Chapter 32 - Moving Forward: Some things don't need to be shameful, and...
"Qingli, Xiaoxi had no choice but to cut off contact with you back then, so please don't blame her. I'm really happy that you two are back together! She's suffered a lot these past years. I know you've always loved her the most, but I still want to say something: please take good care of her. Make sure you two are doing well, and don't leave her alone!"
Back then, Lin Fengyuan and his colleague Zhou Xinwei, who was also Yao Yi's husband, were murdered on their way home. The methods were cruel, and the scene was horrific.
Based on road surveillance footage, the police quickly identified the perpetrator as Liu Zaiming, who had previously been sentenced to ten years in prison for intentional assault and had just been released from prison a few days prior.
He returned home to find that his mother had died shortly after he went to prison, his wife had disappeared several years ago, and his only son was seriously ill and didn't have much time left.
The tragedy of his family being destroyed and his family killed fueled Liu Zaiming's resentment towards Lin Fengyuan and Zhou Xinwei, who had arrested him years ago, and he decided to take revenge.
He stalked the two for months, figuring out their daily routines, and finally found an opportunity to kill them in a secluded alley on the day of the crime.
After the incident, Liu Zaiming used his familiarity with the alley to evade the street cameras as he fled.
The police had a hard time finding a large amount of information related to the investigation of Lin Fengyuan, Zhou Xinwei, and their families at Liu Zaiming's temporary residence.
The retrieved surveillance footage also showed that shortly after the incident, Liu Zaiming appeared near the family compound, but was noticed by security guards and hurriedly left.
It can be confirmed that he has plans to retaliate against his family.
Therefore, for safety reasons, the municipal bureau decided to protect the three of them and secretly transfer them to another location.
In order to avoid revealing their whereabouts, they need to sever all ties with the past and disappear from everyone's world until the murderer is caught.
Fu Qingli had read the case files, but those straightforward records were completely objective and devoid of any emotion. They were far less immersive than hearing the parties involved recount their experiences.
Just reading the words, he could no longer imagine how sad and desperate the frail and petite Lin Xi must have felt at that time.
Seeing Aunt Yao choke up several times while recounting the past, Zhou Leyan comforted her by patting her back, though even this grown man had tears welling up in his eyes.
He couldn't suppress his heartache and self-blame. He wished he could turn back time. He would never let Lin Xi leave his side, even if it meant digging three feet into the ground.
What saddened him even more was...
Yao Wenxiu and Zhou Leyan both thought that his breakup with Lin Xi was due to the unavoidable loss of contact after that incident.
But he knew perfectly well that the breakup text message was sent to him on the morning of the day the incident occurred. Lin Xi could not have foreseen the tragedy that would happen that night. The breakup was probably because she was tired of the trouble Fu Wenxun had caused and disappointed in his incompetence.
Mingming was filled with endless disappointment, and then faced the death of her father.
Lin Xi suffered an emotional breakdown and teetered on the brink of despair, yet she never uttered a single bad word about him to anyone, taking all the blame upon herself.
Back in the room, I looked at her, her brows still furrowed even as she slept.
Fu Qingli's craving for cigarettes suddenly kicked in at that moment, and she felt an intense, burning desire to smoke.
The bitterness in my throat and heart was too intense, and I desperately needed something stimulating to wake myself from the endless self-blame.
But his smoking habit was always due to missing someone. With Lin Xi by his side, he didn't need cigarettes to numb his mind, so he naturally didn't carry any with him.
Zhou Leyan definitely smokes, but Fu Qingli didn't want to ask a rival in love.
Moreover, he was afraid that if Lin Xi suddenly woke up and found herself here, her emotions would fluctuate uncontrollably.
He dared not go too far.
After a brief moment of thought, he reached out and stroked Lin Xi's cheek, suddenly realizing that his addiction wasn't so strong anymore.
The medicine is right in front of me, how could I bear to leave!
He first went to the bathroom, grabbed a warm towel, and carefully wiped Lin Xi's face before taking a quick shower himself and lying down next to her.
