He wouldn't expose her, would he?
Wuwuwuwu, please don't...
Her pride was important too...
-
Just as Lu Youran was frantically imagining embarrassing scenarios, Fu Ran stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong? Did your ex-boyfriend come back to bother you again? Want me to beat him up one more time?"
Lu Youran: "??!"
Was this guy on something? He was actually helping her?!
Jing Xiao's face darkened further. "Are you really pursuing her?"
It wasn't fair to blame him for being suspicious.
Fu Ran clearly had an extraordinary background. How could he possibly be interested in a woman as unwomanly as Lu Youran?
"Of course!" Fu Ran said with deep affection. "I like her immensely, I wish I could send her ninety-nine roses every day to show my sincerity.
"But she just won't agree. I understand, though. A good girl like Ranran, who has been hurt in love and had her true heart trampled by garbage, should indeed be cautious.
"However, I'm willing to wait for her. Who told her to be so outstanding, understanding, and cheerful? Let alone two years, even ten years, I'd be perfectly content!"
Lu Youran: ...Are you an actor?
How could he be so eloquent?
And who exactly were you talking about? Could you introduce me?
Just as Lu Youran was internally complaining, Fu Ran suddenly leaned closer. "Can you cooperate a little? Miss Lu Youran? You can't let me act alone, can you? Hmm?"
His voice was low and deliberately hushed, incredibly alluring.
Lu Youran wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but she felt a hint of affection in his words, "Miss Lu Youran."
"Uh..." Lu Youran asked softly, "How should I cooperate? Aren't you doing a pretty good job alone?"
Fu Ran paused, then gritted his teeth. "At least give me some reaction!"
Didn't he have any self-respect?
He said so many nice things, and she didn't react at all! She should at least... offer a word of praise, right?
"Uh..."
Before Lu Youran could finish her reaction, Jing Xiao left with a displeased expression.
Lu Youran quickly pushed Fu Ran away. "Thank you!"
Fu Ran raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome. I should thank you too."
Lu Youran: "?"
Fu Ran guiltily touched his nose. "About what happened in the conference room."
"Ah~" The young woman's voice rose in realization, then her smile vanished. "I'm still very angry."
Fu Ran: "..."
"Then," the usually haughty Fu family heir lowered his head for the first time to coax someone, his ear tips turning an abnormal red.
"What do I need to do to make you feel better?"
His slightly apologetic voice was soft, and it sounded inexplicably gentle in her ears.
However, Lu Youran didn't notice. She raised her hand and gestured. "At least treat me to ten hotpot meals!"
"Okay..." Fu Ran was about to nod when Lu Youran added, "Not me, us! The three girls in our dorm!"
Wen Tingxue quickly said, "I won't join the fun. I'd rather have dinner with my boyfriend during that time."
She wasn't going to be a third wheel and witness them being lovey-dovey.
Lu Youran cast a resentful glance at her, and the young woman stuck out her tongue.
Lu Youran: ...
Having a boyfriend nearby made a difference. She wasn't this lively before.
Indeed, finding the right partner was healing; finding the wrong one was debilitating.
As they spoke, a long-haired girl emerged from the police station. Her face was elegant and delicate, and she looked timid.
Seeing the crowd of men and women nearby, she instinctively wanted to hide and quickened her pace.
But out of curiosity, she couldn't help but glance back a few times, then her footsteps stopped.
"Sister Youran, Brother Song."
A faint voice cut in, and everyone immediately looked over.
The young girl's eyes trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze.
Lu Youran recognized her. "Hey, aren't you the waitress from that KTV? Why are you at the police station? Did someone bully you again?"
By the end of her sentence, Lu Youran was already getting angry. "Don't be afraid, little sister. Tell me who bullied you, and I'll immediately..."
"No, no," seeing her rolling up her sleeves, the young girl quickly shook her head. "The police asked me to come in for questioning."
