"Don't you know that if it wasn't for Wenbin risking his life to protect them, those three would have died long ago! What can your apology achieve?!"
Fu Ran roared in anger.
Fu Yuchuan remained silent.
The young woman beside him, however, was startled.
Her face turned ashen, and she instinctively hid behind him.
Fu Yuchuan subconsciously shielded her.
Fu Ran immediately sneered, "Back then, everyone saw with their own eyes that Zhiyi was buried. What are you still deceiving yourself about? Even if she looks exactly like Zhiyi, she's still fake!"
-
The surgery was over.
Wen Tingxue and Yu Wenli were both out of danger.
However, both were seriously injured, especially Yu Wenli. His right leg had been trapped for too long, and any slight carelessness could lead to permanent damage.
Therefore, further observation was needed.
It was temporarily inconvenient for visitors.
And impossible for him to cooperate with the police investigation.
Song Jiamiao and Xu Ji could only go to find Lu Youran first.
Those waiting outside the operating room gradually dispersed, planning to return the next day.
Chi Zerui was the last to leave.
Hao Luor smiled and called out to him.
Chi Zerui, absentmindedly, turned his head. He was stunned when he recognized her.
"Why are you here?"
Hao Luor didn't answer, only saying, "Do you have time? Let's talk over there."
She pointed to the safety exit not far away.
Chi Zerui happened to want a cigarette, so he nodded.
He strode over, completely ignoring her.
He didn't even notice her injuries.
Ding Xi tried to help Hao Luor, but she refused.
She was determined to handle this herself.
In the fire escape.
By the time Hao Luor finally caught up, Chi Zerui had already finished a cigarette.
"Why are you so slow?" he asked impatiently.
Hao Luor offered no explanation. "Sorry for taking up your time."
After a brief pause, she smiled and said, "Since it's the last time anyway, please bear with me. I've never made you wait before."
Chi Zerui was trying to light a cigarette.
Hearing her words, he looked up, the cigarette in his mouth.
"What do you mean?"
"As you wish, let's break up."
His expression was one of disbelief. Hao Luor curved her lips and continued,
"I've decided to let you go, and let myself go. I apologize for occupying the title of your girlfriend for so long. From now on, let's not see each other again. I'm afraid I might develop some inappropriate thoughts."
She smiled. "You know, I like you, and I still like you now. It's just that the feeling of unrequited love is truly unbearable. So I think instead of tormenting each other, it's better for us to go our separate ways. Without love, I can still have a career."
Chi Zerui seemed to see her again, the girl he knew before.
Shy and innocent.
And with a hint of boldness.
"I'm sorry."
He was the one who had turned the once beautiful her into a wilting rose.
Hao Luor shook her head and smiled, "You have nothing to apologize for. If anyone is to blame, it's me for being too confident, always thinking I could change you. But in reality, only I was changed."
"..."
After a few moments of silence, Hao Luor looked at him with a sense of release and said, "Then, let's never see each other again."
"Mm."
Chi Zerui nodded. As he withdrew his gaze, he noticed her injuries.
"Wait."
He suddenly called out to her.
"Hmm?" Hao Luor turned back, confused.
Chi Zerui took the cigarette out of his mouth and said, "In the next life, let me be the one to like you, to pursue you, to experience the pain of unrequited love."
Although he had never said it directly,
He knew in his heart that he owed her in this life.
Hao Luor suddenly felt a sense of dawn after the clouds.
Even though it was at the moment of their breakup.
"If what you say is true, I'll agree to it immediately. I wouldn't want you to experience this feeling a second time. Truly... it's too bitter."
-
Chi Zerui drank at the bar all night.
The next morning, he mailed a package.
It was delivered to Hao Luor in the same city that day.
Upon opening it, she found a star necklace.
It was handmade by Wen Tingxue. There were four pairs in total, eight necklaces.
Inside the stars were small drawings of her happily going downstairs.
She had always wondered when she would receive the matching couple's necklace that Chi Zerui held.
She never expected it to be after their breakup.
It was, in a way, fulfilling a wish of hers.
She carefully placed the necklace in her suitcase.
After visiting Wen Tingxue and Yu Wenli at the hospital, Hao Luor, with her luggage, left the capital.
-
The news of Yu Wenli personally pulling out his grandfather's life support system caused an uproar online.
The trending topics were filled with discussions about the incident, along with other negative information about Yu Wenli.
Initially, people were skeptical. But the signature on the do-not-resuscitate form was clearly Yu Wenli's handwriting.
Coupled with various pieces of evidence that seemed "conclusive," public opinion shifted drastically.
Fans who turned against him, those who posted lengthy denunciations, and various conspiracy theories emerged one after another.
In just a few days, Yu Wenli plummeted from his pedestal, facing universal condemnation.
Lin's Records and Yu Wenli's studio attempted to explain, but the effect was minimal.
Since Yu Wenli was still unconscious, they couldn't produce crucial evidence to prove anything.
Netizens and fans were understandably unconvinced.
However, the actions of various platforms seemed to implicitly confirm that someone was behind the current intense scrutiny.
Lin Wanqing's first suspicion fell on Fu Yuchuan.
Before she could make a move, Fu Yuchuan personally visited that afternoon.
He demanded that she terminate Yu Wenli's contract.
Lin Wanqing naturally refused.
Fu Yuchuan's visit was well-prepared.
