Yuan Luoyi looked around the room, which had previously been a guest room where other Yuan family members would stay.
In addition to the table, chairs, and bed, there was a large mirror, but it was covered in dust and not very clear.
After waiting for a long time, Yuan Fa, the second brother, finally pushed the door open, or rather kicked it open, as he was carrying a huge pile of snacks and couldn't use his hands.
The loud noise startled Yuan Luoyi, and she hugged her rabbit plush tightly.
Yuan Fa cheerfully threw the snacks onto the table: "If you're hungry, just eat them yourself. Our tastes are pretty similar, so these should all be things you like."
He straightened up, but suddenly noticed his own blurred outline in the mirror.
He had a momentary look of disorientation, then slowly walked over and reached out his fingertips to touch the cold glass, brushing off the dust and seeing himself clearly.
Now his hair was messy, his eyes were gloomy, and the corners of his mouth were curled in a cold, cruel smile, craving the next act of slaughter, like a madman.
No, he had always been a madman.
"I thought I had lost most of my humanity, that being good or bad wouldn't make much difference, but..."
"Haha, I'm completely different from before."
"I've become like this, and yet you haven't run away. Just like the eldest brother said, you are truly a gentle child."
Yuan Luoyi asked, "Did the eldest brother tell you about me?"
Yuan Fa said, "Yes, he told me to take good care of you. I thought he was hallucinating and going crazy again. But when you showed up just now, I suddenly understood a lot of things..."
He leaned his elbows on the table, clasped his hands together, and stared intently at Yuan Luoyi, chuckling in a low voice: "Well... It doesn't matter how it turns out. We five brothers were never good siblings anyway, and now it's finally my turn... I've been waiting for this for a long time..."
Yuan Luoyi said, "Second brother."
Yuan Fa replied, "What is it?"
"When are we going to see the eldest brother?"
"My dear sister, you can see the sky outside is still dark. It's not a good time to go out. Let's set out at 7 o'clock in the morning. By driving, we'll get there in the afternoon. For now, you should get some rest."
"Aren't you going to sleep, second brother?"
Yuan Fa laughed ruefully. He ran his hand through his black hair, the strands slipping through his fingers in a gentle motion, but his eyes held a coldness and madness.
Suddenly, he tightened his grip, his sharp nails digging into his hair.
"My head has been hurting so much that I can't bear it, and the medicine doesn't help. After so long, I've lost count of how many times I've broken down. Yesterday, I held a gun to my temple, really wanting to kill myself. But... I can't. I have to wait for you."
"You sleep, and I'll just sit here."
Yuan Luoyi looked at her second brother Yuan Fa with sadness. She put down the rabbit plush and went to his side.
"How can I help you?"
Yuan Fa was a bit surprised: "You want to help me?"
"Yes."
"Ah... Well, can you say 'I forgive you' to me?"
"I forgive you."
Yuan Fa paused for a moment, then said: "Say it again..."
Yuan Luoyi said: "I forgive you."
Yuan Fa took Yuan Luoyi's small hand and lowered his head, his hair falling to the side of his face, his expression hidden in the shadows. It was like he was confessing or praying.
After a long while, he gently said, "Thank you, you're a good sister."
Yuan Luoyi stepped forward and hugged Yuan Fa, resting her little head on his shoulder.
When they were young, it was always the second brother who would hold Yuan Luoyi. In her memories, Yuan Fa was always cheerful, never this tormented.
So now she tried her best to embrace her brother.
"Does your head feel a bit better?"
"A little."
So Yuan Luoyi didn't sleep either. She just kept holding Yuan Fa.
Yuan Fa's tense back gradually relaxed, and his breathing became steady and even. After countless acts of slaughter, his soul finally found a rare moment of peace.
Outside, the sky was a pitch-black void, oppressive, despairing, and bewildered, but Yuan Luoyi knew that before dawn, the stars would disappear.
It wouldn't be long before the first ray of light would appear on the horizon, flickering and cutting through the darkness, shining into the withered Yuan residence.
It was almost 7 o'clock, and Yuan Fa kept his promise to take Yuan Luoyi to see the eldest brother.
Seeing the table full of snacks, Yuan Luoyi said, "Second brother, aren't you going to eat?"
Yuan Fa said, "Those are for you."
"I can't possibly eat them all by myself. You should have some too."
"Forget it, just consider it paying back what I've stolen from your snacks in the past."
Yuan Luoyi could only eat by herself. She took a bite of the cake. It was very sweet.
It was time to depart. Yuan Fa walked in front, his towering figure, and Yuan Luoyi followed behind, frail and small. He took one step, and Yuan Luoyi had to take two to keep up.
Just as they were about to leave the Yuan residence, Yuan Fa suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned around and looked down at his sister.
The morning sunlight fell on him, casting a huge shadow that draped over Yuan Luoyi like a veil.
Yuan Fa said, "I've made a lot of mistakes..."
Yuan Luoyi nodded: "Yes."
"I was born selfish and heartless. I neglected you."
"Yes."
"When you needed me the most, I wasn't by your side."
"Yes."
Yuan Fa said, "So now I've decided to turn my back on the world and face you. Is it too late?"
Yuan Luoyi looked at the body bags scattered on the ground. When the second brother Yuan Fa went on a killing spree, he was truly terrifying.
He had once been a rising star in the legal world, eloquent, shrewd, and humorous, sending countless wealthy and powerful to the executioner's block, claiming to represent justice.
Now, he had become a bloodthirsty criminal, obsessive, deranged, bathing in blood, and laughing maniacally.
There was no going back for him, but he had finally waited for his sister.
Yuan Luoyi said, "It's not too late."
Yuan Fa smiled. He gallantly extended his hand, and Yuan Luoyi placed her hand in his, and together they left the Yuan residence, their steps now in sync.
The sedan drove on, from the towering skyscrapers of the city to the lush, tree-lined suburbs.
Finally, they arrived at a cemetery surrounded by evergreens...
Seeing the gravestone of Yuan Ao, Yuan Luoyi stood there motionless, unable to recover for a long time.
Yuan Fa drawled in complaint: "Big brother, what a joke, dying so soon. I can't handle the Yuan family on my own..."
"The third brother and I never got along, and he's already run off. He won't listen to me."
"I can still reach the fourth brother, but the fifth brother has gone missing again. I'm about at my limit too... It's time to end this..."
He looked up at the sky. The sunset was beautiful, the clouds dyed in shades of orange and red, the leaves reflecting a soft glow, everything so gentle and lovely, in harmony with his intentions.
He took out a revolver, loaded it with bullets, and handed it to Yuan Luoyi.
He spread his arms wide, bowing elegantly and gracefully like a curtain call, and smiled: "My dear sister, I'm completely broken now. Just as you killed the eldest brother, kill me too."
