"Xu Damao, you should know better than I do what I'm talking about. For the sake of how respectful you used to be toward me, I didn't finish you off. But what I hate most are people who smile to your face and stab you in the back."
"No, no, no! I drank too much just now and my tongue got twisted. I was only going along with what you said. I didn't do anything! I have no idea what's going on!"
Xu Damao wiped away cold sweat and bowed repeatedly, refusing to admit it.
He knew that once he admitted it, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Lin Zhen said blandly, "If you wanted to pursue Liu Liping, then divorce Qin Jingru and pursue her however you liked. Why keep one at home while spouting lies outside to deceive people? Since you lied, there would always be a day you were exposed. No matter who told Liu Liping the truth, did that mean you had to falsely accuse them?"
"Oh, you've really misunderstood!"
"Xu Damao, I've already said this much, and you're still pretending to be confused when you know perfectly well what's going on?"
"Really, I didn't! I do like Liu Liping, but I never pursued her! Much less report Lou Xiao'e because of her. What does one thing have to do with the other? I'd rather report Aunt Liu than report Lou Xiao'e! We all live in the same courtyard. Lou Xiao'e is an honest person, even more well-liked than Qin Huairu. Jingru and I are doing great, so why would I pursue Liu Liping? Liu Liping..."
"Enough!"
Lin Zhen cut off Xu Damao's long-winded explanation.
"I don't like painstakingly untangling these messy knots one by one. I prefer to cut through the mess with a single stroke.