Chapter 74

The moment he saw Li Qingyao, Luo Huaizheng was filled with many emotions: shame, embarrassment, and a hint of grievance. But he could never tell her about this grievance.

He had clearly boasted that he had been able to control his emotions well over the years, but at this moment, those surging emotions seemed to have taken root and grown legs, crawling out from his already messy heart and instantly swallowing up his calmness.

Luo Huaizheng let go of the door handle before he completely lost his composure. He was too embarrassed to get into Xiang Siling's car again, so he turned around and was about to leave.

"Huai Zheng!" Xiang Siling had rolled down the car window and looked up at him, with clear pleading and heartache in her eyes.

"Mr. Luo." A familiar and calm voice came from behind.

Luo Huaizheng's steps were nailed. He thought, she called me Mr. Luo.

Luo Huaizheng had no choice but to turn around. The two policemen were standing under the bright lights. Although they were not wearing police uniforms, their temperaments were exactly the same, just like two equally tall and majestic poplar trees.

Luo Huaizheng's gaze fell directly on Li Qingyao's face.

Li Qingyao also looked straight at him, without any emotion in his eyes, and could even be described as indifferent: "We may have to question you again today, please keep your phone open and do not leave Xiangcheng."

Luo Huaizheng replied: "Yes."

Obviously, the surroundings were very noisy, with cars coming and going, people welcoming and seeing off, and the road not far away was also noisy. But at this moment, the time between the two of them seemed to have stopped. Li Qingyao did not speak again, and Luo Huaizheng was also silent. The two of them still stared at each other from a distance of five or six meters. His eyes were straight, and hers were getting colder, almost staring at him. But they seemed to have forgotten to look away.

Xiang Siling looked at the two people, and suddenly she felt a long-lost sadness welling up in her heart. She turned her head away, no longer looking at them, and made a soft "huh" sound, closing her eyes. After a moment, she laughed mockingly again.

At the same moment, Li Qingyao looked away and Luo Huaizheng turned and left. Xiang Siling didn't call him again, and he didn't look back all the way. He walked to the side of the road and took a taxi away.

Li Qingyao's eyes fell on Xiang Siling in the car. Just as she took two steps forward, her arm was grabbed by someone. Chen Pu had walked in front of her and bent down to say to Xiang Siling in the car: "Miss Xiang, we still have some questions that we want to understand from you. Is it convenient for us to find a place to talk?"

Xiang Siling had returned to her usual lazy and arrogant look. She first looked at Chen Pu, then at Li Qingyao. She smiled and said, "Okay, if the police comrade has any needs, I will tell you everything I know. I know there's a teahouse nearby. Is that okay with you guys?"

Chen Pu: "Okay."

Xiang Siling told him the name of the teahouse and asked, "It's only a few minutes away. Why don't you take my car and go there together?"

"No, we drove a police car."

Xiang Siling raised the car window and signaled the driver to drive ahead.

Chen Pu turned and walked towards the police car, and Li Qingyao followed.

Chen Pu fastened his seat belt and glanced at the person next to him. She was still as cold as ever, sitting straight with her hands folded on her legs, her eyebrows and eyes full of hostility. She was totally different from the willful and clever person she was five minutes ago.

Chen Pu pulled the handbrake and paused for a few seconds before stepping on the accelerator.

He leaned his back somewhat heavily into the chair, holding the steering wheel with one hand, and resting his other elbow on the car window, looking at the neon lights outside the window flashing by.

He was a little confused just now.

It's not that he hadn't thought about it, Li Qingyao would see Luo Huaizheng again, and it might be during the investigation. But she had vowed before that they were no longer related, and he believed it completely, didn't mind at all, and completely forgot about it.

So he completely forgot about the last time Li Qingyao was at a loss and in a low mood when she saw Luo Huaizheng. He also forgot that she changed her previous warm attitude and stopped sending him messages and flirting with him for a whole week, completely forgetting about him as a dispensable person. Until he found her crying in her sleep in the office.

How could he have completely forgotten about it? It turned out that he was so complacent these days.

Chen Pu's eyes were still looking forward, pretending to be concentrating on driving. He rested his hand on the car window, the back of his hand against his mouth, and his thumb and index finger kept rubbing.

He asked himself that he had rarely felt anxious over the years. The last time he felt so anxious was when Li Jincheng disappeared. At that time, his heart beat like a grasshopper on the grass, jumping here and there. Even when he was sleeping, he would wake up with an inexplicable tachycardia.

But now, that feeling of being lost came back. He just felt panicky, as if he could vaguely see an abyss, and he could no longer tell whether he was still on the cliff or already in the abyss.

His thumb and index finger rubbed harder and harder. The scene of Li Qingyao and Luo Huaizheng looking at each other just now was like the saddest and most beautiful painting. Even he, a bystander, felt that the picture was incredibly profound.

