Chapter 162: You’re Really Hard to Kill

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: You’re Really Hard to Kill

"Tsk..."

The corner of his mouth twitched, and he let out a laugh.

"I give up! There really are such fools in this world. You can fight them all you want, but they’ll still treat you like a servant girl. So what’s the difference if you fight or not?"

Yao Yuzhen trembled uncontrollably.

After saying his piece, Ruan Yongxing leaned back, closed his eyes, and fell silent.

His gaze fell on the cold handcuffs on Yao Yuzhen’s wrists, and his heart sank completely.

’There’s no talking my way out of this.’

’If the Shen Family dared to arrest even her, how could they possibly tolerate me, Ruan Yongxing?’

’To put it bluntly, that woman Yao Yuzhen has dragged me down into the gutter with her.’

’She wanted to ruin the rest of my life, so I’ll make damn sure she can’t even breathe easy!’

"Well now, you’re a real survivor, aren’t you!"

Ruan Yongxing sneered.

"What gives you the right? Your sharp tongue?"

"Your looks?"

"Hmm... You were decent-looking when you were young. But even the greatest beauty can’t fight off old age! And what about Shen Zhenwu? He let you fool around, indulged your every whim! All because you were willing to sell your conscience for a good price? But for a creature with a heart more venomous than a viper’s, who would ever want you?!"

He clenched his fists before he even finished speaking.

Yao Yuzhen stared at him, the astonishment on her face slowly fading into a look of sheer confusion.

She suddenly realized she didn’t know this man in front of her at all.

Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Ruan Yongxing rolled his eyes.

"What are you staring at me for, you idiot? You think if you gawk at me, I have to give you an answer? Are you wondering why I can’t stand you?"

Yao Yuzhen actually nodded and asked, "Why?"

"’Why?’ Because I love men! I’ve known I was only into men since I was sixteen. I’ve never liked women, and I could never, ever like you."

"I like real men. I can’t stand women, especially your type."

He shot her a sidelong glance, a sneer playing on his lips.

"A man as decent, responsible, and respectable as Shen Zhenwu... and what did you do? Threw tantrums, put on airs, and treated him like a fool to be used! I really want to slap some sense into you! You’re not worthy of him. You’re not even fit to carry his shoes."

"Me, spending your money? You deserved it! You owed me that! I was sent by heaven itself to put you in your place!"

He held nothing back, letting everything spill out at once.

"You used Shen Zhenwu to climb the ladder, then turned around and started messing around with his sister right under his nose. What’s with the high-and-mighty act?"

After speaking, he looked down at his fingers and added in a sullen voice.

"You just stumbled into a man like Shen Zhenwu. And me? I’ve never met a single decent man in my entire life. What makes you so special? Do you even know what real love is? If the world were full of women like you, it’d be a cleaner place if you all just disappeared."

He sighed, his voice full of regret.

"Not everyone is like Shen Zhenwu, willing to tolerate you, indulge you, and clean up your messes."

"GACK!"

Yao Yuzhen suddenly doubled over and began to dry heave.

The scene between them was too ugly to salvage.

Not long after, she was rushed to the hospital.

When Shen Zhenwu heard, he rushed to see her, but she had him stopped at the door.

She only asked a nurse to pass him a folded note.

It was all written out clearly.

It listed how much was left in her account, the transfers made to Ruan Yongxing, and the amount of each one.

It also stated that two items were likely with Shen Shuangshuang.

The last line was scrawled crookedly, but the words were firm.

"As for the rest of the money, as long as I’m alive, I’ll pay you back every last cent."

After reading it, Shen Zhenwu said nothing. He simply folded the note, put it in his pocket, and turned to leave.

「The next morning.」

A red divorce certificate appeared on Yao Yuzhen’s bedside table.

Around the time the Shen Family sent people to repossess the house.

Shen Shuangshuang had called over a couple of buyers and was sitting in the living room, rummaging through Yao Yuzhen’s jewelry box.

Yao Yuzhen had been taken away and hadn’t been seen for two whole days.

Shen Shuangshuang grew anxious.

’She’s probably done for. She’s not coming back.’

