The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie
Chapter 291: 291: Xu Fang finds his birth mother, Luo Huaiyu kneels (no division)

Chapter 291: 291: Xu Fang finds his birth mother, Luo Huaiyu kneels (no chapter division)

Luo Changde’s crime was a fact, just lacking some evidence.

This was the case of the evil reaping what they sowed.

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

The judge struck the gavel three times, “Order in the court.”

Luo Changde sat down in a sweaty mess. He was panicked, panting heavily, and completely lost.

Afterward, Jiang Chundong managed to obtain five minutes of self-representation for Luo Qinghe. She stood up, eyes brimming with tears, “It was I who hired someone to run over my father.”

She confessed.

Choking back sobs, she said, “Because I knew it was he who killed my mother and even tried to pin the blame for the Luo family fire on me. I acted impulsively out of self-preservation and to avenge my mother.” Her voice broke, and she paused for a long time, “After the car accident, I regretted it and sent someone to search for him in the Zhang River, hoping he was unharmed.”

She did send someone, but it was to retrieve the vehicle’s dashcam.

“But what I did not expect was that after he was rescued, the first thing he did was to send me to prison, pushing all the murder charges onto me.”

At this, she wept uncontrollably, overcome with grief, “I was blinded by hatred and made a mistake. I am willing to accept the legal punishment.” She faced the bench, “Your Honor, members of the jury, I don’t wish to justify my wrongdoing, but I earnestly ask that you give my mother justice.”

Having said this, her tears flowed like rain, and she bowed deeply.

Jiang Zhi: “…”

Who is she trying to disgust?

The expression on Zhou Xufang’s face wasn’t good either, his brows furrowed deeply.

After Luo Qinghe’s personal statement, her attorney Jiang Chundong delivered the final defense: “From the opening of the case until now, my client has been tormented by her conscience, even resorting to self-harm and suicide attempts. If it weren’t for her pregnancy, my client wouldn’t even wish to live…”

Jiang Chundong, too, was so grief-stricken he could not go on, and he submitted a medical report to the court: “Your Honor, distinguished jury members, my client is eight weeks pregnant. I earnestly ask that you consider her physical condition and her remorse when determining her sentence.”

On the defendant’s bench across from them, Du Shaoxing sneered: Without self-harm or suicide attempts, how could she apply for a medical leave of absence? Such a cunning woman!

After this, the prosecuting attorney delivered the final closing argument, accusing Luo Changde of intentional murder and Luo Qinghe of inciting murder.

Du Shaoxing said nothing more; it was unnecessary. The case was lost.

After thirty minutes of deliberation, the final verdict was as follows:

The primary defendant Luo Changde was found guilty of intentional murder. Having murdered twice with aggravated circumstances, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Defendant Luo Qinghe, for inciting another person to commit murder, was considered a co-conspirator. However, she had shown signs of repentance and was pregnant, so she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, to be served under house arrest.

As soon as the verdict was announced, Luo Changde stood to protest, “Why life imprisonment?”

He shouted, “I object!”

Du Shaoxing gave him a tug but let go when it failed, allowing him to continue.

Luo Changde, like a madman escaped from an asylum, lost his mind at the mention of ‘life imprisonment’ and became violently agitated in the courtroom.

“Why can she serve her sentence outside prison? I want to apply for that too.” He turned his head and roared at Du Shaoxing, “Apply for it for me now!”

A murderer of three still thinking of house arrest?

Du Shaoxing replied harshly, “Go and get yourself pregnant, and I’ll apply for you immediately.” He felt he had the worst luck in eight lifetimes by taking this case—not only tarnishing his reputation but also being ground down by his arch-nemesis.

Luo Changde, fuming with rage, swept all the documents off the table, shouting profanities, “You took so much money from me and still lost the case, you’re a useless cheat, a waste!”

Du Shaoxing, used to seeing this behavior after losing a case, remained unfazed.

Luo Changde was still raving, “I won’t accept this, I want to appeal!”

The judge ignored him, struck the gavel, and adjourned the session.

The guards stepped forward to take Luo Changde away, but he rushed to the witness stand and grabbed Luo Yinghe by the arm, “You!”

Luo Yinghe screamed.

