CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 269: COMPLICIT

Bian Yue said in his arms, drawing out her words, "Actually, when I saw you after coming out, I felt very reassured."

The seriousness in her voice gently tugged at Shen Jinci’s heartstrings, creating subtle ripples.

His smile deepened in his eyes, and he said softly, "I promised to wait for you outside, of course I wouldn’t go anywhere else."

Listening to his words, Bian Yue held him even tighter.

She said, "Shen Jinci, wait for me to handle these matters. Afterward, if you don’t like Xiangjiang, we can leave this place. We can go somewhere no one knows me, and lead a simpler life."

"Why would you think that I don’t like it here?" Shen Jinci stroked her hair, his expression unchanged.

Bian Yue didn’t speak, she simply closed her eyes slowly while in his embrace. She of course wouldn’t think that Shen Jinci liked it here.

For him, the Shen Family was probably a burden. She was no longer the naive Bian Yue of the past; she could now empathetically understand Shen Jinci’s feelings.

Standing on equal ground with him, she felt all that he had endured along the way, and in embracing him, an unexpected pang of heartache surged.

Bian Yue wanted him to be happy, and after a long silence, she said, "Shen Jinci, after taking over the mess at Fengcheng Group, I’ve learned a lot. I know it must have been very tough for you. Nobody would like such a life."

Shen Jinci was always moved by Bian Yue, who could always say things that left him helpless yet tender-hearted.

So he gently kissed her hair and whispered, "Yueyue, I like this life because it has you in it."

The night was equally thick, a villa in the suburbs.

Li Sihe played with the wine glass in his hand absent-mindedly, and after a lengthy silence, he said into the phone to Bai Xu, "I understand."

"Mr. Li... Miss Bian is determined to find out the truth this time. If... if your father really was involved in what happened back then, what should we do?"

Li Sihe paused for a moment, then his voice grew even more distant, "Li Sihe is already dead. If he really was involved with what happened back then, he should atone."

Having said that, without waiting for Bai Xu’s reply, Li Sihe hung up the phone and stood up.

The nighttime breeze was cool, and they say that in this small town, it will soon start to snow at this time of the year.

Li Sihe had almost never experienced the snow of October.

But he remembered Bian Yue once spoke with anticipation, "Li Sihe, let’s go see the heavy snow together someday."

How could he have known then that it might be a dream unachievable for a lifetime?

His peach blossom eyes filled with coldness as he stared at the stern winds outside the window and downed the red wine in his glass.

In the quiet and deserted hall, he revealed a gentle smile, his voice as light as a sigh, "Yueyue, we will meet again soon."

The autumn cold spread in Xiangjiang, an unusual chill overflowing.

When Bian Yue saw Bian Shu in the morning, the latter’s eyes were filled with tiredness.

She looked at Bian Yue and managed a strained smile, saying, "Let’s go."

Bian Yue held her hand, looking at her worriedly, and softly said, "Sister... are you alright..."

Bian Shu shook her head, "Just didn’t sleep well, there are important matters to attend to."

Fengcheng Group had long been reorganized, and currently, not many in the Bian Group took Li Tingmo seriously.

Li Tingmo walked in from outside, facing everyone’s indifference, and couldn’t help feeling bitter.

A person who once called the wind and summoned the rain, now faced with such humiliation in his old age, how could he bear it?

Li Tingmo’s eyes suppressed, he quickly walked toward the elevator and headed to Bian Yue’s office.

Bian Yue had mentioned that there were important matters to discuss, Li Tingmo suspected that she probably wanted to make a move against him.

Indeed, how could she possibly leave a place for him?

Just like in the past, when he took everything from the Bian Family for himself, without sparing any affection.

Li Tingmo pushed the door and entered, only to see Bian Yue caring for a plant.

Her back to him, she pruned earnestly, focused.

"What did you want to see me for?" Li Tingmo frowned and said, "Bian Yue, my time is valuable, speak quickly if you have something to say."

Bian Yue then slowly put down the scissors, she turned to look at Li Tingmo with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, flatly stating, "Director Li, what do you think about this flower?"

It was an exceedingly ordinary plant, nothing spectacular or eye-catching about it.

Li Tingmo’s frown deepened, his tone cold, "Isn’t it just an ordinary plant?"

"This is not just any ordinary plant, I dug this wildflower from the entrance of Nancheng Orphanage. Chairman Li, doesn’t it look familiar to you now?"

Bian Yue’s tone was detached, from behind the screen Bian Shu clenched her fists, tears hidden in her eyes.

Li Tingmo was stunned, looking at Bian Yue, he let out a very short laugh, "What are you trying to say exactly? Bian Yue, many things actually have nothing to do with you. I advise you not to meddle in others’ affairs and invite trouble for yourself."

"Initially, when Nancheng Orphanage was taken over by Song Ping and engaged in shameful deeds under the name of the Bian Family, it brought disgrace to my father. But in reality, you were the instigator of all this, weren’t you?"

As she spoke, Bian Yue slowly walked up to Li Tingmo, staring directly at him with a straightforward and frosty gaze, "Li Tingmo, do you think that because so much time has passed, everything is irrelevant now and no one will pursue it anymore?"

"Bian Yue!" Li Tingmo’s face turned ashen, sharply interjecting, "I don’t know what you’re talking about! All this is just your speculation!"

"My speculation? Don’t you know that Song Ping has already been imprisoned?"

"What are you saying..."

"Song Ping was detained by the police yesterday, and, barring any surprises, he will likely never come out of prison in this lifetime."

"Bian Yue, he was your elder!" Li Tingmo looked at Bian Yue in shock, his lips trembling, "Are you trying to ruthlessly eliminate him? Your father spared him, how could you be so cruel?"

"My father spared him, not knowing that he had blood on his hands, right?" Bian Yue looked at Li Tingmo coldly. Seeing his expression shift, Bian Yue smiled slightly, saying, "No, not just him, but you, you all have blood on your hands."

Bian Shu suddenly looked up, tears falling from her eyes, she bit her lips hard to prevent herself from making a sound.

And Li Tingmo looked at Bian Yue with a face full of shocked guilt. Then he suddenly sneered, becoming more resolute, "Back then Song Ping was working for your father! How can you say that I have blood on my hands?"

"If he was working for my father, how can you be sure that what I just said wasn’t true?" Bian Yue grew colder, "Unless you have known about this matter all along, and were involved in it!"