Dramatic changes in the movies and TV shows

Chapter 1297 The "Truth" Under the Sea

The night was as dark as ink, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty smell, swept across the silent dock.

Shen Man rented a set of equipment as quickly as possible, ignoring the shopkeeper's suggestion to wait until dawn or find a diving buddy.

"Desert Lighthouse~!" These four words were like a curse, making her feel restless and uneasy.

The images echoed wildly in her mind, especially Lin Hao's ambiguous smile and Jane's face, which was mired in pretense.

She needs a definite answer, and she must get it herself; there's no time to lose!

The icy seawater soaked through her diving suit, the chill biting, but it was nothing compared to the anxiety in her heart.

The beam of the headlamp traced a lonely path in the dark sea, illuminating only a limited area ahead.

The surging water and the blurry shadows of the distant reefs seemed like lurking monsters.

Her heartbeat was amplified underwater in the stillness, thumping loudly, intertwining with the rhythmic bubbles from her breathing apparatus to create a breathtaking solo.

She searched inch by inch, following the directions that Lin Hao's words might have hinted at in her memory.

Time loses its meaning underwater; only the dwindling oxygen and the ever-deepening despair remind her of her existence.

Just when she was about to give up, the edge of the beam caught sight of a lone shark cage.

Shen Man then felt her heart clench, and then she swam over with all her might.

Then she saw a body lying quietly in the shadow of the shark cage.

She was also wearing the familiar white dress that Li Muzi loved most, her long hair flowing like seaweed, her face indistinct in the dim light, but her figure, her silhouette…

"Muzi—!!"

A silent scream exploded in her chest, and immense grief engulfed her like a tsunami.

She quickly covered the respirator to prevent herself from choking on water due to her violent sobbing.

Tears welled up uncontrollably. She reached out, her hand trembling as she tried to touch it through her diving gloves, but then recoiled as if burned.

It's true... Lin Hao didn't lie to her... Mu Zi really... is dead!
The sadness lasted only a moment before it was brutally replaced by another, stronger emotion—anger!
It was a deep-seated hatred and an extreme disgust for Lin Hao's hypocritical face!
"He killed Mu Zi! He actually killed Mu Zi!"

This realization was like a poisoned dagger, piercing her heart. At that moment, she had only one thought in her mind: to immediately go up and call the police to arrest Lin Hao, and at the same time find someone to pull Mu Zi out of the water.

Thinking of this, Shen Man glanced at the "corpse" one last time with reluctance, then resolutely turned around and swam upstream with all her might.

As she broke through the water, she gasped for breath of the damp night air. Her eyes were no longer wet with tears, but instead burned with a chilling flame ignited by ambition and hatred.

He then took out his phone, intending to dial the police number, but at that moment, fireworks burst in the distance, and men and women at the beach restaurant were illuminated by the fireworks.

Then, a more realistic thought suddenly wrapped around her mind like a vine.

"Mu Zi is dead... what happened to her vast fortune?"

"If he calls the police and Lin Hao is arrested, will there be no heir to this vast fortune?"

"But if we don't arrest them, wouldn't that be exactly what Lin Hao wanted, and they'd all end up in the hands of that murderer?"

"He killed my best friend, so why can he get away with it and even inherit everything from her, continuing his scumbag life?"

"And me? How much have I sacrificed to uncover the truth? My time, my energy, and..."

She recalled her feigned friendship with Lin Hao, and even had Jane join her in seducing Lin Hao, for which she had...!

The thought of that humiliation fueled my resentment.

"Therefore, Lin Hao must receive the punishment he deserves. This money should not be given to Lin Hao, the murderer, but should be at my disposal!"

"I should help Mu Zi get everything back before Lin Hao is arrested. Only when I get this money can I comfort Mu Zi's soul in heaven!"

"Yes, it's for Mu Zi! I can't let that scumbag tarnish her hard work!"

In her most vulnerable moments, her deepest jealousy, resentment, and greed were amplified to an extreme.

And it cleverly disguised itself as a righteous act of "avenging a friend" and "protecting the legacy".

Meanwhile, the scene inside the hotel suite was quite different.

Jane sat in the living room, somewhat saddened. She had returned from the beach restaurant early and was unaware of what had happened between Shen Man and Lin Hao.

When Lin Hao returned, his face showed just the right amount of fatigue.

Lin Hao naturally sat down next to Jane, gently putting his arm around her shoulder, and said in a gentle tone with a hint of helplessness:
"Sigh, she seems to have gone a bit crazy because of Mu Zi!" Lin Hao sighed, starting to give her a heads-up.

