By the time he reached the fourth floor, Wang Yu suddenly recalled a problem. It seemed Lin Xi hadn't given him a key. If she wasn't home, how could he get in? Was he supposed to wait at the door until she returned?
With a stroke of luck, Wang Yu knocked on the door.
Within a few seconds, a "click" sounded from behind the door, which surprised Wang Yu.
"I thought you were..."
Before he could finish, Wang Yu froze. The person who came to open the door wasn't Lin Xi, but Hu Liang.
"Why is it you again? Who on earth are you?"
Zhou Xiong frowned and asked Wang Yu loudly, his expression quite displeased. After giving Wang Yu a once-over and noticing the luggage he carried, Zhou Xiong was taken aback.
"Looks like this man is planning to move in with Lin Xi. Damn it, I've been dating Lin Xi for so long and she's never invited me to stay over. Who is this guy and what's his relationship with Lin Xi?"
"Who I am doesn't seem to be something I need to report to you. Besides, with your intelligence, I think you could have guessed. The play of miraculous survival that you so masterfully directed—I must admit, even I'm impressed!"
While Hu Liang was contemplating, Wang Yu threw a few mocking words his way.
After speaking, Wang Yu pushed past Hu Liang and entered the room. Seeing Lin Xi sitting on the sofa with a displeased expression, he smiled and said, "Lin Xi, take your time talking, I'll head back to my room. You should think more carefully."
Wang Yu gave a timely reminder but stopped at that. Since Lin Xi didn't speak up, he didn't want to intervene in her and Hu Liang's affairs, only hoping that Lin Xi could distinguish right from wrong on her own.
"No need, come sit by me."
Lin Xi spoke without hesitation. Before Wang Yu returned, she had already been talking with Hu Liang for a while, but Hu Liang always dodged the crucial points and failed to provide a reasonable explanation, and Lin Xi also hadn't come to a final conclusion.
Now that Wang Yu was back, she planned to have him help analyze the situation.
Lin Xi had spoken, and Wang Yu no longer had any reservations, walked over to the sofa, set down the luggage, and casually sat down next to Lin Xi.
Hu Liang, feeling guilty, was very clear about the meaning behind Wang Yu's words, and his heart skipped a beat at once.
"It seems this man witnessed the entire course of events and has a sharp mind. Today might be a difficult day for me. I must be cautious of this man."
After standing at the door and pondering for a while, Hu Liang slowly walked in and sat opposite Lin Xi.
"Lin Xi, I've explained for so long, how can you still not believe me?"
"Explained?" Lin Xi snorted coldly and said, "What exactly did you explain to me? You haven't said anything, just begged for my forgiveness! But how can you expect me to forgive you? If it weren't for Mr. Wang saving me, I would have been done for."
Lin Xi was quite emotional, her chest heaving significantly. Wang Yu could not help but feel pity internally. It seemed Lin Xi had truly fallen for Hu Liang; otherwise, she wouldn't be so agitated. However, Hu Liang wasn't worth her affections.
"Lin Xi, it's all my fault. But didn't I just say it? I had no choice, and wasn't it all for your sake?"
Hu Liang appeared very remorseful, although that was only enough to deceive Lin Xi.
"Really? Then tell me, how were you forced to action? And how was it for my sake?"
Upon finishing, Lin Meng turned her head away, tears already sparkling in her eyes.
At her words, Hu Liang's small eyes darted back and forth, then he said, "You know there was no money in the car, and I made you go down the mountain because I didn't want you to get hurt by Crippled Wolf. I wouldn't have minded dying, but I was afraid no one would take care of you after I died, so I yelled for you to call the police. But I didn't expect Crippled Wolf to block you. With no other choice, I had to leave first."
"After leaving the graveyard I called the police, then I waited for you at the bottom of your apartment building. When you came back, didn't you see me? I know I'm at fault. I shouldn't have left you alone. It's all my fault! I deserve to die!"
After speaking, Hu Liang slapped himself, displaying a deeply contrite demeanor.
Wang Yu watched Hu Liang with an expression full of admiration. The ability to weave such a fantastic tale of lies was indeed remarkable. Any inexperienced person would be completely deceived by him, and even Wang Yu himself would have almost believed his words if he hadn't witnessed the events himself.
"Is that so? Then tell me, why did you leave last night after I asked you to go?"
Lin Xi looked at Hu Liang and asked, her tone softening. Wang Yu's heart jolted. No good! Lin Xi was being deceived by him.
Hu Liang secretly felt elated. Lin Xi speaking in such a manner at least meant she believed what he said earlier, making things much easier now. All he had to do was act a bit more emotional and all problems would be solved.
"It wasn't that I didn't want to come after you; I received a call from the Arrest Bureau. They wanted me to go to the Arrest Bureau to give a statement. I had no choice, so I went, and it wasn't until the early morning that I finished and went back. I wanted to come and find you, but by then it wasn't early and I didn't want to disturb your rest, so I did not come over."
After speaking, Hu Liang knelt down before Lin Xi, secretly pinching his tender flesh at his waist to force out a few tears, and looking up at Lin Xi said, "Lin Xi, I'm sorry, I was at fault. Please forgive me, I love you, and I can't lose you."
