Liang Yan finally arrived with the detectives.
Xiao Nian, who had just said the word "yes," smiled again.
Perhaps she was the only one present who couldn't see her own pale face. Liang Yan took one look and cried out:
"Chen Xiao, Xiaoxi, what are you doing? Hurry and take her to the hospital!"
No matter whether someone is guilty or not, even if the court has decided she is guilty, when she is clearly in danger, the police's first responsibility is still to save her.
Chen Xiao shook his head: "Sister Liang, let's save time. We need to clarify everything before anything else. Sending her to the hospital is already too late."
Xiao Nian also nodded with a smile, but just as she was about to speak, blood poured out first.
Zhao Hai's fierce face blurred for a second when he saw the blood, his body instinctively moving forward.
Yet, Zhao Hai ultimately stopped himself!
Xiao Nian saw this and simply smiled, seemingly indifferent, yet a trace of subtle disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Chen Xiao glanced and said: "Xiao Nian, your original target was Gu Yue, but why did you kill Zhao Xiaohong?"
Xiao Nian wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her face full of hatred as she said:
"In your understanding, I must seem like a promiscuous woman with no principles, no bottom line, right?"
No one spoke, and Xiao Nian continued without waiting for a reply:
"I met Gu Yue when we were young; we were childhood friends, both from a very poor place. At that time, I thought he would be my husband. So we both worked hard, both determined to escape that impoverished place."
"Later, I went to university in Dongzhou, while he, unable to get in, had to drop out and work in Dongzhou. In the first year, our relationship was still as good as it was, but gradually it changed. He got obsessed with so-called music, and I naively thought he would struggle for his dreams."
"So I went to school while working hard at part-time jobs; throughout university I hardly had vacations, not a day's sleep over six hours. All the money I earned went to pay his rent and buy equipment."
"Finally, one day he told me he met someone important and handed me ten thousand yuan, saying he earned it. I was so happy, even in tears, clinging to him, dreaming of a better future."
"He was very generous, buying me things beyond imagination on that day. Yet, that day he destroyed everything. He took me to a dinner party where I was made to drink a lot of alcohol. When I awoke in the middle of the night, I was already in a hotel room."
"The room was empty, but I was in pain all over. Struggling to remember something, I mistakenly thought it was just a dream, believing it must have been Gu Yue with me. But from that night onward, Gu Yue vanished. I searched everywhere, but there was no trace of him."
"Gradually, I was forced to start a new life. To numb the effect Gu Yue had on my life, I left school, desperately taking on any job I could."
"From then on, I moved into this small room here. Shortly afterward, I met Brother Hai and Xiaohong. Relying on the guitar skills Gu Yue taught me, I became Xiaohong's guitar teacher."
At this point, Xiao Nian paused.
She looked at Zhao Hai, her eyes complex: "I want to defend myself, but I have no right to. The changes in life and emotions have twisted me inside. Seeing Brother Hai and Sister Su so in love, their family living so happily and wealthy, I admit I am jealous."
"I began scheming to get close to Brother Hai, including the time I defended Xiaohong. But I never expected it to plant a seed in Xiaohong's heart."
"After that, you all know, I successfully rose and caused Sister Su's death, pushing Xiaohong into despair. At that time, I couldn't care less; I was terrified of poverty, scared of hardship, and would do anything to shed those labels attached to me!"
"But then, Gu Yue returned. He brought not only the painful past but also the truth from that night! Still, the day Gu Yue returned, I came back to this room again. I wanted to engrave those pains into myself, never to show any mercy towards Gu Yue."
"It seems fate heard my cries; that night here, I found something which spurred me to plan it all!"
Listening to Xiao Nian's words, Liang Yan couldn't help but ask: "What thing?"
Xiao Nian didn't respond immediately but opened her handbag and took out a notebook.
She instinctively wanted to hand it to Liang Yan but stopped halfway, instead handing the notebook to Chen Xiao, her gaze odd.
Chen Xiao took it, opening the first page.
Just the first page, and Chen Xiao's eyes froze.
Because the first sentence in the notebook was shocking.
[Want to kill someone?]
Four short words, distinctly written in blood!
"This is a notebook of killing notes, with more than a dozen cases inside. Each case records the initial planning, execution in the middle, and the final clean-up steps."
"From the third case in the book, I found a way to deal with Gu Yue. At that time, I really didn't know his purpose for coming back. But the notes taught me if you can't understand why a long-unseen acquaintance suddenly returns, then remain unchanged to adapt, disguise as your former self, even if that person harmed you deeply!"
"Following the method in the notebook, I came into contact with Gu Yue. My reaction caught him off guard, but soon he seemed to enter the role. We reminisced about how things have changed, and past friendships diluted. After spending some time together, I sensed Gu Yue's return was purposeful, then relying on the notes, finally found out without Gu Yue knowing!"
"The truth about Gu Yue disappearing that night!"
"Turns out, the blurred memories I had weren't just dreams! For his future, he sacrificed me to those so-called bosses. His return was because he failed again, intending to blackmail me for profit. But he didn't expect even after so many years, I would still display the same affection when seeing him, leading him to mistakenly believe in his charm, thinking he could manipulate me again."
"Haha... That fool even acted out various plays with me; I cooperated willingly. And according to the method in the notes, handled the relationship among me, Brother Hai, and Gu Yue. Yet Gu Yue became impatient; he ultimately revealed that footage to blackmail me, hoping to extort money from me."
"But what Gu Yue couldn't foresee was already before he blackmailed me, I wanted him to disappear completely from this world!"
Xiao Nian recounted with icy coldness in her eyes.
Chen Xiao listened as he flipped through the notebook.
Looking at the content in the notebook, Chen Xiao felt chills spreading throughout his body.
It was exactly a notebook teaching one to become a monster, detailing every method meticulously.
Chen Xiao couldn't imagine what kind of person could write such things.
He looked up at Xiao Nian and said solemnly: "But you didn't expect that this matter would be known by Zhao Xiaohong, right?"
Xiao Nian closed her eyes in pain, nodding: "Yes, I really didn't expect what was originally only between me and Gu Yue would be known by Xiaohong. Even more, I didn't expect Xiaohong would stand up for someone like me."
"Because of Xiaohong's involvement, I started to panic, knowing some things had reached a point where I had no other choice but to act. So, following the method in the notes, I began planning, cooperating with Gu Yue while searching for opportunities to deceive him."
"Finally, the night before last I had the best reason, as it was the anniversary of my confirmed relationship with Gu Yue. If I invited him to this room, he'd definitely come."
"Sure enough, I didn't wait long before the door opened. I was hiding behind it then; my heart was pounding and hatred reached unprecedented heights. So I almost didn't hesitate to slash down!"
"When that bulging thing fell to the floor, I laughed like never before. But as I laughed, I clearly saw the face...."