chapter 3

After I checked the money in the card, You Hua asked the question countless people had asked years ago.

“I’ve looked into Cheng Hui’s case through internal channels. Cheng Hui’s company was shut down because he was illegally obtaining human blood and was suspected of trafficking human organs. A large number of severed human limbs were found in his company’s cold storage. Moreover, it’s highly likely he personally committed murder to obtain those organs.

“I’m curious. Back then, you repeatedly insisted that Cheng Hui committed suicide. You were willing to serve three years in prison rather than reveal what exactly you said to him.

“For an extreme egoist like Cheng Hui, a man who loved himself more than anything else, what could possibly cause him to have a mental breakdown and choose death?”

I smiled slightly, turned around, and scooped a plump pufferfish out of the tank.

“What killed him was, naturally, the thing he cherished most.

“You’re in luck. This pufferfish was caught from the river just this morning.”

I was known in these parts as the “Pufferfish Beauty,” famous for preparing authentic pufferfish feasts.

This was a skill I had specifically learned back then to please Cheng Hui.

You Hua stared intently at the pufferfish in my hand, questioning me. “The thing he cherished most? Ms. Yue, you aren’t trying to fool me, are you?

“From what I know, Cheng Hui’s childhood was a living hell. His family had a hereditary disease. To produce healthy offspring, his parents had many children, but any child who showed symptoms was discarded. If they fell seriously ill, they were never treated; they were left to fend for themselves. They believed in the survival of the fittest. No one knew which sibling would disappear the next day.

“So, as a child, Cheng Hui fought desperately to stay strong and healthy.

“For a man who had the fear of death etched into his very marrow, what could possibly be more precious than his own life?”

“Indeed. At first, I thought so too.”

I looked up at You Hua and tightened my grip. Feeling threatened, the pufferfish puffed up its belly in defense.

And this was precisely the perfect moment to strike with my knife.

“To find that ‘thing,’ I stayed by his side for five whole years.”

As I spoke, I picked up the scissors and pierced the bloated belly, slicing it open along the midline. I drained the blood, removed the internal organs and eyes, stripped the skin, and placed it back in the water. I turned on the tap, letting the running water wash the pufferfish meat.

A pufferfish’s blood, organs, and eyes are all toxic. The blood must be thoroughly removed, and the meat must be soaked in running water for at least half an hour.

“Have a seat and some tea first.”

My kitchen was open-concept, integrated with the tea room for convenience.

This was a layout I had designed from the moment I moved in.

You Hua glanced at the pale white pufferfish meat. He didn’t refuse and sat down at the tea table.

“Writer You, have you ever had pufferfish before?”

I poured the water used to rinse the teacups onto the daffodils on the tea table.

He replied flatly, “I had it when I was young. After my mother passed away, I never ate it again.”

“I’m much the same. I had a loved one who enjoyed it. After she was gone, I never took another bite of pufferfish myself; I only prepare it for others.

“Today, I’ll be indulging as well, thanks to you.”

You Hua didn’t take the bait. He cleared his throat and said, “I don’t have much time. I hope Ms. Yue can finish the story before lunch is over.”

Clearly, he wasn’t interested in my playing the sentimentality card.

“No problem.”

I was more than happy to oblige.