Seeking Success Often Involves Hardships

"Hello… may I ask who this is?"

A familiar and gentle sweet voice came through the phone.

Cornelia was stunned for two seconds, then the overwhelming emotions became too much to bear. She suddenly covered her mouth, her voice choked with tears as she shouted, "Sister Xue!!"

Unfortunately, before she could say another word, Sister Qin quickly covered her mouth and snatched the phone away, ending the call.

As Cornelia was confused, Sister Qin motioned for her to look downstairs across the street. They saw Su Cheng stepping out of the apartment building.

Cornelia realized immediately why the call had to be cut off—if she continued speaking, Su Cheng would definitely overhear.

She rubbed her cheek, trying hard to calm herself, and carefully observed Su Cheng under the glow of the streetlights.

Su Cheng had already changed out of his hospital gown into casual clothes. From his expression, he looked no different than usual, but his steps were light and hollow, almost aimless.

"Sister Qin, do you see anything?" Cornelia asked curiously. "Why is he going out so late?"

"From appearances alone, it’s hard to tell…" Sister Qin said, scrutinizing for a moment. Then, catching a glimpse of Cornelia’s eager and expectant face—almost as if she had become her anchor—she immediately changed her tone.

"But… from the way he walks, I can tell something."

"What is it?"

"His body is hollowed out by a dead spirit."

Sister Qin cleared her throat softly and added in a low voice, "I’m afraid he’s lost his will to fight."

"Ah? Really?"

Cornelia frowned, thinking it over, then looked up at Su Cheng below. But her eyesight wasn’t sharp enough to see what Sister Qin meant.

"So… what is he going to do now?" Cornelia couldn’t help but ask. "Can I go find him?"

"I wouldn’t recommend it."

Sister Qin pondered for two seconds. "But we can secretly follow him from a distance. If he’s about to do something foolish, we can stop him in time."

"Alright."

Cornelia glanced once more at Su Cheng, who had already mounted a shared bike and was about to leave the apartment.

She turned to follow Sister Qin, but was stopped by her.

"Wait!"

"What’s wrong?"

"Look at that car."

Sister Qin pointed toward the apartment entrance. Cornelia looked and froze—the multifunctional surveillance vehicle was slowly pulling away in the night.

"Is it just a coincidence?"

Sister Qin frowned and guessed, "If not, then it’s very likely they’re tailing Su Cheng."

At that moment, Cornelia’s heart suddenly raced. A phrase Sister Qin had said earlier flashed through her mind. She instantly realized—

Su Cheng had become a suspect?

"This has to be a coincidence."

Cornelia hurriedly denied it, forcing herself to calm down. "I think it’s just chance. Su Cheng wouldn’t do anything bad—he’s too kind-hearted."

"Let’s go."

Sister Qin didn’t press the matter further and led her to the roadside where her taxi was parked outside the apartment.

Without much hesitation, the two of them slid into the car, and Sister Qin started the engine.

But no matter how many times she tried, it just wouldn’t start.

“This car…”

Sister Qin pressed the accelerator a few times, but the car remained unresponsive. She said in surprise, “Something’s wrong. It’s too much of a coincidence that it broke down just now—it was fine before!”

“What’s going on?”

Cornelia, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Sister Qin’s shocked expression and quickly asked with concern, “The car’s broken?”

“I suspect that black car tampered with it!”

Sister Qin checked the situation and gave up trying to start the vehicle. She slammed her hand on the steering wheel and cursed, “They used a backdoor hack to activate the lock function installed in all these taxis’ onboard computers. Now my identity verification won’t go through. It won’t even let me start the engine, and worse, the brakes are actively locked.”

“How could that be…”

Cornelia covered her mouth in astonishment, stammering after a long pause, “This… this can’t be real. Why would that black car do something like this?!”

“They must have realized we were watching Su Cheng too!”

Sister Qin sneered, “Either it’s a warning, or they want us to give up tailing her. Either way, they want us to stay out of it.”

“Why would they do that?” Cornelia muttered to herself, then looked up, puzzled. “Why?”

“At first, I wasn’t sure,” Sister Qin said, pointing at the cars ahead. “Just now, Su Cheng’s bike suddenly changed direction, and that multi-purpose vehicle quickly adjusted its path behind her. It’s obvious—they’re tailing her with a clear purpose!”

Cornelia’s eyes widened, her face full of confusion. She had no idea what was going on.

Why would someone be watching Su Cheng at this moment?

“Do you know that black car?” she asked hesitantly.

“How could I know?” Sister Qin said as she got out of the car. “Actually, I want to ask you—who else does Su Cheng know? Who would bother sending such a professional team to follow her?”

