Chapter 169: The Crime and the Consequence

The next day, Lu Zhendong didn’t return until 9 PM. Cheng Yan, wearing the dirty maid outfit (Lu Zhendong never washed clothes), was playing a game she invented. She fed salted meat to the dog, which would then whine from the saltiness, and Cheng Yan would give it a plate of soy sauce. The dog, foolishly licking it up, would whine even more before running to drink from the toilet.

Cheng Yan vented her humiliation and anger on the dog, treating it as a stand-in for Lu Zhendong.

At 9 PM, Lu Zhendong came home and told Cheng Yan to hide in the bedroom. He had brought a friend over, and the two men sat in the living room drinking and chatting, their laughter filled with vulgarity. Cheng Yan couldn’t remember much of their conversation, but one exchange stuck with her:

“Zhendong, hiding your beauty away? Let me see the lady.”

“She just finished bathing, not convenient.”

“Haha, you seem eager. I won’t disturb you.”

After the guest left, Lu Zhendong entered the bedroom. With no shame, he changed into loungewear, holding a glass of red wine, and sat staring at Cheng Yan with a lecherous smile.

The doorbell rang, and Lu Zhendong jumped up, delighted, saying, “Our guest is here!”

When the person entered, Cheng Yan’s eyes widened in shock. It was Zuo Xuan! She buried her head in the pillow, repeating, “Don’t look at me! Don’t look at me!”

“You still know shame? Zuo Xuan, stand here and watch what I do to her!” Lu Zhendong commanded.

Zuo Xuan’s voice was filled with anger, “Understood.”

Lu Zhendong’s punishment was to humiliate her in front of the boy she liked, crushing her self-esteem. Lu Zhendong always had “creative” ideas.

He immediately undid his belt, ready to act. Cheng Yan, trembling, buried her face in the pillow, not wanting Zuo Xuan to see her degraded state. Lu Zhendong forcibly turned her over, holding her hands down as he began to rape her.

With tears streaming down her face, Cheng Yan saw Zuo Xuan slowly draw a knife.

Lu Zhendong was still smirking, “You can scream all you want, no one…”

At that moment, Zuo Xuan plunged the knife into Lu Zhendong’s neck. Blood spurted everywhere, and Cheng Yan screamed. Lu Zhendong, in disbelief, turned to look at Zuo Xuan before collapsing, his body falling on Cheng Yan.

Zuo Xuan pushed the disgusting corpse off her, pulled Cheng Yan up, his eyes gleaming with determination, “Sorry I was late.”

“You… you killed him?”

“It’s alright. I made sure no one knew you were here. I have a thorough plan, but I need you to cooperate.”

The confidence in Zuo Xuan’s eyes reassured Cheng Yan. She hugged him, feeling like he was her knight in shining armor.

Zuo Xuan removed the bloodstained sheets and wiped down the floor. He and Cheng Yan then carried the body downstairs. The dog attacked Zuo Xuan, biting his leg, making him scream in pain. Cheng Yan, thinking the dog had no master now, picked up a leash, tied it to the dog’s collar, and threw it over the stair railing, hanging the dog.

Finally, she felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.

The dog struggled in the air until it died. Cheng Yan felt she had become Zuo Xuan’s accomplice.

Zuo Xuan didn’t say a word. He quickly cleaned the room, wiping off fingerprints, and took a guitar from the study, breaking its strings and tossing it under the couch.

Cheng Yan watched in confusion, and Zuo Xuan explained, “I already killed another person, his assistant. The police will think the assistant stole this expensive guitar and ran away. They won’t suspect us.”

“You’re so smart,” Cheng Yan kissed him.

“Now, we need to move the body out. Passing by the security is dangerous, so you have to cooperate… Can you drive?”

“I learned.”

After confirming the house was clean, they left, and the events unfolded exactly as Chen Shi had deduced.

“I feel no remorse for this scum’s death. He deserved it. Zuo Xuan saved me!” Cheng Yan concluded her confession.

The interrogation continued for nearly three hours. Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue listened outside. Lin Dongxue occasionally covered her mouth in shock at what she heard.

Chen Shi, without comment, said, “Let’s hear the other side of the story.”

Zuo Xuan, now impatient in the interrogation room, saw Chen Shi enter and shook his handcuffs, “Let me go!”

“I’m afraid you can’t leave. Cheng Yan has confessed everything.”

“You’re lying. You cops always say that.”

“Not seeing the coffin, you won’t shed tears.” Chen Shi called in Lin Dongxue, who held a copy of Cheng Yan’s confession, though only a part of it. Even if he read it, it wouldn’t affect his own statement.

Seeing the document, Zuo Xuan began to tremble, whether from fear or hatred.

Chen Shi snatched it from his hand, sat at the interrogation table, and said, “Tell us your story.”

Zuo Xuan’s eyes darted around, and finally, he started. He said that while filming, he and Cheng Yan fell in love. He didn’t expect Lu Zhendong to intervene, kidnapping Cheng Yan and forcing her into submission through “training.”

Those days drove Zuo Xuan crazy, searching everywhere for Cheng Yan. Finally, Lu Zhendong, confident and arrogant, invited him to witness the rape, aiming to break her spirit. Zuo Xuan seized the chance to save her.

“If I didn’t act, who would bring justice? You don’t understand how the Lu family oppresses common people. They are untouchable. I made the only right choice,” Zuo Xuan said.

“Killing another person to deflect suspicion? That’s the right choice?” Chen Shi asked.

“Didn’t I fool you all?” Zuo Xuan even smiled smugly.

Chen Shi shook his head, “Your plan might work in movies, but this is reality. Is there anything you haven’t confessed?”

“What else is there? I’ve said everything!”

“When someone lies, it’s to cover something worth protecting. You’re almost out of cards. Is there anything more important than your life?” Chen Shi sneered, “Her love for you!”

“We can’t be together in life, torn apart by heartless bastards, but we can be lovers in the next life!”

Lin Dongxue, disgusted, said, “Are you confused? Cheng Yan is the victim; you’re the murderer! She can still live her life, but you’ll spend the rest of yours in prison!”

Zuo Xuan blinked, seemingly lost in his delusions of being a doomed romantic, forgetting the legal consequences of his actions.

Chen Shi slowly said, “Let’s talk about how Cheng Yan ended up with him in the first place.”

“Ask that bastard!” Zuo Xuan snapped.

“Isn’t it easier to ask you? You sold her out.”