Xie Lin could tell that Ruan Xingyao’s pain was genuine.
For a moment, he was so moved by her emotions that his heart ached.
He raised his hand, intending to gently pat Ruan Xingyao’s back to comfort her.
But halfway through, he hesitated and withdrew his hand.
Xie Lin said, “This isn’t your fault. You’ve already done your best.”
Strictly speaking, it was their distrust of her that caused the delay in time.
If they had given her full trust from the beginning, none of this would have happened…
Ruan Xingyao looked at Xie Lin for a while before saying, “No need to comfort me. I’m not that fragile.”
She was simply heartbroken that a loyal, protective dog had been killed like this.
Unfortunately, animal protection laws in this world were very weak, and she had no way to seek justice for this poor furry friend.
Suppressing her emotions, Ruan Xingyao looked at Lin Ye and said, “Let’s put him in the car first. After you’ve dealt with your family matters, you can give him a proper burial.”
Lin Ye painfully raised his head, wanting to yell at Ruan Xingyao asking if she had any sympathy at all, but when he met her reddened eyes, he swallowed the words.
Wiping his tears hard, Lin Ye stood up holding Cola, staggering over to the car.
The car belonged to Xie Lin, and Lin Ye knew that Xie Lin was particular about his personal belongings, so he didn’t open the door immediately.
Xie Lin came over, opened the rear door, and said to Lin Ye, “Just put him here.”
At least the seat was more comfortable.
Lin Ye’s tears welled up again.
Holding Cola, he deeply bowed to Xie Lin, “Thank you, Captain Xie.”
Lin Ye gently placed Cola on the back seat, stroked him with pain in his heart, then closed the door and turned to Ruan Xingyao.
“Can you tell me what he said?” Lin Ye asked.
Ruan Xingyao gazed at Lin Ye with a hesitant look in her eyes.
Seeing this, Lin Ye said, “Just say it straight. I can handle it.”
Ruan Xingyao said, “Cola was euthanized because he ran into your brother’s bedroom and picked up the used condom. He wanted to bring that condom as evidence to you, so you’d know what they’ve done behind your back.”
Lin Ye clenched his fists tightly, holding back tears from falling again.
Ruan Xingyao continued, “That condom was hidden by Cola in the grass along the path he ran out. If we follow the trail, we should be able to find it.”
Lin Ye gritted his teeth, not moving immediately.
He stared intently at Ruan Xingyao, hoping she would say more.
Ruan Xingyao took a deep breath and said, “Cola said he was happy to be brought home by you. It felt his life was worthwhile, even though you two were often apart. He still liked you very much as his owner, but…”
“But what?” Lin Ye asked anxiously.
“Next time, if we meet again, he wants to be the owner so you won’t have to work so hard.”
“Anything else?” Lin Ye pressed.
Ruan Xingyao shook her head.
Given the drug’s effect, Cola should have died within seconds or minutes.
It was only his determination to do one last thing for Lin Ye that kept him going so long.
Saying all this was already his limit.
Lin Ye could no longer hold back; he knelt down and cried bitterly, holding his head.
“Cola! Cola…”
Ruan Xingyao turned her face away, filled with a deep sense of helplessness.
God knows how much she wanted to avenge Cola.
But after all, this was Lin Ye’s family matter; beyond moral condemnation, the law could not punish them.
Just thinking about it made Ruan Xingyao furious.
Xie Lin patted Lin Ye’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go. Find the evidence and then go home.”
Lin Ye stood up and wiped away his tears.
He wanted to seek justice for Cola!
The three of them followed the path and soon found the condom Cola had hidden in the roadside grass.
With this evidence in hand, the three went to Lin Ye’s home together.
As they got out of the car and approached the door, they could already hear the familiar sound of the television inside.
Only the little swallows under the eaves were chirping nonstop upon seeing Lin Ye return.
[“Hey! The big dummy’s back! Now the fun begins!”]
[“What fun could there be? That big dummy’s always being played by this family, always doing whatever they say. Poor guy.”]
[“I wonder if that big dummy will toughen up when he finds out they killed his dog. If I were that dumb dog, I’d have run off to find a new owner long ago, but that stupid dog just loyally guarded this house for him.”]
Hearing the swallows’ chatter, Lin Ye instinctively glanced at Ruan Xingyao, hoping she could tell him what they were saying.
Ruan Xingyao raised a hand to rub her nose and said, “Don’t listen, they’re insulting you, just nasty comments.”
Remembering how sharp-tongued those little swallows were back at the police station, Lin Ye didn’t ask any more.
Composing himself, Lin Ye took out his keys and unlocked the front door.
The three of them stepped inside.
The sound of the television was loud enough to drown out their footsteps, so no one inside noticed their arrival.
They saw Lin Ye’s grandmother sitting alone on a small sofa in the living room, while Lin Ye’s younger brother Lin Chi was hugging his wife Wang Hui on the long sofa.
Lin Chi was feeding Wang Hui a grape.
Although Lin Ye had long suspected their affair, seeing it with his own eyes made his blood boil with rage.
— The end of the Chapter–
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