Deception

He Ying was hanging her head down, with messy hair strands covering half of her face. Even though one could not clearly see her true looks, just this side profile was enough to tell that He Ying was an exceptionally beautiful woman.

Qin Qinghan did not walk over. Instead, she stood aside as her heart ached.

He Ying wore very loose and tattered clothes on her, seemingly not washed for a long time. To anyone, this woman looked like a mentally deranged patient.

Chen Nan also pursed her lips. Then she squatted down in front of He Ying and observed her up close. Only then did Chen Nan realize that her skin was not that fair at all. Rather, it was a very light bronze color, giving off a very healthy feel.

He Ying's eyes were downcast. She did not even glance at Qin Qinghan and Chen Nan.

He Ying's mother said sorrowfully, "She doesn't even talk to me now. She probably doesn't recognize you all anymore."

As she spoke, He Ying's mother could not help but wipe away her tears.

Qin Qinghan wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. She then took out a small bag from her backpack and handed it to He Ying's mother, gently saying, "Auntie, we...we didn't bring anything. Please take this money to buy He Ying some new clothes and furniture for the house."

He Ying's mother was instantly stunned as she stared at the bulging small bag. If it contained all 100 yuan notes, there would be at least 20,000-30,000 yuan in it.

Understandably, He Ying's mother shrank back and said in embarrassment, "How can I accept your money just because you came to see He Ying? I'm already very touched."

Qin Qinghan stepped forward and stuffed the 30,000 yuan bag into He Ying's mother's hands, saying, "We...we were very close with He Ying. She helped me a lot in the past, so this is only right. Please take it, Auntie."

Qin Qinghan was not good at lying, so her face turned slightly red after saying all that.

He Ying's mother kept staring at the bag, clearly wanting the money too.

Under Qin Qinghan's insistence, He Ying's mother finally tucked the 30,000 yuan into her arms, with her weathered face now covered in tears.

"Chen Nan, let's go," said Qin Qinghan gently to Chen Nan.

Hearing this, Chen Nan frowned and walked over to Qin Qinghan, saying, "He Ying is right in front of us. Don't you have any interest at all?"

Qin Qinghan shook her head. "I really don't want to know anything. Let's go. Isn't she pitiful enough already? Why bring up things she doesn't want to recall?"

Qin Qinghan came here to find out if He Ying was really the girl Ye Fengwu had harmed.

But over the past few days, she had thought a lot. If He Ying was not that girl, it was very likely Ye Fengwu was hiding something from her, and all his information could be fake. She did not doubt that Ye Fengwu was incapable of such evasive actions.

After all, he was very mysterious in her eyes, seemingly omnipotent.

On the other hand, if He Ying really was the girl he had harmed, then prying further would undoubtedly cause this pitiful girl to relive her painful memories.

Hearing Qin Qinghan's words, Chen Nan looked back once more at the dazed He Ying before sighing and saying, "Alright then, but you have to think it through clearly. Once we leave, you'll probably never get rid of Ye Fengwu again."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qinghan closed her eyes with difficulty. Perhaps she and him were destined...

"Foolish girl, are you going mad again?"

Suddenly, He Ying's anxious mother shouted at He Ying from the side.

Qin Qinghan and Chen Nan immediately turned to look, instantly frowning.

At this moment, He Ying's condition seemed a little off. She was panting heavily with eyes full of fear.

"Ah... Ah..."

Suddenly, He Ying screamed as if possessed, frantically tearing at her own hair.

"Ye Fengwu, that devil, I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him..."

He Ying suddenly got up and pounced at her mother with hands like claws, eyes full of fear and hatred.

Seeing this, how could Qin Qinghan and Chen Nan not understand what was happening? He Ying must have heard Chen Nan mention Ye Fengwu's name earlier.

At this moment, Qin Qinghan's heart was in agony. Indeed, he had harmed this girl.

But now was not the time to dwell on it. Qin Qinghan could not let He Ying lose control. She and Chen Nan rushed over to hold He Ying.

