Gold Cage - Chapter 37

Potential Trigger update bc this chapter: Check chapter list

Fang Wanjuan sneaked out of her house late at night. Wearing a hat and a face mask, she ran far to find a convenience store where she could use a landline to call a classmate.

Her classmate answered but immediately became evasive upon hearing her voice, stammering through the conversation.

Fang Wanjuan grew frantic. "I've brought the backup files! Let's go to the TV station and find that reporter—it's the most effective way!"

But her classmate replied, "Wanjuan, I'm sorry. We've already promised not to bring this up again. Don't release the evidence either. We still want to go to college someday, and we don't want our parents to lose their jobs."

The call ended abruptly. Fang Wanjuan left the store and stood on the street, dazed.

She looked up at the gray sky. Memories of being bullied by He Cheng and Mu Zhiye replayed in her mind, tormenting her day and night. Why? Just because they had no powerful backing, were they doomed to be trampled underfoot, their cries for help stifled?

She had nothing left to fear. Her father was gone—having sacrificed his life to protect others. Her mother had started a new family with another man, leaving her outside that picture of domestic bliss.

Fang Wanjuan adjusted her hat and started running down the road in one determined direction.

Mu Yu had slept for less than three hours when his phone jolted him awake. His company had just secured a major project, and the celebration had lasted until midnight. Exhausted, he'd checked into a nearby hotel and collapsed into bed, only to be rudely awakened before even a dream could begin.

He grabbed his phone with a grumpy morning demeanor, but his expression softened immediately upon seeing Yu Jing's name on the caller ID. Sitting up, he answered the call.

However, Yu Jing delivered terrible news: Lan Mo was missing.

Ever since he took Lan Mo to Baiha'er Lake last time, she had developed a deep fondness for the icy lakes and grasslands nestled among the snow-capped mountains. After returning to Yu City, she couldn't stop talking about it, eagerly asking Mu Yu when they could go back.

Since the car accident, Lan Mo had often been withdrawn, showing little interest in anything. It was good to see her finally passionate about something, so Mu Yu sent her back to her mother in Bujiashike. He even bought them a new car so Anna could take her to the lake during their free time, ensuring Lan Mo had both her mother's company and the chance to enjoy her favorite place.

"When did she go missing?" Mu Yu asked while getting dressed.

Yu Jing's voice came through the phone, "Anna and I went to the hospital to get some medicine. When we came back, the old car was gone, and Lan Mo wasn't home. Her phone is off, and... and..."

"And what?"

"A long time ago, Li gave me a handgun for self-defense in case of emergencies," Yu Jing said, sounding deeply regretful. "I kept it under the bed. Once, when I was showing her your childhood photos, she accidentally saw it. This time, it seems she took the gun with her. I'm sorry, Heljin."

Mu Yu took a deep breath. He tried calling Lan Mo, but her phone was already turned off. Realizing the severity of the situation, he quickly finished dressing and booked a flight to Bujiashike.

Severely sleep-deprived, he felt dizzy as he stood up from the bed to put on his shoes. Just then, another call came in—this time from Liu Shuyan.

Since Lan Mo woke up from the accident, they had hardly seen Liu Shuyan. The only news they had was that the Liu brothers had been arrested for financial crimes and assault, with their sentencing imminent. Liu Shuyan's father had also vanished; rumors said he had been completely sidelined at Hongfeng, his name even removed from the company's records.

"Mo Mo asked me to meet her at Baiha'er Lake, but I can't reach her now. Is she with you?" Liu Shuyan asked over the phone.

Liu Shuyan had tried to visit Lan Mo several times, but Lan Mo refused to see her. Sometimes, Lan Mo would become emotionally unstable, bursting into tears at the mention of Liu Shuyan's name. After one particularly heated phone argument, Liu Shuyan stopped reaching out. That night, Lan Mo stayed up until dawn, sitting by the bed in a daze.

Lan Mo asked Liu Shuyan to meet her at Baiha'er Lake? Something felt off to Mu Yu, and his unease grew. He told Liu Shuyan that Lan Mo wasn't with him, hung up, and hurried downstairs.

At the same time, Mu Hanxiao learned that Mu Yu was preparing to depart for Bujashk. He too had just been awakened from sleep, the silk sheets slipping down to reveal his firm, muscular bare back as he sat up.

His voice was hoarse from sleep: "Are you sure Lan Mo took the gun?"

The voice on the other end of the line was unmistakably Anna's, tinged with urgency: "Yes, she hasn't been in a good state lately. I'm afraid she might do something drastic. Helkin said he'd come as soon as possible, but I'm worried about his safety."

Mu Hanxiao ended the call. The phone screen went black, then lit up again to display the current date and time.

Mu Yu's birthday was approaching.

4:00 AM.

Li Bing parked his car in the woods outside the city and hurried along a narrow path. Dressed entirely in black, he followed footprints deep into the forest until he came upon a bridge.

