Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Halfway through the kidney transplant, the surgeons discovered something astonishing: Luo Xia’s kidneys were perfectly healthy. There was no sign of failure.

But the discovery came too late. Both Luo Xia’s kidney and Guo Langtao’s had already been removed. Their only option was to put the organs back.

Even after they were returned and the incisions closed, both bodies had suffered irreversible damage.

When the anesthetic wore off, Luo Xia nearly spat blood from rage. She caused a scene and demanded the hospital take responsibility.

The hospital insisted the problem lay with the test report, which someone had switched.

There was an infiltrator among the staff.

Luo Xia called the hospital director and threatened him through gritted teeth. He replied that every doctor in the hospital was conscientious and would never violate medical ethics. Besides, Luo Xia herself had handled the report. Perhaps an enemy had found an opportunity to replace it.

“I’ll sue this hospital!” she screamed.

“Bring evidence and sue,” the director replied indifferently. “Plenty of people try to extort us every year. One more makes no difference. We have nothing to hide.”

Luo Xia collapsed against the pillows, mourning fate’s cruel tricks.

What sin had she committed to deserve this?

She returned home weak and sickly, only to find the last person she wanted to see.

“Why are you in my house? I’ll call security!”

Gu Xinyue looked at her with disdain. “I’m collecting clothes for Mr. Zhong. Since his wife is disabled, someone has to take care of these things for him.”

The insult struck Luo Xia’s deepest wound. She threw a pillow, which Gu Xinyue dodged easily. Gu Xinyue filled a cup from the water dispenser and poured it over Luo Xia’s head to cool her mind, then ignored her hysterical screams and returned to the office.

Zhong Mingjiang was taking his lunch break. He invited Gu Xinyue to eat with him and booked a private room with obvious intentions. The moment they entered, his hands began to wander.

Gu Xinyue pretended to welcome him. While unfastening her blouse, she “accidentally” exposed a red mark on her shoulder.

“What happened?”

“It’s nothing, Mr. Zhong.” Her lips trembled as tears gathered.

Sensing something wrong, he pressed her. “Tell me. Did that shrew hurt you when you went to get my clothes?”

Her tears fell at precisely the right moment. “I’m fine. Really. Mrs. Zhong only struck me because she’s upset after surgery.”

Zhong Mingjiang’s heart ached. When he tried to embrace her, Gu Xinyue fastened her blouse and seized the opening.

“When will you divorce her? I don’t want to live in the shadows anymore.”

He fell silent. Luo Xia held proof of what he had done to Qin Jiajia. How could he risk divorcing her?

Gu Xinyue fled the room. “So all those declarations of love were lies!”

At least she had protected herself this time. She never wanted to face Gu Cangbei’s frozen eyes and cutting words again. Hadn’t she sold herself before for his sake?

Somewhere along the way, every word and gesture from Gu Cangbei had begun to affect her deeply.

She had barely left when his call arrived.

“Gu Xinyue, come here.”

“What happened?”

“There’s more to Liu Xiaoxiao than we thought.”

“What? I’m coming.”

When she reached the Zhong family home, she heard a fact she could scarcely believe: Guo Langtao was dead.

“You suspect Liu Xiaoxiao?”

“Yes.”

“She had no grudge against him. Why would she kill him?”

“I’m still investigating.”

Liu Xiaoxiao appeared to have no motive, but Gu Cangbei was meticulous and rarely spoke without grounds.

“I’ll ask her.”

“No. You’ll alert her.”

Gu Xinyue admitted he was right and agreed.

But she had overestimated her restraint.

When she happened to meet Liu Xiaoxiao in a cafe, she could not stop herself. “Xiaoxiao, did you know Guo Langtao is dead?”

They had once been close. Gu Xinyue could not bear to believe Liu Xiaoxiao was a remorseless killer. She wanted to believe some patch of sunlight still survived inside her.

Liu Xiaoxiao countered at once. “You’re suspecting me again?”

“I can’t think of anyone else.”

Liu Xiaoxiao laughed coldly. “Do you know how to do anything except suspect people? We were friends for years. I helped you take revenge, and how did you repay me? Last time, you ended our friendship. Now every new crime is mine too?”

Her face looked sinister. Images of Guan Nana at the bottom of the well and Yang Juhua in the forest flashed through Gu Xinyue’s mind, and she shuddered.

