Yuan Xin stood in front of Su Jiyai’s desk, his hands holding the report files tightly. His face looked a little hesitant, but finally he opened his mouth.
"Boss Su," he said carefully, "there is sothing else I must report. Liu Fang has sent us news."
Su Jiyai, still scribbling notes, humd softly without looking up. "News?"
"Yes," Yuan Xin nodded. "Dong Shin... he is dead."
The pen in Su Jiyai’s hand paused for a mont. She blinked, but her expression did not change much. Calmly, she placed the pen down and leaned back in her chair.
"So, he is dead," she said lightly. "Not surprising."
Yuan Xin tilted his head, curious. "You already expected it?"
Su Jiyai gave a small smile.
"Dong Shin was always offensive. Always stepping on others’ toes. Even without pushing him down in Abayas, there were many people waiting for his fall. Sooner or later, soone he had offended would co for him. It was only a matter of ti."
Yuan Xin nodded slowly.
"That is true. And from what Liu Fang reported... it was a man whose sister died because of Dong Shin’s mistake. He killed him personally."
Su Jiyai’s eyes narrowed slightly, but then she nodded.
"If that is the case, then we do not need to waste energy. Don’t report anything further to about Dong Shin. His story is finished."
Yuan Xin hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "Boss Su... there is still sothing. Three spies who once worked at Dong Shin’s side... they are asking to join our Hope Base now."
Su Jiyai smirked faintly. "Tell them to go find another base to serve. Let them act as spies there again. Not here."
"Yes, Boss Su," Yuan Xin said quickly. "I’ll deliver the ssage."
He bowed and left the room, leaving Su Jiyai alone once more. She returned to her antidote work, crushing herbs and carefully copying notes. The room slled strong with earth and dicine.
But not long after, the sound of knocking ca at her door.
"Enter," she called.
The door opened, and Yuan Xin returned, this ti with Lianhua beside him.
Su Jiyai lifted her head. Her eyes moved to Lianhua. "Why are you here? Is there an update on Ou Lin?"
Lianhua smiled sweetly, her hands clasped behind her back as she walked in and closed the door. "Yes. There is. Ou Lin... he is desperate now. He is talking about marriage. From the way he looks at , I can see he has a little crush."
Su Jiyai raised one eyebrow. "Marriage? Hmph. So he really thinks he can tie you down."
Lianhua giggled softly. "Exactly. That is why I ca. How do you want to end this? How should I give him the final dash of revenge?"
Su Jiyai paused, her lips curling into a smirk. "Simple. Break his heart. Crush it completely. Let him taste the pain he once gave others."
Lianhua’s eyes sparkled. "I like that. But... should I do it directly? Or should I twist the knife a little?"
Su Jiyai thought for a mont. "Twist it. Let him hope, then take it away. That will hurt more."
Lianhua chuckled and nodded. "Understood. Leave it to ."
The evening sky turned orange and pink as Lianhua waited at their usual eting spot, near the old fountain in the corner of the base. The sound of dripping water.
She stood calmly, her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the path ahead.
Soon, Ou Lin appeared. His clothes were dusty from work, his forehead sweaty, but his eyes lit up when he saw her. He hurried over, almost tripping on the uneven stones.
"Lianhua!" he said excitedly, his face glowing. "I’ve been waiting for this mont. Tell ... are you ready to marry ?"
Lianhua tilted her head, watching him with a calm expression. Then, slowly, her lips curved into a cold smile.
"Ou Lin," she said softly, "you are truly disgusting."
Ou Lin froze on the spot. His smile vanished instantly. He stared at her, eyes wide. "What... what are you saying?"
Lianhua’s eyes flashed with disgust. "I’m saying exactly what you heard. You are disgusting. I never loved you."
Ou Lin’s whole body stiffened. His hands trembled as he pointed at her. "Lianhua... no... What’s happening? Why are you saying this? Did soone threaten you? If soone is forcing you, just tell ! I will protect you!"
