CHAPTER 989: CHAPTER 989: XIAO YEHUI, GONE

The man’s steps were steady as he strode up to Li Qiao, his dark eyes fixed intently on her face.

At a close distance, Shang Yu forcefully grasped the back of Li Qiao’s neck, pressing down his handsome face and fervently capturing her lips.

Li Qiao was caught off guard, and the phone fell to the ground with a startling sound.

From their first meeting to falling in love, Li Qiao had witnessed Shang Yu’s episodes several times and knew how to comfort him.

But this time, things were different from all the others.

Because no matter how hard she tried to respond to the man, his grip remained unyielding.

It was like an outburst, like a loss of control, until her lips were bruised and bleeding.

He no longer restrained his emotions like before, making endless compromises to her, the almost biting force stained their lips with the taste of blood.

Li Qiao winced in pain, unable to push him away, no matter how hard she tried.

Until—

Shang Yu’s eyes were bloodshot, holding her bleeding lip corner, he hoarsely pronounced as if delivering a judgment, "You have no chance anymore."

Li Qiao frowned in pain, her nose filled with the man’s sharp, cold scent.

Shang Yu’s dry palm gripped her nape tightly, his actions almost rough, "You have no more chances."

A shiver ran through Li Qiao’s heart as she bit her blood-tainted red lips, carefully observing the man’s handsome face.

He might have had an episode; explanations or comfort were futile now.

Li Qiao swallowed, bent down to pick up her phone, and raising her head towards the door, "Hmm, got it, let’s go."

No words could dissipate the murderous aura surrounding the man.

He was probably angry at her for acting on her own, or for not consulting him.

Yet, before departing from the hospital, when she called him, he hid everything from her.

Not only that, but he also exploited the hacking skills of Red Guest to secretly alter all encrypted messages she received.

Had it not been for informants, she would now... be arranging for the Li family member’s funerals.

Li Qiao suppressed all her emotions, prepared to step out, but Shang Yu tightly wrapped his arm around her shoulders, lifting her up horizontally and bending low to instruct, "From now on, be obedient."

Those words inexplicably made Li Qiao’s eyes well up with tears.

She could easily detect the concern and affection in his tone, yet she deeply understood that the path ahead wouldn’t be easy.

...

Outside the building, the situation had nearly cleared up.

The conversation between Xiao Hongdao and Xiao Yehui had abruptly ended.

Xiao Yeyan, on the other hand, looked dazedly at his father. The years of scheming and manipulation, in the face of those harsh words, had obliterated all his beliefs.

He struggled to take a step forward but collapsed to the ground in agony from his debilitated body, "You’re truly cruel..."

Xiao Yeyan had always believed that if only he worked harder than Xiao Yehui, if only he excelled more than Xiao Yehui, his father would eventually notice his efforts.

At the age of his teens, he was brought back to the Ducal Residence, believing he was being given special attention.

Xiao Yeyan closed his eyes, a solitary tear trickled down his cheek, "Xiao Hongdao, you’re not human..."

His life was completely ruined here.

The Charlman Family had enjoyed a prestigious reputation for nearly a century, but now the two brothers were both injured and disabled, and the teenage Xiao Yening was trembling as she witnessed this scene.

She found her father very unfamiliar, very frightening, looked around, unable to find her mother to rely on for comfort.

Xiao Yening’s eyes were filled with panic, as she quivered and asked, "Where... is Mommy?"

Xiao Hongdao took a deep breath, turned his face away, and solemnly gazed into the distance, "You’ve enjoyed the glory of the Ducal Residence for all these years, seek your own path from now on."

Heartless and loveless, such was Xiao Hongdao’s nature.

Xiao Yening wept uncontrollably, crying out loud, "No, I want my Mommy, I want Mommy..."

She turned to Xiao Yehui, shaking his arm and sobbing, "Big brother, where’s Mommy, I want to find Mommy..."

Xiao Yehui stiffly moved his gaze to the teenage Xiao Yening, his eyes revealing a warm light, "Girls shouldn’t cry. You should learn to be strong, understand?"

Be like Li Qiao, strong and independent, wise and self-reliant.

Be like Xia Siyu, understanding, brave and resolute.

But not like him, indecisive and irresolute.

Xiao Yening cried uncontrollably, unsure of what had happened, yet feeling as if her home had disappeared.

Through the crowd, a path gradually opened as Shang Zonghai and Old George walked side by side, with He Chen and his brothers, along with Su Moshi following behind them.

Li Qiao emerged carried in Shang Yu’s arms.

The Border Seven Sons had officially reunited.

This historically significant Earthen Building was destined to witness the most heartbreaking scene.

Xiao Yehui looked at Li Qiao in Shang Yu’s arms, then turned to gaze at the other Border Five Sons.

He bowed his head and laughed, tears streaming down his face as he laughed.

Life was bitter, but at least all the light had arrived.

The Border Five Sons marched up to Xiao Yehui, each with a complex expression as they regarded him.

Xiao Yehui, his eyes red, called out in sequence: "Lao Er, Lao San, Lao Si, Lao Wu, Lao Liu..."

Having always had the closest ties with him, Xia Siyu bit her lip, unable to hold back the tears overflowing from her eyes.

Xiao Yehui tremblingly extended his only remaining right hand, palm up, as if anticipating something.

Xia Siyu was the first to place her hand on his palm, whispering between trembling lips, "Huizai..."

Soon after, the others also placed their hands over his.

Xiao Yehui’s tears wouldn’t stop flowing, his eyes particularly clear after being washed by them.

He looked around at everyone, finally meeting Yin Mo’s gaze, and said softly, these years, I’ve been unfair to you.

Yin Mo clenched her hand, her voice hoarse, "I won’t forgive you, but I don’t blame you anymore."

Tears mixed with a smile on Xiao Yehui’s face, he slowly turned his head towards Li Qiao, whose lips were stained with blood, the brightest light in his life.

He deeply smiled, his voice tender and gentle, "Xiao Qi, take me to the Western Hills."

Li Qiao clung tightly to Shang Yu’s arm and nodded with red eyes, "Alright..."

Actually, those six stacked hands were still waiting for her to draw a conclusion.

But Shang Yu wouldn’t let her go.

Li Qiao met Xiao Yehui’s gaze from afar, sensing his intent, she couldn’t stop him in time, only closing her eyes and hearing that gunshot, the air still lingering with his last whisper, "Goodbye."

At the moment Xiao Yehui let go of his hand, he retrieved a gun from beneath the wheelchair and aimed it at his own temple, ending his pitiful life.

At the last moment he closed his eyes, the image of that Cenotaph at the Star World West Mountain resurfaced in his mind.

Everything had been predetermined; he was a man destined to die, yet he had clung to life for three and a half years more.

"Big brother..."

Xiao Yening watched Xiao Yehui take his own life, the most devastating scene blocked from her view by someone’s hand over her eyes, pushing her into the people behind.

Xiao Hongdao cried out in a low roar, "Ah Hui—"

Xiao Yehui was determined to die, no one could stop him.