"Questioning?" Lu Youran asked curiously. "What about?"
The young girl looked at her, then at Wen Tingxue, and said obediently, "About your case. The police reviewed the surveillance footage and found that the deceased's last known location was the KTV.
"I happened to be there that day and saw her go in. So, they asked me to come in and record a statement."
Wen Tingxue asked, "Did you see her leave?"
The girl shook her head. Wen Tingxue asked again, "When did you see her, approximately?"
"Around one in the afternoon." Having been asked many times, the girl answered quickly.
"One in the afternoon..."
Wen Tingxue murmured, lowering her gaze. "So, the lakeside might not be the primary crime scene."
"Yes," the girl nodded.
Wen Tingxue immediately looked at her, and the girl, slightly startled, pursed her lips. "I heard them say that the forensic doctor determined the body had been frozen, so the time of death should be earlier."
Earlier?
Wen Tingxue blinked rapidly in nervousness. Yu Wenli realized something was wrong. He took her other hand, held it in his palm, and gently rubbed it. "What's wrong?"
His gentle voice smoothed the worry from Wen Tingxue's brow. She looked up, her dark pupils widening slightly.
"Yesterday, late at night, Meng Xiyao called me and asked to meet."
She deliberately emphasized the time. Yu Wenli paused slightly. "Was it her?"
Wen Tingxue shook her head. "I don't know, but the voice was very similar, and her usual tone of speech was also very similar..."
If Meng Xiyao was confirmed to have died in the afternoon, or before that call.
Then, who made that call?
The real murderer?
No, it must have been Lan Shuo who arranged it.
Then what was his motive?
To frame her?
That didn't seem sufficient.
Just as the atmosphere turned cold, an electric scooter pulled up and stopped.
"Lulu!"
The person took off their helmet and called out to the young girl, their expression anxious, clearly having rushed over.
"Brother? Why are you here?" The girl walked towards him in surprise.
The man looked her up and down. "Are you okay? Your roommate said you were taken by the police. I thought you'd gotten into some trouble."
Yu Wenli found the man somewhat familiar but couldn't recall where he'd seen him before.
Until the young girl turned to introduce herself—
"Sister Youran, Brother Song, my name is Cheng Lulu. I study at the Conservatory of Music. You can find me if you need anything."
The young girl said to the two with a sweet smile, her small canine teeth appearing cute and well-behaved.
Yu Wenli instantly remembered the man's name.
Cheng Xi.
The paparazzi who had secretly photographed him and Wen Tingxue back then.
The moment Yu Wenli recognized Cheng Xi, Cheng Xi also noticed Yu Wenli.
After a brief glance, Cheng Xi averted his gaze. "Let's go, don't you have class today?"
He urged Cheng Lulu with a hint of urgency.
"Oh."
Cheng Lulu quickly took her helmet and got on the scooter.
Just then, a black car drove ostentatiously to the entrance of the police station.
Cheng Lulu felt a gaze and instinctively looked back. The black car's window rolled down, revealing a half-seductive, half-rebellious face.
And a pair of cold, predatory eyes.
Cheng Lulu's gaze collided squarely with his, and her breath hitched.
As they passed, she could even smell the faint scent of cigars on the man.
It wasn't until they had completely left the police station that Cheng Lulu seemed to come back to her senses and patted her chest.
That man... was too bewitching and too evil.
He was frightening to look at.
At the police station.
Yu Zhishu got out of the car. Before he could reach Wen Tingxue, another car drove in, its license plate also from Jiangcheng.
Wen Tingxue's heart skipped a beat. That number...
"Wen Tingxue!"
Yu Xiuxiu, in impossibly high heels, approached and scolded angrily. "Such a big incident, and you didn't even call us?! If your father and I weren't on a business trip in the capital, how long would you have kept this from us?!"
Her raised hand, about to slap, turned into a caress as it descended, and her angry face gradually softened.
