Ruan Jiahe leaned back against the headboard, his face pale, holding Xia Wanqing’s hand as he gave her quiet instructions.
“Most of the things are already sorted out. My health isn’t good. For what comes next, go to Uncle Wen—he’ll help you.”
Xia Wanqing felt as if these words sounded like final instructions.
Her uncle’s body had already been burdened with chronic illness. After suffering this blow, if she hadn’t been there, he might really have been angered to death on the spot.
She had seen the eyes of countless people on the brink of death, and they looked exactly like her uncle’s did right now.
But in this lifetime, she wanted her uncle to live well.
And the person he worried about most was her, so she needed to give him a reason, a goal, to keep living.
Xia Wanqing hurriedly said, “Uncle, I don’t know how to manage money. You help me take care of it.”
Hearing how much she trusted him, warmth filled Ruan Jiahe’s heart.
But he had already made up his mind to leave, and he knew his own body well—his days were numbered.
“Uncle, I really don’t know how to do business. What if one day I get scammed out of all the money? So you must live well. If I ever hit a dead end, at least I’ll still have a way back.”
Ruan Jiahe silently looked at his niece, who looked exactly like his younger sister.
She was still so young. If she followed the same tragic path as her mother, what would she do then?
He took a deep breath, found hope for life again, and solemnly promised, “For your sake, I will definitely live well and help you manage your money properly.”
Such an adorable niece—he couldn’t bear to let her suffer.
Xia Wanqing’s eyes grew hot, her voice choking. “Uncle.”
Now that everything had been made clear, there was no need to avoid others.
It was getting late. Ruan Jiahe was no longer in serious danger, so he had Uncle Wen come in to take him home. Xia Wanqing still needed to go and give a statement.
Gu Huaichuan insisted on escorting Ruan Jiahe home. Along the way, under Ruan Jiahe’s scrutinizing gaze, his heart hung in midair, restless and uneasy.
When it was time to leave, Ruan Jiahe said, “Wanqing, how about you don’t get married at all? Your uncle can support you for the rest of your life.”
Gu Huaichuan panicked and dropped straight to his knees with a thud.
“Uncle Ruan, I want to marry Wanwan as my wife. I will never hurt her in this lifetime. I will protect her forever.”
Xia Wanqing widened her eyes. How did Gu Huaichuan know her nickname? Had she ever mentioned it before?
Fine beads of sweat covered Gu Huaichuan’s forehead. His shirt clung to his back, soaked through, as he pleaded with sincere eyes.
Ruan Jiahe had seen countless people in his life and knew Gu Huaichuan was telling the truth.
But with his sister’s tragic example before him, he was still worried.
Gu Huaichuan clenched his fists, his voice urgent and earnest. “After she marries me, she won’t need to do anything. She only needs to be herself. All my money in the future will be Wanwan’s. Please, marry Wanwan to me.”
Ruan Jiahe frowned. “Did you give all your previous money to your family?”
Could there be future conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?
Gu Huaichuan answered honestly, “I gave them part of it. I saved the rest.”
“Then why keep any money at all? When men have money, they turn bad.”
Xia Wanqing rubbed her nose awkwardly. “Uncle, Gu Huaichuan has already put his money with me.”
Uncle Wen greatly admired Gu Huaichuan’s skills. Added to the fact that his family background was clean, he was young and promising, and had risen to battalion commander through his own ability—it was truly rare.
He was very satisfied with this future son-in-law and spoke up to persuade Ruan Jiahe. “Not many men would hand over their money to the woman before marriage.”
Before Ruan Jiahe could speak, Gu Huaichuan looked at Xia Wanqing first. “Wanwan, I only want you to give me a chance. If you’re unwilling, there’s no need to force yourself.”
Seeing how sincere he was, Xia Wanqing felt genuinely moved.
To be able to respect the other person like this—such a quality was rare.
It was a pity that such a good person would die not long from now.
Xia Wanqing gently bit her lower lip.
She could make the scumbag and his family pay the price. She could cure her uncle’s illness. Couldn’t she also let Gu Huaichuan live well?
“Wanwan,” Ruan Jiahe called to her. “If you don’t want to get married, don’t force yourself. Your uncle can support you forever.”
