It had been so long ago. Even though she had a good memory, she only remembered that such an incident had happened. As for what was said and done at that time, she couldn't recall clearly.
Back then, in a moment of desperation, she thought he was about to jump into the river, so she tried to save him. Little did she know that he would push her into the water instead.
At that time, she was filled with indignation and thought that if she ever met him again, she would never let him off.
The words Xiao Yu had just said kept replaying in Ye Yanxi's mind. After a long while, she finally looked up, her eyes confused. "You're not with me now just to take revenge on me, are you?"
For a man like Xiao Yu, who was so scheming, vengeful, and petty, it was highly possible.
Xiao Yu only gave her a mysterious look in reply.
"So? Now that you've fulfilled your wish, what are you going to do with me after taking your revenge?"
Did that mean it was all over between them? Ye Yanxi thought mockingly to herself.
But Xiao Yu just slightly curled his lips and didn't answer the question directly. "You just like to let your imagination run wild all day long."
Suddenly feeling a pang of irritation, Ye Yanxi shifted back a bit. She couldn't read Xiao Yu's expression.
"If you don't say anything, how am I supposed to know what you're thinking?" Sometimes, it was really difficult to guess Xiao Yu's thoughts when she was with him. It felt like facing an endless ocean, unfathomably deep and exhausting.
"Don't be impatient. There will be plenty of time in the future for you to get to know me slowly!" Xiao Yu stared into her eyes. His dark pupils were so deep that one couldn't see the bottom. He said word by word.
Something flashed through Ye Yanxi's mind, disappearing in a split - second. It was so fast that she could hardly catch it. She couldn't help but frown in annoyance.
Looking at Xiao Yu's face again, with that playful look on it. It was really tiring to talk to a man with such a deep - seated mind.
She got up from the sofa irritably, took a few sips of water from the cup, and then walked towards the bathroom. "I'm too lazy to talk to you. If you don't want to say, fine. I've been shopping all afternoon and I'm all sweaty. I'm going to take a shower."
Seeing her get up and leave, Xiao Yu also stood up and followed. He said unhurriedly, "Coincidentally, I should take a shower too."
"..." Of course, Ye Yanxi immediately closed the door, intending to keep that ill - intentioned man out.
Mr. Xiao wouldn't just come into the bathroom to take a shower. But Ye Yanxi was a step too late. Xiao Yu took a long - legged stride into the bathroom. Before she could react, the door was locked.
After that, Ye Yanxi naturally suffered some torment from someone. As a result, her legs were so weak when she came out that she didn't even have the strength to stand up. In the end, Xiao Yu carried her back to the bedroom.
The next day, He Zhenxing's trial for smuggling officially began.
In the courtroom, He Zhenhua was sitting beside the lawyer on the defendant's side. When He Zhenxing was brought in from outside the door, he saw He Zhenhua at a glance and shouted excitedly at him, "Second brother, I've been wronged. You must help me. We're brothers. If you don't save me, no one else will. I don't want to go to jail. I don't want to be locked up there!"
After being locked up in the cell for a few days, He Zhenxing no longer looked like his former well - dressed self. There were injuries on his face, and it was swollen like a pig's head. His slightly plump figure had also become thinner. It seemed that life in the cell was really tough.
Now, He Zhenxing's only hope was He Zhenhua. As long as he stepped in to save him, everything would be okay.
So he had already made up his mind to play the family - card to move He Zhenhua and get him to do his best to save him. "Second brother, do you still remember more than twenty years ago? At that time, I didn't hesitate to take a bullet for you. I didn't think about anything else. I only knew that you were my only relative in this world and the most important person to me. If I could go back in time, I would still make the same choice. I don't regret it at all."
He Zhenxing was still excitedly talking about their brotherly love, but he didn't notice how cold He Zhenhua's face was when he said these words.
He Zhenxing never expected that He Zhenhua already knew all the truth and was completely disheartened towards him.
When He Zhenxing was taken to the defendant's stand, He Zhenhua gave him a warning look, telling him to shut up.
Because of the handcuffs, He Zhenxing could only tightly grasp the railing with both hands. His eyes looking at He Zhenhua were full of pleading.
He knew He Zhenhua very well. During the years when He Zhenhua took over the He Group, in fact, He Zhenhua's mind was far more profound than he thought. Even towards his relatives, he didn't trust them.
So the incident more than twenty years ago had accidentally made He Zhenhua trust him.
At that time, He Zhenhua married Jiang Pinzhen. But before that, Jiang Pinzhen had had a previous relationship. Although He Zhenhua couldn't let go of that matter, he really liked Jiang Pinzhen.
