Suspicion
Su Wenwen stayed at Ji Qingshuang’s place until the afternoon before leaving. She originally hadn’t planned to stay so long, but seeing how busy Ji Qingshuang was, she stayed to help out by serving tea, pouring water, and calculating the base’s daily expenses as well as the harvest from the farming division.
She had discovered that the base was divided into two groups of people. One group followed Ji Qingshuang’s commands and were all so busy they could fly1, while the other group listened to Luo Tianyang and were idle to death.
Su Wenwen had asked Ji Qingshuang why she didn’t transfer those with wandering hands and a fondness for leisure2 away. Ji Qingshuang just smiled gently and said, “Wenwen, do you think transferring them away would solve the problem?”
Su Wenwen shook her head. Obviously, it wouldn’t. As long as Luo Tianyang was around, any new people would have the same attitude.
“So, to catch the bandits, we must first catch the king3. We have to take it slow. Wenwen, you don’t need to worry about me. I’ve never taken Luo Tianyang seriously. The real trouble is Old Master Luo.”
Su Wenwen learned from Ji Qingshuang that before the apocalypse, Old Master Luo had helped many people. Some of those people had their merit accomplished and name achieved, while others had started companies and then cooperated with the Luo Corporation, gaining extremely high prestige.
Therefore, after the apocalypse broke out, Ji Qingshuang’s ability to mobilize people to build the base was actually at Old Master Luo’s instruction. Although it seemed like Old Master Luo didn’t manage the base’s affairs, many people would listen to the advice he gave.
And Old Master Luo was also extremely concerned with his reputation. Even though he knew Luo Xi was dating someone, as long as she wasn’t brought before him, he would just open one eye and close one eye4. But Luo Xi had insisted on bringing Su Wenwen to the birthday banquet in front of so many people, which is why it had become so ugly.
As Old Master Luo’s only son, as long as Luo Tianyang didn’t make any major mistakes, his position as Deputy Commander would be very difficult to shake.
“I used to think Xi’er was quite steady, but now it seems Wenwen is a bit more level-headed. Regarding her father’s matter, I more or less guessed who was behind it. At the time, there was no evidence, and I was weak and alone, so I could only pretend not to know, keeping it from Luo Xi and her brother. Even if Luo Xi finds evidence now, it won’t be of much use. So, I have to trouble you, Wenwen, to ask Luo Xi to stop investigating for now.”
Ji Qingshuang’s background was ordinary. She attended the same university as Luo Xi’s father. One was the school grass5, the other the school flower6, and the story of how they met was also quite dramatic.
Ji Qingshuang’s family was poor, but she had good grades and was beautiful, which easily attracted jealousy, especially from the group of people who liked Luo Xi’s father. They heard from some rumor that Luo Xi’s father had a secret crush on Ji Qingshuang, so they secretly went to bully her. Ji Qingshuang was a real tiger7 back then; she took a megaphone to the front of his dormitory building and shouted, demanding that he clarify the rumor.
Luo Xi’s father felt quite guilty and immediately cleared up the rumor, which actually left a good impression on Ji Qingshuang. But this was soon shattered because others didn’t believe his words. The campus network was filled with CP-pics8 of the two of them. Feeling that he had brought trouble to Ji Qingshuang, he angrily posted: “I would never be interested in such a poor and sour woman. My family has already arranged a marriage for me with someone of matching status.”
This post was naturally seen by Ji Qingshuang. Afterwards, Luo Xi’s father began his long road of chasing his wife at the crematorium9. After the two confirmed their relationship, Old Master Luo was extremely opposed to it, creating trouble and causing them to break up and get back together several times. It only ended when Luo Xi’s father ran away from home.
After Ji Qingshuang married into the Luo family, she managed the Luo Corporation so methodically that Old Master Luo finally tacitly acknowledged her status. According to Old Master Luo’s traditional thinking, after his death, the Luo Corporation was to be handed over to Ji Qingshuang and Luo Xi’s father, so he had drawn up a will long ago.
As for his younger son, Luo Tianyang, he only held shares and had no decision-making power. Those shares were enough for him to squander for several lifetimes, and the death of Luo Xi’s father was most beneficial to Luo Tianyang.
“So, the Commander-in-Chief suspects him?”
Ji Qingshuang did not answer directly. She told Su Wenwen not to speak of their conversation today to anyone, including Luo Xi, because her father’s death had been a huge blow to her, and she was afraid Luo Xi would be too impulsive.
Su Wenwen nodded in agreement.
The crowd of people coming and going on the street gradually increased. Su Wenwen was lost in thought when she was suddenly bumped by someone. Looking up, she saw it was the Adjutant.
Just as Su Wenwen was about to apologize, the Adjutant interrupted her, “Luo Qi has controlled Helian Yun with his ability. It’s inconvenient for me to intervene and save her. You go save her.”
The moment she thought of Luo Qi’s rich-playboy demeanor, Su Wenwen had no time to ponder which side the Adjutant was on. She quickly asked for the address and sprinted to a villa, arriving just in time to see Luo Qi leading Helian Yun inside.
Su Wenwen ran over and grabbed Helian Yun’s wrist. Helian Yun turned to look at her, her gaze appearing dull.
“Well, if it isn’t my cousin-in-law?” Seeing Su Wenwen, Luo Qi wasn’t the least bit flustered. Instead, he said nonchalantly, “Would you like to come into my house and sit for a while?”
Seeing that Helian Yun was physically unharmed, Su Wenwen quickly calmed down and asked, “What did you do to Helian Yun?”