Qin Qinghan was weak, but Chen Nan was a seasoned martial artist. However, even with their full strength, they still could not completely control He Ying. Heavens know where she got such great strength from.

"Ah~"

"Ah~"

He Ying screamed madly, eyes full of fear and hatred.

"It's over, it's all over. He Ying, calm down. You still have your mother to care for, and your own life to live," Qin Qinghan said, hugging He Ying tightly to soothe her.

Perhaps Qin Qinghan's comforting words took effect. He Ying gradually quieted down, but her eyes were still filled with deep horror.

Qin Qinghan's face was covered in tears, seemingly sympathizing with this pitiful girl while also empathizing with their similar plights.

"It's all in the past. You still have the rest of your life to live." Qin Qinghan let go of He Ying and tidied her messy clothes gently like a caring sister.

In the earlier struggle, He Ying's left shoulder was half exposed, with her sleeve completely pulled up.

Suddenly, Qin Qinghan's gaze lingered on He Ying's exposed shoulder. There was a peculiarly shaped scar there.

This caused a flash of doubt in Qin Qinghan's gentle eyes. When she pulled He Ying's sleeve back down, she discovered a similarly shaped scar on her forearm too.

Slap!

He Ying, with a blank stare, slapped Qin Qinghan's hand away. She then turned around and sat back at the door, her eyes once again empty and lifeless.

On the other hand, Qin Qinghan's eyes had grown much more complicated, as if puzzled by something.

Chen Nan did not notice Qin Qinghan's abnormal behavior. She apologetically said to He Ying's mother, "Auntie, I'm sorry. It's all because I mentioned that name. We'll leave now."

Speaking, Chen Nan pulled on Qin Qinghan. The situation was clear now. The perpetrator who had harmed He Ying eight years ago must have been Ye Fengwu.

"Let me see you off," He Ying's mother said, her eyes flashing with a strange look as she followed Qin Qinghan and Chen Nan out of the yard.

At the door, the previously lowered face suddenly looked up, revealing a very beautiful countenance.

When Qin Qinghan arrived at her car, as she opened the door, she did not get in right away. Instead, she hesitated for a moment before asking He Ying's mother, "Auntie... Did He Ying suffer any injuries before? I mean physical wounds on her body."

Hearing this, He Ying's mother was visibly startled. She pondered for a bit before waving her hand and saying, "No, no. He Ying didn't even dare to kill a chicken before. How could she have been wounded?"

Qin Qinghan nodded. "I see. I was just casually asking. We'll get going then, Auntie."

"Goodbye, Auntie," Chen Nan waved at He Ying's mother, then got into the passenger seat directly.

After Qin Qinghan drove the BMW out of the village, Chen Nan suddenly asked in puzzlement, "Qinghan, you were so strange just now. Why ask such irrelevant questions?"

Qin Qinghan seemed to have something on her mind. She spaced out for a bit before saying, "Oh, no reason. Just asking randomly."

Hearing this, Chen Nan shook her head and did not dwell on it further.

But Qin Qinghan's heart was tangled up with too many things.

Just now, she had seen two scars on He Ying's body. Their shape was the same as many of the scars on Ye Fengwu's body.

She knew those were bullet wounds. Why would a girl who didn't even dare kill a chicken have two bullet wounds on her body? Qin Qinghan even suspected that there were definitely more than just two scars on her.

So He Ying's mother was lying. And He Ying... was definitely not the He Ying she had imagined.

If his guess was correct, then all of this was a scam, and the person behind the scenes manipulating everything was...

Thinking of this, Qin Qinghan's heart ached slightly.

...

Fifteen minutes after Qin Qinghan left, in that dilapidated little courtyard.

He Ying's mother, who was usually simple and honest, was now sitting in the little courtyard counting money, her eyes full of joy.

Tap tap!

Just then, the tightly closed door suddenly opened, and a tall and graceful figure dressed in black leather clothes and pants walked out from inside.