mastermind
Zhang Xiande stood there, watching You Jiale's disheveled retreating figure, a hint of doubt appearing on his handsome face. You Jiale's resentful words, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten into this mess," stuck in his heart like a thorn.
“What do you mean by ‘if it weren’t for me’?” Zhang Xiande muttered to himself, his face darkening completely. He felt as if he had overlooked some important information. An unnamed anger began to burn in his chest, a self-reproach for not having noticed the potential danger.
"Third brother!" Zhang Xiande's voice, as cold as ice, instantly resounded throughout the room.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the third brother appeared silently at the door, head bowed, waiting for Zhang Xiande's instructions.
Zhang Xiande's gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced directly at the third brother: "Didn't I tell you to secretly protect You Jiale?! What exactly happened to him last night?! Why does it seem like he has something to do with me?! Why did someone pass him a letter without telling me?! What are you doing? Is this your so-called protection?! You can't even detect that the person you're protecting has been framed?!"
The third brother's body trembled slightly, and he immediately knelt down, his voice filled with fear: "Young Master, it was my dereliction of duty that I failed to notice this matter in time."
Zhang Xiande laughed in fury: "Dereliction of duty?! You think you can get away with just one word?! Did I raise you to be decorations?! Investigate immediately! Who gave You Jiale the letter! What did the letter say! Who dared to touch him under my nose!" His voice was filled with unquestionable authority and anger, and the air in the entire room seemed to freeze.
"Yes!" Cold sweat beaded on the third brother's forehead. He dared not say another word, immediately got up, and disappeared from the room.
Zhang Xiande's chest heaved violently, his eyes filled with a terrifyingly gloomy expression. He had a vague premonition that this matter was far from simple, and he would not let the person who harmed You Jiale off easily.
Just as Zhang Xiande had predicted, the third brother's investigation quickly yielded results. All the clues pointed to one person—Pei Zhiyuan.
Upon learning that Pei Zhiyuan was behind it all, both old and new grudges surged within him, and his eyes filled with murderous intent. This time, he would never let Pei Zhiyuan go because of past favors.
For the next few days, You Jiale avoided Zhang Xiande, deliberately avoiding any possible encounters with him. He went straight home after work during the day and went to bed early at night, trying to banish the events of that night from his mind.
However, there are some things he can't avoid just because he wants to.
One evening, You Jiale had just arrived home when she saw He Mingzhou standing at the door, his face showing a hint of worry and apology.
"You Jiale, can I talk to you?" He Mingzhou's tone was gentle and sincere.
You Jiale hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
“That night… I don’t know why I did that.” He Mingzhou looked at You Jiale’s tired face, his tone tinged with heartache. “But it really wasn’t me who asked you to go.”
You Jiale lowered her head, not wanting to recall the humiliation of that night.
He Mingzhou took out a folded letter from his pocket and handed it to You Jiale: "I received this letter that night before I went there."
You Jiale took the letter with a puzzled look, unfolded it, and her face instantly turned pale. The handwriting on the letter was unmistakably his! The content was also very simple, just asking He Mingzhou to meet in that room, saying that he had some things he wanted to discuss with him.
“This is…” You Jiale’s voice trembled slightly.
“This is your handwriting. I saw your signature when I checked the accounts, and it looks very similar,” He Mingzhou explained. “When I received this letter, I thought it was because you wanted to talk to me privately about something. After all, we had a pleasant chat before, so I didn’t think much of it and let it pass. I really didn’t know that something like that would happen! Are you… are you alright?” He Mingzhou’s eyes were full of genuine concern.
Faced with He Mingzhou's concerned gaze, he could only force a smile and say, "I'm fine, thank you." He didn't want to tell He Mingzhou the details of the humiliating events that happened that night, so he just gave a few perfunctory words and tried to find an excuse to send him away.
He Mingzhou noticed You Jiale's evasiveness, but he didn't reveal the name he suspected. He just sighed, told You Jiale to be careful, and then left.
After seeing He Mingzhou off, You Jiale's face darkened completely. He clutched the forged letter tightly, his eyes filled with coldness.
A powerful desire for revenge grew within You Jiale. Pei Zhiyuan! He would never let this despicable and shameless man get away with it!
The next day, You Jiale made a point of inquiring about Pei Zhiyuan's whereabouts, and then quietly ambushed him on a secluded path that Pei Zhiyuan often passed by. He held a wooden stick in his hand, his eyes sharply fixed on the entrance of the alley.
Not long after, Pei Zhiyuan appeared at the alley entrance.
When You Jiale saw him, she couldn't help but rush out and swing the wooden stick at Pei Zhiyuan's head!
With a muffled thud, Pei Zhiyuan groaned and swayed. Before he could react, You Jiale struck him several times with a stick, knocking him to the ground. You Jiale's anger found an outlet, and he continued to strike Pei Zhiyuan's body relentlessly until the man let out a painful groan.
Just as You Jiale was panting heavily and preparing to leave, several dark figures silently appeared at the other end of the alley.
They were the men Zhang Xiande had sent to secretly investigate and arrest Pei Zhiyuan. They witnessed You Jiale brutally beating Pei Zhiyuan, exchanged glances, and silently waited for You Jiale to leave.
Once You Jiale's figure disappeared at the alley entrance, the group quickly stepped forward, lifted the nearly lifeless Pei Zhiyuan, and led him away from the alley.
Pei Zhiyuan was taken by Zhang Xiande's men to the private room where You Jiale had been drugged.
The air in the private room seemed to freeze, thick and suffocating. Zhang Xiande stood with his hands behind his back, coldly staring down at Pei Zhiyuan on the ground like a judge. His face appeared sharply defined in the dim light, and his eyes held only a chilling indifference.
Pei Zhiyuan's face was deathly pale, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his disheveled hair clung to his face. His clothes were tattered from the beating, making him look extremely wretched. He tried to struggle, but the ropes binding him wouldn't budge, instead digging painfully into his swollen, red skin. He raised his head, his eyes filled with terror and anger as he looked at Zhang Xiande.
"Xiande! What do you mean by this! Let me go!" Pei Zhiyuan's voice was hoarse with fear, carrying a hint of disbelief as he questioned.
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