Zhou Xiaohong stared at a Zhou Xiaoming she barely recognized. The gentleness he once had was gone, replaced by a grim and vicious expression. She took a frightened step back. "Big Brother..."

Zhou Xiaoming let out a mocking laugh. "I'm not your brother. Your brother is Zhou Huai'an. Isn't your whole family revolving around him now?"

Trembling with fear, her voice shook. "Please, calm down. Don't make things worse. Think about Hu Ling and your two children. Just turn yourself in."

Zhou Xiaoming sneered. "Do you think I have any way out now? None. Absolutely none! Your family turned on me without a second thought. Do you know why Zhou Xiaocheng died?"

Zhou Xiaohong retreated until her back hit the wall. "Just stop. You've already done so many terrible things—why keep going? Mom and Dad were always good to you. Why wasn't that enough for you?"

"Enough?" Zhou Xiaoming laughed bitterly. "All these years, I've lived in Zhou Xiaocheng's shadow. Yes, I wasn't as smart as him. I didn't do as well in school. I wasn't as smooth with people. But why was I forced into a dead-end job with no future after I left the army?"

Zhou Xiaohong knew what he was referring to. Back then, Zhou Xiaoming had wanted to join the public security bureau or the courts. A word from their grandfather or father could have easily gotten him in.

Or they could have recommended him for further training so he could have moved into government work.

But both Zhou Bingwen and Zhou Zhennan had refused, telling him to accept his assignment—that "gold shines wherever it goes."

On this point, Zhou Xiaohong agreed with her grandfather and father. None of the Zhou children had ever enjoyed special privileges. Even Zhou Xiaoling had served in the toughest areas of Tibet and later got into the Second Research Institute on her own merit.

She didn't even stay at the headquarters in Beijing—instead, she was assigned to this remote outpost, likely for life.

Seeing her silence, Zhou Xiaoming took a step closer, his gaze dark and threatening. "You think they were right too, don't you? Such noble morals the Zhou family has! But did anyone ever think about me? I became the biggest failure among everyone we grew up with."

Terrified, Zhou Xiaohong pleaded tearfully, "Everyone chooses their own path. It's not too late to stop this."

Zhou Xiaoming narrowed his eyes, a venomous smile spreading across his face. Done talking, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her deeper into the dilapidated temple.

Zhou Xiaohong panicked, struggling desperately. "Zhou Xiaoming! Let me go! What are you doing?"

The area was deserted—no one would hear her.

Zhou Xiaoming laughed. "What am I doing? If I can't live, neither will the Zhou family. Weren't you on my side, Zhou Xiaohong? Then help me."

He shoved her inside and tore at her clothes.

He had gone mad—driven to it by Zhou Huai'an.

When he arrived in Longbei, he discovered that Zhang Zhongyi was already in custody. Bombing a military road—who could survive that charge?

He wouldn't be able to face the Hu family, and he could never return to Beijing.

How long had Zhou Huai'an known? His injury was clearly a trap—bait to lure him out.

He had thought he was secretly setting a net for Zhou Xiaoming, but in reality, he had walked right into Zhou Huai'an's trap.

Zhou Xiaohong was too terrified to scream. She felt weak and helpless as Zhou Xiaoming ripped her clothes and loomed over her. Despair filled her eyes.

Just as she gave up hope, the temple door burst open.

Lin Zihao entered with another man around his age. He kicked Zhou Xiaoming off her, turned away, and tossed his jacket to Zhou Xiaohong. "Put this on. Now."

Shaking, Zhou Xiaohong sat up and clumsily put on the jacket.

Zhou Xiaoming, shirtless, scrambled up from the floor. But he showed no fear—only a cold smile. "You think Zhou Huai'an has won? I'll make him regret this for the rest of his life!"

He pulled a small bottle from his pocket and tried to drink from it, but Lin Zihao knocked it from his hand....In the middle of the night, Lin Xiaoxiao was half-asleep when she heard knocking. Then came the sound of Zhou Huai'an slowly getting out of bed. She woke fully.

She turned on the light, pulled on a sweater, and hurried after him. Zhou Huai'an was already at the door. He glanced back to make sure she was dressed, then stepped outside and spoke quietly with whoever was there before returning.

Lin Xiaoxiao rushed to his side. "What's happened?"

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "They caught Zhou Xiaoming. Zhou Xiaohong is in the hospital."

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised they found him so quickly—and that Zhou Xiaohong had been hospitalized. "Is she alright?"

From what Lin Zihao said, Zhou Xiaohong hadn't been physically violated, but she was badly shaken.

They decided to wake Li Yunlan and Zhou Xiaoling to go see Zhou Xiaohong at the hospital.

Lin Xiaoxiao went along too—not out of concern, but out of curiosity to see what state her foolishness had left her in.

Thanks to Zhou Huai'an's connections, Lin Zihao had arranged a private room for Zhou Xiaohong. Though she hadn't been raped, the situation was still deeply shaming.

When they arrived, Zhou Xiaohong was still wearing Lin Zihao's jacket. Her face was swollen, her lip cut, and she stared blankly out the window.

Li Yunlan's eyes welled with tears at the sight—heartbroken and angry. She hugged her daughter. "It's okay. You're safe now. That's what matters. Just don't be so impulsive again."

Zhou Xiaoling was also upset. She gently smoothed Zhou Xiaohong's hair. "It's over, sis. They caught Zhou Xiaoming. He won't get away with this."

They were all grateful Lin Zihao had arrived in time. The alternative didn't bear thinking about.

Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Huai'an stood to the side, observers to the emotional scene. Zhou Xiaohong was lucky—she'd gotten into trouble twice and still came out intact.

If she didn't learn her lesson this time, her next mistake might not end so well.

Zhou Xiaohong was shaken and disgusted by Zhou Xiaoming's touch. Clutching her mother, she cried that she wanted to go home—she didn't want to stay in Longbei anymore.

Good, thought Lin Xiaoxiao. The sooner she leaves, the better.

Li Yunlan and Zhou Xiaoling stayed with Zhou Xiaohong, while Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Huai'an returned home.

On the way back, Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "How did you find Zhou Xiaoming so easily?"

Zhou Huai'an was silent for a moment. "It wasn't exactly easy."

Then a thought struck her. "Zhou Huai'an... did you break your leg on purpose? To lure Zhou Xiaoming to Longbei?"

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

Zhou Huai'an looked surprised—she had figured it out faster than he expected.