Man From the 20th Century Chapter 1

In Nanjing in the 19th year of the Republic of China, autumn came exceptionally slowly. The calendar had long passed the Beginning of Autumn, but the weather was still like summer. It was scorching hot and the whole city of Nanjing seemed to be fried in a pan of boiling oil.

A black Dowling sedan was quietly parked outside a Western-style house on Yihe Road. This was the private residence of Alex Zhang, then Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Kuomintang, in Nanjing. The car was parked outside Zhang's mansion for a whole afternoon. The doorman recognized that it was the car of the local wealthy Jin family, so he did not try to drive it away.

The housekeeper, Old Ethan, was sitting in the driver's seat. He was waiting for Ryan Jin, the grandson of the Jin family, who was now in Zhang's residence, having a secret conversation with the elders of the party and the country. Old Ethan had been parked under the shade of the tree for more than three hours, not daring to smoke, just sitting in the car and waiting. He stared at the door of the western-style house, afraid that it would open, but also afraid that it would not open.

The door finally opened, and a man in his thirties slowly walked out. He was very tall, but had a gentle appearance, with a neatly combed back hair and a pair of phoenix eyes under his smooth forehead. It was Ryan Jin. When Lao Chen saw him get in the car, he quickly handed him a handkerchief. Ryan Jin took the handkerchief and slowly wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying to him in a gentle voice, "Drive first, and we'll talk while we drive."

The weather was hot and Ryan Jin looked very tired. He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.

Old Ethan started the car silently, looked back at the snow-white house in the rearview mirror, and felt sad and sighing in his heart.

Young Master Jin's fate was neither good nor bad, but fortunately he was born into a wealthy family. His grandfather Mark Jin Jin, relying on his friendship with Alex Zhang, was very successful in Peking, and followed the new government to Nanjing, where he opened a trading company and a textile factory. The Zhang and Kong families were doing well in Shanghai, while Mark Jin Jin only picked up some leftovers in Nanjing. Over the past ten years, no one competed with him in Nanjing, and he actually became a wealthy merchant in Jinling. Although he was the fish meat and was fattened up, as long as the knife was not too harsh, the fish meat could live a relishing life.

Now it seems that Alex Zhang is about to fall, or has already fallen, and Zhang's direct descendants have been stripped of their hats one by one. Mark Jin Jin clung to Zhang's legs so tightly that everyone knows that Jiang is going to make a big blow to the Jin family. It all depends on whether Old Master Jin is willing to spend money or his life.

After driving a mile, Old Ethan Fang asked, "How is it?"

"What can I do?" Shi'an opened his eyes in the back seat, took out a cigar box from his arms, looked up and smiled faintly, "He can't even take care of himself now, how much energy can he have to take care of others? Isn't it like this for the party and government? After a long period of separation, there will be unity, and after a long period of unity, there will be separation. I told the old man a long time ago that we can't hang ourselves on a tree. Now that Alex Zhang has fallen, the Jin family is also on the chopping block. It depends on whether Mr. Lucas is willing to leave the Jin family a way out."

Old Ethan didn't dare to speak, he just sighed in his heart. It is said that Mr. Lucas and Mr. Zhang have a life-long friendship, and they are sworn brothers, but when it comes to profit, any more friendship is nothing, not to mention the Jin family, which is even less important.

Almost no one knew that Alex Zhang had come to Nanjing, but everyone knew that Alex Zhang and the □□ had already been unable to get along. Ryan Jin came to Zhang's private residence this time with a little hope, to help Mark Jin Jin break this heart. Alex Zhang said very politely, "In business, there are always losses and gains, but Mark Jin Jin should not get involved in the arms business. Why not do something real?"

Ryan Jin just smiled apologetically and said, "I advised my grandfather the same way."

Alex Zhang said: "You have tried to persuade him, but you have not succeeded in doing so. You know how difficult it is for me to say anything in this situation."

Ryan Jin smiled and said, "Mrs. Grace is too modest. There will be many places where I can rely on you in the future."

The two smiled at each other, and Shi'an knew in his heart that Alex Zhang's words were chilling, but they were all true. Mark Jin Jin shouldn't be greedy, dealing in arms and hoarding supplies under the government's nose, all of which touched the reverse scale.

Ryan Jin tapped his cigar slowly in the back seat, "Uncle Chen, if you want to leave, it's not too late to find another way out now."

Old Ethan smiled bitterly, "How did it come to this? Besides, at my age, where can I go? I am a member of the Jin family in life and a ghost of the Jin family in death."

