The Wedding That Never Was

Chapter 1

My fiancée, Bai Ling, was introduced to me by a popular matchmaker in my hometown during a two-month break after I quit my job in Beijing. I had been drifting in the capital for several years, and this was a much-needed respite.

I remember the day we met; it was love at first sight for me. Bai Ling perfectly embodied my ideal woman. She was in her mid-twenties, pure and delicate, with a charming figure and a ponytail. According to the matchmaker, she even owned a house and a car. I thought I didn’t stand a chance, but she seemed interested in me.

At 10 PM, instead of hearing back from the matchmaker, I received a call from Bai Ling herself. She invited me to join her at a KTV on the outskirts of town. There, she appeared in a qipao, stunningly beautiful and captivating.

During the evening, she suggested we drink a toast as a couple and then leaned into my arms. I pushed her away and fled in panic.

Later that night, Bai Ling called again. She was drunk. Worried for her safety, I went to pick her up and carried her home, located in a secluded area on the eastern edge of town.

Her house was empty. After ensuring she was safely asleep, I left, only to encounter a middle-aged man in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, who arrived in a car. He introduced himself as Bai Ling’s father, often away on business, and asked me to take care of her. Despite his seemingly gentle demeanor, there was an air of superiority in his gaze, as if he was appraising a commodity.

We parted ways.

The next day, I mentioned this to Bai Ling.

“Your father came back last night.”

She looked as if she’d seen a ghost.

“What?”

Chapter 2

I described the man to her. Bai Ling seemed uneasy but eventually admitted he was her father.

In two weeks, I was due to return to Beijing for a promising new job. Bai Ling, upon hearing this, playfully asked if I could stay, offering to support me. While touched, I was traditional at heart—a man should provide for his family, not live off a woman.

I asked if she’d consider moving to Beijing with me, but she refused outright. Seeing my determination, she stopped persuading me and invited me to her house for a birthday dinner that evening.

That night, under the guise of celebrating her birthday, she coaxed me into drinking heavily. I passed out.

The next morning, I woke up to find Bai Ling and myself naked in bed. The sheets were a mess, with bloodstains and other traces that hinted at the night’s activities.

Bai Ling woke up calmly, dressed silently, and didn’t blame me or demand responsibility. Instead, she comforted me, saying not to overthink it, to treat it as a dream.

Her calmness only deepened my guilt.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

In the following days, Bai Ling never mentioned that night again, as if it had never happened. I became even more attentive to her, delivering meals, accompanying her, and being at her beck and call.

I was in a state of blissful infatuation, convinced that I was lucky to have her. Soon after, I officially established our relationship.

But Bai Ling didn’t seem as happy as I’d imagined.

As my return to Beijing approached, just as I was about to introduce her to my parents and set a wedding date, Bai Ling dropped a bombshell.

She was pregnant!

Chapter 3

The news hit me like a ton of bricks.

Staring at the pregnancy test in her hand, my mind went blank.

She asked if we should keep the baby.

I took a deep breath and thought about it.

Yes.

A wife and child, all at once, felt like a blessing from heaven at my age.

But a child needed legitimacy.

To reassure Bai Ling, I decided to meet both sets of parents in two days to choose an auspicious date for the wedding.

After all, she was pregnant and couldn’t wait long.

Two nights later, our families met, and the matchmaker, who had been out of touch for days, also attended in full regalia.

At the dinner table, the middle-aged man I’d met before arrived in a suit, introducing himself as Bai Fugui, a real estate businessman from a neighboring city.

Throughout the evening, Bai Ling clung to his arm, their intimacy seeming more like lovers than father and daughter.

When my parents asked about Bai Ling’s mother, she remained silent, while Bai Fugui chuckled, explaining that her mother was abroad and unable to attend, so he would handle the wedding arrangements.

The wedding was set for a month later, on May 4th.

Since Bai Ling owned a house, my family didn’t need to buy one, but we’d have to purchase a property in the city after the child was born.

I was to give up my high-paying job in Beijing to stay home with Bai Ling, marry her, and care for the child. Bai Ling would then go to work, and I’d be a stay-at-home dad. This was hard for me to accept, but given the circumstances, I had no choice.

The matchmaker, as the intermediary, was happier than the couple themselves, taking credit for the successful match.

Before leaving, I saw my mother secretly hand her a red envelope containing 2,800 yuan, a month’s worth of her hard-earned savings. It pained me to see it.

