CITM - 47

A few days later, Fang Lizhen managed to gather all the materials Ye Yun needed and had Bai Wenfu deliver them to her.

During the day, Ye Yun worked without taking breaks. She disliked anything interrupting her train of thought. After a full day’s work, she would take a book outside in the evening to read for a while, then rest briefly on the wicker chair to relax her eyes before Bai Wenfu returned home.

Outside the courtyard stood a bare loquat tree. After staring at it for so long, she had memorized every branch.

Lately, she often dreamed of running and playing with her younger sister in the fields. When she woke up, the empty room always left her disoriented for a long time. During these moments, she felt as though the past two years had been a dream. If she opened the door, she might still see the endless ridges of farmland stretching out, where she once roamed freely between heaven and earth.

When Bai Wenfu returned, he would carry her along with her book back inside, cuddle with her for a while, and then they would eat dinner together.

That day, as usual, Ye Yun tucked the book into her clothes and curled up in the small chair, closing her eyes. The warm glow of the setting sun bathed her body, and as she listened to the rustling of the branches, it wasn’t long before she once again dreamed of golden rice paddies.

She ran ahead, with her younger sister chasing after her. Familiar laughter echoed across the fields. In the dream, Ye Yun was laughing too—laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath. Her younger sister called out to her: “Sister, stop running! Slow down…”

Ye Yun turned around, but her sister’s face suddenly twisted in terror. When Ye Yun looked back, the golden waves of wheat parted violently, revealing a massive fissure splitting the earth. In an instant, Ye Yun and the surrounding debris were sucked into a bottomless black chasm. The sensation of falling jolted her awake.

The book slipped from her hands, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. A pair of hands appeared by her feet, picking up the fallen book. Thinking Bai Wenfu had returned, she exhaled in relief and lifted her head—only to find Wen Bin’s cold face staring back at her. Ye Yun’s breath caught, and she abruptly stood up. Blood rushed to her head, nearly causing her to lose balance. Wen Bin reached out to steady her, but she avoided his touch, retreating to the doorframe.

Her face pale, she asked him, “How did you find this place?”

Wen Bin bent down to place the book on the chair, then straightened up and walked toward Ye Yun.

“Unwelcome?”

Ye Yun pressed her lips tightly together, her back already against the door. Wen Bin stopped in front of her, his sharp features like a layer of frost, his eyes filled with gloom. He looked down at her, taking in her defensive expression.

He reached out and yanked the door open. The force of the door sent Ye Yun stumbling forward. Wen Bin didn’t budge, catching her briefly with his chest before pushing her back inside and shutting the door behind him.

Ye Yun retreated to the table, gripping its edge tightly as she glared at him.

Wen Bin wore an unbuttoned denim jacket. Though not taller than Bai Wenfu, his lean figure exuded a sense of desolation and coldness. With a weary gaze, he surveyed every item in the room.

“So, you want to ask how I found this place?”

His eyes landed on the cupboard, where several appetizing dishes were stored—all favorites of his older brother. A chilling smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“I followed my brother once, but he’s too vigilant and shook me off. Still, growing up here, I have my ways of finding where you live.”

Ye Yun’s wary gaze remained fixed on him. Wen Bin turned and looked toward the glaring wooden bed.

The sheets were neatly folded, the quilt arranged in perfect order, and the two pillows placed side by side. His lips curled into a cold smile as he approached the bed, bending down to touch its edge.

“This is where you sleep?”

He withdrew his hand and sat down calmly on the bed.

Ye Yun’s expression grew increasingly tense. “If you’re here as Wenfu’s younger brother, you’re welcome. If not, leave immediately.”

Wen Bin leaned forward, hands resting on his knees, his deep gaze piercing through the room.

One stood defensively, the other sat silently. Between them lay the cruel joke fate had played. Back then, he had brought her out of the mountains, the first time she’d ever left home. Amid the crowd, her small face filled with fear and unease, he turned back and firmly took her hand.

Never could they have imagined that one day they would face each other with such hostility.

“I saw Brother go downtown before coming here. He won’t be back for a while.”

Wen Bin broke the silence, his voice casual and dismissive.

Ye Yun’s heart raced. Pointing to the door, she said, “In that case, you can leave.”

Wen Bin’s lips curved into a sinister smile. As the sun sank silently, the room dimmed, making his grin appear even colder and more menacing.

“Brother hates when I touch his things. Do you think he’d kill me if I touched them?”

Chills ran down Ye Yun’s spine. The moment Wen Bin’s gaze shifted toward her, she bolted toward the door. Just as freedom seemed within reach, a chilling force seized her from behind. Wen Bin grabbed her waist and threw her onto the bed.

