Unexpected Second Chance at Love

*Bang!

The sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the house as Liu Shan replayed the video call. The masked man’s distorted voice rang out, followed by a cruel, mocking laugh.

”It’s called a cliffhanger.”

His words reverberated in Yue Ling’s mind, looping with the sound of that single shot. Her eyes stayed locked on the screen, fixed on the image of the masked man as if willing his mask to peel away—so she could see the face behind the cruelty.

A long silence stretched. Then, with a steady breath, she rose to her feet, eyes still pinned to the screen now showing her brother.

”Find everything. Trace the footage, the audio, any signal that could lead us back to him. I want every detail, no matter how small.”

She turned to leave, only to be stopped by a gentle hand closing around hers. She looked down to find Lu Tian, his eyes asking what words didn’t.

”I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to pay our guest another visit.”

Lu Tian gave a slight nod, releasing her hand. He watched her disappear down the hall, her steps calm but unmistakably purposeful.

As someone in the business world, he is always able to read others’ thoughts, but never with his wife.

He looks back at the video call recording and his eyes dimmed.

His wife remained outwardly calm throughout the call, but Lu Tian saw through it. He felt the faint tremble in her body, the subtle way her fingers tightened, how her breath hitched just once. She was scared, even if she wouldn’t show it.

The only thing he could do at that moment was stand beside her, silently letting her know she wasn’t alone.

Everyone in the room felt the same. They were ready to move heaven and earth to bring Ji Jingxu back.

Lu Tian’s eyes followed the direction she had gone. A moment later, he stood and gave a quiet signal to Xu Long and Jiangyu to follow.

”Tian, please make sure she’s alright.”

Grandfather Ji said from behind, looking worried. He knew his granddaughter and knew she was keeping to herself after what had happened.

Lu Tian turned and gave the old man a firm, reassuring nod. He would have done it even if those words hadn’t been spoken.

Without a word, he stepped outside, following his wife’s footsteps, his men close behind.

Yue Ling stepped into the dimly lit room beneath the garage, her eyes instantly locking onto the man bound to the chair. Blood stained his clothes and pooled beneath him. A clear sign that Lin Hui and Qi Li hadn’t wasted time while she was away.

Hearing her approach, both men instinctively stepped aside. Lin Hui moved to a nearby table, grabbing a towel to wipe the blood from his hands.

”He’s kept his mouth shut.”

He muttered, tossing the towel down with a flick of frustration.

They had done everything—fingernails, teeth—taking turns with precision. But the man remained silent, stubborn in his resistance.

Yue Ling didn’t break stride. She approached him with cold purpose in her steps. When she reached him, she raised her arm, pulled back, and slammed a punch square into his face. His head snapped back, the chair tilting with the force before rocking forward again.

”You knew, didn’t you?”

Her angelic voice was like ice. Her bluish-green eyes bore into his—unyielding, sharp, merciless. He blinked through the blood trickling from his nose and let out a hoarse, manic laugh.

The punch had dazed him, nearly knocked him out, but he had survived worse.

He spat at her feet, a crimson smear staining the floor.

”I did what you wanted. You wanted answers.”

He sneered, lips curling into a twisted grin.

”I gave them to you.”

His boss knew Qi Li was tailing them and had given him orders. His order was to make sure Yue Ling got the phone.

Yue Ling’s breathing was heavy, and the fury boiling inside her finally began to crack through the surface. She had kept herself composed back at the house—for her grandfather’s sake—but now, in this room, surrounded by blood and silence, her restraint was hanging by a thread.

The moment the man claimed everything was on his phone, she knew something was off. He was stalling. Waiting. And when that phone rang during the call, it confirmed everything.

She started to laugh. Quiet at first, then louder, like she’d just heard the most absurd joke in the world.

The man frowned, confused by her sudden outburst. Lin Hui and Qi Li, however, exchanged a knowing glance.

They had seen this before. That laugh didn’t mean amusement—it meant death.

Before the man could process what was coming, Yue Ling’s hand shot forward, gripping his throat. With one swift motion, she slammed him and the chair to the ground.

There was no hesitation. She kneels next to the man and begins punching again and again. Fist after fist collided with his face, each hit driven by unrestrained wrath.