The guards rushed forward and pulled Luo Changde away. He struggled, his face twisted in rage as he glared at Luo Qinghe, “And you!” His handcuffed hands pointed at Luo Qinghe and then Luo Yinghe, “You teamed up to frame me, nothing but traitors!”

The guards dragged him away.

As he clung desperately to the table, he cried out, “Dad, Dad, please help me, I don’t want to go to jail!”

Luo Huaiyu sat in the audience, utterly impassive.

“Dad!”

“Dad!”

Luo Changde was pulled away, his hysterical voice growing fainter.

“Luo Yinghe!”

Xu Yunci approached, her eyes red and furious.

Luo Yinghe didn’t want to quarrel with her, “Whatever it is, we can talk at home—”

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Yun Ci fiercely slapped her across the face, “You can’t even spare your own blood relatives; how did I give birth to an ungrateful wretch like you.”

Ungrateful wretch…

Luo Yinghe brushed the hair from her face and touched her cheek that was stinging from the slap, “What’s wrong with being an ungrateful wretch?” she glanced at Xu Yun Ci with contempt, “That’s still better than being a whore like you.”

Xu Yun Ci was completely frozen, her hand stiff midair, “What did you say?”

Luo Yinghe wanted to retort, but seeing Xu Yun Ci’s face turn pale and her whole body tremble, she swallowed all the malicious words she had intended to spit out. Still, she refused to submit and glared at Xu Yun Ci.

“Heh.”

Luo Qinghe suddenly burst out laughing, “Indeed, like family.”

She still wore handcuffs on her wrists and a prisoner’s uniform, but she carried herself with the same arrogance as before.

Luo Yinghe despised her air of superiority most, “What are you so proud of? When that piece of meat in your stomach is born, won’t it join your father in eating prison food?”

Luo Qinghe didn’t pick up her challenge and left the courtroom along with Jiang Chundong. As she passed by the spectator seats, she stopped.

“Borrowing a knife from my Luo Family to kill a person of the Luo Family,” she looked at Jiang Zhi, “So this was your scheme all along.” To orchestrate fratricide within the Luo Family without getting blood on his hands.

The next will be his time to profit from their troubles.

Jiang Zhi was still sitting down and did not get up, “The judge hasn’t gone far, don’t talk nonsense.”

From the very start, it was he who fanned the flames, causing father and child to become irreconcilable enemies step by step. He did not get his hands dirty, yet had the Luo Family tearing at each other.

“Jiang Zhi, do you know what I like about you?”

His expression indeed changed, his eyes were like knives, incredibly sharp.

Luo Qinghe smiled, “I like how cunning you are.”

He stood up but was held back by Zhou Xufang.

Luo Qinghe’s laughter grew even more jubilant, his expression of wanting to tear her to shreds was very stimulating, “Oh right,” her gaze fell on Zhou Xufang, “do you think we’ve settled the accounts from those years?”

The words held underlying meanings, saying only a part while leaving much unsaid.

At the entrance, Luo Huaiyu was being helped out by Luo Changfang, leaning on his cane as they left.

Eight years ago…

After Peng Xianzhi met with Luo Qinghe in the greenhouse, he went to the study.

“Chairman.”

“Come in and talk.”

He entered, closing the door behind him, and after hesitating for a long while, he finally spoke, “The young mistress asked me to do something for her.”

Luo Huaiyu was painting in the room, “What is it?”

The room was filled with the fragrance of ink.

Peng Xianzhi stepped forward, feeling uneasy, his voice unconsciously dropped much lower, “She asked me to burn down the greenhouse and, incidentally, deal with Luo San,” he glanced at the old man’s face.”

Luo Huaiyu’s brush paused, and the ink spread on the rice paper.

After a long silence without hearing from him, Peng Xianzhi sought guidance, “Chairman, what do you think I should do?”

He put down the brush, crumpled the sheet of paper into a ball, and threw it into the wastebasket. Then he picked up the cane resting beside him, leaned on it, and walked towards the door. It wasn’t until he reached the door that he left a sentence behind: “Today, you did not come to see me, and I know nothing about it.”

Evening.

Luo Huaiyu paid a visit to the greenhouse.

The bald girl was sitting on a small stool watering plants when she saw him. She abruptly stood up, knocking over the stool.

