"Cough cough."

Shen Beitang clutched her neck, which was throbbing from being pinched, in that instant.

She didn't even doubt that Gu Zhun's claim of killing her was a lie.

In the last second before all the air was drawn out, Gu Zhun slowly released his hand.

Shen Beitang collapsed softly to the ground, like a fallen leaf crushed under someone's foot.

"Gu Zhun, you're a madman!"

Gu Zhun rubbed his fingers together, his expression one of ecstasy as if he were recalling the thrill of his prey struggling in his hands.

"Madman? I like that word."

He strode up to Shen Beitang, lifted her up again, and carefully looked at her face, which was on the verge of collapse.

"So, behave yourself, or I can't guarantee whether Ms. Zhou will be able to return from her vacation safely, or whether the Shen family will go bankrupt."

After saying that, he chuckled and turned to leave, casually throwing all the spice bottles in the kitchen into the trash can.

Shen Beitang sat in the huge living room, where every inch of air felt so cold that it suffocated her.

The scene of Gu Zhun smiling and cooking for her a few days ago still seems to be right before my eyes.

"jingle--"

The ringing of the phone interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Su Yiquan.

"Miss Chen, how have you been lately? Have you two been... hehehehe."

Su Yiquan couldn't hide his gossipy nature, and his words were full of sly smiles.

Strangely, the phone only made a buzzing sound, and after a while, I thought I had dialed the wrong number.

Just as he was about to hang up, Shen Beitang's weak voice rang out.

"Dr. Su."

Su Yiquan breathed a sigh of relief and began to inquire about Gu Zhun's condition with great seriousness.

"Um, have you been doing any rehabilitation therapy lately? Is Gu Zhun still experiencing erectile dysfunction?"

Shen Beitang gave a bitter smile. Does it still matter whether he can get an erection or not?

The current focus is on whether treatment can continue since the patient has become mentally unstable.

Shen Beitang recalled that all the changes happened on Christmas Day, which was also Gu Zhun's birthday.

Judging from how familiar Su Yiquan and Gu Zhun are, they might know something.

"Dr. Su, does Gu Zhun dislike celebrating his birthday?"

"Aaaaaah!"

Su Yiquan made a sharp, piercing sound through the phone. If the phone hadn't been taken away in time, Shen Beitang suspected he would have gone deaf.

"How could you mention birthdays in front of Gu Zhun! That's his Achilles' heel!"

He recalled that three years ago, an arrogant business partner tried to improve Gu Zhun's relationship with him.

They even took it upon themselves to prepare a birthday party for Gu Zhun.

At that moment, Gu Zhun's eyes were so cold it was as if one had entered an ice cellar, and everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

And that clueless business partner even brought in several bunny girls, supposedly to entertain Gu Zhun.

In any case, he never saw that person again after that, and no one dared to ask.

So afterwards, everyone in the industry knew that birthdays were a taboo subject for Gu Zhun; whoever touched one would die...

"My little darling, are you... alright now?"

Su Yiquan asked nervously, fearing that this might be Shen Beitang's last phone call.

"I'm fine."

In front of the mirror, Shen Beitang touched his neck, which bore the handprint. He wasn't dead, so he should be considered alright.

Do you know why Gu Zhun doesn't like celebrating his birthday?

Su Yiquan sighed, "Don't blame him. After what happened, it's a miracle he didn't go crazy."

——

She can now conclude that Gu Zhun's sudden change in temperament is the primary cause of the abnormal stimulation system.

The culprit behind Gu Zhun's drastic change in personality turned out to be himself...

Shen Beitang remained motionless for a long time, staring at the suitcase that Gu Zhun had kicked over.

With her own abilities, she could easily find a place where no one could find her, hide away, and live a secluded life from then on.

but……

Shen Beitang stepped forward and threw the damaged suitcase and mud-stained clothes into the trash can.

"I only cursed you a few times while reading a book, is it really necessary to torment me like this now?"

Shen Beitang finally decided that cause and effect are cyclical, and since she was the one who caused all of this.

At most, I'll wait until Gu Zhun recovers, then I'll leave without a second thought.

...

Shen Beitang tiptoed upstairs, the bedroom door slightly ajar.

She peeked through the crack in the door and saw a dark figure lying motionless on the bed, probably asleep.

Gu Zhun lay curled up on the outermost edge of the bed, like a newborn baby.

Perhaps he was dreaming about something again, because his brows were constantly furrowed and his lips were pressed into a straight line.

I wonder if Gu Zhun 10 years ago was also curled up in bed crying silently, just like he is now.

As far back as Gu Zhun can remember, Lin Shuang has been imprisoned at home by Gu Jingtian.

The windows were sealed shut with thick iron plates, preventing any sunlight from getting in. Servants delivered the three meals a day to the family.

Lin Shuang's eyes have been blind for a long time due to lack of light exposure.

Gu Zhun could only see his mother once a day when he came home from school.

However, their daily meetings always ended with Gu Jingtian citing Lin Shuang's poor health.

Young Gu Zhun didn't understand why his mother always seemed so sad.

Gu Jingtian disguised himself very well in front of him, and Gu Zhun did not notice a single clue.

Until his 15th birthday.

Lin Shuang smiled and told him that she would be free from now on and could stay by his side every day.

Gu Zhun was already a young man at the time, but he was still overjoyed.

Lin Shuang asked to hug him again, but he shyly refused.

This became a lifelong regret for Gu Zhun...

On the day of the birthday banquet, it snowed heavily, and Gu Jingtian generously prepared a grand birthday banquet for Gu Zhun.

Gu Zhun also instructed the servants to plant the bellflowers that Lin Shuang liked the most in the garden, so that his mother would be happy to see them.

The cake that day was also a strawberry jam cream cake, and it was a full five layers high.

No matter how much others urged him, Gu Zhun kept waiting for Lin Shuang.

Because Lin Shuang had promised him that she would stay with him while he cut the cake.

However, half an hour had passed since the agreed time, and Lin Shuang was still nowhere to be seen.

Just as Gu Zhun picked up the knife and walked towards the cake.

Screams, the sound of heavy objects hitting the ground, and the sound of cake being crushed filled his ears.

Lin Shuang, dressed in white, jumped off the roof and landed right on the birthday cake.

Gu Zhun looked at the cake in front of him, which was now stained red, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether the red was Lin Shuang's blood or the strawberry jam on the cake.

Gu Jingtian shouted for people to carry Lin Shuang's body away, and also covered Gu Zhun's eyes.

He remembered Gu Jingtian coldly saying in his ear, "Gu Zhun, remember this: it was your mother who didn't want you first."

...

After Gu Jingtian's death, Gu Zhun reviewed Lin Shuang's autopsy report.

The text states that Lin Shuang had multiple signs of abuse on her body, and her hands were cut and mangled from trying to pry open the iron bars on the window.

When he landed, Lin Shuang was still alive. As she was being carried away, he clearly saw her speaking.

"Xiao Zhun, Mommy loves you."