Chapter 145
Please don't hold my sacrifice against me.
Lin Sheng noticed that Lin Jin's hands, which were tightly gripping the chair, slowly slid to her side before hesitantly removed his hands from her neck.
He stared intently at the motionless man with bloodshot eyes, even holding his breath until he could barely breathe. Although he had committed murder before, this was the first time he had done it himself, so he couldn't control his nervousness and fear.
He looked down at his hands, which had committed murder, his lips trembling uncontrollably. Fear brought a tingling sensation to his head, followed by a light feeling as if a boulder had rolled down his chest.
He was stunned for only a moment before he got used to the fact that he had killed someone, and seemed to have tasted some kind of sweetness. This feeling was an indescribable and wonderful pleasure, and he even felt that he had not had enough.
Perhaps due to excessive excitement, Lin Sheng took off his hat and mask when he turned to look at his mother. His usually neatly combed slicked-back hair now looked messy and disheveled.
His expression changed rapidly, then he suddenly broke into a sickly smile and said in a sarcastic tone, "I just got rid of our biggest threat. We've been living in fear because of her all this time. Now it's finally over. But why do you look so unhappy? Don't you feel great? Don't you feel great? Speak up!"
Lin Sheng's tone, tinged with a sarcastic laugh, gradually escalated into an emotionally charged roar as he repeatedly questioned Lin Sheng.
Ruan Jinxian stepped back two steps when he touched her, and just watched Lin Jin lose consciousness without making a move to stop him.
She harbored selfish motives, hoping for only a fleeting moment that her son would stop in time, but more than anything, she hoped he would go all the way down the dark path so that she could truly obtain everything from the Lin family. However, she had to act convincingly and realistically, hence the astonishment and fear on her face.
Seeing that Ruan Jinxian remained unmoved, Lin Sheng simply grabbed her wrist, disregarding their mother-son relationship, and dragged her forcefully in front of Sheng He, roaring, "After fighting for so many years, don't you understand Lin Jin? She never fights a battle unprepared, so do you know what this means? It means that everything you vehemently denied is true, and this illegitimate child that appeared out of nowhere is genuine. Besides deceiving yourself, who else can you fool?!"
Enraged, Lin Sheng grabbed Ruan Jinxian by the back of her neck and forced her to kneel at his feet. He then grabbed a fruit knife from the table and threatened her, "I'll give you two choices: either kill him yourself, or I'll kill him and then kill you. My life is already ruined, and I don't mind ruining all of you too."
Ruan Jinxian was secretly rejoicing at the turn of her life, but she never expected that her joy would turn to sorrow so quickly. She crawled on her hands and knees in a sorry state, pleading, "Asheng! Asheng, calm down! No matter what, I am your mother. Who else but me can unconditionally forgive and protect you after you make a mistake?! I'm trying to help you! Do you want us all to be dragged down with you? If I'm dragged down with you, then there really will be no one to help you!"
Lin Sheng was already in a semi-mad state and wouldn't listen to those words that were half true and half false.
He kept shoving the fruit knife into his mother's hand, cursing, "So you can't bring yourself to kill him? Are you planning to wait until I'm arrested by the police so you can enjoy everything that was originally mine with your illegitimate child? Why should I live in hell? Why can he be carefree? Why?!"
Just as the mother and son were engrossed in their argument, the person who had been sitting slumped in the wheelchair quietly stood up.
Before Lin Sheng could react, he was already sprawled on the ground, followed by excruciating pain that made his vision go black.
This unexpected punch landed squarely on his stomach, followed by a smooth over-the-shoulder throw. The intense pain throughout his body rendered him temporarily immobile.
When he came to his senses, he bared his teeth and flailed his arms wildly, trying to get up, only to be met with cold handcuffs.
Another crisp clicking sound rang out, and his feet were firmly shackled together, making him completely helpless like a fish on a chopping board!
He looked at the person who attacked him in disbelief, while struggling desperately to free his arms. "Sheng He, you're such a good actor! If I had known this would happen, I should have released the dogs to kill you earlier that day. Why are you so tough? I clearly saw you jump off the cliff, why didn't you die? You damn bastard!"