Ryan Jin also laughed, "I'm just kidding you. The worst that can happen is that we can just spend money to save our lives. Jiang Gong and Henry Zhang are fighting like that, but they can still save face. They won't kill us all. If it doesn't work out, we can all go back to Jurong."

Old Ethan was slightly relieved, but couldn't control his mouth and asked again, "What about Mr. Bai?"

Shi'an said nothing.

Old Ethan wanted to slap himself in the face for bringing up something irrelevant. He had no choice but to ask again, "Master, are you going home? Or are you going somewhere else?"

Ryan Jin didn't even raise his head, "Let's take a look around."

Old Ethan knew his temper well, so he started the car silently and drove around Nanjing city through the streets and alleys.

The car drove past the Confucius Temple and Mochou Lake, reflecting the sun, passing through the streets and alleys, as if it was just to visit all the lively places, otherwise it would not be able to relieve all the sorrows. And this city really deserves such a careful look through the streets and alleys, it is truly famous for its beauty, and the scenery in the streets and alleys is enough to relieve worries. The sun has not yet set, but the music has already started everywhere. Wherever it passes, there are faint music, red flowers and green willows, and bursts of fragrant wind blowing into the car window.

In this ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, countless plays were staged along the mountains and rivers. In troubled times, beauties emerged, and actors and actresses could show off their charm, just to see who was more beautiful and talented. The more violent the times, the more people loved to listen to plays about love, singing Peach Blossom Fan, Peony Pavilion, Meeting True Story, and Pipa Record. Both sides of the Qinhuai River were filled with boudoir complaints and melancholy, and the smell of powder and rouge.

This is a time of troubles and chaos. Everyone knows that this is a time of chaos, but we still need singing and dancing to cover up the peace. The nobles need it, and the common people need it too. It seems that in the sad and resentful singing, the swaying sleeves, and the clanging strings, even if it takes only a moment, it can make people forget the complexity of the chaotic world and the sorrow of separation. No matter how much you hate poverty or how much you hate death, as long as you start singing, get loud applause, clap your legs and laugh, you can forget about it.

After driving for a while, Ryan Jin said from behind, "Let's go to Rongzhuang Street."

Old Ethan sighed secretly in his heart. He had been out for most of the day just to take a look at Rongzhuang Street.

The car stopped at the end of Rongzhuang Street. Rongzhuang Street has two streets, the outer street is full of woolen hat shops, while the inner street is quiet, with dense trees quietly stretching out branches from the yards on both sides of the street. Before Lao Chen knocked on the door, the door happened to open, and Aunt Chloe, the housekeeper, came out with water. When she saw Lao Chen, her face was surprised.

"The young master is here." said Old Ethan.

Shi'an had already walked around them and slowly walked in.

"Why are you here at this time, young master? Change your clothes first. It's hot." Aunt Chloe followed behind Shi'an and said awkwardly.

Ryan Jin looked at his body and said, "Okay."

Aunt Chloe said again: "I'll get some water for the young master to take a shower."

Shi'an frowned and said, "Forget it, no need to bother. I won't even change my clothes. I'll go see Young Master Bai and then leave." Then he walked inside.

Aunt Chloe didn't dare to stop him. She was anxious and just looked at Lao Chen. Everyone in the house came out after hearing the noise. Five or six people followed behind Shi'an. Shi'an just said, "Why are you all out? Go do your own things. We won't have dinner here."

Everyone had to stop in front of the second door and watch Shi'an enter the inner yard.

Shi'an didn't know that there were so many expressions behind him. He slowly walked into the yard - the yard was not big, but it was very exquisitely built. Facing him was a screen wall made of Taihu stone, and behind him was a whole shed of trumpet creepers, which were green and lush at this time of year, hanging in strands and blooming many scarlet flowers. The gables of the house behind were covered with creepers, and along the four corners of the wall were planted sycamores, casting thick shade on the ground, making the sunlight look cool and thin.

Ryan Jin hesitated in front of the door and looked inside through the window. A thin face appeared in the glass window. Although it was thin, it was still clear that it was originally beautiful: a straight nose, delicate temples, a pair of autumn eyes, and two thin lips. However, the face now looked sickly. Under the misty eyes, there was a sickly greenish yellow, and the cheeks were sunken. The lips were bloodless and dark. Anyone who saw it would be shocked, because no one dared to believe that this skinny, sickly man was Noah Bai, a famous Qinhuai actress two or three years ago.