Xia Wanqing snapped back to her senses and realized that everyone’s eyes were on her.
She glanced at Gu Huaichuan and said softly, “Uncle, I’m willing to marry Gu Huaichuan.”
In these turbulent times, not only would she be targeted, her uncle would also be implicated.
With Gu Huaichuan’s status as protection, she could safely weather this period.
Perhaps she could even save Gu Huaichuan—mutual benefit for both of them.
Joy filled Gu Huaichuan’s eyes and brows as his emotions surged. “Wanwan.”
Seeing that Xia Wanqing had already made her decision, Ruan Jiahe said no more. He warned Gu Huaichuan, “If you ever bully Wanqing, I’ll risk my life fighting you.”
Gu Huaichuan immediately kowtowed to Ruan Jiahe. “Uncle, rest assured. I will definitely take good care of Wanwan.”
Ruan Jiahe waved his hand. “Enough. You two go to the police station and cooperate with the investigation.”
…
The sky began to show a pale, fish-belly white.
At the police station, one holding cell was connected to the main hall. The walls were made of iron bars, allowing everything inside to be seen clearly from the outside.
Many people were locked up inside. Xia Yiyi was among them.
She clutched the bars, her eyes filled with fear and panic.
It was already late at night, yet no one had come to save her.
“Officer, I really didn’t do that kind of thing. Please notify my family. They’ll definitely come bail me out.”
Another detainee knocked hard on the iron bars, the loud clang startling Xia Yiyi into tears. She didn’t dare make a sound, only crying quietly.
“What are you yelling for? The phone number you gave—no one answered. There’s no one at home either.”
“I was really framed,” Xia Yiyi argued weakly.
“Everyone locked up here says they were framed.”
Xia Yiyi let go of the bars, shrank into a corner, and cried silently.
When she was dragged in, she had seen Gu Xing hiding in the crowd watching her, luggage on his back.
“Gu Xing!” Xia Yiyi shouted desperately for help.
But Gu Xing was so frightened that he turned and ran, disappearing in no time.
Regret crept into Xia Yiyi’s heart. She couldn’t understand how, in this lifetime, Gu Xing had become like this.
In her previous life, he had set off fireworks worth ten million to propose to her and spent thirty million on a century wedding for her.
Why, in this life, did he run away the moment something happened?
Her mind was in chaos, but she knew the most important thing right now was to get out first.
Yet for some reason, there was no one at home.
Xia Yiyi’s eyes darted. “I’ll look for my dad.”
“We already called your dad just now. No one answered!” The staff member snapped irritably, overwhelmed with work.
Xia Yiyi said softly, “I have two dads.”
“Your mom is really something. Wait here.”
Xia Yiyi gave another number. After the call went through, the other side agreed to come pick her up. She secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Other detainees began whispering among themselves.
“What’s going on at the station today? It’s so busy.”
“I heard they caught two murderers. The man listened to his vixen and killed his original wife.”
“Absolutely heartless!”
“Loaded with evil!”
…
To get to the room for taking statements, one had to pass the temporary holding cells.
With tear-blurred eyes, Xia Yiyi suddenly saw a familiar figure.
Xia Wanqing and Gu Huaichuan were passing by the holding area.
Seeing them, anger surged in Xia Yiyi’s chest. “Xia Wanqing! You’re the one who ruined my reputation! Did you tamper with the phone at home? I won’t let you off!”
Being mistaken for working in a special trade was humiliating, but she had only done it for her future life.
Gu Xing had abandoned her, but he hadn’t transferred out yet. If this were discovered, he would be punished.
Once someone bailed her out, she could leave. After getting married, she would go live in the southern province, and no one would know what happened here.
After she married Gu Xing, she could even use this incident to make him feel guilty—and then get him to buy her a couple more limited-edition bags.
Xia Wanqing turned her head and saw Xia Yiyi looking rather disheveled—her hair messy, her face smeared with dirt.
“So it really runs in the family. The daughter messing around with men in the street… and the parents are murderers.”
A loud buzzing filled Xia Yiyi’s ears, and her mind went completely blank.