For a second, Ye Yun’s mind went blank. As she tried to rise, the man looming over her pinned her hands to the pillow.

Wen Bin’s aura turned vicious. “What position does Brother usually prefer when he takes you?”

Ye Yun’s heart plummeted into an icy abyss. She arched her body and slammed her forehead into his nose. Pain shot through Wen Bin’s nasal bridge, anger flaring in his eyes. Grabbing her hair, he pressed down and sought her lips roughly.

Ye Yun turned her head away, gritting her teeth until her lips bled profusely.

Wen Bin froze momentarily, gripping her jaw tightly. “Do you think I’m afraid of blood?”

He pinned her wildly thrashing waist, clenching her chin and crushing her lips. Ye Yun clenched her teeth shut, blood staining everything—a horrifying sight.

As darkness enveloped the room, endless fear gnawed at her willpower, mercilessly ravaging every inch of her skin, every cell, every bone, forcing her to resist with every fiber of her being.

She fought to stop Wen Bin’s madness, to prevent their brothers’ inevitable conflict, to keep him from plunging a knife into Bai Wenfu’s heart.

Her petite frame unleashed strength beyond its limits, like a ferocious lioness battling Wen Bin fiercely.

The bedding was thrown into chaos, pillows scattered. Her resilience pushed Wen Bin to his breaking point. He abandoned her lips, rising to straddle her and pinning her legs beneath him.

Blood smeared everywhere, fabric tore apart. Wen Bin’s eyes burned with terrifying madness. Like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell, he was determined to strip away her defenses, no matter the cost—even if it meant shattering bones or mutual destruction.

Ye Yun trembled in despair, her body convulsing uncontrollably. Like a flower wilting or grass snapping, her fingertips dug into Wen Bin’s arms. Her anguished cries echoed through the room: “If you want my life so badly, go ahead!”

The resolve in her eyes pierced straight into Wen Bin’s pupils, slicing through the air with a mournful cry of mutual annihilation.

Her words stunned him. Her white, supple body hung in tatters, breathtakingly beautiful yet utterly ravaged. A single glance at her exposed curves ignited desire within him.

She was threatening him with death. Desire and reason clashed fiercely within him. His movements slowed but didn’t stop completely.

Ye Yun closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking the pillow. Her anguish squeezed Wen Bin’s heart painfully tight. He leaned down, embracing her tightly, his voice trembling with uncontrollable emotion: “If you don’t want to leave Brother, fine. But don’t abandon me. As long as you nod, I’ll stay hidden and come only when he’s not home.”

Ye Yun abruptly opened her tear-filled eyes, rage coursing through her entire body until it went numb. “Are you even human?”

Wen Bin’s gaze overflowed with a sickening tenderness as he caressed her blood-streaked face, his voice filled with obsessive affection. “I’ll treat you better than Brother ever could. If you don’t want to admit our relationship, I’ll come to see you in secret. If you don’t want to make things difficult for him, I’ll go back to work and stop causing trouble for him—as long as you nod.”

Wen Bin undid his pants and grabbed her leg. Her desperate cries used up the last of her resistance.

The door was violently flung open before Wen Bin could turn around. A single punch sent him sprawling to the floor.

The jagged scar on Bai Wenfu’s face tightened like a coiled spring. His towering figure loomed like the king of demons, radiating an overwhelming ferocity as his fists—each blow deadly—rained down upon Wen Bin.

Wen Bin collapsed on the ground, emitting muffled groans of pain.

Bai Wenfu suddenly turned. Ye Yun raised her trembling hands in front of her, her mind lost in terror, her eyes hollow and fearful. Tattered fabric clung to her exposed body.

He quickly pulled the blanket over her, wrapping her tightly. When he turned back, his eyes blazed with murderous intent. He strode toward Wen Bin, grabbed his head, and slammed it against the wall.

From childhood to adulthood, Bai Wenfu had never truly struck Wen Bin. Even when they fought, he always held back, ensuring Wen Bin never suffered a scratch.

This was the first time Bai Wenfu wanted to tear him apart piece by piece.

Blood trickled down Wen Bin’s forehead, but his bruised lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes glaring hatefully at Bai Wenfu. Bai Wenfu kicked him to the ground, his fury igniting like wildfire. Turning, he grabbed a stool and began beating Wen Bin mercilessly.

Every muscle in Bai Wenfu’s body tensed to a terrifying hardness. The stool shattered into pieces, clothes tore, skin split open. Wen Bin howled in agony, curling into a ball.