Did Liu Xiaoxiao truly want Luo Xia dead? Had Guo Langtao merely been collateral damage?
If so, would Liu Xiaoxiao target Luo Xia next?

What hatred could possibly run so deep between them?

This intimate friend had hidden her true nature all along. The thought was terrifying.

Liu Xiaoxiao continued to challenge her. “Use your brain, Xinyue. Guo Langtao and I were complete strangers. I had no reason to hurt him.”

Gu Xinyue’s thoughts blurred. Liu Xiaoxiao truly did seem to lack a motive. A glimmer of understanding hovered just beyond her reach, but she could not grasp it.

On the way home, she replayed recent events and searched through every memory she had of Liu Xiaoxiao.

They met in the orphanage and were assigned to the care of the same woman. Later, Liu Xiaoxiao’s relatives found her and took her away. Years afterward, Gu Xinyue returned from surgery abroad and sought treatment at Liu Xiaoxiao’s hospital. A blood-test report allowed Liu Xiaoxiao to recognize her.

Once her identity was exposed, Gu Xinyue told her the whole tragic story. Liu Xiaoxiao sympathized, promised to keep the secret, and treated her with such kindness that they became close friends.

No matter how Gu Xinyue arranged the facts, the connections refused to make sense. At last, she called Gu Cangbei and told him about the encounter.

His face went white. “Gu Xinyue, you idiot! Didn’t I tell you not to approach Liu Xiaoxiao? If she really is a deranged killer, aren’t you afraid she’ll silence you?”

“We met by chance. The cafe was crowded…”

“No excuses. Come home now, and remember to share your route with me on WeChat!” He hung up furiously.

With a helpless sigh, Gu Xinyue took a taxi home.

The moment she entered, she demanded, “Gu Cangbei, what is wrong with you?”

He examined her from head to toe and finally relaxed. “At least you’re safe. Listen to me: Liu Xiaoxiao is dangerous. Never meet her alone again.”

Warmth rose in Gu Xinyue’s chest. So she did matter to him.

Ever since Gu Cangbei saved her, she had harbored complicated feelings for her rescuer. But her body was ruined, and she had no uterus. She believed herself unworthy and smothered every tender impulse in silence.

Now, seeing him frightened for her for the first time, a spark of hope ignited, only to be stamped out at once.

I am not worthy of him. I cannot burden him.

She buried the emotion and returned to the problem at hand.

After hearing everything, Gu Cangbei considered it carefully. “Perhaps we’ve been investigating in the wrong direction.”

“What did we miss?”

“A long stretch of Liu Xiaoxiao’s life.”

“You mean the years after she left the orphanage?”

“Yes.” He sounded certain.

“But she and Luo Xia didn’t even know each other.”

“Perhaps Luo Xia was never her true target.”

“Then who is?”

“It’s only a theory.” Gu Cangbei’s expression turned solemn. “Leave this to me. I’ll hire an investigator. Until I know more, do not meet her alone. I will handle Liu Xiaoxiao. Your job is to steal Zhong Mingjiang’s company secrets.”

He abruptly stiffened, remembering the price Gu Xinyue paid to obtain the casino records.

“No. Forget that.”

Hating the jealousy growing inside him, he shut himself in the bedroom.

Gu Xinyue remained outside, thoroughly confused.

He soon reappeared and waved his phone. “Latest news. One piece is good, the other bad. Which first?”

“The good.”

“Luo Dayuan has been arrested, and the underground casino was shut down. Police found several kilograms of heroin there. That amount is enough to send him to his grave.” Gu Cangbei could not hide his excitement. At last, Ji Fenfang had been avenged.

Gu Xinyue was genuinely happy for him. “And the bad news?”

“They determined Guo Langtao’s cause of death. He caught a cold after surgery and ignored instructions by taking an antibiotic that can cause kidney toxicity. His kidneys had just undergone surgery. He should never have touched it. He was careless and ignored his doctor.”

Gu Xinyue frowned. “Then the case is solved. Isn’t that good news?”

“The problem is that police found crates of milk in his house.”

“What does milk have to do with anything?”

“Drinking milk immediately after kidney surgery is practically slow suicide.” Gu Cangbei took a deep breath. “And every case was sent in your name.”

“What?”

Cold swept over Gu Xinyue. She knew nothing about it.