The matchmaker had only sent an initial introduction text, then disappeared until the wedding was finalized, only to reappear to collect her fee. Easy money.

After dinner, Bai Ling sent me home, saying her father would take care of her that night.

From a distance, I saw Bai Ling get into Bai Fugui’s luxury car. Under the dim neon lights, he leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, caressing her head and face before driving off.

This scene left a sour taste in my mouth.

Though father-daughter relationships can be close, something about Bai Ling’s gaze at Bai Fugui seemed off.

Chapter 4

That night, I called my best friend in Beijing, Wang Ping, who had helped me land the high-paying job.

When he heard I was giving up this opportunity to become a stay-at-home dad, he was incredulous.

After five or six years of hard work in Beijing, plus a stroke of luck and Wang Ping’s connections, I’d secured a nearly ironclad job with a monthly salary of 20,000 to 30,000 yuan and excellent benefits—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many.

After years of struggle, nearing thirty, on the brink of success, I was about to reset everything at a crucial moment. Who could accept that?

But for the sake of my family and child, I had to make the sacrifice.

“You’re not just giving up a job, but also your dignity as a man. Plus, you’re too honest. Be careful not to get scammed.”

After hearing my recent experiences, Wang Ping warned me.

Though honest, I wasn’t naive. Years in Beijing had taught me a thing or two. I knew what he was implying.

After a long silence, I asked, “What do you think?”

Honestly, everything felt too surreal, making me uneasy.

Wang Ping’s tone was serious. “Brother, don’t harbor ill intentions, but stay vigilant. I’ll ask a friend to look into this discreetly. If everything’s fine, then all’s well. A happy marriage and a child are worth giving up a high-paying job for.”

After hanging up, I stared at the sky.

Honest people often have few friends, but those they have are reliable and influential. Wang Ping was one such friend, with extensive connections. Investigating this wouldn’t be hard for him.

I just hoped I was overthinking it.

In the following days, Bai Ling stayed home, citing the need to rest. Bai Fugui stayed with her day and night.

Half a month passed, and I hadn’t heard from Wang Ping, which actually relieved me.

No news was good news.

Soon, busy preparations made me almost forget about it.

Bai Ling and I took sweet wedding photos, invited friends and relatives, and planned the banquet and reception. Exhausted but happy.

Bai Ling became even more tender and considerate, treating my parents with respect and affection, like a model daughter-in-law. Neighbors couldn’t stop praising her.

This bliss made me feel truly happy.

On May 4th, my wedding day arrived.

Every friend and classmate who saw Bai Ling said I was lucky to marry such a beautiful woman at thirty.

Men were envious; women were impressed.

My heart was filled with sweetness.

But just as Bai Ling and I were about to exchange rings, a sudden message on my phone left me trembling.

Chapter 5

The message wasn’t from Wang Ping, but from a medical institution—a full-body checkup report.

I’d taken this test before leaving Beijing for my new job. Thinking I hadn’t had a thorough checkup in thirty years, I decided to go all out.

But after returning home, I forgot about the results. Perhaps by fate, they were sent to me on my wedding day.

However, a few words in the report made my blood run cold.

Congenital infertility!

I couldn’t believe it, but the institution was one of the most authoritative in the country, making errors highly unlikely.

As my mind reeled, my gaze fell on Bai Ling’s slightly swollen belly, and my face turned deathly pale.

If I was infertile, whose child was Bai Ling carrying?

Seeing me dazed, Bai Ling smiled at me.

At that moment, her smile felt nauseating—a sickly, greenish hue that made me dizzy.

Then another message came. With trembling hands, I opened it, sensing something ominous.

It was from Wang Ping, with just one line.

I clenched my fists, staring at Bai Ling, who looked uneasy.

Amid the guests’ blessings, Bai Ling approached like a devoted wife, placing the ring on my finger.

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back, my eyes bloodshot, I nearly roared.

“I’m infertile! Whose child is that in your belly?”

The room erupted in chaos.

My fiancée, who’d always known me as honest and reserved, was shocked that I’d make such a scene in public. Panic flashed across her face, but she quickly forced a stiff smile.

“Honey, what are you talking about? Let’s get married first, and we’ll discuss this after the banquet, okay?”

“Sorry, I can’t marry you. I’m an honest man, but I won’t be a cuckold.”

