His hands hovered above Ying Miao's shoulders, and after several attempts, they failed to fall, instead clenching into fists and hanging at his sides.
The aged face had somehow lost the marks of time, transforming into a youthful and handsome appearance. The gray hair had turned into thick, black, medium-length hair, and the hunched back had straightened, enveloping the woman's body.
Intense emotions swirled in his eyes, but he restrained himself and suppressed them, daring not to reveal them.
"I'm sorry..." Ying Miao suddenly said in a trembling voice.
Qin Shaoji felt as if he had been burned by a flame and closed his eyes.
"If I had understood back then that desire and power cannot overcome true love, perhaps we wouldn't have ended up like this today." Ying Miao hugged him tightly, whispering her guilt and apology.
Qin Shaoji let her hug him, his eyes filled with a bitter smile and indifference that Ying Miao couldn't see.
It's too late, Ah Miao, it's already too late.
From the moment you chose to abandon me, the Qin Shaoji of the past died. What lives on now is merely a shell burdened with obsession.
Ying Miao suddenly looked up at him, her eyes reddening: "Don't do anything foolish. Even if you're obsessed with [fusion], take my advice and don't rush things."
Qin Shaoji's eyebrows and eyes resembled those of Qin Xuan, the patriarch of the Qin family, but were more rugged, and his unsmiling face appeared cold and aloof.
"Let's go back."
After Qin Shaoji finished speaking, he gently pushed the person in his arms away and turned to leave.
Taking three steps forward, he transforms back into that hunched-over, wrinkled old man.
With red eyes, Ying Miao watched him leave with lingering affection. Long after his figure disappeared from sight, she suddenly composed herself, all warmth and tenderness vanished, leaving only a calm and numb indifference.
She murmured softly, "Brother Qin, I've already tried to persuade you."
She glanced at her coat, tore it off, rolled it up, hugged it to her chest, leaned against the railing, and dialed her number.
Communication is established.
"It's me." Ying Miao's eyes were gentle, and her tone was tender.
The person on the other end didn't speak.
Ying Miao wasn't annoyed and said gently, "I've met Qin Shaoji. He is indeed secretly colluding with those people, and he will be using them to deal with Chang Le this time. But I can't be sure what the specific methods will be."
Still no one spoke. Ying Miao continued, "Do whatever you want, I'll take care of everything. But please be careful and don't get caught in the crossfire. Things are about to get chaotic up north, you should probably go back first..."
The call was disconnected.
Ying Miao sighed forlornly, as if she had aged considerably in an instant.
She glanced down at the clothes in her arms and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Karma."
She abandoned her lover to gain status and power, and in her old age, she lost her family because of that status and power.
Desire is a poison that drives people mad.
Qin Shaoji is not the only one who can't go back.
Ying Miao remained silent for a long time before finally composed herself and made another call.
Gu Lianghan's voice came from the other side.
Ying Miao said, "Little Gu, let the Zhu Men Base and District Eight prepare."
Gu Lianghan's expression hardened.
With both the Zhu Family Base and the Eighth District preparing simultaneously, there is only one entity that needs support—the Ninth District!
"Thank you for reminding me, I understand," Gu Lianghan said.
Ying Miao didn't say anything more and then hung up.
...
Ying Huaixia hung up the call and came out. When she met Ye Buqi, her expression still carried a hint of annoyance and coldness.
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