She was truly frightened by this piece of news!
When she first heard there had been a fire, she thought that it was because the hotel hadn’t taken the appropriate measures. Rather, she thought Han Qing canceled the wedding because they were worried that the fire had affected the venue too severely. Upon hearing that he had been taken away in an ambulance, Xu Yanwan had really fallen into a panic.
How did this happen? How was this even possible?
“H-Hey, what’s up with you? Why are you holding me by the collar? Let go of me.”
“Say it—how are they now?” Xu Yanwan did not release her grip on him as she continued to interrogate the person, her expression and eyes full of panic and worry.
The person looked resigned. “I don’t know either, miss; I’m just a guest at the wedding. All I know is that they got into an ambulance. As for what happened to them after that—well—it’s not like I was in the ambulance with them, so how can I answer that?”
At his words, Xu Wanyan slowly regained her calm.
That was right. He had a point; he hadn’t gone with them in the ambulance, so how would he know about any new developments? Never mind, she shouldn’t have forced him like that.
Thinking about this, Xu Wanyan loosened her grip on his collar and said in a low voice, “I apologize, I was too emotional there earlier. In that case, do you know which hospital they went to?”
“Yanwan.”
A familiar voice drifted into her ears; Xu Yanwan lifted her head to see the tall and strapping Lin Xuzheng approach her.
“Lin Xuzheng.”
Upon seeing him, Xu Yanwan walked over to him with brisk steps. Her first words to him were, “How is Han Qing?”
“I am not sure about his overall situation, but I do know which hospital he’s been taken to. I’m about to head there; do you want to come with me?” Lin Xuzheng waved the car keys in his hand at Xu Yanwan. The latter did not even think twice as she answered, “Yes.”
“In that case, let’s go.”
Lin Xuzheng took her to his car. There wasn’t anyone else around while they were on the way to his car, and the place was completely silent. Suddenly, Lin Xuzheng spoke up. “I heard that the fire happened out of the blue. Apparently, it started in the dressing room where the bride was. Don’t you think it’s strange?”
Upon hearing his words, Xu Yanwan’s originally quick steps slowed down instantly. Her scalp was crawling as she thought over Lin Xuzheng’s words.
Was he probing her? Why else would he say such a thing?
At that thought, Xu Yanwan bit her lips as she met Lin Xuzheng’s eyes head-on. “Lin Xuzheng, are you suspecting me?”
Upon hearing her words, a light smile played on Lin Xuzheng’s lips. “Why are you being jumpy? I was just telling you how it happened. Why are you acting like this has something to do with you?”
“That’s because I have feelings for Han Qing,” Xu Yanwan replied without missing a beat. “Yan and I are rivals for his affection. When you told me that the fire started in her dressing room, weren’t you aiming that sword at me?”
“Mm, judging by your words, you are indeed the one who is most likely to have started this incident.”
If he had denied it, Xu Yanwan might have just thought that he was testing her. However, Lin Xuzheng plainly admitted to it, and she was instantly rendered speechless.
A moment later, all the color had disappeared from Xu Yanwan’s face.
“Lin Xuzheng, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you saying that I was the one who started the fire? Have you not stepped back to think about how I would even have the ability to do that? No, I should be asking you if you actually thought that I’d be the kind of person who would do that. Xuzheng, you’ve watched me grow since I was a child. Even if you’re not my brother by blood, you think of me as a sister, right? Yet, you’re doubting me right now. Still, you are right. Under these circumstances, it’s hard to believe that I’m not the culprit behind this.”
Nonetheless, it was a fact that she didn’t do this. At any rate, the path she walked was a straight one.
Unexpectedly, Lin Xuzheng stared at her and said meaningfully, “I wasn’t talking about you; I was just analyzing the entire incident. After all, Yan had been harmed, and you are not on the same side. If you weren’t the one who did it, who do you think could’ve been behind it?”
“How would I know who did it? I…”
Xu Yanwan attempted to defend herself, but she suddenly paused in the middle of her words; a thought had seemingly come to her mind. She recalled the words that He Lianjing had said in front of her.
He told her that he would serve her and do something on her behalf.
Could he be the one who did this?
At that thought, all color drained from Xu Yanwan’s face. She felt as though she had plunged into an icy lake.
I-If He Lianjing was truly the one behind the incident, he…
Lin Xuzheng’s gaze never once left Xu Yanwan. Naturally, he had picked up on the shift in her expression, and he came to a realization as well. He raised an eyebrow and questioned, “From your expression, it seems like you know something.”
His voice pulled Xu Yanwan’s mind back to the present. Her lips moved as she met Lin Xuzheng’s clear gaze, her voice struggling to make it out of her throat.
“No, I don’t know anything.”
She lowered her gaze, not daring to meet Lin Xuzheng’s eyes again. “Regardless, I didn’t do it. Even if I don’t like Yan, I will never do something that will harm Han Qing.”
She knew that Han Qing saw Yan as being more important than himself; harming Yan was equivalent to making a move on Han Qing’s life, so Xu Yanwan had never thought of doing anything to Yan.
If she actually did anything to draw Han Qing’s attention, that would probably be the same as harming herself.
However, she had already tried it once; Han Qing didn’t give her any extra concern.
As for He Lianjing, she suspected that it might’ve been him, but details of the incident were still muddy. Furthermore, she hadn’t seen He Lianjing since that fateful night; he had probably gone back overseas since he couldn’t see any hope in her anymore. Why would he do such a thing for her?
However, her earlier expression had given away too much. That was why Lin Xuzheng’s gaze kept lingering on her, never leaving once. Just as Xu Yanwan thought that she couldn’t bear it anymore, that scorching gaze finally shifted away slowly. The sound of the car door being opened soon followed.
“Get in. We’re going to the hospital first.”
Xu Yanwan finally released a breath upon hearing his words, following Lin Xuzheng into his car.
As he drove, Lin Xuzheng mulled things over. In truth, he never once suspected Xu Yanwan. If she had actually wanted to lay a hand on Yan, Xu Yanwan had plenty of chances before this. She wouldn’t have needed to wait until today, and besides, Lin Xuzheng had been watching from the side while she was interacting with the others.
When she heard about the fire and Han Qing’s injuries, Xu Yanwan clearly showed that she was confused; she had no idea what had happened at all. That meant that she hadn’t participated in this incident.
Still, even if she did not have a hand in this, did this event have nothing to do with her at all?
Unfortunately, things weren’t that simple.
Of course, Lin Xuzheng didn’t voice those thoughts; one had to always dig deeper to get the truth. He could only make a conclusion once he had confirmed everything.
After Xu Yanwan buckled her seatbelt, her thoughts wandered far from her. While she hadn’t seen He Lianjing these few days, she had gone drinking last night. Yet, she was in her own home when she woke up. Apart from He Lianjing, who else could have brought her home?