Below the bridge flowed a river—a tributary of a larger waterway—surrounded by thick weeds. The riverbed was deep, and warning signs prohibiting swimming stood along the bank.

Several figures in black stood on the riverbank, throwing a frail person into the water with a stone tied to them. A softsplash—barely audible—and the figures quickly left the scene, driving away from the river.

Li Bing memorized the license plate number before rushing to the bridge pier and leaping down, sliding along the uneven slope to the riverbank. He swiftly removed his outer clothes and shoes, drew a dagger, and plunged into the flowing water without hesitation.

Two minutes later, a splash broke the surface as Li Bing emerged for a quick breath before diving back in. This time, he stayed submerged for over four minutes before resurfacing and struggling toward the shore.

Drenched and panting, he laid the person he had pulled from the water onto the bank. In the dim light of night, it was clear the girl was Fang Wanjuan. Her eyes were tightly shut, her face pale and lifeless, with a horrific gash torn across her neck—all her blood had drained away.

The girl was dead. Li Bing had ultimately been too late. After tracking all night, he knelt exhaustedly before her. After a long moment, he retrieved his coat and carefully wrapped her body, covering her youthful face.

The white slopes of Baihar Lake in spring were surrounded by greenery, the snow-capped mountains glowing under a sky so blue it seemed heaven itself was within reach.

After countless unanswered calls, Lan Mo's phone finally connected. As the car raced across the snowy spring plains, Mu Yu demanded angrily, "Where have you been?"

Lan Mo apologized over the phone: "Sorry, brother. My phone died."

Mu Yu didn't believe her excuse. Fortunately, Lan Mo cooperated by sharing her location. Mu Yu drove up the mountain and eventually found her near a small cabin on the mountainside.

But when he saw Lan Mo, his breath caught. Despite the freezing cold, the girl wore only a thin dress, sitting alone on the edge of a sheer cliff with no safety measures whatsoever!

Mu Yu tossed aside his headphones and got out of the car. The slam of the door drew Lan Mo's attention, and she turned to smile at him. "Brother."

Her slender, pale legs dangled over the thousand-meter drop. Mu Yu's limbs turned cold with fear as he urged, "It's too dangerous there, Lan Mo. Come back."

Lan Mo simply shook her head, keeping her back to him as she gazed at the sky. Mu Yu cautiously approached, afraid she might do something reckless. Softly, he said, "Let me sit with you, okay?"

"Alright, brother, come here. The view is so beautiful."

Mu Yu let out a slight sigh of relief. He took off his padded coat, leaving only a high-neck sweater, and draped the coat over Lan Mo before sitting beside her. Now there were two people perched on the cliff's edge. Mu Yu was bold enough—this way, he could hold onto Lan Mo and ensure she wouldn't do anything reckless.

"Aunt Anna and Aunt Yujing brought me here before, and I fell in love with this place at first sight."

Following Lan Mo's pointing finger, Mu Yu gazed at the breathtaking scenery. From this height, the lake stretched like an ocean, green meadows flowed between snow-capped mountains, and scattered houses dotted the landscape like a hidden paradise. The sky felt so close that it inexplicably reminded Mu Yu of the time Mu Hanxiao took him skydiving—when they descended, it almost felt like his fingers could brush against the blue sky, wisps of clouds slipping through them.

Mu Yu said softly, "Momo, let's go down. Even if we don't sit here, Lake Baihaer has plenty of beautiful sights."

But Lan Mo replied indifferently, "Brother, are you going to control me too?"

Mu Yu answered honestly, "I'm afraid you'll fall."

"If you fall from here, it's like stepping straight into heaven. If souls really exist after death, ours could stay forever in a place this beautiful."

Lan Mo turned to Mu Yu, her voice gentle and innocent. "Brother, will you come with me?"

Mu Yu instinctively tightened his grip on her hand. Before he could speak, the sound of a car approached from behind, followed by a sharp screech of brakes. He and Lan Mo turned to see Mu Hanxiao and Liu Shuyan rushing out of the car, striding toward them.

Liu Shuyan's face was pale as she raised her voice at Lan Mo, "Momo! Why are you sitting in such a dangerous spot? Come here now!" Phil followed Mu Hanxiao out of the car. Mu Hanxiao walked ahead, his dark eyes fixed intently on Mu Yu. "Mu Yu!"

Suddenly, Lan Mo spoke, "Don't come any closer. Don't interrupt our conversation, or I'll pull my brother down with me."

Their footsteps halted abruptly. Lan Mo sat sideways, gripping Mu Yu's arm with surprising strength for someone with such slender wrists— it hurt.

"Brother, what's your answer?"

"I don't want to," Mu Yu replied.

The mountain wind swept past their feet, sending a shiver through Mu Yu. They sat on the high cliff's edge, their figures swaying like fragile leaves about to merge with the sky.

"I see." A sorrowful smile touched the girl's eyes. "That makes sense. Even if the person you love will never be with you, Yujing still loves you, and your friends are waiting for you. I'm sorry, brother. I shouldn't have said that to you."

