Chapter 122: Don’t kill her

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Liu Qiu put on a pure white wedding dress and stood on the ceremonial stage. Around her, brilliant flowers clustered together, forming seas of blossoms. The entire venue was decorated with exquisite care.

This was a grand wedding.

If she weren’t the one getting married, Liu Qiu might have had the leisure to appreciate the scenery.

She didn’t hear a single word the host was saying. Instead, she swept her gaze across the guests.

This was probably what gatherings of the upper class looked like. Every guest carried themselves with remarkable presence—elegant, serious, gentle.

If Liu Qiu had to describe it in the simplest way, it was just that everyone looked extremely rich.

Among them, a person wearing a hat caught her attention.

Liu Qiu slowly frowned.

Even though she couldn’t see the face, that figure—she wouldn’t mistake it.

It was Fu Jinyin.

How had Fu Jinyin come here?

Liu Qiu’s heart suddenly leapt into her throat.

Fu Jinyin wouldn’t do something foolish, would she?

“Liu Qiu, look at me.”

Duan Liming’s low voice sounded beside her ear. Even on her wedding day, her tone revealed no hint of joy or sorrow.

Maintaining a blank expression and hiding all emotion, Liu Qiu turned to look at Duan Liming.

Today Duan Liming was very beautiful. The makeup on her face wasn’t overly elaborate, but it brought out her beauty to the fullest. She wore a white, form-fitting long dress—similar to a wedding dress but slightly simpler.

Nevertheless, she was just as beautiful.

At that moment, the host’s voice rang out again.

“Ms. Liu Qiu, please look at the beautiful partner before you. In the days to come, will you tolerate her temper, remember her preferences, and no matter what happens, stand by her side—loving and protecting her for the rest of your life? Please solemnly tell her—do you agree?”

Liu Qiu fell silent.

The surrounding air seemed to grow quiet along with her silence.

A silent stillness slowly spread through the hall.

In a corner, Duan Fan curled her lips into a mocking smile.

No matter how much Duan Liming calculated, she probably hadn’t expected that Duan Fan had brought Fu Jinyin in.

With Fu Jinyin’s tall figure, she was certain Liu Qiu had noticed—and Duan Liming most likely had as well.

She couldn’t stop Duan Liming from marrying Liu Qiu, but she could at least make things uncomfortable for her.

The host silently tightened his grip on the microphone, feeling a bit awkward.

From the beginning until now, neither of the brides had shown even the slightest smile. It looked as though they were being forced into marriage.

The host opened his mouth.

“Ms. Liu Qiu, you—”

“I’m willing.”

Liu Qiu looked steadily at Duan Liming and spoke hoarsely.

Even though she didn’t want to speak—let alone get married—they were already at this stage. If she refused to answer, Duan Liming would likely become a laughingstock.

This was probably Duan Liming’s first wedding.

Liu Qiu couldn’t bring herself to cause a scene in such a setting.

Below the stage, Fu Jinyin clenched her hands tightly. Her nails dug deep into her flesh.

She and Liu Qiu had also had a wedding before.

But at that time, she had never looked carefully at Liu Qiu.

Liu Qiu at the wedding was very beautiful.

The gorgeous wedding dress.

The delicate makeup.

She looked like someone stepping out of a painting—so beautiful it was beyond description.

But such a beautiful Liu Qiu was not marrying her.

She was marrying the detestable Duan Liming.

Fu Jinyin felt her eyes burning. It always happened like this whenever she cried.

But if she cried now, Liu Qiu wouldn’t come to comfort her.

After today, Liu Qiu would become someone else’s wife.

Fu Jinyin bit down hard on her lip, until traces of blood seeped out.

It was okay.

Liu Qiu had said she would return in a few days.

Return to her side.

They would move to another city.

They would stay together forever.

“Please have the newlyweds exchange rings.”

Fu Jinyin lifted her head, staring at the ceremonial stage without blinking.

Duan Liming took Liu Qiu’s hand and slowly placed the ring on her ring finger.

She said softly, “It suits you very well.”

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together and imitated Duan Liming’s actions, placing the other ring on Duan Liming’s hand.

Her voice was very quiet.

“Thank you.”

Duan Liming had always been polite to her.

Even when she previously asked Liu Qiu to divorce Fu Jinyin, she hadn’t forced her. When Liu Qiu refused, she simply let it go.

This time, it was Liu Yaoming who forced Liu Qiu to marry Duan Liming. Duan Liming hadn’t rejected it either.

She couldn’t really be considered a bad person.

“The newlyweds may now kiss.”

The host’s voice echoed loudly through the microphone.

Liu Qiu lowered her eyelashes, her refusal obvious.

Duan Liming took Liu Qiu’s hand and faced the guests.

“My wife is shy. We’ll handle the kissing privately.”

The host quickly followed up.

“It seems Ms. Duan Liming is very considerate! Now let us congratulate the newlyweds—happy marriage!”

The host began clapping.

The audience followed, applause filling the entire hall.

The wedding ceremony was complete.

Fu Jinyin forced herself not to rush forward and snatch Liu Qiu away.

She knew that if she disobeyed, it might cause trouble.

Duan Liming knew her identity and even possessed something that could control her. The laboratory was very likely supported by her.

She was weak.

She had to behave.

All she had to do was wait for Liu Qiu to return.

Wait for Liu Qiu to come back.

Liu Qiu still liked her the most.

They would be together.

“Fu Jinyin, I really admire you.”

A voice suddenly sounded beside her, amplified clearly by a device.

“You can still sit here calmly and watch this scene.”

Fu Jinyin ignored it, staring straight at Liu Qiu on the stage.

Duan Fan sat down beside her.

