Now I Regret It

Qin Qinghan clearly sensed Ye Fengwu's unusual behavior. She knew about Luo Phoenix Group and the legendary woman, Luo Yihuang, but what confused her was why Ye Fengwu was so agitated.

At that moment, Ye Fengwu's phone suddenly rang. The caller was Liu Hui.

Ye Fengwu picked up the phone and walked into the kitchen. After pressing the answer button, Liu Hui's anxious voice came through: "Instructor, something's happened."

Ye Fengwu's heart sank. He asked, "Is the target on that plane?"

If Luo Yihuang was really on that plane, it would mean his mission had failed. This would be the first failure in eight years among countless missions.

For someone as proud as Ye Fengwu, this was unacceptable.

Liu Hui replied, "The target is safe, but... Lin Qiang is injured, at Safe House No. 9."

After hanging up, Ye Fengwu's face darkened, his expression terrifying. Lin Qiang, Liu Hui, and Yang Lu were all elite soldiers he had personally trained, his comrades and brothers. If any of them were in danger, he couldn't accept it.

"I'm going out for a while," Ye Fengwu said to Qin Qinghan, grabbing his coat and leaving, his face serious and tense.

Seeing this, Qin Qinghan immediately had a bad premonition. Could he be going to do something terrible?

Yang Yu muttered, "Look at that serious face. You'd think he's doing some serious work."

Qin Qinghan sighed, "Mom, can you stop saying things like that?"

At that moment, the TV screen switched to the news anchor. "Luo Phoenix Group has always been the most powerful company in Haihua City. It's been reported that the chairperson of Luo Phoenix Group, Luo Yihuang, has been attacked three times in the past month."

"But this hasn't affected the normal operations of the group. Today, news has emerged that an auction will be held by the group's auction house, with the most highly anticipated item being a ring called 'The Heart of the Blue Sea.'"

"According to experts, the estimated value of this ring is one hundred million dollars. Let's take a close look at this world-renowned Heart of the Blue Sea."

The screen switched again to show a glass display case with a dazzling ring inside. Many people were taking photos of it.

When the camera zoomed in, the ring's outline became clear, and even the two Chinese characters on it appeared on the TV screen.

Yang Yu and Qin Zhi both looked at the ring on the TV, with a trace of envy in their eyes. Yang Yu muttered, "Qinghan, did you see that? That's the real Heart of the Blue Sea. The one Ye Fengwu gave you, though identical, is just a copy. But theirs is the real one, worth one hundred million dollars."

Qin Zhi furrowed his brows and said, "It's too similar. Could it be the one you sold to the pawn shop?"

Yang Yu glared at Qin Zhi and snorted, "What are you thinking? Do you really think the ring Ye Fengwu gave Qinghan is worth one hundred million dollars? Not to mention if a former criminal like him could afford it, even if he could, which man would be willing to give away such an expensive ring?"

Suddenly, Qin Qinghan dropped her chopsticks, her stunning face filled with shock and a mix of emotions.

Yang Yu and Qin Zhi turned in confusion to look at her. Qin Qinghan's eyes were wide and tearful, staring blankly at the ring on the TV screen.

Yang Yu asked, "Qinghan, why are you in a daze? This kind of good fortune won't happen to us, just eat your dinner."

Two hot tears fell from Qin Qinghan's eyes, landing on the table.

It turned out the ring he gave her was truly the Heart of the Blue Sea, that one-of-a-kind treasure.

She had always thought it was a high-quality imitation, and even her parents had often mocked him for it.

But he... he silently endured all the ridicule. A ring worth one hundred million dollars, and he never once complained.

At this moment, Qin Qinghan finally realized that he had been tolerating her all along.

No wonder, no wonder even when Xihu Heifeng was threatened and blackmailed for ten thousand dollars, he refused to return the ring. It was because the ring had always been real.

"Mom, we... we can't repay him." Qin Qinghan's voice choked, her eyes filled with guilt and regret.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yu and Qin Zhi's expressions changed drastically. Yang Yu snapped, "What are you talking about? You don't think the ring on TV is the one I sold to Xihu Pawnshop, do you?"

