Chapter 4: Driven to Despair

"That is not how it happened. It was clearly you and Lu Mingyue who were carrying on behind my back. You framed me because you were afraid I would report you. Officer, I am truly being wronged."

A flicker of ruthlessness flashed in Meng Xiaoling's eyes. Based on Huo Zheng's description, he had definitely been in the room that morning; she just couldn't figure out why she hadn't found him. She wanted to distance herself from Lu Mingyue, but she refused to let him get his way.

Lu Mingyue took a step forward, standing in front of Meng Xiaoling.

"Does Comrade Huo have anything to do with you? He is merely a guest. If I recall correctly, Li Weidong is your partner. Shall we bring him in for a confrontation?"

The relationship between Meng Xiaoling and Li Weidong was obvious to anyone with eyes. People in the family compound had seen Li Weidong dropping Meng Xiaoling off. Whenever this was mentioned, Tian Xiaoju would hedge and act coy, claiming they were just colleagues. Since her own mother said so, everyone else, as outsiders, only dared to gossip behind their backs.

As for Meng Mancang, he had introduced Huo Zheng to Meng Xiaoling only to show others what a good stepfather he was to his stepdaughter. Soldiers were highly sought after in any era, and if Meng Xiaoling married one, it would make him look good. If he ever found out that Meng Xiaoling was still entangled with Li Weidong, he would likely be spitting blood in rage.

Meng Xiaoling was now caught in a dilemma. If she admitted she and Li Weidong were a couple, her accusation that Lu Mingyue seduced Huo Zheng would fall apart. If she claimed Huo Zheng was her blind date, it would only invite further scorn—having a partner and still going on a blind date was akin to hooliganism.

"Sister, I know you have always hated me, thinking that Mom and I took everything that belonged to you. Heaven is my witness, everyone has seen how we have treated you all these years. At school, I washed your clothes; at home, Mom went to great lengths to cook for you. When you said you liked Li Weidong, I risked being backstabbed by everyone to deliver love letters for you, and I was even willing to take the blame for your mistakes. Now that you've set your sights on Comrade Huo and want to be with him, you're forcing me to do bad things—I was only listening to you! You cannot treat me like this."

The neighborhood aunties were stunned, turning their gazes toward Lu Mingyue.

[I never expected the Lu girl to be so tough.]
[Oh my, what a show! It’s a pity I didn't bring any melon seeds.]
[Why haven't Old Zhao and Old Li come to watch the fun yet...]

These aunties had lived long enough not to be fools. They were excited by the drama, but they only half-believed Meng Xiaoling's words. Lu Mingyue usually spoke so softly you could barely hear her; was she really capable of drugging someone?

Lu Mingyue, however, had underestimated Meng Xiaoling's shamelessness. She gave a cold smile, thinking that some people never shed tears until they see the coffin.

"Officer, the evidence of Meng Xiaoling's crime has not been dealt with yet."

Meng Xiaoling’s grip on the doorframe tightened. She let out a long breath to keep from giving herself away. Lu Mingyue had to be bluffing. She had hidden the items so well; there was no way she could know. As she watched Lu Mingyue lead the officers straight to the kitchen, Meng Xiaoling’s heart rose into her throat.

A few minutes later, the police came out with the remaining medicinal powder. Meng Xiaoling’s face turned deathly pale. How could this be? Her mind was in a chaotic knot. Who could save her?

Perhaps heaven heard her pleas, as Tian Xiaoju returned from work to find a crowd gathered at their door.

"What are you all doing here?"
"Director Tian, your daughter is quite something—she dared to drug a comrade from the military."

Tian Xiaoju’s expression shifted. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

The person who spoke scoffed. *You don't understand now? Just wait and see if you can keep playing dumb later.* Ever since she became the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, Tian Xiaoju had shed her former submissive persona and began looking down on people; everyone had long since grown tired of her.

"Xiaoling, what are you doing?" Seeing her daughter kneeling on the floor clutching the doorframe, Tian Xiaoju frowned discreetly. She felt humiliated to be shamed in front of so many people. "Get up quickly. Whatever you have to say, say it inside."

She turned to the officers. "Comrade police, let’s sit down and talk. The child is still young; you can just tell me whatever the matter is."

With both human and physical evidence present, the police remained impartial and firm. "I apologize, but we have regulations. You should wait at home for notice. Please do not obstruct our work; we must follow procedure."

The police spoke bluntly to prevent Tian Xiaoju from acting like her daughter and resorting to wailing and making a scene. Before Tian Xiaoju could react, they took Meng Xiaoling away. By the time she tried to stop them, they were already downstairs.

The crowd of onlookers showed no signs of dispersing. Tian Xiaoju knew that if this wasn't handled well, their family would have no face left to live in the compound. She hurried off to the factory to find someone to help.

Huo Zheng didn't ask how Lu Mingyue knew where Meng Xiaoling had hidden the items. That wasn't important. What mattered was that this resentment had finally been vented.

"We still need to go to the police station to make a statement. Do you have time now?"
"Yes!"

On the way to deal with Meng Xiaoling, Lu Mingyue had been ready for anything. Watching the two walk away, the aunties felt a sense of reluctance. Why were they leaving already? They hadn't seen enough yet.

Lu Mingyue heard them and the corners of her mouth curled up. She trusted that with those aunties around, news of Meng Xiaoling being taken away by the police would spread through the entire compound before long.

The moment Meng Xiaoling was locked in the interrogation room, she was dazed. She couldn't fathom how things had ended up like this. Helplessly, she clenched her hands, praying for someone to save her. Every minute and every second was agony.

She meticulously retraced the events in her mind, concluding that she must have been spotted by Lu Mingyue while she was drugging the drink; otherwise, the subsequent events made no sense. In the past, Lu Mingyue had always been silent, and she had assumed she was a timid, cowardly creature. She never expected...

As she was lost in her own thoughts, the interrogation room door opened. Two police officers walked in. Their gazes were sharp, and Meng Xiaoling didn't even dare to meet their eyes, keeping her head bowed in silence.

"I advise you to confess early and strive for leniency."

Meng Xiaoling bit her lower lip. "What are you talking about? I don't understand. I want to see my parents."

The officer was speechless. How old was she? All she knew how to do when trouble arose was look for her parents. Just as he was about to continue the interrogation, there was a knock at the door.

"Meng Xiaoling's parents are here."

Well, that was that; the interrogation could no longer proceed. It didn't end, but someone else was swapped in to continue applying pressure. Meng Xiaoling pricked up her ears to listen to the commotion outside, but she gained nothing.

Outside the interrogation room, Tian Xiaoju clung to the officer, refusing to let go. "Comrade, my daughter is definitely being wronged! Let me see her; I guarantee I can explain everything clearly."

The officer used all his strength to pull his uniform free and said, panting, "That is against regulations. Since you're here, we'll take the opportunity to gather information from you."

Just as the officer finished speaking, someone emerged from the adjacent reception room. Lu Mingyue and Huo Zheng were coming out after finishing their statements. Upon seeing them standing together, Tian Xiaoju’s eyes turned red; she lunged at them like a man-eating lioness. Meng Mancang was no different; his face was dark, and he swung his hand with all his might, aiming a slap at Lu Mingyue.

[Oh my! The deadbeat father and the black-hearted stepmother are really trying to kill me!]

The moment they moved, Huo Zheng reacted quickly, pulling Lu Mingyue toward his side. Caught off guard, Lu Mingyue fell right into his arms. Feeling the warmth behind her, Lu Mingyue’s heart pounded like a little deer.

[Huo Zheng's chest is quite firm; I wonder what it feels like to touch, hehehe.]