Third Time's the Charm: Face-to-Face Kill

Tang Wulin could still hear the phone repair shop owner saying, "Bring it in now, pick it up tomorrow afternoon," but his mind was boiling like a nebula. Gu Yue's phone—the one he had accidentally smashed beyond recognition—was lying on the living room floor like a silent black bomb, ready to trigger a nuclear-level storm at any moment.

I have to get rid of this danger immediately! The thought pierced through all his hesitation like a red-hot iron spike.

He took a deep breath and pressed the elevator's down button with the gentlest possible force, as though carrying out an infiltration mission. His body was taut, and his sharp gaze tracked the red numbers flashing past each floor. He looked exactly like an agent about to sneak into enemy territory.

The elevator doors slid open on his familiar floor with a ding. He crept forward like a cat, and even his fingers trembled faintly as he entered the password. Click—the coded lock opened. He slipped inside sideways and shut the door behind him in a motion so fast it was like an afterimage.

Then the world split apart before him.

Beyond the crack in the door was not the cold, empty entryway he had expected, but a face twisted beyond recognition by rage, right in front of him!

Gu Yue stood there, her long hair stirring without wind. Her eyes, usually as tranquil as frigid pools, now blazed with flames fierce enough to burn the stars to ashes, fixed mercilessly on him. The oppressive aura around her was more suffocating than the foulest miasma of the Abyss Plane.

"Ahhh—!!!"

A shriek so miserable it cracked in pitch burst uncontrollably from Tang Wulin's throat.

The piercing power of that scream was no weaker than a sudden jump scare in a horror game—if anything, it was worse!

His mind went blank. It felt as though all the blood in his body had frozen instantly, his terror meter maxing out as a primal shudder shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. What girlfriend? She was clearly an asura here to claim his life!

Bang!

The instinct to survive overwhelmed everything! Tang Wulin threw his full strength against the door. The door groaned in agony and barely shut before Gu Yue's fingers, gathering killing intent, could reach him, sealing her out. A muffled grunt packed with towering fury came from outside, followed by—

"Tang! Wulin!"

Gu Yue's roar struck the newly closed door like a tangible sonic cannon! The icy killing intent in her voice made even the heavy security door hum under the strain.

The motion-sensor lights throughout the building seemed to be struck repeatedly by an invisible sledgehammer. With a clattering burst, they lit up in a cascade of ghastly white, and the hallways across more than ten floors became bright as day!

Tang Wulin slid down the cold door and collapsed onto the floor, his heart pounding madly as though it would shatter his breastbone. The terrifying low pressure outside was like a solid wall, crushing his living space.

No! He absolutely could not stay here! Gu Yue's rage clearly would not die down in a few seconds!

He scrambled toward the elevator, his trembling fingers frantically stabbing the down button. Every second of the elevator's descent felt like a century. When the doors finally opened, he plunged inside. Only after watching the red number race down to "1" did he dare breathe deeply, cold sweat already soaking his back.

He rushed out of the building, and the icy night wind against his face somewhat dispersed the heat and fear in his chest. But Gu Yue's furious expression and the blazing hallway lights were still burned into his retinas. The third plan had officially gone bankrupt!

Tang Wulin pulled out his phone, his fingers shaking as he dialed. His voice was as urgent as if he were calling for fire support on a battlefield. "Hello! Le Zhengyu! Save me! This is an emergency! I'm outside my place... with Gu Yue... a terrifying face-to-face ambush! It scared the hell out of me! The third plan is completely dead! I think... maybe the second plan, the 'money offensive,' isn't such a bad idea after all! A diamond-studded phone case? A top-tier limited edition? As long as I can keep my life, I'll go all out! I'll cover it in huge diamonds if I have to! Where are you? I'm coming over right now! We need to keep figuring out how to put out that 'God of Destruction'!"

The other end of the line was deathly silent at first. Then another burst of earth-shaking laughter erupted. Le Zhengyu laughed so hard he pounded his chest and nearly passed out. "Hahahaha! Boss! You... you really went through something thrilling! Failed again?

And you even got to experience a real-life horror girlfriend ambush? Hahaha! Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Wait there! I'll open the door right away! Get over here! We'll tailor a whole new 'cash-power fire-extinguishing plan' for you!"

Tang Wulin turned into a human rocket again and raced toward Le Zhengyu's villa in the suburbs. The horrifying scene replayed repeatedly in his mind along the way, and every recollection sent his adrenaline surging. The villa gates stood open for him—clearly controlled remotely by Le Zhengyu—and he nearly stumbled as he rushed inside.

The living room was brightly lit, with the crystal chandelier casting dazzling halos of light. Le Zhengyu lounged on an expensive leather sofa with one leg crossed over the other, still swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. He wore that infuriatingly smug grin of someone who loved watching trouble unfold.

"Oh my, look who's back—our great hero, still looking scared out of his wits," Le Zhengyu said, setting down his wine and making an exaggerated inviting gesture. "Come on, tell me all the details of the 'girlfriend storm' making landfall. Was there... uh... any physical contact? Like getting swatted away by the 'Hand of Destruction'?"

Tang Wulin had no patience for his teasing. He collapsed onto the sofa beside him, grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the coffee table, and chugged half of it before speaking through ragged breaths. "Details? The details are that I suspect Gu Yue is going to show up at my door with a forty-meter blade any second now!

