novelraw Chapter 148 Leaving the Island
Chapter 148 Leaving the Island
Gu Yanshen stood up and pressed the muzzle of his gun against Li Fengche's temple.
The force was neither too strong nor too weak, yet it froze Li Fengche in place—the cold metal pressed against his skin, like the fingertips of death gently knocking on the door.
"Walk."
There is only one word.
But it made the surrounding air several degrees colder.
Li Fengche's Adam's apple bobbed, but he ultimately remained silent. He was on his own turf, with his own gun pointed at him, being watched by his own men—this humiliation was more unbearable than the gun itself. But he had no other choice.
Gu Yanshen led him to the front.
The gun barrel remained pressed against his temple, and no matter which way he went, whether turning or going straight, that icy touch never left. Li Fengche could feel Gu Yanshen's breathing; it was steady, so steady that it didn't seem like he had just experienced a life-or-death situation.
Following behind were Xin Mubai, Lu Xiran, Song Zhihe, and Gu Yanxu.
Behind them was Lin Chen and his group, their steps perfectly synchronized, forming a moving human wall that firmly protected the people in front. No one spoke; only the sound of their footsteps on the marble floor was exceptionally clear in the night.
Two yachts were moored on the shore.
One large and one small.
Lin Chen made a hand gesture, and the people on the large yacht quickly came down to meet them. Lu Xiran and Song Zhihe were escorted onto the ship first, followed closely by Xin Mubai and Gu Yanxu. They walked steadily, but Lu Xiran could feel Xin Mubai's hand always protecting her side, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.
The large yacht is launched.
Gu Yanshen stood on the shore, watching the boat gradually disappear into the night, before escorting Li Fengche onto the small yacht.
Lin Chen led eight people to follow.
The small yacht sailed away from the shore.
Li Fengche was pinned to a corner of the cabin, Gu Yanshen's gun never leaving his head. The sea breeze howled, and waves crashed against the hull. On this dark sea, any unusual sound was terrifying.
"Gu Yanshen," Li Fengche's voice was hoarse, tinged with resentment, "you actually prepared so much?"
He stared at Gu Yanshen's face, trying to find a flaw in it. But that face was as cold and stern as a sculpture, without any expression.
I was careless.
Gu Yanshen did not speak.
He was just looking at the distant coastline.
The large yacht had already docked. He saw figures moving about, saw Lu Xiran being helped off the boat, and saw Xin Mubai standing beside her. Her figure was small, just a blurry outline in the night, but he knew it was her.
The group of bodyguards on the island had begun to stir.
They were nothing but a mob, relying on Li Fengche's power to bully others. Now that Li Fengche has lost, their first reaction is not to save others, but to protect themselves. Moreover, Li Fengche's airtight network has been destroyed—once those shady materials are exposed, none of those present will be innocent.
Some people were on the phone, some were arguing in hushed tones, and some had already quietly retreated.
A few people started a small yacht and chased after them.
Lin Chen glanced back and waved his arm.
"Fifty meters."
The obstacle course exploded with a bang, and thick fog instantly swallowed the sea. The yacht spun helplessly in the fog, able only to watch as the ships ahead receded into the distance.
Looking at the chaos on the shore, Li Fengche's face turned completely ashen.
After everyone on the large yacht had disembarked, Gu Yanshen finally spoke.
"Li Fengche".
His voice was soft, carried away by the sea breeze, yet every word was like a nail.
"Remember today."
The next second, he abruptly withdrew his gun and kicked Li Fengche.
Before Li Fengche could react, he fell backward, tumbled over the ship's side, and plunged into the dark sea.
The waves splashed up and instantly swallowed him up.
Gu Yanshen threw the gun down as well.
The gun traced an arc in the air and landed where Li Fengche had fallen into the sea.
The small yacht did not stop.
Continue forward, heading towards the shore.
After they had all disembarked, the small yacht behind them slowly approached the shore.
Several bodyguards frantically pulled Li Fengche out of the sea. He was soaking wet, his hair plastered to his face, looking as pathetic as a drowned stray dog.