Ruan Jinxian slumped weakly onto the lawn, shocked by the sudden scene before her. Fear choked her, leaving her speechless for a moment.
The mother and son stared intently at the figure whose face was wrapped in bandages, their eyes widening as the bandages were removed.
"No...impossible...impossible..." Lin Sheng panicked, shaking his head repeatedly, refusing to accept what he was seeing. "How could it be you?"
The person Lin Jin brought was not Sheng He at all, but Ji Nanxing, the criminal investigation team captain who was carefully disguised.
This arrangement seems perfectly reasonable at this moment.
Ji Nanxing, with a height of over 180cm and broad shoulders and a narrow waist, does indeed resemble Sheng He at first glance. In addition, with his face wrapped in bandages, it would be difficult for anyone to discover his weakness in this urgent situation as long as he doesn't speak.
Lin Jin mastered this trick of shifting the blame, bringing every detail to its fullest potential.
Ji Nanxing didn't have time to waste words with the mother and son. He hurriedly walked up to Lin Jin, pressed his carotid artery and checked his breathing, and instantly let out a tense sigh.
Thank God! There's still a pulse of life!
Ji Nanxing's anxiety subsided, and he immediately pulled out his walkie-talkie. "Lin Sheng has been captured. Quickly bring in the medical staff and close the net immediately."
Only now did Lin Sheng realize that, in the end, he had still lost to that utterly hateful woman.
In fact, he had never won a contest with Lin Jin, never.
This woman is truly terrifying. She used herself as bait, and even at the risk of her life, she resolutely carried this grand scheme to its final step.
Lin Sheng rolled around on the ground, his body contorted in a grimace. He was probably insane, cursing incessantly, but he had no chance to escape.
Ji Nanxing watched as Ruan Jinxian slowly stood up, then raised his hand to stop her. He pulled out a third pair of handcuffs he had prepared beforehand from his lower back and said righteously, "You knew Lin Sheng was a wanted criminal and still dared to harbor him. That's the crime of being an accomplice, not to mention..."
As she spoke, she removed the miniature camera embedded in the button and showed it to him: "Your conversation with Lin Jin has been recorded. If you have anything else to say, we can talk about it at the police station. I am very curious about how Lin Jin's mother died. We have plenty of time to reopen old cases now."
Ruan Jinxian was also forced to abandon her last bit of composure, and unwillingly slapped away the handcuffs that were about to be put on her, "What right do you, a mere police officer, have to arrest me? I am the chairman of the Lin Group. I will hire the best lawyer to sue you, and I will fight you to the bitter end!"
"Behave yourself, resisting arrest is an even more serious crime!" The person who issued the warning was Su Qiao, who had rushed over.
She bent down to pick up the handcuffs that had fallen to the ground, her strength not as gentle as Ji Nanxing's. She raised her hand and pressed down hard on the uncooperative Ruan Jinxian, quickly handcuffing her and pushing her forward. "You dare to make a fuss while the police are handling the case? What are you dawdling about? Hurry up and move!"
Ji Nanxing stood with his hands on his hips, watching his team members arrive one after another to clean up the mess. After briefly assigning tasks, he walked up to the medical staff and asked, "How is she? Is she in any danger?"
Lin Jin was placed on a stretcher. The medical staff had just finished their initial examination and were testing her blood oxygen. "The patient's condition is relatively stable. She needs to be sent to the hospital for further examination to check for any throat or tracheal damage before proceeding with further treatment."
Ji Nanxing quickly made way for her, saying, "Alright, alright, take her away quickly, don't waste any time."
Meanwhile, outside the gate of the Lin family ancestral home.
Gu Shinian sat in the back seat of the car with Sheng He, her tablet computer continuously playing footage recorded by a pinhole camera until the police arrived and closed in.
Gu Shinian put down her tablet with a sigh and couldn't help but turn her head to look at the silent Sheng He.
Sheng He's face was wrapped in bandages, but one could still clearly see the sorrow in his eyes, as the dampness from the bandages was hard to conceal.
In fact, he never expected to recognize Ruan Jinxian as his relative, and he knew that such a scene would only appear in his beautiful dreams. But when the time came, the woman still did not acknowledge his existence, which was both pitiful and tragic.
