"I was the one who made the car keys."
Xu Ruyi sat on the hospital bed, her voice steady.
Her face, wrapped in bandages, resembled a windless summer morning—a mirror-like lake surface, utterly calm, without even a ripple. Her eyes were serene, fearless, and composed, as if she had long been prepared to "confess" and "turn herself in."
"Both car keys were made by me. I impersonated Qi Min when I went to the auto repair shop…"
Of course. Of course.
Qin Guan stared at this "stranger" of a wife—this answer was exactly what he had anticipated on his way here. By insisting she was the one who made the keys, she was eliminating any possibility that Qi Min had returned after disappearing from the lakeside villa.
She was determined to nail him down.
"It wasn't you—it was Qi Min! You're lying on purpose!" Qin Guan gritted his teeth. This frail-looking woman before him was doing everything to destroy him. He couldn't let her win.
"No, it was me."
Xu Ruyi didn't bother arguing with him. She didn't even glance his way. Instead, she looked at the auto shop owner. "Both times I went, it was right before you closed. It was already dark—I chose that time on purpose so you wouldn't see my face clearly."
"And at that hour, most neighboring shops were closed. Yours was always the last to shut down on that street, wasn't it?"
The owner nodded. "Yes, yes! My home's nearby, in the adjacent neighborhood. I usually work late and don't rush to close."
"I scouted your shop several times beforehand. I knew you closed late, so I picked you. I deliberately went at night to avoid being noticed." Xu Ruyi continued, "Each time, I parked my car far away and walked to your shop. That's why you never saw my vehicle—a white Cadillac."
She turned to the two officers. "If you check the surveillance footage, you'll find my car parked on another street near a China Construction Bank branch. Both times, I left it there."
After a brief pause, she addressed the owner again. "The first time I came, I wore a white lace dress and a brown wig—thick, wavy hair that covered most of my face. My makeup was heavy: big eyes and bright red lips. When I called out to you, you were so startled your cigarette fell to the ground. Remember?"
The owner's eyes lit up, nodding vigorously. "Yes, yes! That's exactly what happened! I was about to close when you called from behind. I turned around and—wow—such a pretty girl! My cigarette dropped, not because you looked scary! You weren't scary at all! It's just… my wife had been watching horror movies lately, and when I saw you like that… heh…"
Qin Guan's face darkened.
This had been his last shred of hope.
The auto shop owner's testimony about a young woman calling earlier—Qin Guan had been certain it was Qi Min. If Qi Min had secretly copied the keys, it would prove she hadn't vanished at the lakeside hotel, clearing his name.
But now, like a popped balloon, that hope disintegrated before his eyes.
It was Xu Ruyi. She had confessed outright, taking full responsibility.
But was she truly the one impersonating Qi Min? Why? Why would she do this?
"Why did you impersonate Qi Min to copy your husband's car keys?" Old He frowned, studying Xu Ruyi.
"Simple." Xu Ruyi lifted her gaze, coldly sweeping over Qin Guan. "I've long suspected my husband and Qi Min were having an affair behind my back."
"But I had no proof. I searched his clothes, pockets, briefcase. I hired people to check his hotel records and call history. I did everything—but found nothing!"
She clenched her jaw. "No evidence doesn't mean I'm a fool. Just because I couldn't catch them doesn't mean it wasn't happening!"
"My intuition told me they'd been together for ages!" Her eyes reddened. "Can you imagine? A husband who dotes on me and our daughter at home… but outside, he's been with another woman all along? I knew he was cheating, but couldn't prove it!"
"I tested him countless times, and he deflected every one. His tenderness made me trust him again and again… until I noticed something off. I was trapped in this cycle—doubt, trust, doubt—until I started questioning my own sanity. Was I depressed? Or had I lost myself, inventing delusions because I feared losing such a 'perfect' husband?"
"I even saw a psychologist for months—Dr. Wang Liangke! Go ask him! He'll tell you the torment I endured!"
"It was torment!" Xu Ruyi shouted, her composure cracking. Her chest heaved, tears glistening. "Torment none of you can understand. Do you know what it's like to be betrayed by someone you trusted most?"
Tears of anguish streamed down her cheeks. Her performance was flawless—the emotion, the delivery, the timing. Qin Guan stared at her bandaged face. Indeed, worse than betrayal was knowing it existed but being powerless to expose it, until your mind teetered on collapse.
To everyone else in the room, she looked broken.
Except Qin Guan.
He watched her "act" with icy detachment. Two days ago, he might have believed every word. Now, the more heartfelt her performance, the more terrified he grew.
She had an agenda.
And though he sensed the storm brewing, he had no idea what devastation it would bring.