A Familiar Voice
4993 Words
Wanning stared at Gu.
The hallway was silent again.
Too silent.
A few seconds ago, a woman had stood at the end of it.
A woman in white.
A woman who looked at Gu as though she had known him for centuries.
A woman who claimed he had made her a promise.
And then she had disappeared.
Now Gu stood in front of Wanning as if nothing had happened.
Except she had seen his face.
For the first time since meeting him, she had seen genuine shock.
Not anger.
Not annoyance.
Not the cold control he carried everywhere.
Shock.
“You said you don’t remember,” Wanning said.
Gu didn’t answer.
“You said you don’t remember who you were before Gu Chenyuan.”
“I said I don’t remember.”
“Then how do you know that woman isn’t what she appears to be?”
“I know enough.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It is the only one I have.”
Wanning folded her arms.
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Keeping secrets.”
Gu looked at her.
“You don’t trust me.”
“No.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“You should be grateful.”
“For what?”
“That I’m honest about it.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
But it disappeared quickly.
Wanning glanced toward the place where the woman had vanished.
“Who was she?”
“I don’t know.”
“You know her.”
“No.”
“She knew you.”
“I said I don’t know her.”
“She called you by another name.”
Gu went still.
Wanning noticed.
“What name?”
He didn’t answer.
“Gu.”
Silence.
“What did she call you?”
His eyes shifted away.
“I don’t remember.”
Wanning stared at him.
“That’s convenient.”
“You don’t have to believe me.”
“I don’t.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
Wanning turned away.
She had no idea what was happening.
And she hated that she was beginning to realize something.
Gu wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
Something was keeping secrets from him too.
⸻
The next morning, Wanning woke to the sound of something breaking downstairs.
She jumped out of bed.
“What was that?”
Another crash.
She hurried into the hallway.
“Gu?”
No answer.
She ran downstairs.
A vase had shattered beside the staircase.
Water covered the floor.
But there was nobody there.
Wanning slowed.
“Gu?”
A door slammed somewhere behind her.
She turned.
Nothing.
Then she heard footsteps.
Slow.
Coming from the dining room.
She grabbed the nearest object she could find.
A decorative wooden stick.
It was useless.
She knew it was useless.
But holding nothing seemed worse.
She moved toward the dining room.
“Who’s there?”
No response.
She pushed the door open.
Empty.
The dining table was untouched.
The chairs were in place.
The windows were closed.
Then she saw the floor.
Wet footprints.
They began near the window.
And ended in the middle of the room.
Wanning stared.
There were no footprints leading into the room.
Only footprints that suddenly stopped.
She swallowed.
“This mansion is seriously insane.”
A voice came from behind her.
“What are you doing?”
Wanning nearly screamed.
She spun around.
Gu stood there.
“Don’t do that!”
He looked at the wooden stick in her hand.
“What is that?”
“My weapon.”
He stared at it.
“You were planning to fight someone with that?”
“Yes.”
“With a piece of wood?”
“Do you have a better suggestion?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Run.”
She stared.
“You’re joking.”
“No.”
Wanning lowered the stick.
“You’re not helping.”
Gu walked into the room.
His eyes moved toward the wet footprints.
His expression changed.
“Did you touch them?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
He crouched beside them.
“This isn’t water.”
Wanning stepped closer.
“What is it?”
He touched the edge of the liquid.
Then brought his fingers toward the light.
“Blood.”
Wanning immediately stepped back.
“Blood?”
“Yes.”
“But it looks like water.”
“It isn’t.”
She looked toward the window.
“Whose?”
Gu stood.
“I don’t know.”
“Of course.”
He walked toward the window.
It was locked from the inside.
Wanning frowned.
“Then how did someone get in?”
Gu examined the lock.
“They didn’t.”
She stared at him.
“Then how did the footprints get here?”
He looked at the floor.
“That is the question.”
⸻
Gu spent the next hour inspecting the mansion.
Wanning followed him.
She didn’t want to admit it, but being alone in the building suddenly seemed like a terrible idea.
They checked every room.
Nothing.
No broken windows.
No unlocked doors.
No signs of forced entry.
Yet the blood remained.
