“So, in the previous life, Sheng Zexi also loved Gu Jianing, didn’t he…?” Wen Zhuqing speculated.
He hadn’t been mistaken. In his dream, the look in Sheng Zexi’s eyes as he rushed desperately into the sea of flames—Sheng Zexi had absolutely been madly in love with Gu Jianing.
Hah. This Sheng Zexi actually loved the trash Wen Zhuqing himself had discarded.
But it seemed destined that, across both lifetimes, he and Sheng Zexi would remain enemies.
In his past life, Sheng Zexi had caused his death in such a way—how could Wen Zhuqing possibly let him off now?
However!
Though Sheng Zexi hadn’t yet reached the heights he had in the dream, his current status and position were already formidable.
Meanwhile, Wen Zhuqing’s own progress in this life was even worse than in the previous one.
As things stood now, he had no means to take revenge on Sheng Zexi.
The only idea Wen Zhuqing could come up with was to first drive a wedge between Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi’s relationship.
As long as cracks formed in their bond, as long as doubts arose, then there would be opportunities to break them down one by one.
Wen Zhuqing plotted silently in his heart.
Originally, he had planned to visit Gu Jianing again the next day.
But now, he changed his mind.
He decided to go find Sheng Zexi first.
He would reveal the truth about Gu Jianing being his wife in their past life.
He refused to believe Sheng Zexi wouldn’t care.
What man wouldn’t mind? What man would want another’s cast-off trash?
Wen Zhuqing was brimming with confidence.
But just then, the door of the rented apartment was suddenly knocked on.
The sound was urgent.
“Zhang Yutang, Qin Honghua, are you there?” The voice sounded like a man’s, and it seemed there was more than one person outside.
Wen Zhuqing frowned, unable to figure out why anyone would come looking for them in the middle of the night.
Beside him, Qin Honghua was jolted awake by the noise.
Grumbling, she stirred. “Who the hell is it in the middle of the night?”
She half-opened her eyes and saw Wen Zhuqing’s figure sitting in the shadows next to her, startling her further.
“You scared me to death! What are you doing sitting there in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”
Wen Zhuqing’s upper body was shrouded in darkness, and in her groggy state, Qin Honghua didn’t notice the emotions flickering across his face.
She kicked him with her foot. “Since you’re awake, go open the door and see who it is!”
When the person beside her didn’t move and the knocking outside grew more violent, Qin Honghua delivered a harder kick to Wen Zhuqing.
The force sent him tumbling to the floor.
“Go already! Are you deaf?”
Wen Zhuqing clenched his teeth and stood up, shooting Qin Honghua a deep glance. But the half-asleep woman, her eyes already drifting shut again, missed the flash of murderous intent in his gaze.
Wen Zhuqing got up and walked toward the front door.
But as he moved, he suddenly realized something and abruptly turned, sprinting toward a window on the other side of the room!
At that moment, the front door was smashed open with a loud bang.
“Zhang Yutang is there—he’s trying to escape!”
Wen Zhuqing turned his head and saw—it was the police!
He hadn’t expected them to come for him so soon!
And in that split second, among the officers, he caught sight of Qin Honghua’s father.
Earlier, just as he was about to open the door, he had suddenly recognized Old Qin’s voice outside!
In his plans, Qin Honghua’s father was supposed to be dead.
If the old man was still alive and had made it to the capital…
Then the one who would die was him.
So he had to run!
Without hesitation, Wen Zhuqing bolted.
But he hadn’t anticipated the police breaking in so quickly.
Wen Zhuqing was never physically agile—he was practically a weakling when it came to strength.
Before he could even climb out the window, several officers pinned him down.
“Zhang Yutang—no, Wen Zhuqing. You’re not getting away.”
“Attempted murder. Promiscuity. Stealing someone else’s college entrance exam results… You’re coming with us.”
Qin Honghua was forced to get up and come out when she heard the commotion.
Then she heard the words spoken by the police.
What was going on?
Murder?
Who had Wen Zhuqing killed?
“Daughter! Honghua!”
At that moment, Qin Honghua thought she heard her father’s voice.
She turned her head and, sure enough, saw her father standing among the officers.
Wait—police?
Qin Honghua stared blankly at the several officers who had entered and at Wen Zhuqing, who was being restrained by them.
Just then, her father rushed to her side.
“Honghua, are you alright?”
“Dad, I’m fine. What’s going on? Why are the police here? Dad, why do you look so pale?” Even in the dim light, Qin Honghua could see that something was wrong with her father’s complexion.
“Honghua… your dad… doesn’t have much time left.”
Meanwhile, the police had already apprehended Wen Zhuqing and were escorting him to the station.
On the way, Qin Honghua finally learned the full story from her father.
“Ah—Wen Zhuqing, I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
Qin Honghua lost control. She lunged forward, slapped Wen Zhuqing hard across the face, and then began punching and kicking him.
Wen Zhuqing, pinned down by the officers, couldn’t fight back.
And even if he could, despite being a man, his strength was no match for Qin Honghua’s robust physique.
“Comrade, please calm down.” The officers knew that if they didn’t intervene, Wen Zhuqing might actually be beaten to death.
Though a man like him deserved it.
But since he had been arrested, he needed to face legal judgment first.
“Honghua, my girl…”
Qin Honghua, now restrained, clung to her father and burst into tears.
“Dad, I’m sorry! It’s my fault! I’m the one who hurt you!”
Now, Qin Honghua truly regretted everything.
Back when she first took a liking to Wen Zhuqing, her father had warned her that he was no good.
That being with him would likely lead to betrayal.
Her father had carefully explained it to her at the time.
He said: “Wen Zhuqing is a hypocrite. He only knows how to sweet-talk people. Right now, he’s clinging to you to escape the labor camp, abandoning Bao Shanyan and her child. But one day, if he finds someone better, he’ll abandon you too.”
“Daughter, your dad can see that Wen Zhuqing is a ruthless man.”
“You’d better not be with him. Don’t worry—I’ll find you someone better.”
Her father had laid it all out so clearly for her back then.
Yet she had been stubborn.
She insisted on marrying Wen Zhuqing.
In the end, she got what she wanted.
But the price was her father’s life!
She never imagined Wen Zhuqing could be so cruel—poisoning her father and repeatedly trying to kill him.
To Qin Honghua, her father was the most important person in her life.
Her mother had died when she was young.
She had been raised single-handedly by her father.
When she was little, the two of them had gone through hard times together. But her father had always protected her, doted on her.
Then, step by step, he climbed his way up.
Making sure she would never be bullied or mocked, no matter what.
If only… if only she had listened to her father back then, he wouldn’t be in this state now.
“Dad, I was wrong. Hit me. Beat me to death!”
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