“How did you know?” Song Ruining frowned and asked.
Wen Tingxue had an answer in her heart. "Besides Mo Yichen, I can't think of anyone else. And I've interacted with Lan Shuo. He's very defensive, but he trusts Mo Yichen implicitly.
"So I guess that behind many of Lan Shuo's actions, there should be Mo Yichen's influence."
"Right," Song Ruining said. "Lan Shuo's purpose in seeing us wasn't to absolve himself. He just wanted us to expose Mo Yichen's hypocrisy.
"He told us that he would admit to any crime except the murder of Meng Xiyao. He said he didn't intend to kill Meng Xiyao; it was Mo Yichen who instigated him, leading to the accidental death."
Wen Tingxue felt something was amiss. "If that's the case, why didn't he say it in court? Why tell you specifically?"
"I don't know," Song Ruining also couldn't figure it out. "Perhaps because we've been so persistent with this case, he felt we might believe him."
That was the only explanation for now.
"Sigh," Wen Tingxue sighed. "Cousin, to be honest, I feel like Lan Shuo's imprisonment is too coincidental and too swift. It's as if someone deliberately wanted to put him away."
Song Ruining pursed his lips. "You mean... Fu Yuchuan?"
Wen Tingxue blinked in tacit agreement.
In the entire Imperial Capital, there were only a handful of people with such capabilities.
Song Ruining remained noncommittal, only saying, "We've been investigating Meng Xiyao's case all along, and Lan Shuo's words have only strengthened our resolve. That's why we've never given up.
"We happened to get some news today, and Zhi Shu and I wanted to rush over after finishing work. Unexpectedly, we encountered this incident on the road. I think the two are likely related."
"You mean Mo Yichen and Fu Yuchuan are both involved in this?" Wen Tingxue guessed.
Song Ruining shook his head. "Fu Yuchuan likely didn't make a move in this matter, but he might have known about it."
"How do you say that?"
"With his abilities, we wouldn't have survived," he paused, then added, "However, we really have to thank the head of the Xiao family today. Otherwise, our fate would have been uncertain."
"The head of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhen?" Hearing this name for the third time, Wen Tingxue felt it was too much of a coincidence.
Why was he always involved?
"Yes, if he hadn't appeared so suddenly, Zhi Shu and I might have..."
"Where is he?" Wen Tingxue asked.
Song Ruining looked around. "He should have left. He was here just now."
"I'll go look for him."
Wen Tingxue had a feeling the head of the Xiao family was problematic.
She opened the door and saw Song You talking to someone.
Upon closer inspection, it was the young master of the K family?
He was facing her directly. The young master glanced over and was also surprised. "You know each other?"
"?" Song You turned around.
"Oh, she's my junior, and also a good friend of mine."
He gestured for her to come over.
"Oh?" The young master raised an eyebrow playfully. "You actually have female friends? That's rare."
Song You chuckled. "She's a very good person."
Being from wealthy families, Wen Tingxue wasn't surprised they knew each other.
"Why are you here?" she asked, stepping forward with a neutral expression.
She was clearly still resentful of his setup last time.
"I was a witness to the car accident." The young master completely disregarded her displeasure.
Wen Tingxue frowned. "What did you see?"
"What did I see? Why should I tell you? Are you a police officer?" the young master retorted with a smile.
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Alright.
He really held a grudge.
"Have you seen the head of the Xiao family?"
Ignoring him, Wen Tingxue got to the point.
The young master pouted. "He just left."
As he spoke, he pointed. "Look, if you chase now, you might catch up."
Wen Tingxue looked back in the direction he was pointing.
The corridor was crowded, but that receding figure exuded silent nobility.
"Excuse me, pardon me, may I pass?"
Wen Tingxue immediately gave chase.
But due to the crowd, the distance widened.
By the time she reached the hospital entrance, he was getting into his car.
The profile was incredibly familiar.
Several images flashed through Wen Tingxue's mind.
But she couldn't grasp them and missed the best opportunity to approach.
She watched helplessly as the car's taillights disappeared.
Song You came down, noticed her unusual expression, and quickly approached her.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Wen Tingxue snapped back to attention, her eyes still holding a trace of confusion.
"Nothing." She quickly composed herself and shook her head.
Song You wisely didn't press further, just stood by her side.