Eventually, Gu stopped in front of the staircase.
“Stay here.”
“Why?”
“I need to check something upstairs.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Wanning folded her arms.
“That has never worked on me.”
He looked at her.
“You’re stubborn.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Good.”
He went upstairs.
Wanning waited.
Thirty seconds.
A minute.
Two minutes.
Then she heard a sound.
Someone laughing.
A woman’s laughter.
Wanning looked up.
“Gu?”
No answer.
She climbed the stairs.
“Gu?”
The hallway was empty.
Then she saw the bedroom door.
Open.
She walked toward it.
“Gu?”
She pushed it wider.
Nobody.
Her heart sank.
Then something moved behind the curtain.
Wanning grabbed the wooden stick again.
“Who’s there?”
The curtain moved.
She stepped forward.
Suddenly, Gu appeared behind her.
“Move.”
She jumped.
“Stop doing that!”
He pulled the curtain aside.
Nothing.
Wanning stared.
“What were you checking?”
“The window.”
“It was locked.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
Gu pointed toward the floor.
There was a small black mark.
Like ash.
Wanning crouched.
“What is that?”
“Burnt paper.”
“Why would burnt paper be here?”
Gu picked it up.
“It smells like incense.”
Wanning looked at him.
“Are you telling me someone burned something inside your room?”
“My room?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked toward the bed.
His expression became colder.
“This wasn’t here yesterday.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Wanning glanced at the burnt paper.
“Can you read it?”
“Some of it.”
“What does it say?”
Gu turned the fragment over.
Only three words remained.
Return the bride.
Wanning’s face changed.
“Return me to whom?”
Gu didn’t answer.
“Gu.”
He folded the paper.
“I don’t know.”
She stared at him.
“Whoever keeps saying that is going to become my enemy.”
“You’re welcome to add me to the list.”
She looked at him.
“You’re already there.”
He nodded.
“I assumed.”
⸻
By noon, Wanning had decided she needed answers from someone outside the Gu family.
She called the only person she could think of.
Madam Xu.
The phone rang.
No answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Wanning looked at Gu.
“She’s still missing.”
“Yes.”
“Then we need to find her.”
“I agree.”
That surprised Wanning.
“You agree?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows something.”
“About the first bride?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s find her.”
Gu picked up his keys.
“We will.”
⸻
They started at the village.
Madam Xu’s house remained empty.
The elderly neighbor who had spoken to Wanning before refused to open his door.
Another villager told them she had gone toward the old shrine.
A third said she had been seen near the cemetery.
Wanning and Gu followed the information.
The cemetery was at the edge of the village.
Old graves covered the hillside.
Some had names.
Others had no markings.
Wanning walked slowly.
“This place feels wrong.”
Gu looked around.
“It is.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“There are graves here that don’t belong here.”
“What does that mean?”
“Some of these stones were moved.”
“From where?”
“I don’t know.”
She sighed.
“Of course.”
They continued.
Then Wanning saw something.
A scarf.
Blue.
Caught on a tree branch.
She ran toward it.
“Madam Xu wears this.”
Gu followed.
He picked it up.
There was blood on one edge.
Wanning’s stomach turned.
“She’s hurt.”
“Maybe.”
“Don’t say maybe.”
Gu examined the fabric.
“It’s old blood.”
“How old?”
“Several hours.”
“So she’s nearby.”
“Possibly.”
Wanning stared at him.
He looked at her.
She pointed at him.
“Don’t.”
He nodded.
They searched the area.
Nothing.
Then Wanning heard something.
A faint knocking sound.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Three knocks.
She turned toward a stone wall.
“Do you hear that?”
Gu listened.
His expression changed.
“Yes.”
They followed the sound.
It came from behind the cemetery.
There was an old underground structure.
The door was covered with vines.
Wanning pulled them away.
“Someone built this?”
“Yes.”
Gu examined the door.
There was the Gu family symbol carved into the wood.
Wanning’s eyes widened.
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“Your family really got around.”
Gu ignored her.
He pushed the door.
It didn’t move.
Wanning stepped back.
“Can you open it?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
He placed his hand against the symbol.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Wanning smiled.
