After leaving the police station, Chen Yuanxing made a phone call. After several transfers, his face grew increasingly grim. Qin Ou approached him cautiously and asked, "Mr. Chen, what did the higher-ups say?"
"The Xia family!" Chen Yuanxing managed to utter two words.
"That's strange. Since Miss Xiao has no grudge against the Xia family, why would they drag her into this mess?"
Chen Yuanxing knew a little about Xiao Qiqi's past, but not much. After thinking for a long time, he finally remembered Li Yue, a key figure who had notified him to return to China. "Attorney Qin, please continue to inquire about information and prepare for the court hearing. I'm going to find someone."
Li Yue had been waiting for Chen Yuanxing. He was very frank and no longer hid anything, laying bare the whole story of the entanglement between Xiao Qiqi, Xia Xuan, and Xu Chun back then. He also emphasized one fact: "Xu Chun was an extremely scheming woman back then. She orchestrated Xiao Qiqi and Xia Xuan's breakup from beginning to end. She knew all about the rumors back then—that she had a hotel room with Xia Xuan, forced Xiao Qiqi to have an abortion, and got drunk." Li Yue looked at Chen Yuanxing's anxious face and smiled self-deprecatingly, "The first time I saw you at the Dingshan Restaurant, I knew you weren't someone who would give up easily. But in the end, I didn't expect you two to still be together."
“I know you’ve been taking good care of Qiqi all this time, thank you.” Chen Yuanxing looked directly into Li Yue’s eyes. “You knew all this, so why did you only say it now? If you had said it earlier, perhaps… Qiqi and Xia Xuan wouldn’t have broken up.”
Li Yue's hand, which had been resting steadily on the table, trembled slightly. He gave a bitter smile and said, "I admit I was selfish back then... did you love Xiao Qiqi?"
Chen Yuanxing nodded. "I understand. Your love for Xu Chun back then was just like my love for Qi Qi. So... never mind, so many years have passed, I won't ask anymore." Chen Yuanxing smiled indifferently. "If they hadn't had that misunderstanding, Qi Qi and I might not have ended up together."
"Ever since Xu Chun, I've stopped believing in love. I always thought that one only loves once in a lifetime, so I wandered aimlessly through the city, thinking that as I got older, I'd find a suitable woman to marry and have children, and that would be life. But seeing the love between you and Qi Qi, I think I was still a bit too stubborn. Qi Qi is truly blessed to have met a man like you. Even after all these years, she's still so naive and innocent, so emotionally vulnerable and self-deceiving. She's easily blinded by friends, love, and friendship, just like with Zhao Xi—how could she so easily drag herself into that?"
"Your analysis is spot on. Xiao Qiqi is exactly like that, a stupid woman!" Chen Yuanxing said indignantly. "Looks like I really need to keep a close eye on her from now on." Then he smiled bitterly, "Li Yue, you've been so concerned about Qiqi lately, but she still rejected you. Aren't you bothered?"
“No need. Anyway, Xiao Qiqi and I, haha, are fine as friends, but when it comes to marriage, it's a bit awkward. After all, we know each other too well from the past. There's no room for misunderstanding between us. Being friends and having heart-to-heart talks is a fun way to reminisce, but if we were to actually live together, I'd remember all those times I tried to escape and my infatuation, all those things I did indirectly for Xu Chun. It would inevitably be awkward.” Li Yue shook his head with a smile before speaking seriously, “Let's get back to the point and talk about Qiqi's case. Actually, I learned about Qiqi's incident from Xu Chun. I saw Xu Chun yesterday. You know, once a woman is ruthless, she's capable of anything. She seems to have suffered a great blow recently. She's like a hedgehog with its feathers plucked, sobbing everywhere with red eyes, vowing to make Xiao Qiqi pay this time. I tried to advise her, but she wouldn't listen. So, you should be careful. After all, with the Xia family's wealth and influence here, nothing is impossible. As for Xia Xuan, I can't contact him at all. He once gave me his private contact information, but it's all been turned off.”
