Chapter 622: The Truth Begins to Unravel

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Li Da spoke with such conviction that his brother, Li Er, found himself quite satisfied with his performance. Standing off to the side, Li Er observed the scene in silence, curious to see what this woman would ask next.

He harbored a certain jealousy towards Gu Zi, a woman who seemed to have it all. Was it not simply because she was blessed with a beautiful face? She had managed to marry a wealthy man, thus crossing the class divide. She used her husband’s money to open a shop, make headlines, and become famous. She appeared so powerful, yet in reality, she was still reliant on a man. What real talent did she possess?

Others, like him, had to struggle and fight for every step in life. It was truly unfair. So what if they had orchestrated this scheme to make this woman pay? She was so ostentatious and wealthy, it was only right that she should part with some of her money to ward off misfortune. Li Er saw no fault in his actions.

Gu Zi, while listening to Li Da’s words, had noticed Li Er out of the corner of her eye. Through her acquaintance, He Yan, she had learned that it was Li Er who had brought Li Da to the hospital. When they had first entered, He Yan had quietly informed her that the man standing by Li Da’s bedside was Li Er. She could sense a strange hostility emanating from him.

The relatives had caused quite a commotion earlier, their chatter filling the room. However, amidst the noise, they had revealed a crucial piece of information: Li Da had once suffered a fever that had damaged his brain. This explained his apparent lack of intelligence.

If one were to assume that Li Da was lying about being poisoned by the food from Gu Zi’s restaurant in order to extort money, it would be difficult to believe that someone of his intellectual capacity could devise such a comprehensive plan. The hospital had confirmed that he was indeed suffering from food poisoning, which complicated matters.

If one were to assume that the actual victim of the poisoning was not the mastermind behind this scheme, but rather a pawn being manipulated, then it became plausible. The question then was, who could manipulate the victim?

It would have to be someone who knew the victim well and was trusted by him. Li Er, being Li Da’s brother, fit the bill. Gu Zi had also noticed that Li Da would glance at his brother while answering her questions, as if seeking guidance. This suggested that Li Da was heavily reliant on Li Er and often followed his advice.

With this understanding, Gu Zi continued her questioning. “Can you recall if you ate anything else after your meal?” she asked Li Da.

Li Da immediately responded with certainty, “Absolutely not. I only ate food from your restaurant. It’s your food that’s the problem!”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Seeing his brother’s response, Li Er stepped forward to echo his words. “Miss, there’s no need to beat around the bush with pointless questions. Are you sure you’re investigating this case? It feels more like you’re wasting time. Don’t take advantage of my brother’s honesty.”

Li Er’s words carried a clear warning. Gu Zi responded with a cold laugh, “I haven’t finished asking my questions. How do you know they’re pointless? Or are you saying that no matter what I ask, you’ll insist that the food poisoning was caused by my restaurant’s food?

“Did you rehearse your answers beforehand? If not, then please be patient and wait until I’ve finished asking my questions.”

Gu Zi’s words caused a flicker of unease in Li Er’s heart. He began to wonder if she knew something. He was momentarily at a loss for words, but Gu Zi didn’t pay him any mind. She continued her questioning, “After eating our breakfast, you didn’t eat anything else. But what about before our breakfast? Did you eat anything you shouldn’t have?”

A look of panic crossed Li Da’s face. He instinctively turned to look at Li Er, his eyes filled with confusion. How did this woman know that he had eaten something he shouldn’t have before breakfast?

Was he about to be exposed? Li Er had promised him the lion’s share of the compensation, which he had planned to use to get married. Was it all about to fall apart?

Li Er was equally panicked. He was frustrated with his foolish older brother. Why was he looking to him for help at such a crucial moment?

But he couldn’t rely on his brother to smooth things over. He had to step in. He grabbed Li Da’s hand and shouted at Gu Zi, “What are you asking about? My brother has already told you he went to your shop to have breakfast. How could he have eaten anything else?”

Gu Zi, however, was unfazed. She replied, “I didn’t ask you. I asked your brother. Can you answer for him? Or should we let Mr. Li Da answer the question himself?”

He Yan had been observing the entire exchange. When Gu Zi asked about what they had eaten before breakfast, he noticed a clear change in Li Da and Li Er’s expressions. It seemed there was indeed something amiss. He also sternly said, “Li Da, please answer the question directly!”