Zhao Chengren’s face flushed red. He looked at Su Wan as if begging for mercy. “Miss Su, I—I…”
He wanted to say that he hadn’t meant to steal anything, but with both the stolen goods and the people caught on the spot, any excuse was meaningless. It was over—he was finished!
Wait—Su Wan was his sister’s best friend. Maybe, for Xue’er’s sake, Su Wan would let him off?
With that thought, a glimmer of hope ignited in Zhao Chengren’s heart. But the police officers didn’t think that way at all.
Seeing Su Wan being supported by others, looking as if she had suffered a huge blow, her small face pale as paper, anyone would feel sorry for her.
They all knew that Su Wan was the daughter of the Su family, living alone in a Western-style villa. No one had expected something like this to happen—and worse, the culprit was actually her good friend’s older brother. Judging by her state, she must have been deeply shaken.
Su Wan’s eyes were red, as if she were stunned by the news.
Aunt Zhang and another Aunt Xu supported her and comforted her. “Wanwan, it looks like the Zhao family aren’t good people. Don’t let him off—send him to reform through labor!”
The police searched the three men thoroughly, and every pocket contained quite a lot of money.
“Comrade Su, this money is all evidence. Don’t worry, once the investigation is done, it will be returned to you.”
Su Wan nodded. “Thank you for your trouble, comrades.”
They waved their hands, said a few more words, then took the three men away, telling Su Wan to come to the police station early the next morning.
Su Wan naturally agreed. It was already three in the morning. Looking at the broken lock on the Su family’s front door, Aunt Zhang asked her, “Wanwan, how about you come stay at my place tonight?”
Su Wan shook her head. “No need, Aunt Zhang. My bedroom door isn’t broken. I’ll just block the door here with a stool. Thank you all so much tonight.”
Seeing that they couldn’t persuade her, they reminded her again and again to lock the doors and windows, and to call them if anything happened, before leaving the Su residence.
As soon as they were gone, the tension vanished from Su Wan’s face. She blocked the door with a stool, turned around, and went upstairs.
Her steps were light, and she even couldn’t help humming a little tune.
She really wondered what expression Zhao Mengxue would have when she found out about this tomorrow. Just thinking about it made her happy.
Su Wan slept extremely well. Early the next morning, she went to the police station. When he saw her, Liu Yingzhuo immediately stood up to greet her.
“Wanwan? Why are you here? Did something happen?”
Liu Yingzhuo and Su Wan had grown up together. Their families knew each other, and he now worked at the police station.
Su Wan told him what had happened the night before. Liu Yingzhuo’s face was filled with shock—he could hardly believe what he was hearing.
Zhao Mengxue’s own older brother had gone to Su Wan’s house at two in the morning to steal money!
He circled Su Wan once. “Wanwan, are you okay? You weren’t hurt, were you?” His eyes were full of concern.
Su Wan shook her head. “I’m fine. Luckily, I heard something and slipped out the back door ahead of time!”
Only then did Liu Yingzhuo relax. He gave her a thumbs-up. “I didn’t expect you to be so quick-witted, even knowing to go find the police. It’s good you weren’t hurt. Zhao Mengxue’s brother is really shameless. Wanwan, you absolutely can’t let him off!”
Su Wan put on a sorrowful expression. “Sigh, Brother Yingzhuo, Mengxue and I are such good friends. Who would’ve thought her brother would do something like this? I was almost scared to death last night!”
Just as she said this, Zhao Mengxue walked into the police station and heard Su Wan’s words. Her hand, which was holding her mother’s, trembled violently.
It was true! Her brother had gone to Su Wan’s house to steal money and been caught!
Mother Zhao heard it too. When she was told that her son had been caught stealing money by the police, she still couldn’t believe it.
Although Zhao Chengren usually loved gambling, he had never done something as serious as stealing money in the middle of the night. How could he dare? This meant prison!
Mother Zhao felt as if the sky had collapsed.
If Zhao Chengren really went to prison, his whole life would be ruined, and their family’s reputation would be destroyed.