“Didn’t do anything!” Luo Qi smiled, his eyes looking Su Wenwen up and down. “Is my cousin-in-law misunderstanding something? Helian Yun followed me here on her own. I certainly didn’t force her.”
Helian Yun nodded blankly, as if to confirm Luo Qi’s words. Su Wenwen had no desire to argue with someone like Luo Qi. Just as she was about to use force to make him release his control over Helian Yun, a slight pain shot through her head, as if something had drilled into it. Then, her consciousness began to blur.
Seeing Su Wenwen’s unfocused gaze, the smile on Luo Qi’s face became even more lewd. He walked over to Su Wenwen, reached out to pinch a small lock of hair on her shoulder, and said, “Cousin-in-law, are you willing to come into my house for a sit?”
He was full of confidence when he said this, as no one he had controlled had ever been able to break free. He wasn’t afraid of Luo Xi finding out about this either. In any case, his father and Ji Qingshuang were already at odds; at worst, they would just tear the skin of the face10 ahead of schedule.
Luo Qi’s beautiful dream hadn’t ended when a sharp pain shot through his wrist. When he came to his senses, he saw that Su Wenwen’s eyes were clear, not looking like she was under control at all.
“I command you to let go.”
“Yes, Master.”
Su Wenwen smiled and released her grip. Immediately after, a bewildered Luo Qi was met with a flying kick from Su Wenwen. A grown man of no light weight, he was actually sent flying into the air before crashing heavily onto the ceramic tiles of his home. His abdomen felt as if his intestines were twisting, and the pain almost made him pass out.
Luo Qi’s eyes widened. Su Wenwen’s petite figure seemed as tall as Mount Tai11, exerting an immense pressure on him. This feeling was just like when he faced Luo Tianyang, unable to muster a single thought of resistance. He asked in disbelief, “You… you’re an ability user?”
“I’m not an ability user, I just have good skills.” Su Wenwen had just used a system item to keep her mind clear, which was why she was able to break free from the control. She crouched beside Luo Qi, a hint of ferocity flashing through her gentle expression. “I’ll warn you one more time: release your control over Helian Yun. Otherwise… I’ll have to sever your sons and cut off your grandsons12.”
“You dare? My dad is the Deputy Commander…” Luo Qi had never suffered such humiliation. How could he possibly compromise? While stalling for time with Su Wenwen, he silently controlled Helian Yun to slowly walk up behind her.
The instant Helian Yun took out a dagger, Su Wenwen spun around, clamped down on Helian Yun’s hands, and pressed her to the ground. Helian Yun used all her strength but couldn’t break free from Su Wenwen’s single hand.
Watching the scene before him, Luo Qi subconsciously swallowed. Just having good skills… controlling Helian Yun with one hand seems a bit difficult, but it’s not impossible. At least Luo Xi could do it. And growing up, he had always been the one who was bullied.
So, seeing how formidable Su Wenwen was, Luo Qi was reminded of all the ways Luo Xi used to bully him, and fear grew in his heart.
“What wouldn’t I dare to do? Your dad is the Deputy Commander, and he can indeed protect you. But after your grandfather finds out about this, will he protect you like your dad does, and then have a huge fight with Luo Xi?”
Hearing Old Master Luo’s name, Luo Qi subconsciously trembled. With Old Master Luo’s personality, he would definitely beat him to death. If it weren’t for Old Master Luo keeping a close watch on him, he would have long since become the little tyrant13 of the base.
“I’ll release it, alright.”
Luo Qi unwillingly released his control over Helian Yun. Helian Yun looked around in a daze, clearly not remembering what had happened during the period she was controlled.
Su Wenwen told Helian Yun the whole story. A murderous intent immediately appeared in Helian Yun’s eyes. She charged at Luo Qi with the knife. Su Wenwen just stood to the side and watched, not stopping her.
Because Luo Qi had to learn this lesson today, so that he wouldn’t dare to touch Helian Yun in the future. In the huge villa, only Luo Qi’s screams could be heard. Helian Yun’s cold face showed no emotion as she cut off Luo Qi’s fingers, then healed him with her ability, and then continued to cut him with the knife.
Luo Qi repeatedly passed out and woke up again. The disdain in his eyes for Helian Yun turned into terror. This woman, in a sense, was a huge pervert14 just like Luo Xi. He cried for his father and yelled for his mother15, begging for mercy, promising he would never touch a single hair on her head again.
The floor was covered in Luo Qi’s blood, and Luo Qi himself was enveloped in a layer of sticky red liquid, like the scene of a homicide, a sight that made one’s hair stand up and bones feel a chill16.
After an unknown amount of time, only when Luo Qi passed out once more did Helian Yun stop torturing him and leave the villa with Su Wenwen.
“You could have stood by and done nothing,” Helian Yun said as she walked down the road, facing the brilliant red light of the setting sun, as if she were a warrior just returned from a bloody battle, draped in the achievement named “Covered in Blood.”
“You know me. I couldn’t possibly stand by and do nothing, even if it wasn’t you today.” Su Wenwen didn’t want to say too much to Helian Yun. Now that she saw Helian Yun was alright, she planned to go home. “You should consider telling Old Master Luo about what happened today and have him transfer you to Ji Qingshuang’s side. I’m heading back now.”
“Wenwen, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Su Wenwen left. Helian Yun stared blankly at her retreating back. Unknowingly, the relationship between the two of them had become almost like that of strangers. The tenderness that had once been exclusively hers had turned into polite courtesy.
The fault was all self-inflicted.
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