Zhang Zhiqi felt as though his soul had left his body when he saw Li Yue's gun pressed directly to Bo Ya's head. Worse still — his children were there too, huddled together, trembling in terror.
A crushing sense of guilt began to consume him. If only he hadn't been so stubborn. If only he'd just listened to Bo Ya. If only he'd paid attention to how uneasy Bo Ya had felt… none of this would have happened. Bo Ya and the children wouldn't be in such terrible danger.
Now that it had all happened, everything was a mess. What could he possibly do to protect Bo Ya and the children?
"Li Yue… let them go. They're innocent."
Zhang Zhiqi spoke, his voice shaking. It felt as though his heart was lodged in his throat. He held his breath, knowing that in an instant, his whole world could vanish — if she pulled that trigger and the bullet found its mark.
Li Yue glared at Zhang Zhiqi, her eyes burning with rage. Her grip on Bo Ya's neck tightened. Her sharp, crimson nails dug into his skin until blood welled up, staining his pale skin.
At the sight, Zhang Zhiqi's knees gave way. It felt as though his own heart was being crushed in a vice, ready to shatter at any moment.
"Li Yue… I beg you. Please let them go."
Zhang Zhiqi pleaded, his voice trembling. Fear, anger, tears, disappointment, guilt, helplessness, despair — all these emotions swirled inside him, churning together and slowly eating away at his sanity.
"Li Yue… I'll come with you. I promise, this time I will. Just let Bo Ya and our children go."
Zhang Zhiqi pleaded once more, tears streaming down his face. His fear was written clearly across his features.
"Li Yue, please… I'll be yours. I beg you… just let Bo Ya and our children go. They're innocent. Don't drag them into our problems."
Zhang Zhiqi pleaded, yet at the same time he steeled himself and stood up. He couldn't afford to be weak anymore. Because of his weakness in the past, he lost Li Da — tearing Zhang Yiran away and leaving Lulu behind. But this time, he was resolute. He wouldn't lose Bo Ya. He couldn't imagine a life without him anymore.
"Don't you dare come any closer!"
Li Yue snapped as she saw Zhang Zhiqi moving toward her and Bo Ya.
Zhang Zhiqi stopped in his tracks, forcing himself to think clearly. He needed to find a way past her guard. He couldn't afford to be reckless — the lives of Bo Ya and the children hung in the balance. It felt like walking a tightrope. Every step had to be precise. Every move, carefully considered.
"Why, Li Yue? You want me… don't you?"
Zhang Zhiqi kept his voice soft. He needed to draw her attention — if only for a moment. But then what? Pull Bo Ya away? Wrest the gun from her hands? What if he failed? Bo Ya's life would be in immediate danger. No! He couldn't let that happen. Zhang Zhiqi weighed every possibility in his mind.
What else can I do? Where is Ru Yi? Why hasn't he arrived yet? What's taking him so long?
Zhang Zhiqi felt panic closing in on him. Every path forward seemed blocked — there was nowhere to turn.
No! I can't give up. If I have to… I'll risk everything.
He took a deep breath — and stepped forward.
"Don't you… try to test me!"
Li Yue snapped, her grip tightening once more — both on the gun and around Bo Ya's neck.
"Heh. Coward."
A voice cut through the tension — sharp, mocking, and challenging. Zhang Zhiqi spun around. Where had that come from? Who would dare speak at a moment like this?
From the corner of his eye, Bo Ya glanced at the children, who looked terrified. Why was that voice of defiance coming from their direction?
"WHO!?"
Li Yue barked, her focus shifting for a moment. Which one of them had such foolish bravery? Or did they simply not understand the danger they were in? If that's the case… let me fill that filthy mouth of yours with a bullet, she thought darkly.
"If you really dare…"
Mu Zhe stepped forward, standing firm amid the chaos. Someone had to draw Li Yue's attention away from Bo Ya. Hope was faint — as fragile as the flame of a match. But it was enough to give Bo Ya a moment's breathing room, and Zhang Zhiqi the opening he needed to overpower her.
"You won't use Bo Ya as a shield."
Lulu said as he rose to his feet and stepped in front of Mu Zhe, standing as his shield — ready to protect the person he loved.
"Lulu… Mu Zhe… what are you doing…?" Zhang Zhiqi murmured, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.
"Heh…"
A twisted smile tugged at the corner of Li Yue's lips. Her gaze locked onto Lulu's face — a face that brought back every bitter memory of the person she despised most in the world.
"And if you weren't such a coward…"
Ah Fei stepped forward. His face was pale, and fear was plain to see in his expression.
"You wouldn't use Zhang Yiran to get to his father! It's disgusting!"
He had no idea where he'd found the courage to speak up. All he knew was that he needed to say it — loud and clear — right to Li Yue's face.
Zhang Yiran stared in disbelief. Zhang Zhiqi stood frozen, unable to believe his eyes. His shy, timid little brother had found such courage at a moment like this — when their lives hung by a thread.
Amidst the fear that gripped them all, Lulu smiled with quiet pride. That's my friend.
"That's right!"
Mu Zhe chimed in, making sure every word was loud enough to pull Li Yue's full attention to them — giving Bo Ya the opening he needed to move.
"You… do you want to die!?"
Li Yue roared with fury. Now her focus had shifted entirely to the children.
"We're not greedy like you!"
Mu Zhe struck again, his voice sharper this time. He did his best to look brave, hoping to provoke her anger. Lulu watched him in awe — he never imagined Mu Zhe could be this strong. The same boy who'd once cried in his arms was now standing up to protect them all.
"You think you're so brave, little one? Hahahaha… if you really were brave… why are you hiding behind him?"
Li Yue shrieked, furious at his boldness. "Tch… you're just a kid. How dare you stand up to me!"
"He loves me! What's wrong with that?"
Mu Zhe answered proudly, even sticking out his tongue. Lulu nodded beside him — silently vowing he'd do anything to keep Mu Zhe safe. Ah Fei nodded too, making Li Yue burn with even more rage. She felt mocked, her pride wounded by children who hadn't yet lived a fraction of what she had.
"You really want to die!"
Li Yue shrieked, spinning around and pointing the gun straight at Mu Zhe. That insolent mouth deserved to feel the bullet.
But in that split second, Bo Ya saw his chance. He moved fast, knocking Li Yue's hand aside in one sharp motion. Then he pulled her arm back and tackled her, sending both of them crashing into a deep, thick pile of snow.
"Let me go!!!"
Li Yue screamed, struggling to break free.
"Phew..."
Mu Zhe let out a breath of relief and sank down onto the ground. Ah Fei did the same — it felt as though his soul was returning to his body.
"You really are the best."
Lulu said softly, crouching down and wrapping his arms tightly around Mu Zhe. His heart was still racing, but he was so thankful that everything had turned out okay.