"Have you been wronged?" Yu Xiuxiu's eyes reddened as she stared into her daughter's eyes. The worry and fear she'd felt on the way were now all replaced by longing.
Although they had only been separated for less than a month, her daughter was her heart and soul. She wished she could see her day and night.
"I'm sorry..."
Wen Tingxue hugged her mother guiltily.
Wen Zhongen, whose heart had finally settled, opened his arms and embraced his daughter and wife.
Everyone else: Suddenly felt a bit redundant.
Yu Zhishu looked at the happy family of three and asked, "Isn't Lawyer Yu very good at criminal cases?"
"Yes, what about it?" Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow. "Did you get involved in a criminal case too?"
Yu Zhishu glared at him. "Can't you wish me well for once?"
"If you upset the girl, appease her."
Song You raised an eyebrow. Appease her?
Don't be ridiculous.
Young Master Fu's method of appeasing people had always been to throw money at them.
-
Outside the restaurant.
After the Yu siblings got out of the car, the driver still hadn't received instructions to leave and couldn't help but remind him.
"Master Chi, I have a flight later, to Shenhai."
"Mm."
Chi Ye replied indifferently, still not giving an order.
The driver couldn't help but glance at the rearview mirror. The powerful and arrogant man was resting his chin on his hand, gazing out the window. His dark purple suit further accentuated his deep temperament, making him seem like an unfathomable enigma.
After an unknown period, Chi Ye closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat, his voice languid and noble. "Cancel all my arrangements. I'll be staying in the capital recently."
Driver: "???"
A business deal worth hundreds of millions, and he just canceled it?
"Do you, have other arrangements?" It wasn't a boss's character to refuse business.
Chi Ye responded, "Mm, encountered something more interesting."
Driver: "???"
In the private room of the restaurant.
While waiting for the food, Yu Zhishu, with Wen Tingxue's help, successfully improved her relationship with Yu Xiuxiu.
"Um, Auntie Yu, I need your help with something."
Yu Zhishu wasn't good at beating around the bush. Once she felt the time was right, she spoke directly.
Yu Xiuxiu smiled, not surprised. "What is it? Auntie will definitely help if she can."
"It's not a very troublesome matter," Yu Zhishu poured water for Yu Xiuxiu, speaking slowly. "It's just a case, I'm not good at it, but I really want to handle it, so..."
She didn't finish her sentence. Yu Xiuxiu understood and picked up her teacup, taking a sip.
"Give me the documents." This statement meant she agreed.
Yu Zhishu immediately smiled. "I'll make a call."
Shortly after, Song Ruining arrived with Meng's parents.
"Uncle, Aunt, Yi Yi."
He greeted them with a smile. Yu Xiuxiu was momentarily stunned. "Are you two in the same law firm?"
"Mm," Song Ruining adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Otherwise, I would have taken the case."
Influenced by Yu Xiuxiu, he was also skilled in criminal cases.
However, Lin Yuanzhi had already taken Lan Shuo's case. According to the rules, other lawyers in the firm could not take the same case.
Yu Xiuxiu nodded. "Alright, then I'll take it. What's your daughter's name?"
To improve efficiency, Yu Xiuxiu always looked while asking questions.
Before coming, Song Ruining had taken Meng's father and mother to many lawyers, but all of them, without exception, politely declined.
Therefore, Meng's father and mother didn't have much hope coming here.
Especially Yu Xiuxiu's attire, similar to those lawyers who spoke nicely but declined them.
All of them were elite and fashionable.
It wasn't until Yu Xiuxiu spoke that Meng's father and mother's hope rekindled, and they immediately said, "Meng Xiyao..."
"Meng Xiyao?!" Lu Youran suddenly stood up.
Those who were unaware of the situation instinctively looked at her.
"What's wrong?" Song Ruining asked gently.
"Youran..."
Wen Tingxue was about to stop her when Lu Youran blurted out, "She drugged Xiao Xue!"