When the police came to notify them that morning, several women had happened to be chatting in her house. When they heard that Zhao Chengren had been caught stealing, the expressions on their faces were something she still remembered vividly.
She had insisted it was impossible, absolutely refusing to believe her son would do such a thing.
She usually loved gossiping about others—whose son didn’t behave, whose daughter had no shame and went looking for men. The people she associated with were all big-mouthed gossips. They had been there today as well, and news of Zhao Chengren’s arrest had probably already spread far and wide.
Zhao Mengxue also felt her vision darken. She had been at work when her mother came to find her. She thought it was just to ask her for money—never did she expect news more serious than that.
Zhao Chengren, that idiot! How dare he go steal from the Su family!
“Wanwan, Wanwan! I’m so sorry, wuwuwu… You must have been terrified last night!”
Zhao Mengxue forced herself to calm down. Letting go of her mother’s hand, she狠狠 pinched her own thigh and rushed over to hug Su Wan.
With so many people around, as long as she cried pitifully enough, Su Wan would probably forgive her. Then she could beg Su Wan not to pursue her brother’s theft.
Her face was full of tears, looking extremely pitiful. In the bustling lobby, many people turned to look at them.
Su Wan calmly removed Zhao Mengxue’s arm and said nothing.
Seeing Zhao Mengxue crying so miserably, as if she were extremely worried about Su Wan, Liu Yingzhuo felt a bit sympathetic.
He knew Zhao Mengxue—Su Wan’s best friend, a gentle, soft-spoken girl. Perhaps she really hadn’t known this would happen; maybe it was her brother acting on a moment of madness. Seeing her cry so pitifully, she might truly be worried about Su Wan’s safety. She didn’t seem like the same kind of person as her brother.
Other people who didn’t know the truth also felt some sympathy for Zhao Mengxue. A girl crying so pitifully and worrying so much about another girl—they must be very close!
Su Wan looked at Zhao Mengxue. If she hadn’t known her true nature, she might really have believed Zhao Mengxue was genuinely worried about her.
After Su Wan pulled away, Zhao Mengxue felt uneasy, but she still reached out to check Su Wan’s arms up and down.
“Wanwan, are you okay? I didn’t know my brother would do something like this. I’m sorry—really, I’m so sorry!”
What her brother had done was already set in stone. She could only separate herself from it first.
Watching Zhao Mengxue act, Su Wan thought: since she loved acting so much, she would play along.
Tears in her eyes, looking utterly heartbroken, Su Wan asked Zhao Mengxue, “Mengxue, why did your brother come to my house to steal money? He even brought so many people with him, and he said you were right—that my family is so rich, you can just come and take whatever you want!”
Zhao Mengxue staggered. Her nails dug deeply into her palms. Zhao Chengren, that idiot—how could he say something like that!
“I—I didn’t! Wanwan, believe me, I didn’t know anything about this!”
Liu Yingzhuo’s expression immediately turned strange. Zhao Mengxue’s brother had actually said something like that? Could it be that Zhao Mengxue’s usual gentle image was all an act?
Others also sensed something was off. So it was this girl’s brother who went to that pretty girl’s house to steal money! Tsk tsk—appearances really can be deceiving.
She even said that since others are rich, you can just take what you want. What kind of thinking is that?
At this moment, a police officer who had participated in the arrest the night before walked over. “Are you Zhao Chengren’s family? He led others in prying open a door to commit theft last night. He’s the main culprit. We caught him in the act, and the evidence is conclusive.”
Then he looked at Su Wan. “Comrade Su, you’re here. The stolen amount has been verified. Please come sign to receive it.”
Hearing this, Mother Zhao nearly fainted. She rushed forward and hugged Su Wan’s leg.
“Wanwan! Please save my son! Can you not pursue this matter? He can’t go to prison!”
The Zhao family had only this one son. If he went to prison, everything would be over!
She pulled Zhao Mengxue over as well. “Mengxue, hurry and beg Wanwan! Aren’t you good friends? Ask her to forgive your brother—he can’t go to prison!”