With that, I yanked off the ring she’d just placed on my finger and hurled it at the middle-aged man who’d been posing as her father, hitting him squarely in the face.

I bowed deeply to my parents and the guests, then stormed out of the venue.

Outside the hotel, I tore off my boutonniere and discarded my elegant suit jacket on the roadside. Wearing it any longer felt like a silent mockery.

As I walked down the street, Wang Ping called.

“Brother, I’m sorry. I asked a friend to investigate, but it unearthed too many secrets, taking longer than expected. I nearly ruined your life.”

Wang Ping apologized first, then briefed me on what he’d found. After hearing it, I was stunned into silence, my worldview shattered once again.

It turned out I was the clueless victim, but Bai Ling was also a victim, though partly to blame for her own choices.

The real monster behind all this was someone else entirely!

Chapter 6

To my surprise, Bai Ling chased after me.

Since I still had questions, I decided to confront her.

“That child isn’t mine, and that man isn’t your father—he’s your lover, right? Why did you choose me?”

Facing my accusation, Bai Ling remained silent at first, but eventually decided to come clean.

Bai Ling was from a single-parent family, raised by her mother, who wasn’t kind to her. Growing up without a father’s love, she developed a complex for older men.

Later, her mother remarried. The new family brought no warmth but nearly became a new nightmare.

Her stepbrother, a thug, lusted after her and often harassed her. She turned to her mother for help, but to no avail. So, Bai Ling ran away, drifting from place to place, eventually working at a KTV but keeping herself chaste.

A year ago, she met the middle-aged man. His real name wasn’t Bai Fugui but Gou Fugui.

Gou Fugui was a regular at the KTV where Bai Ling worked. To her, he embodied the mature stability of a father figure, skilled in sweet talk and humor, generous with money, and always rescuing her from thugs. Bai Ling fell deeply in love.

At this point, Bai Ling’s expression turned pained.

“But he lied to me from the start. I thought he’d marry me, but when I got pregnant, he told me he had a family and children, and most of his wealth came from his wife’s family. He was terrified of his wife.”

“But I truly loved him. I wanted to be with him, even if it meant living modestly. I didn’t want to be the homewrecker everyone despised.”

I asked her, “Since he couldn’t give you happiness, why not abort the child and start anew instead of making me the fall guy?”

Bai Ling gave a bitter smile. “In my despair, I considered abortion, but Gou Fugui insisted I keep the child. He promised that when the time was right, he’d divorce his wife, get enough money, and marry me in style.”

I wanted to laugh. “And you believed him?”

Bai Ling didn’t answer. “But I love him.”

At that moment, I didn’t know whether to pity her or blame her. Deciding to keep the child but not wanting to face the stigma of being an unwed mother, and with Gou Fugui unable to care for her, she needed a companion.

So, Gou Fugui hatched the plan to find a fall guy.

Initially, Bai Ling resisted, but Gou Fugui’s persistent promises wore her down. After getting pregnant, they began searching for the right candidate.

I was chosen thanks to the matchmaker’s recommendation, bought off with money.

I was kind-hearted, from a humble background, honest, and had been single for thirty years. I was responsible and easy to control, unlikely to covet her beauty after marriage. She didn’t want to be intimate with any man other than Gou Fugui.

Additionally, Bai Ling said I was good-looking and had a pleasant personality, her type. Though it was a sham marriage, being together required some compatibility to avoid affecting her mood and the child’s development.

At this point, Bai Ling seemed moved.

She said that first night at the KTV was a dual-purpose plan.

First, to test my character with her body.

Second, to get me drunk and create the illusion of a drunken mistake, providing a “father” for her child.

But she didn’t expect me to be such a gentleman.

“I didn’t want to harm you, but I couldn’t resist his pleas.”

Hearing that we hadn’t actually slept together that night, I felt relieved.

Bai Ling looked at me, saying I was the best man she’d ever met. If she hadn’t met Gou Fugui first, she might have devoted herself to me for life.

“If I had to choose a stranger for a sham marriage, I’d still pick you. I can compensate you with money and occasionally let you touch me.”

I gave a self-deprecating laugh, shattering the hope in her eyes.

“But have you considered my feelings? Giving up my job and dreams to care for someone else’s lover and raise their child? Sorry, but I’ll say it again: I’m an honest man, but I won’t be a cuckold.”

Bai Ling fell silent, knowing there was no future for us.

Before parting, I asked my final question.

