Chapter 189 A Dead End in Emotion
The criminal investigation team gathered near the rental house where Lu Yuexin frequented, and Xiaobai gave a report.
"Lu Yuexin's fingerprints were found in the laboratory, and the chemical reagents she touched, after being mixed, matched the results of aqua regia identification. Under the laboratory wall, there are red bricks stained with blood and brain matter, which also bear her fingerprints."
Wu Zhongguo said, "Lu Yuexin often frequents the snack shops, Lao Liu Hotel, Bohai Hotel, and Bai Zhou KTV around the rental house. In addition, she occasionally goes to the girls' dormitory No. 2 and the dormitory building of Kong Jieren at the school."
“So the location where the body was found isn’t the primary crime scene. The primary crime scene is confirmed to be behind the wall, and the murder weapon should be the red brick we found. It seems there’s only one suspect at the moment.” Shen Zhenzhu nodded and greeted the sleazy-looking man walking towards them from a distance.
"Is this the landlord?" Xiaobai frowned.
The rental houses on the back street are all four or five-story privately built buildings, one next to another, with utility poles and clotheslines scattered around, and stray dogs often lingering near the garbage dumps.
Each floor has five or six rooms for rent, with low prices and a mix of all sorts of people.
The landlord came over to open the door, reeking of sweat and with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking no different from a vagrant: "Among KTV girls, female college students are the most popular. They're highly educated and have a certain refinement. What did this girl do wrong? Did she steal a customer's wallet or gold watch?"
He pulled out a bunch of keys and jingled them as he went upstairs, gossiping, "Could it be that he's trying to climb the social ladder but ended up hurting himself instead?"
"Please keep your voice down." Shen Zhenzhu and the others changed into plain clothes and set up surveillance nearby. She followed the landlord up to the fourth floor and waited for the landlord to knock on the door.
Instead of knocking, the landlord casually used his key to unlock the door and yelled, "Checking the electricity meter? If you're not dressed, hurry up and put some clothes on."
Chen Zhenzhu pushed open the door and slipped inside. The rented room was filled with a strong perfume smell, there was trash everywhere on the floor, and a cold instant noodle container was on the table.
"Search," Chen Zhenzhu said in a low voice.
The police officers behind him entered in response.
There were many cheap cosmetics in the corner of the makeup room, and the compact powder was open and not yet closed. The closet was full of sexy miniskirts, the room was stuffy, and the bamboo mat brought back from the dormitory was carelessly thrown on the bed without being put away.
"Sister Pearl, here." Xiao Bai found a pair of blood-stained sneakers under the bed through her gloves.
Shen Zhenzhu saw that there were splashes of blood and traces of trampling on the soles of the shoes, and there was withered grass and mud on the edges.
The landlord craned his neck, wanting to come in and see what was going on, but was stopped by the officer at the door.
"There are more photos here." Wu Zhongguo flipped open the rose-red plastic mirror on the table, revealing a photo of Lu Yuexin and a male classmate, which, if he wasn't mistaken, should be Kong Jieren.
Shen Zhenzhu reached out and turned the plastic mirror. When Lu Yuexin was putting on makeup, she would turn to the side of the mirror that was facing the camera, and when she wasn't putting on makeup, she would turn to the side that was facing the camera with Kong Jieren.
The two of them affectionately put their arms around each other's shoulders, with long, scarlet fingernails resting on Kong Jieren's hand, and Lu Yuexin showing a happy smile.
Kong Jieren sported a trendy Hong Kong-style center-parted hairstyle, with slicked-back hair and a powdered face. His almond-shaped eyes were full of spring-like allure, and his smile was slightly crooked to the left. A cigarette was tucked behind his ear. He wore a fashionable leather jacket and leather pants, and his pointed leather shoes were polished to a shine.
Xiao Bai packed up his sneakers and glanced at them: "Is this all it looks like? Are you blind?"
Chen Zhenzhu opened the drawer and found a diary. Flipping through it, she saw the first few pages filled with countless sweet nothings she had said to Kong Jieren and her longing for him. She made no attempt to hide her contempt for Jia Shishi and her jealousy of his girlfriend, Xiao Lan.
The diary was less than ten pages long, but the latter part was filled with densely packed accounts. Lu Yuexin earned a considerable amount of money every day at the karaoke bar, and every few days she would spend it all on men's luxury goods.
There were also receipts from high-end shopping malls in the drawer, consistent with the diary entries. It was clear at a glance who had spent the money.
