Plunder-Chapter 258 Rescue in the Homeland

Tears slid down from Cheng Lu’s eyes.

"A man’s tears are not easily shed; they only fall when the heart is deeply wounded."

Zhou Jin’an released his grip.

Cheng Lu drooped his head, sobbing dully.

"Director Zhou, thank you, but this is the path I chose; I have no regrets."

When he was stubborn, he was as obstinate as a mule.

"Fine, if you want to go to jail, then sit it out until the very end—I won’t stop you."

Zhou Jin’an turned and left.

He had just walked out of the police station when Qiao En’s call came through.

Zhou Jin’an chose to hang up.

At this moment, he couldn’t control his emotions.

Cheng Lu had followed him for many years; he was like a brother to him.

But now, Cheng Lu was in trouble, and Zhou Jin’an could do nothing.

Watching the person he cared about getting hurt, he felt extremely distressed.

He stood at the entrance of the police station, staring at the endless night sky.

Director Huang came over and offered him a cigarette.

"Assistant Cheng went to the bar last night and drank a lot. The surveillance footage showed he was already tipsy when he left. As for that blond guy, we’ve found out that he’s a regular at the bar and is homosexual."

"Cheng Lu isn’t homosexual," Zhou Jin’an emphasized sharply.

Director Huang nodded, "I believe that, but sometimes we can’t just take things at face value."

Before Director Huang could finish, Zhou Jin’an interrupted him, "Since we can’t take things at face value, then you should investigate properly. I want to emphasize two points: First, Cheng Lu is heterosexual; he has a woman he likes, and it’s impossible for him to be homosexual; second, he may have hit someone, but he definitely did not kill anyone."

"Don’t worry, we will definitely investigate thoroughly."

No sooner had Zhou Jin’an left the police station than Qiao En’s call came through.

"How is Assistant Cheng now?"

She had just seen the news about Cheng Lu’s incident.

Zhou Jin’an frowned tightly, "Not very well, he refuses to say anything; the situation could be quite troublesome."

"What exactly happened?"

Qiao En asked, baffled.

Zhou Jin’an let out a long sigh, "Who knows?"

"Are you okay?"

Qiao En asked again.

Zhou Jin’an’s brows relaxed slightly, "Don’t worry about me; I’m fine."

"I should come back. With how things are now, you’ll only have more and more troubles to deal with."

Qiao En suggested.

But Zhou Jin’an flatly refused.

"You stay there for now; I’ll handle things here as soon as possible."

"Only if I go back will the rumors be self-defeating. Don’t worry, I can take care of myself. I promise you, once I’m back in Rong City, I’ll stay at home and won’t go to work for a while."

Without waiting for Zhou Jin’an to agree, Qiao En continued, "Leave Cheng Lu to me; I know what to do."

Lin Youyou also knew about Cheng Lu’s predicament.

"Secretary Qiao, are you preparing to leave?"

When Lin Youyou went to see Qiao En, Qiao En was packing her things.

"Yes, I’m getting ready to go back."

Qiao En said.

Lin Youyou stood there, wanting to ask a question but not knowing how to start.

After a long while, she tentatively asked, "Did Assistant Cheng really kill someone?"

"What do you think?"

Qiao En countered.

Lin Youyou looked down, "I don’t think he seems like it."

Qiao En stopped what she was doing and looked at Lin Youyou intently, "If he has been wronged, would you be willing to help clear his name?"

Going back to her home country alone wouldn’t be helpful; Qiao En had decided to bring Lin Youyou back with her early on.

Cheng Lu refused to speak, but she believed Lin Youyou could.

"Me? What can I do?"

Lin Youyou looked at Qiao En in surprise.

Qiao En grabbed Lin Youyou’s wrist and sat her down, "Your presence alone could at least clear the suspicion that he is homosexual. Youyou, I hope you will come back with me. Assistant Cheng’s situation is not good; he really needs you."

Lin Youyou’s head drooped, and she fiddled with her fingers in silence again.

"Take your time to think about it. I’ll be on the flight at 7:30 tomorrow morning, and if you make up your mind, I’ll wait for you at the airport."

Qiao En did not force Lin Youyou.

She got up and left with heavy thoughts.

The next morning, a car came to pick up Qiao En for the airport.

However, when she arrived at the airport, Lin Youyou was nowhere to be seen.

She kept checking the time, and it was already boarding time.

"Young Madam, it’s time for you to go," urged the bodyguard.

Qiao En looked into the distance, where the crowd surged, but there was no sign of Lin Youyou.