Due to their engagement, he held some shares in Lin's Records.
Though not a large amount, it was enough for him to maneuver.
After a shareholders' meeting, covering everything from public reaction to company interests and future plans,
Every point Fu Yuchuan raised was unassailable by Lin Wanqing.
Indeed, from the day the trending topic exploded to the present, for three days, both online and offline, the public had been demanding contract termination.
They claimed that an artist like Yu Wenli was not worthy of signing with Lin's Records.
She had resisted the pressure and refused.
Now, with Fu Yuchuan's intervention and the tempting offer he presented, the shareholders began to waver.
Lin Wanqing had no choice but to agree to the contract termination.
"You handle this yourself and tell him."
In her office, he demanded, with a touch of cruelty.
Lin Wanqing frowned. "Why should I?"
Fu Yuchuan curved his lips, his eyes chilling to ice.
"Because you are my fiancée, and he is Fu Yushen's capable assistant. Miss Lin, if you want Lin's Records to survive, cooperating with me is your only and correct choice. Otherwise..."
He tilted his head slightly and smiled, "I can make Lin's Records disappear."
Lin Wanqing felt he was now shamelessly arrogant.
Completely different from his former reserved demeanor.
"Fiancée? I'm afraid that won't last much longer."
She raised her eyebrows suggestively.
Secrets couldn't be kept in their circle. She knew that day that he had a new woman in his life, and that he doted on her.
Many suspected that his current ostentatiousness was directly related to that mysterious woman.
It was highly likely that he would disregard all objections and place her in the position of Madam Fu.
In that case, Fu Yushen would have to be eliminated.
Whether it was emotionally or for power.
"At least you still are," he didn't deny her guess. "Once you're not, opposing me will bring you no benefit either."
The implication was: be sensible.
Lin Wanqing let out a sneer. "Yes, Second Master Fu."
-
Hospital.
Wen Tingxue woke up earlier than Yu Wenli.
Upon learning that it was the third day of Wenbin's funeral, she felt she had to pay her respects.
Lu Youran accompanied her. Fu Ran used his connections to clear their path.
Otherwise, the reporters swarming at the entrance would not let them pass easily.
They successfully arrived at the funeral home.
The funeral was personally organized by Xie Jinyi.
It wasn't grand, but it had everything it should.
Wen's parents cried themselves unconscious before the coffin multiple times.
When they arrived, only Xie Jinyi was in the mourning hall.
Her appearance was slightly haggard after three days of vigil.
Wen Tingxue didn't know what to say.
After solemnly paying respects and bowing, she approached Xie Jinyi and whispered, "Thank you."
She knew that Wenbin's willingness to protect her must have been related to her.
Xie Jinyi's expression was calm. "You should say that to him."
Wen Tingxue nodded. "I will recite scriptures for him every day, and I will find a way to settle down his parents."
Only for her, she didn't know how to handle it.
Hearing the unspoken meaning in her words, Xie Jinyi smiled, her smile remarkably clear.
She completely lacked the aura of a celebrity.
"I don't believe in Buddhism. If you don't mind, perhaps you could recite scriptures for an extra half hour each day, to help him reincarnate sooner."
Wen Tingxue: "Okay."
...
Back at the hospital, Yu Wenli had already woken up.
His room was crowded with people.
Upon seeing her, Song Jiamiao repeated the investigation results.
"The people who drove and hit you were originally Yu Ge's anti-fans, and they were prone to extreme thinking. So when the news online broke, they discussed in their group about teaching Yu Ge a lesson, and then..."
Que You scoffed, "That's too absurd. For some so-called exposé, for someone they barely knew, they'd risk their own lives? Are they sick?"
Xu Ji said, "Based on the results of the psychological evaluation, it's indeed possible for them to do something like this. Their testimonies are consistent after three consecutive days of intense questioning, but..."
After a moment of thought, Xu Ji confessed, "I still feel something is not right about this matter."
Whether it was the surveillance footage, witness testimonies, or the victims' statements, they all pointed to one thing.
At the time, they not only wanted Yu Wenli dead but also Wen Tingxue and Lu Youran.
This was very strange. Even if they were blinded by rage, wouldn't at least one of them be clear-headed?
"I'll go see Old Liu again."
Xu Ji stood up to leave. Song Jiamiao followed behind him, saying, "Teacher Liu doesn't seem to be in the bureau today."
Teacher Liu was a specially appointed psychological expert at the police station and usually didn't go out on assignments.
Xu Ji asked curiously, "Where did he go?"
"I don't know..."
The two left the ward.
Yu Wenli retracted his gaze thoughtfully and began talking to Wen Tingxue.
The others felt it was inconvenient to interrupt and listened quietly, occasionally chiming in.
Lin Wanqing watched, resting her chin on her hand, unable to bring herself to mention the contract termination.
Until Xiang Bei entered with a stack of contracts. She casually asked, "What's this for?"
"Oh, Yu Ge said he hasn't been feeling well lately, so he's pushing back some of his work." Xiang Bei explained.
Lin Wanqing immediately looked at Yu Wenli, her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you not planning to clarify the online situation?"
Perhaps it was his perceived integrity.
Or perhaps similar "conclusive" incidents had happened to him too many times, and he had always managed to reverse them.
Therefore, many partners were enduring pressure, waiting for him to turn the tide.
Yet now he was unilaterally seeking to terminate the contract?!