Kiwi Beyond the Cage 018

**Bird Escapes the Cage (The End)**

The flight was booked for 2:00 PM.

Around noon, Sheng Long and Ji Wei boarded the vehicle heading to the airport.

The rain had been falling for days on end. Occasional respites did not bring clear skies; the grayish-blue heavens offered no trace of the sun. Ji Wei lay against the window, feeling the damp currents of air slap against her face in gusts.

This rain was far from over.

“What are you looking at?” A warm embrace enveloped her from behind.

Sheng Long encircled her from the back, his chin resting on her fuzzy scalp. He heard Ji Wei's faint voice, "Do we... really have to leave?"

Sheng Long played with her slender fingers, softly humming in a gentle tone, "Yes, we really have to leave."

"Vivi, let's change our environment," he said. Noticing Ji Wei's reluctance, Sheng Long attempted to kiss her cheek, but she dodged. He could only coax her softly, "After we go abroad, your illness will be cured."

Her long lashes drooped, and Ji Wei's pale face was reflected in the glass. "The one who's sick isn't me, it's you."

"Sheng Long," her fingers slowly withdrew from his palm, and Ji Wei enunciated each word, "You are the one who's ill."

"Beyond salvation."

Was that true?

Sheng Long looked at her, his dark pupils heavy with a depth that seemed to drip with black blood. Perhaps, as Ji Wei said, he was ill, terminally so.

And his cure was right before his eyes.

"How is it? Have the test results come out?"

Standing outside the laboratory door, Ou Yanglin anxiously checked the time. As soon as the door opened, she stepped forward eagerly.

The pharmacist removed his mask and handed her the analysis report, "In a rush, couldn't do a thorough job, but it's confirmed that there are trace amounts of medicinal components added, which can alleviate anxiety. Overuse can cause hallucinations."

"This isn't candy, it's medicine," Ou Yanglin said.

Zhao Liang, who came with her, was stunned, "Medicine?"

He still didn't understand, "Why would Ji Wei give you this... No, she's been eating this candy every day... No wonder her mental state is so inconsistent, and she doesn't improve even after staying in the hospital all the time."

Almost every time the candy box was mentioned, Ji Wei would talk about "Sheng Long," referring to her brother who told her to eat it. It was likely that the "candy" in the box had been switched by Sheng Long.

Thinking of Sheng Long's meticulous care for Ji Wei, Zhao Liang felt an indescribable sense of conflict, "What does he gain from this?"

Ou Yanglin sneered, "A mentally unstable witness—how credible can her testimony be?"

She hadn't forgotten that during their first meeting with Sheng Long, he couldn't stop talking about Ji Wei's illness. He didn't want the police to focus on Ji Wei, nor did he want her to reveal anything.

It turned out that even an ill Ji Wei could be of help to them. Now that the case was solved, Ji Wei's illness should be over. She could be lucid, but not in front of the police.

"Go stop them," Ou Yanglin said. There was still an hour before the flight took off.

Ou Yanglin was certain that Ji Pingjiang's death was not the end. Ji Wei had left them a chance with a single piece of candy; there must still be something she wanted to tell them.

Why wouldn't she say it directly?

What was Ji Wei concerned about?!

When they arrived at the airport, the flight Sheng Long was on had already stopped boarding. To their surprise, both Sheng Long and Ji Wei were shown as not having boarded, and their luggage hadn't even been checked in—it was at the lost and found.

Where were they??

Ou Yanglin urgently reviewed the surveillance footage and saw Ji Wei and Sheng Long leave the airport one after the other, less than ten minutes apart, both clutching their phones and walking hurriedly as if they had received some urgent news.

"How is it?" Zhao Liang called Sheng Long's phone and also dialed Ji Wei's from Ou Yanglin's phone, but both went unanswered.

"Ji Wei's phone is turned off."

After tracing their license plates, Ou Yanglin grabbed her car keys and hurried out, with Zhao Liang following closely behind. After another call automatically disconnected, she redialed Sheng Long.

