Bai Wenxi had already decided to remain calm and take no initiative to contact the blackmailer. Rather than simply trying to protect her father's reputation, it was now more important to cut losses in time and let Yao Chunmei receive the punishment she deserved.
She privately contacted the police and submitted the blackmail letter and the cloth bag as evidence. The chief of the forensic identification department was an old friend of Bai's father. When he first saw these pieces of evidence, he was instinctively stunned!
Yao Chunmei had built such a good image of a virtuous wife outside that he hadn't even realized that his friend's death might have been a conspiracy.
Now that he thought about it, everything might have been pre - arranged. A shiver of fear ran down his spine.
Recalling Yao Chunmei's radical remarks and hasty actions after Bai Zhongxun's death, the more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.
"No wonder when we suggested an autopsy back then, she firmly said it was disrespectful to your father and quickly took him away for burial. So that's what she had in mind," the chief said, still in a state of shock.
Bai Wenxi wanted to punish Yao Chunmei with solid evidence, so she chose to seek help from the police. "You can file a case first. I think the blackmailer will still come to me."
Bai Wenxi sniffled, trying to hold back the sobs. "If the evidence provided by this person is true, my dad must have known about his wife's betrayal. I won't let his death be in vain."
"Of course," the old chief nodded as a matter of course. "She must be brought to justice. But I find it a bit strange. Why didn't this person give you these photos when your father was still alive? Why wait so long?"
Bai Wenxi exhaled a long breath. "That's why I didn't make a big fuss about reporting to the police. I just came to you because I wanted to see what this person was up to."
The chief thought of his friend who had passed away so tragically in his prime and couldn't help but sigh. "She said it was a drunk - driving accident back then. I didn't believe it! Your father hardly ever drank. How could he have been out drinking so late?"
He truly felt that his friend's devotion was not worth it. "Your step - mother has gone too far. Your father treated her well. How could she go around looking for other men?"
Bai Wenxi didn't want to get involved in the emotional mess of the previous generation. She only knew that because her father had become wary of Yao Chunmei, the latter might have struck first and faked the car - accident scene.
Thinking of her uncle going to the hospital where her mother had been before she died to collect evidence, Bai Wenxi's heart pounded like a drum.
In the past few days, the uneasiness in her heart had been growing stronger. Beneath the calm surface of all things, there was a surging undercurrent.
Grandma was still unconscious in the hospital. Several elders of the Jiang family had been secretly scheming for power.
Although Jiang Beihuai would deliberately avoid making calls in front of her when dealing with matters, his unconscious raised voice and anxious tone still betrayed the difficulty of pushing forward the work.
All the setbacks had piled up and suddenly erupted. Thinking of the endless troubles, Bai Wenxi pressed hard on her throbbing temple.
For the first time, she realized that the progress of her life seemed to be slowly getting out of control. This realization pained her deeply, but for the time being, she had no clue how to solve all the problems perfectly.
The phone screen showed an incoming call from "husband". Bai Wenxi felt as if she had grabbed a life - saving straw and was finally freed from the gloomy negative emotions.
"A Wen, haven't you gone home yet?" Jiang Beihuai's voice sounded a bit tired. "Where are you now? I'll come pick you up, and we can have dinner together."
Bai Wenxi glanced at the time on her watch and looked a bit embarrassed. "Feifei told me today that she's on holiday. Shouldn't we go pick her up? Do you want to stay in the company for a while longer?"
Jiang Beihuai was very surprised. He hadn't expected to hear such words from Bai Wenxi.
"If I remember correctly, that girl was extremely rude that day. I thought you'd be disgusted at the thought of seeing her again," Jiang Beihuai speculated, feeling particularly heart - ache for his wife. "Did that girl pester you into picking her up?"
"Don't worry about her. Who knows what evil plan she's cooking up."
There was no need to tell him the details of the things between girls. Bai Wenxi covered her mouth and secretly giggled playfully.
She deliberately changed the subject. "Did you go see grandma today? What did the doctor say about her condition?"
Jiang Beihuai was in a heavy mood and listless. "She's still unconscious, but the doctor said all her physical indicators are normal. There's nothing serious."
"Did your aunts come to visit today?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Bai Wenxi regretted it. She had really brought up a sensitive topic.
Sure enough, Jiang Beihuai's tone was sharp. "Don't ask about them. Unless the old lady wakes up, those ungrateful wolves won't show up."
Bai Wenxi quickly comforted him softly. "Okay, okay. I know you've been under a lot of pressure recently. Let's not talk about those mood - ruining people."
"Feifei is coming tonight. We two must play the host well and take her out for a good stroll." Bai Wenxi blushed a bit. "Last time she came, there were some misunderstandings, and she didn't have a good time."
Seeing that his wife was so enthusiastic, Jiang Beihuai thought that she had been through too many bad things these days. He thought He Feifei was young and playful, and she might be able to relieve his wife's tense mood.
"Okay. Call me when you're ready. I'll come pick you up, and then we'll take her out for dinner."
Bai Wenxi excitedly agreed. In fact, she had already had a plan. She was going to secretly discuss something with Feifei during this meeting to give Jiang Beihuai a surprise.
She knew that he had been under a lot of work pressure recently and hadn't had a good sleep for several days.
So Bai Wenxi was thinking of organizing a gathering with his childhood playmates when they went back to their hometown to help him relax.
This was something she had promised him before, but because of all the trivial matters, Jiang Beihuai seemed to have forgotten this agreement.
Bai Wenxi looked up at the sky and took a deep breath of fresh air. Although the road ahead was long, just thinking of Jiang Beihuai being by her side filled her heart with peace and hope.
Thinking that He Feifei would be hungry after such a long - distance train ride, Bai Wenxi kindly went to the roadside to buy coffee and bread for her.
Just as she took out her phone to pay, someone beside her reached out a card. "Let me treat you."
"It's you?" Bai Wenxi quickly turned her head, not wanting to meet his eyes.
Chen Liangke didn't expect to run into her here. He beamed. "Are you out shopping for food alone? Where's Mr. Jiang?"
Bai Wenxi was on guard. "He's talking to a friend across the road. He'll be here soon."
"I think their red - velvet cake is quite good. Do you want to try it?" Chen Liangke pushed the freshly made coffee over, and his fingertips accidentally touched Bai Wenxi's hand.
"I can buy it myself," Bai Wenxi quickly scanned her payment code on the machine and turned to leave.
Chen Liangke grabbed her arm to stop her but quickly let go. "Miss Bai, why do I always feel that you're avoiding me?"
Seeing him, Bai Wenxi couldn't help but think of those blackmail materials. Her disgust was beyond hiding.
"I'm in a hurry, so I don't have time to chat with you," Bai Wenxi forced a smile. "Sorry, I have to go."
Chen Liangke leisurely sat down on the chair and casually said, "Yao Chunmei once revealed to me the details of the night your father had the accident. I guess you don't want to hear it?"