Chapter 236: A Pitiful Person

Lyu Ning had worked hard all night and used all her tricks, but she saw no results at all. She finally couldn’t take it anymore. As they were about to part, she exploded with anger. She glared fiercely at Jiang Xincheng, her delicate, picture-perfect face filled with rage.

After hearing Lyu Ning’s words and seeing her furious expression, a faint smile crossed Jiang Xincheng’s lips. “You already know my name, so why are you asking?”

“You know my name?” Lyu Ning was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something. She looked at Jiang Xincheng, her face turning pale. “You knew all along?”

Jiang Xincheng nodded seriously. “I figured it out when you fell into the water.”

“How is that possible? I don’t believe you!” Lyu Ning exclaimed, her delicate face losing all color.

Jiang Xincheng looked at her. “Your fall into the water seemed too deliberate, and I happened to see it. Also, after you fell in, your expression was too calm, and your movements were too regular. It didn’t look like someone who had accidentally fallen into the water. So I knew something was wrong right away. Everything that happened afterward just confirmed my suspicions.”

“So you knew all along. Why did you pretend not to know? Just to make me lose face? Was it so you could take advantage of me a little longer?” Lyu Ning felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her face was as pale as paper as she glared coldly at Jiang Xincheng. “Did you enjoy watching me try so hard? Did it make you feel accomplished? Was it fun to toy with me?”

Jiang Xincheng’s expression turned slightly cold. “I tried to get you to leave multiple times. During the fireworks show, I even ignored you on purpose, hoping you would take the hint and back off. Don’t think I’m a fool. The only reason I did that was because you’re a girl. I didn’t want to use harsher methods to drive you away and make you lose face.”

“But you were stubborn and insisted on pushing for an answer. You wanted to tear down all pretenses and get to the truth. Now you feel embarrassed? Now you think I’m being too harsh? Now you think I’m cruel? What were you doing earlier?”

His cold words mercilessly exposed all of Lyu Ning’s intentions. She trembled all over, staggered back a few steps, and nearly fell to the ground. Then, she suddenly crouched down, covered her face, and began to cry.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Mr. Jiang, I only did this because I wanted to seek justice for my father. I wanted to ask for your help. I’ve never done anything like this before. Everything I did was based on what I read in books and looked up online. I never thought you would see through it all. Wuwuwu…”

While crying, Lyu Ning explained the reason behind her actions. “My father is the deputy director of the Administrative Department in Diannan County. He disagreed with the director of the Administrative Department over a matter and firmly opposed his actions. As a result, the director of the Administrative Department conspired with the director of the Department of Public Security to frame him. Now he’s been thrown into prison. My mother fell ill because of this, and it feels like our family is falling apart. That’s why I had no choice but to use these methods. I hoped you would develop feelings for me and then help me seek justice. I didn’t mean to seduce you on purpose, but I messed everything up. Wuwuwu…”

Seeing Lyu Ning crying so pitifully and the crowd slowly gathering around them, Jiang Xincheng frowned. He returned to the small boat and said, “Come aboard. Let’s talk on the river.”

“Yes, yes.” Lyu Ning hurriedly nodded and followed Jiang Xincheng onto the boat, looking utterly pitiful. Jiang Xinyu handed her a few tissues to wipe her tears.

Primordial Force stirred, carrying the boat to the center of the river. Jiang Xincheng looked at Lyu Ning and asked calmly, “How do you know me? How did you know I have the ability to help you? And how did you happen to come to the Diannan River to find me?”

“I only learned about you yesterday. One of my uncles works in the Administrative Department in Tongle Town. He’s the director of the town’s Administrative Department. He suggested I ask for your help and sent me your detailed information. I originally planned to go to Tongle Town to look for you after the Lantern Festival.”

Lyu Ning sobbed as she spoke. “But tonight, I was feeling upset and came to the Diannan River to watch the fireworks. That’s when I saw you, so I came up with this idea. I wanted to use these methods to get close to you and ask for your help.”

Jiang Xincheng finally understood the whole story. He recalled the awkward expressions Lyu Ning often showed during her performance and how she lost her temper before her plan could succeed. It all made sense now. This Lyu Ning really was just an amateur.

But even so, why should Jiang Xincheng help her? Why should he believe her? Why should he risk offending many high-ranking officials in Diannan County to seek justice for her father, even if Jiang Xincheng didn’t care about the risk?

What if her father really had committed a crime? Jiang Xincheng had no reason to do such a thankless task. Besides, if everyone used such methods to ask him for help and seek justice, when would he have time to cultivate?

After a brief moment of consideration, Jiang Xincheng shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with this matter. Although I am a member of the Flourishing Tang Empire, its members mainly focus on missions, and we choose which missions to take. First, the Flourishing Tang Empire hasn’t issued any mission related to your father’s case. Second, even if it did, I wouldn’t take it. So you’ll have to find someone else to help you. I can’t do it.”

“Mr. Jiang, you are an important figure in the Flourishing Tang Empire, and the Flourishing Tang Empire serves the Shenxia Alliance. How can you stand by and watch a good official who worked for the people be wronged and die?” Lyu Ning pleaded with tears streaming down her face.

Jiang Xincheng was silent for a moment before replying calmly, “Whether he is a good official isn’t for you to decide. Whether your father was wronged isn’t for you to decide either. Nothing has been confirmed yet. I don’t have the time to investigate and play the role of a righteous judge. So, I can’t help you. I have many things to do and can’t afford to waste time. You’ll have to find someone else.”

As he spoke, Jiang Xincheng took Jiang Xinyu’s hand. The boat had already reached a spot near the shore. Jiang Xincheng leaped up, bringing Jiang Xinyu with him as they landed on the bank. “I’m sorry. You can ask someone else for help. I have many things to do.”

With those words, Jiang Xincheng walked away with Jiang Xinyu. Behind him, Lyu Ning sat despairingly in the boat, watching Jiang Xincheng’s retreating figure as tears streamed down her face. “Why won’t you help me? For you, it would only take a little time. But for me, it’s a matter of life and death for my entire family. Why are you so heartless? Jiang Xincheng, I hate you! I curse you to die a terrible death! I curse your family to fall apart! I curse you to one day be like me, with no one to turn to, desperate and suffering! You bastard! Wuwuwu…”