The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

“Huang Feipeng’s power is far greater and more deeply rooted than you imagine. I can’t touch him, nor can I fight him.” Hou Liangping’s voice was low and hoarse. “If I stay in the capital, I will only implicate more people, including my family and my friends.”

"So what are you planning to do next?" Sophie asked, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"Leave the capital." Hou Liangping's eyes were firm. "Go to a place where no one knows me, and start over."

He knew that leaving the capital meant giving up everything, including his career, his family, and even his dignity. But he had no other choice; he could no longer allow himself to become someone else's pawn, nor could he implicate anyone else.

“I will help you leave the capital,” Sophie suddenly said.

Hou Liangping looked at her in surprise; he hadn't expected this beautiful American agent to choose to help him at this time.

"why?"

Sophie's lips curled into a meaningful smile: "Because I want to see the day you bring down Huang Feipeng." A sly glint flashed in her eyes. "I believe you won't let me down."

The study door was ajar, and the light filtering through the crack divided the hallway floor into two distinct sections of light and shadow. Zhong Xiaoai stood at the boundary between light and shadow, hesitating whether to knock.

Inside, Hou Liangping sat at his desk, the dim light illuminating his face, making him appear even more haggard. He clutched the divorce agreement in his hand, the thin paper now feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. He recognized every single word on the agreement, but put them together, they felt like sharp knives, cruelly ripping at his heart.

He had imagined this scene countless times: on a sunny afternoon, he and Zhong Xiaoai would sit in the sun-drenched living room, signing a document together—the fruit of their love, the beginning of their new life. But reality played a cruel joke on him.

"Squeak-"

The study door was gently pushed open, and Zhong Xiaoai walked in, each step unusually heavy, as if stepping on his heart.

"Still not asleep?" Zhong Xiaoai's voice was very soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"I've been waiting for you." Hou Liangping raised his head, staring intently at her, as if trying to see right through her.

"You know everything?" Zhong Xiaoai avoided his gaze, walked to the table, picked up the divorce agreement, and asked, feigning composure.

"Heh," Hou Liangping chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Besides this, is there anything else you want to tell me?"

“We…” Zhong Xiaoai bit her lip, hesitating to speak.

"Go ahead and speak, I'm listening." Hou Liangping leaned back, crossed his hands behind his head, and pretended to be all ears.

"Let's...get a divorce." Zhong Xiaoai took a deep breath and finally said it. Although she had prepared herself mentally, her heart still ached as if it were being torn apart when she said it.

"What's the reason?" Hou Liangping's voice was very calm, so calm it was frightening.

“We… are not a good match.” Zhong Xiaoai lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.

"Not suitable?" Hou Liangping suddenly stood up, walked up to her, and stared at her intently. "Zhong Xiaoai, you fucking tell me, what's wrong with us? When we got married, you said you would love me for a lifetime. It's only been a few years, and you've already forgotten?"

"Hou Liangping, calm down!" Zhong Xiaoai was startled by his sudden outburst of anger and instinctively took a step back.

"Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down?" Hou Liangping grabbed her shoulder with such force that he almost crushed her bones. "Zhong Xiaoai, tell me! You fucking say something!"

"You...you hurt me..." Zhong Xiaoai winced in pain, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Pain? Do you know how much my heart aches?" Hou Liangping roared, releasing his grip and slumping weakly into a chair, covering his face with his hands and groaning in pain.

Zhong Xiaoai looked at the man before her, once so spirited and now so dejected, and felt a mix of emotions. She knew she was being cruel, but she had no other choice.

"Hou Liangping, let's... part ways amicably." Zhong Xiaoai's voice was soft, but it was like sharp thorns piercing his heart.

"A clean break?" Hou Liangping suddenly raised his head, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. "Zhong Xiaoai, do you think I want this? Do you think I'm willing to let go?"

He suddenly stood up, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly, as if he wanted to meld her into his own body.

"Zhong Xiaoai, don't leave me, please, don't leave me..." His voice was hoarse and desperate, like a lost child pleading for him not to be abandoned.

Zhong Xiaoai was startled by his sudden action and instinctively tried to struggle, but his embrace was like an iron clamp, making her unable to move. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest, feel his hot breath on her ear, and feel his heart, riddled with holes, pounding violently in her ear.

"Hou Liangping, you...you let me go..." Zhong Xiaoai's voice trembled, with a hint of sobbing.

"I won't let go! I'd rather die than let go!" Hou Liangping's voice was hoarse but resolute. "Unless you promise me you won't leave me!"

"You...you're making things difficult for me!" Zhong Xiaoai trembled with anger. "Hou Liangping, wake up! This is over!"

"Ended? Who said it's over?" Hou Liangping suddenly released her, placing his hands on either side of her body, trapping her between the desk and himself. "Zhong Xiaoai, let me tell you, as long as I don't agree, this marriage will never end!"

His eyes were wild and obsessive, as if he wanted to devour Zhong Xiaoai.

“You…” Zhong Xiaoai was terrified by his appearance. She had never seen Hou Liangping like this before. He was like a wounded wild beast, desperate and insane.

“Zhong Xiaoai, I’ll ask you one last time,” Hou Liangping’s tone suddenly softened, like a lover’s whisper, but his eyes remained mad, “Stay, or…”

His hand slowly reached towards her neck, his slender fingers gently caressing her skin, as if he were touching a cherished work of art, or as if he were weighing the prey.

"Or what?" Zhong Xiaoai's voice trembled, and her breathing became rapid.

“Or…” Hou Liangping’s lips curled into a wicked smile, “I’ll destroy you!”

“Or… destroy you!” Hou Liangping gritted his teeth, enunciating each word as if reciting some kind of curse.

Zhong Xiaoai's breath caught in her throat, a chill running from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. She had never seen Hou Liangping like this before; he was so unfamiliar, so terrifying.