Chen Yuanxing smoked irritably, "You mean to say that Xu Chun framed Qi Qi behind the scenes?"
Li Yue nodded, "Besides her, the so-called fiancée of Xia Xuan, there probably isn't anyone else. Based on my understanding of Xia Xuan, no matter how he has changed in the past few years, he shouldn't be as cruel to Qi Qi."
Chen Yuanxing nodded, "I understand, thank you Li Yue. I think I still need to go see some people, so I won't chat any longer."
Li Yue shook his head, "It's okay, just give me a call if you need me for the court hearing."
Chen Yuanxing had just broken up with Li Yue when he received a call from Qin Ou. Qin Ou's voice sounded unpleasant: "Mr. Chen, I have bad news and good news." Chen Yuanxing was very annoyed. What kind of joke was this at a time like this? "Well then, Mr. Chen, I'm at the police station. Come over and we'll talk."
Chen Yuanxing drove incredibly fast, but it was almost dark when he arrived at the police station. He sat down with Qin Ou in a nearby coffee shop. Qin Ou said, "The good news is that Zhao Xi has been caught, and he confessed to hiding a knife and injuring someone. The bad news is that Jiang Yilan has finally spoken up."
"Bad news?" Chen Yuanxing's eyelids began to twitch.
"Jiang Yilan accused Miss Xiao of stabbing Xia Xuan in the thigh with a knife, and said that Xiao Qiqi instigated Zhao Xi to bring a knife to hurt someone."
"What?" Chen Yuanxing's heart sank. He simply couldn't believe it. "Impossible! Jiang Yilan is Xiao Qiqi's best friend."
"Nothing is impossible." Qin Ou smiled wryly. "These days, let alone friends, even husbands and wives, fathers and sons are just like that. What can't happen?"
A single sentence reminded Chen Yuanxing: "I'm going to find Jiang Yilan."
"They cannot be seen; they are under close surveillance before the trial."
Chen Yuanxing sneered, "Even people under strict surveillance can be bribed?" Qin Ou, who was used to such defections, remained silent.
Despite the tight surveillance, Chen Yuanxing still managed to see Jiang Yilan. Jiang Yilan, whose arm was wrapped in gauze, was not in good spirits, and Chen Yuanxing was clearly startled when he saw her.
Chen Yuanxing chuckled, "What are you afraid of, Miss Jiang?" Jiang Yilan pursed her lips tightly, her large eyes looking listless. "I heard that Miss Jiang's good friend Xiao Qiqi injured your lover, Xia Xuan?"
Jiang Yilan's eyes widened even more. "...Get out!"
Chen Yuanxing sneered, his sharp, icy eyes fixed on Jiang Yilan. "How much? One million? Ten million? Fifty million?"
Jiang Yilan's voice was a little hoarse, her eyes filled with anger and hatred, "...What nonsense are you talking about!"
"You know best whether I'm lying or not!" Chen Yuanxing still didn't miss a single expression on her face. "Jiang Yilan, Xiao Qiqi has been your best friend since she was twelve. Shouldn't you explain why this happened today? I don't want to say more. Whatever benefits she gave you, I'll give you double, and I promise that Qiqi will never find out in this lifetime."
Jiang Yilan, now unafraid, stared directly into Chen Yuanxing's cold gaze and burst into laughter: "You so-called rich people, finally you know how to ask for favors, huh? Let me tell you, Chen Yuanxing, I'm not doing this for money, I just hate your ugly faces! Why should Xiao Qiqi receive so much of your pampering? I just want her to suffer a little, is that not allowed? Let me tell you, no matter how much money you offer, I won't help you, so just give up!"
"You!" Chen Yuanxing took a step forward, feeling an urge to punch someone. A dark figure flashed in from outside and grabbed him. "Young Master, someone's here. Let's go."
Jiang Yilan turned around and wrapped herself in the quilt. Low sobs could be heard from time to time in the dark night. "Qiqi, let me apologize to you this time."
