Ah! The Villains I Forced to Turn Evil Can Read My Mind-Chapter 289

Pei Che grabbed Qiao Chuchu’s hand: "Where are you going?!"

As if sensing something, he stared intently into her eyes: "You can’t just wander off!"

Qiao Chuchu said nothing, slowly pulling her hand free, her gaze settling on his chest.

Pei Che was dressed in a black suit, a white flower pinned to his lapel.

A symbol of mourning in the family.

But… the family shouldn’t have had to hold a funeral.

Seeing her deathly pale expression, Pei Che cautiously stepped closer.

As if she were a startled bird, he slowly raised his hand and cradled the back of her head.

His palm was cold as he tentatively pulled her into his embrace: "Chuchu, no matter what you’re thinking, no matter what you plan to do—don’t. The risk is too great!"

She showed no emotion.

Or rather, she felt nothing at all.

Even as Pei Che’s voice trembled, his body shaking faintly,

she found it oddly fascinating how this man could appear so uncharacteristically vulnerable.

But she didn’t care.

Her mind was made up.

She wrapped her arms around Pei Che and said obediently, "On my way here, I saw a street vendor selling stir-fried noodles. I want to eat something."

Pei Che looked at her in shock: "You… want to eat?"

His reddened eyes finally flickered with hope: "I’ll have someone bring you noodles. Don’t eat street food—it’s not hygienic."

"I want it now," she insisted, leaving no room for argument. "And I want you to go buy it for me."

Pei Che frowned, trying to reason with her: "Street food isn’t clean. I’ll have it delivered—it won’t take long."

"I want the street vendor’s noodles," Qiao Chuchu stared at him unblinkingly. "Are you going to get them for me or not?"

Pei Che’s expression darkened. Seeing the cold determination in her eyes, he finally relented.

"Fine. But you’re coming with me."

He couldn’t leave her alone—what if she did something reckless?

Qiao Chuchu agreed without hesitation: "Fine."

She pointed in a deserted direction: "That way."

Pei Che didn’t question it, taking her hand as they walked.

Qiao Chuchu followed closely behind, occasionally bending down to pick wildflowers and foxtails from the ground.

Watching her, Pei Che thought she seemed more alive now and finally exhaled in relief: "Do you remember?"

She looked up blankly.

Despite the dark circles under his eyes, Pei Che forced a smile: "When Mom passed away, I held your hand just like this."

Qiao Chuchu didn’t answer, pressing a hand to her chest as if searching for a memory that wasn’t there.

But her heart remembered.

It ached faintly at his words.

Seeing her reaction, pain flashed in Pei Che’s eyes before he turned away and kept walking.

He changed the subject: "I didn’t notice any vendors earlier. Would there really be one here?"

Qiao Chuchu didn’t answer. Instead, she pulled her hand free: "Second Brother."

Pei Che turned: "Hmm?"

A rock smashed into his skull!

Caught off guard, Pei Che staggered, vision swimming as he collapsed to the ground!

Warm blood trickled down his forehead.

Dazed, he looked up at Qiao Chuchu in disbelief.

She stood in the sunlight, clad in a black dress, her hair styled into a neat princess cut—dressed carefully by Little Xie.

But in her hand was the bloodstained rock.

The one she’d just used to strike him.

What was she doing?

Was she really going to start over?!

Pei Che tried to stand, but the world spun violently, sending him crashing back down!

He couldn’t get up!

Trembling, he dragged himself toward her.

Qiao Chuchu looked down, watching as Pei Che crawled across the dirt.

The usually proud and composed man was disheveled, his tailored suit scuffed, his dignity abandoned as he reached for her feet.

His shaking hand covered her Mary Jane shoe: "Don’t…"

Too weak to lift his head, he begged: "I’m begging you… don’t hurt yourself… please…"

Faded scars crisscrossed his pale wrist.

Above them, his fingers clutched desperately at her shoe.

Qiao Chuchu crouched, cupping his face: "I didn’t want to hurt you. But this was the only way."

Pei Che struggled to meet her gaze, tears falling onto her palm.

Fear flickered in his usually cold, sharp eyes.

He knew she wouldn’t stay, but he still hoped she might: "Chuchu, I’ve already lost my brother. I can’t lose you too!"

Qiao Chuchu said nothing, loosening his tie.

Like a numb executioner, she stood, holding the fabric: "This pain will pass, Brother. Endure it—for both of us."

"What ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍are you doing?! What are you—?!"

Pei Che pushed himself up, only to collapse again as dizziness overwhelmed him.

Qiao Chuchu frowned, turning away: "No one can stop me from getting what I want."

Pei Che watched helplessly as she walked off, his attempts to rise failing before darkness swallowed him.

Qiao Chuchu strode into the woods.

Her phone suddenly buzzed.

A message from an unknown number—a photo.

She tried to open it, but her phone rejected facial recognition, demanding a passcode instead.

But…

What was her password?

Standing under a tree, she suddenly remembered Little Xie’s words while dressing her earlier—

"Miss, you have a note on your arm from before your amnesia! It has your phone password. Did you somehow know this would happen?"

At the time, Little Xie had tried everything to lift her spirits.

But she hadn’t cared to listen.

Now, she rolled up her sleeve, revealing faint numbers scrawled in ballpoint.

Though faded from days of washing, the digits were still legible.

She unlocked her phone and opened the message.

A selfie.

Xia Xuechun sat on a boat, smiling sweetly at the camera, Long Yunxiao grinning behind her.

"You must be devastated your fourth brother is dead! Serves you right!!"

"P.S. Don’t bother tracing this number or calling back—we bought it just to send this before tossing it into the sea!"

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"Oh, and guess what? I’m happier than ever! Best part? I’m abroad now. No matter how desperate you are, you’ll never find me. But I’ll make sure to attend your funeral someday, because I’m working every day to make sure you and everyone you love suffers! [Heart][Heart][Heart]"

The taunts didn’t faze her. She zoomed in, studying a landmark in the photo.

A lighthouse.

She screenshotted it and ran an image search.

Results pointed to Country D—a scenic but lawless region, infamous as the world’s most dangerous zone.

So that’s where they’d hidden.

Pathetic.

Was Xia Xuechun really happy?

Living in a place where violence could erupt at any moment, all just to stay out of her reach?