May 15th, evening.
On a quiet, deserted street, Andrew Han sat by the lakeshore, unconsciously clutching a face mask in his right hand.
He knew clearly in his heart.
Even if he changed clothes and concealed his face, it would be hard to hide all traces. What must come will always come—no matter how he tried, there was no escaping it.
He felt afraid.
But it wasn’t fear of legal punishment, nor was it dread of a bleak future. What he truly feared was losing the chance to protect his family of four.
"If I’d stayed calm back then, maybe I could’ve found a better way to handle things. But going back to the warehouse now to try and erase the evidence would only make things riskier." Andrew Han pulled out his phone, opened his WeChat chat with Gavin King, and frowned. "I tried to arrange a meeting with Gavin King, but he won’t reply."
The phone screen glowed, illuminating Andrew Han’s composed face.
"Lucy."
"I’m sorry, Lucy." Andrew Han shook his head, gazing at the lake. The rippling waves seemed to reflect the turmoil in his heart. "Maybe I won’t be able to protect you anymore. But—I’m unwilling, I’m just not willing."
Splash.
A black-and-red fish leapt from the lake, tracing an arc before falling back into the water, scattering droplets.
Like a life breaking free from its cage, only to fall back in again.
"Heh."
No matter how fiercely ordinary people struggle, in the end, the cold, vast sea will always come crashing down on them.
Andrew Han’s eyes were indifferent as he stared at the lake.
Since he was reborn, even if the waves were impossible to resist, he would face them head-on, using every ounce of strength to break through. Even if he lost, even if he died, it was still better than hiding beneath the sea.
What he wanted wasn’t complicated—it was very simple.
If anyone tried to destroy what he cherished, they would have to pay the price—no matter who they were, no matter the reason, no matter good or evil... there must be a price.
He just hadn’t expected that he would accidentally take two lives.