Drip—

Drip—

The prolonged beeping sound offered no hope.

Zhao Liang became anxious, "Where on earth are these two people...?"

Before he could finish, the beeping suddenly stopped.

In the brief silence, Ou Yanglin was the first to react, "Sheng Long!"

She seized the phone, trying to keep her voice steady, "Where are you?"

The receiver was filled with the sound of rapid wind, and there was no immediate response. After a few seconds, a cold voice came through, "Wu Li is not dead."

"He has Ji Wei hostage, and only I can save her."

One piece of news after another bombarded them, leaving no time for thorough contemplation. Ou Yanglin swiftly started the vehicle, "Do you know where they are?"

"Sheng Long, meet up with us first. Don't act rashly," Ou Yanglin urged.

A few laughs echoed from the receiver.

At a time like this, Sheng Long could still laugh, which sounded unnervingly eerie. Zhao Liang had already contacted the traffic police department when Sheng Long calmly replied, "I'm not acting rashly."

"It's you who shouldn't act rashly," came the response.

Wu Li was targeting Sheng Long; if Sheng Long didn't pursue him, Ji Wei would surely be in danger. No one else could save her but him.

Ji Wei received a text message from an unknown number in the waiting room.

**"Ji Pingjiang has another birthday gift for you. Want to know what it is?"**

Using a pretext to leave, Ji Wei followed the license plate number in the message and got into the car smoothly. Before she could even see the driver's face, she was subdued and knocked unconscious.

In her drowsy state, she heard the man mock, "Why are you still so stupid..."

Was she stupid?

Ji Wei thought so.

The plan was on the verge of success. Sheng Long, who usually watched her so closely, had carelessly allowed her to leave at such a critical moment. Even she knew there was something fishy about Wu Li's disappearance, and Sheng Long must know even more.

When Sheng Long said he was taking her abroad, Ji Wei guessed his plan wasn't over yet.

Upon receiving the mysterious text, she instantly recalled Wu Li.

Knowing it was a trap, aware that going there meant risking her life, she still went.

Perhaps compared to Sheng Long, she would always be a fool, so foolish that she could only be sheltered and passively accept the favor of a deity or a devil. Like a wingless kiwi bird, which, unable to fly, should not dare to aspire to soar through the sky.

Ji Wei was a fool.

But even fools deserved the right to make their own choices freely.

"Awake?" Amidst the clamor, Ji Wei laboriously lifted her lashes, only to find herself tied to a chair.

The last time someone sat here, it was Sheng Long.

It was somewhat amusing; she chuckled at herself. A rough hand pinched her cheek, and a face loomed over her, "What are you laughing at? Has your madness not yet passed?"

Ji Wei met his gaze fearlessly, a phrase she was tired of repeating, "The mad one is not me, but you."

Wu Li understood her innuendo and scoffed, "I too wish to be a normal person, but Sheng Long won't allow it..."

Wu Li came from a poor family. The reason he could attend the same school as Sheng Long was entirely due to the Sheng family's sponsorship, more precisely... thanks to Sheng Long's support.

He could have chosen another path without attending school, but Sheng Long, witnessing his plight, extended a clean hand to pull him out of the abyss, personally offering a sun to push him into the light, only to mercilessly kick him back into the darkness.

He paid for his mother's medical treatment, taught him to stand up to his abusive, alcoholic father, provided him with food and clothing, and allowed him to attend school with him, giving him the courage to resist.

So when he accidentally killed his drunken father, Sheng Long showed no surprise or fear, but instead smiled at him.

From that moment on, Wu Li lost the right to be human, becoming the most loyal of dogs.

"I did not betray Sheng Long; the D card was not stolen by me... it has always been in his possession."

With Sheng Long's meticulous mind, how could he allow Sheng Linrong to discover the existence of the D card? He merely needed to expose a slight vulnerability, enough to make Sheng Linrong suspicious and paranoid, and certainly not trust Wu Li by his side.

