Chapter 44: You’re the One Who Needs to Wake Up!

Jiang Yue seemed to still be boiling with anger, as that single epithet of "bastard" had completely shattered her composure.

She abruptly hurled her computer mouse aside, turned her cold gaze toward Jiang Zi, and demanded, "Jiang Zi, will you ever quit? It was bad enough that you caused such a scene last night, but are you still out of your mind now?"

Meeting Jiang Yue's piercing glare, Jiang Zi let out a cold huff and retorted, "Sister, I always thought you were smart, but now I realize you are the most foolish one of all!"

"What on earth are you trying to say? Stop making trouble out of nothing!" Jiang Yue yelled in fury.

"Do you even have any idea what kind of scum Cheng Jun really is? Chu Jianghe was murdered by him!" Jiang Zi screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice cracking.

Without a second thought, Jiang Yue swung her hand and delivered a sharp slap across Jiang Zi's face, instantly leaving the younger sister dazed and bewildered.

Jiang Zi's furious face grew even colder.

She let out a bitter laugh. "It's bad enough that you'd strike me to protect a piece of trash, but are you seriously refusing to listen to your own sister's words?"

"Sister, please just snap out of it!"

Stretching out a hand to point toward the door, Jiang Yue roared, "Get out! Get out of here right now!"

Jiang Zi smiled a despairing smile, looking at Jiang Yue with an expression of utter helplessness as she said, "Sister, if you continue to be this deluded and obstinate, you are bound to be ruined by Cheng Jun sooner or later."

Pausing for a moment, she continued, "I went to see Liu Qing last night. Do you have any idea what I encountered?"

Instead of asking what had happened, Jiang Yue immediately interrogated her, "Why on earth did you go looking for that woman again? Did she put it in your head that Chu Jianghe was killed by Cheng Jun?"

"Yes. It seems you already knew."

Laughing in spite of her anger, Jiang Yue retorted, "You just believe whatever she says? Where is the proof? Tell her to produce evidence. Without proof, she is simply guilty of slander!"

"Fine, she doesn't have concrete evidence, but I saw it with my own eyes last night—a man broke into Liu Qing's room."

"If I hadn't intervened in time, she might have been killed."

"Besides, I heard with my own ears that the man who went after Liu Qing was arranged by Cheng Jun."

Jiang Yue paused abruptly, a frown furrowing her brow. "That person you mentioned—did he admit himself that he was sent by Cheng Jun?"

"Well... no, not exactly," Jiang Zi's momentum instantly deflated. "It was Liu Qing who said so. She was interrogating that man, asking if Cheng Jun had sent him."

"Did he admit to it?"

"It seemed... he didn't admit it either. But Sister, I really feel like something is deeply suspicious about all of this!"

Shaking her head in helpless resignation and taking a deep breath, Jiang Yue said, "Jiang Zi, I've taken note of everything you've said. If there is actual evidence proving that Chu Jianghe was murdered by Cheng Jun, I will certainly investigate it to the bitter end."

"But without a shred of evidence, and based solely on Liu Qing's one-sided story, you just bought into it blindly. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?"

Jiang Zi suddenly fell silent. Realizing perhaps that Jiang Yue had a point, she instantly lost the aggressive momentum she had carried when she first walked into the room.

Softening her tone, Jiang Yue attempted to comfort her. "I know that because of Chu Jianghe's death, you haven't been able to find peace in your heart, and you feel like we owe him."

"No matter what, though, you can't just casually pin the blame on Cheng Jun! Liu Qing has always had it in for me and Cheng Jun, so naturally, she would try to shift the blame onto him."

"You're the one who needs to wake up, Jiang Zi."

Lowering her head in silence for a moment, Jiang Zi spoke up again, "Then what about the man who went to see Liu Qing last night? That couldn't possibly have been arranged by Liu Qing herself, could it?"

"It's entirely possible! Think about it—why did you happen to cross paths with him just at that moment?"

"Besides, in this day and age, who would dare break into a place to terrorize a woman living alone? Do you really think that's likely?"

Suddenly recalling something, Jiang Zi countered, "No, Sister, if that person really was arranged by Liu Qing, she wouldn't have stabbed his leg with a pair of scissors. If she was just putting on an act for my benefit, she wouldn't have made it look so real!"

"Is there anything she wouldn't do? She has completely lost her mind by now. The last time we were at the police station, she even tried to throw hands with me."

With a troubled expression, Jiang Zi stammered, "What? She... she hit you, Sister?"

"She gave me a push, so I slapped her right back."

Jiang Yue was practically brainwashing Jiang Zi. Standing nearby, I listened with my fists clenched, itching to give Jiang Yue a couple of slaps myself.

I wanted to beat some sense into her, but as the saying goes, you can never wake someone who is pretending to be asleep!

After a brief silence, Jiang Zi finally softened her tone, pouting with a grievance-laden expression. "I'm sorry, Sister! Just now... I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I'm sorry!"

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yue replied, "Forget it, it's fine. I've always known your personality—you're easily led astray. From now on, don't believe every rumor you hear; you need to have your own independent judgment."

"Right. Then... was Chu Jianghe's death really just an accident?"

"Who knows if it was an accident or not? But it's not like I'm ignoring it either; I've already asked the police to continue their investigation."

"That's good."

Letting out another soft sigh, Jiang Yue said, "Alright, stop dwelling on these things. I know you feel unbalanced inside and think we owe a debt to Chu Jianghe."

"Don't ever think like that, though. His death has nothing to do with us whatsoever. Even if it was an accident, it was the doing of whoever harmed him."

"Mm." Jiang Zi nodded gently, though she still looked heavy-hearted.

"Also," Jiang Yue added, "Cheng Jun will be coming over here later. You should apologize to him; after all, you made things rather awkward for him last night."

Jiang Yue, oh Jiang Yue, you truly are even worse than Jiang Zi.

At least Jiang Zi had her suspicions, but as for you—you practically brainwashed her back into submission.

Yet, this was precisely Jiang Zi's nature; otherwise, she wouldn't have spent all these years blindly believing whatever her older sister told her.

She never bothered to think for herself, always swallowing whatever others told her without a second thought.

Dropping the subject entirely, Jiang Zi turned her gaze back to the computer screen, smiled, and asked, "Sister, are you planning to look for a wedding planning agency?"

"No, I want to find a photography studio that takes better pictures."

"Are you getting ready to take wedding photos?"

"Mm, let's get the wedding photos out of the way first. It can at least be considered giving Cheng Jun some closure."

I was utterly speechless!

Giving Cheng Jun closure—you really are my wonderful wife, aren't you?

Never mind, she never really considered me her husband anyway; it was all just my own wishful thinking.

After that, Jiang Zi and Jiang Yue chatted exclusively about wedding portraits, never mentioning me again.

I had never pinned any hopes on Jiang Zi anyway; her personality was just far too easily manipulated.

If it weren't for her wealthy family background, a person with her disposition would never have survived in the entertainment industry.

Cheng Jun arrived right around that time. Hearing the commotion, Jiang Yue immediately hurried to the door to welcome him.

Jiang Zi followed her outside. Approaching Cheng Jun, she lowered her gaze and murmured, "Brother Cheng, I said a lot of unpleasant things last night. Please don't take it to heart. It was my fault for listening to others... I'm sorry!"

After a momentary pause, Cheng Jun smiled and replied, "It's fine, Jiang Zi. I understand your personality. Besides, after you left last night, your sister kept making excuses for you."

"I understand. I'm not angry."

Lifting her head immediately, Jiang Zi smiled. "Thank you, Brother Cheng. You and my sister go ahead and talk; I'll head back first."