She couldn't recall the fleeting images, so Wen Tingxue looked up, temporarily giving up.
"Senior, you must have something you want to tell me, right?"
She knew him well enough.
After such a long time of companionship, it was highly likely he had something to say.
Song You smiled faintly. "There is something. The studio recently took on a rather troublesome project and I wanted to get your opinion, but..."
In this situation, he wasn't sure if he should say it.
"Go ahead," Wen Tingxue turned to walk back. "I need a distraction right now."
Song You walked beside her, briefly explaining the situation. "The client wants to film a sci-fi movie, but they haven't found a satisfactory design for the alien sphere."
"Your company takes on this kind of work?" Wen Tingxue was surprised.
Song You gave a wry smile. "A small company has to dabble in everything to survive."
Wen Tingxue nodded in understanding. "Could you send me the script? It would be helpful."
For this type of design, it was still best to follow the script.
Talking idly wouldn't help.
"Of course, I'll send you the revised designs as well."
"Okay, if it's not urgent, can I give it to you before my break next week?"
She was extremely busy lately, with academic and work pressures, as well as the matters at Teacher Shou's studio.
She was simply overwhelmed.
"No rush. The client is busy with the film crew, so you can take your time."
As they reached the entrance, Song You stopped. "You go in. I'll drive you back to school later."
Wen Tingxue wanted to refuse, but then she noticed she was still in her pajamas, and she had a full day of classes tomorrow. She could only nod.
-
Meanwhile, at the Fu family's old residence.
Jiang An quietly led Mo Yichen into the South Courtyard, Fu Yuchuan's residence.
The moment they stepped onto the stairs, a dark figure appeared on the second floor.
In the deliberately dim light, the man's face was half-hidden, his expression almost impossible to discern.
"Second Master."
Mo Yichen instinctively stopped, calling out with unease.
The man standing at the top of the stairs had a tall physique and a powerful aura.
Even from a distance, he was intimidating.
"Mmm."
Fu Yuchuan gave a soft acknowledgment, and Jiang An immediately withdrew.
Late at night, any slight sound could be amplified.
The silence was equally profound.
Mo Yichen couldn't fathom Fu Yuchuan's mood and dared not step forward, standing awkwardly on the stairs.
His left hand, gripping the banister, had fingertips that were almost white.
After a moment of silence, Mo Yichen fearfully swallowed. "This time it was truly an accident. It's my fault for not considering everything thoroughly. I should..."
"Did Xiao Zhen appear suddenly, or was it planned?"
Impatient with his rambling, Fu Yuchuan asked directly, his tone unreadable.
"He..." Mo Yichen, unsure, scratched his palm. "It was probably an accident. We have no connection."
"Probably?"
Fu Yuchuan chuckled softly, making Mo Yichen's scalp tingle. "Second Master, I..."
"You should know, the word I hate hearing most is 'probably'."
He descended the stairs step by step, each one taken very slowly.
In the vast night, the sound of his leather shoes on the steps was loud and imposing.
Mo Yichen instinctively wanted to flee, but his reason told him that if he moved, he would suffer a terrible fate.
As he got closer, Mo Yichen saw that Fu Yuchuan was holding a glass of wine.
The alluring crimson color was strikingly like blood.
Mo Yichen's breath hitched. Fu Yuchuan stopped on the step above him, looking down with a blank expression, and commented.
"Keeping you is truly useless. You couldn't even kill two people."
*Splash—*
As the words fell, the entire glass of red wine followed.
Pouring down from above.
A bone-chilling cold, Mo Yichen's body trembled uncontrollably.
Fu Yuchuan's disdain became more apparent in his eyes. "Trash."
Mo Yichen blinked his eyes, stinging from the wine, and dared not speak.
From the moment he started cooperating with Fu Yuchuan, he knew Fu Yuchuan's ruthlessness and shrewdness.
Because Lan Shuo had offended him in his childhood, he could endure and lie in wait for years, only to send him to prison.
He didn't even have to dirty his own hands.
The Lan family would even thank him, the perpetrator.
How ironic, and how terrifying.
"Give me another chance. I'll definitely handle it perfectly!"
Mo Yichen looked up with red eyes.
Fu Yuchuan smashed the wine glass on the banister, the remaining sharp edges piercing his left hand, and blood immediately welled up.