She was terrified of him and involuntarily shrank back.

He walked over with the aid of his cane, “Why didn’t you call for help? Can’t you speak?”

The girl timidly called out, “Gr-Grandfather.”

Her voice was hoarse and her pronunciation odd, as she did not often speak.

He sat down, placed the cane aside, “Do Qinghe and the others often bully you?”

The girl shook her head, afraid to tattle.

“Luo San, you don’t like the Luo Family, do you?”

She did not respond.

Indeed, she did not like the Luo Family because the Luo Family did not like her either.

She seemed very hesitant and after a long time, cautiously asked, “Can I go to the Jiang Family?”

“You want to go to the Jiang Family?”

She nodded.

“Alright, go ahead.”

She was very happy and stammered out a thankful response.

“Here,”

Luo Huaiyu offered the young girl a can of milk.

She did not take it.

“Drink it, don’t you like it?”

The hand extended toward her was dry and lean like kindling, the back of it covered in age spots.

She timidly accepted it but did not open it.

“Try it,” Luo Huaiyu said with a gentle smile, “I even managed to get it from that Jiang Family boy.”

So it was from Jiang Zhi.

She then drank it, sip by sip, slowly.

After finishing, she suddenly felt drowsy, curling up on the recliner, dozing off, unable to open her eyes no matter how hard she tried, her limbs feeling weak and utterly unresponsive.

Tap, tap, tap…

The sound of a walking stick on the floor grew closer.

“Why does it have to be a girl?”

“A girl won’t do.”

“A girl has to die.”

The sun had completely set, and it had become dark, the stars coming out.

The greenhouse was ablaze, its fire piercing the sky, bright as day.

“Chairman!”

A servant rushed into the study, exclaiming in a panic, “There’s a fire! There’s a fire!”

The elderly voice was filled with shock, “Where is the fire?”

“The greenhouse,” the servant gasped for air, “The greenhouse and the sheds behind are all burning up.”

The door to the study opened with a click.

Luo Huaiyu emerged, leaning on his cane, walked to the entrance of the villa, and glanced at the distant blaze, “The fire is too big, don’t let anyone in. Call the police.”

The servant scurried to make the call.

The fire was strangely fierce, with the smell of gasoline lingering in the air. Outside, people were in an uproar, everything in complete chaos.

“Has anyone seen my husband?”

That was He Xiangxiu asking for her husband, “Who has seen him?”

“Baldy?” The Luo Family driver at the time spoke up, “Baldy went in to save people.”

Upon hearing this, He Xiangxiu took off running towards the greenhouse.

Luo Huaiyu returned to the house, leaning on his cane. At the foot of the stairs, he saw Luo Changde pacing back and forth. He mentioned, “Baldy went to save Luo San. You go and keep an eye out, don’t let Xiangxiu also go in.”

Luo Changde immediately ran outside.

The old man, supporting himself with his cane, entered the study and smiled.

The Luo Family was only so large; what could possibly be kept from him? Oh, that’s right, the child’s gender had been concealed from him for fourteen years.

How could it be saved, that child had to die…

The rain continued pouring, pitter-pattering, creating a string of splashes. The driver, holding an umbrella, got out of the car and walked over to the passenger side, opening the door.

First the cane touched the ground, then Luo Huaiyu stepped out of the car, looking up to see the uninvited guest, “Brother Zhi, waiting here for me?”

“Yeah.”

Jiang Zhi, carrying a large black umbrella, stepped through a puddle in his white shoes, walking through the rain and mist.

Luo Huaiyu stood with his cane, “What brings you here?”

“Nothing much, just wanted to teach you a lesson.”

He stepped forward, threw his umbrella aside, and raised his foot, kicking Luo Huaiyu fiercely in the chest. Luo Huaiyu fell backward into a puddle of mud.

Seeing this, the driver stepped forward.

Jiang Zhi looked up, rainwater dripping down from the hair on his forehead, “Get out of the way.”

The driver stopped, not daring to interfere.

“Intruding on private property, assaulting an elderly man,” Luo Huaiyu lay on the ground, in too much pain to get up, gasping for breath, his face turning purplish, glaring at Jiang Zhi, “you want to go to jail too, huh?”