Bai Wenfu stared at his broken form, redness creeping into his eyes as he clenched his fists, his whole body shaking with rage.

Wen Bin crawled to Bai Wenfu’s feet, clutching his leg desperately, tears streaming down his face. “Brother, pretend I’m already dead. I won’t hold anything you’ve done to her against you. Please… give me my wife back…”

Bai Wenfu yanked him up by his battered body, his eyes burning with apocalyptic fury. “She’s your sister-in-law. Get out!”

He dragged Wen Bin to the door and kicked him out into the yard.

A crowd had already gathered outside. Men, women, and children from nearby homes had heard the commotion and now watched in shock.

Bai Wenfu glared at them with brutal intensity, then slammed the door shut with a resounding “bang.”

In that moment, an indescribable grief choked his breath. Step by step, he approached Ye Yun. As he bent down, she trembled, her body instinctively retreating further into the wall. The pain and struggle in her eyes shredded his heart.

The room reeked of blood. He lifted her battered body, holding her tightly in his arms, whispering “I’m sorry” over and over again. Whether he was apologizing for Wen Bin or himself, his voice grew hoarse with emotion.

Ye Yun lay silently in his embrace, unnaturally quiet. When he pulled back the blanket, the veins in his arms bulged.

Her body bore countless wounds from her desperate resistance. Blood covered her face, neck, and fingers—it was impossible to tell where the injuries were.

He brought hot water and carefully wiped her body clean. Her gaze was as still as stagnant water, her body marked with evidence of the torment she’d endured. Clenching his teeth until they nearly shattered, his entire being radiated suffocating despair.

He changed the water and gently cleaned her face. When the blood was wiped away, he saw her swollen lips, and his heart shattered as if pierced by an icy dagger.

His thumb lightly brushed the corner of her mouth, but Ye Yun turned her head away, unwilling to face him. An endless tide of shame and despair pushed her to the edge of a cliff. She no longer wanted to face anyone—not even the world itself.

He dressed her in clean clothes, reheated their meal, and brought it to her lips.

Ye Yun didn’t open her mouth. She simply took the bowl, lowered her eyes, and remained silent.

Bai Wenfu turned to tidy the chaotic room, sweeping the broken wood outside. The crowd beyond the door had dispersed, leaving only the eerie glow of moonlight cloaked in cruelty, shrouding the night.

Bai Wenfu lit a cigarette. His shadow fell at his feet, devoured by darkness.

Ye Yun raised her gaze, watching the glowing ember between his fingers. He didn’t bring it to his lips; the cigarette burned silently. Suddenly, he clenched his fist, grinding the scorching butt into his palm.

Her heart felt as though it had been branded with a gaping hole. The sensation of falling overwhelmed her once more. This time, it wasn’t in a dream—it was stark, piercing, and tugging relentlessly at the remnants of her will.

On the road ahead, she and Wen Bin could not coexist.

While Wen Bin shackled Bai Wenfu’s feet, hadn’t she done the same?

After enduring hardships, after painstakingly climbing back to his feet, during the best years of his life, Bai Wenfu should have emerged from the depths of humiliation and near-destruction. In the tumultuous currents of the times, he should have seized the helm, navigating through storms.

He was rebellious, independent, brave, and far-sighted. Among all the people Ye Yun had ever met, he was the one most likely to ride the crest of the wave. His career required constant negotiation and relentless effort, yet here he was, trapped in this place, unable to leave even for a day.

A man who had always scorned worldly constraints was now bound by them.

Wen Bin’s obsession tied her fate to his. As long as she stayed by Bai Wenfu’s side, Wen Bin refused to seek treatment. He viewed Bai Wenfu as an enemy, provoking him at every turn, even pushing him toward murder.

Wen Bin had lost half his life, but hadn’t Bai Wenfu suffered just as much? When she saw Bai Wenfu’s fists land on Wen Bin, his reddened eyes spoke volumes. In all the time they’d been together, she had never seen him in such profound anguish.

After this incident, everyone around them knew about their twisted relationship. She could no longer deceive herself with the illusion of peace. Where else could they go? What would happen next? Would it end in mutual destruction again? As long as she stayed with Bai Wenfu, the three of them would never find peace.

Unless he completely disowned his younger brother, abandoning him to life or death. But what about Tong Mingfang? That woman, halfway into her grave, would bear all the suffering alone if Bai Wenfu let go. She was the mother who gave birth to him, nurtured him. How could Ye Yun force such a cruel choice onto Bai Wenfu? She had only known him for two years, while this family had been with him for nearly thirty. How could she ask him to gouge out his conscience, morality, and humanity, condemning himself to a lifetime of grief?