All was silent, save for the soft breathing of the two of them.
Fu Qingli reached out and put her arm around Lin Xi's waist, gently leaning closer to her until they were so intimate that their faces were less than a centimeter apart.
The room lights were already off, with only a faint moonlight filtering through the curtains.
In the hazy light and shadow, perhaps sensing a sense of peace, Lin Xi's brows gradually relaxed, her eyes softened and became more relaxed, and the upturned corners of her mouth made Fu Qingli's heart soften and feel at ease.
Fu Qingli, look ahead, you and Xiaoxi have a long future ahead of you.
Let's make up for those missed opportunities and unavoidable past moments with more love in the days to come.
Fu Qingli's kiss gently landed on Lin Xi's lips, the soft touch accompanied by her sweet breath, making this unbearable night feel tender.
From now on, I will no longer be afraid of losing what I dreamed of after waking up.
*
Lin Xi had a long dream. In the dream, she was wearing white mourning clothes and standing in the center of the mourning hall, but this time her father was standing next to her.
Her father was still the same as she remembered, wearing a slightly faded polo shirt and black pants, smiling at her, gently wiping away her tears, and comforting her: "Xiaoxi, don't cry. Dad sacrificed himself for his beliefs and justice, and it was worth it. Besides, Dad and Mom are reunited, and you should be happy for us."
Lin Xi kept crying, saying she wanted to go with them, that she didn't want to be left alone in this world, all lonely and miserable.
Her father placed his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to turn away from the direction of the mourning hall: "Go forward, don't look back. Someone is waiting for you. Only when you say you are safe and sound can your parents rest in peace."
Then, she was given a heavy push on the shoulder, her legs were dangling in the air, and she was enveloped in a feeling of weightlessness...
Lin Xi suddenly opened her eyes, and the familiar furnishings came into view.
Before she could react, her waist was encircled tightly, and a warm body pressed against her from the side. A familiar, low, husky voice whispered in her ear, "Xiaoxi, did you have a nightmare? Don't be afraid."
Lin Xi stared blankly as Fu Qingli's face loomed large before her eyes. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he nestled into her neck like a large dog, nuzzling her gently in comfort.
She didn't react for a moment, then shook her head blankly: "No, I just dreamed about Dad."
"It seems that Dad misses you."
Fu Qingli looked up, kissed her smooth forehead, and suggested, "After we finish eating, shall we go to the cemetery to visit him?"
Lin Xi was still a little uncomfortable with such intimacy. She turned to the side shyly, buried her face in the pillow, and replied in a muffled voice, "Okay."
Fu Qingli didn't force her, and reached out to rub her round head: "Then I'll go make breakfast first, you can get up slowly."
With that, he got up and went to the living room.
Hearing the door close, Lin Xi carefully lifted her flushed face from under the pillow.
Although the two are now husband and wife, it's normal for them to share a bed and have morning kisses, but they dated for so long before, and Fu Qingli never acted like this!
They got married just one day ago, isn't that moving too fast?!
"Ah—" she screamed softly, rolled over twice, and wrapped herself completely in the blanket.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and she abruptly stopped what she was doing, but she was certain that Fu Qingli had seen it.
Because when he spoke, his cool voice carried a clear hint of amusement: "I've left your clothes here. If you want to sleep, feel free to sleep a little longer. But..."
He paused, then chuckled indulgently, "We're husband and wife, there's no need to be ashamed of some things. There will definitely be even more outrageous things to come!"
"..."
Lin Xi had absolutely no idea how to respond to that!
Fortunately, Fu Qingli didn't insist on an answer. She said, "Next time I'll knock before coming in," and then left.
Under such circumstances, Lin Xi naturally couldn't sleep. She made sure to mentally prepare herself before getting out of bed.
However, when Lin Xi walked into the restroom and saw that she was still wearing the same gauze dress she wore when she got her marriage certificate yesterday, the blush on her face instantly faded, and even the lingering feelings in her heart vanished without a trace.
