Chapter 223: In the next life, I

The underground parking lot was dim; Zhao Xingtang sat beside Wen Ling, propping her chin as she looked at Wen Ling.

"You don't seem panicked?"

Wen Ling's lips twitched slightly, and she said lightly, "If you're nervous, can you let me go?"

Zhao Xingtang frowned, barely concealing her disgust, and said coldly, "Do you know? I hate the way you are—as the Wen family's sole heir, you have money, power, and love without lifting a finger, and you don't take anything seriously."

Wen Ling tilted her head to look at her, feigning confusion, and asked, "Isn't that so, Miss Zhao?"

"Hmph, the Zhao family's second branch looks glamorous on the surface but is actually filthy behind the scenes; the main branch has a special status, so some things can't be done, which is why our family handles the unsavory matters."

"……" Wen Ling furrowed her brows, feeling this was somewhat troublesome.

Zhao Xingtang snorted, withdrew her gaze, and said calmly, "Forget it; telling you all this is useless."

No sooner had she spoken than a noisy sound came from nearby, growing closer; Zhao Xingtang knew Zhou Yinghe and the others had arrived.

She stood up, arms crossed, watching the approaching figures in the distance, while the several black-clad men who had been standing behind her suddenly drew daggers and pressed them to Wen Ling's neck.

Wen Ling let out a light sigh, her gaze turning to the person she cared about most.

Zhou Yinghe's steps gradually halted; he stared blankly at the person he loved most, seeing her bound hand and foot, a heart-wrenching pain surged from his chest, and he gritted his teeth, staring at Zhao Xingtang, saying word by word, "What exactly do you want? Get to the point."

"Zhou Yinghe, I don't want to do anything either; I just want your Zhou family to watch a show." Zhao Xingtang chuckled, scanning everyone who had come with Zhou Yinghe, and declared loudly, "Today, even if I have to sacrifice my life and give up the Zhao family, I will drag that person down."

Having said that, she quietly looked at Qi Zhan and said guiltily, "Sorry, Qi Zhan; perhaps I initially thought of using you, but later I was sincere—I just can't……

Qi Zhan stepped forward and said coldly, "Zhao Xingtang, if there's anything, release Wen Ling first; the rest can be discussed. As long as she's freed, neither the Zhou nor the Wen family will hold it against you."

Zhao Xingtang scratched her hair, strands falling messily over her forehead, she shook her head and said slowly, "It's unnecessary, Cousin; this matter has nothing to do with my parents or brother. I hope you won't drag them in—let them go."

Zhao Ningyan's face had long been darkened; he stared fixedly at Zhao Xingtang, silently cursing her.

"You still aren't coming out?" Zhao Xingtang gritted her teeth and snarled, "You think that if you don't show up, I won't expose your dirty deeds!"

"Zhao Xingtang, you're utterly useless."

One person stepped out of the crowd, slowly standing before Zhao Xingtang, the corners of his mouth curled with a wanton smile.

"Zhou Jingyuan—" Zhou Yinghe cursed, unable to bear it; if not restrained, he would have rushed forward to kill him.

He trembled, saying word by word, "Release Wen Ling; I won't hold past matters against you."

Zhou Jingyuan shook his head and drawled, "This isn't under my control, Cousin; it's Zhao Xingtang who did it."

Wen Ling finally spoke, smiling as she asked, "Why do this? Zhao Xingtang has a reason—what about you?"

"Huh?" Zhou Jingyuan turned to her, puzzled, then suddenly chuckled, "I have no reason; you can take it as me being bored out of my mind."

The elders arrived by elevator; seeing this scene, Second Uncle Zhou and Second Lady Zhou asked doubtfully, "Jingyuan?"

"Dad, Mom, Uncle, Aunt, sorry."

He did offer a sincere apology, shrugged his shoulders, looked at Zhao Xingtang, and asked helplessly, "What exactly do you want? Get to the point—after all, the game is ending anyway."

"Zhou Jingyuan, do you really think I wouldn't know if you didn't tell them?" Zhao Xingtang glanced at Wen Ling, then turned her gaze to Zhou Yinghe, and said coldly, "Zhou Jingyuan's company has been researching a machine capable of time reversal; in fact, Wen Ling died long ago, killed by the family of Wen Lao's younger brother. It was he who turned back time, and it was he who gave Wen Ling her memories of before the reversal, bringing her back to find you."

"You should thank him, but do you know why he said the game is ending? Because that machine is about to be destroyed; you'll all have to return, Wen Ling will still abandon you, then die in the outskirts of M Country, and you, Zhou Yinghe, will marry Ruan MiaoMiao—that's the story you're meant to follow."

"He merely used you as test subjects for his machine; now that you're beyond his control, he can only destroy it and start over!"

Zhou Yinghe shook his head in anguish, locked eyes with Wen Ling, then dropped to his knees before Zhou Jingyuan and pleaded, "Brother, don't destroy it; don't let me lose her again—brother, I'm begging you."

Second Uncle Zhou roared, "Damn it!!"

Zhou Jingyuan looked down at Zhou Yinghe for a long while, then suddenly chuckled, "Xiao Wu, wouldn't going back be better? By then you'd have forgotten Wen Ling and married someone you later came to love—wouldn't that be nicer than now?"

"No, I only want her, Brother—don't destroy it……

"Too late." Wen Ling gave a light smile as tears slid down her cheeks, feeling her heart race so fast it almost stole her breath; with difficulty she whispered, "Baobao, come."

Zhou Yinghe stared blankly at her pallid face, heedless of everything, rushed forward, fumbled with the ropes, and tried to untie Wen Ling.

As the ropes loosened, Wen Ling flung herself into his arms, holding him tight, and murmured, "I knew it—it's all a dream; how could I possibly have you back?"

"It's not a dream, it's not a dream, Baobao—don't leave me; I don't want you to die, I want to be with you for a lifetime, you promised me, you said you'd always be with me."

Zhou Yinghe broke down, sobbing as he clung tightly to Wen Ling, terrified she would vanish.

Wen Ling weakly lifted the corners of her mouth, clung to Zhou Yinghe's shoulders, studied his features closely, and smiled faintly, "I'll remember your look; in the next life I'll come find you again."

The pressure in her heart made blood seep from the corner of her lips; she coughed, her voice growing weaker, cupped Zhou Yinghe's cheeks, and gently pressed her lips to his.

Zhou Yinghe cried until he could barely breathe, sensing the life slipping from the one in his arms, he looked wildly at Zhou Jingyuan and begged, "Brother, no, please—don't let her leave me, brother."

Zhou Jingyuan looked at him with pity and smiled gently, "Xiao Wu, I can't control it either; once the destruction is triggered, no one can stop it, so I'm powerless too—don't blame me."

"No, no——

Wen Ling in his arms widened her eyes, her heart seized with violent pain, and blood surged in her throat.

"Pfft——