Ryan Jin felt indescribably uncomfortable every time he saw Noah Bai like this. He looked at Noah Bai, but Noah Bai didn't look at him. He stared at something in the air indifferently, like a wooden sculpture.

Ryan Jin knocked gently on the window frame, "Noah Bai, I'm here to see you."

The man ignored him and just stared out the window.

Ryan Jin felt more and more sad, and pushed the door open, only to see Noah Bai handcuffed to the table with an iron chain, his hands tied with cotton ropes. On the table was tea and two kinds of fruits.

The leading servants knew something was wrong, so they all chased into the yard, but they did not dare to follow Shi'an into the house. They just lowered their heads in front of the door.

"What do you mean?" Ryan Jin turned around, "Who told you to handcuff him?"

Several servants were complaining in their hearts, saying that the eldest young master had just come the day before and would not come again in the past few days. But he came again today, and came quietly, so they couldn't help but be angry.

"Can't you just lock him up in the room? Why do you have to tie him up like this? I told you to take good care of Mr. Bai, and this is how you do it?"

When Ryan Jin was angry, he was still slow and steady, but anyone who heard his slow and steady tone would know that he was angry.

The head steward Zhou smiled and said, "The young master is not very sober. If we don't cuff him like this, no one can keep an eye on him." He whispered in Ryan Jin's ear, "You know, when the young master Bai gets mad, he bangs his head against the pillars all over the room. I'm afraid he'll hit his face." He didn't dare to look up as he spoke, "We used cotton ropes to avoid hurting the hand of the young master Bai."

"Oh, so this is how you look after Mr. Bai when I'm not around, right?" Shi'an smiled and slowly looked at the osmanthus cake on the plate, "Uncle Zhou, thank you for taking such trouble."

Butler Zhou had cold sweat running down his ears.

As Lu Sheng listened to what they said, he raised his head and gave Shi'an a cold smile, then turned his face towards the window.

Ryan Jin no longer paid attention to Victor Zhou and turned to untie the rope on Noah Bai's hand. It turned out to be a knot. Ryan Jin became more and more angry. Seeing the purple Mark Jin Jins on Noah Bai's hands, he felt even more guilty. "Bring the scissors and open the lock."

Butler Zhou wanted to persuade him again, but Ryan Jin looked up at him and said, "I'm here, what can I do? Bring me the scissors."

A maid had already brought a pair of silver scissors and opened the chain. Shi'an said, "Go ahead, I want to talk to Master Bai for a while."

The servants dared not move.

Ryan Jin said slowly and calmly, "I want to talk to Mr. Bai for a while."

People had no choice but to withdraw slowly.

When Ryan Jin saw that the man had walked away, he took Noah Bai's hand and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Lu Sheng didn't look back, "You are the one who tied me up, and now you are the one who asked me if it hurts. Everything was your idea, so why are you asking me?"

"It's hard to quit opium... They're just afraid that you'll hurt yourself." Seeing that he ignored her, Shi'an had no choice but to pour more tea, "Drink some water."

Lu Sheng did not take his tea. "You dislike me so much in your heart, why bother to say it. I am a man, and I am just playing with you. I am also an actor, so I am naturally not worthy of you. Are you afraid of having to smoke opium?"

Ryan Jin hated him for being so self-deprecating, but he didn't know how to explain it, so he just grabbed his hand and said, "Noah Bai..."

Lu Sheng suddenly turned around and looked at him for a long time, then a panicked smile appeared on his face. "Now there's no one here, why don't you call me Yu Jie'er? In the past you only called me Yu Jie'er."

Ryan Jin felt even more melancholy. He recalled the first time he saw Noah Bai on the platform. He was still in the Chunhua Troupe, only thirteen or fourteen years old. He sang "Dream Seeking" and the whole audience was amazed. They all praised his beautiful appearance, clear articulation, and good voice, and said that he would definitely be a first-class famous actor on the Qinhuai River in the future.

He also seemed to have lost his soul. He reserved the Chunhua Troupe's theater for three days in a row, and he was the only one listening. On the third day, after the performance of Changshengdian, Zhang Emma Lao from the Chunhua Troupe brought Lu Sheng out to kowtow to him. Shi An asked, "What was his name?"

"Jade Sister, White Jade Sister." Old Lady Zhang touched her face and said, "My Chunhua class only raises useless things, except for this one Phoenix. He has been sick and afflicted since childhood, so I gave him a girl's name to suppress him and started calling him that."

Ryan Jin laughed when he heard this, "She's already a teenager, are you still worried about being hard to support? Why not change her name?"

