Chapter 137: My Plan

I sat by Rong Ye’s bedside and gently patted him.

He slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice, “Ah Jing? What’s wrong?”

“Rong Ye, come outside for a moment.” I glanced at the sleeping sister-in-law beside me and whispered, “There’s something I need to ask you.”

As I walked into the living room, I was about to head out when I suddenly remembered something.

The rooftop was cold—I needed to put on my jacket.

I distinctly remembered hanging it on the coat rack, but I found it on the sofa instead.

But clothes didn’t matter to me. Even if it were gone, I wouldn’t care.

I threw on my jacket and went to the rooftop to wait for Rong Ye.

He took a while to come up, looking half-asleep.

“What is it, Ah Jing? It’s so late.” He wrapped himself in a robe, sniffled, and asked, “Did something happen?”

“Yes. Something very, very difficult.” I clenched my teeth and asked, “Rong Ye, why do you need money?”

Rong Ye paused before answering, “I already told you. I want to retire, so I need some savings for my old age.”

“Then why did you borrow money from Tong Ye? Your own savings should be enough.”

He fell silent again before responding, “At this point, I might as well tell you, Ah Jing. I took the gang’s money to Macau and lost over 800,000.”

“Is that so…” I lowered my head silently.

The last time Rong Ye lost money and got hacked by over thirty men, I was the one who settled it for him.

This time, I wasn’t there—who would clean up his mess?

“Before this gets exposed, I have to find a way to cover the gang’s losses.” Rong Ye spoke calmly. “No matter who I borrow from, I can’t pay it back. So I had to turn to Fat Tong, even though we have history.”

“You stole from the gang to gamble—didn’t Jiu try to stop you?” I asked.

“Ah Jiu…” Rong Ye’s gaze wavered. “If it weren’t for Ah Jiu… I would’ve won my money back in Macau that day! He wouldn’t let me keep gambling! Who the hell does he think he is?”

My heart twisted in pain.

Who does he think he is?

He’s my brother.

“Ah Jing, Ah Jiu was definitely bought by Fat Tong!” Rong Ye gritted his teeth. “When I borrowed the money, he kept interfering. After I got it, he pressured me to pay it back. Why did I raise such a traitor? If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t even be alive!”

I nodded and asked, “You said Jiu kept telling you to pay back the money—did he talk to you on the rooftop, or at home?”

“At home, with that woman around, I told him not to say anything! So it had to be on the roof—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

My eyes burned, as if something was about to spill out.

“Rong Ye, Jiu was hacked to death by Tong Ye while fleeing to Guangdong. Yet he came here to tell you to pay the money back.”

I pressed a hand to my forehead, overwhelmed with grief.

For the past four years, every day, I had dreamed of reuniting with Rong Ye and Jiu.

I never imagined it would end like this.

Before I could say anything else, I suddenly felt a cold stab in my abdomen.

Something had pierced me.

Instinctively, my right hand shot out to grip the attacker’s throat, while my left clamped down on their wrist.

But who else could be here?

The only one who could stab me was Rong Ye.

Rong Ye’s eyes were wide with fury.

But if he stabbed me, why was he the one who looked angry?

My fingers, still wrapped around his throat, trembled.

What the hell was happening?

Slowly, Rong Ye pulled a necklace from his pocket.

It was a copper tag with the character “Tong” engraved on it.

“Jing Lan was right… Ah Jing, even you betrayed me?”

I stared at the tag for several seconds before realizing what it was.

“You’re wearing Fat Tong’s tag—did you come here to kill me?!”

All strength left my body, and my hands dropped.

This life belonged to Rong Ye. If he wanted it, I’d give it back.

I gently moved Rong Ye’s hand away from the knife, wiped the blade clean of fingerprints with my shirt, then pulled it out and dropped it to the ground.

Without another glance at Rong Ye, I stepped toward the edge of the rooftop.

Jiu’s shadow appeared again, standing shoulder to shoulder with me.

“Ah Jing, aren’t you going to live with my smile anymore?” he asked.

“I can’t. I’m in too much pain.” Something kept streaming from my eyes. “Jiu, if there’s a next life, I’ll smile then.”

Before I could jump, the entire rooftop suddenly shook violently.

I could’ve steadied myself, but it didn’t matter. I leaped off the edge.

At the last second, Rong Ye grabbed my wrist.

I swung in midair like a pendulum before looking up at him, dazed.

He was crying.

“Ah Jing… why… why did all of you betray me?!” His tears fell onto my face, making me uncomfortable.

I didn’t want to answer.

I thought I was here to repay a debt, but I was too stupid—I made Rong Ye misunderstand.

“Rong Ye, let go. That way, my death is just an accident. It won’t be on you.”

Rong Ye wailed as he held onto me. I didn’t know what he was thinking.

“Rong Ye, my debt is repaid.”

In the violent shaking, he finally let go.

I crashed onto a giant billboard, feeling like every bone in my body shattered.

If there really is a next life, I’ll find Jiu first, then go thank Tong Ye.

I think I misjudged him.

If I could choose again, maybe I wouldn’t have taken the fall for Rong Ye.

Then Jiu wouldn’t have died.

And neither would I.

No—if I could really choose, I’d go back to when I was eleven.

I’d snatch the knife from Jiu’s hands and teach him not to kill that gang leader.

Then maybe we could’ve had normal lives?

…

When I woke up again, I still couldn’t understand what was happening.

What is all this?

A movie set?

Those men and women dressed in ridiculously flashy clothes.

That masked man in a suit.

“Good morning, nine of you.” The masked man spoke. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’ve been asleep in front of me for twelve hours now.”

If this were really a movie, they should’ve taken notes from *The Terminator*—his costume was pretty shabby.

But what should I do now?

I’m too stupid to figure this place out.

I don’t understand his words, and I don’t understand anyone’s questions.

“Ah Jing, copy me—say ‘Dang it!’ It’s more impactful! ‘Dang it!’ You don’t like it? Then how about ‘Rot in Hell’?”

“Ah Jing, if I’m ever gone, just find another ‘brain.’”

“Ah Jing, if you can’t find one, just smile more. At least die laughing.”

Yeah, when in doubt, listen to Jiu. His plans were never wrong.

To make myself more intimidating, why not toss in Tong Ye’s favorite phrase?

“Rot in Hell. I don’t care how many of you there are—” I slammed the table and pointed menacingly at the masked man. “Asshole, you better think straight. You have no idea how bad it is to mess with me. I’ll really kill you.”

Thankfully, they don’t know me—otherwise, they’d see right through me.

I never used to say “Rot in Hell” or “Asshole,” and I never wanted to kill.

Until I find a new “brain,” I’ll keep up the act.

I’m Qiao Jiajing.

And I’m about to start lying.