"Is there any news from Xiao Lan's side?" Xiao Bai leaned over and glanced over before whispering.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "No, Xiao Lan is attending an overseas training course in Shenyang. Her family is well-off, and they are preparing to send her abroad. I have applied for cooperation from the Shenyang Municipal Public Security Bureau to monitor her, but there has been no response yet."
"Uncle Dong, why are you checking the meter again?" A woman dressed provocatively and smelling strongly of perfume came out from next door. She bent down to put on her high heels, glanced at him sideways, and said, "Oh, is it the main wife who's here? It's not very kind of you to open the door for her."
Uncle Dong said, "Pay the rent quickly, or I'll cut off the electricity to your room tonight."
"Watch me make a big score tonight." The woman pouted and walked away, her high heels clicking on the floor.
Uncle Dong said to Chen Zhenzhu, "See? Everyone's out fishing for rich men at this hour, who's still here?"
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Does she live here alone? Do she have any acquaintances or friends who come over often?"
Uncle Dong said, "How can I bring people here when I live in a place like this?"
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Besides Bai Zhou KTV, where else can I find her?"
Uncle Dong said, "That's the hotel's king-size bed room."
Coming downstairs, Xiaobai sat in the car and said, "That's really disgusting. I feel nauseous just looking at me."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Snakes have their paths, and rats have theirs. Just cooperate with our work."
Ring ring,
Ring ring.
Lu Ye's report came through the mobile phone: "We have arrived at Bai Zhou KTV to keep watch, but have not yet spotted the target."
Chen Zhenzhu said, "It's working hours now, let's wait a little longer. It should be soon. Has her 'mommy' been found yet?"
Lu Ye said, "I'm keeping an eye on them. When they're in the private room, they're on the phone with the guests. The 'ladies' who arrive will sign in and get a name tag in front of them."
"No rush, they can't escape." Chen Zhenzhu drove around on the small road behind Bai Zhou KTV.
Passing by nearby streets, I saw makeshift vegetable stalls blocking the entrances and exits of the residential area.
"This is Hejian Residential Area?" Shen Zhenzhu remembered that Shi Lina lived here when she checked her information.
"What's wrong?" Xiaobai asked.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "There was someone among those arrested for counterfeiting certificates last time who seemed a bit suspicious. But I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong... I checked, and she lives here."
"Go take a look?" Wu Zhongguo said, "If you think there's a problem, then do it according to your idea."
Xiao Bai said, "Yes, Sister Pearl, if you think there's a problem, then there must be a problem. Since we're already here, why don't you go down and take a look? Uncle Wu and I are in the car."
Shen Zhenzhu thought for a moment, then got out of the car: "Five minutes."
She arrived at the gate of the joint-construction community, and the building right next to the gate was Shi Lina's home.
If the information is accurate, she should live in apartment 101, unit 1, building 1. It has a front and back yard; the front yard connects to the bedroom and is used as a small shop, while the back yard has some vegetables.
Shen Zhenzhu walked to the entrance of the residential area and greeted the security guard: "Uncle, do you have any first-floor houses with yards for sale here?"
She casually pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and handed it to the security guard, appearing to be a savvy customer.
The security guard looked around, then took the cigarette apologetically, put it in his pocket, and said with a smile, "Young lady, you're quite sensible. Let me tell you, we're all old neighbors here, and we're reluctant to move. Especially the ground floor houses with yards, nobody wants to sell them. If they did, there's nowhere to buy a house with such a big yard now."
"No one has moved out after living here for so many years?"
"Of course, I've worked here for over ten years. This is housing allocated by my work unit. After the unit went bankrupt, everyone living here was laid off. Who could afford to move?"
An elderly woman who had finished her dinner and was taking a stroll came out of the gate. When she heard that Chen Zhenzhu wanted to buy a house, she started chatting with her.
Which building do you like best?
"This building facing the street is good; it can also be used as a small shop to make money."
"You have good taste, but nobody's selling here." The old woman said, fanning herself. "The only suitable shop is that one, but they've lived here for over ten years, I know them all, and they have no intention of selling their houses. If you ask me, you're so young, you should buy somewhere better. Let me tell you the truth, there are a lot of KTVs on that street, all sorts of people there, and they're screaming and howling at night. It's noisy, and it's not safe for a pretty young girl like you to go out like that."
Shen Zhenzhu said gratefully, "The shop over there really doesn't sell there anymore? It's been more than ten years, no wonder. They came all to run a shop in another place together, that family must have a good relationship."