He stood on the shore, watching the yacht gradually disappear into the distance.
His lips moved.
But he didn't say anything.
Lu Xiran's legs were still weak, and every step she took felt extremely unsteady.
She saw Lin Chen bring one last person off the ship.
The man was wearing an overcoat, head down, with Lin Chen protecting him at his side. His gait was somewhat stiff.
Lu Xiran's heart skipped a beat.
It's Aunt Yun.
She instinctively tried to rush in that direction, but her wrist was tightly gripped.
Xin Mubai.
He gripped her tightly, as if afraid she would disappear in the next second.
"Thank you so much for today." Lu Xiran turned around, her voice still a little unsteady, "But..."
Xin Mubai looked at her.
Looking at her pale face, at the lingering panic in her eyes, at how she could barely stand but still tried to run in that direction.
He let go.
"Go."
Lu Xiran was stunned for a moment.
Xin Mubai looked around to make sure the environment was safe before raising his chin.
"But don't forget to treat me to dinner."
Lu Xiran looked at him, and her eyes suddenly felt a little sore.
"I owe you a huge favor, and I had no idea..."
"Go."
Xin Mubai interrupted her, his tone still nonchalant.
After confirming that Lu Xiran had gotten into the car, Xin Mubai turned around and got into another car arranged by Lin Chen.
Lin Chen took Aunt Yun to another residence of Gu Yanshen.
"Aunt Yun."
Lu Xiran squatted down in front of her and lowered her voice.
Aunt Yun slowly raised her head.
Those eyes looked at her, their gaze cloudy and blank, as if seen through a thick fog.
She stared at it for a long time.
Then she shook her head.
Lu Xiran's heart sank.
"You don't recognize me?"
Aunt Yun shook her head again.
Lu Xiran remembered that she hadn't recognized Gu Yanxu either. She looked at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with the last glimmer of hope.
Lin Chen sighed.
"I have amnesia."
Those three words were light, yet they weighed on Lu Xiran's heart like a stone.
She sat with Aunt Yun for a long time. She poured her water, handed her fruit, and spoke softly about the past. She talked about her grandmother, about Gu Yanshen when he was little, and about all the delicious things she used to make. Aunt Yun listened, occasionally nodding, and occasionally showing a blank smile.
But she never called out her name.
Looking at that aged face and the unfamiliar blankness in her eyes, Lu Xiran felt as if something was blocking her heart.
After Aunt Yun got tired and fell asleep, Lu Xiran left the room.
She stood by the window, looking at the night view below.
Gu Yanshen's car was parked downstairs.
He didn't go up.
The car window was half open, and a cool night breeze was blowing in. But he couldn't feel it.
His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. He stared at the lit window, knowing she was inside.
But he didn't dare go up.
The moment he closed his eyes, that was the scene that flashed before his eyes—
She rushed out from behind him.
Stand in front of him.
That slender back, that unwavering posture, that resolute determination that didn't even glance back at him.
Gu Yanshen's body began to tremble.
The shivering wasn't from the cold; it seeped from the very marrow of his bones, an uncontrollable tremor. He had lived for over thirty years, crawled out of the Gu family, that cannibalistic place, been hunted down, poisoned, and walked the edge of a knife countless times, but he had never trembled like this before.
But now he's shaking so much he can't hold the steering wheel.
His worst fears came true.
She loved him so much.
He knew all too well what that kind of love felt like—because he loved her that way too.
Love so much that you'd rush in and shield someone from bullets without hesitation.
So in love that you forget yourself and only remember the other person.
He understood why she did that. He would have done the same if he were in her shoes.
But it was precisely this understanding that became his deepest fear.
Because he knew that as long as she was still by his side, as long as she still loved him like this, she would do the same thing again next time, and the time after that.
But he couldn't afford it.
He couldn't bear to see her rush out again.
I can't bear the feeling of my heart being torn apart.
I cannot bear any possibility of losing her.
The phone lit up.
Names are flashing on the screen.
He stared at those three words, his hand hovering over the answer button.