They're husband and wife, yet he lets me sleep like this for one night. It seems he's not in such a hurry for "more outrageous things".
But upon closer reflection, it seems normal. Fu Qingli has a cold personality, and she has made great progress compared to before. Some things should be done slowly.
Lin Xi comforted herself while washing up.
She changed into the floral dress that Fu Qingli had prepared and walked out of the room.
Fu Qingli had already fried some eggs and bread, and heated two cups of milk.
When they sat down to eat, Lin Xi suggested that she go upstairs to see Aunt Yao first: "I accidentally fell asleep last night and didn't get to see Aunt Yao. I'll go up and tell her before I leave."
Fu Qingli: "No need. She and Zhou Leyan both sent messages saying they went out. I invited them to come back for lunch."
Lin Xi checked her phone; there were no calls or messages. A little jealous, she puffed out her cheeks and said, "Oh!"
Like a small pufferfish.
Fu Qingli reached out and poked her puffed-out cheeks, unable to help but chuckle: "They sent it to me first so as not to disturb your rest. After you finish eating, you can call Aunt Yao and ask her if they have any restaurants they'd like to try."
Hearing the word "inquire," Lin Xi's curiosity was immediately piqued: "What's wrong?"
Fu Qingli rested her chin on her hand, feigning distress: "Zhou Leyan said he wants to eat the most expensive food, and he won't eat anything that isn't the most expensive, but I've looked around and I don't know which restaurant to choose."
"..." Lin Xi couldn't help but complain, "How can he still be so childish!"
So, the call went unanswered; instead of finding anything, they overheard Aunt Yao berating Zhou Leyan: "The most expensive one! How can a police officer be so corrupt! Don't go tonight, go back to your canteen!"
Zhou Leyan wailed repeatedly, "Mom, I was wrong! I was just joking with Fu Qingli! Please don't pull my ear, and give me some face in public!"
Lin Xi couldn't stop laughing.
Even after hanging up the phone, watching the car leave the expressway and turn into a small road in the suburbs, my mood inevitably became heavy.
Lin Xi became increasingly quiet, eventually gazing silently out the window into a daze. Fu Qingli didn't try to start a conversation, giving her some space to prepare herself.
When Lin Fengyuan buried his wife in his early years, he left an empty grave for himself next to her.
Therefore, the tomb set up by Lin Xi in the Martyrs' Cemetery was a cenotaph, and the real ashes were buried in this scenic suburban cemetery, where the couple rested together.
The path up the mountain was long, and the rows of pine and cypress trees along the steps looked somewhat wilted in the sweltering heat.
Fu Qingli, however, was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, with the buttons fastened very neatly.
After walking for only a few minutes, the clothes on my back were already soaked with sweat.
Lin Xi complained with a hint of heartache, "It must be very hot, right? I told you to change into short sleeves before we went out, but you wouldn't listen."
"It's my first time meeting the parents as a son-in-law, so I should dress formally," Fu Qingli explained gently, still somewhat troubled. "But I didn't expect to look so disheveled."
His forehead and nose were covered in large beads of sweat, and his black, tousled hair was also wet and scattered across his forehead, completely unlike his usual neat appearance.
His slightly messy hair didn't make him look disheveled; instead, it added an air of untamed arrogance to his aloof demeanor. Coupled with the faint smile at the corner of his lips, he was inexplicably charmingly roguish.
Lin Xi felt her face, already hot from the sun, burning even more, and quickly turned her gaze away from him: "I'm not embarrassed, I'm fine."
"Go up two rows and you'll reach it. Don't go past it."
After a long pause, Lin Xi couldn't help but tug at his hand, asking with some concern, "Will Dad be upset that we didn't tell him before we were together? He always says you're the older brother and should listen to you. Will he object if he knows we're together?"
"No," Fu Qingli said with absolute certainty. "He'll be very happy to know we're together!"
How could those childish and clumsy attempts at concealment have escaped Lin Fengyuan's keen observation skills as a seasoned criminal investigator?
During his sophomore year, Lin Fengyuan privately approached Fu Qingli about this matter.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
