She lifted the cake to Xiǎomù's lips, but suddenly her body went limp, and she fell straight back. Luò Wǎn's final thought was of collapsing into a warm embrace. Lǐ Dàlù was walking down the street when suddenly a vision flashed before him—a splash of blood and Luò Wǎn's scream. He recalled the footsteps, the voice, the request, "Help me with something, and I´ll restore your sight.”

He was startled, thinking something was wrong, and immediately turned around to run back. Just then, he ran into Shàngguān Liúyún's sports car coming out of the alley. The two of them crossed paths.

Lǐ Dàlù knocked on the car window and asked, “Where is Luò Wǎn?”

"Isn’t she looking for you?” Shàngguān Liúyún's face was dark and stern.

"This isn't the time for arguments. I sense that Luò Wǎn is in danger. Turn the car around.”

Seeing Lǐ Dàlù's serious expression, Shàngguān Liúyún was taken aback. This was the first time he had seen such a tense look from him since they met. The car swiftly turned around, and as the door swung open, he said, “What are you still waiting for?”

Lǐ Dàlù got into the car and asked, "Did you leave her alone at home?”

"What's wrong?” Shàngguān Liúyún sensed that something was seriously amiss, and the car sped up.

"Did you see anyone going up to look for Luò Wǎn?”Lǐ Dàlù pressed on.

"I came down the stairs; I didn’t notice!”

As they were speaking, they reached the ground floor and ran to the elevator. In the elevator, both men had grim faces and said nothing.

The door to Luò Wǎn's room was ajar. They burst inside, finding only the half-eaten cake on the table. They started searching, but there was no sign of Luò Wǎn. Lǐ Dàlù collapsed onto the sofa, his heart crying out, "Luò Wǎn, Luò Wǎn, where have you gone?”

"Luò Wǎn, Luò Wǎn.” In her dazed state, Luò Wǎn heard someone gently calling her name. She opened her eyes to see a stunningly handsome face before her.

"Xiǎomù.” Luò Wǎn sat up and looked around. Everything was rough and wild, and it seemed there were no lights.

"Where am I? She asked.

"I brought you up to the mountaintop to get some fresh air. What happened to you just now? Have you been too tired lately?”

"Maybe I was just too tired,” Luò Wǎn said, feeling embarrassed as she thought about what had just happened.

"Did my brother upset you? You seemed so upset.

"No, don't misunderstand. Liúyún has been very good to me, Luò Wǎn defended Shàngguān Liúyún.

Xiǎomù looked at Luò Wǎn for a long time, as if trying to see into her eyes and understand her heart. "I really envy my brother for having such a wonderful woman like you by his side.”

Luò Wǎn's heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head, unable to meet Xiǎomù's gaze directly.

Xiǎomù also turned his head, pointing to the lights below the mountain. "Isn't it beautiful? Like a painting.” 

"Yes, Luò Wǎn replied, "So many lights. I wonder how many stories of joy and sorrow are hidden within them.” 

"And how many loving couples. In fact, a simple, ordinary life is already very good. Luò Wǎn, women like you, who are as serene as water, are rare nowadays.”

"But, Shěn Jī...” 

Xiǎomù stood up and said, "Don't mention Shěn Jī to me anymore. I´ll take you to a place where you won´t have to frown anymore. You´ll be very happy when you get there.”

Xiǎomù and Luò Wǎn walked hand in hand down the path from the mountaintop, following the mountain road down. There were no pedestrians on the road, and it was very quiet. As they walked through the darkness, Luò Wǎn felt a sense of calm.

Xiǎomù was the kind of man who could bring calm to a woman. He was gentle and soothing, seemingly without any harmful intent. Luò Wǎn walked alongside him. The road was long, and not far ahead was a mountain bend.

Shàngguān Liúyún and Lǐ Dàlù drove around the city like headless chickens, desperately trying to find Luò Wǎn. The vision Lǐ Dàlù had was becoming clearer—blood splattered against a rocky wall like a blooming flower, and Luò Wǎn's scream echoed hauntingly in his ears.

Lǐ Dàlù pondered for a moment and suddenly asked Shàngguān Liúyún, "Do you know where your brother is?”

"How would I know where he went? We´re looking for Luò Wǎn. What does my brother have to do with this?” Shàngguān Liúyún replied curtly.

"I think Luò Wǎn might be with him,” Lǐ Dàlù said diplomatically.

"You´re saying my brother might be interested in Luò Wǎn? That's impossible. Xiǎomù is gentle with all women.”

"I'm not saying he's interested. I’m saying, well, just help me find your brother,” Lǐ Dàlù said with a sigh.

Shàngguān Liúyún took out his phone and made a call. After a while, he hung up and shrugged at Lǐ Dàlù, saying, "Can't get through. The signal's bad.”

"Bad signal?”Lǐ Dàlù had a sudden realization—rocky wall. He suddenly said, "Drive to the mountaintop road.”

"Hey, it's already dark. Why go up the mountain?”Shàngguān Liúyún replied.

Shàngguān Liúyún replied irritably, "Whatever, just go.”

The car sped off towards the mountaintop road, racing like an arrow released from its bow.

Luò Wǎn and Xiǎomù walked hand in hand and suddenly reached a bend in the road, arriving at a mountain bay. The sight before Luò Wǎn took her breath away. The bay was filled with countless stars dancing in the sky, as if all the meteors had gathered here. This place was like a dream, almost like another world.

"Oh my God!” Luò Wǎn covered her mouth, unable to move from the shock.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? I stumbled upon this place with so many fireflies by accident. I was just as stunned the first time I came here, Xiǎomù said with a smile.

Luò Wǎn looked happily at the beautiful scene before her and the dancing fireflies. She walked over with joy, laughing as she tiptoed to catch the fireflies with their tiny lanterns. The fluttering stars landed on her hair and clothes, bathing her in a gentle glow.

He turned around, smiling at Xiǎomù like a fairy in the clouds, and said, "Thank you, Xiǎomù, for bringing me here.”

Xiǎomù clasped his hands in front of his chest and leaned against the rocks, watching her. Luò Wǎn turned back, revealing her white neck, which looked enchanting like white jade under the beautiful glow.

The slender neck was so alluring. Xiǎomù's hand slowly reached out from behind, inch by inch, getting closer and closer, while Luò Wǎn continued to joyfully catch fireflies. At that moment, a blinding light flashed towards them. The car was speeding uncontrollably, charging straight at Luò Wǎn.

Luò Wǎn and Xiǎomù couldn’t react in time and could only stare blankly as the headlights came towards them, closing their eyes, bracing for the impact. But the car swerved past Luò Wǎn, crashing into the nearby rocks with a deafening roar, and then came to a stop.

Luò Wǎn rushed forward and yanked open the car door. A spray of blood splattered across her face, and Luò Wǎn let out a scream, her cry echoing throughout the mountain bay.

Xiǎomù rushed up, dragging her away from the scene. An explosion and a burst of flames followed, sending both of them to the ground. The heat surged over them from behind and only subsided after a long time.

As Shàngguān Liúyún drove along the road, he suddenly heard a scream—Lo Wǎn's scream. Up ahead, not far from the mountain bay, both Lǐ Dàlù and he tensed up. The car accelerated, and neither of them spoke a word.

It wasn´t until the explosion sounded and a burst of flames erupted in the mountain bay that they realized the two people lying on the ground near the firelight were Xiǎomù and Luò Wǎn.