First, expose Xu Ruyi's lies.
"My wife, Xu Ruyi, has known about my affair with Qi Min all along. She just pretended not to."
Qin Guan asked for another cup of cold water, drank it, and gripped the disposable paper cup tightly. The icy liquid steadied his foggy, exhausted mind. He began to piece together his memories.
"Though I hid the affair carefully, she still found out. I don't even know when. She never showed any signs. She often visited my office, always greeting Qi Min warmly. Qi Min sometimes came to our house too. The two women would chat and laugh about clothes, makeup, food—it all seemed harmonious. Of course, I thought it was harmonious. I was a fool. Typical male arrogance, thinking I could juggle both relationships. It wasn't until recently that I realized Xu Ruyi knew everything. She's been hiding it all this time."
Yes, she'd always smiled sweetly at Qi Min with those gentle, crinkled eyes. She praised Qi Min's beauty and competence, joked that her lively personality would land her a "domineering CEO boyfriend," and even hugged Qin Guan tenderly in front of Qi Min, calling him a "thoughtful husband."
That hypocritical, terrifying woman.
"Yesterday afternoon—no, it's the day before yesterday now—"
Qin Guan looked up, blinking heavily. Old He sat across from him, arms crossed, a wristwatch visible on his propped-up hand. The clock face showed it was around 4 a.m.
Of course. Nighttime eroded resolve fastest.
Trapped in this cramped room under the police's piercing stares, exhaustion and confusion had long since dulled his sharpness.
"The day before yesterday, Xu Ruyi claimed she fell and got hospitalized after meeting Yang Qingqing at the Tianfu Hotel. But that's a lie. She was actually meeting Qi Min at the Xinhe Hotel, near Tianfu. Check the locations—they're close."
A young officer glanced at Old He. This was new information.
Qin Guan seized the momentum. "I only realized this now. She covered her tracks perfectly. Yang Qingqing probably corroborated her alibi, but I'm certain she's lying for Xu Ruyi. Verify the details—you'll find cracks!"
The officers exchanged looks.
"The truth is, Xu Ruyi met Qi Min at the Xinhe Hotel. They even fought."
Qin Guan wasn't sure about the fight—Qi Min's account had been vague, and Xu Ruyi's even more so. But recalling Xu Ruyi lying injured in the hospital, a sudden realization jolted him.
"Wait! Xu Ruyi hasn't showered since returning. Check her wounds or fingernails—you might find Qi Min's DNA!"
One officer scribbled notes while the other rushed out to dispatch a team to the hospital.
Good. Once Xu Ruyi's lies unraveled, he'd escape this nightmare.
"Xu Ruyi hid the fact that Qi Min was still alive to sabotage me. She's retaliating because I cheated!"
Qin Guan grew more agitated, genuine fury rising.
"I don't even know her endgame. Maybe she wants a divorce, more assets? I can't trust her anymore. Her actions terrify me—and that's just what I've seen. What else is she hiding? Maybe she and Qi Min conspired against me!"
The idea electrified him. Why else would Xu Ruyi act so friendly with Qi Min despite the affair? And how had Qi Min copied Xu Ruyi's car key?
His eyes lit up. "Investigate their connections! They must've colluded privately. Maybe Qi Min's disappearance stemmed from a fallout between them—maybe they fought!"
He bit back the phrase "dog-eat-dog," settling for: "...fought."
"Don't you see? She knows she's the only one who can clear my name, yet she's framing me! Who knows—maybe she's the one having an affair! Why aren't you investigating her?"
If the police dug into Xu Ruyi, they'd expose her. He refused to believe she was untouchable.
"Xu Ruyi did fall and injure herself at the Tianfu Hotel," Old He cut in coldly. "The blood on the wall matched her DNA. She didn't lie."
"No! She hurt herself on purpose!" Qin Guan slammed the table.
"You think she broke her own nose?" Old He's tone sharpened.
They weren't buying it.
Frustration boiled over. "You want proof? Investigate her! It's there!"
He wanted to smash the room. These women—Qi Min, Xu Ruyi—had trapped him from both sides. He couldn't just wait.
"They conspired, then turned on each other over money! Qi Min even copied Xu Ruyi's car key. Here—"
He lunged for his briefcase, untouched by police, and pulled out the Cadillac key from the repair shop. "Check with the shop owner! Why would Qi Min copy her key? They were at each other's throats!"
But as he yanked the key free, it snapped in half.
Qin Guan stared, stunned. The ¥1,800 key—broken.