Chapter 45: The Madman Strikes

That day, Zhou Jinye was as usual in his car, but there were no longer piles of unfinished documents on the seat.

While driving, Xu Wu received a notification that her delivery had arrived.

The item was too large, so she arranged for someone to move it to the designated location.

Just as the order was completed, a message popped up with new developments in the industry.

She couldn’t help but think of Qin Shili.

Today, remembering what Qin Shili had said to her, Xu Wu fastened her seatbelt and asked Zhou Jinye: “How has Uncle Xu been recently?”

As the car approached the garage, there were almost no vehicles ahead. Zhou Jinye glanced at her: “He’s doing well.”

“How many people know about Uncle Xu’s house and where he lives?” The car had already stopped in the residential area, and Xu Wu asked again.

Zhou Jinye turned off the engine, pulled out the key, and looked at her twice: “Are you planning to visit him?”

Xu Wu shook her head. She knew that going there would alert Qin Shili. After they both got out of the car, Xu Wu told him: “I saw Qin Shili today.”

Zhou Jinye’s steps froze, and his worried gaze swept over her from head to toe: “Did he do anything to you?”

She shook her head and explained: “Our company is collaborating with his company, and the project was handed over to me. While handling their company’s project previously, I never met Qin Shili. But today, he wasn’t satisfied with the proposal, and I saw him there. Rest assured, he didn’t do anything to me.”

The numbers on the elevator floor display were gradually decreasing. Xu Wu continued: “However, he told me that an old friend of his returned to the country without his knowledge, and he’s currently investigating his whereabouts.”

Hearing this, Zhou Jinye’s expression darkened: “It seems we need to speed things up.”

“What do you mean?” Xu Wu didn’t understand.

“He’s already guessed that Uncle Xu might act against him, so he’s investigating his location.”

“What should we do?”

Seeing Xu Wu’s concern, Zhou Jinye reassured her: “Don’t worry. I spoke with Uncle Xu over the phone at noon, and he’s fine.”

“In the past few days, Uncle Xu sent over some items through intermediaries.” Xu Wu listened to him speak, assuming that while Zhou Jinye had been busy with company matters, he had also been conducting investigations.

“And then there’s the evidence I obtained from my grandfather regarding the crimes Qin Shili committed years ago. That’s enough. I’ve already contacted the best lawyer,” Zhou Jinye calmly explained. He had prepared all of this without Xu Wu’s knowledge.

Xu Wu thought back to the video she had seen on Zhou Jinye’s phone, her heart taking shape like bubbles forming substance. “Why didn’t you tell me about any of this?”

“Five years ago, when you returned to Jiangcheng, you didn’t tell me. You promised not to push me away, yet you prepared everything yourself again—and didn’t tell me…” Xu Wu bit her lower lip. “Why?”

He had done far too much. As she continued speaking, tears threatened to fall.

Before the elevator arrived, Zhou Jinye reached out and gently brushed her lower lip, soothing her: “Don’t bite.”

His fingers glided over her clenched teeth, prying them open. Her lower lip bore the marks of her teeth. He lightly caressed her lower lip: “All of this, I did willingly. Just like now—I don’t want to see you looking so guilty because of it.”

Before Xu Wu could respond, her phone rang, interrupting everything.

It was Xu Wu’s phone ringing. She glanced at the caller ID and answered.

“You’re working with Qin Shili’s company now. Do you know what Qin Shili is capable of?” Wei Ming’s questioning voice came through the line.

Chances were Xiang Rui had told Wei Ming. Xu Wu replied in her usual calm tone, trying not to worry him: “Brother, it’s just work. The project will be completed in a few days, and then it’ll be over.”

“Does Zhou Jinye know?” She could hear Wei Ming’s anger on the other end, and faintly, Xiang Rui’s voice in the background. Zhou Jinye was standing close to Xu Wu and could hear. He gestured for her to hand him the phone. Wei Ming paused briefly before saying: “Alright, tell me your address. We’ll talk face-to-face.”

Before Xu Wu could hand the phone to Zhou Jinye, Wei Ming had already hung up.

________________________________________

In the end, Xu Wu sent the residential address to Wei Ming. The delivery had already been brought upstairs, and as they assembled the bed frame, Xu Wu still felt uneasy about Uncle Xu. She asked Zhou Jinye: “Does Qin Shili know where Uncle Xu lives?”

That house was located in the countryside.

