The villainous female supporting character becomes a heartthrob, and the powerful man successfully r

"Tell me, how did you meet the murderer who killed Duan Jichen? Did you have some other agreement? He killed your brother and asked you to impersonate him, didn't he?!"

Inside the interrogation room, a strong white light shone on Duan Jisong. His stubble-covered face looked haggard and tired, and he longed to close his eyes, lie down, and take a nap.

Unfortunately, the people in the room wouldn't allow it and kept provoking him by repeatedly asking him the same question.

"No... I didn't know he was an enemy agent... I don't want my brother to die..."

He answered haltingly, his voice hoarse, his lips cracked, and he could only manage to utter a few words with difficulty.

The investigators repeated the questions loudly, breaking down Duan Jisong's psychological defenses and stripping him of his pretense.

After three days and three nights of interrogation, one thing was finally confirmed—Duan Jisong was indeed not a spy planted by the enemy.

He had met a spy while delivering goods, and because he wanted to earn extra money, he agreed to take him to the dock to travel by water.

The next day, Duan Jichen, who was on leave, got into an argument with enemy agents in the car due to his professional instincts and was killed.

The investigation team also checked the network of contacts of the enemy agents and found that they had no connection with the Duan brothers, Duan Jichen and Duan Jisong, before finally closing the case.

After receiving the investigation report, Chief Lu finally felt relieved.

"Just this one case of identity theft has exposed how many loopholes there are in our work. Lao Xu, it seems we need to conduct a thorough internal investigation."

"Sir, this is no small matter. It has far-reaching consequences."

"Alright, since we're not going to be blunt, let's just have a... skills competition. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for us; there are just too many loopholes that enemy agents can exploit. We have to be on guard; if something happens again, it won't be as simple as it was this time."

Chief Lu's brows furrowed; this matter made him look older and more tired.

However, it's a good thing that it ended without any real danger.

Duan Jisong was ultimately sentenced to ten years in prison and required to work at a labor camp.

Jiang Ran had already packed her bags and returned to her parents' home after giving her statement. Seeing the overwhelming force of the military, she dared not lie. For the sake of her future, she revealed everything she had discovered. As a result, she redeemed herself and was not held accountable.

When Granny Duan learned that Duan Jisong was actually Duan Jichen, and that he was still going to be imprisoned, and that Jiang Ran had run away with her grandson, she fainted from anger.

Finally, Chief Lu sent someone to deliver living expenses to her regularly, and the women in the family compound were asked to take good care of her.

"Duan Jichen was a good comrade of ours. He sacrificed himself because of enemy agents, so we must take care of his mother. Old Xu, make the arrangements."

Duan Jisong became the topic of conversation among the neighbors after dinner. However, after hearing about Chief Lu's decision, they also took the initiative to go to work and visit Duan's mother every day. No one complained much; they just sighed.

*

Just as Lu Huaisheng finished his meeting and was about to go find Xia Ying, he received a call from Professor Lu, telling him to go home first.

He guessed that perhaps his marriage application had been approved. His parents, knowing the truth, wanted to punish him.

It would be best if Yingying wasn't there, so she wouldn't be affected.

Upon returning home, Lu Huaisheng keenly sensed the tense atmosphere. He didn't show any unusual expression.

Professor Lu and Chief Lu sat on separate sofas, one on each side, their faces solemn and silent.

"Mother, what is this important matter you mentioned?"

Professor Lu picked up the file folder behind him and slammed it on the table with a bang.

"Your marriage application. Why didn't you discuss it with me and decide on your marriage partner on your own?"

Lu Huaisheng looked away from the file folder, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"I am an adult, and our society advocates for free love."

"So, you want to act first and ask questions later, forcing us to accept you and Xia Ying?"

Lu Huaisheng asked, puzzled, "Mother, didn't you like Xia Ying a lot before? Why did you disagree with us?"

"Liking someone and being their daughter-in-law are two different things," Professor Lu said earnestly. "Xia Ying is a good girl. But she has no family support, so she can't help your career. I think you, who are always rational and clear-headed, are even more clear-headed than I am."

"My career is related to my abilities. If I have to rely on Yingying, then I'm useless. The organization doesn't need to trust me either."

"You—" Professor Lu was angered by Lu Huaisheng's straightforwardness. She wanted to get angry, but due to her self-restraint, she managed to stop herself.

Thinking about everything that had happened during this time, she advised, "But Xia Ying, she has been using you all along. Don't you understand? Ever since that incident with the Duan family, she has been using you."

"I know, I'm willing." Lu Huaisheng's resolute voice was like a pebble dropped into a still lake.

