Under the dim lighting, Luo Xi seemed oblivious to everything, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, simply drinking glass after glass in silence.

Shen Qiang had initially hoped that Yin Xia Mo marrying into a wealthy family would finally allow Ah Luo to see the vain and opportunistic nature of that girl—she wasn't worth his devotion! But—his increasingly withdrawn demeanor, his increasingly pale face, began to terrify her; it was as if his very life force was draining away, as if he might dissipate from the mortal world at any moment.

"You can't drink anymore!" Shen Qiang snatched the glass from his hand in exasperation. Luo Xi stared blankly at his empty fingers, as if the last thing he possessed had been snatched away.

"Is she worth this to you? What is so good about her?! She’s just some flashy girl, ruthless in pursuit of fame and fortune, only focused on climbing higher. Think of everything you’ve done for her; the moment she gets a chance to marry into wealth, she casts you aside…" "Enough!" Not wanting to hear any more, Luo Xi struggled to stand up. Suddenly, his body swayed slightly—perhaps from the alcohol, or perhaps from the sleepless nights of late—his vision blackened, and a violent wave of dizziness crashed through his mind! "Ah Luo…" Shen Qiang anxiously steadied him, feeling his body unnaturally cold, as frail as night dew caught in the mist.

"...Are you feeling unwell? Why are you so cold…" "Boss, if you don't need anything else, I'll take my leave."

Gradually, as the dizzying darkness receded, Luo Xi could vaguely make out the figures before him. He suppressed the physical discomfort, nodded a farewell to Boss Xia, then wrenched himself free from Shen Qiang’s grasp and slowly walked toward the bar exit.

Shen Qiang had insisted on dragging him out tonight, claiming that Boss Xia, who had once shown her kindness, wished to see him—a mere excuse she had concocted.

The Flourishing Age of the World had finished filming. He was now free of all obligations and lingering attachments. The world was inherently dark and cold, and he wanted nothing more than to stay locked in his room, unwilling to see anyone or hear anything related to her.

"Luo Xi!" Shen Qiang stood up, intending to follow him out. His bloodless, pale face and cold, weak body suggested illness; he couldn't be left alone. If something happened to him… "Let him go."

Boss Xia spoke in a low voice, stopping her. "Some wounds need to be licked alone. Let him have his quiet time."

"But he drank so much…" Watching Luo Xi’s cold, solitary figure vanish through the doorway, Shen Qiang felt a sharp, painful clench in her heart.

"I will make arrangements."

Boss Xia beckoned toward the large men standing in the distance. One approached, and Boss Xia murmured a few words. The man nodded, then also left the bar.

Stepping out of the establishment.

The bustling street was filled with passing cars and pedestrians. Luo Xi’s figure was stretched into a long, slanted shadow by the streetlights. He tilted his head back vacantly, seeing only a few lonely stars scattered across the inky black sky.

Standing frozen in the night air, the sudden rush of cold wind vividly agitated the alcohol within him. A sickening, uncontrollable churning erupted in his stomach. He stumbled into a dark side alley nearby—"Ugh—" Clutching the alley wall, Luo Xi, his face ashen, began to retch violently. His body convulsed painfully, bent like a shrimp, sliding slowly down the rough stone.

Had she ever been held in a detention center? For someone with her enduring and placid nature to be driven to commit an act that violated the law... that must have been truly horrific.

What kind of agony had she endured during those days… He desperately needed to see her! Summer's Foam III