Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 804: Epilogue (Part 11)

"Of course it's significant, Lin Chuxia. Have you any idea how I've been surviving lately? I’ve lived like a stray dog, lacking even a roof over my head or a place to set up a small stall, all because I revealed the truth to you. That loyal dog of yours is hunting me like a maniac, even though I'm a victim in this too. My life wouldn't be this miserable if it weren't for Lin Jiayi, yet Gu Peng puts all the blame on my shoulders. He pursued me relentlessly in my previous life, and in this life, I’ve suffered enough, but he still refuses to stop suppressing me. If my life is ruined, then no one else will have a good life either..."

His tone grew more violent as he surged to his feet.

Lin Chuxia finally realized the reason behind Li Guangyuan’s sudden descent into madness.

It appeared that Gu Peng had been making things extremely difficult for him recently.

Knowing Gu Peng’s tactics, he was more than capable of making someone's existence a living hell if he chose to target them.

"Li Guangyuan, don't you just want things to go back to how they were? I will go with you, just leave the child out of this; from the very start, she has had nothing to do with any of this," Lin Chuxia said, taking another step forward.

Qin Yang followed suit, stepping forward as well, "Since I’m involved in this situation, count me in too."

"Deputy Minister Qin, forget it. Why would I bring you? I have no desire to create another enemy. However, this child isn't innocent; she shouldn't have been born into this world in the first place. Lin Chuxia, since you've agreed, I’m leaving now. You had better move fast, or you won’t be able to keep up..."

"No!"

Lin Chuxia watched his movements, her eyes wide with fury.

Suddenly, a shadow lunged from the side, sprinting directly toward Li Guangyuan.

With incredible speed, that person snatched the child from Li Guangyuan’s arms, shouting "Catch!" just before his momentum carried both him and Li Guangyuan over the edge of the building.

Qin Yang reacted instantly, catching the thrown Qi Qi.

Qi Qi continued to wail, her sense of grievance intensifying the moment she saw her father.

Lin Chuxia’s eyes, however, were locked onto the spot where the two men had disappeared.

That was Gu Peng.

When did he get here?

They fell together!

The people nearby immediately sprang into action; some hurried to Qin Yang to check on the toddler, while others rushed to the ledge to look down.

Distant noises from below grew louder.

There were piercing screams, frantic shouting, and the wail of sirens...

..................

Office of the Director of the City Public Security Bureau

He JianShe poured a glass of water for Lin Chuxia, asking with concern, "Was the little one badly frightened?"

Lin Chuxia accepted the water, "She’s alright, though she cried for a long time that day until her voice went hoarse. After some rest at home, she’s mostly back to her usual self."

He JianShe nodded, "I believe it would be safer to let your father examine her, but you insisted on keeping this from him. If the old man finds out from someone else later, he’ll be demanding answers from me again."

Lin Chuxia gave a small smile, "Then I’ll take Qi Qi to see Master tomorrow and have him check her over. My mother hasn't been herself lately either, so I want him to look at her as well."

Qi Qi was resilient. Even though she had been terrified that day, she settled down once she was in her father's arms.

However, Mother had been consumed by guilt for allowing the child to be in danger, particularly after hearing about Li Guangyuan’s death. She had been restless and uneasy lately.

She refused to visit the hospital, claiming she was fine and adamantly declining to go.

Having Master examine her would be a good way to help her recover.

He JianShe passed some files to Lin Chuxia, "These are the results of the investigation. It’s no wonder Li Guangyuan snapped. Records show his life has been a disaster recently. His stall at the night market was destroyed, and his rent was hiked up, forcing him back to his old family home. Recently, news arrived from Hai City that his two sisters and his ex-wife were caught working as prostitutes. His mother had a stroke when she found out. Once the news hit the village, Li Guangyuan couldn't show his face there. Speaking of which, Gu Peng is truly resourceful. He didn't appear to be involved in any of it, yet my gut tells me he played a part in every single incident."

As a police officer, he had to rely on evidence.

But as a former soldier, his instincts were incredibly sharp.

He could only share these private thoughts with his fellow disciple, as he couldn't make official accusations without proof.

"Perhaps the weight of his life became too much, driving him toward a desire for revenge against the world..."

