CHAPTER 265: CHAPTER 265: THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE CRIME

The next moment, she saw Bai Xu walking in with a middle-aged man wearing an expression of reluctant agreement. Bian Yue’s face changed drastically, and she blurted out subconsciously, "Uncle Song..."

The middle-aged man before her had a face stained with the hardships of life, looking particularly weary, yet Bian Yue recognized him immediately—it was indeed Song Ping, a distant relative of the Bian Family from years ago.

When Bian Yue’s father, Bian Kai, was still alive, he would often invite Song Ping over for a chat.

Later on, although she did not know why, they had a falling out and never met again, but in Bian Yue’s eyes, Song Ping was still one of her elders.

One could even say, in the younger Bian Yue’s heart, Song Ping held considerable prestige.

But today, upon meeting him, he turned out to be the principal of the orphanage she was looking for.

"Uncle Song, how come you are here?" Bian Yue slowly stood up, the shock in her eyes not yet faded, she looked incredulously at Song Ping, seeing the latter’s disheveled appearance, she frowned and confirmed once more, "You are the principal of the orphanage?"

"Bian Yue..." Song Ping finally spoke with difficulty, his voice embarrassed, "This matter has long passed, and I have already retired. Could you, remembering how good I was to you when you were a child, let me leave?"

A chill ran through Bian Yue’s heart, she listened to Song Ping’s pleading words, her brows tightly knit, and said, "When did you get involved with Wang Dan’an? Was the sudden parting between you and my father also because of this?"

"I..." Song Ping’s expression was embarrassed, he first remained silent, then moved to a nearby sofa and sat down slowly, his expression increasingly grave, "I don’t know how to explain this to you, Bian Yue. I wasn’t entirely in the wrong back then; from my perspective, I had no choice."

"What exactly happened back then?" Bian Yue stepped in front of Song Ping and asked seriously, "Uncle, tell me the truth."

"Bian Yue, you are so clever, there are many things that I don’t even need to say, you certainly have guessed them. There indeed were issues with that orphanage. The fallout with your father was also because of this matter, but! I wasn’t the mastermind behind it!" Song Ping said urgently, "You must believe me, your uncle is not the type to go against his conscience. If I didn’t care about conscience, I would be colluding with Wang Dan’an, but I haven’t!"

As Song Ping pleaded fervently, a coldness grew within Bian Yue.

She watched Song Ping silently, after a long while, she softly spoke, "Then tell me, I’ll listen to your explanation."

"It was a very long time ago... back then..."

With Song Ping’s words, a fragment of the distant past was revealed.

Years ago, in the Bian Family, Song Ping, as the most trusted right-hand man of Bian Kai, handled all the cooperative details between the Bian Family and the Li Family.

It was during this time that Bian Kai inadvertently discovered severe issues with the orphanage owned by the Li Family. The children, ostensibly sent there for adoption, suffering and alone, ended up as gifts exchanged between influential businessmen when they grew up.

This matter was extremely awkward and utterly cruel, a scandal that could not be disclosed. Yet Bian Kai uncovered this issue and questioned Li Tingmo about its origins.

"You know your father’s character, he was a man who couldn’t tolerate sand in his eyes, upright and stern. When he heard about these things, he had a serious quarrel with Li Tingmo. Li Tingmo, to clear his involvement with the orphanage, had me take the fall," Song Ping sighed, his expression growing even more solemn.

"I was nominally a member of the Bian Family, but... I was too young back then, I accepted many favors from Li Tingmo, and was thus forced to obey him. In the end, I was really working for Li Tingmo. Since he asked me to take the blame, I had no right to refuse." Song Ping paused for a moment, then said, "Originally... I could have been forgiven by your father, but then... another incident happened..."

"What happened..."

"At that time... someone stole data from the orphanage and fled. Li Tingmo, fearing the exposure, had me retrieve the data. I originally intended to use some money to get it back, but... on one side, Li Tingmo sent me to find the person, on the other side, he plotted for that person to fall from a high building. By the time I arrived, the person was already dead..." Song Ping’s expression showed fear, his pupils constricted, his body uncontrollably trembling as he looked at Bian Yue, "That person just died right in front of us."

Bian Yue felt a strong sense of suffocation, her expression equally grim, she pursued the line of questioning according to what Song Ping said, "Who was this person?"

Song Ping’s complexion turned even more pale, he miserably clutched his head, eyes filled with bloodshot, "That person... that person was a teacher, I don’t know his specific identity, but I know... he... he was Miss Bian Shu’s lover, Miss Bian Shu was eloping with him... that year, Miss Bian Shu was only 19 years old, she watched as that person fell from the building right in front of her... just like that... died in front of her..."

Chills ran through Bian Yue, anger igniting within her, she abruptly stood up, "So, did Miss Bian Shu go insane because of this incident? Song Ping! Do you have any conscience, how can you so blatantly oppress others with power!"

"The one oppressing with power isn’t me! It’s Li Tingmo! Miss Bian, I was merely following orders!"

"Being an accomplice, doesn’t that carry responsibility? Song Ping, I initially thought you had some indescribable difficulties, but none of these can count as an excuse! Because of benefits, you obeyed Li Tingmo, and helped him do all kinds of evil, what makes you think you are innocent!"

Bian Yue stared at Song Ping’s embarrassed and disheveled face, fists clenched, she spoke through gritted teeth, "I’ll ask you again, my sister later went mad, and was sent to the Li Family’s sanatorium, was this your doing too?"

"It was... it was me..." Song Ping regretfully lowered his head, "but I had no choice! Bian Shu already knew everything! I couldn’t let her go back to the Bian Family and raise a storm! I could only send her to the sanatorium! Li Tingmo promised me, he would give Bian Shu the best care!"

At this point, Song Ping anxiously raised his head, hurriedly moved to Bian Yue’s side, "Bian Yue! How is your sister? Is she better? She..."

Bian Yue scoffed coldly, angrily shaking off Song Ping’s hands, her words ice-cold, "You have no right to mention her!"

A melancholic smile crossed Song Ping’s face, his aged features filled with pain, "Do you think I haven’t felt sorrow all these years? Bian Yue! Bian Shu is also my family, of course I wish she would be well!"

"You killed her most beloved person, you and Li Tingmo! You both are murderers!" Bian Yue raised her voice in anger, "Bai Xu! Take him to the police station! Right now!"

Bai Xu had been standing by the door, hearing the voice he walked in, making a ’please’ gesture to Song Ping, "Mr. Song, come with me."