’I have to secure an out for myself, and fast.’

Suddenly, the door was kicked open.

The doorframe shuddered with a groan. A string on the wind chime hanging behind the door snapped, and glass beads CLATTERED to the floor.

Xiao Guo stood blocking the doorway, flanked by three or four men in plainclothes.

The two buyers froze on the spot. In a flash, they scrambled to a corner, pressing their backs against the tiled wall and trembling.

Shen Shuangshuang shot to her feet, her voice shrill.

"Who are you? Who said you could just barge in here?"

"This is my house! Have you no manners?"

She kicked an empty shoebox out of her way.

Xiao Guo dangled a bronze key from his hand, the metal flashing in the light.

"I should be asking you the same thing. Who are you? What gives you the right to be in here, ordering people around?"

"I’m Miss Shen!"

She lifted her chin defiantly.

"What law am I breaking by being in my own home?"

Xiao Guo frowned.

"’Miss Shen?’"

He paused, looking her up and down.

"I’ve met the Shen family’s daughter. She doesn’t look like you."

Shen Shuangshuang’s face flushed red.

"The one you saw was an imposter! I’m the real one, the one by blood!"

She yanked the thin gold chain from her neck. On it hung a faded, silver longevity lock.

"See this? My mother put this on me with her own hands! She gave it to me before she left and told me to keep it hidden!"

Xiao Guo sneered.

"The daughter Mr. Shen personally brought home and publicly acknowledged—you’re saying she’s a fake?"

He pulled out his phone, brought up a video, and turned the screen toward Shen Shuangshuang.

"See for yourself. May 3, 2018. The reception hall of the military district compound. Mr. Shen is holding her hand, leading her onto the stage as the entire room stands and applauds."

He waved his hand.

"Take her away! Trespassing and theft of private property. Hand her over to the police station—do it now!"

Two of the plainclothes officers immediately moved forward. One pinned her by the shoulders while the other opened a briefcase and took out a set of zip ties.

Shen Shuangshuang stomped her foot and shrieked, "Nonsense! Who are you calling a thief?!"

She twisted free from the hand on her shoulder and jabbed a finger straight at Xiao Guo’s nose.

"This is my mother’s house! This is all my mother’s stuff! What are you spouting nonsense for?!"

Without blinking, Xiao Guo grabbed her wrist and twisted it.

"AAGH!!!"

She let out a bloodcurdling scream, like a pig being slaughtered.

He coldly spat out four words: "A thief crying ’thief’."

Shen Shuangshuang was indeed charged with theft and sent to the station.

The value of the goods was so high she was sentenced to three years.

Ruan Yongxing’s fate was even worse. He got a minimum of fifteen years—he was going to rot in prison, no two ways about it.

In the end, all the jewelry was laid out in front of Song Yao. The boxes were opened, revealing a dazzling array of brilliant gems.

Shen Zhenwu stood beside her, his voice devoid of emotion.

"What your mother left behind. It’s all for you."

Perhaps he was trying to make amends, or perhaps he couldn’t get over his own guilt.

Shen Zhenwu had later read through Lin Wan’s old diary. One page read:

"The year Song Yao turned eight, she had a fever. I promised I’d stay with her for the night, but I got a call right before bed and had to go to the office. She woke up in the middle of the night looking for me and cried her pillow wet."

In any case, Song Yao just stared at the pile of gold and gems. The corners of her mouth twitched, but she didn’t smile.

She only asked softly, "Dad, did you go see her?"

Shen Zhenwu waved his hand dismissively.

’Not seeing each other was probably for the best, for everyone.’

It was unclear whether the Shen Family had pulled some strings or if it was for some other reason.

In any case, Yang Wei, the man who had been mixed up with Ruan Yongxing, was sentenced to a year and a half.

As for Yao Yuzhen, she received a light sentence of only one year, suspended for two. She got out of the whole mess easily.

Yang Wei had shown a cooperative attitude, returned all the stolen funds, and provided additional leads.

Yao Yuzhen, on the other hand, was deemed an accomplice. The amount of money she was involved with was relatively small, and she had voluntarily submitted a written letter of repentance.