Lianhua chuckled darkly. "Threaten ? No. Do you really think I could fall in love with you? Do you really believe that?"
Ou Lin’s heart sank like a stone into the ocean. He stepped forward, his voice breaking. "No... That’s not true. It must be Su Jiyai. She must have told you sothing... sothing twisted! You are Su Jiyai’s sister, aren’t you? Did she fill your head with lies?"
Lianhua raised her eyebrow. "Su Jiyai’s story?" she asked, pretending to look curious.
Ou Lin’s heart leapt with a small hope. He quickly nodded. "Yes! That must be it! She told you sothing, right? But it’s not true. It wasn’t like that."
His voice turned soft, pleading. "I... I once stayed by Su Jiyai’s side for a long ti. I cared for her. But her adoptive sister... she seduced again and again. She threatened . She said if I didn’t leave Su Jiyai, she would destroy her life. I had no choice. That’s why I broke up with Su Jiyai. That’s why I said all those harsh words."
Lianhua pretended to look thoughtful, tilting her head and tapping her chin. "So... you are saying you are innocent? That everything was forced?"
Ou Lin looked at her with eyes full of desperation. "Yes! Exactly! I never wanted to hurt Su Jiyai. I never wanted to hurt you either. Please believe ."
He reached out his hand toward her. "Give ti. Think about it. I will wait for you. Even if it takes ten years, a hundred years... I will wait until you return to ."
Lianhua stared at him silently for a mont. Her eyes flickered with sothing complicated. She let out a soft sigh, then finally nodded.
"I... I need ti to think," she said.
Ou Lin’s face lit up with relief, though sadness still lingered in his eyes. "Then I’ll wait. As long as it takes. Just... don’t push away forever."
Lianhua turned away, hiding the smirk tugging at her lips. "We’ll see."
................
Lianhua walked quickly through the hallways, her face calm but her heart racing. She opened the door to Su Jiyai’s office and slipped inside.
"You ca back fast," Su Jiyai said without looking up.
"Yes," Lianhua answered and stepped closer.
"I talked with him. I told him I never loved him. But he didn’t give up. He begged to believe him. He said Su Jiyai’s story was twisted. He looked so desperate that I almost laughed."
Su Jiyai finally raised her eyes. Her calm gaze fell on Lianhua. "And then?"
Lianhua sat down across from her and crossed her arms.
"Then he tried to explain. He said he was forced by your adoptive sister, that he was innocent, and that he never wanted to hurt you. Honestly, he acted like a victim. I think he believes his own lies."
Su Jiyai leaned back in her chair. "Of course he would. n like him always think they can change the truth by acting pitiful."
Lianhua tilted her head. "So... should I just confront him? Tell him directly I know the truth?"
But Su Jiyai shook her head slowly. "No. If he has gone this far, then it’s better to let him completely destroy himself. He needs to feel crushed. That will be the real revenge."
Lianhua’s eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh? You already have a plan?"
Su Jiyai smirked faintly. "Yes. Just play along with him. Make him believe he still has a chance."
Lianhua chuckled. "I like this. Fine, I’ll do it."
The next morning, Ou Lin stood nervously at the old eting spot. He kept pacing back and forth, glancing around as if afraid she would not show up.
When he finally saw Lianhua walking toward him, dressed in a light blue dress, his whole face lit up.
"Lianhua!" he called happily. "You ca! I was waiting all night to hear your answer."
She stopped in front of him, her face looking a little pained.
"Ou Lin... before I answer, I want to ask sothing. Yesterday, you said you were innocent. That you were forced. Are you really telling the truth? Or do you have any proof to show ?"
Ou Lin’s heart jumped. He quickly nodded. "Yes, I do! I really do!"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded cloth. He held it out carefully, like it was treasure.
"This is Su Jiyai’s handkerchief. I kept it all these years. Even when I was suffering, I never forgot her. I thought of her every ti. This is proof that I truly loved her."
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