Chapter 116: Have I Ever Truly Trapped Her?
If what you love is only a person's soul, not her physical form, then what meaning is there in trapping that form, binding it with layer upon layer of chains?
That single question lingered in Ye Fuli's mind.
After stepping off the cable car, she collapsed unconscious.
The amusement park staff were all alarmed and rushed her to the hospital.
Ye Fuli remained unconscious for an entire week before slowly regaining consciousness.
Upon waking, she remained utterly silent.
All her work came to a halt, and her phone remained switched off.
She refused food and drink, staring blankly out the window.
"I never loved Ye Zhen. I loved… that person living inside Ye Zhen's body."
Realizing this absurd truth, Ye Fuli gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh.
This wasn't the first time she'd lost to Ye Zhen, but it was undoubtedly the most complete defeat.
"Did I ever truly hold her captive?"
"Who can truly capture another's soul?"
"She was always free."
"The only one trapped was me."
And now, Ye Zhen vanished into the dark, surging river that day.
Even if she somehow survived, the next time they met, he would hardly recognize her.
Even if, by some miracle, I did recognize her…
What reason would I have to approach her?
Upon reflection, Ye Fuli even suspected that she herself had been Ye Zhen's prey. Perhaps Ye Zhen had watched with amusement as she walked step by step into this trap, only to lock her remaining life with an invisible shackle at the final moment.
Then, carrying the key to those shackles, she vanished forever from Ye Zhen's life.
She would never be able to break free from these shackles.
Had Ye Zhen perished in that fire, she could have died peacefully alongside her.
But now, as Ye Zhen had said in her final words…
"If you truly seek justice as you claim, then with a heart of sincere repentance, plan your remaining days anew. Ye Fuli, what you owe me cannot be repaid by taking your own life immediately. I have no desire to meet you down below too soon."
What she owed Ye Zhen couldn't be repaid by simply taking her own life.
How could this debt ever be repaid?
Death, after all, was an easy thing. Living with guilt was the painful and difficult part.
No one ever taught her the right way to face this world.
Her scum of foster parents taught her to steal, deceive, and resort to any means necessary.
As for her biological parents, they taught her the duplicity of the upper class—and even more sophisticated forms of ruthlessness.
And what valuable lessons did her former friends and admirers impart?
Ye Fuli closed her eyes, and all she saw was Ye Zhen's smiling face.
There were insincere smiles, genuine smiles of contentment, and finally, in the very end, that smile of release.
Ye Zhen had taught her many things.
But she was too foolish—she had learned almost none of it.
"Ye Zhen, could you wait for me just a little longer?"
Ye Fuli knew this request was greedy and shameless.
Yet now, it was her only wish.
A wish that could never be fulfilled.
……
……
Ye Fuli didn't deliberately conceal the incident of Ye Zhen falling into the river.
However, since it happened at night and the amusement park was concerned about its reputation, they naturally chose to turn a blind eye and not disclose it proactively.
After two weeks in the hospital, Ye Fuli chose to be discharged.
Her first move upon leaving the hospital was to place a significant wager on He Ying in the battle for the He family inheritance.
With her backing, He Ying was certain to emerge as the ultimate victor.
Yet, even witnessing her assets multiply dozens of times over within a single week for no apparent reason, He Ying felt no joy. She didn't even bother to investigate which kind soul had secretly aided her.
She had a deeply disturbing dream.
In it, she saw Ye Zhen fall from a great height, vanishing into a dark vortex.
She reached out desperately, grasping at nothing.
Upon waking, He Ying felt utterly lost, tears streaming down her face.
She frantically dialed Ye Zhen's number and sent her countless messages, but there was no response.
He Ying sensed something was terribly wrong.
Reluctantly, she reached out to Ye Fuli.
Ye Fuli's phone was unreachable—she had probably blocked her long ago.
"Something must have happened."
"Ye Fuli…"
"You damn pervert!"
Her past encounters with Ye Fuli had yielded no advantage, only deepening her dread of the woman.
Now, desperate to confirm Ye Zhen's safety, she steeled herself against her dread and returned to the estate's gates once more.
