"He is a liar, a fraud, and a dangerous man Shi Lian," Zheng Yuan says, keeping his voice firm as he places his palm on Shi Lian's shoulder.

Shi Lian frowns and looks at her father in disbelief. "What are you even saying, father?"

"See? He didn't even tell you who he is" he scoffs, boasting about his surety.

It's true that he never really speaks much about but he did tell her a lot today. He expressed what he never shared with anyone before so she believes her father is making things up.

When she does not say anything, her father continues, "Do you know just what he truly does under that mask of a rich tycoon?"

Shi Lian looks at him, unable to say anything because she doesn't even know what her father is implying. She bites the inner cheek and stands there without saying anything. What should she even reply? She knows what Zichen shows to her, except that she does not know anything about him.

"You don't know right? Of course. How can you even?" he shakes his head in frustration and his daughter's naivety. "He is a gangster. A killer! He kills people Shi Lian!"

For a split second, she cannot process what her father said. "What?" she blurts, almost like a whisper. Zichen a gangster? How can that be possible? The story of mobs, gangsters is old and not really true and she thinks her father is bluffing.

"That's not true," she says, calmly but the hurricane inside is starting to develop. Her heart beats like crazy and her knees suddenly feel numb.

Her father glances at Sha Sha, sharing a worried look. He turns his eyes back to Shi Lian again. looking at her with no emotions. "I knew t would be hard to make you believe but the truth is truth, Shi Lian. And if you think I am making this up, then daughter, I am very disappointed in you."

"But what you said do not make sense! Gangsters...mafias....they are fictional" she argues, not ready to give in. She got to know him, the real him, and knowing that it's hard to believe that Zichen will be involved in something like this. She is only praying that all this... that is happening is a delusion and she wants to wake up from it. It's choking her.

"Tong!" he calls and one of the bodyguards appears from nowhere. "Get me those pictures, please."

The man in a black suit nods and goes to the underground room, which Shi Lian has no idea about.

"Pictures? You have been spying on him as well?" Shi Lian manages to say, the air around the room making her sick. When her father does not reply to that, she knew he has been doing it on him as well. God of hell! She has been clueless all her life. Now she feels like the person in front of her is someone else, not her father or the person dearest to her. Just a stranger.

Tong emerges and walking up to Zheng Yuan, he hands the pictures to him. "These are all, Sir!" he reports, his voice heavy. The man has a cut on the left side of his cheek and it appears to be deep since the marking is too visible.

Her eyes fall on the pictures that are on her father's hand and suddenly her throat gets dry. Sweat trickles down from the back of her neck. Even the air conditioner cannot cool her tension and nervousness.

Flipping over the picture so that the front part faces Shi Lian, he shoves the picture in front of her eyes. He changes the picture one by one and Shi Lian's eyes remain to widen. She cannot even blink because what she sees in front of her is the truth she does not want to face. After he is done, he hands the pictures to her so that she can take a fine look at them. Her hands shake and she meekly takes the picture from his hand.

Her body goes cold, her mind freezes and her heart feels so damn heavy that as if a truck had banged her. The pictures show the face of Zichen clearly, in his hand is a gun, and his shirt and half of his face are covered with blood and his gaze are so sharp that one might get killed just by his gaze.

"Now you see daughter? This is what he truly is!" her father pronounces, trying hard to make his daughter believe. He never wants the bad for her and he is doing all this just to protect her from the bad cause as long as he can.

Her eyes remain on the pictures, staring hard at each of them as she shuffles. The view becomes and tears start rolling down her eyes. Does she reciprocate from what she is more hurt? Bu learning the truth about Zichen? or her father's shady act or her cluelessness for believing them? She thought she has matured, she thought she isn't the naive she once used to be, but here she is again, the same naive girl who never understood people's true faces.

"When... did you get them?" she asks, voice think with emotions as she stares hard at the pictures in her hand. The one picture where Zichen is standing and the person's head is dropped in front of his feet and his body lying to its side. She wants to puke because they are disgusting and inhuman.

"Does it even matter, Shi Lian? All that matters is that you now know what kind of person he is."

Yes, does it even matter? Is this his true face? Killing people and taking pleasure? Is this what he does? Her body trembles and the tears won't stop falling from her eyes.

Sha Sha unable to see the condition of her daughter reaches to her side and squeezes her by the shoulder. Shi Lian is not even aware of her mother's presence beside her, all she can feel is how her heart hurts and her chest tightens.

"Shi...dear...I am here....we are here" her mother assures, her gentle voice seeping in her ears, "Your father will never harm you....he loves you very much, we love you very much and we cannot let you see being distress again." Her mother sobs quietly holding her tight.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she braves herself and straightens her spine. No, she won't be that heartbroken ever again. She cannot let her parents suffer again just because of her. She looks over her mother, feeling guilty, and places her hand on hers. "I know. I know mother. don't worry mother, I am not the weak girl anymore. I won't be depressed."

She manages to smile and hugs her mother tightly. It's this embrace that gave birth to her, protected her, and loved her. The warmth of her hug is calm and serene. Holding back her tears, she pulls away from her mother and then turns her focus to her father.

"Sorry, father" she apologizes, bowing her head down a little. "I was impolite. I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

He goes and hugs her. "Daughter, I should say sorry to you as well. But you should know that everything I do is to protect you," he expresses and Shi Lian's heart becomes heavier. She tries to hold the tear back. I won't cry, I won't cry. She reminds herself continuously of that.

"We cannot bear to see you in the state again," he adds, his breath hitting her hair.

She closes her eyes, a drop of tears falling. She knows. She knows that. The pictures are still in her hand, now crumpled just like how her heart feels.