In the end, he managed to squeeze out only two words: "Sorry."

"Sorry?" Cheng Muyun seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He suddenly increased the pressure on Chen Hede's hand, almost tearing Chen Hede's collar. "You think you can get away with it with just an apology? Chen Hede, what do you take me for?"

Chen Hede felt a pang of bitterness at the rage in his eyes. He opened his mouth to explain, but before he could utter a single word, a fist came crashing down with a whoosh.

With a muffled thud, Cheng Muyun's fist landed squarely on Chen Hede's face.

Chen Hede felt half of his face go numb instantly, followed by a burning pain, and blood immediately seeped from the corner of his mouth.

He staggered back a few steps, bumping into the railing to regain his balance. He awkwardly raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, his fingertips instantly stained red.

"And all that effort I put into protecting you, hiding things from you so you wouldn't get involved in those dirty deeds!" Cheng Muyun gasped for breath, his chest heaving, his eyes bloodshot like spiderwebs. "Is this how you treat me? You kept it from me, lied to me, and treated me like a fool! Chen Hede, you really know how to play tricks!"

Chen Hede slowly straightened up from the deck, half of his face swollen, his voice carrying a strong smell of blood, yet weak and weary: "I know it's no use saying anything now... but at the time, I really had no choice."

Cheng Muyun clenched his fist, but stopped just before swinging it.

Xu Zhuohua stood in front of Chen Hede, arms outstretched, eyes defiant, and said in a hoarse voice, "Cheng Mu, you can't hit him anymore. You said you wouldn't pursue the matter."

Hearing Xu Zhuohua's hoarse voice, Cheng Muyun felt even more irritated.

"Zhuohua, he lied to all of us!"

Xu Zhuohua stubbornly said, "I told him not to tell anyone, so blame me if you have to!"

Cheng Muyun's eyes instantly reddened; he wanted to shoot Chen Hede dead.

He wouldn't have done those things back then if he hadn't mistakenly believed that Xu Zhuohua was dead.

No one knows how many times he contemplated suicide, picked up a gun, and then put it down again during those six months.

What if one day he actually fires a shot?

As Cheng Muyun's tears fell, Xu Zhuohua hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Cheng Muyun, please don't be angry."