Chapter 210 - 90: Catching the "Snake" (Finale)

Chapter 210: Chapter 90: Catching the "Snake" (Finale)

"Then what about your fingers?"

"I’ve specially trained them."

"Then why were you in my family’s car today?"

"I really did need to talk to you. In fact, even if I hadn’t run into your mother, I would have gone to your house. I just didn’t expect such a coincidence."

"Then why did you put your hand on her headrest...?"

"Because we were in the outskirts, and the car was a bit bumpy. I needed something to hold onto."

"Why not use the grab handle on the ceiling?"

"A handle? Like on a bike?" The girl tilted her head, one cheek puffed out with a piece of fruit. "What’s that? I’ve only ever ridden in Teacher Song’s car, so I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said, confused.

’Alright, she doesn’t even have a bicycle. It’s possible she really doesn’t know what a grab handle is.’

’This doesn’t seem like a lie.’

"Why are you so hung up on these details?"

He didn’t have the heart to say, ’I was worried you were going to snap my mom’s neck.’

A mix of complicated feelings churned inside Zhang Shutong.

He lay down on the ground, deflated. The back of his head throbbed again, and his ears filled with the crisp, rhythmic sound of the girl chewing.

Zhang Shutong panted heavily.

"Since it was all fake, that kick was still pretty damn vicious."

"You suddenly tricked me into that pit. I sprained my ankle, and it’ll probably be hard to walk. An eye for an eye, it’s only fair." Lu Qinglian’s tone became indifferent again. "Besides, I deliberately held back. You should know what happened to that poacher; otherwise, you wouldn’t still be conscious and talking."

He struggled to lift his head and look, only to see that the girl was indeed lightly favoring one foot. She was covered in snow from her hair to her clothes, looking every bit as disheveled as he was.

"I’m sorry," Zhang Shutong said, deeply ashamed.

"I’ve already let off some steam, so it’s fine." She gave a nonchalant nod.

"So you were lying to me from the very beginning?"

"No. Actually, before you suddenly turned and ran, I was planning to have a serious talk with you."

"Then why didn’t you say anything in the car earlier?"

"Are you sure you wanted your mother to know about all this?"

Lu Qinglian said nonchalantly,

"If you’re okay with it, I don’t mind. Also, I said it before: if you want honesty, you need to show the right attitude. I asked you on the rooftop yesterday, but you hid things from me."

"It would have been better for everyone if you had just voiced all your suspicions back then."

Zhang Shutong’s face grew hot. Because of that photo, and those three tattoos, his attitude toward Lu Qinglian had been one of constant suspicion.

But from her perspective, his suspicions were completely baseless. He must have seemed like a madman, acting without any proof.

Zhang Shutong even felt that she was being remarkably good-natured about it.

But this was followed by a deep sense of confusion:

’If Lu Qinglian isn’t the killer...’

’Then what do those tattoos mean?’

’Was I completely wrong about everything?’

It seemed there was some kind of profound misunderstanding between them, but Zhang Shutong couldn’t figure it out for the life of him.

"Alright, now it’s my turn to ask the questions."

Lu Qinglian picked up another slice of apple. She ate quite fast, narrowing her peach-blossom eyes.

"I’ve been wondering about something. Your attitude yesterday was fine. So, if I’m not misreading you, why did you suddenly look so scared when you saw me today? You were even panicking. Have I ever done anything to you?"

"That’s what I wanted to ask..."

He finally felt his breathing even out. He rolled over in the snow and shakily got to his feet.

"Why did you go to that patch of wasteland to the west last night? You were squatting by the bank, and then you suddenly ran off when you saw me."

As soon as he said that, the sound of chewing abruptly stopped.

In his line of sight, he saw the girl named Lu Qinglian frown deeply. Her eyes locked onto his, unusually focused.

"Zhang Shutong, what I’m about to say is serious. I can tell you this with absolute certainty—"

"I never went there last night."