“The authorities wouldn’t be messing around like this, so…”

Her voice lowered, tinged with impatience. “You’d better be honest with me. I don’t want to offend anyone we shouldn’t.”

Hearing this, Cornelia suddenly grew nervous and hurriedly defended herself, “I really don’t know. Right now, Su Cheng doesn’t know anyone else at all.”

“You’re sure?”

Sister Qin narrowed her eyes, staring at Cornelia as if trying to see right through her.

Under such scrutiny, Cornelia’s mind wasn’t quick enough, but she wasn’t stupid either.

So she didn’t answer. Instead, she grabbed her bag, opened the car door, and gratefully said, “Sister Qin, thank you for all your help.”

With that, she closed the door. “I’ll handle what comes next and make sure it doesn’t drag you into this.”

“…”

Sister Qin fell silent for a few seconds, then composed herself and nodded slightly. “If that’s the case, good luck.”

“I’m going after her now.”

After Cornelia waved her hand, she hurriedly ran off.

Seeing this, Sister Qin took a deep breath. In the end, she couldn’t suppress the curiosity in her heart that was bursting at the seams, and decided to follow.

But first, the car had to be fixed.

……………………………………

Meanwhile.

Outside the supermarket.

A blue shared bike was parked at the entrance.

Cornelia was panting heavily, bent over with her hands on her knees, her eyes fixed on the supermarket not far ahead.

Because Su Cheng was inside buying groceries.

The black multifunctional vehicle had already disappeared without a trace. Although Cornelia hadn’t noticed, she knew it was definitely hiding somewhere, spying on everything!

But she wasn’t afraid!

“Finally caught up.”

Cornelia hid behind an advertising board, using the dim light to observe carefully. Then she saw Su Cheng come out of the supermarket, holding a pack of milk candies in his hand.

“Why is he buying candy?”

Cornelia frowned slightly but didn’t have time to think about it. Su Cheng got back on his bike and rode off in another direction.

She hurriedly quickened her pace to follow. At the corner of the block, she found Su Cheng parking the shared bike in the designated area.

After parking, he kept walking forward, passing by some snack and drink shops along the way. Unfortunately, Su Cheng didn’t stop and went straight to the nearby bus stop to wait for the bus.

*Huff huff—*

Finally able to catch her breath, Cornelia wiped the sweat dripping from her forehead. She glanced around to confirm that the black vehicle was still nowhere to be seen, then refocused her gaze on Su Cheng’s retreating figure.

A few minutes later.

Su Cheng boarded a bus.

Her heart tightened. Her legs simply couldn’t keep up with the bus’s pace. So she hurried to the bus stop to check the route and the schedule for the next bus.

“Hey, get on!”

Just as she was puzzled, staring at the bus list and routes, a familiar female voice came from behind.

Hearing the voice, Cornelia whirled around and exclaimed joyfully, “Sister Qin!”

“We’ll catch up later,” Sister Qin nodded softly. “Get on quickly.”

“Okay!”

Cornelia eagerly climbed into the passenger seat and asked in surprise, “Why are you here again?”

“Hm.”

The vehicle slowly started moving. Sister Qin explained, “The car was back to normal not long after you left. I figured since I had nothing to do, I might as well follow and see what’s going on.”

“Thanks! By the way, Su Cheng just bought milk candies, returned the shared bike, and then took the bus further ahead.”

Cornelia pointed ahead as she watched the road. “But I didn’t see that black car from before.”

“Hmm.”

Sister Qin glanced at the road and said calmly, “Candy? I think people with coronary heart disease aren’t supposed to eat candy.”

“Huh?” Cornelia was momentarily stunned, puzzled. “They can’t?”

“Of course not!”

Sister Qin said seriously, “Consuming too many sweet foods can lead to an excess of calories. These extra calories will turn into fat, causing blood pressure to rise.”

“Then he…”

Hearing this, a sense of foreboding swept over Cornelia, sending chills down her spine. With a face full of fear, she exclaimed, “Could it be that he’s planning to kill himself by eating sugar?”

“Do you think sugar is like paraquat or something?”

Sister Qin shook her head with a slight smile and said, “Don’t worry, it won’t kill him. It will just negatively affect his recovery. Maybe he simply wants to eat some sugar.”

“But isn’t that still forbidden?” Cornelia remained deeply worried. “Either way, we have to stop him!”

“For now, the most important thing is the patient’s mood. His physical condition comes second,” Sister Qin said calmly and firmly. “If eating sugar can lift his spirits even a little, then why not?”

“Hmm…”

Cornelia hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement, saying, “That makes sense. Right now, his mood should be the top priority.”

“The bus just stopped up ahead!” Sister Qin reminded her. “Look carefully—did Su Cheng get off?”

“All right.”