Since they’d chosen me as the fall guy and felt guilty, why not just financially support me instead of making me quit my high-paying job, become a stay-at-home dad, and later buy a house in the city?

Bai Ling said it was Gou Fugui’s idea.

He believed that only by stripping a man of his income and making him feel the pressures of life could he be thoroughly broken and controlled.

My face darkened. This man wanted to ruin my life.

After Bai Ling left, Gou Fugui showed up unexpectedly.

He, with an air of superiority, directly stated his demands: I was to apologize to everyone, claim I had acted unreasonably, and then proceed with the wedding as planned with Bai Ling.

Moreover, he laid down three rules.

For the first three years of marriage, I was to take care of Bai Ling without sharing a bed with her. I was to treat her child as my own. Failure to comply would result in severe consequences!

I had never encountered such shamelessness!

His demeanor was utterly repulsive.

Furious, I retorted, “Why should I? Who do you think you are? Just because you have some money, you think you’re untouchable?”

Gou Fugui pulled out a bank card and, much like how I had thrown the ring at his face during the wedding, flung it at me, the impact stinging my face.

“There’s 300,000 yuan in there, enough for three years of your hard work. You’re just a nobody, don’t overestimate yourself. In this world, the strong prey on the weak, and with money, I can do as I please. Crushing you is as easy as squashing an ant.”

Seeing my refusal to pick up the card, Gou Fugui sneered, patted my face, and threatened me to comply.

He gave me three days to decide. If I didn’t obey, he would ruin my reputation and make life unbearable for my family.

Before leaving, he showed me two photos that nearly drove me mad.

The first photo showed him on top of a semi-conscious Bai Ling, with me lying beside them, an unwitting bystander to this despicable act.

The second photo was a staged shot of Bai Ling and me in a compromising position.

At that moment, I trembled with rage. If it weren’t for my parents, and if this were ten years ago, I would have killed this arrogant, despicable scoundrel on the spot.

Originally, after learning some inside information from Wang Ping, I had decided to let it go and not get involved in their mess.

But sometimes, being kind only invites more bullying.

Watching Gou Fugui’s arrogant retreat, a glint of determination flashed in my eyes for the first time.

Since you’re pushing me to the edge, don’t blame me for fighting back with everything I’ve got.

Within three days, I will make sure Gou Fugui.

After Bai Ling left, Gou Fugui showed up unexpectedly.

He, with an air of superiority, directly stated his demands: I was to apologize to everyone, claim I had acted unreasonably, and then proceed with the wedding as planned with Bai Ling.

Moreover, he laid down three rules.

For the first three years of marriage, I was to take care of Bai Ling without sharing a bed with her. I was to treat her child as my own. Failure to comply would result in severe consequences!

I had never encountered such shamelessness!

His demeanor was utterly repulsive.

Furious, I retorted, “Why should I? Who do you think you are? Just because you have some money, you think you’re untouchable?”

Gou Fugui pulled out a bank card and, much like how I had thrown the ring at his face during the wedding, flung it at me, the impact stinging my face.

“There’s 300,000 yuan in there, enough for three years of your hard work. You’re just a nobody, don’t overestimate yourself. In this world, the strong prey on the weak, and with money, I can do as I please. Crushing you is as easy as squashing an ant.”

Seeing my refusal to pick up the card, Gou Fugui sneered, patted my face, and threatened me to comply.

He gave me three days to decide. If I didn’t obey, he would ruin my reputation and make life unbearable for my family.

Before leaving, he showed me two photos that nearly drove me mad.

The first photo showed him on top of a semi-conscious Bai Ling, with me lying beside them, an unwitting bystander to this despicable act.

The second photo was a staged shot of Bai Ling and me in a compromising position.

At that moment, I trembled with rage. If it weren’t for my parents, and if this were ten years ago, I would have killed this arrogant, despicable scoundrel on the spot.

Originally, after learning some inside information from Wang Ping, I had decided to let it go and not get involved in their mess.

But sometimes, being kind only invites more bullying.

Watching Gou Fugui’s arrogant retreat, a glint of determination flashed in my eyes for the first time.

Since you’re pushing me to the edge, don’t blame me for fighting back with everything I’ve got.

Within three days, I will make sure Gou Fugui’s empire crumbles.

Chapter 7

I carefully reviewed the information Wang Ping had gathered for me.

The child Bai Ling was carrying wasn’t Gou Fugui’s—it belonged to his biggest business partner, Boss Wang.

