CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 263: The Evidence that Appeared

Chapter 263: Chapter 263: The Evidence that Appeared

Qiao Xiang froze; her face pale as she looked at Pei Liyan, her clear, watery eyes beginning to mist.

Her teeth sank into her lip, her fragile and pitiable expression so delicate that before she even spoke, tears had already started falling down her cheeks.

"President, I know I can’t shirk responsibility for this matter. No matter what I say, you won’t believe me anymore, and I know I’ve implicated He Lan, causing you all such worry, but I really didn’t collude with them.

You want me to come clean about everything, why I called Qiao Rui—it’s only because I was afraid of hurting you, afraid of being misunderstood, thinking that I still harbored improper feelings for you...."

The latter part of Qiao Xiang’s words dissolved into mournful sobs.

She looked down sorrowfully, biting her lip, her expression filled with woe, her half-lowered face perfectly angled to let Pei Liyan and He Zheng see how fragile she was.

He Zheng was startled, watching Qiao Xiang cry uncontrollably, seeing her trembling, gaunt shoulders shake, he too was astonished. When had Qiao Xiang become so weak?

Pei Liyan was also taken aback, witnessing her helpless, sorrowful crying, as pitiable as if she had been abandoned, and all the while considering the words she said, his expression grew stern.

Both men were silent, their sharp gazes fixed upon Qiao Xiang.

No one spoke.

Pei Liyan glanced expressionlessly at He Zheng.

He Zheng felt a bit helpless too; he didn’t want to believe that Qiao Xiang was involved in plotting a kidnapping, especially one that put his own sister in danger.

But Qiao Xiang’s explanations seemed so feeble in comparison.

Feeling the silence stretch between the two men, a sense of urgency grew within Qiao Xiang.

Her tears flowed more freely, but she lifted her head to look at He Zheng, her eyes full of misery.

The desolation in her expression made He Zheng falter once again.

Her vision was blurred by tears, only making her appear even more pitiful.

"He Zheng, don’t you believe me either?"

He Zheng looked at her intently, somewhat helplessly: "Xiangxiang, I really want to believe you, but the reasons you’re giving are too far-fetched. They’re not an excuse not to call the police."

Qiao Xiang was stunned too, and she wiped her tears before turning to look at Pei Liyan. "You don’t believe me either, right?"

"He Zheng is right," Pei Liyan said gravely: "The reasons you’ve given are far too weak and contrived, making it seem like you’re afraid to call the police because you can’t shake off suspicion."

"I didn’t," Qiao Xiang cried out sorrowfully: "Pei Liyan, we grew up together—do you really think of me as so worthless in your heart?"

"This has escalated to criminal activity; it’s not something that trust or distrust can resolve," Pei Liyan said gravely: "I’ve already given you a chance to be totally honest!"

"But I’ve told you and you don’t believe me!" Qiao Xiang shouted, feeling pain in her chest from being cornered: "What do I have to do for you to believe me?"

"A reason that holds up!"

"Ha!" Qiao Xiang sneered, wiping her tears once more, and through her tearful eyes, she saw the man’s handsome features grow cold. She suddenly clutched at her chest.

He Zheng frowned slightly.

Pei Liyan remained silent, his gaze becoming even sharper, bearing down on Qiao Xiang with an intense oppression.

"Then call the police," Qiao Xiang suddenly said: "I thought by asking you, maybe I could prevent a total loss of face and dignity, but you refused, eager to see me humiliated, to see me utterly lose my self-respect. I thought you seeing those photos was enough to destroy my reputation, but I didn’t realize that wasn’t enough, you want to exacerbate the consequences. I’m powerless; do as you please!"

With those words that carried a certain do-or-die sentiment, she startled them.

He Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Pei Liyan, inquiring with his eyes about what to do next.

Pei Liyan nodded and said: "Yes, call the police."

Qiao Xiang’s body stiffened, her already strained shoulders suddenly collapsing.

Call the police, how ruthless he was.

It was all Qiao Rui’s doing, leading them to this, insisting they call the police. Damn that country girl, Qiao Xiang swore she would make Qiao Rui pay.

But now, everything was over.

In Pei Liyan’s eyes, she no longer had the slightest bit of importance.

Even He Zheng didn’t believe her anymore.

Thinking about this, Qiao Xiang was completely drained.

She suddenly stood up, her face devoid of the tragic expression, not even showing any emotion.

She walked out.

"Qiao Xiang!" He Zheng called out to her.

But she didn’t respond, not even turning her head, and walked out.

He Zheng, wanting to say more, hesitated, then glanced at Pei Liyan. After Qiao Xiang left, he asked, "You don’t believe what she said either, do you?"

"Her reasons aren’t sufficient to hold up," said Pei Liyan. "Let’s leave it to the police."

Outside the private room, Qiao Xiang heard Pei Liyan’s emotionless voice; she closed her eyes, her hands clenched by her sides so hard that her nails almost drew blood.

Meanwhile, in the next private room over, Qiao Rui was dining. During a gap, she checked her phone, swiped a few times, then put it down.

Soon after, He Lan received a message on her phone. She was eating and just about to check it when she saw Qiao Xiang push the door open and enter.

He Lan hadn’t had time to look at her phone; instead, her eyes were on Qiao Xiang.

Qiao Xiang had come in alone, with neither Pei Liyan nor He Zheng following behind her.

He Lan glanced at the expressionless Qiao Xiang and asked, "Did you persuade Big Brother Pei and my brother not to call the police?"

Qiao Xiang looked at her and gave a self-mocking bitter smile. "No!"

He Lan was taken aback and looked at her. "You didn’t persuade them at all? It seems that talking to them alone didn’t do any good."

Qiao Xiang looked at He Lan but said nothing.

Her demeanor and gaze irritated He Lan to the point of pain.

She turned to look at Qiao Rui, who was still enjoying her food, seemingly relishing the taste, and He Lan felt even more pained.

"Thanks to you, Qiao Rui, I’ll be utterly disgraced from now on."

Qiao Rui glanced at her, and before she could speak, He Lan retorted, "What does this have to do with Qiao Rui?"

"Isn’t her advocating calling the police related?" At this point, Qiao Xiang was burning with anger.

"Xiangxiang, I don’t like what you’re saying. It’s perfectly normal for Qiao Rui to want to call the police. I want to call the police too. In this kind of situation, which normal person wouldn’t?" He Lan suddenly realized that what she was saying made a lot of sense.

Si Ran and Fang Mo nodded along.

Lu Heming glanced at her and said, "Miss Qiao, what Miss He is saying makes sense. Normally, people would call the police."

"I just don’t understand why you’re so against calling the police," He Lan asked again.

Qiao Xiang’s face darkened, and she glared fiercely at Qiao Rui.

Qiao Rui said, "Big Sister, it’s not my fault you couldn’t persuade Pei Liyan and He Zheng. You don’t have to take your anger out on me. It wasn’t me who kidnapped you, nor was it my friend who turned against you at the last moment."

Qiao Xiang’s eyelids twitched violently.

Suddenly, Qiao Rui’s words seemed sharp, as if she knew the inside story.

After Qiao Rui finished, she added, "You can’t stand your ground with baseless anger and without sufficient evidence and reasoning."

Qiao Xiang was speechless, blocked by Qiao Rui’s few words.

At that moment, He Lan opened her phone and saw a surveillance video.

Inside the video were Qiao Xiang, Gao Yan, and Xu Nuosheng, all chatting and laughing in harmony.

She exclaimed, "Xiangxiang, you really did collude with them!"