45. Sadness

Even if you take the wrong path, you'll just end up falling into my arms.

The incident at Lancheng Hotel has caused quite a stir.

Chen Fangqi suffered a social death, Lao Wang was admitted to the ICU, Zhuang Xiaomeng was detained, Zhuang Zhong was arrested, and videos of police and ambulances entering and leaving the hotel went viral online. The police issued a statement saying that "the incident is still under urgent investigation," but to no avail.

Grandpa Xue, full of anger, checked into the Lancheng Military Region General Hospital to prepare for a biopsy. The mess could only be left to these young people to clean up.

Led by Xue Tan, everyone gathered in Chengcheng's office at the Lancheng Hotel.

Old Wang was staying at Lancheng People's Hospital. Song Qinggui asked his senior colleague who worked there about Old Wang's situation.

"The situation is not optimistic. Even after going to the hospital, the convulsions continued. We tried every kind of sedative we could find, from diazepam and midazolam to [unspecified medication], and it took more than two hours to stop. The MRI of the head showed liquefaction of the white matter in the brain, and the EEG indicated a large number of abnormal discharges in the brain cells."

Chengcheng felt a chill run down his spine: "Stop with all this technical stuff, we don't understand any of it. Just give us the conclusion."

Song Qinggui sighed: "He may not wake up; he may very well become a vegetable."

"Damn it." Cheng Cheng cursed, "What kind of drug is this? It's so potent!"

Attorney Xue turned to Su Yalin and asked, "Has the forensic department released any news?"

Su Yalin nodded: "I asked some acquaintances over there. Although the final report hasn't come out yet, they have a pretty good idea of ​​what's going on. It should be 'obedience water' plus a large amount of sildenafil."

Chengcheng: "What is this 'obedience water'?"

Su Yalin: "A type of drug popular in Southeast Asia is essentially a new type of drug. Its main component is gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), which can enhance sexual desire, but it is addictive and causes great damage to the human respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems. Many people experience symptoms such as convulsions and vomiting after using it."

Xue Lu's face immediately darkened. He couldn't help but slam his fist on the table when he thought about how Song Qinggui had almost drunk the drugged red wine that day.

Upon hearing the word "drugs," Chengcheng exploded: "Damn, that old dog Zhuang Zhong is really something! He managed to get his hands on this stuff! Damn it, I'm done for by him, damn it!"

Su Yalin reassured him: "Don't worry, you don't know anything about it, what are you afraid of? The hotel has surveillance cameras, and the police aren't just sitting around doing nothing."

Chengcheng scratched his head anxiously: "What is that 'something something else'?"

Song Qinggui: "Sildenafil is Viagra. The people who prescribe this drug have no intention of saving lives. Putting aside other issues, excessive use of sildenafil greatly increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. What a bunch of bastards!"

Su Yalin's expression was grave: "It involves contraband and caused serious injury. Even if Xiaomeng didn't know the drug's ingredients, it will be difficult for her to escape punishment."

After these words were spoken, everyone present fell silent.

Zhuang Xiaomeng is a friend they grew up with. Whether they are close or distant, there is always a bond between them.

For Xue Lucheng and his generation, money alone is no longer enough to do whatever they want.

Yan Fengqian was already the most outrageous among their friends, but his bottom line was only low when it came to consensual matters like love between men and women.

The worst thing Xue Lu ever did in his life was running a red light while driving and getting points deducted and a fine.

Now that their friends have committed crimes, they all have mixed feelings.

Song Qinggui asked Su Yalin, "How long do you estimate the sentence will be?"

Su Yalin: "Imprisonment for a term of not less than three years but not more than ten years."

"It's alright," Song Qinggui said. "It's not like my life is completely ruined."

Cheng Cheng clicked his tongue and looked at Xue Lu: "I should say it, but your wife is really ruthless."

Xue Lu rolled his eyes at Cheng Cheng.

Song Qinggui explained, "It's not that I'm heartless, it's just that I feel Zhuang Xiaomeng's margin for error in life isn't that low. If it were a girl from an ordinary family, after serving ten years in prison, she might be completely disconnected from society and would have psychological problems. But she has a group of friends from well-off families like you, so her life after she gets out shouldn't be too difficult. In that respect, I'm quite envious of her."

Upon hearing this, Xue Lu looked at Song Qinggui, whose eyes were slightly lowered as if she were recalling something, and there was actually a look of envy on her face.

He reached out and took her hand, placing it in his palm and rubbing it gently. Song Qinggui smiled faintly.

Upon hearing this, Xue Tan's expression turned solemn. He didn't care whether Zhuang Xiaomeng would be sentenced or released. As an adult, it's only natural that one should pay the price for wrongdoing.

His concern was that the Xue family would ultimately have to pay the price for this farce at the Lancheng Hotel.

Recent public opinion has shown signs of this, with the comment section filled with conspiracy theories.

"It happened at a rich man's party. He ended up in the hospital because of playing around with women. You can't even imagine the world of the rich."

"I heard the party was organized by the Xue family. The Xue family is so rich that they can control everything in Lancheng. Do you think the person who got into trouble might have a grudge against the Xue family?"

"I saw someone reveal a couple of days ago that Chen Fangqi seduced Xue Shisi Shao and is now disgraced, which is very likely the work of the Xue family."

...

"The rules," Xue Tan began. "You've probably seen the comments online. What do you plan to do?"

Song Qinggui snapped out of his daze: "Wait."

"Wait?" Xue Tan asked, puzzled. "Wait for what?"

Song Qinggui explained: "We need to wait for the police's final investigation announcement, and for netizens to raise even more questions about the Xue family, before we can bounce back after hitting rock bottom."