Such a tearfully emotional performance instantly softened Lin Xi's heart completely.
Looking at him, Lin Xi contemplated deeply.
"His explanation cleared up all the doubts in my heart, and it seemed logical and true. However, the fact that he left me alone to escape is also true. If it hadn't been for Wang Yu, I would have been violated by Crippled Wolf. Should I forgive him?"
"If I forgive him, there will always be a knot in my heart, not knowing if he might do this again in the future. If I don't forgive him, but I've already developed feelings for him, what should I do?"
Lin Xi pondered for a long time and couldn't make up her mind, feeling extremely conflicted. She could only turn her plea for help towards Wang Yu.
Wang Yu let out a soft sigh. It seemed he could no longer remain silent. Let me expose you, you hypocritical fraud, and save this deceived girl.
"I'd like to ask, which Arrest Bureau took your statement? I have many friends in the Arrest System; if you tell me, I can see if I know anyone, and if there's any trouble, I might be able to help you sort it out."
Wang Yu looked at Hu Liang, a hint of mockery on his lips, convinced that he would never be able to name which Arrest Bureau, because he couldn't possibly have reported to the police, and his story was full of holes.
From start to finish, Wang Yu had never seen a constable appearing. Even if the constables arrived at the scene after Wang Yu and the others had left, upon finding no one there, they would have concluded that Hu Liang reported a false alarm. If that was the case, calling Hu Liang in would not be about taking a statement but detention. How could Hu Liang possibly be here now?
Moreover, as the person involved, why wouldn't the constable look for Lin Xi to inquire into the situation?
As expected, Hu Liang was taken aback upon hearing this, and then put on a forced smile, looking at Wang Yu and saying, "No need to trouble yourself, it's just a minor matter. Besides, I haven't broken any law; the constable won't trouble me."
"Oh? Is that so?" Wang Yu scoffed disdainfully and didn't wish to dwell on this issue any further, but instead asked, "How much do you love Lin Xi?"
"Very much! I would give my life for her," Hu Liang stated resolutely, his face full of determination.
"Good!"
That was the answer Wang Yu had been waiting for. He glanced at Hu Liang, rose up, and went into the kitchen. In a short while, he came out with two bowls of water, placed them on the table, and in front of Hu Liang, he took out a small bottle from his pocket. From the bottle, he took out a pink pill, crushed it into a powder with his fingers, and sprinkled it into one of the bowls.
"What I just put into the bowl is called Red Letter Stone, commonly known as arsenic. You know about arsenic, right? It's a poison, and once ingested, death is certain, it can't be saved."
While speaking, Wang Yu casually picked up a cushion from the sofa to block Hu Liang's view, while his other hand quickly swapped the positions of the bowls. After five or six seconds, he removed the cushion.
"Even I can't tell which bowl now contains the arsenic. You said you love Lin Xi enough to lose your life for her. As the saying goes, talk is cheap, seeing is believing. Come on! But let me remind you, once you drink the bowl with arsenic, there's no saving you."
Wang Yu said, smiling at Hu Liang.
Lin Xi was startled upon hearing this, immediately turning her gaze towards Wang Yu, feeling that Wang Yu had gone too far this time. If Hu Liang truly drank the water with arsenic, it could be disastrous.
"Mr. Wang, this…"
Looking at Wang Yu, Lin Xi's face turned pale.
Wang Yu didn't look at Lin Xi but covertly touched her hand. Such a simple action made Lin Xi suddenly understand.
"Prove it, Hu Liang." Lin Xi leaned back on the sofa and said to Hu Liang.
At this moment, Hu Liang's face was devoid of color. He looked at Lin Xi and Wang Yu, then his trembling hand slowly reached for one of the bowls, but he stopped halfway, his eyes fixed on the two bowls of water.
Ten seconds…
Forty seconds…
Two minutes…
After five minutes, Hu Liang suddenly stood up, raised his voice at Wang Yu, and said, "Who are you anyway? Why should I do what you say? Does proving love for someone have to be demonstrated this way? How childish!"
Wang Yu shook his head with a smile and said nothing, picked up the two bowls of water, gulped them down, then leaned back on the sofa, looking at Hu Liang with a silent smile.
The so-called arsenic was nothing but a sedative. Wang Yu sometimes had to rely on sedatives to force himself to sleep due to too much mental stress.
At this moment, Lin Xi understood everything.
"Get out! Leave my house at once, I never want to see you again! Get out!"
Lin Xi pointed at Hu Liang, her hand trembling, tears brimming in her eyes. To think that Hu Liang, who had professed love for her, turned out to be a heartbreaker who wouldn't even dare to take a simple test.
Hu Liang realized he had been played. The situation with Lin Xi was beyond salvageable, so he simply tore off his mask of hypocrisy, revealing his rogue nature.
"Get out?" Hu Liang sneered at Lin Xi, "If it weren't for your beauty, I wouldn't even bother to glance at you. How much time and energy have I wasted on you? And now you're telling me to get out? Fine, but you must compensate me for my emotional distress, or else I won't be so polite to you!"