C202 Guidance

Sang Ling was in despair. She had recently come into a sum of money, only to lose it all. Her fantasies were idyllic, but reality proved brutally unkind.

Therefore, her desire to take someone down with her before her demise wasn't improbable. And the person she intended to implicate, I had already surmised; I knew who it was.

Qian Guang clasped his hands together, awaiting Sang Ling's confession. She said, "It's Ma Qing. I sold the jade to Ma Qing, your girlfriend. Are you satisfied now?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Guang furrowed his brow, momentarily stunned. He quickly turned to me, his gaze laced with suspicion.

I understood Qian Guang's implication; he suspected Sang Ling and I were colluding. I remained silent, and Qian Guang, without questioning me directly, blinked a few times before asking, "Ma Qing?"

"Yes, Ma Qing and I are alumni. She's a formidable woman. While studying abroad, she had no friends, only me. Regardless of her strength and unyielding nature, we became friends. After returning to China, I searched for employment for an extended period, to no avail. The domestic economic climate was abysmal. I had spent over a million on my overseas education, yet they offered me a paltry salary of just over three thousand. I couldn't accept it…" Sang Ling said, her voice choked with anguish.

"So, you resorted to gambling?" I asked.

"It wasn't intentional. I simply went home, to see my family. I inadvertently witnessed someone winning a substantial amount of money. My boyfriend was abroad at the time, leaving me alone. I merely intended to play for amusement, but who knew…" Sang Ling sobbed.

I sighed, inwardly lamenting, Who knew you'd become addicted, embarking on a path of no return?

I inquired, "Where did you obtain the key? I recall Ma Lan's safe key was solely in her possession…"

"Remember our conversation last time? She gave me the key, and I surreptitiously made a copy…" Sang Ling replied.

Hearing this, I frowned. So that's how it was. A wry smile touched my lips. Ma Lan was truly careless. I remarked, "You meticulously plotted this theft all along? Why? Do you understand what you've forfeited? The love of two men—Yang Rui and myself. I swear, from the moment I first saw you, I believed you were worthy of love…"

"You forced me! Both of you forced me! It was Yang Rui and you! I could have started anew, but why did he seek me out? Why did you expose me? You men are all the same! Do you know, I had planned to wholeheartedly dedicate myself to you, to build a life together, to reform myself. But he found me, and you discovered the truth. What was I supposed to do? You both abandoned me. What choice did I, a woman, have?" Sang Ling cried out, her voice filled with furious despair.

I pursed my lips, a wry smile playing on them. I had never encountered such brazen audacity. Even now, she shifted the blame onto me. Truly…

I was speechless.

Qian Guang asked, "I'm not interested in your past. Why did you sell the jade to Ma Qing?"

"She's a classmate, an ungrateful wretch. Do you know, when I was desperate, I asked her for a loan? Do you know what she said? She said, 'One must be self-reliant.' She offered to help me find work. I owed tens of millions! How long would I have to work to repay that?" Sang Ling spat, her voice laced with bitterness.

I felt a wave of helplessness wash over me. It seemed, in Sang Ling's mind, the entire world owed her a debt.

"Continue…" Qian Guang said coldly.

Sang Ling wiped away her tears. "Later, Ma Qing offered me a way out, a job at her sister's jade shop. She'd pay me one hundred thousand a month, in exchange for providing her with information about her sister."

I was utterly astonished. I looked at Qian Guang; his brow was furrowed, his expression grim. Sang Ling continued, "Ma Qing is a forceful woman, full of anxieties. She said her sister was slowly threatening her position, so she needed me to spy on her. I was desperate, so I agreed. But she kept me at arm's length. Recently, her father handed over control of his business to her, so I felt like I was about to be discarded."

I sighed, "So, you set your sights on me, began to seduce me?"

"No, I genuinely liked you. You gave me a different feeling. It's all gambling; why could you win, while I only lost? I developed an enigmatic fascination with you, a feeling that tormented me. I wanted to be close to you, yet feared you'd discover everything and leave me. I truly…" Sang Ling wept, unable to continue.

I chuckled. If I didn't know her true nature, I almost would have believed her. Gamblers are incorrigible.

I asked, "Why sell the jade to Ma Qing?"

Sang Ling let out a bitter laugh. "Who else could I trust? I couldn't sell it to anyone else. If the jade was sold, and you reported it, I'd be caught immediately. So, I knew I couldn't sell it to an expert; it had to be an outsider. Therefore, I could only approach Ma Qing. Do you know how vicious she is? I owed fifteen million, but she only gave me ten million. I begged her, cried, but she only gave me ten million. What could I do? I wanted a fresh start, but she wouldn't give me the chance…"

I looked at Qian Guang; his face was grim. I found myself amused. Ma Qing was no pushover. Her actions were clearly aimed at maintaining control over Sang Ling. Sang Ling was truly unfortunate. Ma Qing knew gamblers are hopeless; any amount of money would be lost. So, she saved where she could, while maintaining her control over Sang Ling.