"How could Sheng Linrong even see me?" Wu Li let out a low, mocking laugh, ridiculing the arrogance of the upper class and his own pitiful helplessness.

Wu Li, much like his haphazard name, was powerless to resist in this life.

And now, he didn't even have the courage to face the police, only able to plead his innocence to Ji Wei, "I never... even met Ji Pingjiang."

Only after Sheng Linrong's death, as the stench of blood gradually enveloped him, did he belatedly realize he was already deeply entangled and unable to escape. The so-called betrayal and dismissal were merely a pretext to fuel his hatred. If Ji Pingjiang hadn't killed him, he would have to kill Sheng Long.

"Ji Pingjiang said, if I don't kill Sheng Long, Sheng Long will one day find me and kill me."

"Ji Pingjiang also said, Sheng Long is too dangerous. He doesn't trust leaving you with someone like him. The birthday gift he sent you was actually from Sheng Long. He knew you wouldn't like it, so this time, he wants you to make your own choice."

This was the true birthday gift Ji Pingjiang had given her.

"It seems you've already made your choice," came the reply.

From the moment Ji Wei stepped out of the airport, it was clear she was unwilling to leave with Sheng Long.

Sheng Long could only die.

Squeak—

The unlocked cabin door was pushed open from the outside, emitting a grating sound.

"Look, here he comes," Wu Li said, moving behind Ji Wei and pressing a gun to her head.

This gun was left to him by Ji Pingjiang.

"Stay right there, don't come any closer," Wu Li ordered.

Sheng Long stood before them, his neatly tailored suit slightly disheveled, without a hint of pretense, "What do you want?"

Wu Li jerked his chin, signaling for the cowering Huang Mao in the corner to come out and be tied to the iron chair opposite. They were on a private yacht, the owner of which was none other than Sheng Long. It was unknown whether, when he initially purchased the yacht, he had ever anticipated this day. This vessel, about to become his tomb.

Once Huang Mao was securely bound, Wu Li used the gun to gesture for him to leave, then approached to check the bindings. From a black bag, he produced something and fastened it to Sheng Long.

It was a timed bomb, also left to him by Ji Pingjiang.

"Is this... real?" Ji Wei, who had been calm until now, finally spoke up at the sight of the bomb.

Wu Li indicated he wasn't sure, but speculated, "Probably real."

Otherwise, why would Ji Pingjiang go through all this trouble?

"Are you asking me?" Ji Wei's gaze passed over Wu Li and locked onto Sheng Long, "Is it real?"

Sheng Long met her eyes and replied, "It is."

Ji Pingjiang had sought death, not intending to harm the police, so the explosives on him were fake. But that didn't mean he couldn't make real ones. This timed bomb had a simple purpose: to kill.

Ji Wei understood, "You're planning a fake death."

The reason she hadn't dared to confess to Ou Yanglin was that she knew no matter how she exposed Sheng Long's tricks, he always had a countermove ready. The death of Sheng Linrong had been planned for years, and he had even calculated his own fate. It was not something Ji Wei could easily prevent. She had endured for a long time, and now, finally, Sheng Long's final act was unfolding—a fake death.

To let all truths be destroyed in the explosion, then switch countries and identities, he could still keep Ji Wei caged.

"So... that's what you think of me," Sheng Long was taken aback, perhaps not expecting Ji Wei to see through him so clearly, and let out a bitter laugh.

Ji Wei looked at him in disappointment, "I can't think well of you given what you're doing now."

Ever since she received the text message, Ji Wei had trusted only herself.

No matter how Wu Li vented his hatred for Sheng Long, no matter how he praised Ji Pingjiang's counterattack, she wouldn't believe a word. Rather than believing all this was orchestrated by Ji Pingjiang, she was more inclined to think the mastermind was Sheng Long. What betrayal, what brotherly betrayal, were merely tools for Sheng Long to achieve his goals. He was too clever; Ji Wei couldn't trust him an inch more.

Even the candy she secretly gave to Ou Yanglin might have been part of his scheme.

The last lifeline she kept for herself was probably to witness his "death."

