CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 390: NOT LETTING ANYONE GO

It was nearly seven-thirty when Mu Chengzhu finally came back.

As soon as he stepped through the door, Yun Sisi approached him. "Brother Mu, you’re back."

Her eyes brimmed with affection, her gaze soft like flowing water.

Seeing Yun Sisi like this, Mu Chengzhu couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

He could tell that everything about her was an act—a fragile mask constructed to win someone’s favor.

But he said nothing. After quietly finishing his meal, Yun Sisi linked her arm with Mu Chengzhu’s. "Brother Mu, let’s take a walk outside now that we’ve finished eating."

"I have some matters to attend to."

Chen Min, standing nearby, interjected, "Chengzhu, going out for a stroll wouldn’t hurt. You usually go for a walk after meals. You might as well take the dog out with you."

She truly couldn’t fathom why Mu Chengzhu had chosen to keep a husky. The dog looked foreign, its eyes astonishingly blue.

Not only that, its energy seemed boundless. Whenever it was at home, it practically tore the place apart. Chen Min had no choice but to take it out twice a day to burn off its excess energy. Otherwise, it would gnaw on the sofa or wreak havoc on the house’s furniture nonstop.

Mu Chengzhu glanced at the husky tethered on its leash. After a moment’s thought, he said, "Fine."

He tugged at the husky’s leash and walked outside, with Yun Sisi trailing beside him.

She stared at the large dog, as vivid and lively as a mad creature.

She didn’t like dogs at all—not even pet dogs—as she found them dirty.

Previously, to curry favor with Old Mrs. Xu, she had pretended to care for her pet dog.

And now, seemingly, she would have to do the same with this dog here.

Thus, Yun Sisi asked Mu Chengzhu, "Brother Mu, when did you get this dog? It’s so unique-looking."

Mu Chengzhu couldn’t help but think back to that girl who had once recommended the dog to him.

"A couple of years ago," he replied coolly.

Such an unusual dog—he still didn’t know why she had suggested it to him. But after keeping it for some time, he eventually understood the reason behind her choice.

The dog was simply too destructive.

It’s better now, but back when it was young, it was practically a devil incarnate.

Yun Sisi responded softly with an "Oh." She had always been adept at conversing with men—if she wanted to.

She continued asking, "Why did you decide to get this breed of dog?"

She figured Mu Chengzhu must have his reasons, and she was curious to hear his explanation.

"Yun Shifei recommended it to me, said it suited me."

At the mention of Yun Shifei’s name, Yun Sisi instantly lost her interest in continuing the conversation.

Mu Chengzhu didn’t like her; he liked Yun Shifei instead. It was the thorn in her heart—the greatest embarrassment she had ever suffered.

To be honest, if it weren’t for her fear of Cheng Lie, she would have confronted Yun Shifei a long time ago.

But for now, she could only endure—she wasn’t a match for Cheng Lie.

Thinking about that enigmatic man made her shudder. Long ago, he had easily outmaneuvered her, and now, dealing with her would be as simple as crushing an ant.

So, at this moment, Yun Sisi wore an impeccably flawless smile.

"Ah, so it was Sister. Sister is truly amazing, even recognizing this breed of dog."

She needed to win Mu Chengzhu over.

She reached out and stroked the husky’s fur—it felt surprisingly nice.

Mu Chengzhu stared expressionlessly at Yun Sisi. In the dim night, her skin gleamed pale as snow, accentuating her frail beauty. She truly had a "damsel in distress" allure.

But his heart remained as cold and unyielding as stone.

"You should already know—I’ve always loved her."

At that, Yun Sisi’s smile faltered, her face unable to maintain its composure. Deep within, she was filled with resentment, as though betrayed, consumed by an urge to see Yun Shifei killed. Yet outwardly, her face was steeped in melancholy. "Did you say this just to hurt me?"

Mu Chengzhu shook his head. "I merely wanted to make it clear. Even if we marry, I feel nothing for you. Don’t ever imagine we’ll have any kind of future together. Yun Sisi, you are unworthy."

Yun Sisi stared blankly at Mu Chengzhu.

Her mind reeled with memories of the past—Mu Chengzhu’s radiant, tender smile. That face still belonged to him, yet how could someone’s heart change so drastically?

Maybe all men are like this—cold and ruthless once their affections shift.

"Mu Chengzhu, why are you saying these things? Aren’t we supposed to be getting married?" Tears began to stream from Yun Sisi’s eyes.

The crystalline droplets formed a delicate shape as they fell.

But Mu Chengzhu remained unmoved, turning his gaze toward the distant darkness.

He then said, curtly, "I’m heading back."

With that, he turned and walked away.

He believed he had exercised great restraint—restrained his impulse to strangle Yun Sisi.

Her cloying, contrived demeanor utterly disgusted him.

Yun Sisi hadn’t expected Mu Chengzhu to leave just like that. She wanted to call out to him but couldn’t bring herself to.

She was furious and heartbroken.

She admitted that her approach toward Mu Chengzhu was calculated, but she hadn’t anticipated being trampled on like this.

Once, she had been someone others cherished deeply.

At that moment, an image of Song Yang flickered in her mind.

Back then, anything she wanted, Song Yang would give to her. Even when she lied, he still believed her without question.

She had thought he was foolish then—so gullible.

Looking back now, she understood. It was only because he loved her so profoundly that he allowed himself to be deceived like that.

What a pity—there would never again be someone who loved her that much.

Yun Sisi suddenly felt a hollowness in her chest.

Still, this was the path she had chosen, and she would see it through to the end, even if it meant crawling.

Meanwhile, Mu Chengzhu received updates about Cheng Lie.

He let out a cold laugh. Once Yun Shifei understood what kind of person Cheng Lie truly was, she would almost certainly distance herself from him.

Last time, she hadn’t yet witnessed Cheng Lie’s most terrifying side.

Although Mu Chengzhu couldn’t confirm whether Cheng Lie was behind the plot to frame him, there were undeniable connections: Yun Sisi appearing at the hotel earlier, visiting Cheng Lie at the hospital.

What they had discussed, he didn’t know.

But he could reasonably guess—it was Cheng Lie who had orchestrated Yun Sisi’s actions.

This was fine. Mu Chengzhu smirked. He had promised Yun Shifei many things, but now, he genuinely wanted to break them all.

Before that, though, he needed Yun Shifei to see through Cheng Lie’s true colors.

In the South City Suburb at a construction site, a man felt as though he might collapse from exhaustion.

The scorching heat drenched him in sweat.

He was already in his forties, working labor-intensive construction jobs that drained him far more than the younger men. Now, the workload was escalating.

The pressure grew heavier, but giving up meant losing his job. And where would he find another?

With elderly parents and young children to care for—and his mother having suffered a serious illness in the past—he could only grit his teeth and endure.

He hefted a pile of bricks, panting heavily from the effort.

His vision began to blur.

Not far away, Cheng Lie observed silently.

Zhao Pan was also nearby, watching. This man had once been Zhao Haishuang’s accomplice.

He had helped Zhao Haishuang hire the truck driver who ultimately killed Cheng Lie’s mother.

These people—Cheng Lie wouldn’t spare a single one of them.