“What do you mean by ‘outsiders’? They’re all locals.” The old woman corrected Chen Zhenzhu’s mistake, saying, “If I remember correctly, it’s the son-in-law who lives with his parents-in-law.”
The security guard said, "Yes, it's Hu Caizhi and Lao Shi's family. Our community used to be housing allocated by the city construction company. Lao Hu was laid off and went to work on construction sites everywhere. His parents-in-law are getting old and still have to run a small shop. It's not easy for them to live together. Lao Hu usually doesn't say a word even if he's scolded. He's a very filial person."
"Speak of the devil, and he appears." The old lady waved her fan and greeted Mrs. Shi, who came out of the convenience store.
Grandma Shi brought out a bowl of meat dishes and delivered it to the security booth, saying, "Sister Xie, I had my granddaughter deliver your meat cake to your house. Come, come, Grandpa Sun, my daughter made this meat cake. All the neighbors have some. Have a bite for me."
Aunt Xie told Shen Zhenzhu, "Every year her family makes meat cakes to share with the neighbors. We used to not eat these, but later we actually got addicted to them."
Grandma Shi looked like a kind, ordinary old lady. She glanced at Chen Zhenzhu and said, "Oh, whose relative is this pretty girl?"
The security guard said, "It's an acquaintance, so I just came over to say a few words."
Old Mrs. Shi's words were not pleasant to hear: "I thought she was your daughter-in-law. She's a decent match for your son, but if you ask me, it's better to have a man in the family."
Chen Zhenzhu smiled and said, "Auntie, why do you still favor boys over girls?"
Grandma Shi smiled, ignored Chen Zhenzhu, greeted them, and went back to deliver the bowls to the other neighbors.
Aunt Xie said to Shen Zhenzhu, "You've misunderstood. She has her own granddaughter, whom she dotes on like the apple of her eye. She wouldn't be sexist."
"This meat cake is to my liking, and I also love their pickled fish." The security guard smelled the meat cake, swallowed, and said, "People from the coast don't like to eat freshwater fish, they always think it has a muddy taste. But his daughter knows how to pickle it, she puts in a lot of peppercorns, star anise, and salt, it tastes so delicious."
Shen Zhenzhu looked at the meat cake from the side; it shouldn't be a local dish from Liancheng.
"Auntie, Uncle, I'll be going now, thank you." Chen Zhenzhu said with a smile, "Uncle, please enjoy your meal."
Chen Zhenzhu strolled to the front of the convenience store and saw two large, pickled grass carp hanging in a corner of the store's yard.
Still preoccupied with capturing Lu Yuexin, Chen Zhenzhu glanced at the scene briefly before turning back to her car.
Pickled grass carp and meat cakes are not local customs. Where did Shi Lina get these habits from?
Chen Zhenzhu pondered this in bewilderment.
"How's it going?" Xiaobai asked with concern, "Did you find anything?"
Shen Zhenzhu frowned and said, "There's a problem."
She told Xiaobai about the meat cake and pickled fish, and Xiaobai said, "Sixth Sister has never been to many places, yet she can still make them taste exactly like the original ones?"
Wu Zhongguo considered and said, "Sixth Sister works in this line of work, and besides, her family originally came from the south, so they have a certain influence. If she has never been to other places and has always had the habits of people from other places, it does seem strange. It can't be that she learned it from someone else, can it?"
They talked about Shi Lina in the car, but Lu Yuexin didn't show up by 10 p.m.
"She's not anywhere else either..." Xiao Bai got out of the car and wandered around several times, her round face tense. After solving so many major cases, she couldn't afford to slip up and let Lu Yuexin escape.
Shen Zhenzhu wasn't as anxious as she was. She took out her walkie-talkie in the car and said, "Brother Aqi, it's your turn."
"Just you wait and see."
Zhao Qiqi didn't need to pretend; he was just a clueless naiveté. He wore a huge gold chain around his neck that could float in water and swaggered into Bai Zhou KTV in a floral shirt.
The women sitting on the bar stools by the door all glanced at him.
"Is 'Mommy' here?!" Zhao Qiqi asked without looking around, finding the "Mommy" on duty and, like a complete idiot, throwing a wad of cash in front of her.
"Xin Xin promised to spend time with me today, does she look down on me? I earn all this money, isn't it all for her to spend?!"
"Mommy" has seen nouveau riche before, but she's never seen one so bluffing.
Is there any difference between this money and money found for free?