Old Lady Zhang said with a smile: "Master Jin is very knowledgeable and talented, so please give our Jade Sister a name."

Shi An looked at Sister Yu, who was lying on the ground, but secretly raised her face, revealing a pair of pretty, misty eyes. At that time, there was a breeze and white dew on the platform, and the moon was full over Qinhuai. Shi An murmured for a moment, "Sister Yu... Sister Yu... White dew appears on the jade steps - let's call it Bai Lu Sheng."

Before Old Lady Zhang could say anything, Noah Bai kowtowed three times, stood up and said in a crisp voice: "Noah Bai thanks Master An!"

Ryan Jin was a little surprised: "Do you know my name?"

Lu Sheng smiled at him and said, "The benefactor who gave me my name, the benefactor who understood me, we were destined to meet in our previous lives, so I will know."

His face was still dressed like a royal Concub!ne, with a head of pearly emeralds that couldn't hide his beautiful eyes, which were sparkling. The fragrant breeze from the Qinhuai River on the first floor blew over, and the red lights swayed, making Lu Sheng's face look like a drunk royal Concub!ne, bright and beautiful.

---Now that I think about it, this name is really not a good one, as if it carries an unlucky omen---The white dew soaks into the silk stockings, and the jade steps bring sorrow and resentment, as if it curses Noah Bai for the rest of his life. But no matter how unlucky it is, the name Noah Bai still sings through the clouds and the moon on both sides of the Qinhuai River.

The next ten years of Lu Sheng's life were just like her name, a life of glory, splendor, luxury and wealth, but also filled with sorrow and resentment.

Famous actors are promoted by promotion. Who wouldn't be envious of Lu Sheng, who was promoted by Shi An? He was the most popular actor on the Qinhuai River. In the first two years, they were no different from other famous actors and actresses. They became more and more popular, and the audience enjoyed it. After all, Old Lady Zhang failed to keep her phoenix. Lu Sheng became popular, and Shi An took Lu Sheng out of the Chunhua Troupe and bought him a small house on Rongzhuang Street. This was nothing. From the south to the north, countless famous actors in China were promoted like this and raised like canaries. No one thought it was a big deal, but Lu Sheng took it seriously.

"Master, you took me out, and I have nothing to repay you for. This life is yours."

At that time, Lu Sheng was in this small courtyard, saying this to Shi An, and looking at him with a smile. The trumpet creepers in late spring had just sprouted buds, with a few red dots in the green, about to bloom but not yet blooming, just like human feelings.

"It makes the Chunhua class look like a pit of fire."

"How can it not be a fire pit?" Lu Sheng rolled up his sleeves, "She beat me up."

Ryan Jin was surprised and held up his hand distressedly, "Why didn't you mention it before?"

Lu Sheng smiled and raised his head, meeting Shi An's gaze: "Because I know that the young master will take me out eventually, what does this little hardship mean? If I don't make a name for myself, I won't be able to go out with you."

Ryan Jin didn't know how to answer him, he just felt that Noah Bai took this relationship too seriously. If he was asked whether he liked Noah Bai or not, he did like her from the bottom of his heart, but Noah Bai's feelings for him were clearly more than just that.

Shi'an always hated himself for meeting Noah Bai back then. After meeting her, he could not let her go and ended up with a lot of resentment.

Yes, resentment. Ryan Jin always felt that he had been doing things that backfired in his life. He wanted Noah Bai to be happier, but Noah Bai was always angry.

What was she angry about? She was angry that he suddenly left without saying goodbye and went to England for half a year, she was angry that he had a blind date in Nanjing with great fanfare, and she was angry that she didn't allow him to smoke opium.

Shi'an didn't know what he had done right and what he had done wrong, but he really couldn't forget the time when he came back from Shanghai and walked into the house in high spirits. The room was full of a strange fragrance and Noah Bai was lying on the couch, smoking opium just like his dead mother Zhang.

The gift that Ryan Jin was holding fell to the ground. He couldn't tell whether he was filled with hatred or anger, and he couldn't utter a word.

Noah Bai smiled at him and said, "Master Jin, have you got married yet? Today you are here to visit me."

Ryan Jin was blocked by him and couldn't say a word.

It was all his fault that Noah Bai was ruined and made him give up on himself. But he didn't understand what Noah Bai wanted.

Why are people so hard to satisfy? Ryan Jin wanted to miss the better times they had in the past, but these times were drowned by quarrels and tears and turned into fragments. In these fragmented times, they also sang in harmony, talked side by side, and watched the fireflies outside the window in the autumn night, the snow in the winter, the leaves in the spring and the flowers in the summer. What a good time it was.

