8. The Pistol

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Liu Yujun stood nervously in front of the activity room door. Ma En had not placed the consent form on her desk. Although she had anticipated this, Liu Yujun still felt extremely anxious about what was to come.

Removing Ma En from the group should not have been difficult. In theory, all she needed to do was mention it to Xu Wen.

Then, according to the usual procedure, she would redistribute the three million embezzled credits to the other doctors.

Regardless of whether she still had a way out or not, even if there was one, Liu Yujun could never stand idly by and watch this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through her fingers.

The moment she learned of Dr. Li’s death, overwhelming joy flooded her entire being.

Had he died earlier, this case probably would never have fallen to her. And if he had died later, news of Dr. Li taking on this case would surely have spread.

Only a respected chief physician like him had the authority to take on a case of this magnitude alone. She happened to be this old doctor’s confidant, and the recent appointment of the new hospital director gave her the courage to lie.

So many coincidences made Liu Yujun vaguely feel as if this was a gift destined for her.

Yet, every night she tossed and turned in bed, tormented by the fear of exposure, unable to sleep. But whenever she thought of giving up, she recalled...

Dr. Li’s deathly expression of unrest.

Even if she worked for decades, she might never reach the status Dr. Li once held.

But even he had died under such mysterious circumstances.

If she continued like this, the best outcome would be to become the next Dr. Li. It was even likely she would never save up three million Federation credits in her lifetime.

How could she back down?

Biting her lip, Dr. Liu pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Lü Yide was sitting in a chair, intently gazing out the window. Following his gaze, Liu Yujun saw only withered branches outside.

She walked to her seat and silently looked at the young man.

“What’s wrong?” Lü Yide asked, eyes fixed on the sky.

She swallowed cautiously.

“He refused.

“As far as I know, Ma En bought his way in through Dr. Xu, aiming to get close to a girl named Ning Changkong.”

Lü Yide asked with curiosity, “Can’t you forcibly replace him?”

Liu Yujun explained, “It’s complicated. He’s already paid. If he disagrees, we can’t transfer him.”

The young man frowned.

“Does he understand the consequences of his refusal?”

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She quickly replied, “Ma En comes from an ordinary background. He was an orphan in a children’s home; his guardian is a sister, Chen Yun, who isn’t biologically related. Neither of them understands how society truly operates...”

Lü Yide raised an eyebrow.

“His sister?”

Dr. Liu hesitated, then bit her lip and continued, “I’ve met Chen Yun a few times. She’s a church pastor, and very beautiful—almost the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.”

If it were just simple concealment and lies, she would eventually slip up. But if she could divert Lü Yide’s attention elsewhere, perhaps he would overlook the boy nearby.

Suddenly, the youth’s face broke into a genuine smile, his eyes narrowing with delight as he looked at Liu Yujun.

“Oh, interesting.”

She lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact with Lü Yide.

She was gambling with her life. If she weighed the odds and risks carefully, she should have stopped.

But no matter how much reason rebelled, she couldn’t resist the thought deep inside:

What if she won?

If successful, she would never worry or struggle for the rest of her life. No more dangerous work, no more bowing to the wealthy.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Flustered, she stood straight, and Lü Yide sat up, his expression expectant toward the door.

Click.

Cao Yan entered carrying a book, walking straight to her seat and lowering her head to leaf through the volume illustrated with a magic circle on the cover.

After a few seconds, Ma En and Ning Changkong entered.

As he came in, Ma En looked toward Dr. Liu.

But she did not meet his gaze nor react to his presence, as if she didn’t care he was here—like he hadn’t come looking for her days ago.

Before she could begin, Lü Yide crossed his legs and studied the group with interest.

“Everyone, I have a problem I want to share.”

Ning Changkong looked at him puzzled, Cao Yan continued studying the book, and Liu Yujun remained strangely silent.

“I suddenly realized something: the Federation law says my second personality committed the crime, so I bear no legal responsibility. Does that mean I am his get-out-of-jail-free card?”

Everyone looked at him seriously, even Cao Yan peered up from her book.

“Let me introduce myself—I’m Lü Yi, the guy who killed his girlfriend,” he said with a self-satisfied smile. “Let’s talk.”

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Before he finished speaking, Ning Changkong stood abruptly and stepped toward the door—

Then her body froze instantly.

A black gun barrel was aimed straight at the side of her face.

Lü Yide waved the gun.

“Sit down.”

The girl obediently took two steps back and sat silently in her original spot.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said with a smile, scanning the group with a scrutinizing gaze.

“I haven’t finished. By the way, I am Lü De’s second personality. Do you know why I killed his girlfriend?

“At the time, I suddenly realized that although I wasn’t the primary personality in this body, it seemed I could kill without consequences.

“So I tried.

“In other words, even if I killed all of you now, my father’s hired lawyers would ensure I end up in a mental hospital. Thanks to Mr. Victor, who founded the sanatorium—a veritable paradise on earth.

“See? I can even bring a gun in.”

His gaze landed on Ma En.

“And I heard there’s a parasite in the hospital who forced herself into the sanatorium by spending the meager income her poor sister earned, right?”

The young man smirked, aiming the gun at Ma En.

He had never taken this commoner seriously. This “drama” was not meant to kill him.

What he wanted to see was the terrified expression on these beautiful women’s faces when Ma En’s head was blown apart by a bullet.

The slowly shredded flowers.

Ma En tensed every muscle, eyes fixed on him.

He didn’t understand why Lü Yide was doing this, nor what price he might pay afterward. But Ma En had no intention of trying to fathom the madman’s thoughts.

He absolutely could not let him pull the trigger.

Just now, Lü Yide’s movements with the gun were remarkably nimble. If he really shot—

Then the truth about him not fearing bullets would be exposed.

So...

Would Ma En’s “accidental death” be the outcome?