Boss Wang was a wealthy businessman whose brother worked in the Land Management Bureau, making him a key figure for Gou Fugui, who was in the real estate business.

Boss Wang was in his forties, married to a virtuous wife, but the couple had been unable to conceive due to medical issues. This was common knowledge among their circle. However, their marriage was stable, and their families were well-matched, so they had remained together despite this.

But the lack of an heir had always been a thorn in Boss Wang’s side.

During a banquet, Gou Fugui overheard Boss Wang lamenting about this and hatched a plan. He introduced Bai Ling, his mistress, as a distant niece and orchestrated several “accidental” encounters between her and Boss Wang, presenting her as a gift to curry favor.

Bai Ling, with her stunning looks, immediately caught Boss Wang’s eye.

After a few encounters, Bai Ling became pregnant—though she was unaware that the child wasn’t Gou Fugui’s.

When Boss Wang learned of the pregnancy, he was overjoyed. However, he couldn’t immediately give Bai Ling a legitimate status, but he insisted the child must be born.

Boss Wang promised Gou Fugui significant benefits, including favorable land deals and financial support, once the child was safely delivered.

But Bai Ling was emotional and clingy, and her pregnancy made her a ticking time bomb.

If Boss Wang discovered that Gou Fugui had been involved with the woman carrying his child, or if Bai Ling aborted the baby, or if Gou Fugui’s wife found out, it would spell disaster for Gou Fugui.

This was a high-stakes gamble.

To ensure everything went smoothly, Gou Fugui needed to keep Bai Ling in a remote location where she could quietly give birth.

Thus, I became part of his elaborate scheme.

Gou Fugui noticed that Bai Ling seemed to tolerate me and even showed some affection, so he decided I was the perfect candidate to stabilize her. Even after the wedding fiasco, he tried to intimidate me into compliance, hoping to secure his position and ambitions.

What he didn’t anticipate was that I, the honest, seemingly meek man he thought he could manipulate, would fight back.

According to Wang Ping, there were even darker secrets involved, but they were irrelevant to me. It was better not to know.

With the information I had, it was enough.

After careful consideration, I formulated a plan.

Gou Fugui had given me three days to decide, and during that time, he stayed at Bai Ling’s house to keep an eye on her.

Bai Ling’s house, bought by Gou Fugui, likely had hidden cameras installed to monitor her.

The photos he showed me confirmed this.

Based on the angles in the photos, I estimated where the cameras might be.

I reached out to a trusted friend, Li Wei, who ran an appliance repair shop but was also a skilled hacker.

I asked him to discreetly hack into Bai Ling’s surveillance system and retrieve some footage.

Over the next three days, Gou Fugui would likely indulge in his desires with Bai Ling.

Li Wei agreed to help, posing as a repairman to gain access to the house.

Next, I contacted Wang Ping and obtained the contact information for Gou Fugui’s wife, Wu Xiangwang, and Boss Wang’s email address.

Wang Ping asked what I planned to do.

I replied, “I’m going to destroy a despicable beast.”

Wang Ping, sensing my determination, offered to help by mobilizing his connections, but I politely declined.

He had already done enough by providing me with crucial information. I needed to handle this myself to achieve closure.

Moreover, I couldn’t rest until I personally brought Gou Fugui down.

The first step was to set Gou Fugui’s home ablaze.

That evening, I called Wu Xiangwang using a new, temporary phone number.

I introduced myself as Bai Ling’s husband to lend credibility to my claims and got straight to the point:

“Your husband has been cheating on you with my wife and plans to divorce you to marry her. What do you think about that?”

From Wang Ping’s information and my own research, I knew Wu Xiangwang was a shrewd and suspicious woman, not one to be trifled with. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have kept Gou Fugui under her thumb for so many years.

Wu Xiangwang didn’t react hysterically but calmly demanded evidence, warning me not to make false accusations.

I pretended to be a furious, betrayed husband, shouting,

“Believe it or not, you’re a fool for letting him deceive you. If it weren’t for my wife, I wouldn’t bother telling you this. Keep your man on a leash, or I’ll expose his affairs to the world and drag your family’s name through the mud.

Your husband is filthy rich—he bought my wife a house, a car, and gives her nearly a million yuan a year. He even promised her ten million when they get married.

If you can’t satisfy him, find him a few escorts. Don’t let him ruin other people’s families. Good luck.”

