185: Chapter 185 Scouting

Late at night.

Shang Yuya was already asleep.

Lou Dong sat on the sofa, looking at the insurance policy on his phone.

In one more day, the insurance would take effect.

Two million.

He closed his eyes, and the scenes of his plan began to play out in his mind.

He and Youyou would go boating, the boat would capsize, she couldn't swim, he would pretend to save her, but "fail to bring her up"...

She would struggle, cry for help, and look at him with eyes shifting from terror to despair...

He snapped his eyes open, drenched in a cold sweat.

No.

I can't do it.

That was Youyou, his wife, the only person who stayed by his side despite being hurt by him countless times.

How could he...

The phone rang again.

It wasn't a call, but a text message from the loan sharks.

"Lou Dong, just a reminder, one day left."

He stared at the text, and his hands began to tremble again.

Then, he noticed another message below it, received in the afternoon, which he hadn't seen.

It was from Shang Yuya.

"Hubby, I just tidied up the room and found our wedding photos. You had such a beautiful smile back then. I hope I can see you smile like that every day in the future."

Attached was a wedding photo.

The two of them stood at a simple wedding venue, wearing rented wedding attire, smiling brilliantly.

That was two years ago.

Back then, he hadn't started gambling, hadn't lost everything, and hadn't hit her.

Back then, he truly wanted to treat her well.

Lou Dong looked at the photo, his vision blurring with tears.

He held the phone and sat in the darkness for a very long time.

Outside the window, the city lights were gradually fading.

But the struggle in his heart grew more intense.

...

The next day.

Lou Dong woke up unusually early.

He made breakfast.

Fried eggs, bacon, and toast, just like the previous few days.

When Shang Yuya got up and saw him busy in the kitchen, she smiled.

"Why so early today?"

"Couldn't sleep," Lou Dong said.

After they finished breakfast, Lou Dong made an excuse to head out.

He went straight to the lakeside of the Wetland Park.

He needed to scout the location first.

...

At ten in the morning, Lou Dong arrived at the Wetland Park.

The weather was great, the sun was bright, and the breeze was pleasant.

The lake's surface shimmered, and a few waterfowl swam leisurely.

The surroundings were quiet, with few people around, only the sound of water gently lapping against the boats.

Lou Dong watched for a long time, his mind constantly imagining how to carry out the deed.

But every time he thought of Shang Yuya drowning, he felt cowardly.

After all, this was murder.

And his own wife, at that.

Lou Dong sat by the lake until the afternoon.

He still couldn't make up his mind.

He returned home in the evening.

He saw Shang Yuya in a great mood, humming a song while busy in the kitchen.

Lou Dong felt even more reluctant.

He backed down.

Right then.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Guangtou: "Tomorrow is the final deadline for repayment. You'd better behave yourself and don't try any tricks."

He stared at the message, and his hands began to shake again.

He closed his eyes.

Then, he opened them, his gaze becoming hollow.

He knew he no longer had a choice.

...

Late at night.

Shang Yuya was already asleep.

Lou Dong sat on the sofa, looking at the insurance policy on his phone.

Tomorrow, the insurance would take effect.

Two million.

He slowly put down the phone and looked toward the bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar, and the sound of steady breathing came from inside.

He stood up and gently pushed the door open.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting faint shadows on the floor.

On the bed, Shang Yuya was lying on her side, fast asleep. A faint smile graced her face, as if she were having a pleasant dream.

Lou Dong stood by the bed, watching her.

He looked at her long eyelashes, her fair skin, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

This was his wife.

This was the woman who had stayed by his side despite being hit by him countless times.

This was the woman who was still humming songs in the kitchen while cooking for him today.

This was the woman who said, "We'll grow old together."

His eyes welled up.

"Youyou..." he whispered, his voice hoarse, "I'm sorry."

The person on the bed did not respond.

He stood by the bed for a very long time.

Finally, he turned and walked out of the bedroom.

He gently closed the door.

In the living room, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Old Zhang, help me rent a boat tomorrow, at the Wetland Park lake. Yeah, a bigger one that can seat two people."

Something was said on the other end of the line.

"Okay, thanks."

He hung up.

He sat in the darkness, looking at the night outside.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow would be the final day.

He closed his eyes, and the scene surfaced in his mind.

The small boat capsizing, her struggling in the water, looking at him with eyes going from terror to despair...

"I'm sorry."

In the darkness, only those three words drifted softly.

Outside the window, the city lights went out one by one.

A new day was about to arrive.

And some people would never see tomorrow's sunset.

...

Early morning in Zhongzhou City.

The mist had not yet fully dispersed, and a cool breeze swept through the streets, carrying the damp chill of early spring.

An old, famous breakfast shop near the Hongqi Residential Complex was bustling with people.

White steam rose from the steamers, and the rich aroma of soy milk mixed with the savory scent of fried dough sticks, filling the air.

It was the most common and warmest atmosphere of daily life in this city.

At 7:30 AM, it was the time when office workers and morning exercisers gathered for breakfast, and the tables and chairs in the shop were almost all occupied.

Waiters moved through the crowd with trays, their shouts and the chatter of customers intertwining in a scene that was both lively and peaceful.

Cao Kun sat by the window with a bowl of jellied tofu, two fried dough sticks, and a steamer of soup dumplings in front of him.

He had woken up very early today, originally planning to head to the company to handle some minor matters and grab breakfast on the way.

Not long after finishing Zhang Genshuo's fraud case and having gained three female confidantes, he was in a very good mood.

He wore a simple set of casual clothes; his figure was tall and straight, and his features were handsome.

After being comprehensively enhanced by the system, he carried a steady aura that made him stand out even in the noisy breakfast shop.

...