“Gu Zhao! You can’t do this! No matter what, we’re still family—how can you act like this? Are you really going to let the police take Grandma away?”
The old woman, who had never seen much of the world, trembled all over when she met the sharp, authoritative gaze of the police officers, as if they were divine beings.
Her hands shook, her legs shook—and then, she lost control.
In front of everyone, she wet herself.
Humiliated beyond measure, Grandma Gu kept lowering her head again and again, unable to face anyone.
Lei Zhenxing frowned deeply and turned to Gu Dajiang with annoyance. “You’re always the loudest one—why are you shrinking back now? Go home and bring your mother a pair of pants!”
Gu Dajiang showed some disgust, but in the end, it was Gu Dahai who went back to get a change of clothes.
Gu Dajiang originally wanted to scold Gu Zhao again, calling him heartless.
But before he could speak, Granny Zhao immediately cut him off. “The most unfilial one here is you! You’re the best at stirring up trouble, but when something actually happens, you turn into a coward!”
Gu Dajiang slunk away in embarrassment.
The group entered the police station once again.
Gu Kai and Gu Yao felt extremely insecure and insisted on staying with Gu Zhao.
The distance between the commune and the county wasn’t far—just about half an hour on foot. Without the tractor today, the journey wasn’t a problem for them, and Gu Zhao readily agreed.
Inside the station, Gu Kai chattered away to the officers, recounting everything.
His small face twisted with anger and grievance—both pitiful and slightly amusing.
When it was Gu Zhao’s turn to give his statement, his handsome face remained cold and tense throughout.
By the time Gu Dahai arrived with Grandma Gu’s clothes, Gu Zhao and Shu Ning had already finished their statements.
“Zhao’er, Third Uncle was wrong. Your grandfather already scolded me just now. For his sake, can you let your grandma go? She’s old—I’m afraid she won’t endure the detention center. It’s cold in there…”
Gu Dahai spoke awkwardly.
Gu Zhao’s expression darkened further. “The detention center isn’t a good place? If Gu Kai and Gu Yao had really been sold—had their eyes gouged out, their legs broken, their tendons cut—would you feel any pain?”
“Since you made such plans, you should have thought of the consequences!”
“If you have anything to say, talk to the police—not me!”
Gu Dahai lowered his head under the questioning.
He turned toward the officer handling the case, but before he could speak, the officer said directly, “Gu Dahai, this is a place for handling cases, not for pleading. If your mother has done nothing wrong, we will release her after the investigation. Go back and wait patiently.”
Seeing no hope in arguing further, Gu Dahai could only say he would cooperate if needed.
Shu Ning watched him coldly.
Gu Dahai wasn’t exactly an unforgivable villain, but many unpleasant things couldn’t be separated from his indifference.
When Gu Zhao, Gu Kai, and Gu Yao were driven out of the family, he didn’t add fuel to the fire—but he didn’t defend them either.
When Grandma Gu came to cause trouble today, he didn’t act—but he didn’t oppose it either.
In her previous life, when Grandma Gu truly intended to sell Gu Kai and Gu Yao, he stood by and watched without stopping it.
And now that Grandma Gu had been detained, he came to plead for her.
In the end, he had no stance, no sense of right or wrong—yet still wanted to be seen as a “good person.”
Even if Gu Zhao hadn’t rejected him just now, she would have.
When Grandma Gu was placed in the detention room, Shu Ning also saw Zhu Qiulan, who had been locked up since last night.
Zhu Qiulan looked like a completely different person.
Yesterday, she had neat braided hair, and though her skin was a little dark, she still looked lively and pretty.
Today, she looked like a ghost.
Her hair was disheveled like a bird’s nest, her face pale, her eyes sunken, her whole appearance utterly miserable.
The moment Zhu Qiulan saw her, she burst into tears.
“Shu Ning, let me out!”
“This isn’t a place for humans to stay.”
“We’ve been sisters for so many years—don’t leave me here!”
Aside from begging, she didn’t mention a single word about hiring someone to kill her.
Shu Ning gave her a cold glance and walked out of the detention room.
“Chen Daming confessed thoroughly, but Zhu Qiulan refuses to admit anything,” the officer briefly explained the case progress to Shu Ning and Gu Zhao after handling Grandma Gu’s matter.
Shu Ning’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
She had already expected Zhu Qiulan wouldn’t give in so easily.
But it didn’t matter.
Now that she was here, her psychological defenses would eventually collapse.
“The truth is almost clear. Please make sure she tells the truth,” Gu Zhao said earnestly to the officer.
“Restoring the truth and bringing criminals to justice is our duty. Comrade Gu Zhao, rest assured,” the officer replied formally.
“Comrade, you are like our reborn parents! Thank you!”
Gu Zhao shook hands with the officer, nodding with a mix of sincerity and awkwardly forced maturity.
Shu Ning was momentarily stunned.
She never expected that the refined and composed Gu Zhao of later years had once been such a street-smart, rough-edged young man.
Late autumn had arrived.
The maple trees lining the road had all turned yellow, and the ground was covered with thick fallen leaves.
Each step produced a soft rustling sound.
Occasionally, leaves drifted down with the autumn breeze.
Only after walking far from the station did Gu Kai and Gu Yao finally relax.
“Big Brother, they won’t come trouble us again, right?”
Gu Zhao gently patted their heads, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. “Even if they come a hundred times, I have a hundred ways to deal with them.”
Shu Ning’s gaze rested on him.
People in the commune always said Gu Zhao was tall, strong, and hot-tempered—quick to anger.
The older women often whispered that with such a reckless temperament, he would suffer in the future.
But now it seemed—
How was he reckless?
He was clearly sharp and clever.
With just a few words, he had sent Grandma Gu to the police station.
And with a few more, he had her crying in detention.
“Afraid?” Gu Zhao suddenly turned, the corner of his lips tilting into a slightly wicked smile.
Shu Ning paused for a moment, then lifted her bright eyes. Her peach-blossom gaze shimmered like rippling water, her voice soft with a hint of laughter.
“I like it.”
Her eyes were clear, sparkling like stars, the smile at their corners making hearts race uncontrollably.
For a moment, Gu Zhao felt short of breath. A rare trace of fluster crossed his face as he stiffly said, “Do you even know what I’m asking? And you say you like it? A girl should be more reserved.”
Shu Ning looked at him, smiling. “I know what you meant.”
“Then tell me—what did I ask?”
“You think I’ll answer just because you asked? I won’t.” Shu Ning huffed playfully.
“…”