The Female Lead Insists on Being My Wife [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Stealing the Wife in a Stand-in Novel (Part 15)

Before Chen Suihe could react, she was already in Shen Chuli’s arms. She patted Shen Chuli’s shoulder, asking to be put down. She wanted to have a good talk with Li Meng—a friend who shared a similar fate, and whose situation had been even more miserable than her own—to ask about the inner workings of the Garden!

This time, Shen Chuli did not comply; she held onto Chen Suihe and wouldn’t let go.

In this surreal “crematorium” of a scene, Father and Mother Shen found it awkward to intervene. After all, it was a matter for the young people. After stuffing their gifts into Chen Suihe’s arms, the elder Shens took their leave.

The door closed. Before Shen Chuli could move, Li Meng stood up. She had seen all kinds of people in the Garden; to climb up and live a bit better, they always had to find ways to snatch guests from their companions. She knew exactly what tactics to use against what kind of person.

To be honest, today was not only the first time she had met Chen Suihe, but also the first time she had seen Shen Chuli—the “White Moonlight” in the hearts of so many wealthy heirs. Li Meng squinted as she looked at the two of them. The smile on her face faded significantly, but it became more genuine.

“President Shen, there’s no need to be so guarded against me,” she said, taking the initiative to show goodwill and stepping back to signal she was harmless. “I just want to have a chat with Suihe.”

Chen Suihe was completely oblivious to the dark undercurrents between them. Her whole mind was set on talking to Li Meng to ask clearly about the Garden and Xu Hao.

Shen Chuli remained silent. After staring at Li Meng for a long time, she finally set Chen Suihe down.

She was set down, and Chen Suihe’s goal of a deep conversation was achieved. But… Shen Chuli squeezed herself right between the two of them. Whenever they drifted a bit too close, an “arm of justice” would appear in the middle to isolate them and pull Chen Suihe back to a safe social distance.

Annoyed by the harassment, Chen Suihe simply used her leg to pin Shen Chuli down while holding her hand. She was so engrossed in the conversation with Li Meng that she didn’t even notice when her fingers became interlaced with Shen Chuli’s.

Listening to Li Meng’s self-narrative, Chen Suihe’s heart felt swollen and sour. When that black silt that threatened to swallow people whole tried to shroud her again, someone hugged her.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s over.”

Chen Suihe snapped out of her thoughts. Under Shen Chuli’s worried gaze, she gave a pale smile. After a moment, the color returned to her face. She gripped Shen Chuli’s hand and asked urgently: “Were you also a student… sponsored by… the Xu Group?”

Li Meng nodded. “But I was through a subsidiary.”

“Xu Hao, confess honestly. Maybe you can get a lighter sentence.”

A thick investigation report sat on the table in the interrogation room, kicking up a layer of invisible dust. It was a massive stack detailing the backgrounds and origins of the “Flowers.”

Following the lead provided by the female officer, investigators had tracked down the boss behind the “Garden.” The piercing incandescent light made it hard for Xu Hao to open his eyes. Even now, he didn’t believe they could find anything. During his time in the detention center, he had become quite haggard.

Seeing his continued cavalier and unrepentant attitude, the investigator emphasized again: “Leniency for those who confess, Xu Hao. This is your last chance. Honestly account for everything you know and have done, and the court will consider reducing your sentence.”

“I don’t know anything, I haven’t done anything,” Xu Hao said, completely ignoring the investigator’s subtext.

Good advice cannot save a ghost determined to die. They stopped circling with him.

“Xu Hao, our investigation has found that you are connected to the mastermind behind the ‘Garden’—specifically regarding illegal imprisonment and organized obscenity. You are now under arrest according to the law.”

An arrest warrant with black ink and a red seal was shown to him. Immediately, a group of fully armed police officers hauled him up, slapped on “platinum bracelets,” and dragged him away. Only then did Xu Hao begin to panic. He resisted fiercely, shouting loudly: “I am the CEO of the Xu Group! The next Chairman! How dare you arrest me!”

At the intersection, the female officer reviewing the case files heard his arrogant shouting and let out a cold sneer: “The Xu Group can’t even save itself… save you?”

Hearing that the Xu Group was in trouble, Xu Hao’s excitement settled slightly. He stared at her and asked: “What happened to the Xu Group?”

“Tax evasion, wage arrears, ‘tofu-dreg’ projects resulting in casualties…” another officer answered “kindly.” “Oh, and by the way, every activity you participated in at the Garden was recorded by the person behind the scenes. The boss of the Garden is your father—did you know that?”

Xu Hao’s eyes widened in disbelief. How… how was that possible!

Not only did he not believe it, but many netizens, investors, and shareholders didn’t believe it either! Father Xu had always taken a “man of the people” route, appearing kind and approachable, which earned the Xu Group much praise from the public. Furthermore, the Xu Group loved doing charity. They won “Best Charitable Group” year after year because of the countless impoverished students and families they sponsored.

