His chest heaved violently, his breathing and heartbeat falling into an erratic rhythm. His mind was blank, clouded with confusion, yet his running pace never slowed.

Even though each gasp for air felt impossible, even though his heart pounded so hard it echoed in his ears, the world around him seemed frozen in place...

Just a few hours ago, everything had been fine.

Just before he left, he had asked her to give him some time—to let him cool off.

And back then, she had smiled at him, nodding in agreement.

His footsteps came to an abrupt halt. The lakeside was already swarmed with people, their phones raised behind the police tape, their murmurs never ceasing.

Behind the tape, a soaked white cloth covered...

Long Aotian stared numbly, his hollow gaze turning vacant in an instant.

He wanted to step forward—maybe this was just a misunderstanding, an accident—but his legs had turned to stone, refusing to move.

Just a few hours ago, none of this had been real. Just a few hours...

"Damn it!"

His rigid body lurched forward uncontrollably.

"Long Aotian, why don’t you just drop dead?!" A voice, raw with fury, roared in his ears as his collar was yanked violently.

His empty eyes slowly focused. Standing before him were Huang Fei and Xu Shuai.

They were pulling at each other, saying something—but he couldn’t hear them. Everything had gone silent.

Another voice cut through.

Then he felt himself being dragged, followed by the sound of sobbing.

His chaotic mind suddenly became eerily calm.

"Wan Ning."

"Are you okay? Does it hurt...?" Lin Wanning’s worried voice drifted faintly into his ears.

The crowd was dispersed.

Long Aotian was helped to his feet.

......

"Quiet down! This isn’t the place for arguments or tantrums!"

Inside the police station.

After a brief round of questioning, everyone who had interacted with Shen Mengjie in the past two days was gathered together.

The officer glanced at Huang Fei, then at Long Aotian, unsure of what to say next.

From the information gathered, the boy seemed pitiable—but only in the most literal sense.

His grief was understandable, but this was a place of order, not a marketplace.

Hospital surveillance footage showed the fight, the three boys leaving first—Huang Fei and the others.

Then Long Aotian left.

Two hours later, Shen Mengjie walked out alone.

Alibis were confirmed for everyone involved.

"We’ve brought you all here for one reason. Based on the evidence, this was a suicide."

At this, the officer pulled out a phone.

"This was left by the deceased on the shore. There’s something on it you all should see."

The video played.

Shen Mengjie’s face appeared on the screen.

She had changed into clean, pretty clothes, wearing just a touch of makeup—like she was heading out for a casual day out.

With her brightest smile, she whispered, "I’m sorry."

She had recorded this in advance, explaining everything in her own words.

She thanked Wang Lijuan, thanked Han Xiaojing, thanked everyone.

She even thanked Huang Fei, calling him a big idiot before mimicking his voice in a playful tone: "Ahem, hey beautiful (flipping her hair), you’re pretty—mind giving me your number?"

After saying this, she made a gesture only Huang Fei would recognize—holding an imaginary apple, subtly showing it off.

No one else understood.

Huang Fei, who had been seething with rage just moments ago, burst into laughter—then tears, completely uncontrollable.

This was how they’d first met.

Seeing it reenacted, he realized how ridiculous he must have looked back then—though at the time, he’d thought his confident approach was smooth as hell.

"Ooooh, are you crying?" As if she’d predicted it, Shen Mengjie rubbed her cheek teasingly in the video. "So embarrassing..."

"Don’t be such an idiot. Stop giving your heart away so easily—being a simp isn’t cute..."

Then Long Aotian’s name was mentioned.

She took a deep breath, speaking like an old friend.

In a shy, girlish tone, she confessed little secrets—when she first fell for him, when she’d catch herself staring, even explaining everything that happened on sports day...

"Anyway, master hunter Shen Mengjie failed this time. But this time—I won’t wait for you anymore. I’m going somewhere no one can find me. A place with no pain, no sadness... and no you."

Her voice grew quieter, heavier. "I’m sorry to him/her. But I just... couldn’t hold on anymore. I thought I was stronger than this. I’m sorry..."

When the video ended, the officer spoke solemnly.

"In a very short time, she endured too much. The emotions piled up, becoming an unbearable weight that crushed her."

"Every person has a breaking point. Once crossed, the mind shatters."

The investigation, along with the evidence Shen Mengjie left in the video, proved she had fought hard.

The tragedies of her childhood hadn’t broken her. The hardships of life hadn’t broken her. But when the nightmares of her past resurfaced, mercilessly stealing everything she cherished...

Expulsion, ruined reputation, endless rumors...

No one—not even a man—could withstand that.

The officer put the phone away. His words were meant to clarify: this was suicide, the conclusion of their investigation.

Hearing this, the room filled with grief—each person mourning in their own way.

Only Long Aotian remained motionless, his expression unchanging.

Then a shrill, hateful voice pierced the air.

After watching the video, after learning everything Shen Xiu had done—the childhood scars she’d inflicted—

Huang Fei roared curses. And he wasn’t alone. Everyone’s fury erupted at the sight of Shen Xiu.

If not for her relentless pressure, if not for her spreading vicious lies at school—Shen Mengjie would never have chosen this path.

If the officers hadn’t restrained them, they would’ve lunged at Shen Xiu, striking her down without hesitation.

Suddenly finding herself the target of hostility from a group of young people, Shen Xiu instinctively felt fear. Recalling the words the police officer had said while escorting her earlier, she was momentarily at a loss—until she saw the video recorded by Shen Mengjie. Then she burst into loud sobs, shedding crocodile tears...