26. Release
The first court hearing arrived quickly. Chen Yuanxing didn't want the matter to escalate, so he diligently gathered evidence to defend Xiao Qiqi, waiting to see how things went in court before deciding on his next move. However, the situation wasn't bad. The police charged Zhao Xi and Xiao Qiqi with intentional assault. Although Zhao Xi denied it, the testimony of Jiang Yilan, along with numerous witness testimonies and physical evidence proving Xiao Qiqi's romantic relationship with one of the victims, Xia Xuan, further confirmed that Xiao Qiqi, like Zhao Xi, had conspired to commit intentional assault through burglary out of jealousy and resentment.
“Mr. Chen…” Qin Ou hesitated.
"Speak, Lao Qin!" Chen Yuanxing said weakly.
"Perhaps we could try talking to Mayor Zhong."
Chen Yuanxing opened his eyes. "She's no longer the mayor."
"But her connections are still there. At present, relying on our own to fight against the Xia family for this company, the chances of winning are probably not high. As you know, we sometimes can't play by the rules here."
Chen Yuanxing eventually made a few phone calls to several uncles and aunts he had known since childhood. However, they all asked a few questions about his mother's recent situation but never got to the point. In the end, the conversation always turned back to his mother. Chen Yuanxing had no choice but to go home.
Having just had a falling out with his parents, Chen Yuanxing would never have bowed his head to them unless he had absolutely no other choice. But today he had been standing outside his mother's study for two hours and still hadn't received a single reply from her.
"...Mom, if you can, just save Qiqi. I'll follow your arrangements and marry anyone." Chen Yuanxing didn't know how much chance he had of winning the next trial, but he absolutely refused to let Xiao Qiqi try again. He wanted her to come out unharmed; that would be enough.
His mother finally opened the door, her face expressionless. "If she is innocent, the Party will never frame an innocent person. There will always be a day when she is exonerated. So Yuanxing, you should still trust the organization."
Chen Yuanxing couldn't take it anymore. "Mom! Do you think I need to beg you? If the Xia family weren't so powerful and aggressive, do you think I'd put up with your hypocritical words? What organization can solve this? I think you're just waiting for the organization to reinstate you and seek your own political future!" Chen Yuanxing stormed off, his anger rising as he recalled his father's words. His father had actually said that it was because of his broken engagement with Xia Rui that the Xia family was using this opportunity to teach Xiao Qiqi a lesson. What did this have to do with Qiqi? This bunch of inexplicable people!
Chen Yuanxing sat in his car, smoking. His hair was disheveled, his beard unkempt, and he was filled with utter despair. Why was it so hard to get out of such a simple case? He should call his uncle and tell him to come back immediately.
Xia Rui called at that moment. Chen Yuanxing was too exhausted to deal with her and was about to hang up after a few words when Xia Rui suddenly said, "I know how to save Xiao Qiqi. I'm in XX. Come over in ten minutes, or I'm leaving."
Chen Yuanxing stared at his phone in disbelief, then suddenly realized how stupid he had been to forget the most important person in this whole affair: Xia Xuan! He couldn't find Xia Xuan, but someone else could find him.
When Chen Yuanxing arrived at the coffee shop where Xia Rui was, it was already half an hour later. Xia Rui saw Chen Yuanxing wiping his sweat in the dead of winter and couldn't help but laugh with Cui Xiao. Cui Xiao was a little embarrassed to see Chen Yuanxing again, but a young girl's love is not always a fleeting thing, and the "blind date" of the past is also a thing of the past.
Chen Yuanxing couldn't wait any longer, "Speak."
Xia Rui pouted, "Gorilla, is this how you beg for help?"
Helpless, Chen Yuanxing waved for two sundaes before Xia Rui spoke with shining eyes: "I know who harmed Xiao Qiqi. It was that vixen Xu Chun. My older brother has no idea. He's still in the intensive care unit. Xu Chun must have bewitched my father. My father has basically placed my brother under house arrest. He can't see anyone or know anything about the outside world. So he has no idea that Xiao Qiqi is going to be sentenced."
How do you know all this?
“I didn’t know at first; Cui Xiao told me.”