But after lurking for days, she still hadn't seen Ye Fuli's car.
The estate's entrance remained tightly shut.
Weeds grew wildly in the flowerbeds by the gate.
This place was slowly falling into ruin.
Inside the estate, there was no sign of life.
He Ying had no choice but to make her rounds again—to the Ye family residence, Ye Group headquarters, downtown cafes, restaurants, and any other places where Ye Fuli might be found—searching for any trace of her.
"Ye Fuli? Ah, the young miss. She hasn't been to work for over a month. But her plans are already laid out for the next year—we just follow her instructions," said the receptionist at Ye Group.
As for Ye Fuli's parents, they both fell silent.
"Ye Fuli rarely came home to begin with. How could I possibly know where she went?" Mrs. Ye rubbed her temples, shaking her head helplessly with a sigh.
"Ye Fuli…"
Mr. Ye murmured the name, his heart aching as if it were bleeding, torn apart by pain.
"She never reaches out to us, and we…"
We weren't exactly eager to reach out to her either.
After all, Ye Fuli's mouth never uttered a kind word.
She was always quick to sneer and mock others, especially her own parents, rarely giving them even a shred of kindness.
Now, Ye Fuli had quietly seized control of the Ye Group. Even in her absence, she held the board firmly in her grasp.
All she leaves behind is fear and despair.
So, if she were to slip away silently, how many would even think of her?
He Ying sat on the Ye family's large sofa, staring blankly at the couple.
It all felt utterly absurd to her.
Why did these two seem utterly unconcerned?
"Ye Zhen was taken by her. Have you gone looking for her?"
"Now Ye Zhen is missing, and Ye Fuli is missing too. Are you just going to sit here and watch?"
"Uncle, Auntie, you two…"
Do you two truly care about your daughter?
Whether it's your biological daughter or your adopted daughter, have you truly raised them well, cherished them, and understood them?
Mrs. Ye stared at her coldly: "Miss He, this is our family matter. If there's nothing else, you may leave."
"My apologies for the disturbance."
He Ying rose and left.
The atmosphere in this household felt suffocating to her.
She even began to understand how Ye Fuli had gradually become such a twisted person.
After walking quite a distance, she suddenly heard Ye's father calling her name from behind.
She turned to look.
The middle-aged man, his face weathered by life, jogged over and pressed a card into He Ying's hand.
He Ying frowned. "What's this about?"
"There's some money in this card—not much. I think you're probably Zhenzhen's best friend, and maybe you'll see her again someday… Please give this to her. It's all I can offer right now."
Hearing these words, He Ying felt a wave of sorrow wash over her.
If Ye Zhen cared about money, why would she have left?
Even Ye Fuli, who hoarded wealth like a dragon snatching a princess, couldn't win Ye Zhen's heart with gold and jewels. What could Ye Dad's meager sum possibly amount to?
When the day of their reunion finally came, what Ye Zhen truly desired would certainly not be this card.
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss He."
Ye Dad smiled, fine wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes.
He Ying frowned and returned the card to him. "Uncle, you should give this to her yourself."
"I don't plan to keep searching for Zhenzhen. I don't think she likes this family, nor does she care much for us as parents."
He Ying visibly froze.
Her hand, still holding the card, hovered in midair, uncaught.
"When she wants to come back, please tell her that Dad is waiting at home. I've cooked dinner, bought cake, opened champagne… As long as she's willing to return, Dad will celebrate every birthday with her from now on."
He Ying felt a lump in her throat.
She forced a smile, her hand trembling as she clutched the card.
Yet a thought surfaced inexplicably in her mind: Perhaps Ye Zhen had truly fallen into the abyss, just as in her dream.
Perhaps she would never return.
"Then what about Ye Fuli?" He Ying looked at Ye Dad. "She's your biological daughter, isn't she?"
Ye Dad closed his eyes briefly.
He said nothing more and turned to leave.
Most of the Ye family had already fallen into Ye Fuli's hands, and even Ye Zhen had become her plaything.
What more could she possibly want?
She should need nothing more.