“Looks like even your family symbol doesn’t recognize you.”
Gu gave her a look.
“Very funny.”
“Thank you.”
Then the door opened by itself.
Wanning’s smile disappeared.
Gu immediately moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.”
“I was already planning to.”
The smell that came from inside was awful.
Damp earth.
Old incense.
Something metallic.
Blood.
They entered.
The tunnel was narrow.
A few old candles lined the walls.
Some were still burning.
Wanning stared.
“Someone is here.”
Gu nodded.
They continued.
The knocking returned.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Three knocks.
Then a woman’s voice.
“Help me.”
Wanning froze.
“Madam Xu?”
No answer.
“Madam Xu!”
“Wanning…”
It was her voice.
Definitely.
She ran forward.
Gu caught her wrist.
“Wait.”
“She’s there.”
“You don’t know that.”
“That is her voice.”
“Exactly.”
Wanning looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
“Something wants you to go farther.”
She stared into the darkness.
Then they heard a scream.
“Help!”
Wanning pulled against him.
“Let me go!”
Gu released her.
She ran.
He followed.
They reached a small chamber.
Madam Xu was there.
She was tied to a wooden chair.
Wanning hurried toward her.
“Madam Xu!”
The old woman looked up.
“Don’t!”
Wanning stopped.
Madam Xu’s eyes were wide.
“Don’t come closer.”
“Why?”
“It’s a trap.”
Gu looked around.
“Who did this?”
Madam Xu shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“Who brought you here?”
“I followed a voice.”
Wanning stared.
“What voice?”
The old woman’s eyes moved to her.
“Your grandmother.”
Wanning’s face fell.
“My grandmother?”
“She called me.”
“But she’s dead.”
“I know.”
Madam Xu began crying.
“She sounded exactly like her.”
Gu cut the ropes.
“Can you walk?”
Madam Xu nodded.
He helped her stand.
Wanning noticed a mark on the old woman’s wrist.
The same symbol.
“What’s that?”
Madam Xu covered it.
“Nothing.”
Wanning grabbed her hand.
“Tell me.”
The woman looked frightened.
“Your grandmother made me swear.”
“Swear what?”
“Never tell you.”
“Tell me now.”
Madam Xu shook her head.
“If I tell you, they’ll come.”
“Who?”
“The dead.”
Gu looked toward the tunnel.
“We need to leave.”
A sound echoed behind them.
Footsteps.
Someone was coming.
Slow.
Heavy.
Madam Xu’s face went pale.
“It’s here.”
Wanning looked behind them.
“Who’s here?”
The footsteps continued.
Gu pushed Wanning behind him.
“Stay close.”
The figure appeared at the end of the tunnel.
A man.
Old-fashioned clothes.
Pale face.
Eyes completely black.
Madam Xu screamed.
“Gu Mingyuan.”
Gu’s expression changed.
Wanning looked at him.
“That’s your father?”
Gu stepped forward.
“Father?”
The figure smiled.
“You finally came home.”
Wanning’s breath caught.
Gu didn’t move.
The man looked at Wanning.
Then smiled wider.
“And you brought her.”
Gu’s voice became dangerous.
“Who are you?”
The figure laughed.
“You don’t remember me?”
“No.”
“You should.”
The man raised his hand.
The half-heart gemstone around Wanning’s neck suddenly became hot.
She gasped.
Gu turned toward her.
“Take it off.”
“I can’t.”
She grabbed the gemstone.
It wouldn’t move.
The chain seemed stuck to her skin.
The figure laughed again.
“She belongs to us.”
Gu stepped between them.
“No.”
The figure’s smile disappeared.
“You promised.”
“I did not.”
“You were born from the promise.”
Gu’s face hardened.
“What does that mean?”
The figure pointed toward him.
“Ask your mother.”
Then the candles went out.
Darkness swallowed the tunnel.
Wanning heard Madam Xu scream.
She felt someone grab her wrist.
“Gu?”
No answer.
She heard breathing beside her.
Then a whisper.
“Wanning…”
She turned.
A woman stood inches from her.
The bride in white.
The woman touched the gemstone.
