Chapter 359: Sister Xiao Lan, Let’s Take a Gamble

**Chapter 359: Sister Xiao Lan, Let’s Gamble**

Ai Xiaolan sat on the edge of the bed while Ai Xiaoqing loomed over her.

The scissors drove upward from below, still open as they struck. The blade sliced Ai Xiaoqing’s left cheek from the corner of her mouth all the way to her ear.

Ai Xiaoqing let out a piercing shriek, clutching at her face as bright red blood seeped quickly between her fingers. Feeling slick, warm blood in her palm, her eyes bulged with terror.

Ai Xiaolan denied her any chance to fight back. Seizing her collar, she hurled her onto the bed and lunged forward again with the scissors.

She had no hope left. Before she left this world, she wouldn’t let Ai Xiaoqing off easy—she would destroy all that mattered to her.

Death?

No. Death was too merciful.

She wouldn’t let Ai Xiaoqing die.

She wanted her to endure each day as an eternity of torment, just like she had for the past decade.

Only after Ai Xiaoqing blacked out in agony did Ai Xiaolan slowly calm down.

Just like yesterday, she quietly tidied herself up, combed her hair, dabbed on perfume, and changed into the new dress her mother had bought.

She carefully wrapped a palm-sized, intricately beaded crystal puppy in a handkerchief and left the house.

The same dilapidated basketball court, the same frail young woman—her only true friend.

“Ren Shan, what did you buy today?” Ai Xiaolan asked with an unnaturally radiant smile, her eyes curved in delight.

Ren Shan’s heart sank as she looked at Ai Xiaolan’s glowing expression.

Something was wrong.

The oppressive aura that had always surrounded Sister Xiao Lan seemed to vanish overnight. Though she smiled brightly, her eyes were hollow.

“Sister Xiao Lan…”

Ai Xiaolan was unusually talkative today. She handed the crystal puppy to Ren Shan.

“This beaded puppy—it’s your ‘little flower.’ You said your flower was yellow. I wanted to sew it yellow clothes, but there wasn’t enough time. Promise me you’ll let it keep you company and protect you from now on.”

Ren Shan stared at the delicate figure in her hands and whispered, “Sister Xiao Lan, did something happen?”

Ai Xiaolan gently patted Ren Shan’s head. “I’m sorry. I might have to break our pact. I can’t go drink fresh goat milk with you, or dance around the bonfire. Promise me you’ll see if the sea of Gesang flowers is as beautiful as the books say… Or if the sunrise at the mountaintop really sets the sky ablaze…”

Her tone was light, but a faint mist clouded her eyes.

“You know, you’re the only true friend I’ve had in all these years. If… if only I’d met you sooner.”

Ren Shan’s pupils shrank in alarm as she gripped Ai Xiaolan’s arm tightly. “What’s wrong? Didn’t we promise?”

Ai Xiaolan shook her head. “It’s too late… too late…”

Ren Shan’s face turned pale. “You… you…”

Ai Xiaolan smiled. “I’ve been freed. I’ve slain my demons with my own hands. I’ve never felt this light before. Last night, I slept better than I have in years—not a single dream, just emptiness.”

At this point, Ai Xiaolan's tone suddenly grew somber again. "It makes me a little sad—Mom will probably be heartbroken, and Dad will be disappointed again."

Thinking of Ai Xiaoqing, the sister her parents adored, Xiao Lan grinned. "But so what? Let them hate me if they want!"

Ren Shan’s face turned ashen. "You... you killed someone?"

Ai Xiaolan didn’t answer. Instead, she sighed and said, "Let me tell you my story... Otherwise, no one in this world would ever know. Besides you, I don’t know who else to tell. I just want at least one person to know that I didn’t turn bad on purpose."

"When I was little, I was very happy. I had my parents and my brother, and they all loved me... until Ai Xiaoqing came into our family. Then everything changed. Why do people change so fast? The same things—when I cried and threw tantrums before, they would comfort me and give in to me. But later, they’d scold me or even hit me."

"I couldn’t take such a sudden change. I fought back, and paid a heavy price—I wrecked my own life. Sometimes I wonder—if I had just endured it, let her have everything, would my life have been different? I was at fault too, but mostly I just feel it's unfair."

Ai Xiaolan spoke as if telling someone else’s story. When she finished, she even smiled at Ren Shan. "I guess I was too impulsive. I could have taken my time, but back then, I just couldn't control myself."

"Sorry, Ren Shan... goodbye. No... we probably won't meet again."

Ren Shan said urgently, "No, no, no! Sister Xiao Lan, let’s think of something, find a way! This isn’t your fault. You had no choice!"

Ai Xiaolan swung her legs from the stone ledge. "Don’t bother, Ren Shan. My father is a police officer. I know him, and he knows me. They’ll pin this on me soon enough. I’m not some criminal mastermind—I must have left clues. And besides, Ai Xiaoqing is still alive. My family loves her so much—they’ll never let me go."

"I won’t make it out of City A. Rather than running around like a fugitive, I’d rather face the law. I’ve always known this day would come. I didn’t conquer my demons, but I don’t regret it. I’m ready to face it calmly."

"Ren Shan, don’t grieve for me. I’ve made peace with this world, and settled everything with them. I’m not sad—I feel incredibly light, completely free. The only regret is meeting you... now there's one last thing tying me here."

Ren Shan stayed silent, her thoughts spinning.

Ai Xiaolan continued to muse. Even though her family had treated her poorly, she still worried about dragging the Ai family down. With a murderer for a daughter, her mother would be ridiculed, her father’s career ruined, and her brother’s marriage affected.

She wasn’t close to her father or brother, but she felt... just a little reluctant to leave her mother behind.

"Ren Shan, I’m leaving," Ai Xiaolan said, standing up and brushing herself off.

When Ren Shan didn’t respond, she started to leave. She was a bad person—she must have frightened Ren Shan...

Just then, a small hand caught her wrist.

Ren Shan looked up. "Let’s roll the dice!"

"For yourself, for your mom, for that little bit of hesitation in your heart."

Ai Xiaolan slowly turned back and whispered, "I don’t have a chance anymore."

Yet her voice carried a faint trace of hope.

Ren Shan lifted her head. "If the murderer never appears, the case can’t be closed. Without resolution, you’re only a suspect—not a criminal. If it stays unsolved, it becomes a cold case. Your parents and brother might be affected, but not badly."

Ai Xiaolan chuckled as if humoring a child. "Shan Shan, have you heard the saying, 'The net of justice has wide meshes'? You might hide for a while, but not forever."

Ren Shan stood up and looked Ai Xiaolan in the eye. "Just trust me this once, okay?"