Lin Jiajun and Liu Renzhi kept blocking Wang Hao, driving him to the brink of madness.
He interrogated Liu Renzhi:
"Lin Jiajun is doing this for Lin Wanyi, but what about you? What's your motive?
"Don't tell me you've actually fallen for her? That's impossible.
"You look like a wealthy guy. Why would you ever take a fancy to a rural woman who's already married and has had a kid?
"Did you hit your head or something?"
Liu Renzhi finally landed a punch on him:
"Is that really all you can think about?
"Can't a man help a poor woman without any ulterior motives? Does it always have to be about romance and sex?
"Wang Hao, you're so superficial."
Wang Hao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"What else could it be? Cut the act. I know Lin Wanyi is decent-looking, and I know she has a sweet, gentle personality.
"But she's my wife! She's married, and she's even carrying my child in her belly.
"Could it be..."
He stared at Liu Renzhi searchingly.
"Could it be that rich guys like you have some sick fetish? Like you're into pregnant..."
"You bastard!"
Lin Jiajun landed a heavy kick on him.
"Wang Hao, you're completely rotten! How could you say such things about my sister and Brother Liu?
"Just because you're scum, do you think everyone else is scum too? My sister must have been blind to ever fall for you."
Wang Hao was furious. Who gave them the right to hit him?
Who gave them the right to look down on him?
He glared viciously at Lin Jiajun and Liu Renzhi before turning on his heel and storming off.
Since Lin Jiajun hadn't left, that meant Lin Wanyi hadn't left either.
Good. As long as Lin Wanyi was still around.
As long as she hadn't left.
He used a different number to call Lin Wanyi, but as soon as the call connected, she only had one thing to say:
"Wang Hao, I want a divorce."
Wang Hao didn't dare say a single word and hurriedly hung up the phone.
Lin Wanyi looked up at the plane disappearing into the sky.
My daughter, you've finally escaped this filthy place.
She turned around and headed out to catch a ride.
However, Lin Jiajun was already waiting for her in Liu Renzhi's car.
To her surprise, Liu Renzhi was also in the car.
He told Lin Wanyi:
"I managed to find enough people online last night—professional, paid bodyguards.
"Let's figure out a plan. When would be the best time to head to the village?"
Lin Wanyi didn't know.
She only knew that there were many poor, suffering women in the village, but she had no idea how to actually get them out.
Liu Renzhi said, "Take me to Liu Dabing's house first.
"I have my ways to pry the information out of his mouth, one by one."
Lin Wanyi nodded. She wasn't just being modest; she truly didn't know what to do.
The only thing she could offer was to lead the way.
The car drove toward the village, and Lin Wanyi's heart beat faster and faster with every mile.
The closer they got, the more her palms sweat.
She hadn't wanted to come back. The day she left, she swore she would never return for as long as she lived.
But she also knew that if she just walked away, her conscience would never let her rest.
She would be plagued by insomnia for the rest of her life, without a doubt.
As a woman herself, she couldn't bear to imagine the suffering those women endured.
They had once been bright, radiant young girls.
Why were they forced to bear such torment?
Just because of those rotten men?
Just to satisfy their selfish desires?
Why did it have to be this way?
What gave them the right?
Sitting in the passenger seat, Liu Renzhi noticed Lin Wanyi's pale lips through the rearview mirror.
He felt a pang of regret.
He shouldn't have let her get dragged back into this.
He should have made her leave with Liu Siyue and the others.
But what was done was done.
He silently resolved that once this was all over, he would give Lin Wanyi and Lin Jiajun a substantial amount of money.
Enough money to ensure they would never have to worry about their livelihood for the rest of their lives, even if they never worked another day.
The car drew closer and closer. As they passed the entrance of Wang Family Village, Lin Jiajun brought the car to a halt.
The Chen family home was nothing but ruins now.
It was completely uninhabitable, looking exceptionally desolate in the biting wind.
Liu Renzhi snapped several photos. He intended to take them back to show Liu Siyue, to help her find closure and properly begin her new life.
Lin Wanyi, however, stared deep into the village.
She had lived here for eight years.
Eight long years, from the age of twenty-two until she turned thirty this year.
She had wasted eight prime years of her life for nothing.
Aside from taking care of the family, she had achieved absolutely nothing.
She wanted to give herself two hard slaps across the face.
She wanted to knock some sense into her past self.
Why had she given up her career? Why had she given up her own identity?
Why had she been so blindly convinced that Wang Hao would treat her well for the rest of her life?
Lin Jiajun knew she was upset. He said,
"Sis, don't be sad. Once you divorce him, you can live whatever life you want.
"Mom and I will always be here to help you."
Lin Wanyi nodded firmly. Thank goodness she still had her family—a family that was willing to support her.
She thought of her father.
A wave of sorrow washed over her once more.
She took a deep breath.
"Jiajun, turn left up ahead. It's just a few minutes' drive to Liu Dabing's house."
When Lin Wanyi finally stood in front of Liu Dabing, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Seeing neither Wang Hao nor Liu Chunlan, he asked Lin Wanyi,
"What are you doing here all by yourself? The New Year is already over. Are you here to apologize to me?"
Lin Wanyi sneered. "Why on earth would I apologize to you?"
"You didn't come to give me New Year's greetings, and when I went to the city, you wouldn't even let me in the door. Shouldn't you apologize for that?"
Lin Wanyi didn't want to spare him another glance; she found him utterly repulsive.
She stepped inside and began searching everywhere for Zhao Pei.
Liu Dabing immediately followed her. "What are you doing? I'm asking you, what exactly are you trying to do?
"Barging into my house out of nowhere, not even bringing a single gift. Have you lost your mind, Lin Wanyi?"
Lin Wanyi continued to ignore him, checking room after room for Zhao Pei.
But she checked every single room, and Zhao Pei was nowhere to be found.
Could it be...?
She remembered how, just a few days ago, they had driven Zhao Pei to jump into the river.
The weather was freezing. Could she have already passed away?
Impossible.
She quickly dismissed the thought. If Zhao Pei were really gone, Liu Chunlan or Wang Hao definitely would have mentioned it.
They wouldn't have kept completely quiet about it.
With that in mind, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Auntie! Auntie, where are you?
"Auntie, I've come to see you! Auntie!"
No one answered her. Instead, Liu Dabing narrowed his eyes.
He grew wary. "Why are you looking for her? Lin Wanyi, you two barely ever interact. Why are you suddenly looking for her?"
Lin Wanyi didn't answer his question. She just pressed on, "Where is she?
"Liu Dabing, you'd better tell me the truth, or things are going to get very ugly for you."
Liu Dabing finally realized something was seriously wrong.
He immediately pulled out his phone and called Liu Chunlan:
"Chunlan, get over here quickly! That outsider bitch from your family actually ran over to my house looking for Zhao Pei."
Liu Chunlan shuddered on the other end of the line.
"Why would she suddenly go looking for her? Why? Did she say anything to you?"
"How should I know?"
Liu Dabing snapped irritably,
"She just showed up out of nowhere and won't say a damn thing. Hurry up and send someone to drag her away."
Liu Chunlan's heart raced with panic. She had no idea what Lin Wanyi was up to.
But she knew one thing for sure: it couldn't be anything good.
Otherwise, had Lin Wanyi completely lost her mind?
She had finally managed to escape; why on earth would she go back?
And of all places, to Liu Dabing's house.
Wait.
She suddenly remembered Zhao Pei being at Liu Dabing's house, and a tremor of fear shot through her heart.
Lin Wanyi was going after her.