"I hope she can let go soon; this is torture for everyone."

Jane nestled in his arms, feeling the warmth from his chest, and her initial unease seemed to be slightly soothed.

"Perhaps Sister Man... is just too worried about Mu Zi."

"I know!" Lin Hao gently stroked the top of her head with his chin and said in a deep voice:

"So, thankfully you're here. Jane, only when I'm by your side can I feel a sense of peace!"

These words, like a feather, gently tickled Jane's heart.

She closed her eyes, temporarily banishing the anxious and stern image of Shen Man from her mind, and indulging in this moment of feeling needed.

But she also had a question in her mind: why was Lin Hao so calm about his wife's disappearance, and why did he still live such a carefree life every day?

He even messed around with her and Shen Man, without caring about Mu Zi at all?

Could it be that Mu Zi was really killed by him, or that he didn't care about Mu Zi at all? If so, then...!

Jane's mind raced, and finally she struggled to get up from Lin Hao's warm embrace. Then she looked at Lin Hao solemnly and asked:

"Tell me honestly, what's really going on with Mu Zi, isn't it?!"

Lin Hao covered Jane's rosy lips with his index finger, preventing her from asking the question.

Seeing that the other person had quieted down, Lin Hao lowered his hand, looked into Jane's eyes, and said softly:
Mu Zi's situation is very complicated, and I can't go into details with you right now. If you insist on asking, I can only say that it involves me, Mu Zi, and Shen Man, but it's not the time to reveal the secrets yet, so I can't tell you any more details.

"However, I can assure you that I have never, actively or passively, tried to do anything to harm Mu Zi!"

Jane stared blankly into Lin Hao's eyes. Seeing that Lin Hao didn't seem to be lying, she finally nodded at Lin Hao and said:

"Yes, I believe you! And I believe you won't lie to me!"

Lin Hao leaned against the headboard, Jane nestled in his arms. The angle perfectly showcased her fair shoulders and flawless, jade-like back, which Lin Hao caressed tenderly. Her skin was smooth and delicate, feeling as silky as the finest satin—it was incredibly pleasant to the touch.

Nestled in Lin Hao's arms, Jane's face was flushed, and her expression carried a hint of satisfaction and allure.

She looked up at Lin Hao, blinked, and said in a lazy, coquettish voice:
"Lin Hao, after we find Mu Zi, I won't disturb your lives, so I want you to love me as much as you want, okay!"

Lin Hao hugged Jane tightly, kissed her beautiful face, and pressed her down again, teasingly saying:

"Don't worry, you are the woman I truly acknowledge, Mu Zi won't mind!"

Jane's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this, and she finally managed to get information about Mu Zi. From Lin Hao's words, she could deduce that Mu Zi was definitely alright.

Especially when Lin Hao confidently said that Mu Zi wouldn't mind, it further confirmed her thoughts, and she thought she should talk to Shen Man tomorrow.

But at this moment, there was no room for her to think anything more!

Similarly, what she didn't know was that while Lin Hao was holding her, his consciousness was underwater, tempting someone's thoughts.

······
The next morning, sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains.

Jane's shoulders were exposed outside the blanket, her skin fair and delicate, as if sculpted from solidified white jade, flawless.

At this moment, Lin Hao reluctantly turned his gaze away from her delicate body, and then said somewhat apologetically:

"Honey, I've made breakfast for you. I have something to take care of. Eat first and then come and rest!"

"Mmm~~Mmm~!" Jane looked at Lin Hao with a happy expression and gave a roundabout "Mmm".

He kissed her on the forehead before leaving the hotel with his coat. But as he passed through the hotel lobby, Lin Hao noticed a figure.

At this moment, Shen Man's eyes were bloodshot and her face was frighteningly pale, but her eyes were terrifyingly bright.

After seeing Lin Hao leave the hotel, she went straight upstairs and barged into Jane's room, locking the door behind her.

"Get ready, we need to move out tonight." Shen Man's voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable determination.

Jane was startled: "Operation? What operation?"

"I will use the treatment plan to force him to hand over Mu Zi's inheritance," Shen Man said resolutely.

"What?! Sister Man, are you crazy?!" Jane jumped up, staring at her in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm not crazy!" Shen Man took a step closer, her eyes fierce as she said:
"It was Lin Hao who killed Mu Zi, and I already found out Mu Zi's whereabouts yesterday."