“You stole what was mine.”
Wanning pulled away.
“I didn’t steal anything!”
The woman smiled.
“You were given it.”
“By my grandmother.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
The woman’s face changed.
For the first time, she looked sad.
“By him.”
“Who?”
The woman pointed behind Wanning.
Gu stood there.
But something was different.
His eyes were closed.
He wasn’t moving.
The woman whispered,
“He gave you the heart.”
Wanning looked at Gu.
“Why?”
The woman’s expression became twisted.
“Because he chose you.”
“Chose me for what?”
“To replace me.”
The room shook.
Wanning stepped backward.
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
The woman vanished.
The lights returned.
Gu was standing exactly where he had been.
Madam Xu was on the floor.
The old man was gone.
Wanning stared at Gu.
He opened his eyes.
“What happened?”
She didn’t answer.
“Wanning.”
She took a step back.
“You knew.”
“I didn’t.”
“She said you chose me.”
“I don’t know what she meant.”
“She said I replaced her.”
Gu’s expression hardened.
“I would never—”
He stopped.
Wanning noticed.
“Never what?”
He looked away.
“Nothing.”
“That’s not nothing.”
Madam Xu suddenly grabbed Wanning’s hand.
“Listen to me.”
Wanning looked down.
The old woman was crying.
“Your grandmother didn’t give you that necklace because she loved you.”
Wanning went still.
“She gave it to you because she was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Because she knew they would come.”
“Who?”
Madam Xu whispered,
“The Gu family.”
Gu’s face turned cold.
“Explain.”
The woman shook her head.
“I can’t.”
“You will.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because your grandmother made me promise.”
Wanning’s voice broke.
“She is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you still protecting her secret?”
The woman looked at her.
“Because some promises survive death.”
⸻
They brought Madam Xu back to the village.
She refused to go near the shrine again.
Before Wanning left, she gave her a small key.
“Your grandmother left this with me.”
Wanning stared at it.
“What does it open?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why didn’t you give it to me before?”
“Because she told me not to.”
“Why now?”
Madam Xu looked toward Gu.
“Because he’s already found you.”
Wanning looked at Gu.
Then back at the woman.
“What does that mean?”
Madam Xu didn’t answer.
⸻
That night, Gu returned to the archive alone.
Wanning stayed in the mansion.
She didn’t know whether that was because he wanted to protect her or because he didn’t want her involved.
Either way, she was tired of being kept in the dark.
She placed the key on the table.
She stared at it.
Then she remembered something.
The wooden box.
She searched through it.
Nothing.
She checked the letters.
Nothing.
The photographs.
Nothing.
Then she noticed the bottom of the box.
A small indentation.
She pressed it.
A hidden compartment opened.
Wanning stared.
Inside was a folded piece of cloth.
She opened it.
There was another photograph.
This time, the woman was alone.
The first bride.
On the back:
Her name was not Wanning.
Wanning’s eyes widened.
She turned the photograph over.
The woman’s real name had been written underneath.
Shen Yuexin.
Wanning whispered the name.
“Yuexin.”
She looked at the woman’s face.
The resemblance was still there.
But not exact.
There were differences.
The eyes.
The shape of the chin.
The mouth.
She had mistaken resemblance for identity.
Then another thought hit her.
If Shen Yuexin wasn’t Wanning…
Why had everyone called her Wanning?
She opened the diary again.
The answer was written on the final page.
The name Wanning was given to every bride chosen for the Gu family.
Wanning dropped the diary.
“No.”
She read it again.
Every bride.
Not one.
Not two.
Every bride.
Her mouth went dry.
That meant Gu’s statement that he had waited one hundred years didn’t necessarily mean he had been waiting for her.
He might have been waiting for a bride.
A role.
A promise.
A cycle.
And she had been placed inside it without knowing.
⸻
Gu returned shortly after midnight.
Wanning was sitting in the living room.
The key was in her hand.
He stopped when he saw her.
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
He approached.
She held up the photograph.
“Who is Shen Yuexin?”
Gu stopped.
His expression changed immediately.
“You know that name?”
“You do.”
“Yes.”
“Who was she?”
