I hung up the phone, and my tears almost fell out. I used to think that Zhuang Yu was still a bit righteous, but I didn't expect her to be so righteous. To tell the truth, because of her words, my heart is not so panicked anymore. What's there to fear? Even if time flows backwards, it's already happened, just go face it. With the corner of my eye, I glanced at Wu Yu, such a good person, and such good friends, accompanying me.

  Still, my heart would be uneasy and still hurt. So that afternoon, I didn't care about anything and leaned my head into Ou Yu's arms. This completely went against my principle of being flirtatious but not taking the initiative, but... I couldn't help it. All I wanted to do was bury my face in his chest, he didn't know, a beloved man's embrace, its significance to a woman. Enough to make me withstand all the storms and fears outside.

  I tensely and stubbornly pressed my face against his chest, but thinking of his repeated rejections, I didn't dare to lift my hands to hug him. Ah, it seemed that I had never hugged him before... Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly felt a weight on my waist, it was his hand, embracing me.

  ……

  Ah Yu, I'm really going to sink because of you.

  ……

  The next day, the day when the fire broke out in history. I woke up very early, with a heavy heart, and thought of going out for a walk alone to clear my mind. The others seemed not to have gotten up yet, including Wu Yu.

  It was extremely cold in the mountains at dawn. I put on the two woolen sweaters I had bought at the market, rolled up my sleeves and walked out of the Chen's house. This place is rarely visited by people, but there are no wild beasts, so it won't be dangerous.

  The sky gradually brightened up.

  My mind was preoccupied with all sorts of thoughts, and before I knew it, I had walked deep into the woods behind the house. When I came to my senses, I found myself surrounded by dense tree shadows, an eerie silence, and suddenly felt a little scared. Thinking that Wu Yu should also be up, I was about to head back when I caught sight of something buried under a large tree in front of me.

  I approached step by step with caution and was shocked when I saw it clearly.

  It turned out to be a dead cat.

  That cat is very thin and dirty, looking like a stray cat. But upon closer inspection, the hair on its head has been pulled out baldly, the two paws exposed outside are bloody and bruised, and there are many scars on its body. It's clear that it has been abused.

  I felt uncomfortable in my heart, a bit suffocated, and just wanted to leave. But unfortunately, my eyes were too sharp and keen, and I caught another glimpse of something under a nearby tree.

  I hesitated for a moment and then walked over.

  ……

  Four.

  In this forest, I unexpectedly found the bodies of four abused to death kittens and puppies. Some were buried, some didn't even bother to bury them, just threw them under the withered branches. Until I couldn't find anything else, I turned around and walked back, getting faster and faster. But in my heart, many thoughts surged up.

  If it were one or two, it might be a prank by someone with ill intentions. But four in a row, and they were abused so brutally, some of the cats had their intestines pulled out...

  From what I know, abusing small animals or doing perverted things like molesting underwear are all the primary psychological processes of a pervert. For example, they will start by abusing small animals to satisfy themselves until one day it's not enough. Looking at these four animals, their time of death is roughly the same, which means that person's recent behavior has been very dense. His emotions are on the verge of exploding.

  I have walked out of the edge of the forest, and the Chen family's ancestral house stands in front of me, looking as rustic and dignified as ever. Behind it, the majestic mountains serve as a backdrop. The village is nestled at the foot of the distant mountain.