He reached out for his cane.

Jiang Zhi stepped forward, placing his foot on the old man’s hand, “Then go ahead and sue me.” His eyes shimmered with icy rainwater, cold and sharp, “Your son and granddaughter are done for. Next, it’s your turn.”

Zhou Xufang was in the wine cellar.

She did not let Jiang Zhi follow her because she would cry, and she did not want him to see that. Her uncle went in with her.

Zhou Qingrang stood up from his wheelchair, his prosthetic not very agile. He clumsily bent one leg and knelt on the ground: “Sister, Xu Fang and I have come to collect you.”

Amidst the scattered bones, he picked them up one by one, placing them into a wooden box.

Zhou Xufang was also kneeling, extending a trembling hand: “Uncle, let me do it.”

“It’s okay.”

Every time Zhou Qingrang picked up a bone, he called out ‘sister’.

In Xufang Town, there was a saying, that the soul of a person who had died away from home could only be summoned back by their relatives calling for them; otherwise, their spirit would not find the way home.

“Sister.”

“Sister.”

“…”

With each call, it became harder for him to make a sound.

Zhou Xufang bowed her head, tears falling one by one to the ground.

Outside, there were hurried, chaotic footsteps as Xu Yun Ci and her daughter burst in. Luo Yinghe, seeing the skeletal remains, didn’t dare to come forward: “What are you doing?”

Zhou Xufang said: “Get out.”

Xu Yun Ci pulled Luo Yinghe behind her and hastily explained: “Zhou Qingmeng died in childbirth; it’s nobody’s fault.”

“Get out!”

Bang!

A bottle of red wine smashed at Xu Yun Ci’s feet, and she quickly dragged Luo Yinghe out.

Once outside, Luo Yinghe demanded: “How did you know that was Zhou Qingmeng’s body?”

Xu Yun Ci told her not to ask and dragged her back to their room.

Luo Yinghe pulled away: “What exactly do you know?”

“It was Xiao Family.”

“What did she do?”

“When Zhou Qingmeng died in childbirth, Xiao Family happened to have an episode and… with the body…” Xu Yun Ci’s face turned pale.

Luo Yinghe, after hearing this, could not help but shudder.

“Madwoman,” she backed away, “You’re all mad, arsonists, murderers, and now dismemberers,” her legs weakened, and she steadied herself against the door, “Luo Family is terrifying.”

Xu Yun Ci stepped forward: “Yinghe—”

“Don’t come any closer!” She stumbled backward in panic, her eyes full of horror, shouting, “None of you come any closer!”

Tears streamed down Xu Yun Ci’s face.

Panicking, Luo Yinghe scrambled up and ran upstairs to pack her belongings – she had to leave, she needed to leave this place immediately!

Outside, thunder roared, and rain poured down.

Jiang Zhi threw Luo Huaiyu outside the wine cellar.

Zhou Xufang came out.

“Xu Fang,” her hand shaking, Jiang Zhi picked up an umbrella and stood behind her, “Give it to me.”

“No need.”

She held the wooden box with the bones in her arms and walked over to Luo Huaiyu: “Get up.”

Luo Huaiyu was drenched in mud and water, his back hunched as he stood.

Zhou Xufang said: “Kneel down.”

He stared at her, his murky eyes bloodshot.

Zhou Xufang kicked him in the knee: “I told you to kneel down!”

Her eyes reddened, the color of blood.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Luo Huaiyu felt numb in his knees as he knelt, coughing as if his lungs would burst.

“Luo Huaiyu, listen well,” Zhou Xufang, holding the bones, looked down at the old man gasping on the ground amidst the noise of the rain, her words clear and resounding, solemn as if taking an oath, “I am going to mar the Luo Family’s name, change the Luo Family’s ownership, leave you with nothing, and make everyone turn against you.”

She had never been so malevolent, nor had she ever felt such a strong desire for revenge.

Desiring to destroy the Luo Family, to make them repay blood debts with their blood.

“Who are you?” Luo Huaiyu raised his head, the rain beating on his wrinkled face, his pupils cloudy and fierce, filled with panic and fear, “Who are you really!”

She said, each word resounding firmly: “I am the daughter of Zhou Qingmeng, Zhou Xufang.”