Silent Testimony - Chapter 64

“Teacher Yang, why did Le Qi choose not to expose Ma Zhiming afterward?” Li Hewei’s brow furrowed into a knot, countless doubts colliding and intertwining in her mind.

“Xiao Qi thought that less trouble was better.” Grandma Yang opened the trending news on the forum and placed her phone in the middle of the tea table. “Look, a woman breaks up, the man pleads for reconciliation in vain, then kills and disposes of the body. Similarly, Xiao Ma had already physically abused Xiao Qi. If his head got hot, he might have done something even worse.”

Grandma Yang said helplessly, “When you encounter such an emotionally unstable man, it’s better not to provoke him and to stay far away as soon as possible.”

“Fortunately, Xiao Qi was smart. She contacted her young aunt, who was abroad, and threatened Xiao Ma, saying that if anything happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to escape responsibility.” Grandma Yang put her phone away. “But Xiao Qi also promised not to expose Xiao Ma.”

“The published novel signed a film and television copyright, and Le Qi didn’t interfere?” Tao Ling, also a writer, was completely perplexed. “This was the culmination of countless days and nights of her dedication. Didn’t she care?”

“In 2014, Xiao Ma gained the favor of Zhongyun Publishing House, and the novel suddenly became a bestseller. Worried that Xiao Qi would cause trouble when he was at his peak, he contacted Xiao Qi and offered her a million yuan. Xiao Qi refused, saying that the past was forgiven and forgotten, and she didn’t want any further contact.”

Grandma Yang sighed, “Xiao Qi’s nature is not to compete or fight. She suffered a great loss.”

Tao Ling was speechless.

Grandma Yang slowly recounted the story of how they met and fell in love, and why they returned to live in Youlin.

Le Qi’s financial situation was initially quite comfortable, and she didn’t develop feelings for Ma Zhiming, who came from an ordinary family and was overly attentive for no reason. After graduation, she went to various job markets for interviews. Due to a car accident, her nerves were damaged, and her vision became increasingly blurred until she was completely blind.

At that time, Ma Zhiming showed her great care and concern, remaining faithful. Le Qi was moved and gradually opened her heart to him.

“Xiao Qi couldn’t accept reality, but Xiao Ma stayed with her through the darkest period of her life.” Grandma Yang recalled the details Le Qi had told her. “Later, Xiao Qi planned to return to her hometown, and Xiao Ma, also unaccustomed to the fast pace of the big city, followed her back. After discussion, they rented a space and opened an after-school tutoring school, and the business got better and better.”

“Xiao Ma was in charge of the school’s work, and Xiao Qi was writing novels at home. Life was pretty good, wasn’t it? Who knew things would turn out like this later?”

“The lure of money, perhaps. Not being content with the status quo.” Li Hewei pressed the pause button on the voice recorder and made a gesture to leave. “Teacher Yang, thank you so much.”

Grandma Yang saw them getting up and quickly said, “It’s almost noon. Why don’t you stay and have lunch before you go?”

“We have other urgent matters and need to rush back to Puchen.” Li Hewei glanced at Tao Ling beside her. Tao Ling understood and picked up the conversation, “Teacher Yang, we are members of a disciplined force; we cannot casually eat at a witness’s home. Drinking tea is the limit.”

“Alright, I won’t insist. Now that something has happened to Xiao Ma, it serves him right, but the punishment is a little severe.” Grandma Yang’s pupils suddenly constricted. “The police aren’t going to suspect Xiao Qi, are they?”

Li Hewei immediately denied it. “No. We investigate cases based on evidence. We were only asking you about Ma Zhiming’s social circle, and we were just being a little chatty.”

Grandma Yang felt slightly relieved. “That’s good. Xiao Qi would absolutely not do anything foolish.”

A smile touched Tao Ling’s clear eyes. “Mhm. Le Qi is fortunate to have an intergenerational friend like you, with whom she can talk about anything.”

“It’s a blessing for both of us. Xiao Qi often sends gifts, so I can taste delicious food without leaving the house.” Grandma Yang chuckled, watching them walk away.

Tao Ling noticed Li Hewei’s hurried pace and asked as they walked, “Sister Wei, what’s the urgent matter?”

“We found an eyewitness. Around 2:00 a.m. on the 7th, Ms. Ding, who lives on the fifth floor of Puan Community, was returning home from the night shift and saw a suspicious man carrying a travel bag.”

Ms. Ding was unwilling to go to the police station to give a statement, so the two drove directly to the apartment complex where the crime occurred.

Qiu Wan was already waiting for them downstairs and opened the car door for Tao Ling. “Let’s go, up we go.”

Li Hewei, who had gotten out of the car first, stretched. “I’m so tired.”