He couldn't move, he could only sniffle, and the sadness that brought tears to his eyes was so quiet.
"When you were wheeled into the operating room for emergency treatment, Lin Jin was genuinely worried. So, during the days you were unconscious, she often sat in your hospital room for an entire day," Gu Shinian explained, gently touching Sheng He's eyes with a tissue and smiling helplessly. "Before today's big show, she had already made arrangements. You will receive an additional 10% of the Lin Group's shares. This is her compensation to you on behalf of Ruan Jinxian, and also to thank you for taking care of and accompanying her like a brother all these years. She has a strange temper and can't say nice things to anyone, so she asked me to relay this to you: she has seen all your hard work and assistance over the years, and... brother, congratulations, you've wrapped up your role."
——Memory Divider——
Two weeks ago.
In the criminal investigation team leader's office.
"Captain Ji, you are the final winning piece in this game. With this one move, all the games I've been working on for so many years will be won." Lin Jin stared at Ji Nanxing with a desolate expression, her pleading tone beyond humble. "Help me...please...help me...I'm so tired...so tired..."
Ji Nanxing remained silent for a while before asking in confusion, "Tell me, what is it that you need my help with, and that you absolutely cannot do without me?"
Lin Jin looked haggard, or rather, she was filled with a sense of devastation. She had poured out all the tragic experiences of her life, and those unforgettable pasts had formed thick scars. Now, in order to seek revenge, she had to tear them apart, causing pain deep within her soul.
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly explained, "You're an experienced police officer who has handled so many strange and unusual cases. How could you make a criminal disappear right under your nose? I have a guess. Perhaps Lin Sheng has never left the mountain owned by the Lin family. The reason is simple—the more dangerous the place, the safer it is."
Ji Nanxing frowned slightly. Actually, this argument was easy to refute, so he explained, "The night we rescued you and Cheng Sangluo, we searched the Lin family's ancestral home and the entire mountain thoroughly, and we definitely didn't find any trace of Lin Sheng. Are you questioning our police force or our search capabilities?"
“I’m not questioning you, I just want to remind you that several generations of the Lin family have lived there. The ancestral home is large and villas are scattered throughout. Finding someone isn’t exactly difficult, but it’s not easy either, because there are countless hidden rooms and servants in the house. The servants they employ are all trusted confidants of decades, and there aren’t many of them. It’s very difficult to get to the bottom of things. In addition, they are willing to pay a lot of money as hush money, so it won’t be easy for you to get to the bottom of things.” Lin Jin explained the difficulties with reason and evidence, and then got back to the point: “Let’s put on a show together. Although it’s not 100% certain, there is a certain chance that you can catch Lin Sheng in the Lin family’s ancestral home, or more precisely, make him walk into a trap.”
"Walking into a trap?" Ji Nanxing pondered, becoming intrigued by the arrangement. "Please tell me more about it."
Lin Jin frankly revealed his plan: "I will go to the ancestral home in half a month. I will also bring Ruan Jinxian's illegitimate child with me. On the surface, I will go to discuss the Lin Group's shares, but in reality, I will expose Ruan Jinxian's illegitimate child and bring up the fact that she caused my mother's death. Don't you think this is a good opportunity?"
Ji Nanxing asked in confusion, "But what does this have to do with me acting alongside you?"
“Sheng He is Ruan Jinxian’s illegitimate son. You’ve met him a few times. You’re not familiar with him, but you’re not strangers either, right?” Lin Jin introduced the relationships between the people.
She took a deep breath and continued, sorting out her complicated thoughts: "Because of my plan, he met with Lin Sheng alone and was forced to jump off a cliff by Lin Sheng's dogs. Fortunately, Sangluo and I rescued him with our help. He survived, but he was seriously injured and only recently began to regain consciousness."
I hope you can disguise yourself as him and accompany me to the ancestral home to put on a grand show.
Even if you can't catch Lin Sheng, you can hear the conversation between Ruan Jinxian and me, which will confirm whether my account of my mother's fall off the cliff is true.
What if Lin Sheng really is hiding in the ancestral home?
