When Xie Guanyan heard the name Zhang Meixia, he was stunned.
Lin Mo had mentioned someone targeting her, and he had been speculating about who it could be.
For so many years, he had kept an eye on her, never noticing any major conflicts—everyone adored her.
Who would dare harm such a beautiful, kind-hearted girl?
Yet Zhang Meixia had tried repeatedly.
But the two had never even interacted directly.
Why was Zhang Meixia so determined to kill Lin Mo?
Her eldest son, Gu Jingchuan, had been infatuated with Lin Mo for three years.
Despite being stingy with everyone else, he had been generous with her.
She was Gu Jingchuan’s only exception.
So perhaps that was the reason.
Wealthy parents disapproving of their son’s relationship was common, but why resort to murder?
Was there another possibility?
Xie Guanyan couldn’t help but think of himself.
Gu Jingchuan had told Zhang Meixia about his feelings for Lin Mo and even shown her what he had captured in the room.
Zhang Meixia had always despised him, hated him.
He suspected that the time he nearly burned to death while out playing had been her doing.
Originally, the orphanage director had paid him no attention.
But after Lin Mo visited and spoke to him before leaving, the director took notice, believing he could charm the daughters of wealthy families.
In a way, she had indirectly saved him that time too.
Later, after being taken back to the Gu family, he was bullied relentlessly by Zhang Meixia and Gu Jingchuan until he couldn’t stay.
But when he met Lin Mo again, he returned.
After transferring to No. 1 High School, his grades improved, and he became more subdued, obedient in the Gu household.
As Gu Song paid him more attention, Zhang Meixia’s gaze grew increasingly venomous.
Then came the day when he was allowed to dine at the table, and Gu Song used him to criticize Gu Jingchuan and lecture Gu Jingzhou.
Zhang Meixia snapped her chopsticks in half.
So another possibility was that Zhang Meixia hated him and wanted to destroy him by killing the girl he loved most.
And in a way, she had succeeded.
He had almost followed Lin Mo to the grave.
The girl who had saved him from despair time and time again had nearly died once and faced grave danger twice—all because of his twisted love.
At first, it was just speculation, but the way Zhang Meixia looked at him now all but confirmed it.
His heart felt like it was being ground to dust, pain surging in waves, suffocating him, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.
He glanced quickly at the bodyguard—thankfully, he had prepared for this.
Lin Mo could never find out.
Because of him, she had lost eleven years of her life.
Because of him, she had to restart her senior year of high school and endure gossip at school.
What would she think? Would she still want to love him?
And this would inevitably dredge up his past depraved actions.
She couldn’t know that either—it would terrify her.
After finally winning her affection, he couldn’t bear the thought of her turning away in disgust.
A breeze tousled Lin Mo’s hair.
When she heard Zhang Meixia’s name, her jaw nearly dropped.
Even if Zhang Meixia thought she wasn’t good enough for Gu Jingchuan, killing her right after they got together?
Was that really necessary?
She waited for Zhang Meixia to explain herself.
But before another word could be spoken—
A shrill scream and chaotic noise erupted from inside the yacht cabin.
"Ahhhh! Help! Help!"
The familiar voice of Shen Sizhan made Lin Mo’s heart clench.
Of course, a singer’s scream would be piercingly loud!
"What’s going on?" Lin Mo sprinted toward the cabin.
Xie Guanyan’s calm voice followed her, "Go check. I’ll keep an eye on them."
Lin Mo ran like the wind.
Gu Jingchuan, still processing that his mother had attempted murder, froze in shock.
Now, terror took over. "Please tell me they didn’t find another bomb?"
He still had so much money left to spend—he didn’t want to die!
"You don’t want Lin Mo to know the real reason, do you?"
Zhang Meixia sneered at Xie Guanyan.
The tall, striking man crouched down.
Without a word, his hand shot out, gripping her throat with brutal force.
Veins bulged on the back of his hand, his deep eyes bloodshot and feral. "How could you do this?"
No one expected Xie Guanyan to attack a woman.
Within seconds, Zhang Meixia’s face turned green, her legs kicking wildly.
Gu Song panicked. "Guanyan, Guanyan—"
Xie Guanyan’s gaze shifted to him, equally murderous.
His other fist slammed into Gu Song’s chest.
A sickening crack echoed—ribs shattered.
"You deserve to die too!"
Gu Song writhed in agony, but a bodyguard clamped a hand over his mouth, silencing his screams.
Gu Jingchuan was petrified.
The last time he’d seen Xie Guanyan this violent was… well, the last time.
When he’d whipped him.
But as his mother’s struggles weakened, he choked out, "Xie Guanyan! You’re committing murder!"
Xie Guanyan’s arms strained against his shirt sleeves.
All he could see was the vibrant, radiant girl suffering in her final moments.
"She deserves it! A thousand deaths wouldn’t be enough!"
The bodyguard frowned. "Boss, let me handle this. Don’t dirty your hands."
Xie Guanyan was beyond reason, eyes blood-red, murderous intent radiating.
Zhang Meixia’s vision blurred, her eyes clouding over.
Gu Jingchuan, desperate, shouted, "If Lin Mo finds out you killed someone, you’re finished!"
Those words.
Xie Guanyan’s grip faltered, his strength draining.
Right. He couldn’t kill.
He still had to be with Lin Mo.
He had to make it up to her, love her more.
She would be back any moment!
Zhang Meixia gasped for air, coughing violently, her face ghostly pale.
Terror filled her eyes.
This demon had truly meant to strangle her!
Xie Guanyan fought to control his rage, standing.
A bodyguard handed him a tissue. "Boss, clean your hands."
He took it, scrubbing his fingers furiously.
Then he walked to where Lin Mo had stood talking to Ma Ying earlier.
The same light fell across his face, half in shadow.
A demon straight from hell.
His icy stare bore into the disheveled woman, wishing he could carve her to pieces.
"Zhang Meixia, you know damn well none of this was my fault—it was Gu Song. Yet you only hate me!"
His voice dropped to a guttural whisper, trembling with fury.
"Why target Lin Mo?"
The last words were a barely restrained snarl, quiet but bone-chilling.
Gu Jingchuan, relieved his mother was alive, couldn’t hold back. "Mom! Why would you try to kill Lin Mo? You knew how much I loved her!"
"If not for you, we might’ve had a child by now!"
The bodyguards had heard enough.
One kicked Gu Jingchuan, while the other stuffed a sock in his mouth.
Xie Guanyan kept wiping his hands, obsessively, as if trying to peel off his skin.
Zhang Meixia watched, then laughed hoarsely. "I hate you! I hate that a gutter rat like you could outshine my son!"
"I hate that you stole what was rightfully his!"
Do I hate Gu Song? Of course I do.
But I depend on him for survival—what right do I have to hate him?
Xie Guanyan’s temples throbbed violently, his nails digging into his palms. "Then just kill me! You’ve done it once—why didn’t you finish the job?"
His death meant nothing.
If it could buy Shanshan a lifetime of safety, he’d die a thousand times over.
