Chapter 69 The truth is revealed
Huo Tingxiao's clumsy yet heartfelt outpouring of affection that night was like a powerful current of warmth, completely breaking down the last remaining barrier of ice between them. Although Su Wanqing didn't immediately offer a clear response, needing time to digest and heal, the atmosphere in the house had already shifted dramatically. The suffocating coldness and silence had vanished, replaced by a subtle, unspoken easing of tension and... a faint, almost imperceptible tension.
Huo Tingxiao no longer maintained his distance or awkwardly showed affection like before; instead, he became more natural. He was still busy, but he would try to be home on time for dinner. He was still quiet, but he would pay attention to her needs, quietly adding clothes and pouring water for her. He even began to allow (or rather, tacitly allow) her to read in the living room while he worked on some non-confidential documents nearby. The two of them sat in separate places, not disturbing each other, yet there was a strange sense of peace.
Su Wanqing could sense his change. The sincerity and warmth that he carefully exuded beneath his cold exterior gradually soothed her wounded heart. She no longer curled up like a hedgehog, but began to try to respond to his kindness, occasionally asking him, "Have you eaten yet?" or quietly placing a cup of ginseng tea at the door of his study when he stayed up late.
Everything seems to be moving in the right direction.
However, both Huo Tingxiao and Su Wanqing knew in their hearts that there was a thorn still deeply embedded there and had not been removed - that was Lin Weiwei and the kidnapping case that almost caused a disaster.
Huo Tingxiao never stopped investigating the kidnapping. Although the kidnappers all spoke with one voice, blaming the mysterious "Ms. Lin" and the offshore accounts, they lacked direct evidence pointing to Lin Weiwei herself. Lin Weiwei's status was unique, and her father, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lin, was also quite influential in the military. Without solid evidence, they could not touch her.
But this didn't make Huo Tingxiao give up. Instead, he mobilized even more covert forces and approached the investigation from a more incisive angle. He wanted to know not only the kidnapping, but also the source of the previous malicious report and any possible actions Lin Weiwei might have taken against Su Wanqing.
That afternoon, Huo Tingxiao was talking quietly with Assistant Chen in his study, his face grim. The investigation seemed to have made some crucial progress.
"...Are you sure?" Huo Tingxiao's voice was low and cold.
"It's basically confirmed, Commander." Assistant Chen's voice was equally solemn. "We've used technical means to recover some of the encrypted communication records from that offshore account over the past six months and traced an unusual flow of funds. Although the other party was very covert, using multiple springboards and shell companies to launder the money, a not-insignificant amount of money was eventually transferred to the account of a shell company in China closely linked to Assistant Lin Weiwei's mother, just a week before the Fashion magazine report was published."
Huo Tingxiao's eyes instantly flashed with a terrifying gleam: "What about Fashion?"
"Editor Zhang, who was in charge of the special feature for Fengshang magazine, was initially very stubborn, insisting it was a normal story. But our people tracked down a staff editor in charge of typesetting at the time, and she privately revealed that Lin Weiwei personally handed the manuscript and photos to Editor Zhang, exerting pressure on him to appear in the featured section of that issue, and even specified the accompanying images... Even the angle and caption for the photo of the military vehicle were Lin Weiwei's instructions." Assistant Chen paused, then added, "We also discovered that the day before the kidnapping, a call was briefly made to Lin Weiwei's personal number that didn't connect. The base station was located near the Library Building, perfectly coinciding with the time and place where the wife encountered her. After that, all activity on that number completely ceased."
Clues and pieces of evidence gradually became complete like a puzzle, clearly outlining the trajectory of Lin Weiwei's deliberate and vicious calculations!
From the initial rumors and slander, to using magazines to frame public opinion and smear character, and finally to the desperate act of directly planning a kidnapping with the intention of taking indecent photos to completely destroy Su Wanqing... His meticulous mind and vicious methods are outrageous!
Huo Tingxiao's face was so gloomy that it looked like water could drip out of it. The hostility emanating from him almost froze the air in the study! He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and veins bulged on the back of his hands.
What a great Lin Weiwei!
What a childhood sweetheart!
What a gentle and generous Miss Lin!
He had actually been deceived by this mask, and even doubted and hurt the person he was supposed to protect because of her instigation!
Endless anger and fear surged in his chest like magma, almost bursting out of his body! If... if he had gone a little later that day... if Wanqing had really suffered irreparable damage... he simply couldn't imagine it!
"Commander, although the current chain of evidence cannot directly convict her, it is enough to create strong pressure. What do you think..." Assistant Chen asked.