“And I’ve found Mu Zi’s body! I found it last night at the place he mentioned. Lin Hao is the murderer who killed Mu Zi!” Shen Man emphasized repeatedly, her expression ruthless.

After the initial shock, Jane was quickly overcome by intense doubt. Her gaze swept over the somewhat excited Shen Man, and she seemed to be deep in thought.

In fact, she had noticed last night that Shen Man's behavior was somewhat obsessive, as if she was convinced from beginning to end that Lin Hao had killed Mu Zi.

She actually talked about herself like that last night, and she hasn't even settled the score with Shen Man yet.

Compared to the calm and reliable Lin Hao, Shen Man seems mentally unstable at this moment.

Jane then shook her head and said, "No...that's unlikely! It doesn't make sense!"

"What doesn't make sense? I went to check with my own eyes, and Mu Zi's body was in the shark cage under the desert lighthouse!" Shen Man said excitedly.

"If Lin Hao is the murderer, why would he tell you the location of the body?" Jane's voice rose as she calmly analyzed:

"By doing this, isn't he just walking into a trap? With his intelligence, would he do something so stupid?"

"Sister Man, Mu Zi's disappearance is too strange. There must be some misunderstanding! And I don't believe he would kill someone!"

"A misunderstanding?" Shen Man's eyes sharpened, as if she'd heard the funniest joke. "Jane, wake up!"

Have you been slept with by him a few times, and forgotten who you even are? Don't you even want revenge for Mu Zi's death anymore? Have you been brainwashed by him?!

"You're talking nonsense!" Jane's face flushed instantly, and she said with a mixture of shame and indignation:

"You're completely blinded by paranoia! From the very beginning, you've harbored certain emotions towards Lin Hao; it feels like you're mostly hostile towards him!"

"And do you think your actions are so unreasonable?" Jane couldn't help but ask again, thinking about what Shen Man was about to do.

"Your so-called medical threat plan is essentially illegal detention, and I will not help you with that!"

"You're not going to help?" Shen Man sneered, her eyes icy cold.
"Fine, then keep dreaming! I'll do it myself! Let's see if I can send him to hell and take back everything that rightfully belongs to Mu Zi!"

The argument echoed loudly in the room, finally ending with Shen Man slamming the door and leaving.

Jane slumped weakly onto the bed, her heart pounding and tears welling in her eyes.

The bridge of trust between the two collapsed completely during a series of unintentional arguments.

Jane doesn't believe Lin Hao is the murderer, especially after what he said last night, which convinced her that he definitely wasn't the killer.

Yet Shen Man was so certain that Lin Hao had killed Mu Zi, and she even knew the location of the body.

Everything happening here, inside and out, is illogical and doesn't make any sense.

Furthermore, since Shen Man found Mu Zi's body, why didn't she call the police directly, but instead tried to detain Lin Hao privately?
Suddenly, remembering what Lin Hao had casually mentioned last night—that Mu Zi's disappearance was also related to Shen Man—she felt a bad premonition.

"Should I go to the desert lighthouse to confirm its authenticity?" Jane made up her mind.

Regardless of whether Shen Man's words are true or false, she should go and see for herself; right now, she feels that no one can be trusted.

······
Later that evening, Shen Man gathered Zheng Cheng and several other core team members to announce Li Muzi's "death".

“Our plans need to be changed.” Shen Man’s voice was frighteningly calm, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Now, our goal is not to test him, but to ensure that Mu Zi's inheritance does not fall into the hands of the murderer. We need him to hand over Mu Zi's inheritance."

The room fell silent. Zheng Cheng and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with shock and hesitation. Things had taken a far greater turn than initially planned.

"Manman, this...this is too sudden. Shouldn't we be more cautious...like calling the police directly?" Zheng Cheng tried to persuade her.

"Be cautious? Call the police?" Shen Man interrupted him, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally saying:
"After Lin Hao is arrested, although the assets may be confiscated, it is more likely that they will remain in his name!"

"Why should a murderer inherit Mu Zi's estate? Rather than letting Lin Hao, this murderer, get away with it, we should transfer the estate first and then deal with Lin Hao!"

Seeing that some members were somewhat tempted, Shen Man finally said forcefully:

"Are we supposed to wait until he transfers his assets or gets away with it before we take action? What we're doing now is truly seeking justice for Mu Zi! Just do as I say!"

Under her strong persuasion, the team's doubts were temporarily suppressed, but an undercurrent of unease was already silently surging.