Ye Zhiqiu turned her head to look behind her. Xu Wan screamed and charged toward her, only to be yanked back by Xu Xun. “Xiao Wan, calm down!”
“Big Brother, how can I calm down? Didn’t you hear what Ah Can said?” Xu Wan glared fiercely at Ye Zhiqiu.
Xu Xun rubbed his temples, his gaze toward Ye Zhiqiu tinged with apology.
“Xu Wan, you only heard what Chen Can said. You didn’t hear what came before. I can tell you.”
Ye Zhiqiu pointed at Chen Can. “He was caught trying to climb over my wall to steal from my house. Last time was the same. I went home to get something and ran into him. When I tried to call for help, Chen Can covered my mouth. That’s when you happened to see us.”
“Afterward, you believed whatever Chen Can said. You never gave me a chance to explain. Of course, I figured even if I did explain, you wouldn’t have listened.”
“But Xu Wan, do you really want to deceive yourself and bury your head in the sand forever? Do you truly not know that Chen Can is lying?”
Chen Can’s lies were particularly clumsy and couldn’t stand up to scrutiny. It was impossible that Xu Wan couldn’t see through them, yet she chose to believe him because she was afraid to confront the truth.
“Ah Can would never lie to me! He loves me. He swore he would never lie to me!” Xu Wan shook her head vigorously, as if she could shake off all her doubts and strengthen her conviction.
“Wanwan, I really didn’t lie to you! It’s her…”
Chen Can knew his only lifeline now was Xu Wan. If even she abandoned him, he was finished.
Smack!
Ye Zhiqiu slapped Chen Can hard across the face. “Chen Can, I told you before, if you dare slander me again, I won’t let you off lightly!”
“Do you not own a mirror, or are you incapable of self-reflection? Me, still carrying a torch for you? Why don’t you just launch yourself into the sky?”
“Have you forgotten who I’m married to? What quality do you possess that’s superior to Mingyuan, making me neglect him to harbor lingering feelings for you?”
“You married Shen Liya just one month after breaking up with me, and she was already three months pregnant at the time! Let me tell you, for that reason alone, you are as good as dead to me!”
Ye Zhiqiu turned to look at Xu Wan. “Xu Wan, if you want to treat this trash of a man like a treasure, that’s your business. I have no interest. Don’t assume everyone is as desperate as you, finding even excrement appetizing when starved!”
“I know perfectly well who spread those rumors about me in the compound. I didn’t bother with you because I pitied you.”
“But if there’s a next time, don’t blame me for not being polite.”
Ye Zhiqiu tossed her hair behind her shoulder, sat down, and lightly tapped the table, signaling to the police officer opposite her. “Comrade, he claims I seduced him and called him, right? Then you should ask him when I called him and from which phone I contacted him?”
The officer, along with Tan Jianping and Xu Xun, were stunned by Ye Zhiqiu. Her appearance was utterly deceiving; at first glance, she seemed exceptionally gentle. If she remained silent, one might even mistake her for someone from the Jiangnan region.
Who would have guessed she could be so fiery and domineering? That slap sounded painful even to their ears.
However, as disinterested observers they all saw the situation clearly.
Chen Can was not the least bit wronged.
The officer followed Ye Zhiqiu’s suggestion and questioned Chen Can. Chen Can turned his head away. “I forgot.”
“Officer, many valuable items were stolen from my home, including some jewelry my mother left me and ten thousand yuan.”
Ye Zhiqiu stated, “Now that the thief has been caught, shouldn’t he be detained?”
“Is it just because I refused to reconcile with you that you’re taking revenge like this?” Chen Can panicked, but with Xu Wan present, he had to keep up the act.
“Comrade, the phone records from my home that day can be checked. My time of departure and movements can be provided, and there are witnesses.”
“I assume you’ve already questioned my neighbors. That day, I even greeted a neighbor at the entrance of the alley.”
“If I were arranging to meet my sister’s husband for an affair, I probably wouldn’t be so open about it.”
Ye Zhiqiu didn’t look at the officer while saying this but fixed her gaze on Chen Can. “Chen Can, what else are you going to fabricate?”
“You’re so shameless, of course you’d dare to greet people.”
Chen Can gritted his teeth. “All your neighbors know you’ve been flirting with men everywhere since you were little.”
Unexpectedly, Ye Zhiqiu didn’t get angry. Instead, she laughed. “You and Shen Liya are truly a match. You believe whatever she says.”
“Spreading rumors is as easy as opening your mouth. Does that mean I can also say it’s you who still has feelings for me, and seeing how happy Mingyuan and I are, you’ve developed a delusion?”
“Chen Can, after we broke up, I never initiated a conversation with you. It was always you coming to me. I’d curse you, hit you, and yet you’d still show up next time. That’s what’s called shameless.”
Chen Can was about to say more when Tan Jianping beside him slammed the table. “Enough!”
“Aren’t you ashamed enough?”
“Chen Can, I’m asking you, what were you trying to do entering Ye Zhiqiu’s house today?”
Seeing Chen Can’s expression, Tan Jianping knew he was about to repeat his old act. Tan Jianping warned Chen Can, “Chen Can, I’m giving you a chance here. Leniency for those who confess.”
“I went to look for something.”
Chen Can thought of another excuse. “My mom said one of her jade bracelets is missing. She thought Shen Liya might have stolen it. I figured if she did steal it, she’d probably have given it to her mother, so I wanted to go search.”
“Last time was also to look for something?”
Chen Can still insisted. “No, last time it was Shen Zhiqiu who asked me to go.”
“Then what’s with climbing the wall and rummaging through the house? And doing so before Ye Zhiqiu arrived.”
Tan Jianping waved the file folder in his hand. “This is the police record of statements from the neighbors. Someone saw you first, then saw Ye Zhiqiu later. Ye Zhiqiu even greeted that person.”
“I was just looking around casually, didn’t want her to know. Who knows if she might have found it first and kept it for herself? My mom’s jade bracelet is very valuable, an antique.”
“It’s all cleared up now, we’re all family. Officer, can you let me go?” Chen Can asked the policeman.
The officer looked at Ye Zhiqiu. Ye Zhiqiu sneered. “Chen Can, who’s family with you? I’ve severed ties with Shen Daqiang. Wang Fengqin and Shen Liya have absolutely nothing to do with me.”
“Officer, he trespassed into my home. I demand he be arrested.” Ye Zhiqiu was firm. “I will absolutely not settle this matter.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Chen Can roared, lunging toward Ye Zhiqiu. “Say that again!”
“Chen Can, as a military personnel, you break the law knowingly, and now you dare threaten me.”
Ye Zhiqiu showed no fear of Chen Can. “Haven’t I made myself clear enough?”
“Chen Can!”
Tan Jianping stood up, pointing at Chen Can. “Do you have any semblance of a soldier left!”
“Tan Jianping, what’s it to you? What, trying to curry favor with your in-laws?” Chen Can mocked Tan Jianping.
“Fine, then you can just stay here. I’ll go back and have the regimental commander come.” Tan Jianping turned to leave.
