Zero put down the phone. All around him, corpses littered the ground.
He looked at the factory ahead—and at the man standing in its doorway.
One eyebrow arched, as if surprised the other man was still alive.
“Xia GaoWu. According to the records, you should already be dead. Looks like a lot happened that night.”
Zero’s voice was calm—too calm. He even had the leisure to brush the dust from his clothes.
Xia GaoWu, weapon raised and tense, kept his eyes locked on him.
He didn’t know who this stranger was. All he knew was that this man had shown up, muttered to himself, and slaughtered every assassin in the area.
A person like that… Xia GaoWu knew full well he wouldn’t stand a chance.
But he was an adult, and he had two children behind him to protect.
“Who are you? What do you want?”
“Looks like HuMing didn’t tell you who I am. No matter. Soon enough, you won’t have to deal with me. But before that, there’s someone I need to see—”
Without waiting for an answer, Zero walked straight toward the factory.
Xia GaoWu followed quickly, afraid the man might harm the two people hiding inside.
…
In the safe room, the two girls clenched their fists nervously.
They waited for news, knowing there was no way to rush it.
Minutes ticked by—until the sound of a door opening rang out.
Han YunXi and Xia XiaoXi’s faces lit up as they stood together—
—only for the blood to drain from their cheeks when they saw who had entered.
Zero stood in the doorway, gun in hand. Behind him, Xia GaoWu lay on the floor—disarmed and shoved aside, but alive.
Zero hadn’t come to kill him.
His gaze swept over the two girls… and landed on one of them. The girl from the photograph he had looked at countless times.
He had never seen Han YunXi in person. Beside Shi Zhong, he couldn’t risk revealing the slightest hint of recognition.
But even now, changed as she was, he recognized her in an instant.
She stared back at him in fear.
For a moment, something sharp and painful stirred deep in Zero’s long-numb heart.
Once, he had imagined standing by her side—driving away those who would hurt her, keeping her little secrets, finding her a suitable partner.
But all of that was too late now.
Because of Shi Zhong, he had missed the chance to grow up in the Han family.
…
“Where’s my dad?!”
Xia XiaoXi stepped forward, ready to demand answers, but Han YunXi pulled her back and stepped in front of her.
Zero met the younger girl’s glare with quiet helplessness.
He stepped aside, and Xia GaoWu rose to his feet.
The man understood now—Zero had told the truth. He was here only to meet someone.
Neither of the girls seemed to know him. Could he just be some obsessed fan of his daughter?
Seeing her father alive, Xia XiaoXi rushed to him and threw her arms around him.
Zero, however, kept his eyes on Han YunXi.
She noticed and frowned. Why was he looking at her like that? He was clearly a capable fighter—someone who should have nothing to do with her.
…
“You… you’re not hurt, are you?”
The question caught Han YunXi off guard. She shook her head, then asked, curious,
“Do we know each other?”
“You don’t know me. But I know you. And HuMing knows me, too.”
At the mention of HuMing, the tension in the room eased.
If HuMing knew him, then perhaps he could be trusted.
Seeing their reactions, Zero finally understood how much weight HuMing’s name carried with them.
“You should leave. I’ll take care of what’s left.”
“What about the assassins—"
“They won’t be coming back.”
Zero turned toward the exit.
Han YunXi watched his retreating figure, an odd feeling welling up inside her.
Somehow, she felt they were connected. Why else would he look at her that way?
And he knew HuMing…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone in her pocket.
It was Ye QiuXue.
“QiuXue, are you okay?”
“We’re fine. Someone came and told us it was safe.”
“Did he tell you his name?”
“No. He didn’t say anything—just left.”
There was a pause on the other end. Then Ye QiuXue said slowly,
“YunXi… that man saved us too. He said… his name might be Han ShuYi.”
The name froze Han YunXi in place.
Xia GaoWu and Xia XiaoXi heard it as well.
Han YunXi’s mind reeled. Han ShuYi… her long-lost brother?
No wonder he’d looked at her like that.
But why hadn’t he admitted it?
…
She dashed outside just in time to see Zero’s car pulling away.
Not thinking, she ran into the road, blocking his path.
The brakes screeched, the car lurching forward.
Zero’s brow furrowed as he unbuckled and stepped out.
“Do you have a death wish?!”
His tone was sharp, his gaze stern—but Han YunXi ignored it and grabbed his arm.
“Your name is Han ShuYi, isn’t it?”
“…My name is Zero.”
“Why—if you know who I am—won’t you admit it?”
The anger in him dissolved at the sight of her almost in tears.
After all, he was supposed to be her brother.
But years had burned away his hope for family. Now, he was alone.
“Our worlds are too far apart. Disappearing is the best thing I can do for you.”
“That’s not true! You’re my brother—we’re family! And family stays together!”
She clung to his clothes, unwilling to let go.
She’d already lost too much. She couldn’t lose him too.
If her parents knew her brother was still alive, they’d be overjoyed.
…
“…Shi Zhong kept me locked away for too long. I forgot what family even means.”
“Then don’t go. I’ll make up for all the time you lost—as your sister.”
Even Zero was moved by those words.
They’d never met, and yet she showed no disgust upon learning who he was.
It was just like the countless times he’d dreamed of this moment.