Only when no trace of injury could be seen did she open the door and let in the maid carrying the wedding dress.
The wedding dress was a wedding gift from Old Master Bai, the head of Bai Global Consortium, to his only granddaughter—Bai Qianqian, the pearl in the palm of Bai Global Consortium and its future head. He had invited the world-renowned designer ELUN to design it exclusively; the wedding dress alone had cost ten million US dollars.
At that moment, Bai Qianqian sat before the dressing mirror, stroking the wedding dress. A happy, faint smile hung on her face, and the person reflected in the mirror had a delicate face as elegant as a hibiscus blossom.
“Miss is truly beautiful!” Mama Li, the maid, was momentarily dazzled by Bai Qianqian’s smile and praised her sincerely.
Bai Qianqian nodded with a smile. “Thank you!”
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Mama Li immediately asked, “It should be the makeup artist and photographer. Miss, shall I let them in?”
“Mm!” Bai Qianqian nodded.
Mama Li opened the door. Outside was not the makeup artist, but a young man dressed entirely in black. She froze, and just as she was about to speak, the man swiftly struck the back of her neck with his hand. Mama Li immediately fainted.
Bai Qianqian saw the person appearing at the doorway through the mirror, and the smile on her lips froze.
The man walked into the room and looked at Bai Qianqian, who sat there in her gorgeous wedding dress. He spoke gently. “Qianqian!”
“Lan Ye, you… why are you here?” Bai Qianqian stiffly looked at the person walking in through the mirror.
“It’s your wedding. How could I not come?” A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Lan Ye’s mouth, but it quickly dispersed. He stepped forward, wrapped both hands around Bai Qianqian’s rigid body, and fastened an HKS limited-edition beaded necklace around her snow-white neck. In a gentle voice, he offered his blessing. “Happy wedding.”
“Thank you!” Bai Qianqian did not dare turn around to look at the person behind her.
“As long as you’re happy. You were very successful last night. The organization has already removed your name. From now on, you are a free person.” After fastening the necklace, Lan Ye reluctantly withdrew his hands.
“Mm!” Bai Qianqian nodded. Only she herself knew how much strength it took to control her surging emotions. Ten years. She had finally broken free of that identity in the dark.
“I’m leaving!” Lan Ye slowly turned and walked toward the door.
Bai Qianqian clenched both hands tightly and forced out a smile. With difficulty, she spoke in a strained voice. “I’m sorry I can’t invite you to drink at the wedding banquet! I won’t see you out!”
Lan Ye’s steps paused for an instant, and his expression dimmed slightly. He looked back at Bai Qianqian, then left the room without turning back again.
Bai Qianqian did not look back. Hearing those footsteps descend the stairs, she pressed her lips tightly together. The only one she loved was Yalin. For Yalin, she was willing to leave the organization and give up everything, including the camaraderie of her partners in the organization and her ten years of friendship with Lan Ye.
Lan Ye loved her—how could she not know? But she loved Yalin, so she was destined to let Lan Ye down.
Bai Qianqian composed herself, glanced at Mama Li lying on the floor, rose, and walked over to wake her. The moment Mama Li opened her eyes, Bai Qianqian hypnotized her. “I didn’t see anything just now!”
“I didn’t see anything just now!” Mama Li repeated blankly.
After three repetitions, Bai Qianqian turned and sat back down before the mirror.
Mama Li regained consciousness and looked around the room in confusion, as if wondering how she had fainted.
“Mama Li, go outside and see why the makeup artist still hasn’t come,” Bai Qianqian urged Mama Li as though nothing had happened.
“Yes, Miss. I’ll go check right away!” Mama Li immediately opened the door and walked out. After only two steps, she turned back and said, “The old master instructed early on that once Miss finishes her makeup, you should go downstairs as soon as possible. The old master said that today, while we’re at it, he will also hold the ceremony for Miss to take over the consortium.”
“Mm. Have all the guests arrived?” Bai Qianqian asked.
“They have, but the young master-in-law’s car hasn’t arrived yet,” Mama Li said at once.
“Mm, you go first! When the makeup artist comes, just let them come straight in.” Bai Qianqian waved her hand. She wondered why Yalin still had not arrived. Looking at the time, it was already eleven. Logically speaking, at this hour, he should have arrived two hours ago.
A bad feeling suddenly rose in her heart.
Bai Qianqian thought of how Lan Ye should not have appeared here, yet he had come for her. She could no longer sit still and walked to the window. At a glance, she saw Lan Ye leaving, and a red dot was aimed right at the center of his back. Lan Ye seemed distracted and had not noticed at all.
Bai Qianqian’s face instantly turned pale. Without thinking, she opened the window and jumped straight down from the second floor.
At the same time, a gunshot rang out. Countless cries of alarm burst from the hall full of guests.
At the final moment, Bai Qianqian knocked Lan Ye down and rolled several times while holding him. At the same time, she drew the handgun strapped to her calf and aimed it in the direction from which the shot had come. Before she could pull the trigger, she saw an incomparably familiar face.
Her finger on the trigger instantly froze. Yalin…
That person saw Bai Qianqian as well. Gone was his usual refined elegance; on his handsome face was a cold ruthlessness that made Bai Qianqian almost doubt this was the same person she had known for five years, the person who had never once looked at her with a cold expression.
Separated by countless guests, he stood before the window of a guest room on the third floor, while she lay on the ground holding Lan Ye.
Two chilling handguns faced each other. Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
It was only one second. That person looked at her mercilessly, pulled the trigger, and aimed at her heart.
“No!” Lan Ye fiercely lunged back and shielded Bai Qianqian, who had been blocking him.
Almost at the same time, a gunshot rang out.
Bai Qianqian snapped awake, pushed Lan Ye down again, and fired without the slightest hesitation.
Two gunshots rang out, merging into one. The hall full of guests screamed again.
Bai Qianqian paid no attention to the crimson spreading across her chest. She stared unblinkingly into Yalin’s eyes. After a moment, her gaze shifted to his blood-red arm, and she smiled silently, the smile cold and bleak. “Do you know why I didn’t shoot your heart? Because I don’t want to meet you again on the road to the Yellow Springs! From now on, life after life, forever and ever—we shall never meet again!”
What was buried by all of this was not only love, but also her yearning for the light.
Successfully seeing that person’s cold, handsome face crack, Bai Qianqian smiled and closed her eyes, sinking into darkness…