Eagerly, it soon stained his left hand, and the banister beneath it, a deep red.
Mo Yichen's eyes turned red with pain, but he didn't dare to dodge.
"No need," Fu Yuchuan said, his mood improved as he looked at the striking red. He dropped his hand. "He won't give you another chance."
"Who?" Mo Yichen frowned, his voice dry and unpleasant after the pain.
Fu Yuchuan turned and went upstairs, his steps graceful, showing no hint of the cruel bloodlust hidden beneath his facade.
"You don't even understand your opponent, no wonder you lost so miserably." He scoffed.
Mo Yichen's heart sank. "Are you referring to Yu Wenli?"
His uncertain tone was met with Fu Yuchuan's scoff. "You've fought for so many years, and you still don't understand him at all."
"I..." Mo Yichen wanted to argue but couldn't.
As Fu Yuchuan was about to disappear into the darkness, he couldn't help but ask, "Is he really that powerful?"
"His maternal grandmother is Ling Fu, a world-renowned piano master. Do you think her connections are limited to China?"
Yu Wenli only appears weak on the surface. His true strength behind the scenes is something even I can't fully fathom!
I originally wanted to seize this opportunity to eliminate Yu Zhishu and Song Ruining, two troublesome hindrances, and deal a blow to Yu Wenli.
Unexpectedly, that useless person was incompetent.
Since the best opportunity was missed.
Fu Yuchuan stepped into the darkness with his eyes clouded.
Mo Yichen blinked in a daze, forgetting the injury to his left hand.
Each with their own thoughts, neither noticed a dark figure outside the door.
Only when he had run a considerable distance did Fu Ran allow himself to catch his breath.
My goodness!
His second uncle... knew Mo Yichen, and even asked Mo Yichen to commit murder...
This was nothing like the second uncle he knew...
The shock was too great, and Fu Ran couldn't recover for a long time.
Until Lu Youran called.
In his dazed state, he didn't clearly hear what she said, only catching fragments about a car accident and Wen Tingxue.
"I..."
Realizing his state was not right, Fu Ran wanted to hang up.
But his voice was too soft, and Lu Youran didn't hear him, continuing on her own. "It was really super dangerous. If the head of the Xiao family hadn't intervened, they definitely would have..."
"Who did you just say?" Fu Ran's eyes sharpened.
Lu Youran was startled. "The head of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhen. What's wrong?"
"Xiao family... Xiao Zhen..."
His second uncle wanted to kill Yu Zhishu and Song Ruining...
Fu Ran's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
"What's wrong?" Lu Youran asked anxiously, hearing the clatter in the background. "Did you fall?"
"No," Fu Ran looked down at the mess on the ground. "I accidentally kicked over some flower pots."
He tried to make his voice sound normal.
Lu Youran, oblivious, didn't notice. "Be careful! You're over twenty years old, how can you walk like a child?"
Fu Ran forced a smile. "I was just too excited talking to you."
"Hey, you're blaming me!" Lu Youran's face flushed slightly.
Fu Ran coaxed her for a few more words and hung up.
Sitting on the cold stone bench, his mind was clear yet chaotic.
Until now, he realized that his uncle, whom he had trusted implicitly and confided in, was so... heartless.
That was Wen Tingxue's cousin. How could he have done that?
Did he have no regard for their relationship at all?
Recalling Fu Yuchuan's assessment of Fu Feifei last time, Fu Ran felt an utter chill.
-
After three consecutive days of classes, Wen Tingxue finally had some free time to visit Yu Zhishu.
Carrying fruit and a bouquet, she entered the room and found Ke Xin and Qiao Xixi already there.
"Hey! Great minds think alike!" Qiao Xixi gave a sweet look, a "You're my sister" kind of vibe.
Wen Tingxue played along, raising an eyebrow. "As you say."
"How is Sister Zhishu feeling today?" Wen Tingxue asked, placing the flowers in a vase.
"Not bad," Yu Zhishu said. "I feel like I can be discharged in a few days."
"You should stay a few more days!" the three said in unison.
Yu Zhishu chuckled. "Why do you all sound like Senior Song?"
"Because we like you," Wen Tingxue paused intentionally. "We care about you."
