A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 76

Cheng Meirong’s family home sat on the east side of the village. Before they even reached the spot, they could see a prominent small villa standing out among the surrounding low-slung houses. A brand-new iron gate stood half-open against the dirt road of the village’s main street, with two electric scooters parked out front.

There was no one in the yard, save for a calico cat lounging lazily. Seeing visitors, it gave them a look of pure disdain, flicked its tail, and sauntered off to find a new spot.

“When was this house renovated?” Shen Zhao asked, scanning the building.

“About two or three years ago,” replied the village official accompanying them. “Old Cheng was getting things ready for his son’s wedding. But Old Cheng’s son…” The man pointed to his own head. “Something’s a bit off up there. Not very bright. None of the village matchmakers wanted to introduce anyone. In a fit of rage, Old Cheng tore down the old place and rebuilt this to save face.”

Shen Zhao pursed his lips and remained silent.

The official called out into the yard. Soon, footsteps echoed from inside, and a man with jet-black, freshly dyed hair emerged. Seeing two village cadres with two well-dressed outsiders, his face soured. “What is it?”

The official smiled. “Hey, these two are leaders from the city. They’re just asking around about some things.”

“I don’t know them. Nothing to say.” The man turned to head back inside, clearly a difficult person to deal with.

“It’s about Cheng Meirong,” Shen Zhao spoke up, his tone slightly urgent.

The man’s expression shifted instantly. He narrowed his eyes, a calculating look flashing across his face. “Cheng Meirong? Did she get into trouble in the city?”

His reaction took both Lu Xiao and Shen Zhao aback. Shen Zhao kept his composure. “We just want to ask about her childhood. We heard she had a friend named Wu Fang? That they were close?”

The man waved his hand dismissively. “How am I supposed to remember things from when she was a kid? You want to know, go find her and ask her yourself!”

“Hey now, Old Cheng! These leaders are from the city! Watch your attitude!” The official nudged Old Cheng while offering an apologetic smile to Lu Xiao and Shen Zhao.

Old Cheng seemed unwilling to talk further. He spared them a glance and gave a perfunctory reply. “All she did was play when she was little! Didn’t even pass her exams. Later she went out to work. That dead girl is an ungrateful wolf—never contacts us. Haven’t seen her in years. How would I know anything about their business?”

Shen Zhao wanted to press further, but Lu Xiao was losing his patience. The way this father spoke—as if the whole world owed him money—was infuriating.

Lu Xiao straightened his posture and flashed his police ID, his voice turning cold as ice. “I’ve had a report that you’re involved in illegal gambling. You can either answer the questions we just asked, or you can come down to the station with me right now!”

Lu Xiao’s title of “Evil God” was no joke. When he truly turned serious, the sheer coldness of his aura made those around him feel the hair on their necks stand up.

Old Cheng’s eyes filled with suspicion. He swallowed hard, seeing the two village officials acting so deferentially. He finally scowled. “What else do you want to know?”

“Where is Wu Fang’s house?”

The man smacked his lips. “By the water tower to the south. There’s a fried skewer shop; her house is right behind it.”

As soon as they nodded, the man retreated into his house. “If that’s all, then get lost!”

He turned around and slammed the glass door shut with a loud bang.

The village official rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Old Cheng is just like that. Don’t mind him, leaders. I’ll host a welcome dinner for you once you’re done.”

Shen Zhao stared at the closed door, a hollow feeling in his chest. As a child without a home, he had once yearned for the feeling of family. But looking at Xiao Cheng—and now this man—he felt that leaving these so-called “families” was the best choice the boy could make.

Cheng Meirong was the same. This entire family seemed trapped in a cycle of suffering, each generation enduring hardship while simultaneously passing it on to the next.

“Let’s go. To Wu Fang’s house.”

Lu Xiao glanced at the officials. Fearing their presence might intimidate Wu Fang, he said, “We can go on our own. No need to trouble you further. And no need for the dinner—we’ll be leaving as soon as we’re finished. Thank you!”

Shen Zhao reined in his emotions and nodded.

As the two headed toward the water tower, a figure in a secluded alleyway watched their retreating backs and quietly pulled out a cell phone.

The village wasn’t large, but it took them twenty minutes to reach Wu Fang’s home. Her house was clearly aged; the mud plastering on the adobe walls had mostly fallen away. The wooden gate was so corroded it creaked precariously as they pushed it open, nearly falling off its hinges.

They walked to a small room in the yard and knocked. After a long pause, a pair of wary eyes appeared at the crack of the door.

“Who are you looking for?” the woman asked, her voice guarded.

Shen Zhao offered a warm smile. “Are you Wu Fang? We’re just here to ask a few things. Don’t be afraid.”

The woman hesitated for a long time before nodding and opening the door. She didn’t invite them inside; instead, she brought out three small stools. They sat in the yard, where the air carried a faint, damp scent of mold.

Wu Fang was dressed simply but neatly, her hair pulled back into a clean braid. She looked anxious, reflexively kneading the corner of her apron.

“I’m a police officer, but there’s no need to be scared. Just a few questions,” Lu Xiao said gently.

“Police…?” Panic flooded Wu Fang’s face. “I… I don’t work for that family anymore! I don’t know anything!”

“We truly aren’t here to hold you responsible for anything. I’m a friend of Xiao Cheng. He told me you were very good to him,” Shen Zhao said softly.

Hearing the boy’s name, Wu Fang’s eyes shimmered. She nervously looked away, her eyes darting. “That child… I haven’t been in touch with him.”

“When Xiao Cheng went missing, you were the first one to call the police,” Lu Xiao said, cutting straight to the point.

The woman looked up at him, her eyes filled with struggle. After a long while, she finally nodded.

“What happened after that?”

The woman’s heart tightened, her grip on her apron turning her knuckles white. “One night, Meirong came home very late… She was covered in bruises, and there was blood at the corner of her mouth. She… she said Xiao Cheng wasn’t missing. She said he was just at his father’s place to play, and told me to go withdraw the case immediately.”

Wu Fang’s voice trembled. Lu Xiao narrowed his eyes. “And then?”

“The very next morning, before I even had a chance to withdraw the case, I was fired…” She bit her lip. “Meirong didn’t say anything else. She just gave me a sum of money and told me to leave quickly.”