Chapter 397 Suffering for Others

Gao Min and the others were startled by Ye Wanxi's words and it took them a while to react.

"Impossible! Xiaolian isn't that kind of person. She wouldn't even dare kill a chicken normally, how could she possibly be responsible for someone's death? There must be some mistake here!"

"Yes, I've watched Xiaolian grow up since she was little. She's definitely a good girl, I can guarantee that."

Gao Qiang and Qi Xiaolian were children from the same district. Because they were the same age and lived close by, they had played together since they were little. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were childhood sweethearts.

Gao Qiang is much older than his older sister, Gao Min. When they were little, Gao Min took care of him. Since the two children often played together, Gao Min decided to take care of him as well.

Therefore, in Gao Min's heart, Qi Xiaolian, her future sister-in-law, was no less important than her own brother.

The two attended the same university and just graduated this year.

Shortly before Qi Xiaolian's accident, the two families were happily discussing the wedding. Gao Qiang even excitedly told Gao Min about it, asking her to make time to attend their wedding.

Who would have thought that such a terrifying thing would grow on Qi Xiaolian's body so soon.

Qi Xiaolian was slow to react; it wasn't until both siblings had expressed their opinions that she blankly thought of defending herself.

"I...I have never harmed anyone. I swear, I have never harmed anyone. I have never harmed anyone."

Qi Xiaolian kept repeating the same sentence, and by the end she was so aggrieved she was almost crying.

She knew she should say more to convince people, but her mind was blank and she didn't know how to prove herself, because she really hadn't harmed anyone!

Ye Wanxi didn't expect that she would be interrupted halfway through her speech, and then the person would start crying. She was both amused and exasperated.

Is this girl made of water? Her tears come so easily.

"Alright, alright, stop crying. I know you've never hurt anyone."

Qi Xiaolian sniffed, feeling even more aggrieved, and said between hiccups, "Since I haven't harmed anyone, why do I have this thing growing on my body?"

Gao Qiang and Gao Min had obviously thought of this as well, and looked at Ye Wanxi questioningly.

"Because you are suffering for others."

"Suffer for someone else?" Gao Min almost jumped up in panic. "Suffer for whom?"

"You'll have to ask her about that. Her situation is a bit different from the Xiao family's before. The person who asked her to take the blame must be someone very close to her. In other words, they're either relatives or people she's particularly close to. However, given her current situation, I'm more inclined to believe they're relatives, especially those with close blood ties."

"relative?"

"Have you had any physical contact with any relatives recently? Or have you taken anything from anyone?"

Qi Xiaolian froze, then frowned and began to think.

Gao Min and the other person's hearts also jumped, and they couldn't help but say, "Think carefully, who flattered you or gave you anything before this thing appeared on you?"

"Yes, yes, think about it again. It should only be recently. Think about it, you'll definitely remember."

No sooner had the two finished speaking than Qi Xiaolian suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Ah!"

"You remember now?"

"I remember now." Qi Xiaolian subconsciously gripped her arm and said cautiously, "About ten days ago, my uncle suddenly drove home with my cousin to visit relatives and gave gifts to all of us."

"Your uncle?" Gao Min's expression was subtle. "Isn't your uncle a self-proclaimed city person who always looked down on poor relatives like you and rarely interacted with you during holidays? How come he suddenly changed his tune? He doesn't come back for holidays and even brings you gifts."

"Something's definitely fishy going on. If you're looking for a scapegoat, you have to bleed a little first, right?"

As soon as Ye Wanxi said this, everyone felt a chill down their spines, especially Qi Xiaolian.

Because he finally saw a glimmer of hope, his face had at least regained some color, but now it has completely faded away.

What gifts did they give you?

"Just some tea, cigarettes, and alcohol." Qi Xiaolian nervously tugged at her collar as she spoke. "My eldest cousin also gave me a dress and a necklace. She said she knew that Qiang and I had started talking about marriage, and I couldn't be without some nice things to show off, so she specially bought them for me."

Gao Min's expression changed again upon hearing this. She had met Qi Xiaolian, her older cousin, before. In her memory, Qi Xiaolian was just as sharp-tongued and mean as her parents, spoiled rotten by her family, and arrogant.

When Qi Xiaolian was little, she was bullied by her several times. Gao Min really didn't believe that she suddenly changed her personality when she grew up and knew how to care for her younger sister.

Have you ever worn the dress and necklace she gave you?

"have."

"when?"

Qi Xiaolian thought for a moment, then suddenly froze.

Gao Qiang was closest to her and immediately noticed her unusual behavior: "What's wrong?"

"The first time I wore that dress was the day this thing grew."

Upon hearing Qi Xiaolian's words, the siblings' expressions changed again, and they were almost certain that the person who had shifted the blame onto Qi Xiaolian was her cousin!

"What about the necklace? Was that also the first time you wore it that day?"

"No, she put the necklace on me herself the day she gave it to me."

Did you put it on yourself? Ye Wanxi narrowed her eyes. Since you put the necklace on someone yourself, it's perfectly normal for there to be physical contact during the process.

"Have you touched those two things since that day?"

Qi Xiaolian shook her head, then nodded: "I haven't worn the dress since, but I've always worn the necklace."

Qi Xiaolian's eyes widened in shock as she spoke, and she dared not move.

The others also realized that the gift the woman had given her was still hanging around her neck, right next to her and them!

Ye Wanxi became interested when she heard her say that, because she did not see any evil aura on Qi Xiaolian's necklace.

"Wanxi, we need to..."

"Don't move, I'll do it."

Since she had said that, the two of them naturally dared not make any rash moves.

Gao Qiang consciously made way for Ye Wanxi to sit next to Qi Xiaolian.

Just as my fingertips were about to touch the necklace, something thudded and tried to bounce it away.

Ye Wanxi then noticed that there was actually a small barrier on this inconspicuous necklace, in order to prevent anyone from taking the necklace off Qi Xiaolian's neck.

If it were someone else, like the sorceress Gao Qiang and the other person just mentioned, they probably wouldn't be able to do anything about this thing.

Unfortunately, it encountered Ye Wanxi.

She didn't even bother to properly study what it was; instead, she used the most primitive and brutal method, shattering the array's core with a single finger and then forcefully pulling the necklace down.

With a snap, the necklace broke.

The yin energy that had been locked inside suddenly burst out and permeated the entire living room.

(End of this chapter)