"The murderer of Meng Xiyao has been apprehended."
"Who?"
"Bian Wei," Fu Yushen said meaningfully. "Quite clever."
Yu Wenli was not surprised by this. Lan Shuo had always been cautious. Even if he wasn't, the person behind him would ensure he was.
But –
"This doesn't seem like a plan Lan Shuo would come up with."
From Meng Xiyao's death, to Bian Wei's disappearance, to the body being kept in cold storage, and finally the call that Xiao Xue received.
This series of maneuvers, all happening in a short period and interlocking perfectly, was not something Lan Shuo could have orchestrated.
It wasn't that he looked down on him, but the Lan family was in academia. They didn't dabble much in the gray areas.
Even if they did, it wouldn't be Lan Shuo handling it personally, or even seeing much of it himself.
"Mhm," Fu Yushen asked with a smile, "Who do you think it was?"
Yu Wenli took a puff of his cigarette, exhaling white mist that was particularly noticeable in the night.
"Who else could it be? Of course, it's Jiang Tu's senior disciple brother, Jiang Chengyuan's eldest disciple, Mo Yichen."
He was also the teacher who gave him his first life lesson.
He taught him that people's hearts are hidden, and those who are good to you might not necessarily like you, but rather be using you.
Fu Yushen smiled noncommittally. "He must have a good voice actor by his side."
What Wen Tingxue said in the morning would soon reach his ears.
This was the world of imperial capital's affluent families. If you wanted to know something, it was just a matter of a word.
Yu Wenli said, "Someone Lan Shuo trusts so much, you won't be able to pry him away."
Fu Yushen played with his prayer beads, his voice indifferent. "As long as the profit is sufficient, there's no one who can't be pried away."
Yu Wenli continued to smoke, and Fu Yushen said, "The spot you didn't want, Lan Shuo has taken."
"Oh."
"He's going abroad in a few days. Don't you have any thoughts?"
"No."
Fu Yushen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. Yu Wenli added, "A lot can change in a year."
"..." Fu Yushen narrowed his eyes. "You want to move against the Lan family?"
Yu Wenli moved the plants with his fingertips. "I haven't said anything."
Lin Wanqing thought he had no backing.
Lan Shuo thought he only had Lin Wanqing as his backing.
Fu Yushen thought he only had him as his backing.
In reality, who would reveal their true trump card first?
Since Lan Shuo insisted on provoking his young lady instead of living his life as a wealthy young master, he couldn't be blamed for being ruthless and unforgiving.
The extra branches were pruned and thrown into the trash.
At the same time, in a studio apartment.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Lin Yuanzhi rushed out, holding roses and smiling as if he had just secured ten Lan Shuos.
"What do you want?" Yu Zishu instinctively took a step back.
Her eyes already showed a hint of disgust.
Lin Yuanzhi's expression soured for a moment, but he quickly resumed his smile. "What else can I do? Of course, I'm here to beg for your forgiveness."
He extended the roses forward and said sincerely, "My attitude was wrong today. Please don't be angry."
Yu Zishu looked down at the vibrant roses in front of her, her face expressionless.
She remembered when they first got together, he would send her flowers every day in different ways.
Later, he always said he was busy, and never sent flowers again.
She was foolish back then.
Busy?
When he was first pursuing her, he was also very busy, so busy that even sleep was compressed.
Why was it that now he wasn't as busy, yet he was less attentive?
In the end, once he had obtained it, what else was worth investing in?
Like these flowers. A while ago, she had hinted to him, both directly and indirectly, that their anniversary was approaching and she didn't want anything, just a single flower.
Not even a bouquet, just one.
How did he respond?
Oh, he didn't react.
Yu Zishu chuckled coldly and curled her lips upward. She looked up mockingly. "Lin Yuanzhi, do you know? Sweeter than the candy that is about to come is the candy that you can't have at all.
"Similarly, expired promises, like expired food, are all trash. They only cause annoyance and bring nothing else.
"Finally, a reminder: we have broken up. Lawyer Lin, please call me Lawyer Yu from now on, not Zishu."
With that, Yu Zishu bypassed him and walked towards her apartment.
"Zishu! Listen to me explain!" Lin Yuanzhi quickly blocked her path, saying anxiously, "My attitude was genuinely bad during the day. I was in a bad mood.
"I didn't mean to take it out on you, and I never thought of breaking up. I was just confused at the time. Please give me another chance, okay?
"Zishu, you know I can't live without you. I'm nothing without you."
Lin Yuanzhi put on a vulnerable and dependent expression. This was his trump card. Whenever he made this face, Yu Zishu would always soften.
He had tried it many times.
He didn't know that only love could be manipulated.
Once the love was gone, his so-called trump card was nothing more than a joke.
"You can't live without me?" Yu Zishu hugged her arms and sneered. "Lin Yuanzhi, are you unable to live without me as your ex-girlfriend, or are you unable to live without me as your maid who serves you tea and water?"
Lin Yuanzhi's expression changed slightly, like a distorted portrait with a piece torn off, looking awkward from any angle.