"I won't let you succeed," Ji Wei decided to make a desperate move, "This time, you won't escape."

Ou Yanglin had already surrounded the yacht with her team.

Drones relayed the scene inside the cabin to the ground. Huang Mao was taken back, and he obediently confessed the existence of the timed bomb. All departments were ready.

Inside the cabin, Wu Li laughed loudly.

"Ji Wei, sometimes I really admire you," he said. Over the years, only she dared to dance with the devil, enjoying the protection of the demon, yet seeking freedom.

But there's no such thing as having it all.

"If you think all of this is Sheng Long's trick to escape, I have nothing to explain," he said. Who he truly was, which side he was on, and for whom he was working—having been a puppet for too long, sometimes even he got confused.

There was only one thing he was clear about: no matter how today ended, he wouldn't survive.

"I've lived over twenty years, half of them for you," Wu Li walked up to Sheng Long.

"I often think, if that day I hadn't had the heart to kill him, if Mom hadn't seen... would she still be alive? Would I not be held by your leverage, living a half-dead, half-alive existence, leading to today's outcome?"

Sheng Long looked at him indifferently, "Do you regret it?"

Wu Li played with the gun in his hand and smiled, "Not really."

Just a little.

That little bit of regret tormented him sleepless nights, with dreams of his father's bloodshot eyes and his mother's terrified screams. Looking back, he saw Sheng Long standing at the破旧door of his home, holding a phone that was recording, his lips curving, "I've seen it all."

"…Should I silence you?"

Silence whose mouth.

He should silence his own.

After all these years, it was time to end it.

"Brother," Wu Li knelt before Sheng Long, just as he had that year.

The gun in his grip was finally pressed to his temple. Wu Li's hand shook violently. When he had killed his drunken father, he hadn't trembled so pitifully. He closed his eyes and stammered his last words, "I'll wait for you in hell."

Bang—

The gunshot burst like fireworks.

In the mist of blood, Sheng Long lifted his gaze to Ji Wei, meeting her stunned, shattered pupils.

This was indeed a dead end, but not a fake death.

"You know, as long as I live, I won't let you go," Sheng Long said.

When Sheng Long was eight, he met Ji Wei at the Sheng residence. She hid behind Sheng Linrong, like a helpless fledgling, blinking lightly when their eyes met in panic.

They didn't get closer, didn't communicate—strangers to each other.

The first time she called him "brother" was when she saw Meng Qingde hitting him. She rushed forward to protect him but was dragged into the basement with him.

Ji Wei had been crying the entire time.

Though she was terribly timid and they weren't close, Sheng Long asked her why. She apologized, thinking his suffering was because of her. She felt guilty but couldn't leave, "I have no home anymore."

She said, "Brother, I want to live."

What was so great about living?

When the smoke of conflict once again enveloped their so-called home, Ji Wei pulled his hand and hid under the bed with him. The two pressed close together, the outside world was so noisy, yet under the bed, it was eerily quiet as if only their heartbeats remained. It was the first time Sheng Long felt alive.

"What do you want to do with your life?" he asked.

"I want to find Dad, make Mom… climb back in through the balcony. And you?"

Sheng Long countered, "What about me?"

Ji Wei realized and laughed, "And be with brother!"

"Brother, let's leave together, forever and always."

Ji Wei wanted him to protect her as her brother, and the young Sheng Long had no objections. But as they grew older, he sensed that even as a brother, there would come a day of parting. So what identity could he use then?

The affection of family and the love of a partner intertwined, no need to distinguish between them; they were both called love. But what if even this couldn't keep Ji Wei by his side? Sheng Linrong and Meng Qingde were perfect examples.

Sheng Long began to feel panic, unease, and started installing surveillance in Ji Wei's room, just like Sheng Linrong, closely monitoring her every move, trying to monopolize all her affection.

He feared Ji Wei would leave him, guarded against Sheng Linrong hurting her, and when one accident after another occurred, Ji Wei fell ill. She cried and asked him, why didn't those who hurt them just die...