My arrival might not necessarily make him show up, but if I bring his half-brother, the outcome might be different.
He finally managed to become the chairman of the Lin Group, but then he fell into a desperate situation. Suddenly, an older brother appeared who could replace him. How would he react?
He hated me to the core, and naturally feared Sheng He's identity. He was already a wanted criminal with murder on his hands, so killing one or two more people wouldn't be a problem for him.
"You're coming with me on this trip; it could both help me complete the mission and provide protection. What reason do you have to refuse me?"
After saying that, Lin Jin took out a finely crafted box from his briefcase, inside which was a pinhole camera.
She gently pushed the box in front of Ji Nanxing, "If you agree to my request, you can wear it, and you might record some unexpected gains."
"Excuse my frankness, but I have my concerns, so I can't agree to your request immediately." Ji Nanxing picked up the box and examined it, explaining, "I don't condone putting you in danger just to solve a case, so I need to develop a plan and make arrangements. Can you give me some time?"
"I'm not in a hurry for your immediate answer. There are still half a month, so you can take your time to consider it." Lin Jin leaned back lazily, accepting Ji Nanxing's response with pleasure.
Ji Nanxing asked in confusion, "Can you tell me why we have to go to the Lin family's ancestral home in half a month?"
"The Lin Sheng crime has caused a great uproar, and the Lin Group's stock price has continued to fall. The board of directors has not yet initiated a resolution for resignation, and the management changes may not be implemented until after the police's next announcement."
I calculated the timeline, and in about half a month, around the beginning of December, the new quarterly financial report will be released. If this continues, the Lin Group's stock price will continue to collapse, and no one can withstand such consequences, so naturally, some action will be taken.
I predict that the chairman will be replaced by early December at the latest. If Ruan Jinxian takes office at that time, it means that Lin Sheng has been in contact with her all along and has been secretly transferring shares.
This also suggests that Lin Sheng is in Zhouhai. Narrowing the search further, could he be hiding in the Lin family ancestral home? There's at least a chance, isn't there?
Lin Jin's mouth was dry, and because of her leg problems, she picked up an empty disposable cup and waved it at Ji Nanxing.
Ji Nanxing got up and poured her another glass of water, handing it to her with a smile and a sigh: "You're very meticulous; it's a waste that you're not a policeman."
Lin Jin took the cup and smiled, saying, "You've always been a man of few words, so it's really not easy to get you to praise me like this."
In fact, Ji Nanxing was tempted by such a cooperation, after all, why not do it if it could create a win-win situation? However, he was also concerned about Lin Jin's safety, which is why he hesitated to agree.
She leaned against the table, picked up her cup, took a small sip, and asked suspiciously, "I have one last question. Why didn't you let Cheng Sangluo go with you? She could protect you, catch Lin Sheng, and record relevant evidence."
When Cheng Sangluo was mentioned, Lin Jin paused in her drinking, her smiling eyes gradually dimmed, and her tone was calm but filled with boundless sorrow: "She left, without even saying goodbye to me, just like that."
Ji Nanxing held the cup, stunned for a moment, her lips opening and closing a few times but she didn't continue to ask questions.
Lin Jin looked up at the gray sky outside the window and muttered to herself, "Sheng He is seriously injured and Sangluo is nowhere to be found. When I needed protection the most, I found that I was all alone. The only person I could think of was you."
Actually, from another perspective, only you can be qualified for this role. It's practically tailor-made for you. You can protect me, potentially catch Lin Sheng, or at worst, get rid of Ruan Jinxian, the murderer. Most importantly, I want you to witness the ugly faces and crimes of this mother and son.
This clever trick of shifting the blame is the final move in this game. I will use myself as bait, and I thank you for your cameo appearance.
As she spoke, Lin Jin raised her glass and toasted Ji Nanxing from afar, saying firmly, "Promise me that no matter what happens, even if I die in front of you, you must play this role to the very end. I promise you, you will reap great rewards. For the sake of belated justice and fairness, please do not hold my sacrifice against me."
—End of flashback—
[Author's Note]
1. My pre-order novel, "The Sinful Lover," is available for collection.
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