He finally realized one thing. When she was with him, no matter she was happy, angry, sad, or excited, her emotions were all calm and controllable. She was a master at manipulating emotions, not only firmly controlling herself, but also dominating him.

But every time she saw Luo Huaizheng, it was different. Her emotions were so exposed, so direct, so unconcealed, that she forgot to control them, and perhaps she couldn't control them.

These days, there was perhaps always some joy in Li Qingyao's eyes when he looked at him. It was that hidden joy and dependence that gave him a sense of hope and assurance.

But today's scene was like a wake-up call.

Because when she looked at Luo Huaizheng, there was only pain in her eyes.

Chen Pu felt like a frozen piece of wood, unable to move his hands or turn his face. He didn't want to talk, and couldn't speak. He just drove mechanically. And the heartless woman beside him obviously didn't care about all this anymore.

Because her heart is no longer here.

Li Qingyao was indeed thinking about Luo Huaizheng and the scene he had just seen: at the entrance of a magnificent five-star hotel, the stunningly beautiful yet disgusting Xiang Siling was sitting in a luxury car that Li Qingyao could never afford in his lifetime, looking dignified and charming.

Luo Huaizheng was dressed like a real businessman, and his temperament was still as handsome and elegant as before, but one of his hands was on Xiang Siling's car door handle.

What Li Qingyao saw was not Luo Huaizheng getting on the car.

What she saw was the purest and clean male god of that year, that truly noble man, who had one foot on the edge of the world of fame and fortune filled with money and beauty. He was ready to bend down and become a vassal of someone like Xiang Siling.

She couldn't stand such degradation and defilement.

Even though he had nothing to do with her today, she still couldn't help but speak in a sarcastic tone.

Li Qingyao is a person who always does what she wants to do. Even if she thinks back on it now, knowing that it was inappropriate and impulsive, she will not regret it.

Anyway, it's good to vent my anger.

But, is it really relieved?
She thought about the feeling when she and Luo Huaizheng looked at each other just now. It was very cold, with a kind of astringent dull pain. The memory that had been buried for a long time seemed to attack her again at this moment. As soon as she saw Luo Huaizheng's reaction, she knew that she had hurt him just now. She shouldn't have hurt him. He was already the most pitiful one.

But what is Luo Huaizheng doing?
Once, it could be said to be forced, a coincidence. But what about twice? What about taking the initiative to dress up and get into that person's car?
What is he...thinking about?
She no longer understands and has never wanted to understand, right?

Her expression became colder.

She knew that whenever she came across people and things related to those years, especially Luo Huaizheng and her brother, she would get emotional. There was no way, she just couldn't get over it. Her heart had been torn apart because of them, and she had finally managed to secretly sew it back together, but even now, it still hurts when touched. So let it hurt, she did nothing wrong, nothing was wrong.

Thinking of this, she felt relieved, calmed herself down, and reminded herself that she was still investigating the case, so she should be calm and stop at the right time.

Then she thought of Chen Pu. Turning around, she saw that he looked quite calm. Li Qingyao felt relieved for no reason. She touched her nose subconsciously and asked, "What are you thinking about? Why haven't you said anything for such a long time?"

Chen Pu seemed to have heard it, but also seemed not to have, his face remained indifferent. After a few seconds, he looked at her, his eyes dark and quiet, and asked: "Do I look like a fool to you?"

He even raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.

Li Qingyao was stunned for a moment. Her mind was still in a mess. She just felt confused and didn't think about it carefully. She answered casually: "Not bad." After a pause, she said coldly: "Don't you think Luo Huaizheng is the idiot?"

What she meant was that Chen Pu also knew about the case, but now Luo Huaizheng was actually hanging out with Xiang Siling. No one could stand it, what else could he be but a fool?
Li Qingyao didn't notice that even the last bit of awkward smile on Chen Pu's face had completely disappeared. He turned his head to the side, his neck tense. After a while, he let out a light "huh" but never turned his head.

When they arrived at the teahouse and parked the car, Li Qingyao got out first. Chen Pu unbuckled his seat belt but remained seated. Li Qingyao: "Why don't you get out of the car?"

Chen Pu then got out of the car, and he had returned to his usual solemn look when investigating a case. There seemed to be a layer of frost in his eyes. He said, "Li Qingyao, I don't care what you are thinking or feeling. Just concentrate and stay calm. We are investigating the case."

Li Qingyao's heart trembled, he lowered his eyes and answered, "Yes."

I remember that before I started writing, I went to my three VIP reader groups to solicit their opinions. I said that I was getting old and might not be able to update 4000 words a day, so I asked them whether they would choose to update 4000 words every other day or update 2000 words a day. The vast majority of readers chose to update 2000 words a day. Now, it's time for you to fulfill your promise.

From July 7.26 to August 8.8, Lao Mo will go to XJ. During this period, I will update 2000 words a day, which means I will update half a chapter every day, just like today. If I cannot update, I will ask for leave in advance. Students who are impatient can save up some articles and come back to read on August 8.9.

Hahahaha.