She stared intently at the money, then noticed the two thugs behind Zhao Qiqi and, not daring to offend them, quickly said, "Oh, handsome, you must be mistaken. She went out with a regular customer today. I'll call her and ask when she'll be back."
Zhao Qiqi sat on the sofa, swaggering and waiting, while Lu Ye stood behind him, wearing sunglasses and surveying the KTV.
The Bai Zhou KTV was much more upscale than the former Jin Taiyang Dance Hall, resplendent in gold and silver. From time to time, sounds of men and women playing could be heard from the private rooms. In another dark room, a group of people were wandering around in circles; Zhao Qiqi was curious about what they were doing.
Lu Ye immediately knew that this place was heavily involved in prostitution, with people engaging in groping and singing in public.
"What's going on? Someone dares to cause trouble in the place?" The thugs hired by Bai Zhou KTV came over to ask "Mommy" after hearing the commotion. "Mommy" pushed the thugs away, saying, "Big client, don't worry about it."
"Mommy" called a familiar hotel. After the call was connected, Lu Yuexin took a long time to say, "It'll be late, it's only just begun," before hanging up.
As soon as "Mommy" put down the microphone, Chen Zhenzhu rushed over from the side, grabbed the microphone, and pressed the replay button.
"Mommy" was shocked: "What are you doing?!"
The hotel receptionist on the other end of the phone said mechanically, "Hello, this is the Sunrise Hotel. Would you like to make a reservation?"
Shen Zhenzhu took out her walkie-talkie: "The target has changed to the Sunrise Hotel."
The walkie-talkie quickly replied, "Received."
Zhao Qiqi rubbed his hands together, eager for praise.
Shen Zhenzhu gave a thumbs up: "President Zhao is awesome, you acted very well!"
Zhao Qiqi scratched his head and said shyly, "I'll learn from Sister Pearl."
No sooner had Chen Zhenzhu led her people out than the anti-pornography squad entered.
The brightly lit, bustling KTV was suddenly exposed under the incandescent lights. The air was thick with the smells of alcohol and debauchery, and men and women fled in terror. The true nature of the charlatans was revealed, and they were quickly brought under control by the police.
At the Sunrise Hotel, the receptionist flipped through the registration book and said to the police officer in front of him, "In, in room 1131."
Lu Yuexin came out of the bathroom and reached out to the man on the bed for money: "I have something to do, give me the money quickly."
"You had to be quick just now, and you have to be quick now too." The older man with the beer belly pulled her hand, put his arm around her, and sat her on the edge of the bed, saying, "Don't want your boyfriend anymore, I'll take care of you."
"You want a discount when you go out to prostitute yourself? Whoever lets you pay for it will starve." Lu Yuexin didn't care about anyone except Kong Jieren. She was thinking about going back quickly to get things sorted out. Her right eyelid kept twitching all night, making her seem absent-minded.
The old man said unhappily, "You want to leave before the time is up? You're not allowed to leave."
Lu Yuexin pushed him away in disgust and walked to the TV to get dressed: "I'm leaving even if you don't pay me. I told you, I'm not doing this anymore."
The older man rushed over and started pulling and tugging, unaware that Lu Yuexin was a murderer being arrested: "Then I'll cherish tonight even more. How about a discount for booking the whole night?"
"Get out of here!" Lu Yuexin pushed the old man away. Her makeup was washed off, and her face was pale and frightened as she said, "Give me the money now, I need the money!"
The old man's eyes widened as he said, "You wouldn't be doing drugs, would you? Instead of spending time with me, you're hanging out with those drug addicts?"
Lu Yuexin didn't have any money to buy a train ticket to leave, so she picked up the man's trousers and took out the old man's wallet.
"What are you doing? You're going to rob me if I don't give you money?" the old man said. "I've been through honey traps before, who do you think you are?!"
Lu Yuexin kicked him in the groin, and as he cried out in pain, she grabbed his wallet and purse, opened the door, and ran out.
"Ah!" She bumped into someone, then her arm was quickly twisted behind her back, and a woman's clear, unequivocal voice said, "Lu Yuexin, you're under arrest."
Lu Yuexin looked up and saw a round-faced girl behind the woman. She scoffed, "You were thinking of breaking down the door, but you threw yourself into my arms instead."
A group of people in police uniforms were following behind the other party.
Lu Yuexin screamed in panic, "What are you doing? I didn't do anything! Let me go, I need to find someone."