“I don’t think he would suspect that place. It was originally my mother’s house, and he never knew about it. Later, it was given to Uncle Xu. The name on the property certificate isn’t Uncle Xu’s, so Qin Shili wouldn’t be able to discover it.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Wu finally felt somewhat reassured. Zhou Jinye added: “Your brother is right to call. You’ve met Qin Shili—he’s unpredictable and ruthless, even to the point of breaking the law. It’s hard to imagine what he might do while you’re working at their company.”

Xu Wu lowered her eyes: “I just wanted to do something.”

“All of this isn’t necessary. I only want you to stay safe.” Zhou Jinye looked at her as he spoke.

The doorbell rang, and Wei Ming had arrived.

Xiang Rui accompanied him. As soon as they entered, seeing Zhou Jinye and Xu Wu in casual clothes in the same room, Wei Ming was momentarily stunned. Adjusting his glasses, he calmly asked: “Are you two back together?”

Zhou Jinye, no longer his usual laid-back self, responded firmly: “Yes.”

After entering, Xiang Rui offered a slight apology, whispering softly behind them: “Sorry about that. I saw the Weibo post earlier and was still worried, so I mentioned it to your brother. My apologies.”

Xu Wu simply said: “It’s fine.”

Inside the house, Wei Ming could see various items in Zhou Jinye’s bedroom, clearly feminine belongings. Though they shared no blood relation, Wei Ming had always treated Xu Wu like his younger sister in their previous family home.

They sat across from each other.

The atmosphere in the room wasn’t overly serious, but it wasn’t particularly relaxed either.

It was Xiang Rui who broke the silence. Spotting a large white ball of fluff by her feet, she reached out to touch it: “Wow, this dog’s fur feels so soft!”

“Mm.” The atmosphere gradually softened. Xu Wu began chatting with Xiang Rui: “His name is Pudding.”

Wei Ming had never seen Xu Wu own a dog before, so it was easy to guess whose pet it was. Clearing his throat, he addressed Zhou Jinye: “Did you know she went to work at Qin Shili’s company?”

“Brother, he only found out today,” Xu Wu interjected first.

Clearly, she was already defending him.

Previously, when they had just started dating, Wei Ming had been the last to find out. At the time, he had been a little upset, but he didn’t intend to stop their relationship.

“Sorry.” Even after learning the truth, he still said the same thing.

Wei Ming looked at Zhou Jinye’s demeanor, which was unusually visible whenever Xu Wu was involved. “What’s the plan now? Since Xu Wu is already involved, how are you two going to handle this?”

“Find a lawyer and pursue the unresolved lawsuits, as well as new ones,” Zhou Jinye answered honestly.

Wei Ming seemed to understand, his expression softening slightly. He picked up his phone and scrolled through contacts: “If that’s the case, I have someone to recommend—Lin Xiao, the most famous lawyer in the industry. His ability to handle cases is impeccable. He recently helped a friend of mine with a lawsuit.”

Zhou Jinye glanced at the phone number Wei Ming passed over and memorized it instantly: “Thank you.”

________________________________________

Before Wei Ming left, he turned back to Xu Wu: “Whenever you have time, come home or visit me. No need to see us off. I’m leaving first.”

Xu Wu paused. To her, Wei Ming had always been kind. When Lin Qingya hadn’t had time to care for her, whether in small details or during her school isolation, he had treated her like a younger sister. Besides Zhou Jinye, he was another older brother who made her feel warmth in the unfamiliar city of Linjing.

Xiang Rui gently patted her hand, her touch as soft as spring breeze: “If you ever need help, remember to call us. You may not say anything, but your brother knows you haven’t been doing well.”

“Alright, we’ll leave first.”

Xu Wu closed the door after responding.

Xiang Rui’s words lingered in Xu Wu’s mind, making her think back to the days shortly after her breakup with Zhou Jinye seven years ago.

Every weekend during school breaks, hot water wasn’t provided on campus, so Xu Wu returned home. She spent every day locked in her room, much like when she first arrived in Linjing. Though she no longer acted cautiously, she still kept her emotions wrapped in a shell.

At night, when she closed her eyes, memories flooded back. She often woke up from nightmares, leading to insomnia. She had to take sleeping pills just to sleep through the night. In the mornings, she rarely appeared at the dining table. The first time Wei Ming called her, he assumed she was studying late for the upcoming college entrance exam.

