Accidental Killing

After the draw was complete, Xu Xiaoyou returned the two character cards to her card slots. She stood up slowly, preparing to head to the washroom to freshen up and sort out her long hair, which was currently as messy as a bird's nest.

During the washing process, Xu Xiaoyou closed her eyes in this moment of peace, letting her thoughts drift as the white foam of the toothpaste stayed on her face. The sound of the news from the curtain broadcast clearly entered her ears.

"Regarding the passing of Principal Belvedere Divine Comedy, the Winter family, the Withered-Flower family, and the Starfall family have expressed their regrets,"

"And their deepest condolences. Lady Jane of Sonnet will serve as the acting head of the Starry Gallery until the next head is elected."

"Messrs. Vantel, Da Finney, Aliford, Sado, and Aivmey have announced their membership in the Starry Gallery, declaring to the public that they will steadfastly follow the path of art."

"At the same time, let us observe a moment of sincere silence for those who passed away during the great disaster caused by the 'Starry Singer'."

"The painting 'Clash · Reality', released three days ago by Mr. Coredo, has sparked a wave of intellectual debate and deep reflection among the public."

"Pop singer Britney has released her new album, 'The Age of Passion'..."

Xu Xiaoyou couldn't help but stop what she was doing.

Outside the blinds was the aesthetic prism city. Three radiant stars rose as usual, and white snow fell upon people's heads as they hurried about, beginning a new day of creation.

In the distance, the reconstruction of the city damaged in the disaster had begun. Huge glass curtain walls flickered with golden light. The endless stream of land-air vehicles and people was like a flowing poem, writing a new chapter.

People seemed to have forgotten yesterday's pain, joyfully cutting away yesterday's curses to welcome a new life with a new attitude.

It was hard not to feel moved. Ordinary people were just like that—like weeds. Whether they were hetero-race, sub-race,

Or even more ordinary humans, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, the creature known as 'human' could explode with tenacious vitality,

Taking root and sprouting in this broken land, growing vigorously.

Everything that had happened before felt like a dream.

The collapsing Grand Theater, the wails of the people, the rampaging storm, the souls floating on musical scores, and the blue-haired girl who had cried in the storm, seizing a moment of clarity to resolutely end her own life.

Unfortunately, this New Year was lonely and cold for Xu Xiaoyou. When the bells of the New Year's Square rang and people celebrated the rebirth upon the ruins, she was immersed in a state of listless dejection.

It was somewhat lamentable that her first New Year in this world would be spent in a flower shop.

Let the past stay in the past; there was no need to be obsessed.

Xu Xiaoyou used a wet towel dipped in hot water to carefully wipe away the red lip prints on her face and neck. She combed her flowing golden hair neatly, re-tying it into a low ponytail. She buttoned the collar of her white shirt, put on her waist-cinching vest skirt, adjusted her floral bow tie, draped on a black shawl, and gave a gentle smile to the mirror.

The look in her eyes became peaceful as she closed them briefly. Once prepared, Xu Xiaoyou pushed open the washroom door.

Angelina had already been waiting outside for a long time.

"Shall we?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed Xu Xiaoyou's outfit.

"Mhm, let's go."

Three o'clock in the afternoon, inside the Life Elegy Hospital.

Facing the crowd surging outside the hospital, Dean Depu was at his wit's end and utterly lost. When he woke up this morning, he thought it would be another ordinary day, only to receive news that made his world collapse.

People from the Winter family claimed that Victor, a member of their family, had been murdered and buried in this hospital, and they had come to hold him accountable!

A family member murdered and buried in the hospital he was responsible for?

Damn it, how did such niche words even form a sentence?

Depu knew full well that once this label was pinned on him, he was truly finished. Leaving aside the fact that Life Daybreak would strip him of his dean position and hold him responsible, local prosecutors from the association would likely take him away for interrogation. The family would surely take the opportunity to retaliate against him, pinning a few more crimes on him that would be enough to make him rot in Stillwater Prison!