A faint blush appeared on Yu Zhishu's pale face. "Oh, let's not talk about that. How have you all been lately?"
Her intention to change the subject was so obvious, the three exchanged glances discreetly.
There's definitely something brewing!
After some casual chat, Song Ruining arrived with meals, and the three immediately made their exit.
Yu Zhishu: "..."
"Why didn't you all stay for dinner?" Yu Zhishu muttered softly, her cheeks reddening further.
Song Ruining adjusted his glasses and said, "They are being considerate."
Yu Zhishu: "..."
"It's your fault for not bringing them food." She shifted the blame to him.
Song Ruining looked up, and Yu Zhishu immediately shyly avoided his gaze.
During the car accident, she was seriously injured, but she was conscious. She heard his confession by her ear, every word filled with the profound love of facing death together.
He could have run. If he had abandoned her, he would have lived.
After all, his injuries weren't as severe as hers, and with his abilities, it wouldn't have been difficult to get out of the car.
But he chose to stay by her side, afraid she would be scared, afraid she would be alone on the path to the afterlife.
Therefore, he was willing to give up the hope of survival to stay with her, whose life was uncertain.
Under such circumstances, she truly couldn't remain indifferent.
Moreover, she had long fallen for him; they just hadn't broken the unspoken barrier.
"Mmm, it is indeed my fault. I should have had my assistant bring three more meals," Song Ruining's hands were injured, so he arranged the plates slowly.
His speech was also slow.
When Yu Zhishu finally looked at him, he slowly uttered the second half of his sentence, "Let them eat next door. It would be considered hospitality."
"..."
She knew it would be like this.
Song Ruining appeared to be a gentle gentleman, but inwardly he was quite mischievous.
He was just like her brother!
"How can you treat your sister like that?" Yu Zhishu couldn't help but complain.
Song Ruining remained composed. "Can't be helped. In front of the person I like, sisters have to come second."
"Cough!" Yu Zhishu nearly choked on her saliva.
He, he, how could he be so direct!
This was completely different from his usual approach!
As if seeing through her thoughts, Song Ruining offered her chopsticks, his tone calm, but his eyes burning with intensity.
"You heard everything I said, didn't you?"
Implying, why pretend anymore?
Yu Zhishu's gaze was intense, and she couldn't meet his eyes. "How... how did you know?"
Song Ruining raised an eyebrow. "Your acting is too poor."
"?" She looked at him curiously.
"The first day you woke up," he reminded her.
Yu Zhishu immediately lowered her head in regret.
When she woke up, she had avoided his gaze.
In the past, she absolutely wouldn't have.
Because the barrier hadn't been broken, she could still interact with him as a friend.
Once it was revealed, it would be difficult for her to maintain her composure.
"Then, then," Yu Zhishu tried to appear calm. "Let's be together then?"
Song Ruining looked at her, his eyes behind his glasses deep. "Okay."
He paused, then took out a bouquet of blooming roses from behind him and asked with deep affection:
"Miss Yu Zhishu, may I ask, will you be my girlfriend?"
"?" Yu Zhishu was stunned. "Didn't we already...?"
Before she could finish, Song Ruining smiled. "I just can't bear to refuse you, but regarding anything related to you, I still want to be serious."
Yu Zhishu looked at the flowers, the card, and the gift hidden among them. The corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.
"Serious?" she teased him intentionally. "You mean confessing in the hospital?"
"..." Song Ruining was unusually silent for a moment. "I was too hasty. When we get back to the company, I'll confess again."
He said it earnestly, and Yu Zhishu quickly stopped him. "No, no, no! Don't!"
She took the roses and said, "This is perfect."
Song Ruining: "Understood. The confession back at the company will follow this format, but ten times grander."
Yu Zhishu: "..."
Wasteful thing.
-
Having completely missed the opportunity to eavesdrop, the three were now on their way to a car race venue on the outskirts of the city.
Ever since Qiao Xixi's interview video with Mu Chen went viral,
She wanted to interview the remaining three.
The specific questions had already been collected from fans.
Coincidentally, Xing Jiahe was free today, and Chi Zhaorui was competing in the Imperial Capital, so she could get two videos done at once!
"Xing Jiahe has already arrived, right?" Qiao Xixi asked again, worriedly.
Ke Xin said, "How about I have him video call you?"