Volume 1 Chapter 6 Eagerly Donning a Green Hat

Just as my vision blurred and my consciousness began to slip away, I suddenly felt an intense chill wash over my entire body, followed immediately by a stinging, burning pain on my face.

I had been soaked to the bone by a basin of cold water.

The sensation of being forced back into consciousness was no better than the agonizing pain in my chest. Soaked and shivering, I gritted my teeth, refusing to cry out.

"What, do you want me to beat you to death so you can atone for your sins?" Su Qingya’s voice was beautiful, yet every word felt like a poison-tipped ice blade.

"Gu Ze, don't dream. I have plenty of ways to make your life worse than death!"

"I..." I murmured, unable to form a complete sentence.

Su Qingya dragged and shoved me into the car. In the moment before she started the engine, she slapped me again, saying, "Without my permission, you are not allowed to pass out!"

Qingya drove fast. I forced myself to stay alert, sitting in the passenger seat, lost in a daze of memories.

When Fu Huaijin was still alive, Qingya had once driven me like this. The speed was so high that the scenery outside the window blurred into a streak. I hadn't dared to open my eyes, and for that, Qingya had teased me.

Even though I was mocked, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the warmth of her smile, which shone like the summer sun.

Who would have thought that the girl who was meant to spend the rest of her life in brilliance and ease would now be blinded by hatred, and that I, too...

When the car stopped, I was struck with disbelief.

Qingya... had brought me home?

Why?

Does she know about my illness? Or does she simply want to keep me by her side to continue the torture?

Su Qingya didn't even glance at me. She signaled the butler, who had been waiting, to haul me into the attic on the top floor of the villa.

Just as she was about to leave, I called out to her.

"Qingya, let’s get a divorce."

"...Divorce?" Su Qingya looked at me as if I were a monster.

"Yes, divorce."

I had always thought I wouldn't be able to say it, but to my surprise, the words didn't feel as difficult to utter as I had imagined.

"We divorce, and then you can build a home with your lover and live the life you want."

"Live the life I want?" Su Qingya sneered. "Gu Ze, has anyone ever told you how disgusting your holier-than-thou act of putting others first really is?"

"But..." I said softly, "What if I am not acting? What if I am being perfectly serious when I say I want a divorce? I will leave with nothing; all the assets will be yours."

Seeing her still brow arched in suspicion, I showed her the chat history with my lawyer. "I have already had the divorce agreement drafted."

"Whenever you have time, let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau."

"Snap!" Before I could react, she had flung my phone away.

The screen shattered like a spiderweb, and sharp shards of glass scattered across the floor, glinting coldly under the pale light.

"You want to get rid of me this way? Gu Ze, you are thinking too lightly of this."

Su Qingya stared fixedly at me. "I will not divorce you. Unless you die, you will carry the weight of my pain—and Huaijin's pain—forever!"

"That will happen sooner than you think," I murmured with a smile.

Hearing this, Su Qingya was visibly stunned. "What does that mean?"

I looked at her and said calmly, "Because I am dying."

To my surprise, Su Qingya didn't show any joy. Her gaze was filled with even more scorn and disgust. "Trying to trick me into pitying you again? Gu Ze, you truly are base and pathetic."

Su Qingya lowered her head, her long, dark, beautiful hair falling before my eyes; she was so beautiful it was impossible to look away.

She smiled into my eyes, her words sharper than a blade: "Gu Ze, let me tell you, if a despicable, wretched person like you actually dies one day, not only will I not be sad, I will host a banquet and celebrate your early death with everyone!"

Every word she spoke hit like a heavy hammer. I felt a lump in my throat, unable to say anything more, and could only lower my eyes and agree, "That would be for the best."

Su Qingya sneered, said nothing more, and turned to slam the door shut.

I thought she was just venting, but soon, I heard the sound of the lock clicking into place.

I scrambled to the door in a panic and twisted the handle, but it was futile.

The door was locked tight, and the attic window was merely a narrow ventilation slit, far too small for an adult to pass through.

I had no choice but to pound on the door. "Qingya, let me out! This is illegal confinement!"

"Illegal confinement?" Qingya’s voice came from the other side. "As a murderer, how could I dare to confine you? I’m just having the butler 'take care' of you!"

"Uncle Zhao, watch him for me. Don't worry about him for the next two days, and don't let him out."

I wanted to say more, but a sharp, stabbing pain in my chest overwhelmed my consciousness, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, everything was the same—the pale light above making it impossible to tell how much time had passed.

Right, my phone.

I hurried to check the wreckage of the phone that had shattered on the floor. Fortunately, only the screen was badly damaged.

After I turned it on, messages pinged in one after another, almost all of them from Lu Feng.

Soon, Lu Feng called again. "Hey, finally! If you hadn't picked up, I was about to call the police!"

He was calling about my illness, I assumed.

"Liu Ying has agreed to treat you. Come over in a while for a full check-up."

It was indeed about that.

I tried to summon my energy, making my voice sound as normal as possible. "Lu Feng, I have some things to take care of these next few days. I'll come once this is over."

"What could be more important than your life?" Liu Ying's voice immediately cut in. Even through the phone, I could imagine her haughty, frustrated expression.

"Haha..." I gave a dry laugh, using the lawyer as a shield. "I’ve been in touch with a very capable lawyer; I want to get the divorce sorted out first. It would be bad if I changed my mind halfway through."

Lu Feng said anxiously, "But if you delay, your condition will only get worse!"

Looking at the locked door, I felt helpless and could only say half-jokingly, "I have faith in Dr. Liu's skills..."

"...She will definitely be able to drag me back from the hands of death!"

Sensing something was wrong with my tone, Liu Ying grew visibly anxious. "This disease isn't something you can just push through with willpower or anything else. Even conservative treatment requires a massive amount of medication!"

"Liu Ying... thank you. I'll come see you as soon as I'm done with this."

There was a silence on the line. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard Liu Ying’s mockery: "Fine, go ahead and tough it out. You’re scum anyway; you deserve to get this disease!"

"Liu Ying..." Lu Feng said, sounding suddenly displeased, "Even if you've had unpleasant history, that is not how a doctor should speak!"

"So what if I'm a doctor? He's not cooperating with the treatment; why are you yelling at me? If he survives, it’s a medical miracle. If he dies, the world will be one scum short!"

"He had eyes but couldn't see, choosing not to pick me and instead rushing to get himself cuckolded—he truly deserves to die!"

I didn't argue, because every word she said was true.

I even hoped she would always feel this way, so that even if I were to die, I wouldn't have any regrets.