The Predicament of Daisy

Zhou Yi and Daisy stayed out very late before returning to the hotel.

On the way back, Zhou Yi casually bought a burger, and the two sat in the cold wind eating it together.

"It's my fault for making a princess like you eat a burger on the side of the road with me."

"What are you talking about, brother? I’m a million times happier doing this than sitting at a banquet eating delicacies."

Being with Zhou Yi made anything enjoyable for her.

Zhou Yi tightened his coat and murmured, "I feel like it might snow soon."

Daisy, her cheeks puffed up like a little hamster, replied, "I’m used to snow, so it’s no big deal. Are you afraid of the cold, brother?"

Zhou Yi took her hand—it was already icy.

"Your hands are freezing. Let’s hurry back to the hotel. Things will be better tomorrow when we go back. It hasn’t even snowed in my country yet."

"Okay, brother. Can you carry me back?"

"Daisy likes it when you carry me."

"Being on your back makes me feel safe."

This way, no matter how intensely her eyes burned with emotion, Zhou Yi wouldn’t see it.

She could freely pour out her love for him without restraint.

Zhou Yi indulged her without hesitation, crouching down in front of her.

"Come on, I’ll carry you back."

"You’re the best, brother."

The hotel wasn’t far now.

Daisy didn’t actually want to tire him out.

She was light—lighter than any girl Zhou Yi had ever carried.

He adjusted her weight in his arms.

"Our Daisy is still too thin. Once we get to China, I’ll make sure you’re plump and healthy."

She rested her head on his shoulder and giggled. "But won’t I look ugly if I get fat?"

"Even when Daisy is 60, she’ll still be the most beautiful in my eyes."

"You’re so sweet, brother."

She wondered which lucky girl would one day truly have him.

Daisy sighed quietly—it wouldn’t be her.

Her unspoken love eventually dissipated into the wind.

She both longed for Zhou Yi to love her more and feared him loving her too much.

"Brother, promise me you’ll never carry anyone else, okay?"

"Okay. I’ll only carry Daisy."

With a smile, she pressed her face against his chest.

Back at the hotel, while Zhou Yi was showering, Daisy managed to get Adel’s address.

Her phone was flooded with messages and calls—from Adel, her father, and her sisters.

He had finally discovered Daisy’s escape.

Adel couldn’t bear the responsibility of her running away, so he had informed the king of Snowland.

Her father was an even worse man than Adel.

Assuming Daisy wouldn’t return, he had threatened her with her mother’s grave.

[If you don’t come back, I’ll dig up your mother’s body and ensure she never rests in peace—her soul will never be allowed into heaven, condemned to wander in hell forever. Is this the fate you want for the mother who loved you?]

[Daisy, you don’t have the right to be selfish. Otherwise, I’ll use even crueler methods to torment those around you—your maids, your foster mother.]

Even if they had treated her poorly, he knew Daisy was too soft-hearted and kind.

She couldn’t bear to see them suffer because of her.

[And your beloved country—the one your mother died protecting. Do you want to see it plunged into war again because of you?]

Daisy slumped weakly onto the couch. She knew she couldn’t bring herself to be ruthless.

With reddened eyes, she replied:

[Father, I never intended to run away. I just needed a moment to breathe. I’ll return to Adel tonight. Please don’t harm innocent people.]

[Good. You’re Snowland’s pride. We’ll always remember you.]

Daisy smiled bitterly.

Did she even want this so-called pride?

She wiped her tears, forcing herself to appear as composed as usual.

That night, Daisy lay in Zhou Yi’s arms.

They stayed close, neither harboring any improper thoughts.

Zhou Yi knew it wasn’t the right time—rushing things would leave a bad impression.

Daisy, however, was silently grieving over her impending departure, her heart aching.

She had tasted love and happiness, even if only for a few fleeting days.

As she traced Zhou Yi’s face with her fingers, she engraved his image deep into her soul.

"Brother, I can’t sleep."

"Is it because you’re too excited about leaving tomorrow?"

"Of course. Starting a new life with you in a beautiful, unfamiliar country—how could I not be happy?"

She hoped to dream of Zhou Yi again tonight.

Even if it was the same dream, she’d gladly relive it.

Zhou Yi, exhausted, glanced at Daisy in his arms, assuming she had fallen asleep.

He kissed her gently before drifting off himself.

Daisy had slipped him a sleeping pill, ensuring he wouldn’t wake or notice her departure.

After leaving the hotel, she walked alone into the cold night, her clothes thin against the wind.

Snow began to fall—a single icy flake landed on her forehead.

Her winter had finally arrived.

She stood outside Adel’s hotel, scrolling through photos of her and Zhou Yi on her phone.

She feared Adel would discover Zhou Yi’s involvement and seek revenge.

Each picture twisted her heart further.

When she finally pressed delete, it felt as though her soul had died with them.

She erased Zhou Yi’s contact, removed her SIM card—ensuring no one could ever find her again.

Then she knocked on Adel’s door.

The moment it opened, Adel, seething with rage, struck her across the face.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Because of you, I was stripped of my title and humiliated by Father—all thanks to you, dear sister!"

Daisy stayed silent. She could never call this man "brother" again.

Her real brother—the one who mattered—was lost to her forever.

Adel’s fury only grew at her silence.

"Fine. If you’ve grown a spine, then you’ll learn what happens when you defy me."

He grabbed her hair and threw her onto the carpet.

Daisy winced in pain, blood trickling from her lips. Still, she didn’t speak.

Adel, with no other outlet for his rage and accustomed to Daisy’s submissiveness, proceeded to beat her mercilessly.

Zhou Yi, however, wasn’t as oblivious as Daisy believed.

He stood by the window, watching her walk away step by step.

077: "You’re cruel. Do you know what awaits her?"

Zhou Yi: "I do. But there’s no solution."

"If I forced her to stay, she’d still be haunted by her country. She’d never truly belong with me."

"When she’s trapped in darkness, she’ll long for me even more. Her love will reach its peak through endless suffering."

Zhou Yi had never forgotten he was a strategist.

His heart would never soften for a woman.

Daisy was destined for her tragic end.