Later, their child was lost a few months after birth. Under his instigation, He Zhenhua began to suspect Jiang Pinzhen, which also ensured his own position. Unfortunately, even so, He Zhenhua still kept Jiang Pinzhen by his side when he found out that he wasn't his daughter's biological father.
No matter what the outcome was, he was He Zhenhua's elder brother. This was an unchangeable fact, and he was also the only person He Zhenhua trusted in this world. So... he bet that He Zhenhua wouldn't stand by and watch him die.
Thinking like this, he felt a bit more at ease. He Zhenxing obediently shut up and sat quietly on the defendant's stand, waiting for the lawyer brought by He Zhenhua to defend him.
It was just that he was too confident, so he ignored the coldness on He Zhenhua's face and the hatred in his eyes.
After the trial started, the plaintiff first presented a large amount of evidence, including the fact that He Zhenxing had even committed murder in order to achieve his goals.
After the plaintiff finished their statement, it was the defendant's lawyer's turn.
He Zhenxing looked at the lawyer with hope on his face.
But the next second, He Zhenxing watched helplessly as the well - dressed lawyer stood up, bowed deeply to the judge, and then said clearly and decisively, "Your Honor, the facts are just as the plaintiff has said. Our side has no statements for defense. Please make a fair and just judgment, Your Honor. My statement is over."
After saying that, the lawyer sat down. He Zhenhua beside him looked cold, and his expression didn't change at all throughout the process, as if he had already known this would be the result.
He Zhenxing was stunned and almost jumped up in anger.
What did this mean? There was no evidence for defense at all. Did that mean he could only leave his fate to chance?
He Zhenxing suddenly stood up from his seat. "What do you mean by saying the facts are as the plaintiff has said? He Zhenhua, what do you mean by this? Didn't you come here today to save me and clear my name? Why are you just letting them judge? He Zhenhua, I always regarded you as my relative, but you're not even human. You're just taking advantage of my misfortune!"
Saying this, He Zhenxing showed a ferocious face and tried to break through the railing. The two policemen beside him immediately pounced on him and subdued him as soon as he made a move.
Finally, the judge made the final statement and announced the result on the spot.
He Zhenxing was sentenced to death with a one - month reprieve because he was suspected of smuggling and intentional injury, with multiple crimes.
At this moment, He Zhenxing was completely disheartened. He cursed the judge in public and was finally taken away.
In the afternoon, in the prison, He Zhenhua sat calmly in the visiting room, waiting for He Zhenxing to come out.
Soon, He Zhenxing was escorted over. Now his hands and feet were in handcuffs, and he was wearing a prison uniform. He looked extremely disheveled.
As soon as He Zhenxing sat down, his eyes were full of unwillingness and malice. He stared fiercely at He Zhenhua, who was sitting calmly in front of him.
"Why?" His voice was a bit distorted because of excitement. "The lawyer you hired, why didn't he defend me?"
"Let's not talk about this for now. Before that, I have something to ask you." He Zhenhua said calmly.
"What is it?" He Zhenxing was furious. "What other reason do you have to stand by and watch me die?"
Then, He Zhenhua passed the stack of documents to He Zhenxing through the window below. "Read this first and then we'll talk."
He Zhenxing took the stack of documents suspiciously and then casually flipped through a few pages. Suddenly, his eyes widened. He almost read every page of those photos and documents. His face showed a complex expression in an instant, with surprise and malice. Finally, he just curled his lips and sneered.
Closing the documents, He Zhenxing looked at He Zhenhua with a mocking look in his eyes, smiling.
"It seems you already know everything. So..." He Zhenxing stared at him gnashing his teeth. "You can't wait for me to die right away, so you won't defend me, right?"
"Why?" There was disappointment in He Zhenhua's eyes. He stared closely at his face. This was his closest relative. "Why did you do all these things?"
He Zhenxing grinned. His original devilish face was revealed. His eyes were full of malice and hatred. "Are you really stupid or just pretending? How can you even ask me why."
"Why?" He Zhenhua repeated again, his expression calm.
"Fine, since you want to know, I'll tell you. I'm the eldest son in the family. Nominally, I should inherit the family company. Why did it end up being you in the end? Since then, I've almost had nothing. What do you think the reason is? If you didn't exist in this world, the He Group would naturally belong to me. I'm just taking back what's mine."
"Just because of the company? If you wanted money, I've always turned a blind eye to the money you embezzled in the company."
He Zhenxing sneered. "Embezzled? It was originally mine. Why does it seem like you're doing me a favor here?"
"What about Pinzhen? And Xiaoxi? What did they ever do to you that you had to hurt them like that?" At this point, there was a tremor in He Zhenhua's voice. "Xiaoxi was only three months old at that time. How could you bear to take her away?"
"Why should you three be so happy as a family while I... was beaten up by debt - collectors because of my debts and will never be able to be a father again?"