But at that time, Wei Linxuan was still young and mischievous. While Xu Wu was at school, he entered her room and found the sleeping pills. When Wei Ming returned the bottle to Xu Wu, he urged her to see a psychologist. From then on, he began asking about her situation at school.

She always replied with a vague “It’s fine,” and Wei Ming didn’t press further.

________________________________________

After the bed was set up, following their intimate moments, Xu Wu had been sleeping on Zhou Jinye’s side. This time was no exception.

Having not done so for the past two days, Zhou Jinye had changed the sheets. The soft glow emitted from the bedside lamp cast a dreamy hue over Xu Wu. Unsurprisingly, they continued until after ten o’clock.

Xu Wu finally cried out, signaling the end. Perhaps the unsettling words Qin Shili had spoken to her earlier kept her from fully shaking off her unease, and she woke up startled in the middle of the night.

This also frightened Zhou Jinye, who was holding her as she slept. After changing to the new bed, the light from the mattress reflected warmly onto the floor.

Bright lights shone from both sides of the bed. A thin layer of sweat covered Xu Wu’s forehead and the bridge of her nose.

Feeling Zhou Jinye beside her, she instinctively leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. Her lips lightly brushed against the scar that stood out from the rest of his skin.

Recently, during moments of passion, she often kissed this spot, never tiring of it.

Zhou Jinye gently stroked her back, his voice deep and hoarse: “Our dear Wangshu had a nightmare? Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Her lips moved slightly, and she finally spoke: “Jinye, I dreamed that Qin Shili found Uncle Xu. He used your grandfather and aunt, your relatives, to threaten you…”

She dared not continue. The bloody scenes from her dream were still vivid in her mind.

Zhou Jinye comforted her: “These are just dreams. We live in a society governed by the rule of law. He doesn’t have that much power. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

“Should we call Uncle Xu to check?”

They hadn’t contacted Uncle Xu earlier. Xu Wu’s voice trembled with unshed tears.

It was already midnight, but Zhou Jinye still called Uncle Xu, who was asleep.

Uncle Xu scolded him briefly upon answering, but when he heard Xu Wu asking about his condition on Zhou Jinye’s behalf, Uncle Xu coughed softly to mask his surprise. His tone softened as he reassured them: “I know. I won’t go out much. Rest assured and go to sleep early.”

“Is everything okay now?” After hanging up with Uncle Xu, Zhou Jinye put down his phone and returned to the bed, pulling Xu Wu into his arms. “Sleep peacefully.”

Xu Wu stared upward, her eyes wide open. Her sleep wasn’t good: “I can’t sleep.”

Zhou Jinye playfully grabbed Xu Wu’s hand, smirking mischievously: “Then why don’t we continue using the remaining items on the bedside table?”

“…”

Her chest bore many marks already. If they continued, it would be impossible to cover them up. She gently pushed Zhou Jinye away and burrowed into the covers under the side light: “Let’s sleep.”

________________________________________

After organizing all the materials related to the project in the past few days, Xu Wu submitted the package electronically to the manager of Qin Shili’s company.

There was no response from the other side. Qin Shili hadn’t appeared in the past few days, and the proposal remained undecided. Xu Wu couldn’t shake her unease and repeatedly asked Zhou Jinye to ensure the safety of his family.

Since the nightmare, her sleep had been delayed. She brought her calming essential oils to Zhou Jinye’s room. Qin Shili still hadn’t responded, but with the deadline approaching, his company automatically adopted Xu Wu’s proposal.

In the meantime, Zhou Jinye had been discussing preparations for the lawsuit with Lin Xiao, the lawyer recommended by Wei Ming. Though his mother’s case was long past, there was enough evidence to reopen the investigation and re-examine the case.

Even though the court’s notice to reinvestigate would soon reach Qin Shili, his company had already begun implementing Xu Wu’s proposal. Xu Wu felt an underlying sense of unease.

Until…

In the afternoon, Zhou Jinye’s call confirmed the source of Xu Wu’s anxiety.

“Xu Wu, I’m coming to pick you up. Stay in the company and don’t move.”

Xu Wu’s breath caught. Something must have happened. She quickly asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Qin Shili found Uncle Xu. I’ve asked Chairman Lin to look after my grandfather and aunt’s family. Right now, don’t go anywhere. Stay in the company and remember not to leave.”

The scenes from her nightmare replayed in her mind over and over again.

Qin Shili had truly gone mad—completely insane…