It must be said, all beautiful women are dangerous. The more beautiful, the more dangerous…

Qian Guang said, "You better not be lying to me…"

Sang Ling laughed, "Why would I lie? My life is already ruined. What would lying gain me?"

Qian Guang sighed, "Get rid of this woman…"

I frowned. Wang Gui and Zhao Kui quickly pulled Sang Ling out of the car. I was about to get out as well, my mind in turmoil, but Qian Guang said, "Tonight, I'll meet Ma Qing. I'll handle this; don't interfere."

I nodded. If Qian Guang could handle it, it would be best. After all, Ma Qing was the daughter of Qi Ye…

I got into the car. It headed towards a bar. I said nothing; the atmosphere was heavy. Sang Ling didn't cry, just covered her face. At the bar, the two men dragged Sang Ling out, glanced around, and shut the door. The bar plunged into darkness.

Sang Ling slumped to the ground, her body trembling. She knew her fate. She said, "Zhao Fei, don't let me suffer. After I die, don't desecrate me. Place my body where people can find it. I don't want my parents to see my horrifying face after I'm gone. Even a fleeting relationship deserves some respect. I only ask you to grant me this one last wish…"

A wry smile touched my lips; my heart was strangely calm. I said, "Leave. I need to talk to her…"

Wang Gui and Zhao Kui looked at me, said nothing, and left. I looked at Sang Ling, took a bottle of liquor from the bar, opened it, and offered it to her. She drank it down in one gulp. Afterward, she looked at me and said, "Let me die beautifully…"

I reached out and touched Sang Ling's face. I asked, "Did Ma Qing tell you to steal it?"

Sang Ling lowered her head, "No, I wanted to steal it myself. I was furious…"

"Your perfume is hers. You're wearing her perfume. She's extremely sensitive and forceful. She wouldn't let you wear her perfume unless you threatened her somehow…" I said, a smile playing on my lips.

Sang Ling looked at me, "You're so perceptive. You didn't come that night, and I was utterly desperate. You'll never know how agonizing it was. Your distrust, your distance, it left me feeling insecure. You didn't come; I thought you were just playing games, so I went to Ma Qing. I blackmailed her. If she didn't give me money, I'd tell her sister about what she'd asked me to do. But she wasn't afraid at all. She'd already inherited her father's business. She wanted to get rid of me. But she was still afraid of her sister growing stronger, so she had me steal the jade for her. But I refused. I didn't want to commit a crime…"

I sighed, a wry smile on my face. "You still have a shred of conscience…"

Sang Ling looked at me, a spark of hope igniting within her. She crawled towards me, her hands grasping mine, pressing them to her face. "Zhao Fei, I know I was wrong. Please, give me another chance."

I looked at Sang Ling. I knew beautiful women are the most skilled liars, masters at using their beauty to ensnare men. I smiled. "I'm not a good person, but I don't kill women. Don't worry, I won't kill you…"

Sang Ling looked incredulous. "Really?"

I nodded, pinching her cheek. Of course, I wouldn't kill Sang Ling. It wouldn't solve anything. And killing her would be too easy. Besides, killing her wouldn't get my eighty million back, nor would it reassure Ma Qing.

Sang Ling suddenly embraced me. "Zhao Fei, I truly didn't intend to steal the jade. That night, you hurt me deeply. I planned to spend the rest of my life with you, but you were going to abandon me. I had no choice but to go to Ma Qing. She told me to take the jade in exchange for money. I had no choice but to steal it. But she's truly despicable. She promised me twenty million, but only gave me ten. She threatened me; if I spoke out, she'd have me killed. Her father is in the underworld. I was truly terrified. I was forced."

I gently stroked Sang Ling's back. I asked, "Do you hate her?"

"Yes, I hate her intensely. When we were abroad, I was so good to her. When we were broke, I'd share my instant noodles with her. After returning to China, she treated me this way. I was practically starving, and she wore expensive perfume and wouldn't lend me money. Ungrateful…" Sang Ling cursed, her voice filled with venom.

I smiled. Ma Qing wasn't ungrateful; she simply knew Sang Ling was a bottomless pit. She was very clever, but unfortunately, I would make her cleverness her undoing.

I said, "Want revenge?"

Like a devil, I began to tempt Sang Ling, to lead her down another path of despair. This was my revenge…

A/N

Heyy, you reading, thanks for reading this far please don't stop, support me in any way that youcan. Your reviews, your comments, your criticism, all of it, l would appreciate them. l love you.

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