Chapter 1

"Buzz~~~"

The large gate of the prison slowly opened, and Xu Dong, with a full beard, strode out. .COM

The morning sunlight was slightly blinding, and Xu Dong squinted his eyes. When he opened them again, two elderly people in their fifties immediately came into his view.

"Dad~ Mom~"

After a four-year separation, Xu Dong was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, and his eyes turned red.

Xu Weiguo and Wang Mei, the elderly couple, were already sobbing uncontrollably. They rushed forward and tightly embraced their son.

Seeing his father's gray hair and his mother's wrinkled face, Xu Dong felt a deep sense of guilt towards his parents.

After a brief exchange, Xu Dong couldn't help but ask, "Mom, why didn't Song Yu come?"

Initially, the main reason Xu Dong was imprisoned was because of his fiancée, Song Yu.

Four years ago, Song Yu's younger brother fled after owing a high-interest loan due to gambling. The debt collection company came to the Song family's house to demand payment, and in the ensuing argument, Song Yu, holding a fruit knife for self-defense, accidentally stabbed someone to death in the chaos.

Upon receiving the call, Xu Dong rushed to the Song family's house. After comforting Song Yu, he called the police.

The incident was initially considered an excessive act of self-defense, as the debt collection company had started the trouble. However, Xu Dong didn't know that the deceased was the younger brother of the debt collection company's boss. The boss used his connections to reclassify the incident as intentional murder.

Intentional murder carried a heavy sentence, and the Song family felt as if the sky had fallen.

Holding the trembling Song Yu, Xu Dong heard her repeatedly beg him to save her.

In the end, he steeled his resolve and loudly declared in court that he was the one who had committed the murder, taking all the blame for Song Yu.

He was supposed to marry Song Yu in a few days, but now he had sent himself to prison, sacrificing his promising future.

He had just received an offer from a top 500 pharmaceutical company in the capital city, and the company had even promised him a property in the city center as a sign of their sincerity.

Unfortunately, Xu Dong had destroyed all of this with his own hands…

For four years, over 1,400 days and nights, it was his parents' concern and his love for Song Yu that kept him going.

He had always looked forward to the day he would be released, wearing a crisp suit, and happily marrying Song Yu.

As for his plans after release, Xu Dong had already made arrangements. Before his imprisonment, he had met a pharmaceutical industry tycoon with extensive connections, who had maintained contact with him even after he was incarcerated.

The tycoon had promised that once Xu Dong was released, he would provide any help he needed.

Xu Dong believed that with his talent in the pharmaceutical field, he would have a bright future.

"Son, how could that ungrateful Song Yu come to pick you up?" Wang Mei was furious at the mention of Song Yu, "You don't know what she…"

"Dear!" Seeing Wang Mei about to continue, Xu Weiguo quickly interrupted, "Today is the day our son is released from prison, a joyous occasion. Let's not bring up unpleasant things."

Wang Mei was indignant and couldn't hold back her anger: "Why can't I say it? If Song Yu can do such despicable things, can't I speak about it?!"

"Enough, enough, let's talk about it at home!"

Xu Weiguo's face darkened, and he pulled Wang Mei towards the car.

Xu Dong, confused, quickly followed. His mind was filled with questions about what had happened to Song Yu and why his mother was so angry.

Silence enveloped the car, and Xu Dong, looking at his parents' somber faces, hesitated to speak.

His intuition told him that Song Yu must have done something terrible, otherwise, his usually gentle mother wouldn't be so angry.

"Xiao Dong, forget about Song Yu. In a few days, I'll find you a decent job, and once things are stable, we'll arrange some blind dates for you to find a good girl," Xu Weiguo finally broke the silence.

Xu Dong's heart sank: "Dad, what are you talking about? Song Yu is my fiancée, your future daughter-in-law!"

"What future daughter-in-law?!" Wang Mei shouted angrily, "The Song family are all ungrateful wolves!"

"Xiao Dong, you don't know, in the third year of your imprisonment, Song Yu started a relationship with Ye Kai, and they are getting married in a few days."

"What?!"

Xu Dong felt a loud boom in his head, and his mind went blank.

No wonder Song Yu had visited him less frequently over the past year, and her attitude had become cold and distant, always wanting to leave after a few minutes.

He never imagined that she would end up with his good friend Ye Kai!

