Chapter 104: Wen Zhixia Admits Her Guilt

A high-collared, casual long sweater paired with a gray-toned stand-up collar down jacket, vintage buttons, and distinctive visible embroidery—steady and imposing.

Jin Mao opened the car door, and Xu Qichen got in. The homeland he hadn't returned to in years felt piercingly cold and dry in the winter air, causing Xu Qichen to cough lightly, a bit uncomfortable.

“You’re rushing back too much, sir,” Jin Mao said.

Xu Qichen took a sip of water. “Go to the courthouse.”

Jin Mao worried his body couldn’t endure such rough travel, but once Xu Qichen made a decision, it rarely changed. “Yes.”

The driver sped along the road. Xu Qichen pulled out a pocket watch, inside which was the silhouette of a young girl standing amidst a bed of flowers, turning back with a gentle smile.

That was Wen Zhixia in her youth.

Few girls didn’t love flowers, and Wen Zhixia was no exception. To ease the psychological shadow cast on her by a certain incident and help her move past it, he had taken her to a sea of flowers behind the old Xu family mansion—a place passed down by his ancestors for over a hundred years.

A century ago, a hopeless romantic from the Xu family had, with the simple belief that lavender was beautiful, spent months planting an entire sea of lavender for his beloved. Yet in the end, he never won her heart. That night, he stood in the flower sea all night long. Everyone thought he would order the destruction of the flowers the next day, but he left them intact.

After his passing, the flower sea grew wild and untended, blooming and withering year after year. It was only when a young Xu Qichen accidentally wandered into it, drawn by the pure purple, that this neglected garden was restored.

From a young age, Xu Qichen was frail and had few peers. Preferring solitude, this place became his sanctuary.

He rarely brought anyone here—Wen Zhixia was the exception.

Looking at her, he couldn’t explain why he recalled the feeling from when he first saw the lavender fields as a child—a sense of closeness arose.

This was the first time the naturally reclusive Xu Qichen felt a desire to be close to someone, to protect and watch over her. Seeing her smile brought him a rare contentment.

---

At the trial.

The defense for innocence was clearly faltering. The victim’s family clung tightly to the case, and the plaintiff’s lawyer argued the gravity of the offense required a heavier sentence.

Lawyer Xu glanced at Gu Pingsheng in the courtroom and requested a recess.

“Mr. Gu, the innocence defense is likely... untenable.” The situation was unfavorable. They lacked substantial evidence. They had heard the opposing side was similarly unprepared, but Zhao Fuhe’s sudden appearance, claiming Wen Zhixia was perfectly normal at the time, caught them off guard.

Gu Pingsheng’s face darkened, radiating an intense, cold aura.

Wen Zhixia asked quietly, “How many years might the sentence be? If we plead for leniency, what’s the shortest possible reduction?”

Xu lawyer paused, then answered gravely, “I will argue for under three years. Given your health, we might apply for a suspended sentence.”

“Under three years — is it one year or two?” Wen Zhixia pressed.

Xu lawyer’s expression darkened. “Based on previous verdicts, if the innocence defense fails... it’s likely two and a half years. With subsequent efforts for reduction, I’m confident you could be out in a year.”

A year...

To Wen Zhixia, this was good news—far less than she had feared.

“Then...” she began.

“No!” Gu Pingsheng interrupted sharply before she could finish. “Not even one year.”

Prison was no place for her fragile body.

Wen Zhixia looked at him calmly. “This is my guilt. I will bear it.”

---

Because of her, a family was shattered; a young woman became a vegetative patient, always on the brink of death. She accepted a year’s imprisonment.

Gu Pingsheng refused. He demanded Lawyer Xu do everything possible to keep her safe.

Xu lawyer looked between the two, both adamant, and said only that they would do their best.

Before returning to court, Wen Zhixia watched Gu Pingsheng’s lips move as if to say something, but he never spoke.

Before the judge took his seat, Xu lawyer asked Wen Zhixia in a low voice, “Are you sure your car was tampered with? Or was it panic causing operational error? Or perhaps a mechanical failure?”

Wen Zhixia could not be certain. But if it was a coincidence, it was far too convenient.

“Don’t you think the plaintiff’s witness appeared a bit too conveniently today? Their evidence was flawless.” If not coincidence, then it was deliberate.

Why would someone be so calculating?

Xu lawyer hesitated. “Why didn’t you say this earlier?”

“After I’m imprisoned, you can tell him. And remind him that no matter how clever someone is, they cannot fully control hearts. He should take care,” she said.