He didn’t answer.
Wanning stood.
“You said the first bride was Shen Wanning.”
“I was wrong.”
She stared.
“You were wrong?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because that’s what I was told.”
“By who?”
“My family.”
“Then your family lied to you.”
“Yes.”
She sat down.
Gu remained standing.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Then tell me now.”
He looked at the photograph.
“Shen Yuexin was the first woman connected to the Gu family wedding.”
“Connected how?”
“She was promised to my family.”
“Promised to you?”
“No.”
“To your father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Gu’s voice became quieter.
“To me.”
Wanning looked up.
“You weren’t even born.”
“I know.”
“Then how could you be promised to her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Your family promised a woman to someone who hadn’t been born yet?”
“Yes.”
“That is insane.”
“I agree.”
Wanning stared at the photograph.
“What happened to her?”
“She died.”
“How?”
Gu looked away.
“I don’t remember.”
Wanning frowned.
“You don’t remember anything about her?”
“No.”
“But she knows you.”
“I know.”
“She said you betrayed her.”
“I know.”
“She said you chose me.”
“I know.”
Wanning rubbed her forehead.
“Why does every answer create five more questions?”
Gu looked at her.
“Because someone has spent a long time making sure you never knew the truth.”
She looked up.
“Someone?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
She groaned.
“Gu!”
He almost smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“There is something you need to know.”
“What?”
“The woman you saw tonight…”
Wanning waited.
“She wasn’t Shen Yuexin.”
Her face changed.
“Then who was she?”
“I don’t know.”
She stared at him.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Then who is haunting us?”
Gu’s eyes darkened.
“I think she is the reason the first bride died.”
The next morning, Liliana received another message.
She had barely slept.
The first message was still on her phone.
You are looking for the wrong man.
She had ignored it.
Then another arrived.
Ask Wanning about Shen Yuexin.
Liliana sat up.
She searched the name online.
Almost nothing appeared.
She searched again.
Nothing.
She contacted one of her father’s friends.
The man refused to discuss it.
That frightened her.
She tried another person.
Same answer.
Finally, she found an old scanned newspaper.
A name appeared.
SHEN YUEXIN — MISSING BRIDE.
Liliana’s eyes widened.
She read the article.
A young woman had disappeared after a private wedding ceremony connected to the Gu family.
The article had been removed from most records.
But one sentence remained:
Family members refused to comment on the bride’s disappearance.
Liliana stared.
Then her phone buzzed.
Now you understand.
She typed:
Who are you?
The response:
Someone who knows what Gu Chenyuan really is.
Liliana’s fingers moved quickly.
What is he?
The reply came.
A man who has died before.
She stared.
Another message appeared.
And if Wanning stays beside him, she will die too.
Liliana’s face changed.
For the first time, she wasn’t thinking about taking Gu from Wanning.
She was thinking about the possibility that Wanning might actually be in danger.
Then another message arrived.
Unless you take her place.
Liliana stared at the screen.
Her heart began beating faster.
What do you mean?
No reply.
She waited.
Nothing.
She called the number.
It didn’t exist.
Liliana threw the phone onto the bed.
“What the hell?”
At the Gu mansion, Wanning stood before the mirror.
She touched the gemstone.
It was cold again.
Normal.
Almost harmless.
But now she knew better.
She picked up the photograph of Shen Yuexin.
The woman looked back at her.
Wanning whispered,
“Why me?”
A voice answered behind her.
“That’s what I want to know.”
She turned.
Gu stood in the doorway.
She frowned.
“You scare people when you appear like that.”
“You were talking to yourself.”
“I was asking a question.”
“To a photograph.”
“She can’t answer.”
“Apparently she can.”
Wanning narrowed her eyes.
“Very funny.”
Gu walked toward her.
“What did you find?”
She handed him the photograph.
He looked at it.
Then at the gemstone.
“The key.”
Wanning’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Gu looked at the small key on the table.
“This belonged to Shen Yuexin.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve seen it before.”
“Where?”
“In my mother’s belongings.”
Wanning stared.
“You’ve never mentioned your mother.”
“I know.”
“Who was she?”
Gu looked at the key.
