The waters of Moon Lake were still fresh and deep, just as they had been two days before, rippling with ripples. But Fang Yuan's mood was a world away. Back then, she had been merely curious, a touch excited and thrilled. Now, it felt as if a huge stone had been thrust into her heart, weighing heavily, weighing her down with depression and anxiety.
She could not forget Xu Yan's death.
Xu Yan's death was, in some way, connected to her. If she hadn't sought her out and questioned Cheng Li about her suicide, she might still be living a peaceful and tranquil life at the medical school under another identity.
To this day, Fang Yuan still didn't know why Xu Yan had jumped from the Red Mansion.
Was it suicide or homicide?
Xu Yan had no reason to commit suicide.
Was it homicide?
However, on the night of the incident, after Li Rong called the police on his cell phone, she had remained at the Red Mansion's exit and hadn't seen anyone leave. The police investigation concluded that Xu Yan was indeed the only person in the building at the time, with no trace of anyone else. If someone had pushed Xu Yan down from the building, she and Li Rong would have seen them leave the Red Mansion.
Another suicide?
If it was suicide, why did Xu Yan use the exact same method as Cheng Li?
Was it coincidence, or fate?
Is a person's fate already predetermined?
Fang Yuan didn't believe in fate. If a person's fate was already predetermined, then what was the difference between a living person and a robot?
So, she had to figure it out and solve these mysteries.
The problem was, she couldn't understand Li Rong.
What kind of person was he?
What were his intentions towards her?
Fang Yuan remembered Voltaire's ancient philosophical saying: "I vehemently oppose your opinion, but I will defend to the death your right to speak it."
She should give Li Rong a chance. Regardless of who he was, whether he meant her well or ill, she would see what he had to say.
Fang Yuan finally sat down in the Mushroom Pavilion. The stone bench was cold and hard. She pretended to listen attentively, but also deliberately kept some distance from Li Rong.
Li Rong's eyes fell on the depths of Moon Lake, lost in thought, as if lost in reminiscence.
Fang Yuan waited a moment, then realized that Li Rong had no intention of speaking. She reminded him, "Li Rong, if you have anything to say, just say it. I have to go to class today."
Li Rong turned around, tears streaming down his face, startling Fang Yuan.
"What's wrong with you?" Fang Yuan felt uneasy. Li Rong's eyes were sad and mournful, not feigned.
Li Rong wiped his face and forced a smile. "Nothing. I just remembered some happy things."
Happy things? Fang Yuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood. She guessed that Li Rong was indeed Cheng Li's boyfriend, and he loved her. Because of this, returning to their old place, the sight of the scene brought back memories of those happy times. But now that the person was gone, and the romance was gone, how could she not be overwhelmed with grief?
Li Rong sighed deeply and said quietly, "I think you've guessed it. Yes, I love Cheng Li, very much. For her, I'd sacrifice everything. Is that cliché? Please believe me, every word I say to you now comes from the heart. I have no need to lie to you, and there's no need to pretend to be a romantic."
"Where should I even begin? Actually, Cheng Li and I fell in love at first sight. Back then, she was like a blank slate, ignorant, innocent, gentle and lovely. I still remember the first time I saw her. My heart was deeply moved, and I inexplicably felt a special warmth and familiarity towards her. That day, she was wearing a creamy white dress, her hair meticulously combed and tied up like a classical beauty..."
Li Rong's eyes softened, and a smile crossed his face, lost in the beautiful memories.
Fang Yuan couldn't bear to disturb him.
After a long moment, Li Rong came to his senses and laughed to himself, "Never mind, it's all in the past. I won't waste your time. I'll just tell you what happened in a nutshell."
"After months of pursuing her, I passed her test and became her boyfriend. Happy days always pass so quickly. Before I could savor their full potential, they vanished in a flash. Cheng Li met a member of the school basketball team—Tang Tianyu, the one who just came to see you!"
At the mention of "Tang Tianyu," Li Rong's hair stood on end with rage. He suddenly transformed himself, like a starving wolf, his expression frightening.
