Once Upon A One Night Stand

Li Han was taken to the hospital after collapsing at the search and rescue scene that day. His heart hurted more than the internal injuries he was sustained.

He ignored Ling Junze's recommendation to take a few days off before departing. Ling Junze realized he couldn't persuade him, so he didn't attempt to do it. He instead gave him some medicine to keep his energy levels up and sent him on his way.

People on Zou Xun's side did not give up and continued their search for her in the river where the accident occurred, even further down the river.

However, no news of Shu Tian appeared as time went on.

Li Han's anxiety turned to fear on the third day after she went missing. He was afraid that if he discovered that Shu Tian had been found, she might already have passed away.

Even if there was no news, he had the illusion that she was still alive, which kept him going.

Li Han was obsessed with this, so he got up early every day and went to the crime scene. He didn't shave his beard or comb his hair, and he went several days without changing his clothes. He had already become sloppy, and he had lost his brilliance.

The police didn't start contacting him until one morning.

The director's voice came through on the other end of the line, apologetic and regretful. "How do you think we should handle Miss Shu, Mr. Li?"

"Can you explain what you mean by 'handle'?" Li Han sensitively asked in a hoarse voice, "The hunt isn't over yet. Why are you inquiring about it?"

"I understand you've been looking for her all the time. It's fine. You can look for it. We can also assist you in securing the road. However, the key now is to have a surface explanation."

"You see, things have been going on for such a long time." The director said, his voice filled with emotion. How about we make a record first... And then arrange her aftermath?"

"Her aftermath?" Through the microphone, Li Han repeated the words for the director in a cold tone. "How come you're discussing the aftermath when we haven't found her?"

The director got what he was saying, as if he still couldn't accept Shu Tian's death. He abruptly changed the subject of the conversation. "That is correct, but we are unable to explain her condition to her family."

Her Family?

Shu Changlei and Ye Lihua were the first people who came to Li Han's mind when these words were mentioned.

Li Han drew his lips together in a sad expression. They would never forgive him, no matter how he tried to explain it. For the loss of their only beloved daughter, he was unforgivable.

The director called out tentatively, "Mr. Li?" Because he didn't hear Li Han's response.

"Give me a second and I'll be there." Li Han then hung up without waiting for a response from the director.

What he didn't want to face, what he tried to deny, were gradually demonstrating to him that no amount of denial would be enough to erase everything. What should have happened actually occurred. It was cruel, but he had no choice but to accept it.

Shu Changlei and Ye Lihua were already waiting for Li Han when he arrived at the police station. When he entered the director's office, he was greeted by an elderly couple who sat on the sofa, wailing incessantly.

They appeared to have aged more than ten years in a month, going from people in their mid-fifties to people in their seventies and eighties.

The anguish of losing their beloved daughter was enough to age them in an instant.

When they heard a noise at the door, they both raised their heads. Shu Changlei's eyes were bloodshot, and Ye lihua's face was swollen with tears. The sadness in their eyes turned to resentment and hatred when they saw Li Han.

The nobleman, who had always seemed unattainable in their mind, had now lost his noble and self-restraint appearance, leaving only dust and sloppiness in his wake. He seemed to have changed from beginning to end after a few days of not seeing him. It was clear that he was not leading a happy life.

Even the director is taken aback. "Mr. Li?" He muttered after staring at it for a long time.

He'd also met Li Han a few times on various occasions. This man was always the center of attention. Li Han had never been so depressed as he was right now.

Li Han only nodded and remained silent. His gaze was always drawn to Shu Changlei and Ye Lihua. His adam's apple rolled twice, and he mumbled. "Uncle, auntie." When Ye Lihua spoke, he became even more agitated.

She kept thinking about it because there was a voice in her head telling her that he had murdered her daughter. It was all because of him that her family turned out the way it did!

As for a woman, Ye Lihua's mood had already been erratic following such a blow, and it had now become even more so. She leapt to her feet and charged straight at Li Han.

Her rough hands clenched into fists and repeatedly smacked him on the shoulder. "Give my daughter back! Give my daughter back!"

Ye Lihua's hair was unkempt, and her clothes were a shambles. Despite her best efforts, the strength in her hand was insignificant to Li Han.

She didn't stop punching. With a look in his eyes, Li Han deterred the director from approaching her to stop her. Even though he was unable to support his physical exhaustion for several days, he gritted his teeth and endured her beating without resistance.

This was the debt he owed the Shu family. He suffered even though he was stabbed twice by them.

Shu Changlei watched from the side. At first, he just sat in his seat, head bowed, trying to keep the tears from streaming down his face. He couldn't help but step forward and pull Ye Lihua away when he heard her questions and cries of desperation. His old eyes were bright red, as if they were about to bleed. "Our daughter is gone. Are you still up for causing a commotion?"

It was as if Ye Lihua had been defeated when she heard the words. "I must kill this beast because he caused the death of my daughter!"

After Ye Lihua finished speaking, she turned around and delivered a powerful punch to Li Han. However, the pain in his heart did not go away after these two punches, and his body collapsed weakly against the wall.

"What a heinous crime! Why are you so naive, Tian? What made you fall in love with this man?"

The suppressed cries of Ye Lihua soon filled the room. "What will mom and dad be able to do now that you're gone?"

The mood was so depressing that even the director, who had seen countless scenes, couldn't help but be sad.

Who'd have guessed that the people who appeared to be in good shape the day before would vanish in the blink of an eye? It was the first time in more than ten years that the escorting vehicle was thrown into the river.

Perhaps it was all part of God's plan to deceive people.

Shu Changlei approached Ye Lihua to assist her and turned around to see Li Han standing there with his head bowed. He was remorseful and heartbroken, rather than angry. "I would never let Tian be with you if I knew what would happen today."

Li Han was more hurt by this sentence than by being scolded and beaten.

He wanted to laugh at himself by pulling his lips down, but the corners of his lips felt like they weighed a thousand pounds and he couldn't move. "I would never let her know who I am if I knew the outcome today."

He could bear it even if no one had ever loved him from beginning to end, even if he had been alone for the rest of his life. Only Shu Tian's departure left him with an inexplicable ache in his heart that he could never forget or bear.

Was he painful? Sure.

It was even worse than the physical pain. It was the kind of agony he couldn't get enough of. When he looked for her during the day, his mind was filled with her phantom. He couldn't sleep at night because his breath was filled with her scent. This type of torture was like a shadow, and he would have to live with it for the rest of his life.

While everyone was silent, the director looked around at them and took out the document. "Should we review the paperwork for terminating her identity right now?"