Le Zhengyu, stop laughing! Save me! My brain cells are burning for survival! Hurry! Activate the ultimate contingency plan! The money-based appeasement plan! I want the most expensive! The flashiest! Something that'll make Gu Yue instantly forget I smashed her phone!"

Le Zhengyu reined in his exaggerated smile, rubbed his chin, and let a calculating gleam flash in his eyes as he entered true strategist mode again. "Mm... your panic is understandable. But Boss, recklessly throwing money around is extremely risky! I told you before, it's nothing but drawbacks. If this goes wrong, she might interpret it as 'being perfunctory,' or even 'trying to cover up your mistake with money.' That would only add fuel to the fire! We need strategy—a precise, step-by-step strategy!"

He rose to his feet, walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, pointed at the brilliant city lights outside, and began laying out his Three-Step Fire-Quenching Method:

Step One: Golden Buffer Pad—ultimate material comfort.

"Listen. Immediately use every resource available to you to get the highest-end limited-edition phone from the Starsea Dream series that's still in presale! Remember, it must be from the global first release, with an early serial number!

For the matching accessory, find the best custom design studio and create a one-of-a-kind phone case. Use platinum inlay for the main body, and for the centerpiece... no diamonds, they're too tacky! Use tanzanite of the same quality as the Heart of the Ocean! Then densely set a ring of aurora-purple amethysts around it! The overall style has to suit Gu Yue's temperament—cold, mysterious, one of a kind! Most importantly," Le Zhengyu said, turning around with a sharp gaze, "include a heartfelt apology card handwritten by you. Your handwriting has to be neat!

The wording must be humble! The core message should be: 'The value of this item is far less than your worth in my heart. It only represents one ten-thousandth of my sincerity in making amends.' The purpose of this step is to use absolute rarity and an extravagant price tag to instantly break through her defenses of anger, making her realize how serious this is and how much importance you place on fixing it."

Step Two: Emotional Floodgate—a carefully designed "atonement ritual."

"Once the physical impact lands, follow up with a psychological offensive! You can't just dryly hand her the gift!

Find an incredibly classy, highly private sky-view restaurant—I know one converted from a rooftop helipad. Reserve it in advance and arrange flowers—her favorites. As for you," Le Zhengyu said, looking Tang Wulin up and down, "wash your face, put on your most expensive and appropriate suit. If you don't have one, I'll lend you one. Comb your hair until it's immaculate!

Show up on time! The first thing you say when you meet her: 'Gu Yue, I'm sorry. To make it up to you, tonight is yours.' The whole time, put aside all your pride and dullness, and serve her as though she's the center of the universe! Ordering? Let her choose! Flavors? Remember every tiny preference she has!

Conversation? Just listen to her, nod at the right times, and keep your gaze focused, full of remorse and... just the right amount of admiration! The core of this step is to give her a safe outlet for emotional release through ultimate respect and obedience, so she feels a sense of control and feels cherished.

Anger needs a way down. You have to lay out that red carpet yourself!"

Step Three: Future Firewall—establish a "phone drop-prevention protection system."

"The final step of crisis management is a prevention mechanism! The gift has been given, your attitude has been shown; now you need to put ultimate insurance on your 'communication device'!" Le Zhengyu gave a sly grin. "When you give her the phone, include an extremely detailed 'Gu Yue Exclusive Phone Care and Usage Guide'!

Handwrite it on premium gold-foil cards! The contents should include: 1. The phone must be stored in a specially made shockproof, magnetic-levitation display case—the case itself must also be cool enough; 2. Activate triple biometric identification plus quantum encryption protection.

Finally, add one finishing line: 'Gu Yue, I was careless this time. From now on, I'll protect this phone with my life, just as I protect you.'

This step elevates a simple act of 'compensation' to the level of 'love and responsibility,' completely overwriting the previous negative impression and even turning it into an opportunity to strengthen your relationship!"

Le Zhengyu returned to the sofa and sat down heavily, topping off his wine as he delivered his conclusion. "See that? Material shock opens the way, emotional value follows to soothe her, and a long-term system covers the end! A trinity, every link connected! As long as you execute it properly, forget one phone—even if you crashed the moon, Gu Yue would have to grit her teeth and forgive you!

Of course," he added, swirling his wine with a mischievous grin, "that's assuming your acting doesn't fall apart, and your wallet... is thick enough!"

Tang Wulin listened with his mouth hanging open. This combination attack was ruthless and precise, full of Le Zhengyu's particular blend of flamboyance and accuracy.

He took a deep breath. His heart was still pounding wildly, but the chaotic panic in his mind was gradually being sorted out and pressed down by this detailed, almost flawlessly thorough plan.

The fear was still there, but it was no longer a blind abyss. He could see a narrow bridge toward temporary safety, paved with money, strategy, and utmost caution. He had to cross it.

"Alright..." Tang Wulin's voice was still hoarse, but the panic in his eyes had been replaced by a determination to stake everything. "We'll do it your way! Starsea Dream... a tanzanite phone case... a sky-view restaurant... and that 'protect it with my life' declaration!" He abruptly stood up and gave Le Zhengyu a solemn nod. "Thanks. I'm going to raise the money right now! No—I'm going to save my life!"

He needed to act immediately. Gu Yue's fury was like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, while Le Zhengyu's plan was the only rope he could grasp.

A fire-extinguishing operation—a race against time, a contest against the thickness of his wallet, and a gamble at the limits of his acting ability—had officially begun.