Chen Yuanxing looked at Cui Xiao, who lowered her head shyly and fiddled with the hem of her clothes. "This case was in the newspaper. I heard it from my parents."
Xia Rui patted Chen Yuanxing, "Anyway, I just hate how Xu Chun acts all high and mighty in our house. Ugh! She's so shameless. She claims to be my older brother's fiancée, but she's having an affair with my father! She's utterly shameless. If my older brother knew about this, he would definitely kill her."
Chen Yuanxing finally confirmed that Xia Xuan was not the mastermind behind this. If that was the case, things would be much easier. "Xiao Rui, just tell me how I can see your older brother?" The second court hearing was the day after tomorrow, and he didn't have much time.
“I told you, Dad doesn’t want anyone to see me.” Xia Rui happily licked her sundae, savoring every bite.
Chen Yuanxing knew Xia Rui's intentions from her sly look. He ordered another strawberry cake and a vanilla ice cream. Xia Rui then smiled and said, "Although I can't see my eldest brother, I can see someone else, my fourth brother Xia Ning. If you can make Xia Ning happy, he will definitely pass on your message to my eldest brother. But whether my eldest brother will help you and your little lover, I don't know."
"Xia Ning? That's great, Xiao Rui, please take me to see Xia Ning."
"Tch, you make it sound so easy! That brat Xia Ning doesn't listen to anyone except his older brother. If you're willing to get him to help you, it'll probably be no easier than breaking him out of prison." Xia Rui shook her head and sighed.
Chen Yuanxing's newly ignited hope was somewhat extinguished again. "No matter what, tell me how I can see Xia Ning."
"Seeing him isn't difficult, the hard part is making him happy." Xia Rui said seriously, "I'm just being kind. I'm helping you this once because you won't get engaged to me." She then pulled out two plane tickets. "I've already bought the tickets, let's go."
"Where to?" Chen Yuanxing asked hesitantly, his mind preoccupied with the police station these past few days.
"You're so stupid! Of course I went to Hong Kong to find Xia Ning!" Xia Rui clenched her fist as if to punch him. "How can someone as stupid as you have such a good brother who keeps saying you're a decent man!"
Xia Rui led Chen Yuanxing to the entrance of a private hospital and pointed to a seven or eight-year-old boy with a schoolbag getting out of a black car, saying, "That's Xia Ning, he's in second grade. Actually, it's very simple to win him over. You just need to teach him a way to defeat Xia Rong, and he will definitely listen to you."
Chen Yuanxing, who had been feeling uneasy, breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Xia Rui's words: "That's easy, just teach him a couple of tricks and it'll be done."
“Xia Rong is my third brother. He’s fourteen years old and 1.7 meters tall,” Xia Rui added with a smile, making Chen Yuanxing’s legs go weak.
"Is there no other way besides this method?"
Xia Rui shook her head. "Xia Ning's biggest dream is to defeat Xia Rong and stop being bullied by him."
"Isn't your older brother protecting him? Why would he be afraid of Xia Rong?"
"How could I understand what the little brat is thinking? He wouldn't complain to his older brother!"
Chen Yuanxing nodded. "I understand."
Xia Rui suddenly sighed, "Sigh, why should I help you? I heard my brother's injury might leave lasting problems. Actually, we're enemies." But a moment later, she shook her head and laughed indifferently, turning around gracefully and waving to Chen Yuanxing: "Gorilla, good luck!"
In a certain intermediate court in Beijing, the judge delivered the final verdict: "Given that the defendant, Xiao Qiqi, has not provided sufficient evidence to prove that he is not involved in this assault case, this court hereby renders the following judgment..."
"Wait a minute, I have something else to say. I admit that my testimony was all false!" Jiang Yilan suddenly shouted.
Attorney Qin smiled at Jiang Yilan, "Moreover, we have other witnesses!" Just as the judge was about to reprimand Jiang Yilan and Qin Ou for contempt of court, the courtroom door was pushed open.
