Chapter 442 - 143: The World Is Being Watched
The murderer had already become Xu Zeqing’s entrenched impression of Huo Wen’an.
The reason he severed his father-daughter relationship with Xu Xingguang so hastily in the beginning was precisely because Xu Xingguang was in love with a murderer, which disgraced him.
He and Mo Yinshu had groomed Xu Xingguang to be an outstanding talent, hoping she would marry into a high-status family, not to associate with a murderer ex-convict.
The last time Xu Zeqing saw Huo Wen’an, although he appeared sickly, he still looked human. Therefore, when he saw the emaciated and sickly-looking Huo Wen’an now, it was natural for him not to recognize him.
"Yes, I am that fatherless, motherless, ex-convict, down-and-out murderer from Cangshan Town." After saying this, Huo Wen’an held Xu Xingguang’s left hand, gently squeezed it, and asked her, "Xingguang, your father is here. You two haven’t seen each other for a long time, aren’t you going to greet him?"
Xu Xingguang rolled her eyes helplessly at Huo Wen’an and turned slightly to her right.
The beauty turned, revealing her flawless and delicate face partially covered by her long hair.
That enchanting and exquisite face, who else could it be but Xu Xingguang?
Xu Zeqing took a sudden step back and exclaimed in shock, "Xu Xingguang, it truly is you!"
"Mr. Xu," Xu Xingguang smiled at him gently and said, in a rather good mood, "After President Li’s death, I’ve been looking for you. I didn’t know you had hidden on Divine Concealment Island. No wonder I couldn’t find you anywhere in Yujiang City."
In reality, Xu Xingguang hadn’t been looking for Xu Zeqing at all; she just wanted to scare him.
Sure enough, upon hearing these words from Xu Xingguang, Xu Zeqing’s defeated expression grew more terrified.
Before this, Xu Zeqing had been racking his brain, unable to understand how he had offended the big shots of Divine Concealment Island. He thought Hong Ruhai had made a mistake on the island, implicating him and leading him to this downfall.
But after learning that the Lord Captain was that ex-convict murderer from Cangshan Town and that the future Lady Captain was Xu Xingguang, Xu Zeqing suddenly understood everything.
It turns out Huo Wen’an was exacting revenge for Xu Xingguang!
Unlike Xu Zeqing’s disbelief, Hong Ruhai remained relatively calm.
Hong Ruhai had long suspected the relationship between the Lord Captain and Xu Xingguang. As soon as he entered the room and saw the woman with her back to them sitting with the Lord Captain, he guessed her identity.
He and Xu Zeqing had conspired to send Xu Xingguang to Divine Concealment Island as a marriage match for Huo Wen’an. How could Xu Xingguang swallow such indignation?
Tonight’s meal was out of the question; eating it would be akin to a last meal before execution!
Recognizing the situation, Hong Ruhai immediately knelt down on his knees.
Xu Zeqing knew little about Huo Wen’an and was unaware of the Lord Captain’s capabilities, but the water torture during this period had left him psychologically scarred.
Seeing Hong Ruhai voluntarily kneel and admit wrongdoing, Xu Zeqing hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and knelt down as well.
Hong Ruhai, kneeling on the ground at this moment, felt as if screws were drilling into his aching knees. After soaking in that coffin for months, his body was almost ruined.
Before Huo Wen’an could interrogate him, he confessed everything about his and Xu Zeqing’s conspiracy against Xu Xingguang, as if the beans in a bamboo tube spilled out all at once.
"Xingguang, it was your granduncle who was possessed by the thought of advancing his career and gave your father such a terrible suggestion. Although your father is a bit foolish and simple-minded, he was also being pressured by Jiang Heng at that time and had no choice."
At this point, Hong Ruhai was still willing to speak on behalf of Xu Zeqing.
Xu Zeqing unexpectedly glanced at Hong Ruhai.
In a moment, he recalled growing up with Hong Ruhai. Originally, his heart was filled with hatred towards Hong Ruhai, but now he was able to let go.
"Neither your father nor I should have conspired against you. This matter is our fault. Now that we have been punished, please, we ask for your forgiveness and for not holding grudges against such short-sighted fools like us!"
Xu Xingguang silently looked at Hong Ruhai, her gaze reflecting slight surprise.
"No wonder they say you are the pride of the Hong and Xu families. Granduncle truly knows how to adapt and is both courageous and wise."
Hong Ruhai was born into an ordinary family, with no grand stage to showcase his talents, only able to venture alone onto Divine Concealment Island.
Yet, even after entering Divine Concealment Island, without a strong background and expansive connections, it would be difficult for him to ever work in Huo’s consortium.