Mu Yu said, "It's alright. Should we go back? It's too cold sitting here."

Lan Mo stared at him silently. Behind them, Mu Hanxiao spoke, "Mu Yu, let go of her first."

The man's voice was uncharacteristically tense. But Lan Mo only smiled, gathered her skirt, and swung her legs back from the cliff's edge before standing up.

Mu Yu finally relaxed and rose as well. Just as he reached out to steady Lan Mo, he looked up to see Mu Hanxiao and Liu Shuyan suddenly turn ashen. They raised their hands as if to stop something—then a cold gun barrel pressed against the back of his head.

For a moment, Mu Yu's mind went blank. Behind him, Lan Mo laughed—a melodious, hollow sound.

Lan Mo pressed the pistol against Mu Yu's head. She didn't look at Liu Shuyan, but instead gazed at Mu Hanxiao with keen interest, asking, "Brother Mu, if I pull the trigger right now, will you spend the rest of your life drowning in regret?"

Mu Hanxiao's breathing grew heavy, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. Phil stood poised behind him, ready to act, while Liu Shuyan exclaimed in disbelief, "Momo! What on earth are you thinking? You called me from Yu City to Baiha'er Lake just to watch you kill someone?!"

"You won't do this, Lan Mo," Mu Hanxiao's voice was strained with a hoarse tension.

With a sharp "click," Lan Mo released the safety. In that instant, Phil drew his gun and aimed it at her. Liu Shuyan immediately intervened, shouting, "Put the gun down!"

Ignoring Liu Shuyan, Lan Mo looked sorrowfully at Mu Hanxiao. "You all think everything is under your control. But have you ever considered—without Mu Yu, would you still be a whole person? Brother Mu, those photos of Mu Yu under Aunt Yu Jing's bed were all taken by you, weren't they? When Mu Yu and I got married, your expression looked like you wanted to kill me. You can't bear to be apart from him for even a moment—wherever he goes, you follow. You think you're the unshakable pillar of the Mu family, but the truth is, you're just a fool chasing after Mu Yu everywhere."

Mu Yu stood frozen in place, the cliffside wind seeping into his collar, making him shiver from the cold. Instinctively, he turned to look at Mu Hanxiao, whose face was taut with tension. The pistol pressed against Mu Yu's head filled Mu Hanxiao with a threadlike terror, rendering him almost immobile.

Lan Mo pushed the gun harder against Mu Yu's head, forcing him to tilt his head to the side. "Brother Mu, am I right?" she asked.

"Yes."

Mu Hanxiao, pushed to his limit, forced the word out through gritted teeth, his eyes reddening. Veins bulged in his neck, his nerves throbbing violently at his temples.

"I can't lose him."

Mu Hanxiao's voice was like splintering wood, strained to the point of breaking. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, Lan Mo. Put the gun down."

Lan Mo smiled. Her smile turned sweet again. Finally, she looked at Liu Shuyan, but the warmth in her eyes gradually faded—faded until it seemed she was gazing at the origin of her past life, or at an empty white void.

Liu Shuyan's throat tightened. Tentatively, she called out, "Momo?"

Lan Mo said, "Sister, I'm about to turn twenty-two. Do you want to know my birthday wish?"

Liu Shuyan replied, "I'll celebrate your birthday with you this year. Whatever you wish for, I'll make it happen. I was wrong before. From now on, I'll spend every birthday with you, okay?"

Lan Mo shook her head and lowered the hand holding the gun. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"My wish is to be reborn as a child in an ordinary family, with parents who may be plain but love me dearly. When I grow up, I want to meet an ordinary person I love, who happens to love me back. We'll cherish each other, only each other, staying together until we're very, very old."

Lan Mo whispered softly, "Now I'm going to make my birthday wish come true. Goodbye, sister. May you find the love you seek."

A gunshot rang out, startling flocks of birds from the valley. Mu Yu felt warm liquid splatter on his face as time seemed to freeze—Liu Shuyan's blank expression, Mu Hanxiao rushing toward him, the scent of grass and wildflowers carried by the mountain breeze. He turned, reaching to grasp Lan Mo's hand.

Lan Mo drifted lightly over the cliff's edge, her bloodstained skirt fluttering like butterfly wings against the snowy mountains. Mu Yu was suddenly yanked backward as Mu Hanxiao's arms wrapped around him, pulling him away from the precipice. Liu Shuyan dashed to the edge, only to be dragged back by Phil. She was nearly hysterical, screaming Lan Mo's name in terror over and over, her delicate fingers clawing at the grass and dirt until they were smeared with blood.

Witnessing this scene, Mu Yu felt as though he'd been plunged into an icy abyss. Mu Hanxiao held him tightly, cradling the back of his head, warm palms covering his frozen cheeks. The scorching heat of his body and the frantic pounding of his heartbeat enveloped Mu Yu, accompanied by labored breaths above his head.

In that moment, it was the only shelter shielding him from the cliff's bitter wind and overwhelming fear.

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