On the one hand, the message gave Jiang Cong and the others a direction. At the same time, Chen Er was also afraid that Ji Pei might lose his mind and hurt Zhang Lu. So she left a note warning Ji Pei not to act rashly.
"Did your efforts contribute to Zhang Lu's survival?" Jiang Cong asked after hearing the whole story. He recalled that Zhang Lu had been locked in a dark room but only suffered from weakness due to lack of food, with no other symptoms.
Ji Pei hated Sheng Qingqiu. He was capable of setting up such a big trap, pretending to be a netizen to lure Sheng Qingqiu out. He could endure what others couldn't, and he was bound to obtain what others couldn't.
After killing Sheng Qingqiu, Ji Pei lured Zhang Lu into an alley and tried to frame him. This series of events was enough to prove that Ji Pei also harbored intense hatred towards Zhang Lu. Moreover, Zhang Lu's stealing of Ji Pei's most important thing - the guaranteed admission quota - became the fuse that ignited Ji Pei's desire for revenge.
Facing someone they hate deeply, it's difficult for ordinary people to stay rational and refrain from taking revenge on those who have hurt them.
Yet Zhang Lu managed to survive unscathed. It was obvious that someone had mediated in this situation, and that person was Chen Er.
Ji Pei had feelings for Chen Er. Her words carried weight with him. He must have guessed that it was Chen Er who sent the message.
Caught between the girl he loved and the person he hated, Ji Pei chose the latter.
The fire was Ji Pei's final struggle. He was reluctant to let Zhang Lu go, but he was also afraid that his actions would anger Chen Er.
He was self - abased and cowardly. When it came to the girl he loved, he always kept his distance.
Ji Pei knew that once Zhang Lu was rescued, he would face severe punishment. So he resolutely decided to bury his feelings for Chen Er along with himself forever.
It could be said that Ji Pei's short life was both made and ruined by Chen Er.
Chen Er openly admitted her involvement. She tore off the veil that had always existed between her and Jiang Cong and calmly said, "I couldn't just watch Zhang Lu die, nor could I watch Ji Pei make more mistakes. I believe in not involving the innocent and letting those who deserve death meet their end. That's enough. I can't kill the innocent, and I won't sit back and do nothing."
Jiang Cong hugged Chen Er tightly, as if he wanted to merge this girl he loved deeply into his very being. He knew that at her core, his girl was kind.
"I'm proud of you. You're really smart. I'm so lucky to have met you," Jiang Cong said, openly praising Chen Er.
What pleased Jiang Cong most was that Chen Er hadn't become full of hatred for the world because of the things that scumbag Wei Fuping had done.
In fact, Chen Er had a correct outlook on life. Even though she had made mistakes, she wasn't completely evil.
But...
Jiang Cong frowned. Was he really going to send Chen Er to prison with his own hands?
Chen Er noticed the momentary stiffness in Jiang Cong's body. In an instant, she guessed what was on his mind. "You're wondering if you should persuade me to turn myself in, right? Jiang Cong, I know what you're thinking. I'm willing to go, for you."
Jiang Cong nodded. The prison was no stranger to him. He often went in and out to collect evidence and gain a clearer understanding of cases.
It was a place where criminals served their sentences. Everyone there had a blank expression on their face. The high walls were like a barrier, separating the people inside from those outside.
Could Chen Er really endure the closed - door labor reform?
Chen Er had just finished the college entrance examination. She was only eighteen. Based on her academic performance, Jiang Cong believed that she would surely get into a good university.
Her life was just beginning, but she had to spend her most beautiful years in prison. No matter how calm and self - controlled Jiang Cong was, he felt a twinge of pity for Chen Er.
"Jiang Cong," Chen Er traced Jiang Cong's facial features with her fingertips - his thick sword - shaped eyebrows, clear eyes, and sexy thin lips. All these features combined to form the appearance of the man she loved most.
Jiang Cong stood there quietly, allowing Chen Er to do as she pleased.
"Before I met you, I thought my life would always be like this. But after I met you, I wanted more and more. I discovered that there were many beautiful things in this world," Chen Er said, her nose close to Jiang Cong's, pouring out her feelings.
Wei Fuping was dead, and she had avenged herself. But Chen Er didn't feel happy at all. Every morning when she woke up, she was in a state of panic, afraid that her secret would be discovered.
Chen Er even thought that it would be better if she had died with Wei Fuping or if she had never discovered that secret.
After Ji Pei's death, Chen Er did feel relieved. But she also knew that there was no such thing as a crime that could be perfectly hidden and that there were no airtight secrets in the world.
Ji Pei's high - IQ crime had also shown its flaws under Jiang Cong's meticulous investigation. And Jiang Cong's investigation into her wouldn't stop there.
Unless Jiang Cong got the answers he wanted, he would never give up his pursuit of the truth.
Chen Er knew that day would come, but she didn't expect it to come so soon.
Once a person tells a lie, they have to tell more lies to cover it up. She had painstakingly maintained this for so long, but in the end, she got nothing.
Chen Er was tired. She thought that perhaps turning herself in was a form of self - liberation.
Jiang Cong didn't explicitly tell Chen Er to turn herself in. But after a year of getting along, some things didn't need to be said. Chen Er already understood.
"I'll turn myself in. I understand your difficulties," Chen Er leaned on Jiang Cong's shoulder, with a slight smile on her face. At this moment, she felt at ease.
"Thank you, Chen Er. I love you," Jiang Cong thought the word "love" was very heavy, so he had always been reluctant to say it. But now, he felt it was necessary to express his feelings to Chen Er.
Actually, Jiang Cong was a bit nervous for a moment. He was worried that Chen Er would ask him not to report her.
On one side was his lover, and on the other was the sense of justice cultivated by his professional ethics. Jiang Cong had no choice. In any case, he could only firmly choose the side of justice.
Even if the price was to "betray" his love for Chen Er.
"I love you too, Jiang Cong."
Before leaving the room, Chen Er turned back and took one last look at the man who had warmed her youth.
"Will you wait for me?" Chen Er asked.
"No," Jiang Cong replied. "Because you're always one step ahead of me."
The story of Chen Er before she turned eighteen finally came to an end, while the story of Jiang Cong and the new Chen Er was just beginning.