“Fight or die, I had no other way out.” Elvis rested his chin gently on the top of Gu Mengmeng’s head. He bypassed details of the countless battles, brutal attacks, bloodshed and lucky escapes, to offer this conclusion. “The wolves in that underground cave all turned into my food in the end. When I emerged from the cave, I had just turned one year of age, and had just morphed into a first-level beast.”


  Gu Mengmeng could almost imagine what Elvis must have looked like when he crawled out of that underground wolf cave. He must have looked like a malevolent spirit newly emerged from hell, crushing all hopes and doling out destruction with a vengeance. Descending upon every one of his enemies.

  “Thank you for surviving.” Gu Mengmeng pressed her cheeks against Elvis’ chest to listen to his heartbeat. She held no fear, only gratefulness. Grateful that he wasn’t beaten down by that terrible tribulation and survived to meet her.

  If she had missed him, how regretful her life would be?

  “Silly girl, why are you saying thank you?” Elvis lifted her face and kissed her on the brow. His eyes held a certain sincerity, as if he was not looking at his own female, but at life’s only beacon of light. “You were the one who led me out of that darkness and horror. If I hadn’t met you, I would probably still be killing for fun, and taking my own life for granted, just waiting for death. It was you who pulled me out from the depths of despair. Why are you thanking me instead?”


  Gu Mengmeng felt a strong tug at her heartstrings. She didn’t protest but just smiled. “We were both aimlessly going on about life, vulnerable and lonely, when we were lucky enough to meet each other. We lit the fire of hope in each other’s eyes, which cast a warm glow upon our shared lives. We are a family, a family who must always stay together, so…… we don’t need to thank each, right?”


  Elvis’ heart melted at Gu Mengmeng’s words. He kissed her sweetly.

  “Hubby.” Gu Mengmeng hesitated, but still continued. “I feel that I can never forgive Peter……”


  “Mmm, then I will kill him.” Elvis replied calmly and firmly, without any hesitation. It was as if Gu Mengmeng had just asked him to pick a wildflower for her, and he replied “okay”.

  Gu Mengmeng shook her head. “I don’t mean that.”


  “Huh?” Elvis glanced at Gu Mengmeng out of the corner of his eye, his gaze still warm.

  Gu Mengmeng explained. “Although Natalie and Peter are your parents, I am not going to stand on my high horse and ask you to forgive them. Even for me, having heard the atrocities of your childhood, I just want to tear Peter apart. Not to mention you were the one who endured that experience. Only those who felt the knife carving into their own flesh would understand the pain. So, regardless of what you decide, I will support you without any qualms. Because only you have the right to decide whether to forgive.”


  “But I just want to tell you what I know. To let you make a decision based on all the facts, so that you will not have any regrets. Okay?”


  Elvis remained silent, as forgiveness really meant nothing to him. However, looking at Gu Mengmeng’s expression, he couldn’t bear to disappoint her and just nodded. He quietly listened as Gu Mengmeng repeated all the things that Natalie had told her in that cave.