Seeing no one disembark, Cornelia turned to look out the window and realized they were at Flame City’s Golden Coast.

About twenty kilometers from downtown.

“He wouldn’t come to the beach, would he?”

A stronger sense of dread gripped Cornelia’s heart as she muttered, “Could he be planning to jump into the sea?”

In that instant, she imagined Su Cheng standing motionless on the shore, until the waves swallowed him whole. When the water calmed, he would be gone forever.

The scene was beautiful yet filled with sorrow.

The more she thought about it, the sadder and more distressed she became. She clutched her chest, struggling to calm herself down. She forced herself to stay rational and reassured herself that this was just wild speculation.

As if to confirm her fears, Su Cheng stepped down from the bus the next second and headed straight for the beach.

“Just as I thought! He really is going to jump into the sea!”

Watching Su Cheng gradually walk farther away, Cornelia clenched her fists and grit her teeth. “What should we do? Should we chase after him and stop him now?”

“No rush.”

Sister Qin parked the car, then turned and said, “Let’s follow him first, observe his behavior, and decide what to do next.”

“All right.” Cornelia nodded, and the two of them got out of the car and quietly followed behind Su Cheng.

The slightly salty sea breeze brushed past, bringing a refreshing coolness. Su Cheng walked several dozen meters and stopped beside a tree.

At that moment, the sea breeze fluttered his coat tails, and he reached up to brush aside the strands of hair falling over his forehead, revealing a sharply defined face.

“Just noticed he’s actually quite handsome,” Sister Qin remarked quietly from nearby as she observed Su Cheng up close.

“Of course.”

Cornelia stared at Su Cheng without blinking and said, “He’s not only good-looking but also incredibly outstanding. Online, people call him a once-in-four-thousand-years rare beauty. Admirers of his could circle the Earth three times—he’s the dream guy for countless girls.”

“Can you be any more exaggerated?” Sister Qin rolled her eyes at her helplessly and said, “As someone who spends a lot of time online, I’ve never heard of such a character.”

“Hmph, hmph!”

Cornelia huffed proudly twice but still teased, “If you don’t believe me, forget it.”

“So this is what they call beauty in the eyes of a lover?”

Sister Qin found it amusing but didn’t say much, instead continuing to watch Su Cheng’s movements.

Although Su Cheng’s facial features were indeed quite handsome, it was only to a normal, average level. After all, his skin problems were serious. If his skin were a bit fairer, his fashion sense better, and if he cultivated some charisma—then with all those combined, he could definitely be stunningly handsome.

But unfortunately, there’s no “if.”

Take him now, for example—he exuded an aura of gloom, solitude, even a hint of decay.

Sister Qin studied him carefully for a moment and couldn’t help but shake her head. “Sigh, just average.”

“Hey!”

Cornelia widened her eyes at that. “I’m warning you! Don’t judge Su Cheng by today’s standards. Wait until I’ve nurtured him—then don’t come drooling.”

“Heh.” Sister Qin chuckled softly, noncommittally, “I’ll be watching.”

This little exchange caused no ripple, as Su Cheng was simply lost in meaningless daydreams.

He kept his head down, staring at the pebbles and grains of sand beneath his feet, expression blank, as if deep in thought.

Soon, he started walking again, heading slowly toward the deserted beach, making his way toward the cluster of rocks.

Cornelia and Sister Qin exchanged a glance and immediately hurried to catch up. They hid among the rocks, trailing him secretly, curious about what Su Cheng intended to do.

Before long, Su Cheng entered the rocky area and casually found a spot to sit with his back against a stone, gazing out at the sea under the night sky.

He didn’t move a muscle, just sat quietly, leaning against the rock like a sculpture, blending into the darkness so well that if you didn’t look closely, you might mistake him for a uniquely shaped rock rather than a living person.

“What do you think he’s doing?”

Cornelia whispered from the shadows, cautiously watching Su Cheng, then turned to Sister Qin, hoping to understand his behavior.

“Maybe the rhythmic rise and fall of the waves helps wash away his troubles and inner conflicts?”

Sister Qin frowned, pondering for a moment before offering a reasonable guess: “After all, the sea embraces all rivers. Perhaps watching the ocean brings him a sense of peace, allowing him to touch his true self and reflect on his inner world.”

“So does that mean he won’t feel hopeless anymore?”

Cornelia asked eagerly.

“I don’t know.” Sister Qin was uncertain but quickly shook her head. “But that’s just my guess. If it were really that easy to get through the darkest moments of life, there probably wouldn’t be so many people who jump into the sea to end it all.”

After hearing this, Cornelia fell into silence. After a long moment, she slowly exhaled and murmured to herself, “That’s true—the sea doesn’t hold any magical powers. How could it possibly heal a wounded heart?”