"Drugged?" Yu Xiuxiu's hand paused in its flipping motion, and her expression turned solemn.
...
After briefly explaining the general situation, Wen Tingxue said, "But that's a different matter. Now that she has died under mysterious circumstances, I hope you can seek justice for her, Mom."
It was true that Meng Xiyao was disliked, but her parents were truly kind.
When they heard about Meng Xiyao's actions, they kept apologizing to her.
When she helped them up, her hands felt rough with calluses.
They were clearly pitiful people.
Now that they had lost their beloved daughter, how could she refuse?
Moreover, Meng Xiyao was dead, so all grievances were wiped clean.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know about this situation," Yu Zhishu said apologetically.
She looked at Wen Tingxue with embarrassment.
Wen Tingxue smiled and shook her head. "It's okay, I'm really fine. You don't have to look at me like that. I don't have any objections."
Fearing she might be unhappy, everyone was watching her closely, afraid she might be wronged.
Wen Tingxue loved this feeling of being cared for and respected, so she naturally didn't want them to feel bad, and she made her stance clear.
-
After dinner, Song Ruining and Yu Zhishu accompanied Meng's parents to find a hotel.
Yu Xiuxiu and Wen Zhongen squeezed in time to accompany their daughter.
Yu Wenli didn't dare to compete with his future in-laws for attention, so he sent Lu Youran back to school and waited for his girlfriend's summons.
He waited for half a day.
"It feels like years." Seeing her again, Yu Wenli wished he could fuse her into his body.
Wen Tingxue, finding it hard to breathe, punched him. "You're going to suffocate your girlfriend!"
"How about now?" He slightly loosened his grip but didn't let go completely.
Wen Tingxue: ...
"You're being childish," she scolded, but her eyes curved into smiles.
Yu Wenli curled his lips, not refuting her.
"Huh?" Wen Tingxue looked at him strangely. "Why are you being so good today? It's not normal."
He was hugging her so tightly. He hadn't hugged her this tightly even after not seeing her for seven days last time! There was something wrong!
"Did you do something to betray me?" The young girl narrowed her eyes and looked at him. "Hurry up and tell me, or I'll make your girlfriend disappear in minutes!"
Yu Wenli: ...
Who was being childish?
"First, tell me, how did you introduce me to your parents? Hmm?"
The upward inflection of his voice was laden with a dangerous tone.
Wen Tingxue's smile froze. "Just... just like that."
"Like that? What does 'like that' mean?" He asked with a gentle smile.
Her long, thick eyelashes lowered slightly, like tiny brushes, perfectly concealing the emotions in her eyes.
Wen Tingxue had a premonition of something bad and wanted to slip away, but her waist was firmly held by him, and she couldn't escape!
Devious!
Cunning!
He had been playing her from the start!
Ahhh!
She would never hug him again!
"Hmm?" He gently tickled her sensitive waist.
The young girl immediately laughed and pleaded, "Stop it, I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"
She had laughed so hard that tears welled up.
Yu Wenli held her waist with one hand and wiped away her tears with the other, his voice unusually deep in the night. "Tell me."
"I," Wen Tingxue dared not look at him, her voice low, as if stuck in her throat.
"I just said you were 'Brother Yu'..."
"Heh." A cold laugh, as expected.
Wen Tingxue wanted to look up and explain, but he leaned in and kissed her.
This pose almost looked like he was initiating the kiss.
However, he kissed her once and then pulled away, his tone neither here nor there. "Your family is quite chaotic, aren't they? Siblings can kiss?"
Wen Tingxue: ...
"We're not siblings, we're lovers," she corrected, lowering her head.
Yu Wenli coldly scoffed. "You're so righteous now, but why did you call me brother in front of your parents?"
"..."
"Do I seem so pathetic?" Thinking of her calling him brother at the dinner table, he was filled with anger.
"..."
Before Wen Tingxue could think of an excuse, he pulled her forward.