Xue Tan fell into deep thought: "Tell me in detail."

Song Qinggui: "I estimate the police won't release the drug's ingredients. Our population is too large, and Chinese people are intelligent. If those audacious individuals knew the drug's ingredients, it would be mass-produced domestically sooner or later. As for Chen Fangqi's matter, the police probably won't elaborate too much. After all, her affair with Lao Wang was just an accident, not Zhuang Zhong's direct purpose in having Zhuang Xiaomeng drug her. Therefore, the police's final announcement will likely focus on the incident itself, not on the person or the drug. I estimate the final announcement will most likely say that Xiaomeng, instigated by Zhuang Zhong, put poison in the red wine at the banquet to extort the Xue family, and Lao Wang accidentally ingested it..."

"Then what?"

Song Qinggui: "There should be surveillance video of Zhuang Zhong causing a scene at the Xue family's place that day. As soon as the announcement was made, we asked the media to release it. Zhuang Zhong has accumulated debts over the years and has repeatedly asked my father for help. We also asked the media to expose these things. In this way, everyone will know that this incident was actually Zhuang Zhong's deliberate revenge against the Xue family. Only then can public opinion be reversed to the greatest extent, and the Lancheng Hotel can also be exonerated."

Chengcheng looked at Song Qinggui gratefully: "Sister-in-law, I take back what I just said. You're not ruthless at all, you're incredibly kind-hearted. I'll leave it at that: if our hotel can really get out of trouble, I'll give away all the people you bring to my hotel in the future."

Song Qinggui looked at Chengcheng seriously: "Then I'll find someone to draft a contract later."

"Huh?" Chengcheng was stunned: "Sister-in-law, you...you don't trust me a little anymore..."

Xue Lu and Su Yalin smiled and lowered their heads, which eased the heavy atmosphere.

Xue Lu's expression softened, and he said frankly, "I originally thought you would handle this calmly."

“We can’t let this go unnoticed,” Song Qinggui said. “I have always felt that public figures and the wealthy have an obligation to inform the public of the facts when they are involved in public opinion storms.”

Xue Tan lowered his brows slightly, as if deep in thought: "I agree with public figures, but the so-called wealthy class... our money didn't come from thin air, it was all earned by our parents and ancestors."

"But we must admit that the success of most wealthy people is inseparable from the dividends of the times and luck." Song Qinggui revealed a faint smile, a smile that showed her sincerity: "Many people in our generation have exhausted their entire lives but still cannot break through class barriers. They toil their whole lives, only to earn the title of a small-town exam taker. Seventh Brother, Heaven does not reward diligence, but rather those with good fortune. You are those with good fortune; you control 99% of the world's wealth, but the people do not expect you to bear 99% of the obligations. They just hope that you can take some responsibility."

Xue smiled and nodded, "You're right."

...

Since we had agreed to go for a walk on the beach in the evening, Xue Lu didn't drive today.

He and Song Qinggui left the Lancheng Hotel, walking hand in hand on the naval boardwalk.

The seaside is cold in winter, but the evening glow and the distant sounds of the cape make the chill seem insignificant.

Xue Lu and Song Qinggui held hands, and he put her hands in his pockets to keep them warm.

"You seem very sad today," Xue Lu said. "Why?"

Song Qinggui didn't hide anything: "Chen Fangqi and Zhuang Xiaomeng were actually victims of this farce. They both made mistakes and were punished. But Xiaomeng has a chance to start over, while Chen Fangqi has no future in Lancheng."

So you're sad because of Chen Fangqi?

Song Qinggui nodded: "She has a lot in common with me. We both take risks for our own desires."

“You’re different!” Xue Lu interrupted her: “You’re forced by life, she isn’t.”

Song Qinggui smiled bitterly: "The paths may differ, but the destination is the same. I felt that all the insults directed at her online were directed at me. I'm just luckier than her. The people I've met have all been pretty good. At least Cheng Wuliang and Yan Fengqian didn't really want to play with me. The luckiest thing is that I met you, fell in love with you, got married, and it seems that the possibility of divorce is not very high."

Xue Lu's face darkened. He hated Song Qinggui putting him, Cheng Wuliang, and Yan Fengqian together. That was bad enough, but she even started analyzing the possibility of divorcing him.

Song Qinggui didn't notice the change in Xue Lu's expression: "Seeing Chen Fangqi reminds me of the past. Those years were like walking on a tightrope, with sheer cliffs and bottomless abysses beneath my feet. One wrong step..."

“I’ll catch you,” Xue Lu interrupted Song Qinggui.

Song Qinggui stopped in his tracks.

Xue Lu walked up to her, turned around to face her, and said, "There is no abyss beneath your feet. Even if you fall in, you won't be smashed to pieces. I'm below you. If you take the wrong path, you'll just fall into my arms."

Song Qinggui tilted his head slightly and looked at Xue Lu. In his pupils under the twilight, he could vaguely see her reflection, as if she were the only one in his eyes.

Song Qinggui's eyes welled up with tears: "What should we do?"

"What do you mean, what to do?"

Song Qinggui: "I really want to kiss you."

Xue Lu smiled, lowered his head slightly, and closed his eyes.

The next moment, her kiss landed on his lips.

The clouds and rosy hues stretch for miles, exuding a sweet and tender atmosphere, burning away the chill of winter.

Xue Lu thought that Song Qinggui was probably his spring.

[Author's Note]

Babies, let's go over a few more chapters of the story.

I promise that there will be a romance storyline within the next three chapters, and there will also be a steamy scene.

Please be patient, everyone. Love you all~