Chapter 161

He doesn't like beating around the bush when it comes to these kinds of things.

Especially since Ning Shuang was one of his very good friends.

He couldn't just sit idly by and watch Ning Shuang fall into this predicament.

"..."

Su Qian fell silent.

Strands of hair fell across her forehead, obscuring her eyes.

It was impossible to discern what kind of expression she was wearing at that moment.

But his fists were trembling slightly from exerting too much force.

However, it was clear how much her heart had wavered.

"Ning Shuang has always emphasized that she killed the Demon Murderer at the time."

"She never mentioned anyone's name, nor did she ever show any indication that a third party was present at the time."

Wu Liang glanced at Su Qian's clenched fists.

Although we don't know what other stories are behind this.

But the only fact he was certain of was that Su Qian was indeed present at the time.

"That's enough, Mr. Holmes."

"Stop talking. Do you really want to see me cry my eyes out?"

Su Qian slowly raised her head and looked at Wu Liang with a wry smile.

Her pretty, delicate face showed a pleading expression.

Her ruby-like eyes held a deep sense of self-blame and regret.

"I don't mean anything by it, I'm just puzzled by it."

"Even though both of you were present at the same time, Ning Shuang is deliberately trying to cover up the truth."

"Why is Ning Shuang unwilling to tell me the truth and instead deliberately hides your existence?"

Wu Liang did not blame Su Qian.

Rather, they didn't understand Ning Shuang's approach.

If Ning Shuang really wanted him to know about her dark past.

There is absolutely no need to erase Su Qian from the incident.

Is it because she doesn't want him to know about Su Qian's existence, or is there some other reason?

"No, you're wrong, Wu Liang."

"Ning Shuang did not deliberately erase my existence in front of you."

After a long silence, Su Qian slowly raised her head.

His face was filled with bitterness and helplessness, like a rushing torrent.

He seemed to be hesitating about something, as if he didn't know whether he should tell Wu Liang.

Su Qian opened her mouth and moved her lips, but the words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't make them out.

"Ning Shuang did not merely erase my existence from your sight."

Su Qian bit her lip and took a deep breath.

Now that Wu Liang has already come to this conclusion.

Then there was no point in her continuing to hide it from the other party.

Ning Shuang needs to be saved, but she won't be the one to save her.

Wu Liang understands Ning Shuang very well and is also very intelligent.

Even if she doesn't say it, she'll eventually realize it.

Since that's the case, she might as well tell the other party everything she knows.

If Wu Liang can completely rescue Ning Shuang from the shadows of her past...

"What?"

Wu Liang was taken aback.

But after seeing Su Qian's expression full of regret.

He quickly realized the meaning behind Su Qian's words.

"You mean, Ning Shuang in front of everyone..."

Wu Liang said in disbelief.

Ning Shuang, that idiot, did she really erase Su Qian's existence from everyone's eyes?

"Yes, Ning Shuang erased me from everyone's sight."

"She hoped that doing so would protect me and keep me from harm."

Su Qian curled up her legs and murmured softly.

She wrapped her delicate white arms around herself, resting her chin on her knees.

He curled up like a shrimp.

"But you know the consequences of doing that: Ning Shuang was treated coldly and scorned by society."

"But I fell into a coma because of fear and shock."

"Therefore, I was unable to stand up and testify for Ning Shuang, unable to speak up for Ning Shuang, unable to..."

Su Qian's voice trailed off.

Especially when she was saying the last few sentences, her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

"When I woke up from my coma, the public opinion storm had reached an extreme."

"Even if I wanted to testify for Ning Shuang, even if I wanted to speak up for Ning Shuang, my voice would be drowned out by the tide of public opinion."

At this point, Su Qian slammed her fist heavily on the armrest of the bench.

Two or three red marks appeared on her soft, pink fist.

Su Qian's deep voice was filled with overwhelming anger.

But she still had nowhere to vent her emotions, if only she hadn't fainted from fear at that moment.

If only she had been stronger back then and had taken the initiative to stand in front of the camera and tell the truth.

How could Ning Shuang possibly be labeled a murderer?

How could Ning Shuang be so entangled in such a dark past that she can't get rid of it even now?

"At that time, Ning Shuang insisted that she killed the man. When I went to Ning Shuang's house later to confront her together..."

"Ning Shuang and her family had already left my city and disappeared from everyone's sight."

Su Qian looked up at the azure sky.

My thoughts drifted back to that afternoon several years ago.

That was a few days after she woke up, after hesitating for a long time.

When she finally mustered the courage to find Ning Shuang and share everything with her, Ning Shuang's house was already deserted.

She just stood there, dumbfounded, in front of Ning Shuang's house.

That once exquisite and warm family has long since disappeared.

Instead, the walls were covered in graffiti and obscene words written in red paint.

"Get that disgusting family of murderers out of this city!"

"A life for a life! A life for a life!!"

"A murderer at such a young age! What will he be like when he grows up?!"

"Go to hell! Go..."

These graffiti were all written by the Demon Murderer's family.

Those people's intention was to let others in society know that Ning Shuang was a murderer.

The purpose was to force Ning Shuang's family to leave that city and suffer the disgust and contempt of others.

It is clearly that side that should be hated and eliminated by society.

Why was it Ning Shuang's family who suffered such unfair treatment?

At that time, Su Qian was constantly thinking about one question.

What's wrong with the society she lives in?

"In other words, people at the time did not blame the Demon Murderer's family, but regarded Ning Shuang's family as someone who needed to be eliminated."

"And the Demon Murderer's family stood on the moral high ground and criticized Ning Shuang."

Wu Liang frowned deeply.

This is indeed something Ning Shuang would do.

In order to protect Su Qian from the influence of public opinion.

Ning Shuang will indeed take all the responsibility upon herself.

But Ning Shuang probably didn't expect the impact of public opinion to be so terrifying.

"It wasn't the Demon Murderer who caused Ning Shuang psychological trauma."

"Instead, it's those internet trolls and social cancers who attack others without knowing the truth and spouting nonsense."

Su Qian always knew why Ning Shuang had become the way she is now.

But she was unable to save him.

Later, when she finally learned of Ning Shuang's whereabouts and rushed to her side...

Ning Shuang no longer acknowledges her as her close friend.

I know why Ning Shuang hates me.

"Having witnessed everything, I cowered like a coward."

"As her best friend, I abandoned her when she needed help the most and failed to stand by her side."

Su Qian let out a self-deprecating laugh.

It's perfectly normal for Ning Shuang to hate her for this.

She failed to help the other person when they needed it most; such a close friend is better off not being around.

Even if she was in a coma at the time, she could have explained herself to the public as soon as she woke up.

The subsequent public opinion impact will not have such a wide reach.

"Do you think Ning Shuang broke off relations with you because she resented you for not standing up for her back then?"

This time it was Wu Liang's turn to mock Su Qian.

Su Qian does know Ning Shuang very well, but she has clearly misunderstood this matter.

If you truly understand Ning Shuang, you'll know Ning Shuang's not that kind of person.

"What do you mean..."

Su Qian was stunned.

What does Wu Liang mean by saying this?

Could it be that Ning Shuang weren't out of hatred for her...?

"Ning Shuang may seem carefree and easygoing, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know anything."

"Since she had already decided to bear everything alone, she could naturally guess that day would come."

"Ning Shuang isn't stupid. She already guessed what would happen to you when she eliminated you from the picture."