Xu lawyer realized he could not fathom what this woman was truly thinking.

If she had noticed the strangeness, why remain silent?

It was as if she didn’t care if she went to prison.

Even if only a year—prison was no place for a refined lady like her.

---

The trial continued. Wen Zhixia pleaded guilty.

Gu Pingsheng’s eyes reddened as he watched the woman stand on the platform and apologize to the victim’s family, his hands clenched tightly on his knees.

Zhou Anbei watched Gu Pingsheng nervously, afraid he might act rashly.

The verdict pronounced Wen Zhixia guilty, sentencing her to two years and three months in prison and ordering her to pay 5.6 million yuan in compensation.

Gu Pingsheng restrained himself, enduring silently. Zhao Fuhe looked at Wen Zhixia being led away by the bailiffs, her eyes fierce with anger and disbelief that Wen Zhixia was only sentenced to two years.

Two years? What did two years mean? It could never ease the hatred in her heart.

Gu Pingsheng strode toward the courtroom. Bailiffs stopped him on the spot. “Wen Zhixia, stop right there!”

Zhao Fuhe watched Gu Pingsheng lose his composure, rushing forward to break past the bailiffs, her nails digging into her palms.

Lawyer Xu stepped forward, pleading a few words, securing Gu Pingsheng two minutes.

“Why?” He asked her, eyes bloodshot. “Why plead guilty? You know full well…”

“Pingsheng.” She lifted her eyes, smiling faintly, just as years ago. “Let it be. We are no longer husband and wife. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I don’t regret the years we were together, but from now on... let’s never see each other again.”

She smiled, tears falling. In his pained gaze, she said, “I don’t know why, but in the end, only I still thought we loved each other.”

She still loved the rebellious youth she remembered, but no longer had the strength to wait for the man who lingered in the flower fields to turn back.

“No,” he reached out, brushing away her tear-streaked face. “I never did you wrong. Why won’t you believe me?”

---

Wen Zhixia still smiled but pushed away his hand and walked with the bailiffs.

Her last words were, “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

The police car drove off, passing by Xu Qichen who had just arrived.

Handcuffed, Wen Zhixia gazed absentmindedly at the swaying windshield wipers.

Rain fell on Sifang City.

“Sir, the person in the police car is Miss Wen,” Jin Mao said, holding a black umbrella over Xu Qichen.

Xu Qichen covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice, his gaze shifting from the disappearing police car to Gu Pingsheng standing atop the courthouse steps.

“Find out the verdict results. Also, I want to see her as soon as possible,” Xu Qichen said.

If he could not protect her before, he would do so from now on.

Xu Qichen did not linger at the courthouse. Upstairs, Lawyer Xu approached Gu Pingsheng and relayed Wen Zhixia’s words before the trial.

Gu Pingsheng remained silent for a long time, but veins bulged on his hand at his side. A harsh metallic taste filled his throat as he coughed up fresh blood.

Xu lawyer was alarmed, catching him immediately.

Zhou Anbei’s eyes showed sympathy. With the company needing stability, Wen Zhixia divorcing him, and the Song family affairs, Gu Pingsheng had not rested properly in a long time. Even a strong constitution could not bear it.

“...Appeal. File an appeal to the higher court,” Gu Pingsheng said, voice low.

Xu lawyer nodded.

“...Go to Chengya Residence,” Gu Pingsheng stepped into the rain. The downpour pelted his face with pea-sized drops, stinging his skin. Zhou Anbei hurried after him, ignoring everything else.

---

Due to the heavy rain, all flights were delayed. Zhao Fuhe, who had rushed out of the courthouse after testifying, did not return to Chengya Residence but instead drove to the airport with her luggage, planning to leave the country.

All this was clearly premeditated, but fate did not favor her—an unexpected storm shattered her plans.

“When can the flight take off? How much longer do we have to wait?!” Zhao Fuhe shouted at the service desk.

The staff patiently explained the weather might cause a delay of one or two hours.

One or two hours?

Zhao Fuhe couldn’t wait even half an hour.

But raging at the airline now was useless. Gu Pingsheng would not let her go easily. She had to leave quickly.

If not by plane, then by high-speed train. She just needed to leave Sifang City.

No sooner had she stepped out of the airport hall than she saw a rain-soaked bodyguard approaching, led by Zhou Anbei.

“Miss Zhao, please come with us,” Zhou Anbei said.

Zhao Fuhe recognized Zhou Anbei and turned, dragging her luggage, attempting to flee.

Zhou Anbei raised his hand. “Take her away.”