The hourglass tilted gently, and the crystal-clear sand, like a group of well-trained dancers, flowed down slowly and steadily.

Each grain seems to be imbued with a soul, a tangible embodiment of time, carrying an invisible power that silently slips away between people's fingers, leaving only emptiness and melancholy.

The reality, however, is like a train that has derailed and plunged into the depths of a swamp. The train is severely tilted and stuck in the mud in a twisted posture, with thick smoke billowing from its chimney, like a desperate cry.

It went against everyone's expectations, not only failing to move in the right direction, but even the slightest sign of improvement was like a glimmer of light in the deep sea, unreachable and impossible to see.

Xia Wan stood motionless, like a statue frozen in anxiety.

She was extremely anxious, as if a million ants were crawling and gnawing at her heart.

She subconsciously bit her lower lip, the action carrying a hint of stubbornness and unwillingness. Her originally fair and jade-like cheeks flushed with an unnatural red due to anxiety, just like the sunset clouds dyed red by fire on the horizon.

She knew perfectly well, better than anyone else present, that this stalemate could not continue any longer.

With every second of delay, the glimmer of hope that awakens Xia Shuhua's soul grows weaker, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Looking back on her journey, overcoming numerous obstacles and difficulties, those past scenes flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

Traversing dark and deep forests, climbing steep and treacherous peaks, and dodging sudden dangers, every step is soaked with sweat and hardship.

She had gone through countless hardships to get here, not to watch Zhou Jing throw a tantrum and cause trouble, disrupting the already heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

Her mission, from beginning to end, has only been one: to awaken Xia Shuhua's soul, which has been slumbering in the abyss of darkness, and to break free from the long-standing shackles of darkness.

Xia Wan slowly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly like butterfly wings, just like petals gently swaying in the wind.

Her chest heaved violently as she took deep breaths, trying to forcefully suppress the turmoil surging within her.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment. A few seconds later, she suddenly opened her eyes, a resolute glint flashing in them, like a shooting star streaking across the sky in the cold night, carrying the fearless spirit of burning one's boats and fighting with one's back to the wall.

She knew that if she didn't act now and allowed the situation to continue to deteriorate, it would only become more and more uncontrollable, plunging her into an abyss of no return.

Therefore, we must go all out and do everything we can to find a way out of this predicament.

Once the thought was made up, Xia Wan seemed to have been put on a start button, turning around abruptly with hurried and disordered steps, just like a frantically fleeing deer.

The "tap-tap" of footsteps was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, each sound like a tap on everyone's heart.

She walked quickly to the table next to her. The table was covered with a thin layer of dust, which, under the dim light, seemed to be coated with the vicissitudes of time, adding to the sense of antiquity accumulated over the years.

Xia Wan reached out her hand, which trembled slightly, filled with barely suppressed tension and anticipation. Her fingertips trembled as she picked up the diary she had found in Xia Shuhua's old belongings.

This diary contains every detail of Xia Shuhua's past, and each page is like a door to the past.

The paper has turned slightly yellow, as if it has been gently touched by the years, and has been stained with an old color, like the yellowing leaves in late autumn, carrying a faint sense of nostalgia; the edges are badly worn, with fine wrinkles, as if they are kisses left by the years, whispering about the countless days and nights that have passed, carrying those past moments of laughter, sadness, and emotion.

Xia Wan gripped the diary tightly in both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force, as if she had grasped at the last straw.

She strode up to Zhou Jing, her eyes resolute, and without the slightest hesitation, threw the diary heavily at her feet.

A sharp "snap" rang out, sounding particularly abrupt in the otherwise quiet room, where you could hear a pin drop. It was like a thunderclap exploding in your ear. The sound startled the dust off the rafters, as if the entire room was trembling from the force of the impact.

At that moment, Zhou Jing was standing to the side, her eyes darting around. Sometimes she would glance at the slightly gloomy sky outside the window, as if searching for a chance to escape; other times she would stare at the ground, as if plotting some unspeakable secret.

Startled by this sudden action, he trembled all over, as if he had been electrocuted, and his body involuntarily took half a step back.

She subconsciously frowned, a flash of anger crossing her face. Her expression was like the dark clouds before a storm, her lips drooping, her teeth grinding together, as if she were about to erupt like a volcano.

But just then, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck his mind, and a sliver of reason instantly returned.

She knew very well that the previous commotion had already made the Xia family extremely wary of her. If she continued to act recklessly, she might slip up and be exposed, putting herself in an even more unfavorable situation.

She didn't want all her efforts to be in vain and end up in a miserable state. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but shudder.

So Zhou Jingqiang suppressed the raging anger in his heart, as if he were suppressing a ferocious beast.

She pursed her lips, a very unnatural curve forming at the corners of her mouth; the smile was uglier than a grimace.

Feigning composure, she slowly bent down to pick up the diary from the ground. Every movement she made was cautious, as if walking through a minefield, repeatedly checking for safety with each step.

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