Huo Tingxiao suddenly raised his head, his eyes icy cold and filled with undisguised murderous intent. "Make a copy of these things and send it anonymously to Deputy Chief of General Staff Lin's office. Send the other copy to the old man."
He wanted to see how the Lin family father and daughter could argue in the face of such irrefutable evidence! He also wanted to let Grandpa know what terrible consequences his slight indulgence and acquiescence had almost led to!
"Yes!" Assistant Chen was startled and immediately took the order and left.
Huo Tingxiao sat alone in his study, his chest heaving violently, unable to calm down for a long time. He pulled out his phone and flipped through the album to a photo he had taken recently. It was of Su Wanqing, newly recovered from her illness, sleeping on the sofa. The sunlight shone on her peaceful sleeping face, soft and beautiful.
His fingertips gently stroked the screen, and strong and complex emotions surged in his eyes.
He almost...lost this beauty forever.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the study door.
Huo Tingxiao put away his phone, suppressed his outward emotions, and said in a deep voice, "Come in."
Su Wanqing walked in, holding a cup of freshly brewed hot tea. She looked much better than she had a few days ago, and her cheeks had regained some of their rosiness. Seeing that Huo Tingxiao's face wasn't looking good, she hesitated for a moment before gently placing the tea on the table. "Since you haven't come out yet...have some tea."
Huo Tingxiao looked at her with a deep gaze, and suddenly said, "Wanqing, come here."
Su Wanqing was slightly stunned and a little confused, but still walked over as she was told.
Huo Tingxiao took her hand and asked her to sit down on the chair beside him. His palm was warm, wrapping around her slightly cool fingers. Su Wanqing's heartbeat involuntarily quickened a little, but she didn't break free.
Huo Tingxiao was silent for a few seconds, as if he was considering his words, and finally decided not to hide it anymore. He looked into her clear eyes and said in a low but clear voice, "The investigation into the kidnapping case and the magazine incident has yielded results."
Su Wanqing's heart suddenly tightened, her pupils slightly constricted, and she subconsciously held her breath. Although she had already guessed it, hearing him confirm it in person still made her feel a chill.
"...It's Lin Weiwei, right?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yes." Huo Tingxiao nodded heavily, his eyes cold. "From the initial rumors, to the magazine frame-up, to the final kidnapping...she orchestrated it all."
Despite being mentally prepared, Su Wanqing still felt a chill and disbelief upon hearing this answer. She simply couldn't comprehend how much malice someone could harbor to inflict such cruel and relentless harm on another person.
"Why...why did she do this..." Su Wanqing's voice was a little choked, she was afraid and sad about this unwarranted malice.
Huo Tingxiao held her hand tightly, his eyes filled with sorrow and guilt. "Because of jealousy. Because I couldn't have it. And also because of... my indulgence and stupidity."
He confessed his mistake without a trace of evasion: "It was my indifference and hesitation that gave her the illusion and the opportunity to take advantage of me. It was also my distrust and nonsense that almost...almost caused a big mistake. I'm sorry, Wanqing."
He selectively told her some key evidence and clues he had found, using a calm tone, including the flow of funds, the testimony of the magazine's editor-in-chief, and the key base station location information.
The truth unfolded before her layer by layer like peeling a cocoon, cruelly clear and completely clearing away any "groundless" suspicion she might have previously carried.
Su Wanqing listened quietly without saying anything, but she tightened her fingers slightly and held his hand.
It turns out...it was really her.
It turned out that all her intuitions and guesses were correct.
It turned out that the grievances and shocks she suffered did not come out of thin air.
A complex emotion surged in her heart - there was relief that her injustice had been redressed, there was fear and anger towards Lin Weiwei, but more than that, there was an indescribable... bitterness and heartache.
I feel heartbroken for the guilt and pain in Huo Tingxiao's eyes at this moment.
I also feel sad for the detours they have taken and the injuries they have suffered because of this external malice.
"It's all over..." After a long while, she spoke softly, her voice a little hoarse, "It's good as long as we find out the truth."
She did not cry or complain, but accepted the cruel truth with an almost calm tolerance.
Huo Tingxiao looked at her calm yet resilient profile, his heart filled with indescribable emotion and... a deeper love. He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. His voice was low and firm:
"Well, it's all over."
"From now on, no one and nothing will be able to hurt you."
"I promise."
The truth is out, the truth comes out.
The vicious conspiracy was exposed to the sun and could no longer hide.
And the feelings that have gone through hardships, after being washed away and seeing the light of day, seem to become more resilient and... precious.
They embraced each other in the warm light of the study, as if they wanted to merge into each other's bones and blood, face the past together, and move towards the future together.
Lin Weiwei's ending is already determined.
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