Chapter 27: Wang Yifu Arrested for Murder

Watching Wang Shanshan skip back to her bedroom, Cao Kun allowed a faint smirk to touch his lips before stepping into the bathroom.

So, Wang Shanshan actually wanted to go see Wang Yifu tomorrow morning? How incredibly naive! Unless the Xia County police force was entirely composed of fools, Wang Yifu would certainly be arrested tonight. And once he was arrested, seeing him wouldn't be so easy. The charge of murder was one he could never wash away, and until a murderer was sentenced, they were not permitted to see their families.

In his previous life, Cao Kun had been a falsely accused murderer, so he knew the process all too well. Before sentencing, Wang Yifu would be unable to see anyone other than his lawyer—not even Wang Shanshan or Bai Jing. From arrest to sentencing, the process usually took about half a year. This meant that for the next six months, Wang Shanshan could forget about seeing Wang Yifu; she would have to wait until after the verdict was handed down to visit him in prison.

With these thoughts in mind, Cao Kun let the cold water cascade over his body, feeling an unprecedented sense of relief. Ten years! This bitter resentment had festered within him for a decade, and now, he had finally begun to purge it. Next, it would be Wang Shanshan and Bai Jing. He couldn't move against Wang Shanshan just yet; he still needed her to lure out another enemy. But Bai Jing... she was fair game. This mature, still-alluring woman would surely have a flavor all her own. At this thought, the corners of Cao Kun's mouth curled upward of their own accord.

Meanwhile, outside the Hongfu residential complex, on a dim street, a young woman who had just finished her night shift was riding her electric scooter. Suddenly, seeing someone lying on the ground not far ahead, she quickly slowed down. Thinking it was just a drunkard, she intended to ride around him. However, as she drew closer and her scooter's headlight shone upon the man, her pupils constricted, and she fell off her scooter in a fit of terror.

"Murder! Someone's been murdered!"

***

The next morning, breakfast was served in a harmonious atmosphere. Having stayed at Cao Kun's place for two days, and being familiar with him already, Wang Shanshan felt increasingly at home. Bai Jing was the same; as she grew closer to Cao Kun, she even occasionally joked with him. After a night of recovery, the injuries on their faces looked much better than the day before. Since they were mostly just swollen and red, and the two had been applying medication consistently, the swelling had mostly subsided. By tomorrow morning, it would likely be completely invisible, though the bruising would take a few more days to fade.

"Do you really have to go see that mad dog of a father of yours today?" Bai Jing asked. She was aware of Wang Shanshan's plan, and seeing that the girl wasn't bringing it up, she took the initiative to address it.

Wang Shanshan looked at Bai Jing and nodded weakly. "Mom, I know you hate him, but he's still my father. I already feel guilty for helping you beat him that night. Please, just let me go see him."

Bai Jing opened her mouth as if to speak, then hesitated before finally nodding. "True. No matter what kind of mad dog he is, he is still your father. If you don't go, the neighbors will surely gossip behind your back, calling you an unfilial daughter. Go, then. But that mad dog is extremely unstable right now—be sure to watch your safety. If he starts acting crazy, run immediately and call the police."

"Okay." With her mother’s permission, Wang Shanshan smiled happily. "Mom, don't worry. Cao Kun is coming with me. If anything happens, he'll protect me, right Cao Kun?"

Cao Kun withdrew his gaze from Bai Jing's backside and looked at Wang Shanshan, smiling. "Absolutely. I would give my life to protect you."

Half an hour later, the three of them finished their pleasant breakfast. Just as Wang Shanshan was preparing to head out with Cao Kun to buy some things before visiting her father, a phone rang. It was Bai Jing's phone. Seeing an unfamiliar number, she answered it without much thought.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Hello," a stern male voice replied from the other end. "Am I speaking with the family member of Wang Yifu, Ms. Bai Jing?"

Hearing the serious, professional tone, Bai Jing’s heart sank for no reason. "Yes, that's me. I'm Bai Jing. What’s wrong?"

"Ms. Bai Jing, hello," the man said. "This is the Xia County Police Station. We are calling to inform you that your husband, Wang Yifu, has been officially arrested on suspicion of intentional homicide."

Bai Jing stood there, phone in hand, as if struck by lightning. Wang Shanshan, who had been excitedly preparing to leave to see her father, froze in place. Cao Kun also wore an expression of shock, standing motionless. Of course, the shock of the two women was real; Cao Kun's was merely an act. After seeing that blond-haired man leave the apartment complex last night, he had already known the outcome.

"Okay... okay, I understand. Thank you."

The call ended. Bai Jing hung up, her expression dazed. Wang Shanshan's face was suddenly covered in tears. She choked back a sob as she approached Bai Jing. "Mom, was that a scammer pretending to be a police officer? Don't believe them, they're just trying to steal money."

Looking at Wang Shanshan's current state, Bai Jing pressed her lips together and said nothing, simply pulling her into an embrace. Only then did Wang Shanshan bury her face in Bai Jing's chest and burst into loud, wailing sobs. Watching this, Cao Kun’s expression seemed moved; he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around both mother and daughter.

A long while later, the three of them prepared themselves and headed to the Xia County Police Station. Even though the call had come to Bai Jing's phone, what if it were a fake? But upon arriving, the last shred of hope in Wang Shanshan's heart was extinguished. Wang Yifu had indeed been officially arrested the previous night for intentional homicide.

She never expected that in just two short days, their once-harmonious family would be reduced to this state. Wang Shanshan nearly fainted from grief. Inside the station, she pleaded repeatedly with the investigators to see Wang Yifu, but they coldly refused, citing procedural regulations.

By comparison, Bai Jing appeared much calmer. Perhaps the beating Wang Yifu had given her had destroyed any remaining affection, or perhaps after living together for so long, she had long since grown tired of him. In any case, Bai Jing remained indifferent to his arrest. It was Wang Shanshan’s inconsolable sobbing that truly pained her.