Despite his sharp mind, He JianShe couldn't have guessed the truth about a rebirth.

Lin Chuxia understood it perfectly.

In their previous life, Li Guangyuan had been a success, highly respected as President Li.

Having lived at the pinnacle for so long, he naturally couldn't tolerate a common, struggling existence.

With the memories of his past life, Li Guangyuan was already bitter about his current situation, and Gu Peng’s relentless targeting only made it worse.

Still, Lin Chuxia hadn't realized Gu Peng had orchestrated so much behind the scenes.

She recalled that Li Hongmei had vanished a long time ago, and a missing person report had even been filed.

Li Dongmei had also disappeared from the Zhang Family after Zhang Wenbin was sent to prison.

It turned out she had been with Li Hongmei all along.

As for Lin Jiayi, being involved in that trade alongside those sisters was undoubtedly Gu Peng's doing.

He had never cared for the Li Family.

In the past life, Li Guangyuan’s sisters had lived relatively easy lives, and Gu Peng used to tell her she was being far too lenient with Li Jianren.

"What are your plans regarding Gu Peng?"

On that day, Gu Peng had intervened to save Qi Qi and plummeted from the building with Li Guangyuan.

Li Guangyuan was mortally wounded and passed away before he could reach the hospital.

Gu Peng had been quite fortunate; he suffered several broken ribs and a fractured arm but survived.

"The investigation is still ongoing; we can't take action against him without proof, especially since his deeds that day could be seen as heroic. We’ll have to wait for the final report."

Lin Chuxia nodded, "Thank you, Senior Brother. Is Gu Peng allowed visitors now? I’d like to speak with him."

"I’ll have someone escort you there."

...............

Inside the hospital room, the air was thick with the scent of disinfectant.

Gu Peng was lying in the bed, his head and arm heavily bandaged, with various tubes connecting him to medical monitors.

Lin Chuxia had been informed by the physician that although Gu Peng survived, a fractured rib had punctured his organs, causing grave damage.

After the internal bleeding was stopped, he faced a lengthy recovery, and there might be permanent lingering effects even after he healed.

Sensing movement, Gu Peng opened his eyes.

Upon seeing Lin Chuxia, a faint smile touched his lips, "You came. I thought you might never want to see me again in this life. I'm sorry; I didn't intend for things to end up like this."

Lin Chuxia stood by his bedside, watching him, "You didn't plan on surviving, did you?"

The situation had been critical, but it wasn't completely hopeless.

Even though it was dangerous, Gu Peng’s choice had been the most extreme option.

Gu Peng gave a soft laugh, "You’re still as sharp as ever; I can't hide anything from you. At the very last second, I felt regret and realized I needed to tell you I’m sorry."

"Why did you do it? Gu Peng, you are so capable and gifted; you spent our previous life telling me not to get tangled up with wicked people. Why couldn't you follow your own advice and move on? Letting Li Guangyuan push you to such extremes nearly cost you your life. Was it really worth it? In our last life, you seemed so carefree to everyone else; why couldn't you truly let go for once?"

She was aware that everything Gu Peng did was for her sake.

Because she knew that, she found it impossible to comprehend.

Whether it was in her past life or this one.

In their previous life, others viewed her as a bitter wife ignored by her husband, someone who had lost the ability to bear children.

Yet Gu Peng never married because of her, even going so far as to obsessively research time-reversal technology to start their lives over.

In this current life, she was already someone else's wife and a mother.

She couldn't understand why Gu Peng was so obstinate, or why he couldn't simply let her go.

"Truthfully, I don't know why I became so fixated on one person," he said, looking up at Lin Chuxia as if trying to memorize her face, "I see now that perhaps our destiny hasn't arrived. They say it takes a hundred years of Merit to share a boat and a thousand years to share a bed; fate cannot be forced if the time isn't right. Chuxia, please don't hate me. In the next life, whether we can be together or not, I just want to be near you. Would that be alright?"

Lin Chuxia gazed at him until the hope in his eyes began to fade, then she spoke gently, "In the next life, let's be siblings, a brother and a sister. You’ve spent a lifetime protecting me; let me be the one to protect you next time."

Gu Peng was stunned for a moment, then he finally smiled, "Okay."

(The end of the main text)