Zhang Xulin shook her head.

"He already knew," she said. "Those criminals taunted him earlier. We only confirmed it."

Su Mo remained silent for a few seconds.

That explained his reaction.

Hearing it from those pests... it would have been even harder to accept. Who knows how much pain he is in?

"I see."

He pressed his lips together slightly, his thoughts settling.

Yang Qingxi stood beside him without speaking, but her expression had also grown more serious.

That man had just lost everything. Having suicidal thoughts is normal. The question is, what to do now?

After a moment, Su Mo looked up again.

"Where is he?" he asked.

"In the guest room upstairs," Zhang Xulin replied.

Su Mo nodded.

"Let’s go see him."

He turned toward the stairs. Yang Qingxi followed him quietly.

Zhang Xulin stayed behind for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

Upstairs, the door to the room was closed.

Su Mo raised his hand and knocked lightly.

"Mayor Gao, I’m Su Mo. We met at the party at the Star Presidency Hotel two days ago. Remember?"

There was no response.

He paused for a moment, then continued in a steady tone.

"I know this is difficult for you. But there’s something important I need to talk to you about. Sorry for coming in like this."

Still silence.

Su Mo didn’t wait any longer. He pushed the door open.

The scene inside made him pause.

Gao Xufan sat on a chair in the middle of the room, tightly bound with ropes. His arms were secured behind him, and his body leaned forward slightly as if he had already struggled too much. A strip of duct tape covered his mouth, and his hair was dishevelled, his face pale and hollow.

For a brief moment, the atmosphere felt suffocating.

"...I see."

Su Mo let out a faint breath.

No wonder he hadn’t answered.

Behind him, Yang Qingxi also stepped in and took in the scene quietly.

Su Mo walked forward without showing much reaction on his face. He reached out and carefully peeled the tape off Gao Xufan’s mouth.

Yang Qingxi spoke softly from behind.

"Sorry, Mayor Gao. They were worried you might hurt yourself."

The tape came off with a sharp pull.

A few strands of hair were caught in it. The pain should have been noticeable. But Gao Xufan didn’t react.

He didn’t even flinch.

Instead, the moment his mouth was free, he spat out the cloth that had been stuffed inside, and without hesitation, he bit down hard on his tongue.

Su Mo’s expression changed. Yang Qingxi was also shocked.

"Mayor Gao—!"

It happened too quickly.

Neither of them had expected it.

Blood started flowing from the corner of Gao Xufan’s mouth. His body trembled slightly, but not from the immense pain.

His eyes remained open, unfocused, as tears streamed down without restraint.

A broken, low sound escaped him.

Not quite a cry. But a laugh of misery.

For a moment, the room felt unbearably quiet.

Su Mo’s gaze hardened slightly.

He stepped forward and placed his hand near Gao Xufan’s bloodied mouth, using his healing technique to stop the damage. The bleeding slowed, and the torn flesh recovered.

The pain also faded quickly.

Gao Xufan seemed to notice it.

His expression didn’t change, but his eyes shifted slightly, as if confused.

However, that confusion didn’t last long.

If it didn’t work once, he would try again. Until he leaves behind his meaningless world.

He lowered his head slightly, preparing to bite down once more.

"Stop!"

Su Mo’s voice came out sharper than before.

Gao Xufan froze.

"Don’t you want to avenge them?" Su Mo said.

The words landed clearly.

Gao Xufan’s movements stopped completely.

For the first time, his hollow eyes slowly lifted and looked at Su Mo.

"...Avenge?" he repeated.

His voice was hoarse, almost broken.

Yang Qingxi stepped forward, her tone calm but urging.

"If you die now, who will take revenge for your wife and your daughter?"

Gao Xufan didn’t answer immediately.

His breathing was uneven.

His gaze trembled slightly.

For a moment, he seemed lost between two choices.

Then, slowly, something inside him changed.

"...Right..."

"I... have to avenge them..."

His voice was barely audible. The words came out slowly, as if he were trying to convince himself.

The emptiness in his eyes was still there. The despair in his heart didn’t disappear. Rather, it was put aside for a more important purpose.

A fragile reason that might make him want to live a little longer.

Su Mo watched him carefully.

Only after confirming that he wouldn’t try to kill himself again did he step forward and begin loosening the ropes.

While the knots were slowly undone.

"Mayor Gao," Su Mo said, his voice soft, "your wife and daughter deserve to rest properly."

Gao Xufan’s hands dropped weakly once they were freed.

"They need a proper farewell."

Su Mo looked at him.

"Complete their funeral first."

There was a brief pause.

Before he added, "I’ll help you get revenge."

Gao Xufan didn’t respond immediately.

His body remained still. But his breathing steadied slightly.

After a long moment, he gave a faint, imperceptible nod.

Then, with a strained voice, he spoke.

"...Thank you."

Those two words carried everything he had left.

As a father and a husband...

***

Mayor Gao left shortly after, accompanied by Miss Yang’s butler.

He had no intention of informing friends or holding any public ceremony. His purpose was simple and heavy—to complete the funeral of his wife and daughter.

Take their revenge.

Then... follow them and leave this world as well.

Su Mo and Yang Qingxi both understood it clearly. It wasn’t something that needed to be said aloud. It was written plainly in Gao Xufan’s hollow eyes and in the calm tone he used when he spoke about the funeral.

Neither of them tried to stop him.

The fact that he was no longer trying to end his life immediately was already the best outcome they could hope for at this moment.