I hung up before she could respond and turned off my phone.

My words were a mix of truth and lies, emphasizing the financial aspects to plant seeds of doubt and caution in Wu Xiangwang’s mind.

I knew the Wu family valued their reputation and would fear public scandal.

I was confident that Wu Xiangwang, with her sharp instincts, would quietly investigate and soon discover the truth. She would likely begin gathering evidence and cutting off Gou Fugui’s financial resources.

I eagerly awaited her next move.

The next day, I called Bai Ling and asked to meet, saying I wanted to talk. She was surprised but agreed.

My goal was to lull Gou Fugui into a false sense of security, making him think I was caving to his demands.

At the same time, I wanted to help Bai Ling break free from Gou Fugui’s control.

I didn’t want her to spend her life trapped in a web of lies, used as a pawn in someone else’s game. Even if the truth was painful, she deserved to know.

Chapter 8

I took Bai Ling to a secluded area outside town.

Gou Fugui, confident I couldn’t cause trouble, didn’t follow us. This was perfect, as I didn’t want him to suspect my intentions if Bai Ling reacted emotionally.

Looking at the woman before me, I hesitated but ultimately revealed the harsh truth.

“The child you’re carrying isn’t Gou Fugui’s—it’s his business partner Boss Wang’s.”

Bai Ling’s first reaction was disbelief, but her face turned pale. The fact that I knew Boss Wang’s identity lent credibility to my claim.

Wang Ping had only told me the truth but hadn’t provided concrete evidence, so I couldn’t prove it outright.

But I swore on my honor that I wasn’t lying. I suggested she collect a few strands of Gou Fugui’s hair and have a DNA test done if she didn’t believe me.

Bai Ling staggered and fell, muttering,

“No wonder…”

I stayed by her side, worried she might do something drastic.

I said, “I’ll be at your house for lunch today to confront Gou Fugui. If you want to hear the truth from his own mouth, you’ll need to play along.”

Bai Ling nodded, and we discussed the details.

This was the second step of my plan: gathering evidence.

Half an hour later, Bai Ling returned home, not shedding a single tear.

But I could sense the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior.

At that moment, my hatred for Gou Fugui deepened.

At noon, I arrived at Bai Ling’s house as planned. Gou Fugui was there, and I said I wanted to talk to him while having lunch.

With Bai Ling present, Gou Fugui was reluctant to speak freely.

To get him to open up, I said I wanted to try a local specialty dish and asked Bai Ling to go buy it.

Bai Ling played along, saying her phone was dead and handing it to me to charge. I gave her my phone in front of Gou Fugui so she could use it to pay.

With Bai Ling gone and my phone in her possession, Gou Fugui thought I couldn’t record anything. Feeling secure in his own territory, he let his guard down.

At first, I kept the conversation casual, but soon I began provoking him, subtly leading him into a trap.

For example, I asked if he wasn’t afraid I’d cheat on him with Bai Ling.

To placate me, Gou Fugui shockingly said I could sleep with Bai Ling as long as she stayed calm and carried the baby to term.

Finally, I pushed him too far, and in his anger, he revealed part of the truth: he had been using Bai Ling all along, with no intention of marrying her.

He even threatened to kill my entire family if I didn’t comply.

To my surprise, he also boasted about two unsolved cases where he had eliminated people who stood in his way, claiming he was behind them.

Unbeknownst to him, Bai Ling’s phone wasn’t dead—she had set it to silent mode and started recording when she handed it to me.

Gou Fugui had dug his own grave.

I got what I needed and stormed out.

Originally, I had planned to use the recording to make Bai Ling see the truth and to report Gou Fugui’s threats to the police, even if it only caused him some trouble.

But I had stumbled upon a bombshell.

This was the weapon that could destroy him.

At a prearranged spot, I met Bai Ling and swapped phones back.

After listening to the recording, Bai Ling turned pale. Though she had suspected the truth, hearing it directly was still devastating. The man she thought was her true love was nothing but a monstrous predator.

Bai Ling forwarded the recording to me.

I comforted her briefly, and we went our separate ways.

Back home, I edited the recording, removing the parts about Bai Ling’s personal life, and prepared to send it to the local police station to report Gou Fugui for suspected murder.

For now, I breathed a sigh of relief.

But it wasn’t enough.

Gou Fugui was wealthy and well-connected. Even with the recording, he might bribe his way out of trouble.

