Free Web NovelChapter 277: Chapter 277: Confession (2)
Hearing Li Yuan mention their sons, Zheng Jianjun’s heart softened a little. He cared about these two boys more than anything.
Their two sons, Zheng Jiang and Zheng Hai, were now fourteen and twelve. They had always made their parents proud, not only ranking at the top of their classes but also being so sensible that they had never given their parents any cause for worry.
Zheng Jianjun knew full well that his sons had grown up so well thanks to the harmonious atmosphere in the Zheng family. However, if Li Yuan’s situation caused chaos and turned their home upside down, he was afraid it would truly affect them.
That was something Zheng Jianjun did not want to see.
At this thought, Zheng Jianjun looked at Li Yuan sternly. "Little Yuan, I need your guarantee. The Li family’s biological daughter... did you and your older brother really not do anything to them? You didn’t harm them? You only usurped that girl’s identity?"
"I guarantee it." Li Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained perfectly normal. ’I have to pull the Zheng family onto my side,’ she thought. ’It’s the only way I can solidify my position. After all, the Zhengs are in politics. No matter what, I’m just the director of a department store. There are many things I can’t get my hands on.’
’It’s obvious that the main reason Li Aiguo and I can’t find the missing Li Wan and Su Qing is that we don’t have enough power!’
"Alright, I’ll trust you this time." Zheng Jianjun nodded. "I’ll tell Dad and my older brother about this tonight."
"Jianjun, you’re the only one I can count on." Hearing that Zheng Jianjun was going to tell the Zheng family, Li Yuan grew anxious, even though she knew it was inevitable. She quickly grabbed his arm, leaned into his embrace, and blinked a couple of times. Tears welled up and fell, making her look as beautiful and pitiful as a pear blossom in the rain, stirring one’s compassion.
Clearly, Li Yuan’s act was effective on Zheng Jianjun. It had to be said that she was a beautiful woman. Zheng Jianjun had fallen in love with her at first sight, and over the years, Li Yuan had lived a pampered life, preserving her looks remarkably well.
"Don’t worry, I’ll explain it carefully to Dad and my older brother," Zheng Jianjun said with a soft sigh.
"Mm," Li Yuan nodded softly. Although Mr. Zheng’s status wasn’t as high as Mr. Li’s, he had also come up through a hail of bullets. He was fine on a normal day, but terrifying when he lost his temper. She didn’t dare get involved at a time like this, so Zheng Jianjun would have to be the one to face him.
Mr. Zheng currently held his second son, Zheng Jianjun, in high regard.
Li Yuan thought things would go smoothly.
But that very night, a fierce argument erupted in the Zheng family’s study.
"Second Brother, you believe everything she says?" The eldest Zheng son, Zheng Jian Country, stared at Zheng Jianjun in disbelief. "She didn’t just hide this from the Li family; she kept us, the Zheng family, completely in the dark! Now that she sees things are about to spin out of control, she comes running to confess. This is obviously just a ploy to drag our whole family down with her!"
"Big Brother, Little Yuan said she was just blinded by the prospect of wealth and glory back then. After she was already accepted by the Li family, she couldn’t bring herself to confess, so she had to let the mistake continue. Besides, she said she’s doing her best to compensate the Li family’s real daughter," Zheng Jianjun said hurriedly.
After dinner that evening, Zheng Jianjun had tactfully explained Li Yuan’s situation to Mr. Zheng and Zheng Jian Country in the study, not expecting his hot-tempered older brother to explode on the spot.
Zheng Jian Country sneered, "She says all that, and you just believe her?"
"I..." Zheng Jianjun was at a loss for words. ’To be honest, I have my own doubts,’ he thought. ’But thinking of my two sons, I don’t want them to be affected. So, I have to believe Li Yuan. Only by helping her overcome this crisis can I ensure my sons remain untouched by it.’
But now, hearing his older brother’s question, he wavered.
Mr. Zheng narrowed his eyes at Zheng Jianjun and spoke. "Jianjun, I have always been impartial toward you and your brother, holding you both in equal regard. It’s not just because you are the Li family’s son-in-law, but because you have always been level-headed in your work, without any of those flashy, ulterior motives. You must remember this: our Zheng family may not have climbed to the very top, but every step we have taken has been honest and with a clear conscience."
"Dad, I know," Zheng Jianjun said quickly.
"It’s good that you do." Mr. Zheng sighed. "In truth, if you think about this carefully, you should realize it. Without resorting to certain measures, how could Li Yuan have possibly remained safe and sound, undiscovered by the Li family for more than a decade?"
"I..." Mr. Zheng’s words left Zheng Jianjun speechless. He suddenly remembered the state Li Wan was in when he’d seen her years ago—that crazed woman with a face full of scars. His heart dropped, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
"Second Brother, I feel like this is definitely not that simple," Zheng Jian Country said, looking at his younger brother. "Perhaps we’ve never truly known Li Yuan all these years."
"But!" Zheng Jianjun rubbed his aching temples. "If the Li family really finds out, my own family could be torn apart. They will absolutely not let Little Yuan off the hook. When that happens, how will Xiao Jiang and Xiao Hai ever accept it? They’re still so young!"
"And for that, you’d drag the entire Zheng family into the mire?" Zheng Jian Country demanded sharply.
"As long as... as long as the Li family doesn’t find out..." Zheng Jianjun said, his voice lacking any conviction.
Zheng Jian Country let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think that’s possible? Have you ever stopped to think why Li Yuan and that brother of hers can’t find those two?"
"I..." Zheng Jianjun was speechless once again.
Zheng Jian Country continued with a sneer, "Everyone knows Li Yuan is the Li family’s daughter. Who wouldn’t show her some courtesy for whatever she wants to do? And yet, they still can’t find them. Have you really not thought about that? Or is it that you’re unwilling to consider the implications?"
Zheng Jianjun stared blankly at his older brother.
’He’s right. If even Li Yuan can’t find them, there can only be one explanation: someone is helping that mother and daughter. And whoever is helping them must have a status at least on par with our Zheng family. Only a person like that would have the power to hide their tracks so completely.’
’And would a person like that know the Li family? Or... what if it *is* the Li family?’
In that instant, another layer of cold sweat broke out on Zheng Jianjun’s back.
"Big Brother, Dad... do you think... do you think the Li family might already know by now?" Zheng Jianjun asked, sucking in a sharp breath.
Mr. Zheng sighed. "We don’t know. Not a whisper has come from the Li family’s side. Even if they do know, they would likely conduct any investigation in secret. At the very least, they wouldn’t let our Zheng family find out."
"If the Li family really does know, what will they do to our family?" A chill ran through Zheng Jianjun’s heart.
Zheng Jian Country sneered, "That will depend on the choice our family makes."
