Chapter 315: The Murderer

Chapter 315 The Culprit

Ye Xiaoxiao usually slept lightly. After what happened earlier today and being in unfamiliar surroundings, she wasn’t sleeping well.

Footsteps at the door jolted her awake.

Lu Hanchuan walked over first and stroked Xiao Xiao’s hair. "It’s nothing, I just felt like coming home suddenly. Did I scare you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Not really. I thought it was Mom."

After all, a break-in at the Lu family home was unlikely. It had to be a family member.

"I’m going to clean up," Lu Hanchuan said softly.

Ye Xiaoxiao lay back down but sleep wouldn't come.

By the time Lu Hanchuan finished showering, she was still staring wide-eyed.

"Dry your hair before sleeping."

"Mhm."

It was summer, and Lu Hanchuan had short hair, so it dried quickly.

Ye Xiaoxiao scooted over to make room.

She was wearing a soft lilac silk nightgown that looked particularly soft in the lamplight.

Lu Hanchuan lay down beside Xiao Xiao and pulled her into his arms.

Ye Xiaoxiao knew his sudden return must mean he’d found out something. "You know, don’t you? Mom told you."

Lu Hanchuan murmured 'Mhm' in reply.

He seemed clearly upset.

Ye Xiaoxiao pushed herself up to look at him. Their eyes met, each seeing themselves reflected in the other's eyes.

"I wasn’t scared. But even though I’m fine this time, I won’t let whoever did this get away with it."

Lu Hanchuan: "Just trust me on this. Let me take care of it."

When his mother had called, his heart had nearly stopped beating.

The one he'd known was his from the first glance—if they couldn’t grow old together, the pain would be unbearable.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t reply, pressing herself deeper into Lu Hanchuan’s arms.

Sleepiness slowly claimed her. "I want to sleep now."

Lu Hanchuan rhythmically patted Xiao Xiao’s back as they fell asleep wrapped in each other.

...

The city police department moved quickly, especially with Lu Hanchuan's influence behind it. By the third day, they'd arrested the person behind the attempt to run down Li Deshu.

The culprit’s name was He Jinghong.

The news left both Lu Hanchuan and Ye Xiaoxiao stunned when it reached them.

"He Jinghong?"

Ye Xiaoxiao was having breakfast. During her two-day stay at the Lu family, her grandparents had practically treated her like livestock, pushing four or five meals a day on her.

"He was my cousin (on my father’s side)."

He Jinghong was a key figure later in the story.

He and Hao Yanyan started a business together, working together. At first, he looked down on her for coming from the countryside, but eventually became totally under her thumb, fully showcasing the heroine’s charm.

Lu Hanchuan’s expression darkened. "It was the He family's doing. They probably panicked when they heard we got married."

He didn’t get why, but… the He family was finished.

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "He might be a nobody. We should swing by the station later."

Meanwhile, at the Hao residence.

Qiaoxiang He’s elder brother, Wenqiang He, and his wife, Zhiyin Han, sat in the living room, looking worried.

Zhiyin Han pleaded, "Xiangxiang, we need your help now. Jinghong was arrested by the police for some unknown reason."

Qiaoxiang He was annoyed. If Jinghong He had obeyed the law, how could he get arrested?

He must have done something outrageous, and now she had to deal with his screw-up.

Twenty years ago, the He family was wealthy, but as times changed, they’d lost their standing in the capital. Now, they were living off the Haos.

Though angry, Qiaoxiang He couldn’t ignore her nephew—after all, her brother was still quite well-off and gave her handsome holiday bonuses.

"Brother, sister-in-law, tell me honestly. What did Jinghong do wrong?"

Wenqiang He replied, "We don’t know. The cops aren’t talking and won’t reveal anything."

Qiaoxiang He frowned. "Let me make some calls."

Having lived in the capital for years, Qiaoxiang He still had connections to gather information.

Normally, this would be a simple favor.

Folks usually owed her one.

But this time, as soon as she mentioned her nephew, they either played dumb or changed the subject.

Even those who were clearly from the police department insisted they knew nothing.

They were clearly giving her the runaround.

Seeing her brother and sister-in-law waiting anxiously beside her, Qiaoxiang He felt humiliated and pissed.

"Old Zhou, just give me the truth. What’s really going on?"

A deliberately hushed voice came from the other end of the line.

"Comrade He, it’s not that I won’t help. Let me be honest—this case has too many eyes on it. There’s absolutely no room for leniency. You’d better prepare for the worst."

"And I advise you not to get involved, or you might end up in trouble yourself."

With that, the caller immediately hung up.

He Qiaoxiang was frozen for a moment upon hearing the commotion on the other end of the phone.

When she snapped out of it, she turned to glare at her brother and sister-in-law, demanding, "Tell me the truth—what exactly has He Jinghong done? He’s already under scrutiny from higher-ups. Getting him out is impossible now."

He Wenqiang: "That can’t be! Besides doing business, he’s been lying low lately. He hasn’t done anything wrong."

Han Zhiyin immediately started sobbing.

"Xiangxiang [Xiangxiang is an affectionate diminutive for Qiaoxiang], he’s your own nephew. You can’t just abandon him.

Don’t forget, your family helped secure your marriage to the Haos. Otherwise, would you have married Hao Chengbing?

And all these years, the family has done so much for you."

He Qiaoxiang grew irritated at her sister-in-law’s words.

"Sister-in-law, what are you implying? Making it sound like I owe the family? Even if I did, I’ve repaid it all by now."

Seeing the two about to start fighting again, He Wenqiang quickly intervened, "Stop fighting! Is this the time for quarrels? We need to focus on getting Jinghong bailed out!"

He Qiaoxiang closed her eyes briefly. "Take some money to the police station and see if you can grease some palms—at least try to meet Jinghong. We need to figure out what’s going on first.

I’ll make a few more calls to see if I can find out who’s interfering from above."

He Wenqiang: "Alright, alright. We’re relying on you, Xiangxiang."

...

He Wenqiang had initially believed that money talks, but after approaching several people, each flat-out refused to get involved.

In the end, it was an old classmate working in the public security bureau who, as a personal favor, managed to secure him a visit.

He Wenqiang thanked him and hurried to see his son.

The moment they met, he slapped He Jinghong across the face.

"You little brat! What the hell did you do? Out with it!"

He Jinghong, having been locked up for a full day and night, looked like a complete wreck.

He had been relieved to see his father, only to be met with a slap.

"Dad! Why hit me? Hurry up and find a way to get me out!

I can’t stand another day in this hellhole."

He Jinghong still hadn’t grasped the severity of the situation.

He thought he had just helped someone out—and been careful enough.

Besides, even if they did uncover something, what of it?

His family had clout, and that Li Deshu was just a certified lunatic. No one could pin this on him, meaning there was no case.

He Wenqiang was seeing red at his stupidity.

"Do you have any idea where you are?! This is the Municipal Public Security Bureau, not some mom-and-pop shop your family owns—you can’t come and go as you please!"