Xiao Qiqi then looked up at the doorway, where a smiling Chen Yuanxing pushed a wheelchair, and Xia Xuan, pale-faced, appeared in the courtroom, followed by a handsome boy of about seven or eight years old.
Attorney Qin quickly said, "Judge, we have a new witness, our client Xia Xuan."
Sitting in the audience, Li Yue couldn't help but clap his hands; he could finally relax.
An hour later, the verdict was announced: Xiao Qiqi was acquitted and released in court, while Zhao Xi was sentenced to eight years for intentional injury.
Another lawsuit, which had been prepared in advance, was submitted.
Xu Chun, who had been sitting in the audience wearing sunglasses, finally stood up, trembling. The courtroom staff gradually left. Xia Xuan watched Chen Yuanxing hug and kiss Xiao Qiqi, laughing and embracing her, a deep sense of desolation on his face. For many years afterward, he couldn't escape this desolation and regret. He abandoned his extravagant and dissolute life, dedicating himself to the family business and becoming the next head of the Xia family. But the psychological trauma and lingering physical ailments tormented him, preventing him from ever truly being happy. Occasionally, standing atop a towering building, gazing at the boundless sky, he would recall the magnificent view from the top of Tiandu Tower years ago—the scenery remained, but the feelings were gone, and the people were long gone.
Xu Chun stood in front of him, hesitant to speak for a long time.
Two police officers walked in. "Ms. Xu, we are formally arresting you on charges of false accusation, bribery, and embezzlement of Fenghong Group's assets. Please come with us."
Jiang Yilan, who had been avoiding looking at Xiao Qiqi, was also taken away by the police. Xiao Qiqi stared at the backs of Jiang Yilan and Xu Chun, speechless for a long time.
These two extremely important friends in my life!
Xiao Qiqi and Chen Yuanxing stood embracing each other. Never before had they been so close. Overwhelmed by the emotions of surviving a disaster, Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but gently kiss Chen Yuanxing's cheek for the first time in front of everyone. "Yuxing, thank you."
Xia Xuan's face darkened further. She glanced at Xia Ning, who then thoughtfully pushed Xia Xuan's wheelchair away.
Two people were left embracing.
"Qiqi, we've wasted too much time. This time, I'll never let you go again." Chen Yuanxing held Xiao Qiqi in his arms as they sat on a wooden bench by the street. The two of them had been sitting together like this for a long time, watching the passersby hurry by. Xiao Qiqi had regained the simple and happy feeling she had when she was with Chen Yuanxing a few years ago.
Xiao Qiqi leaned on Chen Yuanxing's shoulder, "I was too stupid."
"Wouldn't that make me even more stupid? Marrying a stupid wife?" Chen Yuanxing muttered in dissatisfaction.
Xiao Qiqi giggled. "Yuanxing, no wonder people say you can't understand happiness without experiencing hardship. I think if Xia Xuan hadn't appeared, I still wouldn't understand my own heart, and I would still be pretending to be strong. Those few days in jail, I thought a lot, and suddenly I felt how wonderful life is. How could I be so stupid and waste two years? I always thought I knew more than you, understood feelings better than you, but actually, I'm a fool, I don't understand anything. Yuanxing, will you really forgive my ignorance?"
Chen Yuanxing hugged Xiao Qiqi and sighed, "What can I do if I don't forgive you? It seems I went to great lengths to get you out of this lawsuit. You've always known I'm a very calculating person. This time, you owe me, and I'm determined to make you pay it back. Of course, I know the best way to collect a debt is to be persistent and relentless. So, Xiao Qiqi, I'll just take the loss and stay by your side until you pay your debt."
"Hey!" Xiao Qiqi tapped Chen Yuanxing on the head. "Look how smug you are, as if you've suffered a great loss."
"Hehe, alright then, you're at a disadvantage." Chen Yuanxing blinked his charming eyes at Xiao Qiqi with a cheerful smile. "So, sister, would you be willing to take a little more loss and entrust your whole life to me?"
Xiao Qiqi's face hardened. "Chen Yuanxing, what do you mean by that? Are you proposing?"