Even the best times are gone. The world is turbulent now, and his days as Young Master Jin may not last long. Lu Sheng no longer performs operas, and stays in the small house on Rongzhuang Street all day. Shi'an comes to visit him every now and then, but Lu Sheng often doesn't say a word.

Just like now.

The two of them sat close together, Lu Sheng didn't speak, and Shi An didn't speak either. The sun gradually set, sinking in the gorgeous afterglow, and the last ray of setting sun also withdrew from the window frame, and the room sank into the stuffy darkness.

Ryan Jin opened his mouth and said, "Noah Bai, I bought you a boat ticket. We will go to Shanghai in three days and then go to England from there."

"We?" Lu Sheng turned around, "Are you going too?"

Ryan Jin lowered his eyes, "...I won't go. I'll send you to Shanghai and then I'll come back."

Lu Sheng looked at him for a long time without saying a word, and finally laughed: "I am such a hindrance, can't you feel at ease if you don't send me out?"

He had a smile on his face and tears in his eyes.

Shi'an had expected Noah Bai to make such a fuss, and he felt helpless. However, the Jin family was in a precarious situation. If he didn't send Noah Bai away now, would Noah Bai have to stay in Nanjing and suffer together?

...Perhaps the word "suffering" was exaggerated, or perhaps it was due to a man's subtle self-esteem. He didn't want Lu Sheng to see him in such a state of anxiety, nor did he want Lu Sheng to see him exhausted from officialdom and business affairs.

He knew Lu Sheng's temper. He couldn't be told about the Jin family's affairs. If he was told, he would not leave even if his head was chopped off.

Ryan Jin could only force a smile, "Don't think too much. I know a doctor in England who is the best at helping people quit opium..."

"Are you going to get married?" Lu Sheng interrupted him, "Miss Qin, or Miss Zhu?"

"neither."

"It's time to get married, isn't it?"

Ryan Jin did not answer him, because it was wrong to answer, and it was wrong not to answer. Ever since Mark Jin Jin found out about Noah Bai's situation two years ago, he has been arranging blind dates for him. Mark Jin Jin was neither angry nor stopped him, and he did not even take it to heart. What's so strange about raising a half-actor, no matter a man or a woman? As long as they are married and have children, they will naturally be content. So Miss Qin, Miss Zhu, and all kinds of young ladies from various families came to see each other, and the Jin family held dances at a constant price. Mark Jin Jin only said, "If you don't want to piss me off to death, go there. At least don't embarrass others."

Can Ryan Jin say no?

He had to go, but because of going, he realized that he would never live with any woman in this life.

No, it should be that apart from Lu Sheng, he will never live with anyone else in this life.

It’s not that those people are not good enough, it’s just that they are not Noah Bai.

Because of this, he had gone to great lengths to find a way out for him and Noah Bai, a way that no one could stop him. Ryan Jin had already figured it out in his mind that he could not stay in Nanjing. The Jin family would have to suffer this blow sooner or later, and they might have to endure a lot of hardships in the next two years. First, Noah Bai would be sent away, and he had already transferred some of his private property to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Now the war would start as soon as he said it would, and when the time came, he would send the old man to Hong Kong, and he would go to England, where the sky was high and the birds could fly freely, and no one would be able to control them anymore.

He thought Lu Sheng understood him, but Lu Sheng just didn't.

"You should get treatment in England first," Ryan Jin said, "I will come to you as soon as I finish my work here."

"Treat an illness? What illness do I have?" Noah Bai stood up, staring with his eyes. His eyes were originally big, and now on his thin face, they looked even more empty and scary. "I only have your disease in my life. You sent me away, and you will come to find me?" Then he laughed again: "Ryan Jin, do you think I am a fool? If you dislike me, let's say goodbye now. Why do you have to be so decisive? You will only feel at ease if you send me to a foreign country? Are you afraid that I will cause trouble for your marriage? Or are you afraid that I will rush to your Jin family's door and cry, make a fuss, and then hang myself?"

Shi'an was speechless. Noah Bai glared at him, but he didn't dare to look at Noah Bai. They looked at each other for a while, and then Noah Bai knelt down beside him.

"Master, I beg you," Noah Bai knelt, crawled to his side, and fell on his knees, "Master Shi'an, I beg you, don't chase me away, I will stay in Nanjing, I will never sing opera again, I will never smoke opium again, I will live in anonymity for the rest of my life, I will stay here, I will never go anywhere, okay?"