Not only Professor Lu, but also Professor Lu and Lu Qianqian's eyes were wide with disbelief, unable to believe that their son/elder brother could say such a thing.

"If I can't offer Yingying anything, why should she be with me? If she's just using me to resolve this matter, then Yingying will accept me. Mother, I couldn't ask for that."

Professor Lu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, afraid of being overwhelmed by Lu Huaisheng's anger.

When he opened his eyes, Lu Huaisheng still had a stern face. But he sat upright, his gaze was firm, and his voice was steady.

It's clear how determined he is towards Xia Ying.

"Furthermore, Mother said that Yingying's actions were merely a ploy to reclaim what was rightfully hers. And the biggest beneficiary, I suspect, isn't our Lu family the one who benefits the most? Father, don't you agree?"

Chief Lu awkwardly touched his nose. He chuckled twice, but after being glared at by Professor Lu, he immediately stopped smiling, leaned closer to her, and whispered, "The child is right. Without Xia, there's still a ticking time bomb in the team, and we wouldn't have discovered this loophole. If something happens later, I won't have the face to go to the capital to see the Chairman."

Professor Lu naturally understood this, but coming from a scholarly family and being a highly educated intellectual, she couldn't empathize with Xia Ying and therefore didn't understand her survival strategy.

"Mother, Yingying is an orphan. If she were innocent and naive, the Duan family would have already squeezed every last drop of value out of her. I don't ask you to understand her, I only ask that you not stop us from getting married."

Lu Huaisheng lowered his head and earnestly pleaded with his mother.

Even if his mother disagrees, he has plenty of ways to marry Xia Ying.

"Huaisheng, what if all of this is just wishful thinking on your part?" Professor Lu hesitated for a moment, then took out another letter and handed it to Lu Huaisheng.

"Xia Ying asked me to give this to you."

Lu Huaisheng looked at the kraft paper envelope in front of him, and a thought flashed through his mind.

A profound sense of insecurity enveloped him, all composure and restraint vanished, leaving only the envelope before him.

He immediately took the envelope, tore it open, and quickly scanned its contents.

In an instant, anger, loss, and sadness intertwined and attacked his reason.

"Brother Lu, by the time you read this letter, I will already be on the train home. I'm sorry, I have to break my promise to marry you. I know very well that there is a huge gap between our social statuses, a chasm that is difficult to cross."

Perhaps it was a mistake from the start. As I said before, if you make a mistake, as long as you correct it in time and get back on the right track, it won't escalate into a major one. And I am that small mistake in your life. Now, let's get everything back on track, don't let your life be stained, and I wish you a bright future.

Also, please apologize to Qianqian for me, and I hope she can forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye.

May you all be well, Xia Ying.

Lu Huaisheng read the words on the letter over and over again, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the words on the letter became indistinct.

"Huaisheng, why are you crying?!"

Professor Lu's voice trembled; she had never seen her son shed a tear since he was old enough to understand.

Now, her usually calm and rational son was teary-eyed, radiating immense sorrow, looking every bit like a man heartbroken.

Lu Huaisheng finally broke down; he couldn't believe that the letter was written by Xia Ying.

He immediately stood up, his voice firm: "I'm going to find Yingying. I need to ask her directly!"

"Huaisheng, have you forgotten who you are?"

Chief Lu called out loudly, pulling Lu Huaisheng back to his senses.

His status dictates that he must report and obtain approval before leaving the area.

Now, with only two months until the Canton Fair, a crucial period for generating foreign exchange, Lu Huaisheng cannot afford to leave because of personal feelings for his children.

Realizing this, Lu Huaisheng felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He staggered a few steps but did not chase after them.

He slumped into his seat, letting tears fall.

After a long pause, he looked at Professor Lu, his eyes lifeless, but his voice was firm: "Mother, if Yingying wanted to use me, why would she leave? She would seize this opportunity to marry me. There's only one reason she would secretly leave."

Lu Huaisheng paused, then continued, "It's because she loves me." At this moment, a strange smile appeared on his lips, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes, as if he had regained his vitality.

"Therefore, I hope you will return the marriage application report in the same way you obtained it. It would be best if it could be processed expedited, as I want to get our marriage approval letter as soon as possible. She is mine, and even if she runs away, she is still mine."

Lu Huaisheng has fallen into paranoia. Now, only his identity, a thin rope, binds his madness.

The Lu family was dumbfounded, completely frightened by Lu Huaisheng's appearance.

They were certain of one thing: if he weren't bound by his identity, he would immediately run to Xia Ying's hometown and kidnap her!

Thinking of this, the three of them unanimously prayed for Xia Ying from their hometown, hoping that she would not be caught by Lu Huaisheng.