Half an hour later.
The Zhong family residence.
"Madam, your guess has come true!"
Hao Shanyu hurried to Li Zhirou's side and recounted everything that had happened at the Du family.
For the Zhong family, it was not difficult to obtain the details of the incident.
A few minutes later, Li Zhirou's delicate brows furrowed, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions.
Zhong Wuhen, who was pouring tea for her, subconsciously stopped his movements, his expression somewhat startled.
"I didn't expect even that old fellow Feng Zhan to fall into the hands of that young man." Li Zhirou lightly tapped the table with her jade fingers, clearly surprised by the turn of events.
Even though she had anticipated some variables, the final outcome left her both shocked and apprehensive.
"Mom! I don't understand. He's so young, how can he possess such immense power!"
Zhong Wuhen's tone held not only shock but also a hint of resentment.
At the same age, there was a vast chasm between them.
"Wuhen! I've told you before, there are always people and things in this world that defy your imagination. Therefore, you must always maintain a sense of reverence!" Li Zhirou's gaze darkened, and she sighed softly. "And this time, we have encountered such a person."
"I..."
Hearing this, Zhong Wuhen's heart tightened. Even his mother showed a hint of helplessness, something he had never seen before.
"Mom! Then what I did before... will it affect the Zhong family..." At this moment, Zhong Wuhen seemed to recall something and asked with some worry.
Li Zhirou naturally understood what her son meant.
"You don't need to worry too much about this. Although Liang Can was coerced by you, thankfully, your plan did not succeed." Li Zhirou pondered for a moment before continuing, "However, you still need to go to the Du family. As for how to do it, you should know!"
Liang Can?
So, it was Zhong Wuhen who orchestrated the capture of Ye Ming and the incident behind it.
In fact, after the Provincial Capital Ancient Martial Arts Association received Hua Tianmin's report, Liang Can had intended to discuss the matter with Ye Ming through formal channels.
However, as he was about to reach Minghai City, Zhong Wuhen intervened.
At that time, Zhong Wuhen was on the verge of losing his rationality and directly mobilized the Zhong family's hidden pawns within the Ancient Martial Arts Association.
The three major families had, more or less, planted such hidden pawns within the association.
After mobilizing them, Zhong Wuhen discovered all of Liang Can's information and used it to control Liang Can's wife and daughter.
Finally, he used Liang Can's wife and daughter as leverage, ordering Liang Can to directly carry out the arrest.
Thus, the scene of Liang Can's arrogant arrest occurred.
Moreover, Zhong Wuhen had issued a death order: if the arrest failed, he was to find a way to make Feng Yi die at Ye Ming's hands, causing Ye Ming to bear the wrath of both the Feng family and the Ancient Martial Arts Association.
Therefore, when Du Li Shaa almost killed Feng Yi with a single blow, Liang Can intervened to save him, not out of a genuine desire to save Feng Yi, but because he couldn't die at Du Li Shaa's hands.
He had to die at Ye Ming's hands.
Thus, Liang Can resorted to verbal provocation to make Ye Ming kill Feng Yi.
With these steps intertwined, Zhong Wuhen aimed to force Ye Ming into a desperate situation.
It could be seen how vicious his scheme was.
Unfortunately, it ultimately failed.
...
"Okay, I understand!"
Zhong Wuhen's expression turned somber, a sense of inexplicable melancholy washing over him.
Li Zhirou looked at her son, her eyes like clear mirrors, and finally cautioned him, "Although you were in the wrong initially, you don't need to lower yourself too much. Remember, our Zhong family respects him, but we do not fear him."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Wuhen's melancholy vanished.
If he were truly forced to completely humble himself and apologize to someone his own age, it would undoubtedly leave an indelible scar on his heart.
Li Zhirou, seeing this, had uttered her final words.
Based on the strength Ye Ming had displayed so far, Li Zhirou had formed a vague impression of him.
She saw certain things more clearly than others and understood more.
Because, Li Zhirou had another identity.
She was from the capital.
...
Tian'an Provincial Capital University.
Dormitory 205 for females.
A woman dressed in a light gray, elegantly patterned dress was pacing back and forth in the dormitory, her hand holding a book titled "Past, Present, Future."
The woman was about 1.75 meters tall, her features exquisitely sculpted by heaven, flawless. Her eyebrows were like phoenix's eyes, her lips like cherry blossoms, and her nose like a jade bridge. Her ink-black hair cascaded down her fragrant shoulders, with a few strands gracefully resting behind her delicate earlobes, adding a touch of serene beauty.
While the woman's peerless beauty was not the most striking aspect, what was even more astonishing was the gentle and quiet aura she exuded unintentionally, drawing gazes to linger on her for a few extra seconds.
Not out of desire!
But for peace of mind!
Her name was Mo Zhaoge, and she called herself "Time Girl."
At this moment, she was alone in the dormitory.
Her roommates, naturally, were out enjoying the romantic season.
As for Mo Zhaoge, suitors lined up from the front gate of the Provincial Capital University to the back.
Alas, none had captured her heart.
Just then, the dormitory door suddenly opened.
A woman in a yellow ruffled skirt rushed in anxiously.
"Zhaoge! Zhaoge! My boyfriend is about to confess to me. Can you come with me to help me check it out? I'm a bit nervous!" Upon seeing Mo Zhaoge, Sun Qi immediately grabbed her hand, her voice filled with trepidation.
"Hm?"
Mo Zhaoge glanced at Sun Qi and smiled, "Okay! Wait for me!"
With that, Mo Zhaoge put down the book in her hand, tidied her belongings briefly, and walked to Sun Qi with her small handbag. "Let's go!"
"Ah! Okay... Okay! Let's hurry!"
Sun Qi quickly turned and opened the dormitory door, then led Mo Zhaoge out.
...
A few minutes later.
Mo Zhaoge walked ahead, with Sun Qi following silently behind her. At this moment, she had completely lost the excitement and nervousness of an impending confession.
The two walked like this, one after the other, neither speaking.
"Zhaoge, you know I lied to you, don't you?" Sun Qi finally couldn't hold back, her eyes welling up, her voice trembling slightly.
"Mm!"
Mo Zhaoge nodded and continued walking forward, then said, "A person's heart rate when nervous is usually around one hundred beats per minute. When afraid, it's slightly lower, around eighty-five beats. And when you saw me in the dormitory, your heartbeat told me..." At this point, Mo Zhaoge turned to face Sun Qi and said softly:
"You were afraid!"
As Mo Zhaoge finished speaking, tears were already streaming down Sun Qi's face uncontrollably.
"Wuwuwu! I... I'm sorry, Zhaoge! I'm truly sorry! Wuwuwu..."
Sun Qi knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, "But, he... they kidnapped Zhang Yang, I... I really had no choice! I... ah wuwuwu!"
"It's alright!"
Mo Zhaoge also knelt down and gently comforted her, "I know you well. If you weren't pushed to the absolute limit, you wouldn't lie to me! That's why I came with you."
"Zhaoge! I..."
"Enough!"
Mo Zhaoge helped Sun Qi up, her gaze then fixed on something ahead.
Not far from them, three figures had appeared. One of them was bound by ropes.
"Actually, I should be the one to apologize!"