Ryan Jin also felt sad, and reached out to stroke Noah Bai's hair: "You have no relatives or friends here, why do you have to stay here?"

Lu Sheng looked at him sadly, "No relatives?" He repeated "no relatives" several times, and smiled with tears in his eyes, "Yes, you, Young Master Jin, and I are not related, but why am I so mean? Even if we break up, you live in this city of Nanjing, and I live in this city of Nanjing. In the future, I will be satisfied just to see you from afar." He raised his face, tears kept falling, "Isn't this okay? Do you have to send me to the ends of the earth, to a place full of foreign devils? Are you so tired of me?"

Ryan Jin wanted to help him up, but Noah Bai didn't listen to him and wouldn't let him help him. "If you don't agree to me, I will just kneel like this until I die, and then you won't have to worry about me."

Shi An said angrily, "How come you die if you open your mouth and die if you close your mouth? I know you are angry, but you don't curse yourself like this."

Lu Sheng didn't say anything, but his hands began to tremble on Shi'an's knees. Shi'an supported him and found that his whole body was shaking violently.

Shi'an sighed in his heart - this was his drug addiction coming back. When he squatted down to take a look, he saw foam coming out of Lu Sheng's mouth and his whole body was shaking like a sieve.

Originally he said he would not leave, and Shi'an was hesitant, but when he saw Noah Bai's appearance, his heart sank again.

How could he not leave? He had indeed made an appointment with a doctor in England, who had run a clinic in Shanghai in the past and helped many dignitaries quit opium. Noah Bai's addiction to smoking must be cured.

Ryan Jin pulled Noah Bai up and pressed him on the chair: "It's not what you think, Noah Bai, you have to go. You can't take your smoking addiction with you into the coffin."

Lu Sheng pushed him away and asked, "Into the coffin?"

Shi'an was pushed by him and staggered backwards.

Lu Sheng stood up, tears and saliva on his face. He looked thin and scary in the dark room. "I will be put into the coffin today."

Ryan Jin was anxious and in pain, so he had to look outside. Noah Bai grabbed him and said, "You want to call for help, right? You are afraid of me, so you want to call for help to tie me up, right?"

Ryan Jin hugged him, "Noah Bai, can you lie down first?"

Lu Sheng was held in his arms and laughed wildly, "Is that so? You are going to call someone to kidnap me right now, and then send me to Shanghai! And then to England! I will die outside for the rest of my life!" He turned his head and stared into Shi'an's eyes, "Why bother with so much trouble? I will die today, and save you a lot of trouble!" As he said that, he pushed Shi'an away and reached out to grab the scissors on the table.

Shi'an didn't expect him to be so strong, and seeing that he was holding a pair of scissors in his hand, he could only shout "Uncle Zhou! Aunt Chloe! Someone come!" while hurriedly trying to grab the scissors from Noah Bai's hand, "Noah Bai, don't do anything stupid!"

Lu Sheng just smiled, and raised his hand holding the scissors while smiling, "Foolish thing? Master Jin, don't think too much. If we have to die, let's die together. In the underworld, I will pay you with my life!"

Ryan Jin was still afraid that Noah Bai would hurt himself, so he just covered Noah Bai's chest and tried to press Noah Bai's hand. But Noah Bai gently dropped the scissors towards Ryan Jin's chest.

People wear less in summer, and the sharp blade of the silver scissors pierced the cloth and skin in an instant. Shi'an only heard the sharp sound of the scissors piercing the skin, and wondered dazedly for a moment, where was Noah Bai hurt?

Lu Sheng pushed the scissors forward again, as if he was possessed by a ghost.

The blow pierced deeply into Shi'an's heart. When he lowered his head, he realized that the knife had stabbed himself.

At this moment, he actually felt relieved, but he also felt that the room was terribly dark.

Countless cicadas chirped in the sky and on the ground. Outside the door, there were the sounds of chaotic footsteps, bursts of exclamations, Lu Sheng's hoarse crying and laughter. Shi'an felt a surge of hot blood in his chest and his body turned cold.

He wanted to see Noah Bai's face, but he couldn't see it clearly. Noah Bai's face was covered in blood, and the more he looked, the blurrier it became. It seemed like countless people were surrounding him. In the blinding darkness, Shi'an tried his best to grab Noah Bai's hand.

"Save Mr. Bai...it's me..."

I am going to die, Ryan Jin thought.

Since Lu Sheng hated him so much, why bother meeting him in the underworld? It would be fine if he died alone.