Fortunately, he was an old hand at this, having navigated power politics for so many years. It would be shameful if he didn't have any experience in handling such matters. He immediately ordered his subordinates to close the hospital gates, arranged for the security department to confront and stall the family, and bribed the news outlets to report on the incident extensively.

Now, over a dozen reporters were waiting outside the gates. No matter how overbearing the family was, they wouldn't dare use force in broad daylight!

No major power dared to fully burn bridges with Life Daybreak unless they planned to live the rest of their lives on the run. Life Daybreak held the core technology of high-end medicine—the Life Link Protocol. Their dominance in medicine, genetic engineering, and disease control was an insurmountable mountain!

He was currently walking on a tightrope; one wrong move and he would be shattered to pieces. Both Life Daybreak and the family were pressuring him while simultaneously checking each other. He had to seize every second to figure out what exactly was going on!

At that moment, a young nurse ran in, her face incredibly pale. "Dean, Dean, what they're saying seems to be true!"

"It's Lena, that intern nurse. She told the family that she saw Old Quel burying a body in the hospital with her own eyes. Add that to the fact that Mr. Victor, who handled his discharge papers a few days ago, has gone missing... the family suspected these two things were related and came knocking!"

Depu nearly blacked out and collapsed onto his leather chair.

"Dean!"

Depu seemed to accept his fate of losing his integrity in his later years. He sighed deeply, looking over a decade older in a single breath, the wrinkles between his brows deepening. He waved his hand. "Since it's come to this, open the gates."

Under the previously clear sky, a torrential rain began to fall, as if God were venting his wrath, vowing to wash away all the filth of the world!

Old Quel was dragged out of his ward by the Kieferis branch of the family and taken to the garden where he had buried the body.

Around them stood many figures of the family dressed in black, holding umbrellas, along with countless onlookers, either curious citizens or hospital employees. They all wanted to know who had the audacity to murder a member of the family.

Ince held his camera, the corners of his mouth turned up as if he were preparing to record a political news story that would shock the world. He adjusted the photography angle, ensuring that Old Quel’s weathered and resolute face remained at the focal center of the shot, while everyone else served as the background.

Jim, on the other hand, had already drafted the news report. He slowly pushed up his sunglasses. After working together for a while, the two of them got along perfectly, as if they were old friends who had met late. Their tacit cooperation required no words.

"Did that witch Sevia or Ayin order you to do these things!" one of the family members roared.

"Killing Victor... do you have any idea what kind of sin you've committed? The family will not let you go!"

"Do you dare swear to the God you believe in!"

Numerous cameras clicked in rapid succession, their blinding white flashes forming a continuous sheet in the rain. Old Quel lowered his head.

His tone was calm. "I swear, I have betrayed Mr. Ayin and killed his confidant while fleeing."

"This old madman is already incoherent!"

"Dig him up! Let everyone see his body!" another family member shoved Old Quel violently, pushing him into the center of the crowd's gaze.

The heavy rain washed over Old Quel’s upright body, the water flowing from his forehead down to his white beard.

He picked up a shovel and began to dig.

He dug deeper and deeper.

Until half of his body was buried in the pit, and the dirt on both sides had piled up like small mountains.

Under the witness of countless people,

The secret buried deep underground saw the light of day again.

It was a bottle of vodka, and a young man who died a tragic death, highly decomposed by microorganisms, but whose features could still be vaguely distinguished.

A sharp bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.

That was definitely not Victor.

Rather, it was someone none of them had ever seen before.

Someone's lips trembled as they finally recognized the corpse. "Damu? That's Damu!"

The family members holding black umbrellas all looked stunned. The heavy stone in Dean Depu's heart crashed down, but he couldn't afford to be joyful; he looked up at Old Quel, the center of the vortex, with the same confusion.

Who was Damu?

This question fermented in everyone's hearts.

Old Quel turned his head at that moment, the rainwater forming rivulets on his greyed face. The corners of his mouth curled up as countless white lights flashed behind him. He exchanged a glance with Lena, the intern nurse who had betrayed him, with an inscrutable smile, seeing the confusion and bone-deep fear on her face.

Who was Damu?

A thunderous crash fell at this moment.

He was an inconspicuous confidant by Mr. Ayin's side.