Three days later.
Zhong Xingwen went to the Li family as a visitor to apologize, bringing bags and bags, along with a card containing one million yuan.
Li's father, looking at his daughter’s bruised and battered body on the bed, obsequiously saw Zhong Xingwen out, and solemnly promised him that he would send his daughter back to the mansion that evening.
Li Wei listened to her father's conversation with Zhong Xingwen, her heart sinking into despair.
"Xiao Wei, it's time to go back, Xingwen knows he was wrong."
Tears immediately streamed down Li Wei's face. Pointing to her severely injured face, she cried, "Dad, he beat me like this, and you're just going to let it go? Domestic violence only happens once or it happens a thousand times. I don't want to be with a man like this!"
Li's father's face instantly fell. He said sternly, "How dare you! What nonsense are you spouting! What kind of person is Xingwen, what is his status! For him to marry you, your ancestors must have cultivated eight lifetimes of virtue for this!"
Li Wei's pupils trembled. She could not believe that even after being injured like this, her father would not say a word for her.
In her father's eyes, was she just a commodity for the Li family to curry favor with the Zhong family?!
"Dad, I really regret it. When I was with Duan Chen, at least..."
"Silence!! Don't you ever mention that poor boy to me again! If it weren't for him this time, why would Xingwen have gotten so angry with you? Xiao Wei, you'd better be more discreet! Don't make Xingwen unhappy again!"
"Dad!!"
The light in Li Wei's eyes dimmed.
"Pack your things, and come back to the Zhong family with me."
Seeing Li Wei with her head bowed, Li's father felt a pang of sympathy.
He sat by the bed, gently stroking his daughter's hair, and sighed, "Alas, Dad knows you've been wronged this time. But think about it, the bags, the diamonds, the money Xingwen bought for you before, his kindness to you... isn't it more than what that poor boy could give you?"
"It's not easy to marry into a wealthy family. If you want to be superior to others, you have to endure the hardships. Once you marry into the Zhong family and establish yourself, and then elevate our Li family, you can have as many young studs as you want. At that time, Duan Chen will be kneeling at your feet, submitting to you."
A tear fell onto his hand. Li's father gently wiped it away for his daughter.
"Don't make Xingwen angry again, and he won't hit you anymore. Some things will pass if you endure them. You have to think about the long term."
Li Wei sighed. Perhaps her father was right. They were already at the point of discussing marriage, just a step away from flying to the branches to become a phoenix. It would be too much of a loss to give up now.
So she adjusted her mood and returned to the Zhong family.
By the time she returned, it was already dark.
Seeing that Zhong Xingwen was not in the room, Li Wei wandered around casually. Suddenly, she heard strange noises coming from the direction of the basement.
Thump, thump, ding, ding—
It sounded like something was being hammered or smashed.
Zhong Xingwen had instructed her that she could enter and exit the subordinate building area of the Zhong family villa at will, except for the basement.
Li Wei had always been obedient and had never gone near it.
But the noise today was too loud, and she couldn't help but walk down the stairs, following the sound.
A faint light, a dim corridor, and at the end, a slightly ajar door.
For some reason, Li Wei's heart began to pound.
She wanted to turn back for a moment, but curiosity drove her to walk over as if possessed.
Peeking through the crack in the door, she looked into the room with confusion, only to be so scared that her mind went blank.
She saw that the small room was sumptuously decorated, even more elaborately than the upper floors.
And these exquisite decorations were not other objects, but...
One by one, well-preserved young women's heads.
Each of them possessed stunning beauty, with diverse charms. Their eyes were closed, their smooth hair lay against their cheeks, making them look as if they were asleep.
Li Wei was greatly alarmed. A scream was caught in her throat, but she accidentally bumped against the door.
Creak—
This was bad!
Li Wei immediately felt a chill all over her body, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She was so scared that she forgot to breathe.
The ding-dong sound stopped, and a man slowly walked towards her. It was Zhong Xingwen.
Seeing Li Wei, Zhong Xingwen was only slightly surprised for a moment, which then turned into a nonchalant, wicked smile.
"Darling, my secret has been discovered by you..."
He walked towards Li Wei step by step. Li Wei shook her head, shaking it frantically as she retreated.
"Don't be afraid, you'll soon become one of them... I originally planned to offer your heart after we got married, and then use the sea siren to get a most obedient 'wife'.
Tsk, it turns out you are also disobedient.
You even injured your face. How am I supposed to turn you into a collectible."
Zhong Xingwen showed a terrifying smile. The evil in his eyes blazed, like a demon.
Li Wei trembled with fear, but she was like a lamb cornered by a wolf, with nowhere to escape.
Slam! Zhong Xingwen grabbed Li Wei's slender shoulder with great force.
"I intended to coax you until your injuries healed before making a move, but you delivered yourself. Heh, though, before you die and become a work of art, I can still use you a little... to get rid of that irritating agent."
"Hehehe, just wait for your former lover to come and save you."
Zhong Xingwen waved in front of Li Wei, and a sinister energy was released. Li Wei instantly fainted.
He picked up Li Wei's phone, found Duan Chen's number, and sent a message:
[If you want to save her, come alone to the abandoned factory at 858 tomorrow at 18:00. Otherwise, you will never see her again.]
He also took a picture of the injured Li Wei tied up.
Licking his lips, Zhong Xingwen caressed Li Wei's neck, his eyes extremely cold.
"Duan Chen! I'll make you wish you were dead, but unable to die!"
...
At the same time.
Sacred Heart Hospital.
Unsure how long he had slept, Duan Chen vaguely felt a disturbance by his bedside.
He abruptly opened his eyes, grabbed with both hands, and agilely flipped over, pinning the fumbling person's arm against the edge of the bed.
"Damn it, it hurts, it hurts! Let go!" The man cried out in pain, slapping the bed and begging for mercy.
Duan Chen took a clear look and saw that it was Gao Tiankai. Only then did he release him.
Gao Tiankai rubbed his arm and grinned sheepishly, "As expected of Agent Duan Chen, staying vigilant even while sleeping. I just wanted to tuck you in properly and nearly lost an arm. My injury hasn't even healed yet."
Duan Chen glanced at his arm wrapped in bandages and felt a little embarrassed. "What brings you here? Have you made any progress on the serial murder case?"
"No progress. It's too widespread. The victims are all single girls around 20 years old, and their heads have been severed one by one. The killer is extremely brutal. And many key clues have been hidden. The suspect we finally caught inexplicably died, and a butcher who took the blame mysteriously surrendered. After a few days of interrogation, he died right under my nose.
The person behind this is not only capable but also extremely powerful. They are manipulating everything, playing me like a rat...
Sigh, forget it...
I heard you were dying, so no matter how busy I was, I had to come and see my brother for the last time."
Gao Tiankai grumbled, then smiled slightly.
"Damn, you're wishing death upon me. I'll die before you do," Duan Chen stretched.
Today was the day Duan Chen was discharged from the hospital.
Originally, with his self-healing abilities and Master Ge San's medical skills, he could have left the hospital the next day.
But he couldn't resist the enthusiasm of Zhong Yu and Mi Xue'er.
Besides, with beautiful nurses all around, dressed in black and white stockings that changed daily, each one a top-notch beauty, treating the patients like lords. It was much more comfortable than his small rented room.
Duan Chen decided to stay for the full week.
Gao Tiankai came today to pick him up from the hospital.
As they were talking, Duan Chen's phone rang. He glanced at it and immediately frowned.
"What's wrong?" Gao Tiankai keenly noticed the change in his expression.
"It's Li Wei."