Wu Zhenhai's mind went blank.
He didn't care about anything else and turned to run outside.
"Sir, horse, ride a horse--" Wu Guang said breathlessly.
When Wu Zhenhai returned to the Zhou Family, half of Zhou Xu's courtyard was already ablaze with fire.
He grabbed a servant boy who was watching the commotion, his eyes bloodshot, and demanded, "Where is Eighth Miss?"
The servant said, "The fire is so big, it didn't... it didn't escape—"
"Useless!" Wu Zhenhai shook him off and, without thinking, rushed into the fire.
No, Zhou Xu can't just disappear like this!
She pretends to be ugly all the time, but she actually loves beauty very much. She would care a lot if she had even the slightest burn.
Ruanruan, Ruanruan, don't be afraid, I'm coming to save you!
"Sir, please don't!" Wu Guang clung tightly to Wu Zhenhai's leg.
The fire burned the sky red; once you go in, how can you ever come out?
Four or five guards also stepped forward to help, and together they pinned Wu Zhenhai to the ground.
Wu Zhenhai watched helplessly as the fire raged, tears streaming down his face.
Ruanruan, Ruanruan...
At that moment, he finally understood what it meant to be heartbroken.
The thought of never seeing Zhou Xu with a sense of loss.
Wu Zhenhai felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out, bleeding profusely and uncontrollably.
"Ruanruan-- " His eyes were bloodshot, and he shouted, then spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
"My lord, my lord—" The crowd frantically pinched his philtrum and shook him, ignoring the raging fire.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xu, watching the raging fire at the entrance of the Zhou Residence, softly said to Prince of Jin, "Let's go."
Wu Zhenhai woke up and tried to rush into the fire again, but was held down by the others.
Even after the fire was completely extinguished late into the night, Wu Zhenhai still hadn't gained his "freedom."
He watched helplessly as the house burned down bit by bit.
When the main beam collapsed with a roar, his heart was also scorched, and when the wind blew it, it shattered into ashes.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
Wu Guang and the others only let go after the fire was completely extinguished.
After all that commotion late into the night, they were all completely exhausted.
Several guards collapsed to the ground.
Wu Guang struggled to his feet and followed Wu Zhenhai into the burned-out fire.
It was still warm inside, and the heat was scorching.
Wu Guang stopped in his tracks: "My lord—"
Wu Zhenhai, however, seemed oblivious, walking in alone and dejected.
When he saw Zhou Xu's "corpse" lying on the bed, his mind went blank.
Because the woman, almost burned to a crisp, remained lying there without even struggling.
Jewelry was scattered on her head, and she wore bracelets and rings on her wrists and fingers...
Every single one of them was a gift from him to her.
Zhou Xu did not die accidentally; she committed arson and burned herself!
Wu Zhenhai's mind was filled with her every smile and gesture from last night, her unusual behavior, her talk of life and death, and her radiant smile as she saw him off...
Wu Zhenhai suddenly grabbed his hair.
He should have realized it much earlier!
She's always been so unruly, it's just not right that she was so well-behaved last night!
He knew she was wrong and felt uneasy, so he went back and brought her the snacks again, but it still didn't change her mind.
Ruanruan, how could you be so cruel!
Did you really not feel even the slightest bit of longing for me?
I told you I would earn you a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe; I said I would break off all ties with other women; I said I would help you get revenge...
Why are you so short-tempered? Can't you tolerate even the slightest thing?
Wu Zhenhai broke down in tears.
However, the image of her slumped over the table, her dejected expression uncontrollably flashing through my mind.
She said, "I originally planned to marry you properly. I never imagined that even leaving the Zhou Family would be so humiliating."
Was that the final straw that broke her back?
He didn't know she cared so much; he really didn't know.
If he had known, he would never have agreed...
Ruanruan, why didn't you say anything!
"Even if I told you, would you listen?" He heard Zhou Xu's cool voice.
Wu Zhenhai suddenly looked up and around, but quickly realized that it was just his hallucination.
"Then let's burn it all down."
Ruanruan, I thought you were joking, but I didn't expect you could actually do it.
When the fire starts, does it hurt?
Why were you able to leave so calmly?
Have you forgotten your aunt? How could you bear to do that?
I was wrong, I'm a bastard, I'm a piece of trash... but for your aunt's sake, you should live!
Ruanruan, how cruel you are!
Wu Zhenhai embraced the grayish-black corpse and wailed loudly.
Ruanruan, I really wanted to make you happy.
I only loved you. You never enjoyed any happiness in life, and now you're gone.
It 'Ruanruan, it hurts so much.
No one else could be so quick-witted, with such lively eyes and a witty retort, only to then shower him with seductive glances in his arms.
There was no one else who made him miss her when he couldn't see her, and hate her when he saw her, hating her so much that he wanted to meld her into his very bones...
Ruanruan, I was wrong. You scolded me and hit me, but why did you leave so resolutely, without even leaving me a single word?
"... From now on, I wish you good health, all the best, rapid advancement in your career, and everything going smoothly."
What were you feeling when you said those words?
Ruanruan, my Ruanruan...
Wu Zhenhai wept uncontrollably until he fainted.
He was still young when his first wife passed away. He shed a few tears and felt sad for a few days, but he was still able to calmly handle the funeral arrangements...
This time he couldn't.
You only realize how precious something is when you lose it.
He even had the impulse to follow her in death.
I'll find that wicked little girl in the deepest hell and give her a good scolding, then tell her where she can run!
At that moment, Zhou Xu had just woken up and gotten up when Tang Zhuyun arrived with Ren Yingying.
Ren Yingying smiled and said, "Ruanruan, congratulations!"
She's a very outgoing person, and once she learned Zhou Xu's nickname, she started calling her that without any hesitation.
Seeing her carrying the strange box, Zhou Xu said, "Shall we change our faces today?"
"That's right," Ren Yingying laughed, "There's no time like the present! If you don't change your face, it won't be easy for you to walk around the mansion, will it? There will be too many people gossiping. I'll do it for you first, then set up a scheme to have the old lady pretend to be lost, and then do it for her."
Zhou Xu looked at Tang Zhuyun.
"This is my idea, what do you think?" Tang Zhuyun asked her.
"I think it's excellent." Zhou Xu nodded. "I can't wait."
"Haha, me too," Ren Yingying laughed. "Come, come, I've drawn some portraits these past few days. Take a look and see which face you like!"
Zhou Xu was stunned for a moment, then said, "No need, just do whatever is easy."
She didn't care about being disfigured, as long as she could be reborn.
She's finally completely free!