Just as Mu Yiran was about to retreat back to her room to attend to her business, she remembered something and peeked out.

"Brother, when will Cheng Li's verdict be released? I heard he'll be transferred to the city detention center soon."

Cheng Yuan paused in her steps, and after a long while shook her head, "I don't know either. Don't worry about it, just follow the procedure."

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk about Cheng Li, it was clear that he had been hurt badly by Cheng Li's family. Mu Yiran sighed and didn't say anything more, retreating back into her room.

She took the cello apart, and the glass soundboard, covered with diamonds, shimmered under the overhead light, swaying in an S-shape around the central piece of century-old spruce wood.

This is a custom-made electric cello.

Mu Yiran originally wanted to make a normal cello, but Shi Youxi's cello was already made of the finest materials, so Mu Yiran thought there was no need to make an exact copy.

I found a workshop and ordered this special electric cello, which is more decorative and more suitable as a gift.

She tested the sound, then placed her phone opposite her and started recording.

A simple song, "Happy Birthday," flowed out slowly with the deep and elegant sound of a cello.

She couldn't play the cello, so she secretly taught herself this song and recorded it several times before she became a little more proficient.

Actually, this was the gift she most wanted to give Shi Youxi on his real birthday.

Although Shi Youxi's birthday, according to his ID card, is today, August 5th, Mu Yiran remembers that on the first night of her first time traveling back in time, Shi Youxi told her that that day was his real birthday.

That day was August 23.

That will also be the day Cheng Ran dies.

Regardless of the day, Mu Yiran made two preparations.

She hesitated for a long time, but decided to tell Shi Youxi the truth later. If something really happened to her, the video she recorded would be sent along with the share transfer document as a way of wishing Shi Youxi a happy birthday on her behalf.

"Buzz, buzz—" The caller ID stopped the recording, and Mu Yiran answered the call.

"Li Buhuo? What brings you here so late?"

Mu Yiran put the bow back into the instrument case. Ai Ni, who was at the door, said she had to leave for a moment, and Mu Yiran responded loudly.

"Cheng Ran, where are you now!" Li Bu Huo's tone was a little urgent, and there was a lot of wind in the background.

"What are you trying to do?" Mu Yiran raised an eyebrow at his tone. "You're not going to ask me for funding, are you—"

"Cheng Li has been released on bail!"

Li Bu Huo roared on the other end of the phone, "I don't know how Su Tian did it, and Shi Bianji is with Su Tian too. Once she's released, she'll definitely try to shift the blame by pushing someone else to take the fall! Cheng Ran, do you understand? Don't look for Cheng Yuan yet. It's best to stay with Shi Yan right now. Shi Yan is only safe if you're with him!"

"......."

When the person on the other end went silent, Li Bu Huo's heart tightened. Just as he was about to call out to her, he heard a dry voice coming through the electronic music.

"Cheng Ran".

It's Su Tian's voice!

Su Tian was wearing loose clothes, her face, without makeup, was a mix of bluish and dark, her skin was dry, and her false eyelashes, which hadn't been touched up in a long time, were haphazardly draped over her loose eyelids.

Su Tian stared intently at the lavishly decorated suite, then sneered, "How carefree..."

Thinking about how she had been treated like a prisoner these past few days, begging for favors like a dog, while Cheng Ran, who had framed her family, was here, dressed in an elegant dress, drinking and enjoying herself in the hotel that originally belonged to her son, Su Tian's lips twitched twice, and her eyes looked at Cheng Ran with a dark and unfathomable gaze.

Mu Yiran held her phone behind her back, forcing herself to remain calm as she watched the woman walk out of one of the rooms.

"Aunt Su, what brings you here? Have you taken care of Second Brother's matter?"

Su Tian grinned maliciously, raised her chin and gestured towards Su Tian's right hand behind her back, "Didn't you already know?"

"......."

Li Bu Huo heard everything clearly on the other end of the phone and shouted loudly, ignoring everything else.

"Cheng Ran, run!"

Mu Yiran is definitely walking!

The door was right behind her, but Li Ziqi, who had appeared at the door at some point, shoved Mu Yiran and slapped her to the ground.

The phone was swiped, Su Tian picked it up and threw it into the fish pond in the room. The two of them simultaneously pressed down on Mu Yiran.

"Mom, let's hurry! That bodyguard could be back at any moment!" Li Ziqi held up a pungent-smelling handkerchief to cover her face.

Instead, a hard figurine came crashing down on its head!

"ah!"

"You bitch!" Seeing Li Ziqi lying unconscious to the side, Su Tian pounced on her and pinched Cheng Ran's face.

Looking at that beautiful face, she recalled the scene from more than ten years ago when Cheng Haochen, with a gloomy face, made her go abroad with Cheng Li.

"I will continue to pay you child support, but don't even think about the Cheng family or Mrs. Cheng. My wife can only be Mo Yan."

"Mo Yan! Mo Yan! You bitch! You stole my husband and now you want to harm my son!"

Su Tian's eyes were bloodshot: "Go to hell! Go to hell!"