“Her name was Gu Meilin.”
“And?”
“She disappeared before I was born.”
Wanning’s eyes widened.
“Your mother disappeared too?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Gu…”
He looked at her.
“My family has more missing people than living ones.”
For once, there was no sarcasm in her expression.
“That isn’t funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
Silence filled the room.
Wanning looked at the key.
“Then we need to find your mother’s things.”
“Yes.”
“Where are they?”
Gu looked toward the door.
“There’s one place I haven’t searched.”
“Where?”
“My family’s old residence.”
Wanning frowned.
“I thought this was the old residence.”
“No.”
He picked up his coat.
“The mansion you’re living in belonged to me.”
She stared.
“Then where is the old residence?”
“Outside the city.”
“How far?”
“Three hours.”
Wanning’s eyes narrowed.
“Three hours?”
“Yes.”
She suddenly remembered the impossible journey through the rain.
The mansion.
The road.
The distance.
Her stomach tightened.
“Like the road from the mansion to the village?”
Gu looked at her.
“Yes.”
Wanning went quiet.
That couldn’t be coincidence.
The supernatural distance wasn’t random.
Maybe the mansion wasn’t simply a house.
Maybe it moved.
Maybe it chose where to appear.
Maybe it had brought her there because someone wanted her to enter.
She looked at Gu.
“Take me there.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“So is this place.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m coming.”
“No.”
Wanning crossed her arms.
“You don’t get to decide everything.”
Gu looked at her for several seconds.
Then he said,
“Fine.”
She blinked.
“That was easy.”
“It isn’t.”
“What changed?”
“I realized you would follow me whether I allowed it or not.”
She smiled.
“Exactly.”
Gu turned toward the door.
“Pack.”
“Where are we going?”
“My family’s old home.”
Wanning grabbed her bag.
Then she stopped.
One thought came to her.
“Gu.”
He looked back.
“What?”
“If your mother disappeared…”
She hesitated.
“Maybe she didn’t disappear.”
His expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
Wanning held up the photograph.
“Maybe she was taken.”
Silence.
For the first time, Gu looked genuinely unsettled.
Wanning continued.
“Just like Madam Xu.”
He stared at her.
“And just like my grandmother knew this would happen.”
She picked up the key.
“Maybe all these disappearances are connected.”
Gu’s eyes remained fixed on the key.
Then he said something that made Wanning stop.
“My mother disappeared one hundred and twenty-seven years ago.”
Wanning slowly turned toward him.
“That was the year you were born.”
“Yes.”
She stared.
“How can your mother disappear the year you were born?”
Gu’s face was unreadable.
“I don’t know.”
Wanning looked at the key.
Then at the photograph.
Then at Gu.
And suddenly, one possibility became impossible to ignore.
Maybe Gu Chenyuan wasn’t the only person who had been waiting.
Maybe someone had been waiting for him to remember.
And perhaps the reason Wanning had been brought into this nightmare wasn’t because she was his bride.
Maybe she was the person who could unlock the memory he had lost.
Outside the mansion, thunder rolled across the sky.
The half-heart around Wanning’s neck suddenly became warm.
She looked down.
A thin c***k had appeared across the gemstone.
Then a drop of blood slid from the c***k onto her palm.
Wanning stared.
Gu stepped toward her.
“Don’t touch it.”
Too late.
The moment her finger touched the blood, the room disappeared.
For one second, Wanning saw another place.
Another time.
A young woman in a white wedding dress stood before an altar.
She was crying.
A young man stood opposite her.
Wanning couldn’t see his face.
But she heard his voice.
“I will come back for you.”
The woman shook her head.
“You promised that before.”
“I will keep it this time.”
Then the scene changed.
The same woman was running through a forest.
Someone was chasing her.
She screamed,
“Gu Chenyuan!”
Wanning gasped.
The vision changed again.
A baby cried.
A woman held him.
She whispered,
“They will come for him.”
Then another voice said,
“Give me the child.”
The woman screamed.
“No!”
The vision shattered.
Wanning fell backward.
Gu caught her before she hit the floor.
She pushed away immediately.
“What did you do?”
“I d
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