Chapter 16: The Police Were Called

Rong Jingchen pulled Ye Muqi away from the riverbank to a safer distance before finally relaxing and letting go of her hand.

“Are you alright?” Rong Jingchen asked, his voice laced with sternness.

“I’m fine, really…”

What could possibly be wrong?

Ye Huihui’s attempt to cast her “spell” had already been interrupted…

At this moment, Rong Jingchen’s expression was ice-cold, his sharp eyes fixed on Ye Huihui. Judging by the look on his face, he must have seen everything — including her attempt to push Ye Muqi.

Although Rong Jingchen’s appearance was unexpected, at least now there was an eyewitness.

But where were her parents?

Weren’t they supposed to meet her by the river?

Ye Muqi looked around, puzzled. The reason she had led Ye Huihui to this small river and deliberately provoked her just now was all part of her plan.

If she had done it once, she could do it again.

What’s more, Ye Huihui’s feelings for Rong Jingchen were now blatantly obvious. All Ye Muqi had to do was provoke her a little, and Ye Huihui would likely lose control.

After all, this was a woman bold enough to stalk her husband near their house at night.

Once Rong Jingchen confirmed that Ye Muqi was unhurt, his wolf-like eyes turned to glare at Ye Huihui.

“You just attempted murder. That’s a crime,” he said coldly, his face stern, exuding the commanding presence of a soldier.

“I-I didn’t…” Ye Huihui opened her mouth, seemingly trying to defend herself, her eyes brimming with tears in a pitiful display.

But her tearful act had zero effect on Rong Jingchen. He looked at her with the same icy gaze one might give a criminal and took a step toward her.

“Come with me to the police station,” Rong Jingchen said, reaching out to grab her.

“No, I don’t want to…” Ye Huihui backed away in fear, accidentally stepping on a protruding stone and falling hard on her backside. From this angle, Rong Jingchen looked even more like the grim reaper. She burst into loud sobs from fright.

Not far away, the grass rustled, and Ye Zhengfeng stepped out from hiding.

Ye Muqi finally let out a breath of relief. Right behind him came Xia Ying and Yin Lan. It seemed her mom had contacted Yin Lan, who then called Rong Jingchen.

With Rong Jingchen there, Xia Ying hadn’t been too worried about Ye Muqi. After a quick glance, her eyes fell directly on the sobbing Ye Huihui.

Recalling the scene she had just witnessed, Xia Ying still felt shaken. Her gaze toward Ye Huihui was filled with shock, disappointment, pity, and confusion — a mix of emotions.

“Huihui…”

“Don’t arrest me… please don’t. I didn’t mean to,” Ye Huihui cried out when she saw Ye Zhengfeng and Xia Ying, as if she had seen salvation. She pleaded toward Xia Ying, “I didn’t mean to push her… I really didn’t. I just lost control for a second.”

“I was wrong! Please don’t send me to jail!”

Ye Huihui cried pitifully, but everyone there had just witnessed her trying to push Ye Muqi into the river. It was hard to reconcile this vicious side with her usual obedient, gentle teacher persona.

“I already called the police,” Yin Lan said with clear disgust in her voice as she glanced at Ye Huihui.

She had reported it as soon as Ye Huihui attempted to push Ye Muqi. Given the time that had passed, the police would likely be arriving soon.

“No, please don’t… Uncle, Auntie, forgive me. I didn’t mean to, I really didn’t mean to!” she pleaded. She was only 21, had just started her first job as a teacher, hadn’t even dated or married yet — her life had only just begun.

“Uncle, my dad is your younger brother… I’m their only daughter. I’m begging you…”

Xia Ying was furious when she heard this. “You know your parents only have one daughter? Well, I only have one daughter too!”

“Wuwuwu… Auntie, I was wrong… I really know I was wrong,” Ye Huihui sobbed.

No matter how much Ye Huihui cried and begged, she was still taken away by the police.

Everything had gone even smoother than Ye Muqi originally planned!

“Ye Muqi,” Rong Jingchen came over after speaking with the officers, looking very serious.

“Uh… yeah?”

Being stared at like that, Ye Muqi suddenly felt like she was back in university facing a drill sergeant. She stood up straighter on instinct.

“Coming here alone with her was reckless.” From her behavior, it was obvious that Ye Huihui’s mental state was unstable. “What if you’d actually fallen into the river?”

If he hadn’t shown up, Ye Muqi would almost certainly have been pushed in. The river current looked fast, and it was already getting dark. If she had fallen in, she might have been lost for good.

The original owner of this body didn’t know how to swim — that’s why she nearly drowned last time.

But she could swim. Ye Muqi had figured that since she’d already warned her parents ahead of time, even if she got pushed in, she could float for a bit and be rescued without real danger.

Her main goal was to expose Ye Huihui, since last time there had been no evidence.

“Jingchen is right,” Xia Ying agreed, the image of her pale, breathless daughter after her last fall flashing in her mind, leaving her frightened.

“Qiqi, this was too dangerous.” Xia Ying held Ye Muqi’s hand, her expression concerned.

Ye Muqi hadn’t told them her full plan, only asking them to come to the river at dusk and stay hidden. If she hadn’t mentioned it to Yin Lan, who in turn called Rong Jingchen, Ye Muqi might really have been pushed into the river!

When they arrived, Ye Muqi and Ye Huihui were still standing a bit away from the river. Remembering Ye Muqi’s instructions, they decided to stay hidden and watch.

Once she saw Ye Huihui, Xia Ying had already guessed what Ye Muqi was trying to do.

“If we had to, we could’ve just slowly gathered evidence,” she said. “Don’t ever do something so dangerous again!”

“Qiqi, your mother and I just want you to be healthy and safe,” Ye Zhengfeng said sternly. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand!” Ye Muqi quickly nodded. “I won’t do it again.”

She had underestimated her parents’ worry. Even though the plan was sound and unlikely to go wrong, she hadn’t considered the fear they still carried from her previous near-drowning.

“Alright, let’s go home. The police may come by again tomorrow.”

After learning that their daughter had been taken by the police, Ye Weiming and Lin Yanhong were distressed all night and didn’t sleep a wink.

At dawn the next morning, they rushed over to the Ye household and knocked on the door.

Ye Weiming held a few steamed buns in his hand. He looked exhausted from staying up all night. Lin Yanhong looked just as bad — her eyes swollen from crying.

When Ye Zhengfeng opened the door, Ye Weiming cautiously handed him the buns.

Ye Zhengfeng took one look at them and knew exactly why they had come. He didn’t reach out to take the buns.

“Brother, we’re family. Huihui is your niece. She’s still young and just made a mistake out of impulse. You can scold her, punish her however you want, just please don’t let her be sent to the police station!” Ye Weiming pleaded. Huihui was his only daughter, still young. If she went to jail, her life would be over.

“She’s not that young — she’s a year older than our Qiqi,” Ye Zhengfeng replied coldly.

“Brother…”

Ye Muqi had been awakened by the noise and was now standing groggily in the living room, her face expressionless as she looked at Ye Weiming and Lin Yanhong at the door.