CHAPTER 317: CHAPTER 317: PLAYING THE PART TO PERFECTION

Jiangcheng.

Zhan Family, Spirit Hall.

Zhan Hanjue sat by the coffin, repeatedly stroking it.

In just a few days, he had lost a lot of weight, his eyes were lifeless, and his face was a pallid blue. The stubble around his lips hadn’t been tended to in a while, giving him a disheveled and messy appearance that made people feel sorry for him.

Mrs. Chen supported Old Mrs. Zhan as they walked in.

Seeing Zhan Hanjue in this state, Old Mrs. Zhan sighed with heartache.

"Hanjue, don’t keep vigil here. It’s been three days and nights straight, and keeping watch won’t bring Ningwan back. Do you want your grandmother to once again live through the pain of burying a younger generation? Ningwan has always been a sensible child; if she knew you were like this, it would break her heart." Old Mrs. Zhan comforted Zhan Hanjue as she broke into sobs herself.

Zhan Hanjue closed his eyes and murmured again, "It’s all my fault. I didn’t stay with her that day. I knew she was feeling down but still let Leng Linglong take her out."

"It’s not your fault; no one could have anticipated this," Old Mrs. Zhan said.

Zhan Hanjue swayed a little.

Old Mrs. Zhan was so frightened she quickly called out to Mrs. Chen, "Hurry and support Hanjue."

But before Mrs. Chen could reach him, Zhan Hanjue collapsed to the ground.

Old Mrs. Zhan screamed in fright and hurriedly called for help.

Soon, Zhan Hanjue was taken to the hospital.

The news of Zhan Hanjue being hospitalized quickly spread, causing a stir, and the company’s stock price plummeted.

Xia Wenyuan was overwhelmed with work. With Zhan Hanjue down, all the company’s affairs fell on his shoulders.

Fortunately, with his rich experience, he soon managed to turn the company’s public image around.

The stock price rebounded, which was considered a satisfactory explanation to Zhan Hanjue.

Xia Wenyuan visited Zhan Hanjue in the hospital, where Zhan Hanjue’s pallid face was hooked up to an IV.

Looking at his condition, Xia Wenyuan frowned and said quietly, "You claimed not to believe that Madam Zhan committed suicide, so why put yourself through this?"

Zhan Hanjue asked Chen Tan to take a photo of him.

Chen Tan immediately took a picture and sent it to the work group.

Presumably, this photo would soon make headlines and spread widely.

"If I don’t do this, how would they believe that I truly believe it?" Zhan Hanjue murmured quietly.

Xia Wenyuan shook his head, "You’re really going all out."

"How is the investigation I asked you to conduct going?" Zhan Hanjue asked.

Xia Wenyuan said, "There are clues; give me a few more days, and there should be results."

"Mm, very good." Zhan Hanjue nodded.

Xia Wenyuan then reported the company’s affairs to him.

Zhan Hanjue was very satisfied.

After Xia Wenyuan left, Zhan Hanjue told Chen Tan, "You can let Leng Linglong come to see me now."

Chen Tan nodded.

Soon, Leng Linglong was brought over.

These past few days had been hard on her too; her eyes were swollen and red, clearly from crying every day.

Especially seeing Zhan Hanjue like this, her tears immediately welled up again.

"I’m sorry, Hanjue, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who harmed Ye Ningwan; I’m the one who harmed you all."

Zhan Hanjue slowly opened his eyes to look at her and weakly asked, "That day, what did Wanwan talk to you about? Linglong, do you know? I still can’t accept that she would commit suicide. Before she went out with you, she was in a good mood. Although she was indeed a bit melancholy those days, no matter what was troubling her, it shouldn’t have driven her to take her own life."

"I also don’t believe she would commit suicide," Leng Linglong sobbed. "Clearly, we had a great time that day, and she didn’t show any signs of gloom. When we parted, she was happy and even said we’d plan to meet next time. I never thought she would commit suicide. I’m sorry, I should have escorted her too; it’s all my fault."

"Linglong, have you ever considered... could Bai Wenjing be involved?" Zhan Hanjue said.

Leng Linglong’s face turned pale.

In fact, she had thought about this issue long ago.

The day she learned of Ye Ningwan’s suicide, she thought about this.

When Ye Ningwan parted ways with her, she was perfectly fine; why would she suddenly commit suicide?

This matter, perhaps only Bai Wenjing, who was the last to see her, would know why.

On that day, Leng Linglong went to find Bai Wenjing, asking him what really happened and what he had said to Ye Ningwan when they parted.

Why did Ye Ningwan commit suicide?

There must be a reason.

Or maybe he knew something.

But Bai Wenjing told her, "I don’t know either. On the way, I just chatted with her a bit about medicinal herbs; we didn’t talk about much else. I even got out of the car to see her off, but she said she was fine and told me to leave, so I left. I really didn’t think she would commit suicide. Linglong, don’t you believe me?"

Looking at Bai Wenjing’s seemingly genuine expression, Leng Linglong’s mind buzzed, but she instinctively nodded.

Bai Wenjing reached out to hug her, "Linglong, this incident is also a shock and a pain to me. Zhan Hanjue knows I was the last person to see Ye Ningwan, so he probably won’t easily let me go. Linglong, I know no one believes me now, but I hope you can trust me."

"Of course, I believe you," Leng Linglong said, also considering that Zhan Hanjue might trouble Bai Wenjing, and quickly added, "Why don’t you leave for a while? Hanjue loved Ye Ningwan too much; he won’t let you off easily."

"No, I can’t leave," Bai Wenjing said. "You were the one who took Ye Ningwan out that day; if I leave, what will happen if he troubles you? Your aunt-in-law never liked you, and if the Zhan Family wants to trouble you, the Leng Family might stand by and do nothing. I must stay to protect you, no matter what, I will shield you."

Leng Linglong was deeply moved.

This further cemented her belief in his words and made her feel obligated to protect him.

Now, hearing Zhan Hanjue mention Bai Wenjing, Leng Linglong’s face turned pale but quickly calmed down, and she quietly responded, "I asked him, he said they didn’t talk about much, and she was fine when she got off. He doesn’t know why it happened. He feels very guilty and regrets not seeing her inside. Hanjue, this matter really has nothing to do with Bai Wenjing. He has no reason to do such a thing, please don’t blame him."

"Linglong, do you really know him?" Zhan Hanjue asked.

Leng Linglong immediately nodded, "I do, of course, I know him. I know him well; he’s not a bad person. Hanjue, please don’t take it out on him."

"Chen Tan, show her," Zhan Hanjue said.

Chen Tan nodded.

Leng Linglong bit her lip and took a stack of photos from Chen Tan’s hands.

The person in the photos was someone she knew well; it was Bai Qishu, who had previously kidnapped her and taken her to He City.

The room also looked familiar; it was the He City Bai Family house where she had stayed for some time.

Wasn’t Bai Qishu missing?

How could he be locked up in the He City Bai Family house?

Leng Linglong’s heart sank.

She slowly lifted her head to look at Zhan Hanjue.

Zhan Hanjue in a deep, cold voice said, "Bai Qishu was originally taken by Li Qingqing, and now he suddenly appears in the He City Bai Family house, how could Li Qingqing let him go? Could it be related to Wanwan’s suicide? These questions, I hope you can give me an answer."