"Zishu, how could you think that? I truly can't live without you. I truly want to marry you and have you be my virtuous assistant..."
"No! Please don't think that," Yu Zishu quickly interrupted. "At home, I'm a pampered darling that my parents fear will melt if they hold me too tightly, or break if they hold me too loosely.
"Let alone laundry and cooking, I've rarely even done simple things like mopping or wiping tables. But after being with you, have I done any less of these things?
"And yet your mother still picks on me, saying I don't have a wide enough pelvis to give birth to sons. She also said I'm too strong-willed and wouldn't be able to properly assist you in the future."
"Heh." As she spoke, Yu Zishu started to laugh. "Listen to the words your mother uses: 'give birth to sons,' 'assist'..."
Yu Zishu couldn't help but shake her head. "Your family isn't looking for a wife, your family is looking to inherit the throne. I'm not blessed enough to enter your family. Lawyer Lin should find someone else. We are truly not a good match."
Yu Zishu tried to push him away, but he grabbed her hand. "How could you not be a good match? You're perfect! Zishu, I heard your sister-in-law is very capable. Did important figures from the imperial capital go to the police station just for her?"
The fox couldn't help but reveal its tail. Yu Zishu instantly understood.
So it was still about profit and future prospects.
No wonder he was so eager to curry favor.
Heh.
Yu Zishu sneered and pulled her hand back, slapping him.
*Slap*
Lin Yuanzhi was stunned. "Yu Zishu, what are you doing?!"
His angry tone suggested he was about to retaliate.
Yu Zishu met his rage. "If you're not genuinely here to get back together, don't pretend to be. It's disgusting.
"Lin Yuanzhi, I did like you, that's true. But the Lin Yuanzhi that Yu Zishu liked was the one who feared no one on the debate team.
"The one who dared to speak up against injustice, the one who would extend a helping hand to girls in need!
"Not the Lin Yuanzhi you are now, who weighs pros and cons, ignores fairness and justice, and only cares about his future and status!
"The current you only makes me extremely disgusted and nauseated!"
Yu Zishu spoke harshly because she was truly disappointed.
She had seen him at his most spirited and best. She couldn't stand his current depravity.
Even if they broke up, she hoped he could find himself again.
Instead of sinking deeper into this quagmire of the imperial capital, eventually losing himself.
"Enough!"
Lin Yuanzhi roared, "Do you think you, Yu Zishu, are so clean?! How do you think you got into that imperial capital law firm? If you didn't have a father in officialdom, how could you have passed your probation so quickly?!"
His voice boomed in her ear, hitting Yu Zishu's sore spot.
Yu Zishu, losing control, slapped him twice and retorted sharply, "You're talking nonsense! My opportunities were all earned by myself. I never relied on even a shred of my father's connections!"
After being slapped three times in total, Lin Yuanzhi couldn't stand it and raised his hand. Yu Zishu instinctively closed her eyes.
But a moment before the slap fell, she was pulled away.
Lin Yuanzhi saw who it was and stopped. "Lawyer Song, why are you here?"
Song Ruining pushed up his glasses. "I came to see Lawyer Yu about something. You two?"
"Nothing, nothing," Lin Yuanzhi quickly said with a smile. "We're just having a lovers' quarrel. What are you here for? I can help with whatever it is."
His unusual enthusiasm made Song Ruining pause. "No need. Lawyer Yu and I can handle it."
"..." Lin Yuanzhi's expression stiffened.
A trace of displeasure and malice flashed in his eyes, but he still smiled. "I'm nearby. Contact me if you need anything. Although I'm only a year or two older than you, I still have some use."
Song Ruining nodded. "Okay, I'll call you if needed."
"Then..." Lin Yuanzhi reluctantly pointed at the elevator. "I'll be going now?"
Song Ruining smiled faintly and nodded, his demeanor polite and distant.
Lin Yuanzhi had no reason to stay and left unwillingly.
"Are you alright?" The elevator doors closed. Song Ruining asked Yu Zishu.
Yu Zishu shook her head, still shaken. "Why did you suddenly come over?"
Song Ruining paused for a moment. "There's a clear suspect in Meng Xiyao's case."
"Who? Lan Shuo?" Yu Zishu firmly believed her intuition.
"No," Song Ruining leaned on the railing and gazed at the starry sky. "It's Bian Wei."
Yu Zishu frowned. "How could it be him?"
"I want to continue investigating this case. You..." Song Ruining turned back, with stars and city lights behind him.
Yu Zishu's heart stirred. "Coincidentally, I also want to investigate."
It wasn't that they didn't trust the police. In a place like the imperial capital, money could make anything happen.
For wealthy families like the Lan family, buying a scapegoat was perfectly normal.
Moreover, the incomplete chain of evidence alone was enough to hinder the police. Even if they knew Lan Shuo was the most suspicious, without evidence, they were powerless.
They stood side-by-side by the railing, watching the stars. After a long silence, Song Ruining said, "If you're feeling upset, you can lean on my shoulder. Whatever you do, I'll pretend not to know."
A four-to-five-year relationship ending in such an embarrassing way would upset anyone.
