If someone asks, in this world, what kind of existence Gu Xiyan is to Wei Zhe, then Wei Zhe would answer like this.

  If you also fell in love with someone like I did, loving each other for only a short year, but the memory of it is so far away, so far that you'd be willing to spend seven years or even longer searching for something that may never have a result. And your infatuation would slowly turn into unspeakable sorrow and despair as time goes by. Then you'll understand, she's not just my flesh and blood, the red sand in my heart, she is... the meaning of my existence.

  I don't want to love her, but my heart tells me otherwise. My tears tell me so too. I'd rather admit defeat. Without her, you won't be able to live on. Even if your body remains, your heart will wither away for sure. This is how I feel. People share the same feeling.

  The hallucinogenic effect of the drug brought by Luo Wanyun was indeed fierce. Even if a person's willpower is strong, they can't help but see illusions under its influence. According to Luo Wanyun's words, people who take this drug would mistake those in front of them for the ones they most want to see. So, Wei Zhe took Ye Jiaron as Gu Xiyuan, and Shang Yeqi took Mu Xiao as Gu Xiyuan. Everything was absurd yet real.

  It was just when Luo Wanxian and the others were secretly discussing that they overlooked an important factor. Shang Xizhi is not an ordinary person, nor is Wei Zhe. So, the four-hour efficacy of the drug on ordinary people may not necessarily work for them.

  Wei Zhe woke up one step ahead of Shang Yi Qi. In fact, Ye Jiarong's acting skills were flawless. But for someone you've loved for eight years, to the point where even thinking about them and breathing feels painful, would you mistake them? You couldn't recognize them at first glance, what about ten minutes later? Half an hour later?

  The previous ecstatic mood no longer exists. Wei Zhe suddenly tightened his grip on Ye Jiarong's neck. "Why do you have to do this."

  She sensed Wei Zhe's murderous intent, and Ye Jiarong's heart skipped a beat. With all her might, she tried to loosen Wei Zhe's grip. "Cough...cough...Zhe, I can't breathe...let go..."

  Wei Zhe finally dropped Ye Jiarong to the ground just as she was about to suffocate. A blue vein bulged on his forehead. His tone was cold and distant, like he was talking to a stranger. "Speak. What have you planned? And what about the others?"

  Ye Jiarong carefully massaged her own neck with both hands. Ah, indeed. She would never be able to replace that person's position in his heart.

  No. Wei Zhe. One day it will be hers.

  Her right hand's five fingers were clenched into her palm, but Ye Jiarong ignored the pain and struggled to get up from the ground. She looked up at Wei Zhe, whose eyes had cleared up. In a soft voice, she asked: "Zhe, I love you. I just love you. Was I wrong?"

  "Love me, so you designed me. Last time your design made Yan leave me. What do you want to get this time?" Wei Zhe's face revealed his disgust without reservation. Love him, love him until he lost the woman he loved most.

  "Philosophy, please don't look at me with that expression, okay? You've always only had eyes for Gu Xiyan. Even when she hurt you time and again, you still loved her. But she's already married now. She's already let you go. Why are you still so obstinate? I've waited for you for so many years. I've loved you for so many years. From childhood to adulthood, we were known as the golden boy and jade girl. I firmly believed that your bride would be me. I've always worked towards becoming your wife. Can't you... not be so biased? Give some love to me too, okay?" Ye Jiarong thought she was strong enough, but it turned out that even the strongest woman would have a moment of weakness in front of the man she loved.

  Wei Zhe suddenly turned around and faced the direction of the door. Behind him, Ye Jiarong's scorching gaze fell on his back. He sighed inwardly, but didn't say anything harsh again. Love was a dignified reason. What right did he have to blame her?

  "I don't want anything like this to happen again in the future. I will never fall in love with another woman for the rest of my life. You should also stop wasting your thoughts on me." Wei Zhe said this and turned the door handle to leave.

  Ye Jiarong's hands had seeped out a few strands of blood, her hair was disheveled. She walked to the mirror in the room and slowly tidied up her clothes.

  She took out a lipstick from her own pocket and carefully applied it to her lips in front of the mirror, evenly coating them with bright red lip color that exuded sensuality and passion. She wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with a tissue. In just a few minutes, the seductive and fiery Ye Jiayu was back on stage.

  Isn't it impossible to fall in love with another woman? Ye Jiarong smiled charmingly at the mirror, "If she becomes like that... If Gu Xiyan becomes unrecognizable and promiscuous, would you still love her?" You're extremely disappointed in her. Are you going to accept me now?

  Ye Jiarong's mind was extremely distorted at this moment. She thought that if someone got in the way of what she wanted, she would destroy them.

  It's his own territory. Wei Zhe walked towards the elevator after leaving the door. What happened after he left? Did Yan Yan arrive home safely? Was there anyone else who was drugged like him tonight? These were all his concerns.

  Walking and thinking. Wei Zhe urgently needs to go down to the 40th floor to resolve his own doubts.

