Wen Dongrong meant what he said, no longer playing the salted fish. He got up and went to the balcony to make calls.
Shu Guobing’s real-name accusation letter had nearly ruined Wen Dongrong’s years of hard work. That one act outdid all of Shu Guobing’s prior misdeeds!
Wen Dongrong had long been waiting to “repay” Shu Guobing.
Last time, someone bailed Shu Guobing out, and Wen Dongrong still hadn’t figured out who.
No matter. This time, the evidence against Shu Guobing was ironclad. Wen Dongrong would be damned if he didn’t seize the chance to nail him.
If whoever helped Shu Guobing last time dared to intervene again, Wen Dongrong could drag them into the open.
Last time was in a small place; this time, it’s the provincial capital. Pulling strings here wouldn’t be easy!
What kind of big shot could cover the sky in Rongcheng?
Such a big shot, not being Shu Guobing’s real father, wouldn’t keep saving him every time.
Wen Dongrong racked his brain but couldn’t recall offending any “big shot” who could dominate Rongcheng. With his personality, if he knew such a figure, he’d be tripping over himself to cling to them, not crossing them.
After the calls, Wen Dongrong said he was heading to the police station.
Before he could leave, Deng Shangwei arrived.
“I heard something happened at Shrimp King?”
Deng Shangwei usually dropped by Shrimp King’s shop when free, keeping an eye on renovation progress. Since Wen Ying hired Yang Xi as manager, Deng Shangwei visited less often.
After Yang Xi reported the incident, Wen Ying and the others rushed to the station, and no one informed Deng Shangwei. He only heard about it that evening from the renovation crew’s foreman. Halfway home, he turned around and drove to Wen Ying’s place.
Wen Dongrong nodded, “Hard to explain in a few words. I’m heading to the station now.”
Deng Shangwei followed without hesitation.
“Brother-in-law, let’s go together.”
Wen Dongrong didn’t refuse.
Aside from Wen Hongyan’s troublesome family, real relatives help each other. Deng Shangwei knew more people in Rongcheng than Wen Dongrong, who was mentally prepared to swallow his pride and ask Deng Shangwei for help to bury Shu Guobing.
Before leaving, Deng Shangwei shot Wen Ying a warning look.
This girl was getting bolder, keeping quiet about such a big issue. Did she plan to handle it herself?
Wen Ying wanted to go along, but Chen Ru stopped her, “You’re not going anywhere. Stay home. Is this the time for you to step in?”
In Chen Ru’s view, Wen Ying shouldn’t be involved anymore and shouldn’t go out alone lately.
Shu Guobing was caught, but what if Wen Hongyan got desperate?
“And that Shu Lu, when you see her at school tomorrow, keep your distance. She’s got a black heart!”
Until Shu Guobing’s case was settled, Chen Ru planned to personally drive Wen Ying to and from school.
The Shu father-daughter duo’s actions left Chen Ru feeling deeply insecure.
Wen Ying didn’t think Chen Ru was overreacting; she could sense her mother’s tension.
She linked arms with the fuming Chen Ru, sitting her down to calm her.
“Mum, I won’t go out. I’ll listen to you. Actually, I think I did pretty well on my second monthly exam. Results come out tomorrow.”
Wen Ying tried to shift Chen Ru’s focus, but Chen Ru glared at her.
Was this the time to talk about grades?
Why not bring it up normally?
“You can’t even tell what’s important!”
“…”
Grades weren’t important anymore?
Wen Ying always thought grades were the top priority for Chen Ru.
Apparently not.
Chen Ru cared more about her, with grades coming second.
How odd.
Why, in her past life, did she only remember her mum’s domineering ways and feel oppressed, never noticing such fierce maternal love?
Did Chen Ru hide her love, or was Wen Ying just too dense?
Chen Ru was a first-time mum, inexperienced. Wen Ying was equally new at being a daughter.
She rested her head on Chen Ru’s shoulder.
“Mum, let’s argue less from now on.”
Wen Ying nuzzled Chen Ru’s arm. Chen Ru’s fierce demeanor faltered, and she let out a heavy huff, “Who wants to argue with you? If you stop making me mad, I’d thank the heavens!”
The way she said it, as if Wen Ying was the one picking fights.
Fine, given the moment’s mood, Wen Ying didn’t want to bicker with her mum. Whatever Ms. Chen said went.
Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei went to the station, and Wen Dongrong returned alone at midnight.
“Good news: the police linked Wen Ying’s extortion case to this one. Shu Lu claimed she never contacted Yue Shanni, but they met several times. The police found surveillance footage of them at KFC!”
This was clearly inspired by the footage Wen Ying and Director Lü provided.
The police recontacted Yue Shanni, who, for some reason, was very cooperative this time, recalling detailed times and places of her meetings with Shu Lu.
No records existed for other meeting spots, but KFC was in a mall, where surveillance footage was routinely kept.
“The police believe Shu Guobing orchestrated your extortion last time, driven by personal grudges and business rivalry. This time, he had his driver, Little Cai, hire thugs for the assault, but last time, he used his daughter Shu Lu. It’s the same tactic.”
Wen Ying frowned.
This time was definitely Shu Guobing, but last time was Shu Lu’s doing.
Combining both cases could bury Shu Guobing deeper, but wouldn’t that let Shu Lu off?
Between Shu Guobing and Shu Lu, Wen Ying couldn’t pick who was worse. As flies disgusting people, the father-daughter duo were neck and neck.
But from the police’s logic, they were more inclined to pin it on Shu Guobing than believe Shu Lu planned it.
Shu Lu was just a middle schooler!
Juvenile crime wasn’t yet a major public concern. Most people didn’t think kids could be that bad. Shu Lu’s age made her crimes unsurprising to Wen Ying, who’d seen even younger kids—like a teen who murdered their own mother.
Chen Ru also believed Shu Lu was behind it.
“Didn’t the station question Shu Lu again? Even if Shu Guobing ordered it, she’s at least an accomplice. They can’t let her off so easily!”
Wen Dongrong, after hours at the station, had a faint headache.
“Of course they did. When I was there, Shu Lu was called in. The police barely started, and she smoothly shifted all blame to Shu Guobing, saying he gave her pocket money to treat Yue Shanni to shopping and meals.”
As for what happened after, Shu Lu claimed ignorance.
Did Shu Guobing contact Yue Shanni through Shu Lu?
The police checked Shu Guobing’s call records and found calls to Yue Shanni.
“No way, Shu Lu must’ve used Shu Guobing’s phone!” Chen Ru’s voice rose.
Wen Ying’s expression turned odd.
Shu Lu had prepared to throw her dad under the bus from the start? Talk about “fatherly love, filial daughter”!
Wen Ying should’ve been angry, but a thought struck her: if Shu Guobing goes to jail, Shu Lu’s dream from her past life of becoming a civil servant is dead. She’d never pass the background check!
