After getting into the car, Li Qiao glanced at Jian Lanfeng’s last text message.
“That was fast.”
“Fast? What do you mean?” Jiang Feng asked, confused.
“Fast to die.”
Jiang Feng nearly choked. “Miss Li, please—you have to save Lanfeng!” He still didn’t understand why Jian Lanfeng had asked for her help.
“Don’t worry. There’s still time.”
Jiang Feng: “…”
This was a matter of life and death!
On the way, Li Qiao suddenly told him to stop the car when they passed a paper effigy shop.
She bought two large yellow paper flowers. Jiang Feng’s eye twitched.
“Miss Li?”
“These are to save your friend.”
She tossed the flowers onto the back seat.
Jiang Feng had no idea how to react.
Only then did Li Qiao start asking about Jian Lanfeng’s situation.
“Jian Lanxin went out with some friends but called saying she got lost in the mountains. Lanfeng went to pick her up. Later, I got his SOS text. I tried calling him repeatedly, but his phone was dead. That’s when I knew something was really wrong.”
“Do you know the location?”
“Wuxi Mountain.”
Wuxi Mountain wasn’t exactly close to the capital—it would take five hours by car.
Shen Kuo had mentioned they were leaving for Wuxi Mountain at dawn.
If they timed it right, they might run into each other.
A thought suddenly struck Li Qiao, and she sent Shen Kuo a message.
[Leaving at dawn? Take my third brother with you.]
[???]
[He needs a change of scenery.]
[Got it. You’re not coming?]
[Already on my way. See you at Wuxi Mountain.]
Shen Kuo, who had been enjoying a massage, immediately shoved the masseuse away.
She was sneaking off without him?!
Clutching his phone, he stormed upstairs, grabbed his luggage, and bolted out the door.
Just then, Shen Juncheng returned home and saw his son with a suitcase. His expression darkened.
“You’re an adult now. Running away from home is beneath you.”
He thought Shen Kuo was throwing another tantrum.
“Hah. You’re really my father, alright.”
The cryptic remark left Shen Juncheng baffled.
As Shen Kuo disappeared, a servant nearby explained, “Young Master is attending a wilderness event. He needs to leave early.”
Shen Juncheng frowned, then said, “Transfer him a million in spending money.”
When Shen Kuo arrived at the meeting point, he found Li Shaoxing already waiting by the bus, waving enthusiastically.
“Third Young Master Li?”
“That’s me. I’m a few years older—just call me ‘Brother.’” Li Shaoxing was dressed head-to-toe in black, with a cap and white mask obscuring his face.
“Brother Li, why the…?”
“Shh. Keep it quiet. Let’s get on the bus.”
As a famous esports star, Li Shaoxing’s face was instantly recognizable among young people.
The bus was full of Shen Kuo’s classmates, so staying low-key was essential to avoid chaos.
Once aboard, someone curiously asked about Li Shaoxing’s identity. Shen Kuo snapped, “Curiosity kills the cat. Stop asking and do a headcount. If everyone’s here, let’s move.”
Li Qiao was already at Wuxi Mountain—what was she doing there?
Beside him, Li Shaoxing seemed oddly excited. Shen Kuo didn’t get it—why was he so thrilled about a trip to Wuxi Mountain?
When class monitor Gu Fengfeng called out Li Youwei’s name and got no response, Lin Xue—Li Youwei’s close friend—lazily said, “Youwei already asked for leave.”
She glanced at Shen Kuo, noting his tense expression, and smirked inwardly. So he does care about Youwei.
At least he hadn’t been completely charmed by Li Qiao. Thankfully, Li Qiao had dropped out early—otherwise, Lin Xue would’ve made sure she regretted it.
“Alright.” Gu Fengfeng marked her absent.
Whispers spread among the students.
Li Youwei was the school belle—pretty girls always got special treatment.
“Kuo, didn’t you know the campus queen took leave?” Shen Kuo’s friend Zhuang Xu teased.
“Why the hell would I know?” Shen Kuo grumbled, shoving his bag at Zhuang Xu.
“Kuo doesn’t need to worry about girls—there are plenty of beauties out there. Our class monitor isn’t bad, huh?” Huang Feng, one of Shen Kuo’s lackeys, leered at Gu Fengfeng.
Neither Shen Kuo nor Zhuang Xu acknowledged him.
Huang Feng forced a laugh, hiding his resentment. In the eyes of these rich kids, he was nothing but a weed.
Li Shaoxing, sitting nearby, chuckled. “Puppy love? Does your father know?”
Shen Kuo: “…”
…
Wuxi Mountain
By the time Li Qiao and Jiang Feng arrived at the foot of Wuxi Mountain via helicopter, it was already 2 a.m.
At the base stood a quaint, ancient-style village—one of the scenic spots for tourists.
“Li Qiao, let’s find a hotel and rest for now.”
“Mm.”
There didn’t seem to be any proper hotels around, but there had to be at least a guesthouse.
After scouting the area, Jiang Feng’s face fell. “No hotels. Where do we go?”
“There.”
Li Qiao pointed at a sign that read “Orange Guesthouse.”
Inside, they were told only one room was left.
Jiang Feng’s face twisted. Sharing a room with his sworn brother’s fiancée? The scandal would be insane—not that he’d dare breathe a word of it.
The room smelled musty.
It was clean, but clearly hadn’t been used in a long time.
Jiang Feng, a pampered rich kid, had never stayed in an 80-yuan-a-night dump like this.
His critical gaze found fault with everything.
“I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“No need.”
Li Qiao refused, walking over to an armchair instead. She sat cross-legged, entering a meditative state.
Jiang Feng stiffened. “Don’t even think about it—I’m your fiancé’s sworn brother.” He instinctively crossed his arms.
But then he saw Li Qiao calmly meditating, eyes closed.
“Be quiet. And I’m not Jian Lanfeng’s fiancée.”
With that, she fell silent.
Only then did Jiang Feng realize how strange Li Qiao was.
He lay down on the bed and shut his mouth.
For some reason, her aura had briefly intimidated him.
A while later, Li Qiao’s nose twitched. She slowly opened her eyes.
“They’re here.”
Jiang Feng, half-asleep, groggily sat up. “What’s here?”
“Do you hear anything?”
“It’s dead silent.”
Too silent—not even the chirping of crickets.
Then, faintly, a sound grew louder.
“Is that… a wedding procession? At this hour?”
Li Qiao opened the window. Jiang Feng rushed over and saw a group of people dressed in ancient red wedding attire.
Four at the front played suonas, dancing in an eerie, mechanical way.
Their faces were deathly pale, expressionless—like emotionless puppets.
In the middle was a bridal sedan, yet no one was carrying it. It floated forward on its own.
Jiang Feng’s heart clenched.
The suona’s piercing wail grew louder.
Li Qiao glanced at his pale face and mused, “Of all instruments, the suona reigns supreme—it either heralds a wedding… or a funeral.”
Jiang Feng: “???”