"She changed her mind, calling me boring, unromantic, and broke up with me. I was devastated and tried to salvage the relationship, but she had made up her mind. I swallowed the immense pain and parted ways amicably. I respected her choice. As long as she was happy, my pain was nothing! But I never imagined that that beast, Tang Tianyu, would treat her like that... like that... like that!"
Li Rong kept saying "like that" several times, gritting his teeth. He couldn't even stand. He doubled over, supporting himself with one hand, his heart aching.
Li Rong coughed for a long time, tears welling up again, soaking his glasses.
After a long moment, he recovered. "Tang Tianyu, what a beast in human form! His only goal was to toy with her. Once he got her, he got tired of her and ruthlessly abandoned her. Cheng Li was devastated and mentally confused because of this heavy blow. Although I returned to her side, stayed with her, comforted her, and protected her, it was no use. She became disillusioned with reality and became obsessed with metaphysics. She spends her days in mystery, studying some flashy, occult subjects."
"Wait a minute!" Fang Yuan suddenly interrupted Li Rong. "What occult subjects does Cheng Li study?"
Li Rong was stunned. He didn't understand Fang Yuan's interest. After a moment's thought, he said, "Something like telepathy, psychological suggestion, fortune-telling, and Yijing. Actually, I don't know what she's studying. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing. Go on." Fang Yuan said, a sudden impulse. She had always had a strong interest in the occult.
Li Rong's face was filled with sorrow. "You all know what happened next. She suddenly became depressed and committed suicide by jumping off a building. It was all Tang Tianyu's fault! If I hadn't considered how hard my mother had worked to raise me, and if I hadn't wanted her to suffer the stigma of being a murderer's mother, I would have killed him myself!"
Fang Yuan was somewhat disappointed. "Are you saying that Cheng Li committed suicide out of love?"
"Yes," Li Rong nodded. "I'm telling you this because, first, the dormitory you're living in is where Cheng Li lived. I heard you're sleeping in her bed and using her closet. I don't want you to have any misunderstandings about her. Second, I know you're suspicious of me, and I need to explain things clearly. Third, it seems Tang Tianyu has ulterior motives towards you. I don't want this tragedy to happen again, so I'm kindly reminding you: Don't trust him! He's the real murderer who killed people without spilling blood!"
Fang Yuan said earnestly, "Thank you!"
Unconsciously, her trust in Li Rong grew. Her intuition told her that he wasn't lying. Women's intuition is usually quite sharp.
The bell for class rang, crisp and rapid, and the students walking through the medical school quickened their pace.
"The bell rang. I have to go to class," Fang Yuan said goodbye. Further questions would yield no results.
"Me too. Let's go." Whether intentionally or not, Li Rong and Fang Yuan walked side by side.
After exiting the Mushroom Pavilion and turning across the stone bridge, a middle-sized boy ran towards Li Rong, panting, "Why haven't you gone to class yet? You're going to be late. I saw your book on the table, so I brought it to you."
"Thank you."
The boy smiled. "No big deal. We're just strangers. Why be so polite?"
After saying that, he seemed to have just realized Fang Yuan was beside Li Rong and almost cried out, "Ah, you're so lucky, this beautiful lady..."
"Fang Yuan, she's..." Li Rong was momentarily unsure how to introduce Fang Yuan, so he simply skipped over it. "This is Wan Hai, my good friend."
"Yes," Fang Yuan nodded politely. "We've met before."
"Really?" Li Rong was surprised.
Fang Yuan didn't explain, and Wan Hai didn't tell Li Rong how they met. She just gave him a smug smile, leaving Li Rong completely bewildered.
Just then, the three of them emerged from the grove. She excused herself to go back and get her books and parted ways with Li Rong and the others.
All the way, she was still pondering what Li Rong had said to her today.
When she reached the entrance to the girls' dormitory, she was suddenly startled. A familiar figure was pacing back and forth, seemingly waiting for someone.
It was Tang Tianyu.
Tang Tianyu hadn't noticed her.
He hadn't gone to class, but was instead waiting for someone. Fang Yuan was almost certain that the person he was waiting for was her!
Should she go and confront him?