But as law enforcement dug deeper, they couldn’t help but feel nauseated by the title. That wasn’t the “Best Charitable Group”; it should be called the “Filthiest and Most Corrupt Group”!

Every cent those students and families received was squeezed out of good-looking students forced into the demonic den of the Garden by Father Xu—exploited, trafficked, and bled dry! Those bank transfers, one by one, were evidence of Father Xu’s wicked black hand reaching out to the sponsored students.

Every investigator trembled with rage at this trail, wishing they could personally tear the Xu father and son apart for those who had been stripped of their human dignity. They didn’t deserve to be called human! Scum!

Public opinion on the internet completely backfired. Videos and images previously archived by enthusiastic netizens were re-uploaded to add evidence to their dirty deeds.

In the hospital, Father Xu remained in a coma, oblivious to everything happening outside. His most “loyal” old butler sent the caregiver away and walked toward him with a lit phone screen. The faint light hit the butler’s pocket, which was bulging as if something were hidden inside.

The old butler—no, he should be called 02.

No one knew that the mysterious 02 had actually been in their sight all along. But his appearance was too ordinary, and his face bore a hideous, savage scar. He stood by Father Xu’s bed, his gaze deep. Having stayed by Father Xu for most of his life, he both hated him and couldn’t help but fear and admire him. 02 was a puppet driven mad by Father Xu, torn apart by conflicting emotions.

He was just a bit luckier because he was a man. 01, who was female, had perished after giving birth to Xu Hao. She had leapt from a high building. They were a pair of siblings who looked very much alike. They originally had loving parents, a poor but warm home, and a bright future. All of it was destroyed by Father Xu’s own hands.

Father Xu, with an oxygen tube in his mouth, seemed to sense something and slowly woke up. Seeing the dark figure before him, he was initially panicked, but after struggling to lift his eyelids, he relaxed. His mouth moved as if calling 02’s name.

02 didn’t know; he no longer remembered his own name. With a smile returning to his face, 02 opened the phone and kindly showed him the latest news about Xu Hao. Father Xu, already critically ill, saw his son’s arrest and fainted again from a surge of fury. This wasn’t out of fatherly love.

Looking at the unconscious Father Xu—who looked like a pile of rotten meat—02’s heart was ice-cold. If it weren’t for the fact that Xu Hao was the only child carrying his sister’s bloodline, he wouldn’t care if Xu Hao lived or died. He calmly pressed the call bell. In the interval, he caressed the photo of Xu Hao on the screen, feeling both sorrowful and that it was only right. After all, he was the seed of that lazy man, Father Xu, carrying half his genes; how good could Xu Hao be?

The hospital was full of hurried people. Patients, families, doctors—they all had people they were connected to. Only he was alone, his home destroyed, his people dead. After sending out the evidence he had accumulated for years, he collapsed in the hospital lobby and never woke up again.

In his dream, he and his sister had just received their university admission letters. Their parents in their shabby home were holding the letters, looking at them repeatedly, unable to put them down. Though the family was poor and could only afford one child’s education, the parents hesitated. Different from last time, in this dream, the brother took the initiative to take his sister out to work for tuition, instead of staying home and being found by the nightmare that would haunt their lives.

Chen Suihe lay on the messy bed, tears hanging from her eyelashes. Although she had been mentally prepared, she was still terrified when it came to the actual operation. Just Shen Chuli leaning in made her body tremble with the urge to flee.

“No… don’t like it,” she expressed her thoughts as Shen Chuli carried her to the bath. Her voice wasn’t loud. If Shen Chuli had insisted on pretending not to hear, she could have continued or gone further next time. But the point of this was for her to be happy, not to suffer. Shen Chuli kissed her cheek, signaling she had heard.

In the early morning, the police received an exceptionally detailed file on the Garden and the Xu Group. This material was even thicker than the first anonymous tip, as if collected cautiously over many years by someone lurking near the Garden’s high-level circle. With this data, the investigators were reinvigorated and quickly dove into the next phase.

Chen Suihe slept until the sun was high. Her brain wasn’t awake yet, but her body began to stretch under the covers. Shen Chuli was already gone, and there was no warmth beside her. Chen Suihe got up and opened the bedroom door barefoot. The living room was also empty.

After checking every room and finding the house empty, the “monkey” decided to become “king” while the “tiger” was away!

The rationed iced Coke? Chugged! The limited-count ice cream? Devoured! Snacks? Polished off!

When Shen Chuli opened the door carrying groceries and saw the “human hamster” sitting barefoot on the living room rug, surrounded by snacks and drinks, stuffing ice cream into her mouth, she couldn’t help but laugh out of exasperation.

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