Qin Qinghan bitterly nodded and said, "Do you know? He never blamed me for the ring being sold. I even thought about compensating him with a few thousand dollars. I feel so ashamed."

At these words, the faces of Yang Yu and Qin Zhi grew grave. Qin Zhi asked, "Qinghan, do you mean the ring Ye Fengwu gave you is really the one on TV?"

Yang Yu, however, didn't believe it. "How could that be? The appraisers told me the ring, though exquisite, was just a high-end imitation."

At that moment, Jing Si, who had been silent, spoke up. "Grandma, the ring on TV is the one Uncle gave Mom. You can see the two characters on it: Feng and Que. Jing Si has seen it too."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yu's face turned pale. Back then, she had acted in haste and hadn't taken a close look. Now, the unusual behavior of Qinghan and Jing Si's description made her sense an ominous premonition.

After a long silence, Yang Yu finally trembled and asked, "Qinghan, tell me the truth, is what Jing Si said true?"

Qin Qinghan, with tears in her eyes, nodded and said, "Mom, please don't talk about it anymore. I will apologize to him, and I'll try to find a way to repay him."

Given the circumstances, it seemed likely that the ring had been pawned by Xihu Heifeng, and retrieving it from him was impossible.

Wah...

Seeing Qin Qinghan nod, tears streamed down Yang Yu's face. At this moment, it wasn't guilt she felt, but self-blame and regret. More than that, she felt heartbroken. That was one hundred million dollars—enough to support several generations.

But she... had only sold it for twenty thousand yuan.

Yang Yu cried out, heartbroken. After a long time, she started sobbing again, "No, I need to find that pawnshop. I'll report it to the police. How dare they deceive us!"

Saying this, Yang Yu stood up, leaving her meal behind, determined to go outside.

Qin Qinghan quickly stopped her. "Mom, don't get involved in this. We can't get that ring back."

Yang Yu became angry, her face cold. "That's one hundred million dollars! I'll sue them if I have to, but I'll get that ring back."

Qin Qinghan urgently said, "That's Xihu Heifeng's store. If you go there, you might lose your life."

Hearing Xihu Heifeng's name, Yang Yu's righteous anger immediately extinguished, and she looked fearful. "X... Xihu Heifeng..."

Wah...

Then, Yang Yu began crying again, blaming herself, "What have I done? How could I have given away a ring worth one hundred million dollars to Xihu Heifeng?"

In Haihua City, who didn't know Xihu Heifeng? Who wasn't afraid of him? Even Qin Zhi, upon hearing Xihu Heifeng's name, had a look of despair and defeat in his eyes.

Yang Yu's crying suddenly stopped. She grabbed Qin Qinghan's hand, pleading, "Qinghan, please help your mom. I only did it to save your dad, that's why I was deceived."

"How about this? Tomorrow, you and Ye Fengwu get married. Once you're legally married, he won't hold this against us."

Hearing this, Qin Qinghan's expression grew even more bitter. It felt like she was being sold off.

Qin Qinghan could only nod in agreement, but what filled her heart was guilt. She had always misunderstood him, while he never once complained.

Qin Qinghan clearly understood Ye Fengwu's gentle exterior, but inside, he was domineering and rough. Yet he had endured everything for her.

...

At eight in the evening, Ye Fengwu finally arrived at the Safe House No. 9 Liu Hui had mentioned.

This safe house was built specifically for special forces personnel carrying out missions, equipped with medical supplies and equipment.

At that moment, on a high-tech medical bed, a pale figure wrapped in bandages lay. It was Lin Qiang.

Nearby, Liu Hui and Yang Lu's faces were also grim, each carrying some light injuries, which made Ye Fengwu's expression even darker.

He walked to Lin Qiang's side and felt his weak breathing, then looked at Liu Hui and Yang Lu. "Who could have hurt Lin Qiang this badly?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hui and Yang Lu exchanged solemn looks. Liu Hui said, "Instructor, we've never encountered such killers before. They... they were like monsters."