"Where are we going?" the young girl asked uneasily.
Yu Wenli didn't speak. He led her all the way to an electric scooter dealership.
"Choose one."
He let go of her hand indifferently. Wen Tingxue: "?"
What was this for? A breakup gift?
Yu Wenli was so angry he felt a pain in his liver. "A reward for your strength!"
"Oh," Wen Tingxue quickly agreed, afraid he would get too angry.
But she remembered his words.
And look at her, she didn't even dare to admit their relationship.
Hmm...
Wen Tingxue reflected. Her actions were indeed a bit hurtful, but given her father's attitude, she couldn't admit it.
"Don't be angry," the young girl tugged at a corner of his clothes, swaying it back and forth to coax him. "I'll give you official status when I go back for Chinese New Year, okay?"
Her soft voice, lowered as if she were a kitten begging, made Yu Wenli instantly soften. He couldn't be angry with her anymore.
"Really?" He glanced at her suspiciously.
She hadn't admitted it during the National Day holiday, and she still hadn't admitted it now.
Her trust value with him was zero.
"Phew," Wen Tingxue let out a helpless sigh. "Really, I swear!"
She raised her hand in an oath, her expression appearing sincere.
Yu Wenli crossed his arms and scrutinized her. "What if you don't do it?"
"Uh," the young girl's eyes rolled around. "Dispose of me as you see fit."
Yu Wenli: ...
"You know I wouldn't dare to touch you!" The young man pinched her nose indignantly.
Wen Tingxue leaned into his hand, her voice thick with a nasal tone. "Just don't be angry anymore. How about I do a 'Bear Two' for you?"
Yu Wenli immediately burst into a smile, his handsome and elegant features softening. "I think you're the one who's like Er (two)."
He released her hand, then lifted her chin and kissed her. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Tell me which one you like, and brother will buy it for you."
...
After the owner's wife introduced them, Wen Tingxue chose a pink one, which had decent style and performance.
"Come, come," she beckoned, inviting him to try it too.
Yu Wenli resisted pink, but since the little one liked it, he decided to follow her lead.
Trying it out, it was actually quite good.
Wen Tingxue climbed onto the back seat, wrapping her arms around his waist. "From now on, with just one call from me, you have to ride your beloved little motorcycle to pick me up! Do you hear me?"
Yu Wenli corrected her helplessly. "My beloved isn't the little motorcycle, it's clearly you."
The owner's wife looked on with a doting auntie smile. "Young couples are so sweet. All these sweet talk."
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow. "Not boyfriend."
He glanced back at her, deliberately saying, "It's brother."
Wen Tingxue: ...
Is he really going to hold onto this?
The owner's wife paused her melon-seed-eating hand: What did I just hear?!
Finally, they decided on the pink one. Yu Wenli went to sign and pay.
Wen Tingxue marveled at the car outside, touching it here and there.
After all, it was the first major item between them, and it held significant meaning.
She would definitely celebrate later!
As she thought about it, Wen Tingxue remembered his right hand was injured, and he probably couldn't sign.
She walked inside and found that he had already finished signing and was transferring money to the owner's wife.
Wen Tingxue quickened her pace curiously. "You signed it?"
As the transfer sound ended, he softly replied, "Mm."
The owner's wife couldn't help but praise, "Where did this young lady find her boyfriend? Not only is he handsome, but his handwriting is beautiful too!"
Wen Tingxue: "??"
"Your right hand was injured, wasn't it?" The young girl asked while the owner's wife went to check the battery.
At the same time, she picked up the document in his hand. It clearly stated his name.
The handwriting was elegant and flowing, showing no signs of injury.
First chapter, five thousand characters.
Also: During the Chinese New Year period, my laziness kicked in, and updates will be irregular. If there are any changes, I will announce them at the top of the comment section.
[Under normal circumstances, there will be late updates, but not missed ones.]
[Finally, thank you, dear fairies, for your support!]