The man had no time to react. No strength left to fight back. All he could do was take the beating as blood pooled in his mouth and spilled from his nose. He choked, coughing violently as it gurgled up his throat.

Breathing hard, Yue Ling pulled back and reached for the rope binding his wrists. Without pause, she yanked, tightening it until a sickening crack echoed through the room. His wrist snapped like dry wood.

Then, with a force that came from the depths of her soul, she ripped his hand free from the chair. Blood splattered across the floor, the walls, and her hands.

And still, her expression remained ice cold.

”Ahhhh—!!!!”

The man’s scream echoed through the room, raw and piercing—a sound pulled straight from the pit of agony. His body convulsed from the unbearable pain, limbs twitching against the cold floor. Not even when Lin Hui and Qi Li had pulled out his teeth and nails had he felt anything like this.

Sweat broke across his brow, dripping down as his skin paled rapidly from the blood loss.

”I’ll talk,” he gasped, choking between breaths. ”You—my boss wants you.”

His voice was hoarse, wet with blood and desperation. He spoke quickly, afraid she’d take his other hand before he could finish. But Yue Ling wasn’t listening.

She didn’t even seem to hear him.

Her eyes were glazed, disoriented, cold, and far away. Though she stood there, bloodied and breathing, it was as if her mind had already slipped somewhere else. Somewhere dark.

Like a ghost trapped in her own body.

She takes the rope in her hand and wraps it around the man’s throat.

”You should have said that when I asked you nicely.”

She yanked the rope tighter, and the man thrashed in panic. His freed arm flailed wildly, spraying blood with every jerking motion until Yue Ling drove her knee into his shoulder and dislocated it with a sickening pop. His arm falls limp to the floor, useless.

”You took someone you shouldn’t have.”

Using both her hands, she tightens the rope more as she strangles him. His eyes bulged from the suffocation, and she leaned down to him.

”Now, your fate is mine to collect.”

Her last word fell, and the man’s eyes widened even more. He now understands why someone who is supposed to be a wealthy and sheltered retired model isn’t afraid of him.

She was Fate.

And only Fate uses those lines on those who cross their path.

Just like how Qi Li had told him, he would answer to Fate. If only he had connected the dots sooner. If only he could tell his boss that they were crossing the line of the one person everyone in the underworld feared.

However, it was too late because he had signed his death warrant to Fate.

His body turned rigid from lack of oxygen, and darkness welcomed him to the world of the dead.

Yue Ling watches the life drain from the man’s eyes before she loosens her grip on the rope. She straightens her posture and stares down at him like he is nothing.

Lu Tian, Xu Long, and Jiangyu watched the entire scene from the stairs. Xu Long and Jiangyu’s mouths were opened in pure shock at what their lady boss just did. However, unlike them, Lu Tian was in awe of his wife.

”Get rid of the body and clean the mess.”

He gives an order before walking over to his wife. Despite being mysophobic, he gently takes the bloody rope from her hand and tosses it to the side. He placed an arm around her as he placed a soft kiss on her head and turned her away from the dead body.

”Let’s get you out of here.”

Yue Ling doesn’t push him away and lets him guide her out of the room.

Watching the couple disappear from the room, the four remaining men stare in utter disbelief. Lin Hui and Qi Li came back to their senses first and started to clean up.

Xu Long was the third and looked at the two men getting to work. He frowns at their calmness and walks over to the man lying dead on the ground.

Seeing the man’s condition, he couldn’t help but shiver.

”Dang. I don’t think I ever want to see her angry again.”

Jiangyu joins the assistant and looks at the man on the ground. He winces as he recalls the scene he had witnessed and shivers.

”Yeah. If she can do this, I don’t even want to imagine what else she can do.”

They had always thought Lu Tian was ruthless, but seeing how Yue Ling didn’t so much as blink when she strangled the man, they knew she was by far more brutal than their boss. If anything, their boss could be considered a saint compared to the lady boss.

Lin Hui stops what he is doing and looks at the two men, then at the body on the ground.

”Trust me, we’ve seen her do worse than this.”

He points to the dead man and shakes his head.

”This is her being merciful.”

Xu Long and Jiangyu look at one another, and a chill runs down their spine. Both men quickly came to the same conclusion.

From now on, they are going to be extra nice to their lady boss and make sure to follow her orders no matter what.