His tightly strung nerves finally snapped.

Perhaps only death could bring some peace of mind.

In his room, Sheng Long recorded the plan he had buried for years. A faint noise came from outside the door—the sound of a coin rolling on the floor.

She had heard it.

"I have a coin in my hand, one side light, one side dark," Ji Wei pressed the coin to the table, covering it with both hands, and lifted her pleading eyes, "Brother, heads or tails?"

Sheng Long knew that under Ji Wei's palms was the heads side of the coin.

If he chose heads, Ji Wei would laugh and say, "Brother guessed right! I chose heads too, we both chose heads."

If he chose tails, Ji Wei would open her palm, "You see, fate requires you to choose heads."

Heads or tails, in Ji Wei's eyes, were light and darkness, good and evil, with an unbridgeable chasm between them. But in Sheng Long's eyes, there was no difference.

The fusion of heads and tails, the blurred line in between was gray, called choice.

Sheng Long took the coin from Ji Wei's hand.

Sunlight streamed through the glass window onto the table, and the coin stood upright. The shadow cast by the reverse side stretched infinitely, coalescing into a demon.

"I choose you."

No need for Ji Wei to ask for heads or tails; he would be her gray, helping her clear obstacles and eradicate the nightmares of their childhood.

The tainted blood in his bones destined him to never love Ji Wei as a normal person. In his growth, he despised Sheng Linrong, emulated Sheng Linrong, and ultimately became Sheng Linrong. Would he hurt Ji Wei?

By the time he realized, they had already moved out of the Sheng residence. Through countless pairs of eyes, he watched over Ji Wei, belatedly aware that he had already caused harm.

"I live, I can't let you go," Sheng Long repeated.

Even if given millions of chances to start over, he would never let go.

Ji Wei thought him too powerful, capable of devising murder plots and faking his death, yet unable to calculate human hearts or control the despicable love and possession of a monster.

His choice had always been Ji Wei.

When Ji Wei no longer chose him, his choice remained Ji Wei.

Whatever Ji Wei chose, he would do.

Drip—Drip—

The timing device had been activated.

Countdown, one minute.

Fifty-nine.

Fifty-eight.

Fifty-seven...

No one expected Wu Li to commit suicide.

Ou Yanglin rushed into the cabin and untied Ji Wei, while the bomb disposal expert in full gear urgently worked to defuse the bomb, but it was too late, far too late.

Three.

Two.

One.

Drip—Drip—

As the countdown ended, Sheng Long closed his eyes, allowing himself to sink into darkness.

How could he be content?

He could have won, he should have won, but Ji Wei had seen through all his plans. She no longer needed him; the one who hated him to the bone wanted only his death.

Though reluctant, death was not impossible.

He could no longer look at her.

Sheng Long wanted to forget Ji Wei's face, lest he pull her into death with him, even as a vengeful spirit, he would cling to her.

Suddenly, a violent force lunged at him. Sheng Long opened his eyes to meet Ji Wei's furious gaze.

She clung to him with both arms, her mouth opening and closing, her face bearing the triumph of a winner, "I told you, you can't escape."

No delusions of faking death to escape.

No fantasies of trading death for her indelible memories.

In this game, since the moment their relationship soured, Ji Wei had never won. This time, she would win once.

Bang—

Ou Yanglin failed to catch Ji Wei, watching helplessly as the two plunged toward the sea surface, creating a splash.

【Xiao Wei, Happy Birthday.】

【The little brat wanted me to research bombs. I said I'm a genius. Did he really think I could do anything? Who does he want to kill? Himself...?

Dad researched for a long time and finally made a timed firework with immense destructive power! When it explodes, it's the winged kiwi bird you and Mom love the most. Am I super awesome or what?】

【Can you see it?】

"Look,"

The firework drowned in the azure, the sea surface rippled slightly.

A finger emerged from the water, pointing at the sky, "A kiwi bird has escaped its cage."

"It's flying in the sky."

"And you?"