Yu Zishu, who had been holding back her emotions, suddenly felt wronged by his casual words. Her eyes burned and welled up, and in a moment of impulse, she buried her head in his chest.
Her hot tears soaked his shirt, seeping into his skin.
Song Ruining gently stroked her trembling, slender back, over and over, like the best companion.
The corridor was sparsely populated and empty, only the echo of her sobs could be heard.
Song Ruining remembered the first time he met her. She was a freshman, carrying a suitcase out of a car, with a radiant smile, brighter than the sunlight that day.
He never expected that after many years, the former little sun would be crying in his arms.
Song Ruining sighed silently, his movements becoming gentler.
By the time Yu Zishu finished crying, Song Ruining's suit was a mess.
"I... I'm sorry..."
Yu Zishu looked up apologetically, her eyes red and swollen like peach pits, looking pitiful and speaking softly.
"It's okay." Song Ruining smiled faintly and shook his head, always refined and elegant, like the most restrained and courteous gentleman.
"When you go back, roll a hot egg over your eyes, otherwise they'll be more swollen tomorrow." He reminded her gently.
As he spoke, he pinched the sides of his glasses with his middle finger and thumb, gently pushing them up.
This ordinary gesture was performed with an elegant, restrained aura.
His right hand, covering half his face, was fair and strong, with clearly defined bones. He wore a watch on his wrist.
It wasn't a very expensive brand, but it suited his temperament – calm and reserved, like a piece of raw jade waiting to be discovered.
Yu Zishu stared at him, lost in thought, until he withdrew his hand. His sharp gaze met hers through the thin lenses, and she suddenly came back to her senses, feeling both amazed and embarrassed.
To the point that her mind went blank and she blurted out, "Want to come in for a bit?"
Song Ruining: "?"
Yu Zishu: ...
"I, I, I didn't mean it that way." She quickly explained, "I was just crying so hard that my brain is a bit oxygen-deprived."
Inviting a man into her apartment late at night, and they were both adults, could be interpreted in different ways.
She hoped he hadn't thought too much of it.
Yu Zishu was so embarrassed she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
Song Ruining smiled wryly. "I understand. It's late, Lawyer Yu should head back."
"Okay."
Yu Zishu nodded rapidly and then walked towards the door at a brisk pace.
This place was a bit mixed, but it was cheap and close to her law firm.
Song Ruining made sure she was inside before taking the elevator away.
The next day, at the Fine Arts Academy.
The police had come to the school several times to investigate, and Meng Xiyao's death was shrouded in a bit of mystery.
"I heard Bian Wei killed her. He stabbed her several times. You really can't judge a book by its cover."
"Although Meng Xiyao was quite out of line, she didn't deserve to die. Bian Wei really could go through with it..."
"Actually, if you think about it, Meng Xiyao was at most morally flawed and vain. She wasn't at the point of being ruthless."
"I think she died unfairly..."
"To be honest, she was usually quite nice to people. She wasn't stingy with food or drinks."
"Yeah, the other day she even helped me pick out a dress, and my boyfriend liked it a lot."
The murmurs swirled around Wen Tingxue's ears. Wen Tingxue found it amusing.
Not long ago, they were the ones criticizing and cursing Meng Xiyao. Now, they were the ones lamenting her.
It seemed that once a person died, all their past actions were forgotten.
In their place, the memories of her good deeds emerged.
"The teacher is here." Someone shouted, and the studio immediately fell silent.
Fu Yushen was pushed in by NAPA, still dressed elegantly, appearing exceptionally striking and eye-catching among the students with their diverse styles.
"Today we're learning paper mounting. Has the paper arrived?"
Fu Yushen looked up and asked the class monitor. The monitor's cheeks flushed slightly. "Yes, yes, it's here."
The paper, costing over five thousand yuan, was spread out on the large drawing board. Fu Yushen explained the steps of paper mounting and the points to note to everyone.
His deep, magnetic voice, his elegant and fluid movements, and his exceptionally attractive appearance made it seem less like a class and more like a rare audio-visual feast.
Outside the window, many students from other departments had gathered, all staring at him blankly, as if he were the meat of a Tang monk.
After finishing his explanation, he let everyone try it themselves.
NAPA pushed him around the studio, and he quickly pointed out any unsuitable positions.
Wen Tingxue was a quick learner, grasping it after one demonstration. Fu Yushen stopped beside her, watching her mount the paper. He said,
"You weren't here yesterday when I was lecturing. I'll give you a private lesson today."
He picked up a brush and taught her how to paint on the large drawing board. Wen Tingxue listened attentively and was quick to pick it up.
With just a few strokes, it was already taking shape.
Fu Yushen raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, then smiled and suggested, "There's a national art exhibition next year, held every three years. If you're interested, you could give it a try."
"National Art Exhibition?" Wen Tingxue paused her brush. "What is that?"
She tilted her head slightly, sunlight reflecting in her eyes, making them sparkle like stars, exceptionally captivating.
Sorry, I'm too sleepy. I'm going to sleep now. I'll post the remaining chapter tomorrow, likely in the afternoon.