111: Chapter 111 Madness

When Deputy Director Chen Ling's phone rang, he was staring blankly at the ceiling in his dormitory at the Municipal Party Committee Party School.

Outside the window was the night view of the urban area of Lüjiang City, which was much more prosperous than Changyuan County, but he had no mood to appreciate it at all.

Xu Weidong had sent him to the city for training, claiming it was "arranged by the organization," and Deputy Director Chen Ling understood the implication behind those words.

It simply meant for him to get lost and stop getting in the way.

The caller ID showed Yu Liping; he stared at the screen for a few seconds before answering, but he remained silent.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling! Something happened to Chen Dong! He's been arrested! You need to think of a way!"

Deputy Director Chen Ling held the phone a little further away, his voice unnaturally calm.

"I know."

"You know? If you know, why aren't you doing anything? Chen Dong is your brother-in-law! You..."

"Yu Liping!"

Deputy Director Chen Ling interrupted her, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"Do you really think I don't know about the sordid affair between you and Chen Dong?"

The voice on the other end of the line stopped abruptly, as if someone had choked her.

Deputy Director Chen Ling sat up and leaned against the headboard, his voice steady and unhurried, as if he were reading a pre-written verdict.

"You walking around the house in a bathrobe while he serves you tea and water—did you think I was blind?"

"When I was away on business, he would run to the house and stay for the entire night—did you think I was stupid?"

"Yu Liping, I've worked at the Public Security Bureau for twenty years; your little acting performance is nothing but a fart in front of me."

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, let me explain..."

"Explain what? Explain how you were helping him relieve stress? Or how he was fulfilling my duties for me?"

There was a near-cruel calmness in Deputy Director Chen Ling's voice that made Yu Liping tremble.

"Let me tell you, I didn't expose you not because I didn't know, but because I was saving a shred of dignity for you out of consideration for our many years of marriage."

Yu Liping's voice trembled like a sieve as she said, "Deputy Director Chen Ling, I was wrong, I was really wrong... But Chen Dong is my brother after all, you can't just stand by and watch him die..."

"Brother?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling sneered, "When you were with Chen Dong, why didn't you think about him being your brother?"

Suppressed sobbing came from the other end of the line.

"Yu Liping, listen to me carefully."

Deputy Director Chen Ling's voice suddenly dropped low, as if squeezed through his teeth.

"From now on, don't do anything."

"Do not go to the Public Security Bureau, do not pull strings, and do not call anyone."

"Just stay at home honestly, eat when you should, and sleep when you should. If you dare to make a move, don't blame me for being heartless."

"You... what do you mean?"

"What do I mean?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling sneered, "You've spent decades playing the role of the good sister in front of our relatives. If I were to mention your affair with Chen Dong in the family group chat... do you think your parents would be angered to death if they found out? Would your sisters still acknowledge you?"

Yu Liping was completely panicked, her voice laced with tears as she pleaded, "Deputy Director Chen Ling, you can't do this... I beg you, I beg you..."

"Then stay put and behave yourself."

"As for Chen Dong, he courted his own death; no one can save him. If you get involved again, don't blame me for dealing with you as well."

Only sobbing remained on the other end of the line.

"Remember my words."

Deputy Director Chen Ling finished speaking and hung up the phone.

He stared at the ceiling for a long time, suddenly feeling disgusted.

Not disgusted with Yu Liping, but disgusted with himself.

He had lived with that trash for twenty years; he had long known she was unclean outside, yet from beginning to end, he hadn't said a word.

Why?

Because it was shameful!

So he endured it, endured it, until today, until there was no need to endure it anymore.

Yu Liping hung up the phone and slumped on the sofa, as if her bones had been removed.

She was wearing a spaghetti-strap nightdress, the thin silk clinging to her body, revealing everything that should and shouldn't be seen.

This was her usual attire at home, especially when Deputy Director Chen Ling was away, since there was no one else to see her anyway.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

She was stunned for a moment; who would come at this hour?

She hesitated for a moment, then walked to the door and looked out through the peephole.

Chen Xi?

It was her other cousin, the one who hung around with Chen Dong.

Yu Liping opened the door, and Chen Xi's appearance gave her a start.

His clothes were wrinkled, his face was covered in dust, and his hair was a mess, as if he had escaped from somewhere.

He stood at the doorway, his eyes sweeping over her, and his throat bobbed.

"Xiao Xi? What's wrong with you? What happened?"

Yu Liping subconsciously took a step back.

Chen Xi didn't answer; he first poked his head in to look around the room, then slipped inside and locked the door behind him.

"Cousin, something big has happened."

His voice was urgent and panicked, "Brother Dong has been arrested, the club has been raided, everything is finished."

"I escaped through the back door; I was almost caught."

Yu Liping's face turned pale, "Chen Dong, he..."

"He was arrested! Everyone was arrested! Over sixty people, not one escaped!"

Chen Xi grabbed her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh.

"Cousin, you have to help me."

"Where is brother-in-law? I heard brother-in-law went to the city for training?"