Sister Qin patted Cornelia’s shoulder, soothing her while also comforting herself. “Don’t worry. With us here, there’s no way he’ll succeed in taking his own life. The worst case is that he ends up in the hospital. In any case, if anything feels off, we’ll stop him immediately.”

“Sister Qin, I understand.”

Cornelia nodded firmly, her eyes filled with determination. “I’m going to stop him, no matter what.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel too.”

…

The deep night sky was studded with stars, and the bright moonlight spilled over the sea. Su Cheng remained motionless, staring at the water’s surface. No one knew what was going on inside his heart, and no one could truly understand the pain buried deep within him.

The only certainty was that beneath the seemingly calm ocean, dark currents churned and swirled, brewing a storm. When it finally broke, it would unleash a tidal wave of unimaginable force.

Hours passed, yet Su Cheng stayed frozen in the same position, as if turned to stone.

Suddenly, he lifted his hand and unwrapped a piece of milk candy, popping it into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, then took out another piece and repeated the process.

Over and over again, dozens of times. He paid no mind to the toll the sweets might take on his body—he ate mechanically, without hesitation, without pause.

Finally, the candy was gone.

Waves lapped softly against the rocks, creating a gentle, soothing sound. Su Cheng’s silent gaze remained fixed on the sea, as though searching for something elusive.

In this scene, his loneliness and vulnerability struck a painful chord in the two watching him.

After a long while—

Sister Qin began scanning the surroundings, trying to find any clue about the location of the multifunctional vehicle. But after a thorough search, she was disappointed. There was no sign of anything unusual—only the three of them in the area.

What caught her attention, however, was a yacht that had not left, quietly anchored not far away.

“Could it be here for Su Cheng as well?”

She furrowed her brow, thinking that if the multifunctional vehicle was already in use, then bringing a yacht wouldn’t be too far-fetched.

With that in mind, she took out her phone and opened the camera app, focusing on the yacht. Soon, she spotted two dark figures standing side by side on the deck.

From their silhouettes, they appeared to be women.

As she zoomed in to get a clearer look—

Suddenly, one of the figures turned her head, as if noticing her.

Before she could react, an overwhelming sense of pressure descended upon her, instantly enveloping her and making it hard to breathe. Hastily, she put away her phone, unwilling to keep watching.

The people on that boat not only sensed her gaze with uncanny sharpness but also exuded an invisible aura of intimidation that filled her with fear and made her want to retreat. They were no ordinary individuals!

That thought had barely formed when she glanced toward Su Cheng not far away.

Although it wasn’t certain whether the cruise ship’s target was him, she felt the possibility was quite high.

With that thought, her brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Why was this person named Su Cheng attracting so much attention from all sides?

A car, a ship—both involved.

It baffled her completely.

“Could it really be a four-thousand-year-old pretty boy?!”

“What are you mumbling about?”

Cornelia asked in confusion from the side. She only just snapped back to reality, quickly lowering her head and pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

“Nothing,” Sister Qin shook her head, then turned her gaze back to Su Cheng.

At this moment, the sky was beginning to lighten with the first pale hues of dawn, the sunrise about to break.

Su Cheng’s figure grew increasingly blurred in their eyes, as if veiled in a layer of mist, utterly inscrutable.

A moment later—

Countless beams of golden light pierced through the clouds, and one shone directly on him, casting a golden glow over his pale, thin frame.

“Wow, this composition is pretty good. Too bad I’m not into photography, or I’d definitely snap a few seconds of this.”

The transition from night to day, sunlight, strong winds, crashing waves, a fitting physique, combined with his current melancholic expression—it all gave off a vibe reminiscent of an Orthodox Christian’s suffering saint or holy fool.

Cornelia beside her was stunned as well. She stared at the sacred and solemn figure ahead, her heart trembling violently.

In her mind, an image emerged—

A deity descending to the mortal world, bathed in soft sunlight, radiating boundless light.

Just as she was about to capture this moment—

Su Cheng stood up!

But after sitting for so long, he promptly fell back down. Then, struggling, he pulled himself up and painfully took steps toward the shore, heading to a nearby food shop.

Cornelia felt a deep pang of sympathy as she watched.

“Looks like he’s not going to kill himself after all.”

Cornelia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“I should go back and catch some more sleep.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. I actually found this pretty interesting.”

As the two chatted, Su Cheng came out of the food shop, holding a large portion of French fries. He strolled toward the bus stop, eating as he walked.

“Why buy fried food so early in the morning?”

Cornelia racked her memory and realized Su Cheng rarely ate fried foods. She asked curiously, “Could there be some kind of meaning or symbolism behind it?”

“Maybe… after all, the fries were right there.”