“If I did not guess wrongly, that person was Yang Hua.”
Pei Zhenghui’s voice was calm, a different scene from when the couple had just entered the cell. The wound on his forehead seemed to stop hurting as he did not care about it any longer.
He moved backward after saying this and sat down on the floor, cross-legged, continuing, “A person once called me. I didn’t notice the number of digits of the phone number, but I did notice the voice coming from the receiver.”
“What voice?”
Ji Ziming narrowed his cold and sharp eyes at him.
“That voice seemed to have come from underground. There’s a knocking sound and the sound of wind. Sometimes, it’s very quiet; sometimes, it’s very noisy. The person kept chuckling while talking to me. When I asked who the person was, they just hung up the call.”
He recalled. The voice was extremely eerie. In that silent and isolated room, he felt cold air swirling on his back.
“Then, did he tell you anything else?”
Ji Ziming did not believe that the stranger would spend so much effort looking for this guy only to give him a fright.
“He spoke a few words. I remember them extremely clearly. He said, ‘Pei Zhenghui, looks like you are still alive.’”
“Just that and nothing else?”
“No. I asked for the caller’s identity and the person hung up.”
The man was still a bit apprehensive, but after observing the other’s expression, he knew that the latter was not lying. Only someone who had experienced real fear would reveal a look like this.
“Are you sure that’s Yang Hua?”
His cold and sharp voice made him seem like the devil.
“I’m unsure, but I have one of his numbers. I’ve never called this number before, and he has never used it to call me, either.”
“Then, how are you sure that that’s his phone number? What if it’s the same as the previous number—an invalid one—or a number which no one will answer?”
“Impossible. When I was on the phone with him once, I heard him dictating that number to another person.”
“Who’s that person?”
“How would I know? I was also on the phone with him, and that number was one I overheard him saying to another person. He actually didn’t want me to know at all, but I accidentally overheard it, so just in case, I noted it down; now, I have it memorized.”
“Why didn’t you call him when he caused you to be in prison?”
Doubt sprouted in Ji Ziming’s heart.
“How was I supposed to call him here? Moreover, if I had a chance to call him, would I still be here waiting for you guys to interrogate me?”
The older man had a look of nonchalance. He had lost his last card.
“You’d better be speaking the truth.”
The man’s ice-cold voice made the other slightly shiver in fear. The latter was careful not to anger the former further. “I can do nothing if you still refuse to believe me.”
“I will believe you this one time. If I can truly catch Yang Hua, I will consider letting you out.”
Pei Ge stood rooted on the same spot and looked at her uncle with cold eyes.
“Really?”
As though he had seen hope, Pei Zhenghui said, “Are you truly willing to let me out? I-I truly… truly know my wrongs now.”
“That’s only if I manage to catch that guy and bring him to justice. If you tell me something else, I might…”
“There is nothing else. I have already told you everything I know. This time, it is for real.”
He hurriedly assured her. “It’s true. You must believe me—believe your uncle. I am truly not lying to you this time.”
“Can I still believe you? For your sake, you can even harm your big brother. Can I truly believe a person like you?”
The light in her eyes dimmed the more she spoke. At this, Ji Ziming stood up and hugged her lightly, comforting her in a soft voice. “Don’t be afraid. You still have me.”
Seeing the two’s display of affection, the older man suddenly felt despondent. Ever since he was thrown in prison, the number of times he had received family visits could be counted with one hand. Forget about everlasting love between couples, it was more accurate to describe it as ‘to each his own in the face of peril.’
“Pei Ge, if your dad sees you right now, he will be pleased and relieved.”
“You have no right to mention him!”
The woman roared. She could not convince herself to forgive this person, who had similar eyes to her father, no matter what. How could she possibly tell her mother that, in the few minutes before she met him, she even thought of rescuing him out while in the car to torture him until he wished for death, instead? However, because of the man, she gave up this thought, and perhaps, no matter what the conclusion was, she still had to put all these behind her.
“I know that I have done wrong things. I don’t hope for your forgiveness; I only hope that, for the rest of your life, you and this man will have a happy life. Back then, you and Zhou Zhuoyang were only an accident; luckily, the person who married him was not you.”
Pei Zhenghui sat on the floor and watched forlornly at how the young CEO was fiercely protecting his niece. His voice was sorrowful and desolate as he said, “Luckily, it was not you.”
“No matter what, you will pay for your deeds!”
Upon saying her piece, Pei Ge turned around and walked out with the man in tow. Walking in the front, her eyes were already filled with tears, which started falling the moment she stepped out.
How could she forgive and how could she convince herself to forgive the person who killed her father?
No matter whether Yang Hua or her uncle, she would not let either off easily.
“Ge Ge, you…”
Upon catching up, Ji Ziming quickly noticed that her emotions were abnormal and could not help feeling anxious. Despite maintaining a cool gaze, he realized that he could not do anything for her.
“I’m fine. Sorry for making you make this trip with me.”
“What are you saying? I am your man and the father of your children. Who would come with you if not me?”
His gaze turned cold. She seemed to be pushing him away.
“Ziming, my dad…”
She suddenly halted her footsteps. From behind, the man opened his arms and hugged her. Within the silent corridor, only his confident proclamation could be heard. “I know. I know everything. Rest assured that you still have me. I will help you investigate the truth.”
“Mhm.”
She felt choked, having relived her father’s death upon meeting Pei Zhenghui.