She let out a deep sigh, "Alright."

As Qiao En boarded the plane, her heart was full of disappointment.

Zhou Jin’an’s call came through.

"I’m at the airport waiting to take you home."

"You go and get on with your work; I’ll head back on my own."

"It won’t delay me much. Just close your eyes and sleep, and I’ll be there when you get off the plane."

Zhou Jin’an insisted.

A surge of guilt suddenly welled up in Qiao En’s heart, "I’m sorry, I didn’t bring the person back."

How important Cheng Lu was to Zhou Jin’an, Qiao En was clearer than anyone else.

"It’s alright, once you’re back, we’ll go and persuade him again,"

Zhou Jin’an said.

Qiao En responded.

The in-flight announcement indicated that the plane was about to take off.

Qiao En closed her eyes, leaning back in her seat.

Suddenly, there was a noise beside her.

She lifted her eye mask and saw Lin Youyou gasping for breath, looking at her.

"Secretary Qiao, I’m sorry, I almost missed the flight," Lin Youyou said.

Qiao En was stunned, then she hugged Lin Youyou tightly.

"Thank you, Youyou."

All her words condensed into a single thank you.

Lin Youyou was clearly uncomfortable as she passively accepted Qiao En’s hug.

"I hope I can help you."

The plane landed at ten o’clock in the morning.

The bodyguards escorted Qiao En and Lin Youyou out.

Zhou Jin’an, tall and handsome, was already waiting at the exit.

Seeing Lin Youyou come out with Qiao En, his tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed a bit.

"Director Zhou,"

Lin Youyou greeted Zhou Jin’an nervously, and he nodded.

"You’ve worked hard."

"You’ll stay at my place tonight," Qiao En said, linking arms with Lin Youyou.

The group got into the car.

Before Qiao En even reached Chu Garden, news of her safe return had already spread online, instantly dispelling the previous rumors.

The stocks that had been limit down rebounded to normal status because of this news.

"I’ve already informed Xiaolu. Mom and Sister Rong will be back in a bit too,"

Zhou Jin’an said.

Qiao En’s face showed surprise, "Really?"

"Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything, and they’ll be here soon."

Upon returning home, Qiao En finally felt at ease.

"Let’s go to the police station,"

Lin Youyou said softly.

"Can you handle it?" Qiao En asked gently.

Lin Youyou nodded firmly, "Assistant Cheng helped me a lot before. If there’s anything I can do for him now, I would feel a bit better."

Zhou Jin’an contacted Director Huang, and Lin Youyou soon saw Cheng Lu.

However, nobody expected that when Cheng Lu appeared in the visitor’s room and saw Lin Youyou sitting there, he immediately turned and walked back.

"Assistant Cheng, I came here specifically to see you,"

Lin Youyou hurriedly stood up, wanting to stop Cheng Lu.

But he moved quickly.

"Go back, don’t come again,"

He said coldly.

"Cheng Lu, what are you doing?"

Zhou Jin’an rebuked him.

Yet, nothing could stop Cheng Lu’s departing footsteps.

Lin Youyou suddenly burst into tears.

She covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.

"It’s all my fault that day. He called me, and I not only rejected him, but I also blacklisted him,"

Lin Youyou was filled with self-reproach.

Qiao En kept comforting her, "This isn’t your fault, someone deliberately framed Assistant Cheng. Director Huang and the others will work hard to find evidence to exonerate him, and the law will protect his fairness for things he didn’t do."

Lin Youyou nodded.

The group returned home dejected.

On the way back, Lin Youyou curled up on the sofa, looking even more despondent.

Sister Rong called, and they had already returned to Chu Garden.

Lin Youyou insisted on staying in a hotel.

Qiao En had no choice but to accompany her to settle in first.

"Youyou, don’t overthink it, we’ll take it slow. Assistant Cheng won’t be in trouble,"

Qiao En comforted her before leaving.

Lin Youyou nodded, "Mm, I know."

But, shortly after Qiao En left, she went downstairs again.

At the hotel entrance, she hailed a taxi and headed straight for the detention center.

"I want to see Cheng Lu,"

She insisted strongly, but the staff responded that Cheng Lu refused to see her.

Since Cheng Lu refused to see her, Lin Youyou stood there, refusing to leave.

"Then tell him that if he won’t see me, I’ll just keep standing here waiting,"

Cheng Lu was a stubborn mule, and Lin Youyou was just as headstrong.

One refused to see, and the other insisted on a meeting.

And so, the standoff continued.