Consumed by hatred, she suddenly exerted all her strength, gripping Mu Yiran tightly. Mu Yiran's face turned blue from the choking, and tears streamed down her face.

Just as I was choking on my breath, the pressure on my neck suddenly released!

"Cough cough!"

Chen Yiting helped her up, rubbing the woman's back with her hand, and asked with concern, "Mr. Cheng, are you alright?"

Mu Yiran blinked and saw Su Tian groaning on the ground. Li Ziqi struggled to get up, but was kicked by Chen Yiting and fell back down.

Chen Yiting's expression was cold and stern. "I knew they would do this! Mr. Cheng, come with me now."

Mu Yiran said breathlessly, "First, go and call Ai Ni, call security over! Keep it down, don't disrupt the banquet!"

"..."

Her eyes were filled with tears from suffocation, so she couldn't see the momentary twisting and madness on Chen Yiting's face after hearing those words.

Mu Yiran, feeling dizzy and disoriented, clung to her and walked out. After a few steps, she found that the corridor in front of her had become deep and long.

"Yi Ting? Where are we going? Leave me here and go call Ai Ni..."

At that moment, Mu Yiran felt the floor beneath her feet shake.

Just like that.

Mu Yiran's mind flashed back to Li Buhuo's words, and to Su Tian walking out of that suite—

"Shi Bianji went to Haishi with Cheng Yuan to attract investment."

"Shi Bianji is with Su Tian now!"

"Don't look for Cheng Yuan yet!"

How did Su Tian and Li Ziqi know which room she was in?!

Why is it that Cheng Yuan claims he doesn't know anything about Cheng Li's release on bail?

Why...why would Chen Yiting say she knew all along what Su Tian would do?!

Why, why?

Too many questions flooded her mind, jolting her awake.

Mu Yiran broke free from Chen Yiting's grasp.

The girl beside him stopped, her face still bearing the familiar, harmless smile that Mu Yiran knew so well.

"Mr. Cheng, what's wrong?"

A warm, spicy sensation rushed to Mu Yiran's nose, and goosebumps rose on her arms.

She ignored Chen Yiting; a strong sixth sense made her immediately turn around and run away!

She rushed out a few steps, and heard the heavy chimes of midnight echoing down the long corridor. Fireworks exploded by the window, and the last glimmer of brilliance filled Mu Yiran's pupils...

Then it was plunged into complete darkness.

Chen Yiting watched as the woman collapsed softly to the ground. She walked over, brushed away the woman's hair covering her face, wiped away the blood flowing from the tip of her nose, and licked it.

The scent made her heart race. Chen Yiting picked up the woman and dragged her along, murmuring as she walked:

"Young Master Cheng, Young Master Cheng, come with me! This place is about to collapse."

“...”

Banquet center.

Surrounded by people, Shi Youxi watched as the cake was slowly pushed up. It was a 16-tiered cake with a single candle flickering on top.

It looks like it could go out at any moment.

Helian Xin smiled coquettishly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at several invited entertainment reporters. She moved closer to the boy, affectionately taking the wine glass from his hand and shoving the long-handled knife into Shi Youxi's hand.

"When it's time to cut the cake, Youxi, I want that fondant figurine on top."

Helian Bochen quickly scolded, "Tsk, Xinxin, Xiaoxi is the birthday girl! It was one thing to steal before, but not this time."

Helian Xin stuck out her tongue playfully: "I forgot! Okay, then this time we'll save it for the birthday person."

Those around them exchanged glances, realizing that the alliance between the Shi and Helian families was indeed true.

Shi Si whispered a reminder from the side: "Young Master, cut the cake."

A sweet, pungent smell rushed in, and Shi Youxi snapped out of her reverie from the spark, subtly avoiding Helian Xin's touch.

He didn't intend to blow out the candle.

Blowing the whistle means your birthday has passed.

He wanted to save the 23rd for the day he spent with his sister.

Just as Shi Youxi was about to make a symbolic slash with the knife, the antique clock in the hotel atrium started to chime, followed by the booming sound of fireworks.

"Wow! Fireworks! Shi Youxi, look!" Helian Xin tried to pull the boy's sleeve to the French window, but he broke free.

Shi Youxi fixed her gaze ahead, strode into the crowd, and grabbed Ai Ni, who was running away, "What are you doing here! Where's my sister!"

Ai Ni was covered in sweat: "Young Master! I've been infected! I couldn't get through to Madam on the phone—"

The girl's voice was cut off by a huge tremor coming from the ground.

The two men's expressions tightened, and they both looked up at the crystal chandelier above them, which was shaking violently.

At the same time, screams followed:

"The wall has collapsed! Danger!"

"Run! The building is collapsing! Run!"

Shi Youxi's mind went blank, but her body reacted immediately, and she frantically ran towards the rest area.

"Sister..." Sister!

"A light is falling! Get out of the way!"

"Young master, be careful—"

A force from behind suddenly knocked Shi Youxi to the ground. In his pupils, he saw the shattered crystal chandelier, broken into pieces.