“You’ve been driving back and forth, under high mental stress, of course you’re tired.” Qiu Wan and Tao Ling walked ahead, with Li Hewei bringing up the rear. Suddenly, Li Hewei stopped.

Qiu Wan turned back. “What’s wrong?”

Li Hewei’s gaze was as sharp as a knife. “I feel like someone is watching us.”

“Really? Take a closer look.”

Li Hewei was cautious, turning to look around but finding no suspicious person. “Maybe I’m overthinking it.”

“You should be careful. The result of your assault case in August still hasn’t been found. Director Liu talked with the TV station and had the interview video pulled, but other apps have already reposted it.”

“Mhm.” Li Hewei wasn’t worried about herself; she was afraid something might happen to Tao Ling. She remembered the assistant once complaining that the forensic pathologist died in the line of duty before the novel was even halfway done.

Time seemed to freeze. Li Hewei stood rooted to the spot, her thoughts jumbled. It was currently known that the original host traveled through time in March of the second year, five months from now. She had been transmigrated for almost three months. Did this mean danger was closing in on Tao Ling?

“Sister Wei?”

Li Hewei’s heart churned, and her consciousness slowly returned.

“What’s wrong?” Tao Ling’s voice was like a gust of wind sweeping past her ear, finally waking her up.

“Nothing.” Li Hewei stepped forward, but her eyes were clouded with deep distress.

During the statement recording, Qiu Wan led the questioning. Li Hewei sat on a low stool beside her, leaning against the TV cabinet, still feeling unsettled.

Tao Ling noticed the anomaly and whispered, “What happened?”

Tao Ling was right there, alive and real. Li Hewei reached out and touched her wrist. The warmth transferred, confirming her presence. She murmured, “Nothing will happen, nothing will happen…”

“What won’t happen?” Although Li Hewei’s behavior in public was unusual, Tao Ling was more concerned about her current state. She grabbed Li Hewei’s hand and squeezed it gently.

The pain helped Li Hewei emerge from her immersion. She took a deep breath, and only when her emotions slightly eased did she speak. “I’m sorry.” While apologizing, she was still thinking about how to handle a situation where the enemy was hidden and she was exposed. She couldn’t concentrate on the eyewitness’s description at all.

Qiu Wan also turned around, her tone worried. “Hewei, do you want to take a break?”

“I apologize, I’m a bit off.” Li Hewei had physiological tachycardia and hadn’t found a way to alleviate it temporarily. She could only get up and walk out of the living room. She pressed her hands against the railing at the corner, her head bowed, staring blankly at the winding staircase.

She had transmigrated into a strange world without a system or cheat codes, relying on her ability to assist the police in solving cases, but she had unintentionally developed feelings for her mission target. She believed things would work out eventually and planned to take things one step at a time, yet this sense of powerlessness—knowing the ending but not knowing how to respond—could overwhelm her at any moment. Just like now, one second she was talking and laughing, and the next she was behaving erratically and spiritually distraught, like a madwoman.

Li Hewei buried her face in her hands. She heard footsteps approaching from behind but maintained her position, unresponsive.

“Sister Wei, drink some water.” It was the person she expected.

The subsequent conversation completely pulled Li Hewei out of her previous state.

“Did a relative at home get sick? Are you rushing back?”

“No.”

Tao Ling’s voice was a whisper. “Does Aunt Qiong and Uncle Wu know something?”

“Know what?” Li Hewei turned back and looked at the girl in front of her, who seemed hesitant to speak. She slowly calmed down.

Tao Ling guessed that Li Hewei was distressed about being passively outed. She had struggled for a long time watching Li Hewei’s back before finally gathering the courage to bring the cup of water and approach her. Now standing in front of her, she couldn’t utter a single word.

“I, I, I accidentally saw your chat content with Chen Man during the camping trip that day.” She stammered, piecing together a complete sentence.

Li Hewei hadn’t deliberately hidden it at the time, but she hadn’t intentionally shown it either.

“It’s fine.”

“So, did Aunt Qiong and Uncle Wu also find out that you…”

So, she was worried about her coming out. Li Hewei smiled silently. “No. Besides, I can decide on my own romantic life. I don’t need to tell them, much less seek their approval.”

“Tao Ling, do you understand Task Separation? It means learning to think and act independently, no longer overly relying on the opinions and decisions of others.” The environment and time didn’t allow for a detailed explanation, so she kept it simple. “If you want to do something, be brave and do it. You don’t have to pay for the emotions of others; you only need to be responsible for your own emotions.”

“The same principle applies to feelings.”

Tao Ling seemed frozen, her eyes wide, staring at Li Hewei in a daze.

Li Hewei took the water cup from her hand, took a small sip, and said, “Go inside. I’ll try to join you again.”