Silence hung in the air for a moment. Zhang Zhiqi contacted headquarters, hoping help would arrive immediately. They couldn't afford to waste a single second. Who knew who was really behind Li Yue's recklessness?
"Ru Yi and his team left the base a long time ago. He should have reached the destination by now. We're sending a backup team immediately."
The reply sent a chill straight through Zhang Zhiqi's veins. His gaze flickered to Bo Ya, then to his children. Something wasn't right — his heart screamed it. Ru Yi and his team… something must have happened. He just knew it.
Zhang Zhiqi hurried toward Bo Ya.
BANG!
His steps came to an abrupt halt. Just a few centimetres closer, and the bullet would have torn right through his leg. Every head snapped toward where the shot had come from.
Lulu pulled Mu Zhe firmly behind him, keeping a tight hold so he couldn't rush forward recklessly again. This man was nothing like Li Yue. His gaze was sharp and intense — like that of a starving wolf — and his aim was deadly accurate.
Ah Fei trembled beside Zhang Yiran. Zhang Yiran stood frozen, his face drained of all colour. Slowly, Ah Fei wrapped his arms around him, holding on tight — trying to pass him whatever little courage he had left.
Zhang Zhiqi's heart shattered as he looked at the man standing before him. The pistol was aimed straight at him, steady and unwavering. Someone he knew so well.
"Come with me if you want everyone to stay safe."
His voice was rough, cutting through the quiet morning at the deserted harbour. He motioned for Bo Ya to release Li Yue.
Bo Ya had no choice but to obey. Zhang Zhiqi's life — his children's lives — were on the line. Slowly, he let go of Li Yue. And now the gun swung toward Lulu.
Lulu and Mu Zhe held each other even closer. If they had to die today, they would die together.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Zhang Zhiqi suddenly burst out laughing — a wild, broken sound. All the exhaustion and hurt he'd carried for so long came pouring out: betrayal after betrayal, and now this, from someone he'd once called close.
He knew his father had been tangled in this family mess all along. But seeing it with his own eyes — watching Zhang Jun fire without hesitation, pointing his gun at his own grandchildren — Zhang Zhiqi could no longer hold back his heartbreak.
"Safe? HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
He laughed through his tears, as they streamed down his face.
"Dad… what am I to you?"
His voice broke.
"A son I raised to follow my orders."
Without a flicker of guilt, Zhang Jun spoke the words — shattering not just Zhang Zhiqi, but Bo Ya, Zhang Yiran, and Lulu too.
"Cruel,"
Mu Zhe murmured.
Lulu quickly covered his mouth. They were standing before Zhang Jun — leader of Black Mamba, a mafia boss with no heart and no mercy.
"Heh… HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"I am NOT your tool! Just kill me now!!!"
Zhang Zhiqi shouted, pouring out every bit of his broken heart. If there was no happiness left, life meant nothing at all. He ran straight toward Zhang Jun — still trying to give Bo Ya and the children a chance to escape. All while the pistol remained pointed directly at Lulu's forehead.
"A QI!!!"
Bo Ya cried out, scrambling to stop him. Lulu's life was hanging in the balance.
Grrr!!!
BANG!!
A shot rang out — just inches from Zhang Yiran's head. He froze. Ah Fei and Lulu stood perfectly still too. Mu Zhe's eyes went wide, darting between Zhang Jun and something round and white that had just lunged at him. Where on earth had it come from?
"Arghhh!!!"
Zhang Jun roared in fury. He snatched at the creature —
ZAP!!
A sharp scratch raked right across his cheek.
"Arghhh!!!"
He hurled the fluffy white creature as hard as he could out into the deep snow.
"FANTUAN!!! RUN!!!!"
Mu Zhe screamed. His heart nearly burst as he watched Zhang Jun hurl Fantuan into the snow. He couldn't bear to think what might happen if Zhang Jun turned his sights on the little creature next.
Zhang Jun's attention snapped straight back to them. He swung the gun around, aiming it right at Mu Zhe.
"NO!!!"
Lulu, Zhang Zhiqi, and Bo Ya shouted in unison.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots rang out. Lulu squeezed his eyes shut, wrapping himself around Mu Zhe to shield him. Ah Fei clung to Zhang Yiran, who stood frozen like a statue carved from stone. Zhang Zhiqi threw himself in front of the children, doing everything he could to keep them safe.
When silence settled and nothing seemed to happen, Zhang Zhiqi looked over at Zhang Jun — lying motionless on the ground, bleeding. Who had fired? Ru Yi? Had he finally gotten there in time?
"UNCLE BO YA!!!"
Lulu's cry rang out — and Zhang Zhiqi's knees simply gave way beneath him.
"No… no way… not Bo Ya…"
He spun around — Bo Ya lay there behind him, covered in blood. How long had he been there?
"A… A Ya…?"
Zhang Zhiqi fell to his knees beside him, his whole body trembling.
"Bo… BO YA!!!!!"
He held Bo Ya tightly, tears streaming freely down his face. His worst nightmare was coming true.
"A Qi…"
Bo Ya's voice was faint — barely audible.
"Don't speak. Keep your eyes open, please…"
Zhang Zhiqi pleaded through his sobs.
"Good… you and… the children… are safe…"
Bo Ya's voice was low and weak, each word sounding like it cost him great pain. Every word pierced Zhang Zhiqi's heart like a sharp needle.
"Don't talk. You have to be okay. Promise me. Please, Bo Ya… don't close your eyes."
Zhang Zhiqi sobbed, holding Bo Ya tightly. He kissed Bo Ya's forehead again and again. After losing Li Da, he couldn't bear to lose this person too — without him, his life would lose all meaning.
"Uncle Bo Ya will be fine,"
Mu Zhe said as he quickly took off his jacket. The son of a doctor, he knew exactly what to do. First aid. He pressed the jacket firmly against Bo Ya's chest to stop the bleeding. His hands trembled. Fear gripped him — this was life or death.
Lulu covered Mu Zhe's trembling hands with his own, helping him press down together.
In the distance, sirens wailed.
"Make way for the doctors,"
A soft woman's voice said.
Lulu and Mu Zhe looked up — an older woman, in her late sixties. Who was she? She looked at them gently and nodded slowly.
"A Qi,"
She called softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"NO! BO YA!!!"
Zhang Zhiqi refused to let go. If Bo Ya left, he would go too.
"A Ya will be all right. Let the doctors help him,"
She soothed, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"Forgive me, son. I am so sorry. I'm late."
Her words broke him completely, and he wept openly.
Slowly, he let go of Bo Ya. The medical team moved in at once.
"You did so well, my child,"
Liu Yu Fei whispered to Mu Zhe, proud of his courage.
"Papa… Uncle Bo Ya… will be okay, right?"
Mu Zhe asked, his voice soft and small. Liu Yu Fei nodded gently.
Zhang Zhiqi's cries, the wail of sirens, and the voices of officers filled the harbour air.
Zhang Yiran remained frozen in Ah Fei's arms, his mind reeling. How could a grandfather try to kill his own grandchildren? Betray his own son? Who was truly at fault here?
Mu Zhe leaned against Lulu, letting all the strength drain away. Relieved — yet his heart ached as he looked at his bloodstained hands.
"Lulu…"
"Hmm?"
"Uncle Bo Ya…"
"He will be safe,"
Lulu said gently. Mu Zhe nodded.
Meow…
Fantuan padded over, gently rubbing his head against Mu Zhe. Mu scooped him up into his arms.
"Thank you, Fantuan,"
He whispered, kissing the little cat's forehead softly.