Chapter 1118: He Is Searching For Something
Chen Xi found the excuse rather flimsy, and immediately threatened, âStill not willing to tell the truth? Donât blame me when things get ugly.â With that, he made to drag Jiang Yao into the car, intending to take him to the police for interrogation.
However, Gu Zi stopped him, her voice calm yet firm. âI donât think heâs lying. Chen Xi, take him inside. I have many questions that need his answers.â
After all, standing outside wasnât the place for serious conversation.
Chen Xi, though skeptical, followed Gu Ziâs instructions, pushing Jiang Yao inside.
To his surprise, Jiang Yao, though apprehensive, was unusually cooperative. It had been years since anyone had taken him seriously. For the first time in ages, someone believed his words.
As he was ushered into the yard, he finally spoke up, his voice low. âWhat do you want to know?â
Gu Zi turned to Su Bing, instructing him to take the younger children back to their room. Then, she faced Jiang Yao, her expression unreadable. âYou came here to find something. What exactly are you looking for?â
Jiang Yao lowered his head, falling silent for a moment. When he finally raised his eyes, his gaze locked onto Gu Ziâs.
His face flushed crimson. He had never seen a woman so beautiful, and the thought of even thinking such things about her seemed out of reach for someone like him. Yet, there was a strange sense of admiration in his heart. âIâm looking for my wifeâs belongings. Theyâre in your house.â
Gu Zi was taken aback by this revelation. She studied him closely, her voice sharp. âI donât understand. Why would your wifeâs things be here? And, correct me if Iâm wrong, didnât you kill her? Why would you want her belongings?â
A wave of disgust washed over her as she thought about a man who could use violence against his wife. No matter what the truth was, Jiang Yao didnât come across as a good person. But she couldnât simply let rumors swirl unchecked and ruin this areaâs potential for future prosperity. She needed the truth, no matter how unpleasant.
Chen Xi stood behind Jiang Yao, watchful and ready in case the man tried anything foolish. But as Jiang Yao spoke, Chen Xi only grew more incredulous. He was convinced Jiang Yao was fabricating a story to avoid being thrown into prison.
Gu Zi seemed to see right through Chen Xiâs skepticism. With a slight tilt of her head, she addressed him, âIf he were truly afraid of jail, he wouldnât have dared scale my wall the first time. If he had any intention of returning here, it would have been after some time had passed. But look at him nowâheâs desperate, searching for something. Jiang Yao, speak up.â
Jiang Yaoâs eyes widened, his pupils flickering with shock. This woman was uncannyâshe had read him like a book. Realizing that there was no point in hiding the truth from such a perceptive individual, he took a deep breath and confessed, his voice raw. âBelieve me or not, I didnât kill my wife.â
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing, âI admit, I used to hit Li Mei, my wife. I was influenced by old-fashioned views, thinking a woman needed to be taught a lesson to be obedient. Looking back, I realize how foolish I was. The day she died, we had a quarrel. I was almost certain she was seeing another man.
âI hit her. I slapped her a few times, kicked her twice, and the last kick was too hard. It knocked her out cold. I thought she could take it, but when she passed out, I left to drink and didnât bother checking on her. Later, I heard she woke up and went to see that man. I rushed over, intending to confront both of them, but when I got here, she wasnât in the house.
âThe man told me she had already gone home. He tried to explain that they werenât having an affairâthat she only visited him because he could teach her how to read. I didnât buy it. I punched him in the face, warning him to stay away from my wife. Then, I rushed home, still furious. But when I got there, I found she was already dead.â
Gu Zi listened intently, her expression unreadable. Jiang Yaoâs story didnât seem to fit the profile of a man who would kill his wife in a fit of rage.
In fact, it matched her earlier hypothesis more closely. She had always suspected that Jiang Yao had abused Li Mei, but hadnât gone so far as to kill her. He seemed like the type of man who would use violence, but never to the point of deathâsomeone who knew just how much force to use to make someone hurt, not die. After all, he had been involved in the underworld and worked for powerful figures. Knowing how to hurt without killing was a skill one had to learn.
But something didnât add up. The violent outburst that resulted in Li Meiâs death seemed too out of character. And then there was the discrepancy between Jiang Yaoâs version of events and what she had heard from other sources. She couldnât just take his word for it.
So, she asked the question that had been bothering her. âDid you report Li Meiâs death to the police?â
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