Often, the simplest and most straightforward revenge is heart-wrenching.
This was the first time Fu Boxuan had seen Fu Tingxiu resort to such tactics. In the past, Fu Tingxiu would never have stooped to such underhanded methods.
"Big brother, who is this guy after all? A law firm?" Fu Boxuan asked.
Fu Tingxiu replied succinctly, "Your sister-in-law's ex-boyfriend."
Fu Boxuan immediately understood. No wonder he had sensed the aura of death.
This ex-boyfriend was really unlucky to have encountered his big brother as a rival in love. All he could do now was mourn for him silently for three seconds.
Fu Tingxiu pulled up Gu Changming's information on his computer. Fu Boxuan peeked over and remarked, "Big brother, he's just a small lawyer. Is it necessary for you to handle this personally?"
Fu Tingxiu continued typing on the keyboard, saying, "The extent of his shamelessness is beyond measure."
Initially, Fu Tingxiu had no intention of dealing with Gu Changming. If Gu Changming sought his own demise, then Fu Tingxiu would naturally oblige.
"Big brother, you were taken to the police station. What about sister-in-law?" Fu Boxuan asked.
Thinking of Mengning's anxiety, Fu Tingxiu said, "I'm going back to Shuimucheng. I'll leave the rest to you."
Gu Changming had opened a law firm and the Gu family still ran a factory, albeit with no profits in recent years. Mr. Gu's father had tampered with documents for personal gain, resulting in dangerously high levels of toxic substances. Once exposed, the Gu family would be ruined.
Fu Tingxiu aimed to utterly destroy Gu Changming and the Gu family, using the sins of the son to punish the father.
Dealing with the Gu family was straightforward for Fu Tingxiu; he didn't even need to act personally. Gu Changming had a tainted history abroad, involved in a lawsuit where he took money from both sides and bribed law enforcement officers.
Gu Changming's reputation abroad was far from sterling, prompting his return to China.
A selfish, hypocritical man who spared no means for his goals – Fu Tingxiu felt Mengning had been blind to him in the past.
In a rush to comfort Mengning, Fu Tingxiu arrived home in his Rolls-Royce an hour later, stopping at the Shuimucheng residential area.
Fu Boxuan asked, "Big brother, how long do you plan to keep this secret from sister-in-law?"
Fu Tingxiu didn't know how to answer. Once a lie was told, countless more lies would be needed to cover it up.
"I know what I'm doing," Fu Tingxiu replied cryptically before getting out of the car and heading into the community.
Meanwhile, Mengning had just returned home and went to find Fang Qiong, but she wasn't home, and her phone went unanswered.
Unaware of what had transpired, Fang Qiong was playing mahjong with her girlfriends.
Mengning was beside herself with worry, about to call Qin Huan for more information, when she heard the sound of the door unlocking.
Mengning's heart skipped a beat. The only ones with keys to the house were her and Fu Tingxiu, but Fu Tingxiu was at the police station. Who could have opened the door...?
As she puzzled over it, the door opened, and Mengning saw Fu Tingxiu walk in. In that moment, her tightly wound nerves snapped, unable to contain her emotions any longer. She rushed over and hugged Fu Tingxiu.
"You're back! I thought you'd be in prison. I made so many calls, I didn't know what to do, how I could help you. Fu Tingxiu, I'm sorry, it's my fault that this happened to you."
Mengning couldn't control her emotions, tears streaming down her face. She was terrified. In over twenty years of life, she had never encountered such a difficult situation. She felt helpless, not knowing what to do. During the time Fu Tingxiu was taken away by the police, she had thought long and hard.
If Fu Tingxiu really went to jail, she would wait for him, no matter how long it took.
Seeing the girl in his arms crying so hard, Fu Tingxiu felt both heartache and joy.
He felt sorry for her tears but was happy that she cried for him.
He hugged her, gently patting her back and comforting her in a warm voice, "Don't cry, it's okay now. I told you, I'll be back soon."
Mengning couldn't calm down her emotions for a while. She had wiped her tears and snot on Fu Tingxiu's clothes, which left him both amused and helpless.
"Okay, okay, it's alright now," Fu Tingxiu said gently.
Mengning sniffled and slowly regained her composure. Only then did she realize she was still holding onto Fu Tingxiu, and that she had left her tears and snot on his clothes. She suddenly felt embarrassed.
She quickly moved away from his embrace, but Fu Tingxiu suddenly pulled her closer. Their bodies pressed tightly together, and she looked up at him, feeling bewildered.
His deep eyes locked onto hers, his voice husky as he said, "Mengning..."