"Call him and tell him to think of a way..."

"He won't help..."

Yu Liping's voice trembled, "He said for us to do nothing..."

Chen Xi let go of her hand, stepped back, and stared at her.

That look made Yu Liping's hair stand on end; it wasn't the panic from before, but something else, like a wolf eyeing its prey.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling won't help?"

"Then what are we supposed to do? Brother Dong is inside, the club is gone, I have absolutely nothing left!"

"Xiao Xi, calm down!"

"Calm down? You want me to calm down?"

Chen Xi suddenly laughed, his laughter containing something almost manic.

He looked her up and down, his gaze sliding from her face to her collarbone, from her collarbone to her chest, and from her chest to her thighs.

The spaghetti-strap nightdress was too short, barely covering the tops of her thighs, and her two fair legs were dazzling under the lights.

"Cousin."

Chen Xi's voice suddenly lowered, "Brother Dong spent spring nights with you, tell me, why can't I?"

Yu Liping's face turned pale instantly, "Chen Xi, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"What nonsense?"

Chen Xi took a step forward, "Do you think I don't know? Brother Dong told me a long time ago."

"He said you were very good, very sensible!"

"He's lying!"

"Lying?"

Chen Xi grabbed her wrist, "Then who are you dressed like this for? For Deputy Director Chen Ling? Deputy Director Chen Ling only comes back once every half month, who are you dressing for?"

Yu Liping tried desperately to shrink back, but Chen Xi's hand clamped around her like iron pliers.

Yu Liping wanted to scream, but her mouth was covered the moment she opened it.

"Don't scream."

Chen Xi's voice was right against her ear, his hot breath spraying onto her earlobe.

"If you call someone over, I'll have a hard time, and you won't have it any better. If your sordid affair with Chen Dong gets out, who's going to be the embarrassed one?"

Tears streamed down Yu Liping's face, and she shook her head desperately.

Chen Xi shoved her onto the sofa; her head hit the armrest, stars danced before her eyes, the straps of her nightdress slipped off her shoulders, and half her body was exposed.

She tried to climb up, but Chen Xi pressed her shoulders and pushed her back down.

"Cousin."

His eyes were red, not knowing if it was from anger or something else.

"Why can't I have what Chen Dong can get? He's eating prison food inside, and I'm on the run outside; am I not losing out?"

"Chen Xi, let me go... I'll give you money, I'll give you whatever you want..."

"Money?"

Chen Xi laughed, a hideous laugh.

"What do I need money for? If I take the money and run, who knows how long I can last?"

"Maybe I'll be arrested tomorrow."

"Before I go in, I have to enjoy everything I'm supposed to."

He ripped off her nightdress, the sound of tearing silk sounding particularly harsh in the living room.

Yu Liping let out a scream, but he covered her mouth.

"Don't scream."

"If you scream again, I'll tie you up and do it slowly."

Yu Liping's body was shaking, tears streaming down her cheeks and into her hair.

Chen Xi's hands groped her body, his movements as rough as if he were tearing open a package.

Yu Liping closed her eyes, her body taut as a string.

She didn't dare scream, didn't dare struggle, and didn't even dare to cry out loud.

Chen Xi gasped, cursing and swearing.

"Why should all the good things be his? The club is his, the money is his, even you are his... I risk my life for him, take the fall for him, what has he ever given me?"

He suddenly stopped, grabbed Yu Liping's chin, and turned her face toward him.

"If you don't listen, you get beaten!"

Yu Liping didn't speak, tears flowing continuously.

"Speak!"

Chen Xi slapped her, the sound crisp and echoing in the empty living room.

"You... you..."

Chen Xi laughed, looking very satisfied, and leaned down.

She stared at the chandelier on the ceiling, the light blindingly white, making her dizzy.

I don't know how long it had been, but Chen Xi finally stopped and slumped on her, gasping for air.

After a while, Chen Xi stood up, adjusted his clothes, and looked down at her.

Yu Liping lay on the sofa, her body covered in bruises, and her nightdress torn into several rags scattered on the floor.

She didn't move, her eyes wide open, the reflection of the chandelier in her pupils.

Chen Xi crouched down and reached out to touch her face.

"Sister-in-law, don't tell anyone about today."

"It won't do you any good if you tell."

"Think about it, how would Deputy Director Chen Ling look at you if he knew? How would your parents look at you if they knew? If your relatives and friends knew..."

"Get out."

Yu Liping's voice was very soft, as light as a wisp of smoke.

Chen Xi stood up, looked at her again, turned around, and left.

The door closed behind him, and Yu Liping was the only one left in the living room.

She lay there for a long time, so long that her body went numb, so long that her tears ran dry.

Chen Xi went out, feeling very smug.

Yu Liping, she still had her charm.

Who would have thought that as soon as he stepped out, he was taken away by two police officers.

"I want to report!"

"I want to report Deputy Director Chen Ling for major violations!"

The ambush police officers looked at each other and said coldly, "Is Deputy Director Chen Ling someone you can slander?!"