What does the rose represent? And the necklace? More importantly, where on earth is Su Qingxue? Who kidnapped her? They should have given me some kind of hint!

Unfortunately, there was still no answer when he called Su Qingxue’s number. When he prepared to locate her phone, he discovered its location services had already been blocked, making it impossible to track.

These roses... why does all of this feel so familiar? What does it mean?

Ye Fan suspected the Shadow Demon Queen was behind this, but the whole situation also gave him a strong sense of déjà vu. He felt as if he had experienced this exact scenario before, though he could not recall the details.

He immediately started his investigation, going to a flower shop to make inquiries. The owner told him the flowers were fresh, meaning they had been delivered to him less than two hours after being picked. After questioning the owner further, he decided to head to the rose fields to see if he could find any clues. With Su Qingxue in the enemy’s hands, he did not dare rashly use his connections. What if they harmed her? So, he proceeded with extreme caution.

This was definitely not a simple kidnapping. If it were, the culprits would have left a way to be contacted. This was the work of no ordinary person. They had left only a bouquet of flowers, forcing him to find the clues himself.

Around dusk, as the sun began to set, he arrived outside a rose garden. Before him stretched a vast, endless sea of roses. It was a captivating sight, especially under the setting sun, but Ye Fan had no interest in admiring the flowers. He was here to save someone.

He came to a stop inside a villa at the center of the estate. The place was empty and radiated an eerie silence.

Ye Fan finally spoke into the emptiness, "You lured me all the way out here. You’re not just going to leave me hanging, are you?"

Sure enough, the lights in the dark, empty room instantly flickered on, illuminating the entire space. A figure walked in from the hall. It was the Shadow Demon Queen, her face filled with anger upon seeing him again.

Ye Fan was speechless. She kidnapped Su Qingxue twice. What is she thinking? Although the tactic was old, he knew Su Qingxue was his Achilles’ heel. So, from her perspective, the Shadow Demon Queen’s actions were perfectly logical.

He asked her, "Where is my wife?"

The Shadow Demon Queen replied, "She’s right behind you!"

"What?"

Ye Fan spun around. Just as she had said, a woman walked out from the room behind him. It was Su Qingxue.

"Qingxue!" Ye Fan immediately rushed toward her.

At that moment, however, Su Qingxue slapped him hard across the face.

Clutching his cheek, Ye Fan asked, "Honey, why did you hit me?"

"You shameless man!" Su Qingxue scolded.

Ye Fan was baffled. How am I shameless? He had gone to such great lengths, his heart in his throat the entire time, only to be met with a slap.

Su Qingxue continued, "You unfaithful man! I didn’t know before, but now I finally do. You betrayed her!"

The "her" she referred to was the Shadow Demon Queen.

Ye Fan looked at the Shadow Demon Queen, then back at his wife. "When did I ever betray her? I barely even know her! How would I have had the chance?"

He was at a loss for words. One should not just throw accusations around. Enough false accusations become a heavy burden. And right now, he was being saddled with one for no reason at all.

Just then, the Shadow Demon Queen asked, "Do you really not remember what happened four years ago?"

"Four years ago?"

Ye Fan searched his memory. Nothing significant seemed to have happened four years ago. At most, that was when he had driven out the previous King and taken his place. But that King was a man, known as the Shura King, not a woman. That memory was crystal clear. The Shadow Demon Queen had never appeared in it. In fact, there was nothing related to her at all.

The Shadow Demon Queen pressed on, "Do you remember that rainy night? Right here!"

Ye Fan thought hard. He had indeed visited this city four years ago, but he could not recall any major events taking place.

"I don’t remember," he said. "I just came here to visit an old friend four years ago and left soon after. Nothing significant happened!"

His memory was a mess.

"It seems you truly don’t remember," the Shadow Demon Queen said, her voice cold. "After that rainy night, my only thought has been to kill you. In this lifetime, I must kill you!"

"Then why don’t you tell me what happened?" Ye Fan said, frustrated. "Even if you want to kill me, I deserve to know why!" Being hunted for an unknown reason was infuriating. He felt deeply wronged and needed answers.

"Very well," the Shadow Demon Queen replied. "Since you don’t remember, allow me to help you recall.

"Four years ago, an assassin tried to kill you. Do you remember that?" she questioned.

Ye Fan finally remembered. He had been at a party in this very garden. He got drunk and was attacked by a powerful assassin. Moreover, he had been set up. In response, he entered a demonic state and tore the assassin to shreds. He could not remember anything that happened afterward.

"Was this assassin someone you knew?" he asked.

"He had nothing to do with me," she said. "Since you don’t recall what came next, let me refresh your memory. That night, you entered a demonic state.

"After you did, you lost your senses. You barged into my room!" the Shadow Demon Queen stated sharply.

Ye Fan strained to recall the events, but the memory always felt incomplete, like something was missing. He focused again, determined to remember what had happened, no matter what.

Slowly, the memories began to return, bit by bit.

That night, he had been unable to control his demonic state. Back then, his power was not as profound as it was now, so once he entered that state, he could not simply snap out of it. It had to run its course. In his frenzy, he had stumbled into a woman’s room. His blurry memories showed the woman resisting desperately, but she was no match for him in his demonic state. Ultimately, he had overpowered her.

The next day, when he recovered, he found no woman in the room, only bloodstains on the bedsheets. He had assumed it was all just a dream and had thought nothing more of it.

As the memory surfaced, a terrible feeling washed over him. Could it be... that woman was the Shadow Demon Queen? After all, back then the rose garden was not nearly as famous as it is now, and he himself was just beginning to rise to prominence.

At that, he looked at the Shadow Demon Queen in horror.

"You finally remembered," she said. "I was beginning to think you had truly erased that memory."

"Don’t tell me... that woman that night was you?" Ye Fan asked awkwardly.

"What do you think?" the Shadow Demon Queen said through gritted teeth.

Su Qingxue decided not to get involved any further. She had not expected her own husband to be such a beast, completely forgetting what he had done.

At that moment, Ye Fan said sheepishly, "Actually, there’s really no need to dwell on it. It was just one night, right? Besides, I was in my demonic state. So, I think it’s forgivable!"

In this day and age, were such things not common? You could just wake up and pretend you did not know each other.

But his words managed to enrage both Su Qingxue and the Shadow Demon Queen at the same time.

"Let’s talk this out!" Ye Fan said quickly. "I’ll take full responsibility!"

"You’re not worthy!" the Shadow Demon Queen shot back.

Ye Fan was instantly speechless. He had suggested they pretend it never happened, but she refused. Now he was offering to take responsibility, and she refused that too. He truly had no idea what she wanted from him.

"Then what do you want me to do?" Ye Fan asked awkwardly.