"Screech—"

Xu Weiguo slammed on the brakes, turned around, and glared at Wang Mei: "Xiao Dong just got out of prison, why did you tell him this? Do you think he's not already suffering enough?!"

"You old fool, Xiao Dong is a piece of my flesh, and I, as his mother, am more heartbroken than anyone! How Song Yu treated my son, I wish I could eat her flesh and drink her blood! Sob, sob, sob…"

Wang Mei's tears started to fall again.

"Ah~~~" Xu Weiguo looked dejected, sighed, and said slowly, "Xiao Dong, we didn't tell you earlier because your mother was worried that you might do something rash if you knew."

After a long while, Xu Dong finally recovered from the shock, his voice cold: "Dad, Mom, I need to find Song Yu and get some answers."

He looked unusually calm, but his face was so dark it seemed about to drip with water.

"You foolish child, why go to her? Do you want to make yourself miserable?!" Wang Mei tried to stop him.

"Mom, I have to go!"

Xu Dong was resolute. After saying this, he got out of the car, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the Song family's house.

Wang Mei was angry and pushed Xu Weiguo, saying, "Old man, why don't you stop him? Just let him go like that?"

Xu Weiguo didn't speak, just lit a cigarette and took a few deep puffs, watching his son's retreating figure, lost in thought…

At the Song family's house.

"Knock~ Knock~ Knock~"

Xu Dong, suppressing his anger, knocked on the door of the Song family's house.

The door opened, and Song Yu's father, Song Dahai, appeared in front of Xu Dong.

Seeing the visitor was Xu Dong, Song Dahai was first surprised, then his face changed, and a smile appeared: "Xu Dong? You're out so soon! You must have suffered a lot in there!"

"You should have called, I could have come to see you!"

Looking at the insincere Song Dahai, Xu Dong felt a cold laugh inside.

In the past, Song Dahai would have warmly invited him in, but now, there was no sign of hospitality.

Thinking about this, Xu Dong got straight to the point: "Uncle, I'm here to see Song Yu."

Song Dahai's smile didn't fade: "Oh, what a coincidence, Xiao Yu is out and won't be back until later. Why don't you come back another day?"

"I'll wait for her to come back. I have nothing else to do anyway."

Saying this, Xu Dong made a move to enter, but Song Dahai blocked him with his hand.

"Uncle Song, what do you mean?" Xu Dong's face turned cold, and he demanded an answer.

"Nothing, just that you're not welcome here," Song Yu's mother, Wu Yuying, suddenly appeared, looking at Xu Dong with disdain, her voice sharp and harsh, "You, a murderer just out of prison, should be at home reflecting on your actions, not coming to our house. If the neighbors see you, they'll gossip about our family!"

Hearing Wu Yuying's words, Xu Dong was so angry he could grind his teeth, but he didn't lose his temper, instead asking, "Aunt, Song Yu is my fiancée, isn't it reasonable for me to come and see her?"

"Besides, you keep calling me a murderer. Have you forgotten that four years ago, I took the blame for Song Yu and went to prison?"

"Being a person requires a conscience!"

"Hmph!" Wu Yuying snorted, "You say you took the blame for Xiao Yu, do you have any evidence? The fact is, you killed someone four years ago, and you dragged our family into disgrace. The engagement was null and void long ago. You should leave Xiao Yu alone and find someone else to torment!"

"That's right, Xu Dong, stop bothering our Xiao Yu," Song Dahai chimed in, "Now you have no money, no power, and a criminal record. It will be hard for you to find a job, and Xiao Yu won't be happy with you."

"A murderer just out of prison, wanting to marry my daughter, is just a dream!" Wu Yuying waved her hand in disgust, "Don't come to our house again, get lost!"

"To save your precious daughter, I gave up my promising future and spent four years in prison."

"Do you know how I spent those four years? In a dark, sunless cell, enduring unbearable loneliness and helplessness, something you can never imagine."

"What kept me going was the knowledge that there was a woman waiting for me outside, waiting for me to come back and marry her!"

"But now, I'm out, and this is the result I get. It's truly laughable…"

Xu Dong's body trembled with anger, his fists clenched, his eyes bloodshot, like a volcano ready to erupt.

Seeing this, Song Dahai immediately became vigilant, staring at Xu Dong to prevent him from losing control and hurting someone.

Wu Yuying, standing nearby, quietly took out her phone, ready to call the police.

But at that moment, a familiar voice sounded behind Xu Dong: "No one forced you to take the blame for me, it was all your own choice."