Chapter 669 - 699: Can’t You Let Go?

In the kidnapping case, Shen Feng was, at most, an accomplice.

The principal offender was either Lu Jiuan or Lin Nian.

In cases like this, the sentences for the principal and the accomplice are different.

Seeing Meng Lanlan’s conflicted expression, Qin Jiao let out a soft sigh. "I can understand why you don’t want to just take my word for it. Do you remember that restaurant where you asked me and Xiao Yue to dinner? Lu Jiuan and Lin Nian met up for dates there, more than once. And at Rose District, Lu Jiuan also went to see Lin Nian alone. If you find a way to look into it yourself, you’ll find out whether I’m telling the truth or not."

It was one thing not to believe one person.

But if a hundred people said Lu Jiuan was a scumbag, and you still refused to believe it, then you were just being hopelessly foolish.

Meng Lanlan left, her heart still heavy with turmoil.

’If she truly loved Lu Jiuan and wanted to clear his name, she would investigate to prove that he had no relationship with Lin Nian.’

But there was one thing Qin Jiao hadn’t said outright: If Lu Jiuan was innocent, why did he run?

「Meanwhile, in a small town far to the South.」

Lu Jiuan, disguised in a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, bought some daily necessities and entered a dilapidated-looking house.

The house’s drab, white walls were covered in cracks, with moss growing rampant along the edges. Every now and then, a gecko would scuttle past.

The Spring Festival had just passed in North City, and the weather was still cold. Here in the South, however, the temperature was a pleasant twenty-plus degrees Celsius.

The inside of the house, however, was not so pleasant. It was messy, with a few articles of clothing strewn carelessly on the sofa.

The moment Lin Nian saw Lu Jiuan return, she rushed over. "Jiuan, what’s happening? Any news?"

"The guys who helped us with the kidnapping have been caught. With Shen Feng’s confession on top of that, there’s no escaping our crimes. We’re both looking at ten years, minimum."

"Why? Qin Jiao is perfectly fine! We were just acquaintances asking her over for a talk, that’s all. Why would the sentence be so harsh?!"

Lin Nian was on the verge of hysterics. Life on the run had made her thinner than before, which only accentuated her large eyes and gave her a somewhat crazed look.

’On what grounds? Qin Jiao was completely unharmed—she even gave birth to a boy and a girl—while they were forced to scurry around and hide like rats?’

Lu Jiuan looked at Lin Nian and poured himself a glass of water. "There’s nothing to be done. That’s just how the law works."

’If something had actually happened to Qin Jiao, their sentences would probably be even harsher.’

Lin Nian said, "Jiuan, we have to think of something! I don’t want to spend the rest of my life hiding like this! I have so many ideas—we can definitely make a comeback!"

’But the most pressing matter right now is getting rid of our fugitive status!’

Lu Jiuan was, of course, even more unwilling to accept this fate. He narrowed his eyes. "Since there are warrants out for our arrest everywhere, we have to find a way to make ’Lu Jiuan’ and ’Lin Nian’ die."

Lin Nian froze for a moment, then said flatly, "I don’t mind faking my death. There’s nothing about my life as Lin Nian that I have any attachment to, anyway."

’The Lin family? What a joke. She couldn’t care less about that pack of scumbags. In fact, she absolutely despised them!’

’And Shen Feng? What part of him looked like a male lead anymore? He was completely pathetic!’

Lu Jiuan looked up and asked her, "What about the child?"

Lin Nian let out a short, cold laugh. "Shen Feng doesn’t love me anymore. He was willing to rat me out. Why should I hold on to any attachment to the child I had with him?"

’If it hadn’t been for that child, she wouldn’t have ended up in a state where she might never be able to have children again.’

’Besides, during the time she’d had that child, Lin Nian had wished more than once that it would just die immediately!’

She looked up at Lu Jiuan. "You can’t bear to leave Meng Lanlan, can you?"