Chapter 25: Afterglow

At five in the morning, the winter night was still shrouded in unbroken darkness.

After two months of intermittent snowfall, the skies above C City had finally cleared.

The coming New Year lay quietly beneath the thin veil of snow, waiting for firecrackers to awaken the joy of reunion and celebration.

None of it had anything to do with Ming Yue, standing before the villa.

The fire was out.

Floodlights blazed above, bright as day, illuminating the villa that no longer resembled its former self.

Though the towering flames had been extinguished, acrid smoke still rose from the ruins, while rescue workers hurried through the rubble to douse lingering sparks.

Several fire trucks that had raced through the night gradually departed, leaving only one behind.

Its thick hose dragged across the ground as firefighters moved about.

Water spread across the road, footprints scattered everywhere in the puddles.

The air was heavy with mist that clung to the cold wind, seeping into the bones through the scorched dryness left behind by fire.

“Cough… cough…”

The smoke lodged deep in her lungs.

Ming Yue doubled over, coughing violently, her whole body trembling.

Her cloak slid down with the motion, trailing across the ground.

The pooled water soaked the snowy white tassels, weighing it down until her legs weakened and she could hardly rise.

Outside the villa, the property manager in black-and-white formalwear stifled a yawn and rubbed his eyes.

He stared at the once pale-golden walls now charred black, the shattered windows, the smoke still curling upward.

He let out a sigh.

A year of diligence, only to end with this disaster—what terrible misfortune.

Now there would need to be an investigation into the fire’s cause, disputes over compensation to resolve.

Negotiations with the owner alone could drag on endlessly.

Headquarters would surely issue a reprimand.

As for promotions or year-end bonuses—he could forget them.

What a way to spend the New Year.

He sighed again and stood further back, unwilling to tempt bad luck.

“Hello.”

A firefighter in bright orange walked up to him.

“The flames have been largely extinguished. Potential points of reignition have been cooled. If there are no further issues, we’ll prepare to withdraw.”

“Yes, yes, thank you, thank you! Working so hard during New Year’s Eve—really, thank you!”

“This is our duty. Protecting lives and property—that is all that matters. As long as there are no casualties, that is our greatest relief.”

The firefighter removed his helmet, wiped away sweat, and gave a sheepish, honest smile.

By the time they arrived, the house was already completely engulfed.

Flames had wrapped around every seam of the structure.

From a distance, it looked like a massive fireball fallen to earth.

Even wearing protective gear, the heat was unbearable the moment they approached.

It was impossible to rush in for a rescue.

And with a blaze that fierce, anyone trapped inside would already have been consumed.

There was no chance of survival.

So they could only press forward in silence, fighting the fire.

Fortunately, midway through, the property manager had told them there were no occupants inside.

Only then did the firefighters’ heavy hearts ease.

“The owner confirmed there was no one inside?”

“Yes. Ms. Ming said so herself.

And based on our records, she rarely visits Songting No. 1.

There was definitely no one inside.”

The manager remembered clearly.

At first, the other end had been silent for a long time.

But when asked the question, her answer had been clear and cold—

“Yes.”

“There is no one else in the villa.”

“Alright then.”

“We’ll withdraw now. Please safeguard the site for later investigation into the fire’s cause.”

The firefighter waved toward his comrades by the truck, signaling retreat.

“Of course, of course. Once the investigation is over, we’ll be sure to send a banner to thank the fire brigade for their heroism.”

“We’re only doing our duty.”

The manager watched the fire trucks leave.

Silence returned.

He turned his gaze to the skeletal outline of the villa, the scorched rubble piled high.

A pang of sorrow welled up.

Such sin.

“Manager, when can we go home?” one of the guards asked.

“What are you thinking? With a mess this big, you expect to go home for New Year’s? Forget it—this year’s already ruined.”

“Then, Manager, since the fire’s out, what are we supposed to do?”

“Wait. Ms. Ming hasn’t arrived yet. We can’t leave until…”

But as he spoke, he spotted her standing on the sidewalk.

“Ms. Ming Yue?”

The manager quickly hurried over.

At this hour, who else could it be but the owner who promised to come?

Still, he was surprised.

She looked barely in her twenties, dressed in elaborate ancient attire, the hem damp from dirty water, shivering slightly, her figure fragile in the night.

“Ms. Ming, are you alright?”

Suppressing the raw ache in her throat, Ming Yue raised her head and stood.

“I’m fine.”

She straightened gracefully, her robe and cloud-shoulder sleeves lending her an aura like the fragrance of ink on bamboo scrolls.

The manager blinked.

So young, so beautiful—and able to buy a forty-million villa?

It took him a long moment to gather himself.

“Ms. Ming, regarding this fire, the cause still needs investigation. Our side hopes to…”

“No need.”

“Well, since a third-party investigation—pardon, what did you just say?”

“I said no need.”

Her expression smoothed into cold indifference.

Her voice was even, distant, commanding.

“And as for compensation…”

Her pale gaze swept over him.

She didn’t answer, only said coldly, “Take your men and leave. I won’t repeat myself again.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll leave right away.”

The manager swallowed hard, wiped sweat from his brow, and hurried to whisper to the guards.

Soon, they all disappeared into the night.

Before leaving, he glanced back at Ming Yue one last time.

He couldn’t help but sigh.

For the rich, money truly meant nothing.

A forty-million villa reduced to ashes, and she didn’t even care—didn’t even want compensation.

On New Year’s Eve, of all times.

What terrible luck.

When the noise of people had faded, silence returned outside the villa.

Mist fell softly on her face.

The cold façade Ming Yue had worn collapsed the moment they were gone.

Shivering, she staggered forward to the ruins.

The flames were gone, leaving only ashes.

She sat amidst the rubble, blank and dazed, her eyes seeing crimson fire once more.

Jiejie…

In the wavering heat, Yu Zhu’s silhouette blurred before her.

He lifted his head to greet her from below, eyes radiant.

That was the first time they met.

A golden age.

The boy as beautiful as a blooming camellia.

Jiejie…

The vision shifted.

He was dressed in crimson wedding robes, sitting quietly at the bedside, head bowed, waiting for her to braid his hair.

Jiejie, are you crying?

The flickering flames reflected tears in his eyes.

They fell onto her hand, hot enough to make her flinch.

She blinked.

The vision vanished.

Only ruins remained.

Silent, desolate.

A stray ember had landed on her hand, searing the skin.

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