"Looking for Kong Jieren, is that it?" Shen Zhenzhu handed her over to Xiaobai, pushed open the door and saw the naked old man. She turned her head and said, "Kong Jieren will be able to meet you soon... Take the person in the room with you too, and after you give your statement, send them to the anti-prostitution team."
"Yes, Sister Pearl."
Chen Zhenzhu walked to Lu Yuexin's side and lifted her wrist to examine Lu Yuexin's fingernails. The sharp fingernails were gone, and all ten fingers were trimmed to their shortest length. A broken, bloody mark could be seen on the right index finger.
......
After making a scene in the interrogation room, Lu Yuexin started sobbing. The sobbing turned into wailing.
She cried until the very end, then, as if in a daze, she looked around the cold interrogation room and saw the eight large characters on the wall that read "Confess and you will be treated leniently; resist and you will be punished severely." Finally, she faced her crimes squarely.
“I met Kong Jieren first. He was the senior who picked me up from school, and he was a popular figure at school. Do you know how many girls had a crush on him?” Lu Yuexin looked up blankly at the incandescent light on the ceiling, and wiped away the tears that fell silently with her hands.
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Do you think it's worth it to sacrifice the rest of your life for a man like this?"
Xiao Bai, standing beside Lu Yuexin, held a pen and stared at her, waiting for her answer.
The "campus aqua regia body dissolution case" was solved in less than 48 hours from the time it occurred. In those short 48 hours, the lives of two female college students were completely ended.
"Whether it was worth it or not is too late. I loved him, and I hated him. It might sound ridiculous to you, but I had to keep spending money on him just to see him once in a while."
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Why don't you stop?"
Lu Yuexin said calmly, "Everyone back home knows what I do, and they've cut ties with me. I'll never have a man who wants me again. I can only keep entangled with him."
Shen Zhenzhu asked bluntly, "Before you met Kong Jieren, you were still in school. Could it be said that you became a 'hostess' at a KTV because of him?"
"What else can I do? I have nowhere to get money, this is all I have, this is all I can do... Waaah!" Lu Yuexin covered her face and cried bitterly, shouting hoarsely, "Why did this happen! Kong Jieren, why did you betray me! You should be the one who got arrested!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Tell me about Jia Shishi. Why did you kill her?"
Lu Yuexin said, "Jia Shishi became Kong Jieren's girlfriend just because she had good grades and was pretty. I'm not reconciled to this. I'm really not reconciled to this."
Xiao Baizhou stepped forward and handed her a tissue to comfort her.
After Chen Zhenzhu and Lu Yuexin calmed down a bit, Chen Zhenzhu asked, "What's this about condoms?"
Lu Yuexin slumped weakly in her chair: "It was his. I gave him my virginity, intending to keep the condoms and get pregnant behind his back, but I never threw them away. Now they've come in handy..."
Her emotions fluctuated wildly, and she shouted, "I gave him everything, but he cheated on me with Jia Shishi. He even slept with her before me! I did everything for him, and he has no conscience! And Jia Shishi, she's the most hateful one. She pretended to be innocent even though she was with him, and she listened to me share about Kong Jieren with her. I treated her like a best friend, but she treated me like an idiot. I don't know how she laughs at me behind my back! They all betrayed me, they should all die!"
"So you admit that you killed Jia Shishi, right?"
Lu Yuexin shouted, "You have all the evidence, what good will it do if I don't admit it?!"
“As far as I know, Kong Jieren has another girlfriend,” Chen Zhenzhu said, staring at her. “Did you know that?”
Lu Yuexin's eyes flickered, unwilling to admit reality: "I don't know, I don't know!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Some people have reported that you and Jia Shishi even teamed up against the other party."
Lu Yuexin burst into laughter, saying hysterically, "What's wrong with dealing with Xiao Lan? Isn't Kong Jieren only with her because she's rich? Kong Jieren wouldn't have bothered with her if it weren't for his studies abroad! So what if you're rich? Does having money give you the right to be high and mighty?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "You already know that Kong Jieren is opportunistic and treats love as a transaction, exchanging it for studying abroad or material enjoyment. Why are you still willing to give so much for him?"
Lu Yuexin paused for a few seconds, then lowered her head and said, "He appeared when I needed him most, like a prince. He wouldn't allow anyone to isolate me and took the initiative to help me find a classroom and contact teachers. Many people thought I wasn't a good student, but Kong Jieren said they were wearing colored glasses, and only he could see into my heart. He stood on the school stage playing guitar and singing, looking incredibly handsome. After coming off the stage, he told me that he was singing for me, and that he truly loved me. Do you know? In all my life, no one has ever said they loved me. He's the only one who has ever said they loved me."