  The warm yellow tone in the corridor had reached its end. A whip-like sound suddenly burst into Wei Zhe's ears. A strong sense of panic struck his heart. His body had already taken action before his consciousness, moving swiftly.

  At a distance of about ten meters, Wei Zhe's eyes landed on the figure leaning against the elevator, and his heart suddenly felt dull pain that couldn't be added to.

  "You're going to die." Suddenly, Luo Jing Tian approached. Wei Zhe's painful voice revealed a resolute and ruthless intention. One hand grabbed the belt that was about to hit Gu Xi Yan's cheek in an instant. His foot exerted great force and kicked Luo Jing Tian's abdomen.

  Luojingtian was already stunned when he saw Weizhe suddenly appear. By the time he was kicked far away, he was groaning in pain. He knelt down to the ground with his hands clutching his beer belly, staring at Weizhe who was surrounded by a fierce aura. Luojingtian's heart was hanging high, and he knew that this young man wanted him dead.

  No, no, he was scared. He didn't want to die yet. Luo Jing Tian retreated step by step, his crotch wet with a patch of sweat. He never thought that he, who had once crawled and struggled on the path with all his might, would also have a day when he was intimidated by the momentum of the younger generation.

  Wei Zhe had never wanted to destroy someone so much in his life. His eyes were like icy knives, and after giving Luo Qingtian a "wait for me to take your life" look, he restrained the madness in his heart and walked towards the broken doll-like person on the ground.

  "Xiǎn xiǎn......" He groaned in pain. Seeing the red stain on Gu Xiǎnyan's back, his hand that was about to reach out froze as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

  How can I avoid hurting you?

  At this time, Wei Zhe did not know that Gu Xiyan had already been in so much pain that she had lost all sensation. Her eyes were filled with an unbearable sense of pity. He suddenly took a deep breath and gently lifted her up with both hands. He held her as gently as possible.

  If it hurts, just shout out loud, okay?

  When Shang Yi walked out of the corridor, the elevator door closed just in time. Luo Jing Tian lay on the ground, his intoxication receding a bit. The real fear of death filled his heart. Wei Zhe's gaze from just now, he couldn't forget it. That was...the curse from the 19th floor of hell beneath the earth.

  Wei Zhe, the president of Zhongyi Group, China's largest enterprise. Legend has it that he is elegant and refined, accomplished at a young age, and an undefeated legend in his industry. However, this man has one weakness - a woman named Gu Xiyan.

  Shang Yi quickly followed Gu Xiyan's trail to the hospital after finding out her whereabouts.

  Gu Xiyan, who was put on the stretcher, tightly grasped Wei Zhe's hand and refused to let go. The doctor in charge was helpless, and given the emergency of the situation, he allowed Wei Zhe to follow into the operating room.

  Gu Xiyuan, who had been anesthetized, didn't make a sound throughout the entire surgery, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep. Wei Zhe watched from the side as the doctor treated her wound, his whole body aching with pain. His Xiyuan... it was all because he hadn't protected her well enough. If only he hadn't invited her to tonight's banquet, would everything have turned out differently?

  Xiao Xiao, you must be okay. Don't get into any trouble. If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do...

  Gu Xiyan's back had twenty to thirty scars from being flogged, with three extending to her originally snow-white neck. Eleven of the wounds were bleeding. The scars crisscrossed each other, forming a chaotic bamboo shadow picture on her back. It was just that this picture was too bloody, too unbearable.

  The wound is at the back. Gu Xiyan can only lie on her back. After the doctor finished treating her wound, she also gave her a full-body examination. Only then did she explain to Wei Zhe: "The patient's overall condition is still relatively optimistic. During this period, the patient's wound should avoid contact with water, be careful of infection, and it's best to wear loose clothing. When sleeping, also pay attention not to press on the wound. She has a low fever now. After she finishes her IV, she needs to stay in the hospital for observation for another day. In the next two weeks, come back to the hospital regularly for follow-up checks. There shouldn't be any major problems."

  The operating room door opened, and Gu Xiyan was transferred to the VIP ward. Shang Yiqi's line of sight swept over Wei Zhe and Gu Xiyan holding hands tightly. His eyes suddenly turned black as ink. After a nurse went to handle Gu Xiyan's hospitalization procedures, he quickly arrived at the door of Gu Xiyan's ward.

  Gu Xiyan had not yet woken up. Wei Zhe gently combed her long hair for her. A faint warmth lingered in the quiet hospital room. Through the glass on the door of the ward, Shang Yiqi saw the deep affection in Wei Zhe's eyes so clearly and distinctly.

  Deeply in love with no regrets. This man is very fond of her. Suddenly, Shang Qi felt a sense of fear rising up.

  The liquid in the infusion bottle was slowly injected into Gu Xiyan's vein. When the nurse on duty came to the door of the ward after calculating the time, she saw a big man, and it was a handsome man who was sitting slumped against the door, looking listless.

  "Eh? What's going on? Do you know the people in the ward?" The little nurse's eyes darted back and forth, her throat moving as she swallowed hard, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

  Author's Notes