That night, after taking me out for dinner, he decided to stay at his workplace. Perhaps he didn’t want to return to the hotel, knowing that I wouldn’t want to see him either.
Lying on the bed, he asked me casually,
“Do you want to visit France?”
“What?”
“If you’d like, you can come with me.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s fun being around you.”
Just those simple words were enough to shake me, to stir something deep inside me.
Who exactly is Lang Băm?
Why does he seem so straightforward at times?
Should I still go through with my plan?
He lay on the bed, drifting off into sleep.
This was my chance—I couldn’t hesitate any longer.
I took a lipstick from my bag, smeared it onto his finger, and pressed it onto the remaining blank space of the paper.
Just as I finished, he woke up, grabbed my wrist, and frowned.
“What are you doing? Trying to cuff my hands for an SM game?”
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm.
“The Asian database has been erased, but the European database still exists, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Destroy the research on the Pink Notebook.”
His gaze landed on the pink paper in my hand. Seeing the fingerprint on it, he immediately understood what was going on.
His eyes darkened with fury.
I instinctively shrank back, trying to mask my fear with words.
“When you touch the notebook, two opposing processes will activate simultaneously: one that neutralizes the notebook and one that records and commands the victim. A conflict will occur. If I’m lucky, the system will crash. If I’m unlucky and the system stays intact, I’ll command you to destroy it along with all the research data. If I’m truly doomed, the notebook will be neutralized. There are only three possible outcomes.”
I pushed his hand away and bolted toward the door, fumbling with the doorknob.
“I’m sorry. I know this is cruel, but I don’t think I have any other choice.”
Before I could open the door, he yanked me back and slammed me against the wall.
He was so fast and strong that by the time I realized what had happened, I was already struggling for breath—my feet no longer touching the ground.
On instinct, I clawed at his wrist, desperately trying to pry his fingers off my throat.
I gasped out a threat.
“What… are you… doing? If you kill me… the FBI won’t… let you go…”
But that only added fuel to the fire.
His glare was murderous, his grip tightening around my throat.
“Do you really think I wouldn’t dare?”
The pain was unbearable.
I couldn’t breathe.
It felt like my soul was slipping away.
His eyes were hollow, lifeless, streaked with veins of crimson rage.
“Your brain is truly exceptional—brilliant and unpredictable. I should extract it, preserve it, and study it.”
Having once been on the brink of death, I now cherished my life more than ever.
I didn’t want to die.
All of this… it was because of that damn notebook.
Sure, the memories, the emotions of the past few years were priceless… but was this the price I had to pay?
Tears welled up without me even realizing it, slipping down onto his tightening grip.
It was only when my face turned pale, my breaths weakened, and my hands went limp that he finally threw me to the ground.
I collapsed, gasping weakly.
At that moment, his phone rang.
“Je T’aime. What is it?”
“The entire system has crashed. I assume you know why. That’s why you wanted to kill the girl, isn’t it?”
“If she has to die, I’ll be the one to do it. You are not to lay a finger on her.”
He tossed the phone aside, locked the door, and slowly walked toward me like a predator circling its prey.
Kneeling over me, he pinned me down.
I lay there motionless, a bitter smile on my lips.
“I thought you were a good person. I thought you wouldn’t kill me…”
I trembled as I looked at him.
His face was emotionless—no anger, no despair, no frustration.
Only a single tear clung to the corner of his exquisite eyes.
Was he… crying?
Being betrayed by someone you cared for… hurt like hell.
He reached under my head, lifted it up, and forced a pill into my mouth.
I tried to spit it out, but it slid straight down my throat.
Panic surged through me.
“What… what did you just give me?”
“An aphrodisiac.”
I mustered all my strength to slap him, but he caught my wrist instantly.
His grip was so tight that I felt the pain pierce deep into my bones.
“Did you really think you could do whatever you wanted without consequences?”
“I’ll make sure you enjoy this.”
Playing with fire… and now I was the one getting burned.
How foolish of me to act alone, to keep everything a secret.
If only I had sought help from the FBI…
Maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
Darkness consumed me as I slowly lost consciousness.
I hate you.
If I hate you, then you must hate me for the rest of your life too.