I needed to cut off his financial resources and connections first to ensure his downfall.

I waited for Li Wei to retrieve the surveillance footage and for Gou Fugui’s wife to make her move.

When I worried Bai Ling might confront Gou Fugui directly, she called me at 3 PM, saying Gou Fugui had received a phone call, hastily reassured her, and then rushed off.

I was delighted, guessing that Wu Xiangwang had taken action. I went to Bai Ling’s house, where she looked haggard, her eyes filled with hatred.

I asked, “Did you confront him?”

Bai Ling shook her head, saying it was all over.

I felt sorry for her and suggested she abort the child, start anew, and reach out to me if she needed help.

Despite her deception, I couldn’t bring myself to hate her.

Bai Ling smiled at me, saying I was a good man, the best she had ever known. She then gave me her house as compensation.

Before leaving, she hugged me and drove off, promising not to harm herself. She had too much to do.

Bai Ling was gone.

I unexpectedly became the owner of her house. I called Li Wei, who posed as a repairman and successfully retrieved the surveillance footage.

I selected a few screenshots of Gou Fugui and Bai Ling in compromising positions, ensuring Bai Ling’s face wasn’t visible and her body was mostly covered to protect her identity.

I added Wu Xiangwang on WeChat using her phone number and sent her the images. With this evidence, I was confident she would deal with Gou Fugui.

“If you can’t handle your husband with this, don’t blame me for going to the media and exposing your family’s dirty laundry.”

I added pressure to ensure she acted decisively.

Soon, Wu Xiangwang replied:

“He’s been careful to cover his tracks while trying to take over my family’s wealth. Thanks to your evidence, I’ll make sure he lives like a dog. You don’t need to worry about the rest.”

Before I could block her, she sent me a transfer: 300,000 yuan.

This was payment for the evidence and a bribe to keep me silent.

I accepted the money, deciding to keep her contact for future use.

As for the surveillance footage, I had Li Wei delete it entirely to protect Bai Ling.

But I faced a dilemma.

My original plan was to send the compromising images to Boss Wang, claiming Gou Fugui had slept with his woman and suggesting the child might not be his. This would surely ruin Gou Fugui.

But I hesitated.

Though this would destroy Gou Fugui, it would also expose Bai Ling and potentially put her in danger if Boss Wang sought revenge.

In the end, I decided to stop here.

If Gou Fugui wasn’t completely defeated, I could always seek further help.

Two days later, Wang Ping called.

He praised me for my cunning, saying I had outdone myself.

Wang Ping explained that, despite my request for him not to intervene, he had kept tabs on the situation through his connections.

Gou Fugui had returned home to find his wife and brother-in-law waiting. They beat him severely, breaking his left leg.

Wu Xiangwang then used his infidelity as grounds to freeze all his assets and filed for divorce. She hired the best lawyers, ensuring Gou Fugui was left penniless.

After years of enduring a loveless marriage and serving his domineering wife, Gou Fugui was now destitute.

Furious, he tried to fight back but was warned by the Wu family: if he caused any trouble, he would disappear without a trace.

Gou Fugui, in despair, shouted, “Why?”

Wu Xiangwang sneered, “Because my family is rich, and we can do as we please. You were just a dog we took in. If you had behaved, we could have coexisted. But you overreached, trying to steal my family’s wealth and keeping a mistress. Who gave you the audacity? Get out, and don’t dirty my eyes.”

That afternoon, Gou Fugui was thrown out of his home like a stray dog.

Unbeknownst to him, Wu Xiangwang left with a handsome young man, starting a new chapter of her life.

Wang Ping recounted this with glee, saying it was poetic justice.

Gou Fugui’s threats to me were now turned against him by his own wife.

While he had kept a mistress, his wife had taken a lover, abandoning him in the same way.

Gou Fugui, now homeless, sought to reclaim his position by leveraging a major project he had been working on.

But he soon discovered that the project’s primary investor, Boss Wang, had suddenly withdrawn funding, causing the project to collapse.

This was the final blow.

Desperate, Gou Fugui rushed to Boss Wang’s house, hoping to salvage the situation.

But when he arrived, he found Bai Ling already there, with bloodstains on her clothes.

Bai Ling calmly told Boss Wang that she wasn’t Gou Fugui’s niece but his mistress. She claimed Gou Fugui had beaten her, causing her to miscarry. She said she needed money to recover and had come to Boss Wang for help.