If on this path, she and Wen Bin could not coexist, the one to leave could only be her.

If she disappeared, Wen Bin’s obsession would lose its target. One day, he might finally agree to enter the hospital. Even if Wen Bin remained the same, as long as he stayed out of trouble, Bai Wenfu wouldn’t need to stay in this city, constantly worrying about her safety. He could pursue his future freely. And if Wen Bin’s condition worsened, Bai Wenfu would have the means to provide better care, rather than leaving everyone trapped in this endless turmoil.

A bowl of rice sat untouched. Bai Wenfu stepped out of the door looking unchanged, and when he returned, it remained the same. Ye Yun hadn’t touched a single grain.

He entered the room, washed his hands, and approached the bed. Picking up the bowl, he frowned slightly. “Can you eat just a little?”

He brought the spoon to her lips again, but she pushed it away with her hand.

“I want to sleep,” she said softly, turning her body toward the wall without another word.

Bai Wenfu didn’t disturb her. That night, his sleep was restless. He woke intermittently to check on Ye Yun. She remained in the same position, unmoving, her breathing barely perceptible.

He wished she would cry, scream, release her anguish like she had before—even curse both Wen Bin and him. Anything would be better than lying there so quietly, as if devoid of consciousness, ready to vanish like a shadow.

In the morning, Bai Wenfu woke with a start. Reaching out beside him, he found only emptiness. His heart sank as he threw off the covers and hurried downstairs. His ragged breathing steadied when he spotted her small figure in the courtyard.

He went out and draped a coat over her shoulders, then returned inside to tidy up and prepare a pot of warm porridge.

When he brought the steaming porridge outside, he realized Ye Yun wasn’t reading. She was simply staring blankly at the loquat tree.

Bai Wenfu brought out a stool and sat beside her. “What are you thinking about?”

Her gaze was distant. She had always thought the loquat tree in front of the house was half-dead. But this morning, a new leaf had sprouted on one of its branches. She stared at it, assuming it belonged to the tree, connected by roots and branches. Yet when the wind blew, the leaf detached and floated into the air, disappearing from sight. Only then did she realize it hadn’t been part of the tree—it had merely been carried there by the wind, lingering briefly before being swept farther away.

“I was wondering if the tree is really dead or not,” she finally replied.

Bai Wenfu blew on the hot porridge and brought it to her lips. Unconsciously, she opened her mouth.

He carefully avoided the wound on her lips, moving as gently as possible. She complied—not because she wanted to, but because she seemed like a soulless shell, mechanically completing the act of swallowing.

When only a small portion of the porridge remained, Ye Yun turned her head away. Bai Wenfu set the bowl aside and heard her soft voice call him. “Wenfu.”

He raised his gaze to her lifeless face, his pupils contracting like a plunge into an abyss.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Yes.” She hugged her knees, her oversized shirt covering her legs, shrinking into a tiny ball.

Bai Wenfu waited for her to continue. But after a long silence, she remained in the same position, her gaze fixed on the swaying shadows on the ground.

Just as he thought she wouldn’t speak, her voice drifted to him, cold as the winter morning wind.

“When my family arranged for me to marry Wen Bin, no one asked if I agreed. If Father hadn’t been ill and my younger siblings weren’t so young, I wouldn’t have left home to come to this unfamiliar place.

After Wen Bin left, Mother said that if I returned the dowry money, she’d let me go. I had no money, so I contacted my family. I thought they’d consider my situation, take me back, or at least give me a way out. Instead, they abandoned me.

When you asked if I wanted to be with you, I didn’t answer. Since leaving home, I haven’t had the freedom to decide anything. Not one decision has been mine to make.

That day, when you claimed my body, I received a letter from home. They severed my path back with two jars of sauce and a few words. So I didn’t refuse you. Master Zhang once said life often leaves us powerless.

Sometimes, I feel like an object. My family handed me over to you, and since then, I haven’t belonged to myself.

I worked late nights not because I loved my job, but because I wanted to save enough to repay the dowry. That way, if I ever chose another path, I wouldn’t owe your family anything.

You asked me not to leave without saying a word. So I’m telling you now—I want to make a decision for myself this time.”

Bai Wenfu’s interlocked knuckles trembled slightly. She turned her head and took his hand, revealing the burn mark left by the cigarette butt in his palm. His body was already scarred enough—why should he bear all the wounds of this world alone?

As she enclosed his fingers in her palm, a tsunami surged within her heart, rushing into a valley without echoes, sweeping away all fallen leaves, returning to the sea.

“From now on… forget about me.”