Their simple clothing clashed sharply with the luxurious environment.

“But you don’t have any status to stop it now, do you?” Duan Fan narrowed her long eyes, smiling as she continued provoking her.

“You’re just the ex-wife now, aren’t you?”

“You should congratulate her. She found someone like my sister—rich, powerful, lacking nothing.”

“Do you know something? I’ve never understood why someone as stupid as you was liked by Liu Qiu. There are countless people with beautiful faces, and you don’t even let her touch you. What exactly is your advantage?”

Fu Jinyin’s rationality gradually collapsed under Duan Fan’s words.

Liu Qiu had already been led away by that woman.

She couldn’t see her anymore.

Fu Jinyin stiffly turned her head, staring fiercely at Duan Fan.

Killing intent filled her eyes, violent and deep—as if she could tear Duan Fan apart at any moment.

Duan Fan raised her chin slightly, an evil smile slowly appearing.

“Liu Qiu won’t come back anymore.”

“Duan Liming has a mental illness. Do you know what that means?”

“Dissociative identity disorder.”

“One of her personalities is extremely obsessive.”

“And they share memories.”

—

“Boom—!”

Rain poured down heavily.

After the wedding, Liu Qiu was taken to Duan Liming’s home.

She had already changed out of the heavy wedding gown.

Now she stood before the floor-to-ceiling window in a simple long dress, watching the rain strike the glass with rapid, crackling sounds.

Dark clouds filled the sky. Without the moon, the night was pitch black.

But the villa was brightly lit, the lights spreading outward and illuminating the surrounding area.

Liu Qiu could see the beautiful flower garden outside.

And the figure standing among the flowers.

Wait.

A figure?

Liu Qiu suddenly widened her eyes and looked more carefully.

It really was a person.

Chaoyue.

At that moment, Chaoyue stood among the flowers, drenched by the rain, waving at her with a bright smile.

She looked extremely happy.

Liu Qiu wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she thought she saw faint scales on Chaoyue’s neck.

Unable to resist, Liu Qiu moved closer to the window and pressed both hands against it, looking carefully outside.

Her lips parted slightly as she exhaled.

It really was Chaoyue.

Seeing her here somehow eased the heaviness in Liu Qiu’s chest.

Chaoyue seemed to be saying something, but Liu Qiu couldn’t hear it.

She could only read the lips.

“I… brought… her… in.”

Liu Qiu silently mouthed the words.

“Brought what in?”

Duan Liming’s voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Liu Qiu’s breath caught.

She quickly turned around.

Duan Liming had also changed out of her wedding clothes. She wore a simple long dress, her hair slightly damp and half-dry behind her.

Liu Qiu blinked rapidly and awkwardly changed the subject.

“Did you wash your hair?”

Duan Liming walked over and stood beside her, looking out at the flowers being battered by the rain.

“Yes.”

Then she added calmly,

“The rain is getting heavier.”

Liu Qiu clenched her fists slightly.

Duan Liming didn’t seem to have noticed Chaoyue.

Turning back toward the window, Liu Qiu looked outside again with her.

But Chaoyue was gone.

It was as if Liu Qiu had imagined her.

“It’s late. Go rest.”

Liu Qiu’s long eyelashes trembled.

“Are you… sleeping with me?”

Duan Liming turned her head. Her dark eyes fixed firmly on Liu Qiu’s face.

She slowly raised a hand and gently cupped Liu Qiu’s cheek.

Liu Qiu instinctively shrank back, her eyelashes trembling faster.

“Liu Qiu.”

The voice was low and slow.

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together and lifted her gaze.

“Boom—!”

Lightning split through the clouds, and thunder shook the sky. Liu Qiu’s heart jumped with the sound.

“A little mouse has snuck in.”

Duan Liming’s tone carried a hint of excitement.

Liu Qiu’s eyes widened instantly. The faint color drained from her face.

Something was wrong.

Duan Liming was wrong.

Liu Qiu suddenly slapped Duan Liming’s hand away and stepped back, her eyes filled with vigilance.

Duan Liming would never speak in that tone.

Duan Liming looked at her with dark eyes.

The distant, gentle aura around her vanished completely.

She didn’t care that Liu Qiu had slapped her hand red.

Instead, she touched the floor-to-ceiling window with her fingertips.

Instantly, small window-like screens appeared across the huge glass surface.

They corresponded to the interior of the villa.

Duan Liming pointed downward and selected one of them.

Her fingers closed and then spread apart.

The image immediately expanded to cover the entire glass window.

Liu Qiu looked at the screen.

Her breathing stopped.

The person in the image was Fu Jinyin.

Why had Fu Jinyin come inside?!

Liu Qiu suddenly remembered Chaoyue’s earlier lip movements.

Brought her in.

Chaoyue had brought Fu Jinyin in.

“Liu Qiu, if I kill her here and casually assign her a crime—say, breaking in to rob the house—I could walk away completely unharmed.”

Liu Qiu clenched her fingers tightly. Her face was pale.

“You’re not Duan Liming.”

Duan Liming shook her head.

“No. I am her.”

“Just… another version of her that’s better at expressing herself.”

“Liu Qiu.”

Her tone was light.

“Do you want me to kill your ex-wife?”

The casual way she said it made Liu Qiu’s heart turn cold.

Liu Qiu closed her eyes briefly and said with a trembling voice,

“I don’t want that. Don’t kill her.”

The fear she had felt when she first met Duan Liming resurfaced.

Now she understood.

The reason she hadn’t been afraid of Duan Liming later wasn’t because she had gotten over it.

It was because that Duan Liming wasn’t the same one she had first met.

The one in front of her now— was the real one.