Gou Fugui was stunned and terrified.

Boss Wang, enraged, threw Gou Fugui out without giving him a chance to explain.

Outside, Gou Fugui clutched his head, unable to comprehend how everything had fallen apart so quickly.

Before he could process what had happened, he was struck by a speeding car while crossing the street.

The driver was Bai Ling.

Gou Fugui was left severely injured, nearly paralyzed, and hospitalized.

Wang Ping finished recounting the events, teasing me for being a "hidden master of manipulation." He assumed Bai Ling’s actions were orchestrated by me, but they weren’t.

This was Bai Ling’s personal revenge.

The depth of her love had turned into an equally profound hatred.

This was the price of betrayal and manipulation.

The final step of my plan, which I had hesitated to take for fear of harming Bai Ling, had been executed by her—and with even greater ruthlessness.

I asked Wang Ping how he knew all these details.

He chuckled mysteriously, "In this age, there are no real secrets."

After hanging up, I tried to contact Bai Ling, but her phone was turned off. When I tried to send her half of the 300,000 yuan via WeChat, I found that she had already blocked me.

I looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling that I needed to tie up the last loose end.

I took a taxi to the hospital where Gou Fugui was staying. On the way, I timed it perfectly and sent the incriminating recording to the local police station.

An hour and a half later, I arrived at the hospital with a basket of fruit.

Each piece of fruit had been meticulously carved into the shape of a bell—a symbolic gesture of finality.

On the third floor, I found Gou Fugui’s room.

He lay in bed, hooked up to tubes and machines, his face pale and his breathing labored.

It was a pitiful sight, with no one there to visit him.

When he saw me, he was surprised.

But when he noticed the bell-shaped fruit in my basket, his face twisted in anger, and he began gasping for air.

"Don’t get too excited," I said, patting his chest to calm him down. I didn’t want him to die before he saw what I had prepared for him.

I pulled out my phone and showed him a series of images.

The first was a screenshot of my chat with Wu Xiangwang, including the 300,000 yuan transfer.

The second was a photo of Wu Xiangwang with her young lover, looking happy and carefree.

The third was a screenshot from the surveillance footage, showing Gou Fugui and Bai Ling in a compromising position.

Before he could react, I played the recording for him, placing headphones over his ears.

Gou Fugui’s eyes widened in shock and rage as he listened to his own voice admitting to his crimes.

Divorced and penniless.

Left leg broken.

His prized project ruined.

His mistress turned against him.

His business partner seeking revenge.

And now, struck by a car, paralyzed, and lying helpless in a hospital bed.

From the look in his eyes, it was clear he never expected that I, the "honest, insignificant man," had orchestrated his downfall.

"It was you!" he spat out, each word filled with venom.

I leaned in close and whispered in his ear, "Surprised? You thought you could comfortably rot in this hospital? Think again. You’ll spend the rest of your life behind bars. And remember this: money doesn’t always buy power. Don’t underestimate the so-called honest man."

As I walked out of the hospital, I saw several police cars speeding toward the entrance.

I knew they were coming for Gou Fugui.

Smiling to myself, I hailed a taxi and headed home. Before I even arrived, I received another message from Wang Ping.

He told me that when the police arrived, Gou Fugui had suffered a brain hemorrhage—whether from rage or fear, no one could say. He had slipped into a vegetative state. The police would arrest him the moment he regained consciousness.

Justice had been served, but there was still one person who had escaped unscathed: the matchmaker who had orchestrated this entire mess.

She was the one who had recommended me as the perfect "fall guy," all for a hefty fee.

I returned to my hometown and began a campaign to expose her.

Every day, I would stand outside her house with a loudspeaker, broadcasting her misdeeds to the entire town.

My goal was twofold: to clear my name from the wedding scandal and to destroy her reputation as a trusted matchmaker.

Within a month, the matchmaker, unable to bear the shame and constant scrutiny, packed up her belongings and left town under the cover of night.

As for me, I received some good news.

The high-paying job I had given up in Beijing became available again when the employee who replaced me was fired for incompetence. Thanks to Wang Ping’s recommendation, I was offered the position once more.

A year later, I found true love.

At my wedding, I saw Bai Ling again. She attended as the bridesmaid, standing by my bride’s side.

When our eyes met, she smiled at me—a smile filled with genuine happiness and peace.

And with that, the final chapter of this tumultuous story came to a close.

The End.