Ah Yu Apartment
The night was as dark as ink, and the city's neon lights cast dappled shadows on the streets through the windowpanes. Zhong Hua dragged her exhausted body, clutching her spare access card tightly in her hand, as if it were her last resort. She slowly walked to the apartment door, gently pressing the card against the sensor. With a "beep," the door slowly opened, and soft light poured out from inside. However, the space, which should have been familiar, was now filled with an indescribable sense of unfamiliarity.
As soon as she stepped inside, she caught a glimpse of a blurry figure in front of the French windows out of the corner of her eye. Zhong Hua's gaze was instantly drawn to it, her pupils dilated sharply, and she instinctively covered her mouth, letting out a suppressed "Ah..." from deep in her throat.
Lin Wanqing stood gracefully before the floor-to-ceiling window, her back to Zhong Hua. The city nightscape outside was like a dazzling painting, making her appear even more mysterious and captivating. Ah Yu stood quietly behind her, intently fiddling with the clasp of the necklace around her neck, her delicate movements as if handling the most precious treasure in the world. The digital clock clearly displayed 22:07, emitting a faint, cool glow, seemingly a cold, indifferent observer of time in the silent space.
Ah Yu frowned, concentrating on dealing with the somewhat tight buckle, muttering to herself, "This buckle is a bit tight..." Her voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing the atmosphere before her.
Lin Wanqing tilted her head slightly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze: "Be careful, don't break it. This is a repurposed heirloom left by your mother, and it has great significance to me." She tilted her head back slightly, her slender neck gracefully curved, her eyes revealing a hint of pride and intoxication.
Zhong Hua's gaze instantly froze on the necklace around Lin Wanqing's neck. The necklace shimmered with a familiar yet blinding light under the lamp, like a sharp arrow piercing straight into her heart. She clearly remembered countless quiet nights when Ah Yu had tenderly embraced her, his eyes filled with deep affection and longing, telling her stories of her mother's belongings. Those memories, once the precious foundation of their love, now felt like sharp blades, stabbing her heart again and again.
Zhong Hua's body began to tremble slightly, and her voice, filled with barely concealed anger and disbelief, squeezed out from her trembling lips: "What...what are you doing?"
This sudden question, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, shattered the tranquility. Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing were both startled; Ah Yu instinctively released her grip. With a "thud," the necklace pendant fell to the ground, its crisp sound abruptly echoing in the silent room like a resounding bell, reverberating in Zhong Hua's ears, as if striking her already shattered heart. Her heart pounded rapidly, like a beating war drum, each beat violently assaulting her fragile nerves, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Ah Yu turned around in a panic, and when he saw Zhong Hua at the door, a flash of panic and guilt crossed his eyes, and his lips trembled slightly: "Zhong Hua, you... why are you here?"
Zhong Hua's eyes were already red, tears welling up, and her voice trembled with sobs as she cried out, almost collapsing, "Didn't you say you were going to work overtime until ten o'clock tonight? Is this what you call working overtime?" Her gaze was piercing, fixed on the necklace around Lin Wanqing's neck, as if trying to see right through it: "And the necklace around her neck, why is it with her?"
Ah Yu opened her mouth, trying to explain, but something seemed to choke her throat. A thousand words reached her lips, yet she was speechless, only managing to utter a single, indistinct syllable: "I..."
Lin Wanqing's lips curled up slightly, a smug smile appearing on her face. She slowly turned around to face Zhong Hua, her eyes full of provocation: "Miss Zhong, you don't know this, do you? This necklace and jade have already been given to me. After all, our relationship is not as simple as you think."
Zhong Hua glared at Lin Wanqing, his eyes seeming to spit fire, then quickly turned his gaze to Ah Yu, his voice tinged with despair: "Is it true? You actually gave her your mother's belongings?"
Ah Yu lowered her head, not daring to look directly into Zhong Hua's eyes, which were filled with pain and anger. Her voice was low and hoarse: "Zhong Hua, things aren't as they seem. Let me explain..."
However, Zhong Hua's tears had already welled up. She abruptly interrupted Ah Yu, shouting hoarsely, "What else is there to explain? Isn't what I saw clear enough?" As she spoke, she bent down and tremblingly picked up the necklace pendant from the ground, clutching it tightly in her hand as if trying to embed it into her palm: "This is your betrayal of our relationship!" With that, she resolutely turned around and rushed out of the house, leaving Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing inside.
Ah Yu instinctively wanted to chase after her, but Lin Wanqing grabbed her arm. Lin Wanqing looked at Ah Yu coldly, her eyes carrying a warning: "Don't forget our plan. If you chase after her now, everything will be for nothing."
Ah Yu stared in the direction Zhong Hua had left, her eyes filled with pain and helplessness. Her lips moved, and she managed to squeeze out a weak syllable: "But..."
Lin Wanqing leaned closer to Ah Yu, lowered her voice, and whispered like a viper spitting its tongue, "No buts. If you want to find out the truth, you have to follow the plan. She's just a sacrifice. You can't let her ruin everything."
Ah Yu clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, his heart filled with struggle and pain. His mind was in a frantic battle between emotion and reason, but in the end, reason prevailed. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes gradually turning cold and resolute.
At that moment, Zhong Hua, leaning against the wall outside the door, slowly slid down, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks and dripping onto the cold floor. Her heart seemed to shatter completely in that instant; the beautiful love she once shared, like a dazzling bubble, had vanished without a trace under the impact of reality. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, leaving only her soft sobs echoing in the silent corridor, telling of endless sorrow and despair.
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