"…Song Xi."
He stiffened, his entire body rigid with nervousness. After a moment's thought, he pulled the car over to the side of the road.
"Have you ever thought about living a different kind of life?"
Perhaps sensing something, Song Xi smiled and followed his lead, asking, "What kind?"
Seeing that she hadn't immediately refused, a flicker of hope ignited in Ye Hai's eyes.
His voice grew urgent as he painted a picture of the future for her.
"Go abroad! Go somewhere no one knows you. You can start over. I know participating in reality shows isn't what you like, but I can help you find top-tier schools for further study. There are many opportunities overseas. You can get close to Hollywood, and you can become the most popular and talented actress. Most importantly, you can escape him. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Every word he spoke resonated with her. If Song Xi had been a little more heartless, she might have agreed.
"Ye Hai, have you forgotten… I have a younger brother?"
Ye Hai felt a moment of enlightenment, but quickly devised a solution. "It's fine! If you want him to stay in the country, I can hire the best caregivers to look after him twenty-four hours a day, in shifts. If you can't bear to leave him, I can bring him along with you. Don't worry, as long as you agree, I can handle everything."
His words were sincere, his tone earnest.
Song Xi had to admit that for a fleeting moment, she was tempted. Yet, she also knew the price of agreeing to all this.
Because she couldn't give Ye Hai what he desired, it would ultimately be a form of harm to him.
"Ye Hai," Song Xi didn't know how to phrase it. She felt her next words would be cruel, so she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.
"Thank you for your kindness, but… I can't."
Though he had expected it, hearing it spoken from her lips still brought Ye Hai inevitable sadness and a sense of defeat.
His voice trembled, "Why?"
Before Song Xi could answer, he seemed to guess the reason and said directly, "Is it because of him?"
Song Xi sighed softly. "Yes, but also no."
"What you're offering is certainly good, and it would save me a lot of time. But some things need to be achieved step by step on one's own. And him… I admit, I like him. So, I'm sorry."
Ye Hai couldn't understand what was so good about Lou Yu Ming!
He wanted to question Song Xi, he even wished he could abduct her and present her with a fait accompli. But he knew that if he did, their friendship would be over, and it might even implicate Xiao Tian.
Song Xi was the person Xiao Tian trusted most. He couldn't destroy their bond like that.
At that moment, Ye Hai felt a heaviness and helplessness he had never experienced before.
He nodded. "Alright."
Song Xi opened the car door and got out.
"Song Xi," Ye Hai's voice was hoarse. "I wish you happiness."
Song Xi gave him a faint smile. "You too."
In that instant, the sunlight was perfect, and her bright smile was etched deeply into Ye Hai's mind. He thought he would never fall for another woman in his life.
Song Xi wandered around outside for a few hours, wearing a mask.
She had gotten into Ye Hai's car. Even without thinking, she could imagine how angry Lou Yu Ming must be right now. So, it was better to return after his temper had cooled.
During this time, Song Xi received a call from an unknown number.
At first, she thought it was a wrong number, but then she heard a familiar female voice.
"Help!"
It was Mi Xuan!
Song Xi's gaze instantly turned sharp.
She found a quiet corner and lowered her voice, "Who is this!"
The other party's voice was distorted, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female, but their intentions were clearly malicious.
"Song Xi, you have one hour to get here. No calling the police, and don't tell anyone! I'll be watching you from the shadows!"
Song Xi's brow furrowed. She naturally didn't believe the caller's words.
She walked briskly along the road, intending to head to the police station. Suddenly, a piercing scream from Mi Xuan rang out from the phone.
The caller's voice was cold and ruthless, "I told you, no calling the police!"
How did they know she was heading to the police station?
Were they really watching her all along?
Song Xi's scalp tingled, and her expression became serious. "What exactly do you want!"
"One hour. If you don't come, you can wait to collect Mi Xuan's corpse!"
*Snap!*
The call was disconnected.
Who was it?!
Song Xi dared not act rashly. Since the other party seemed to know her every move, it meant they were either secretly tracking her or had tampered with her phone. She needed to rule out possibilities.
So, Song Xi looked at the address the other party had sent and deliberately took a circuitous route. During this time, she didn't notice anyone following her, which led her to believe the problem lay with the phone!
An idea struck her. She quietly turned off her phone, then quickly said to the driver in the front, "Uncle, could I borrow your phone to make a call? My phone is dead."
The driver looked wary. "Then how will you pay later?"
"Don't worry, I'll have a friend meet me at the intersection."
Reassured, the driver handed his phone to Song Xi. "You look rather familiar."
Song Xi feigned calmness. "Haha, some people say I look like a celebrity."
Once she had the phone, Song Xi immediately called the police and explained the situation. Then, she called Lou Yu Ming.
But he didn't answer. She figured it was either an unknown number, or he was still angry and hadn't checked his phone. Regardless, as the police had advised, she still had to head to the abandoned factory and not alert the other party.
Although the police were constantly reassuring and encouraging her, Song Xi was still afraid. That was why she had called Lou Yu Ming, perhaps seeking a sliver of security from him.
After hanging up, Song Xi deleted the call log, fearing the driver might see the "110" and get scared.
She also turned her phone back on. The entire process took three minutes. Given how she had raced against time, the other party shouldn't have noticed any flaws.