Shen Zhenzhu couldn't stand it anymore and retorted, "If he loves you, why doesn't he break up with them instead of expecting you to give unconditionally? Is this how true love works?"
"That's right!" Xiao Bai glanced at Chen Zhenzhu, his mind wandering slightly, before he focused on writing again.
“He’s going abroad, but if he breaks up with Xiao Lan, he won’t be able to leave. Xiao Lan’s family definitely won’t give him any financial support. He’s shameless, he’s not a good person.” Lu Yuexin sneered, “I know he’s not a good person, but I’ve fallen for him, I deserve it.”
Shen Zhenzhu continued, "What methods did you and Jia Shishi use to deal with Xiao Lan? Did you cause any harm to her person or property?"
Lu Yuexin said, "There was no harm done. It was just some rumors that she was getting close to other male classmates. Or, they could have the security guards at the KTV scare her at the school gate, pretending to pursue her. I didn't even touch her. Later, she went to Shenyang, and I couldn't find her anymore."
Chen Zhenzhu observed her expression and asked, "Do you still have regrets?"
Lu Yuexin said, "What regrets could she possibly have? She's lucky; her family is wealthy, so she won't end up like me. But maybe not..."
Lu Yuexin sneered, "If Kong Jieren marries her, won't all her family's assets be his? Kong Jieren also told me that he would buy me a house and a car after he returned from abroad, and that he would take good care of me even without a formal title. I know that these may all be lies, but even if they are lies, I believed them. I have no way back now. Every time I am with a different man, I imagine that it is him so that I won't feel so disgusting."
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Do you regret it?"
Lu Yuexin paused for a moment, then lowered her head and took a few minutes to raise it again: "He was a popular figure at school, and being with him was just for show. His face looked a bit like a Hong Kong idol, but later it was just so-so... It's too late to regret it now. I was competing with myself, with Jia Shishi, and with Xiao Lan. I didn't want to lose."
......
When Shen Zhenzhu came out of the interrogation room, she saw a young woman dressed stylishly and fashionably, her eyes red-rimmed, accompanied by Wu Zhongguo. She had a graceful demeanor and her every move was dignified.
Her parents stood beside her, comforting her.
"Captain Chen, thank you for letting me sit in." Xiao Lan wiped away her tears and said softly, "I've been out of town the whole time, I never expected him to cause something like this. Every time I contacted Kong Jieren, he seemed perfectly normal. I also bear some responsibility for this—"
“No, you bear no responsibility; you are also a victim.” Shen Zhenzhu interrupted Xiao Lan and said seriously, “The truly responsible person is next door. The lessons of the past are right before our eyes; I hope you can see the truth.”
"There was a sudden wave of rumors about me at school, but I didn't pay any attention to it. I never imagined that two female students would go to such lengths to target me."
Xiao Lan said with a bitter smile, "I...I'm really sad...Kong Jieren used to have a very hard life. I saw him begging his counselor for tuition when he was a freshman. I paid his tuition for him, which probably embarrassed him at the time. But he had excellent grades and worked part-time in his spare time. He came to me wearing patched clothes and begged me, so I asked my family to help him. Later, he pursued me, and I thought he was considerate and ambitious, so I agreed to date him."
Xiao Lan's mother said angrily, "Our family was planning to let them study abroad together so he could keep my daughter company. We never expected this to happen just before they were about to go abroad!"
Shen Zhenzhu advised, "Xiao Lan, don't try to fill the void in the hearts of certain people with your kindness. Their humanity is so impoverished that money and love cannot fill it."
"It's so sudden." Xiao Lan buried her head in her mother's shoulder, sobbing, "...I...I can't accept it. She wasn't talking about him at all. How could Kong Jieren do this?"
Shen Zhenzhu could see her reluctance. The sudden event had not given the young girl enough time to adjust, leaving her at a loss.
"Perhaps your relationship with him wasn't love from the start, but rather a calculated move to elevate your social class. He may not love you, but rather the financial support you provide," Shen Zhenzhu said incisively. "He's right next door. Do you want to face that?"
Xiao Lan's father said from the side, "Good daughter, how have your parents taught you? Don't run away from problems."
Xiao Lan remained silent for a long time, then slowly raised her head and said, "...I want to see him clearly."
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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there are 100 red envelopes waiting for you!
Let me see.
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