Chapter Forty-Three: The Tragic Heroine

“I’m sorry, but we can’t share any details related to the case with you,” Kang Ge shook his head at her.

“But why not?” Deng Chun was visibly anxious, leaning forward slightly, her hands gripping the fabric of her pants near her knees so tightly it was creased. “I’m his girlfriend! Why, when something happens to my boyfriend, do I have no right to know anything at all? Even the news of his death—I only heard about it from someone else. That’s not fair!”

“It’s like this,” Kang Ge explained, “Wenrui’s family has already been informed of his death. Since the school is not directly involved, we couldn’t make the news public before the school itself did. As for your relationship—as his girlfriend, the law does not recognize such a romantic connection as one protected under civil law. Accordingly, we are restricted by relevant regulations and cannot disclose the details of the case to you. I hope you can understand.” He spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

Hearing this, Deng Chun was overwhelmed by grief; her breathing grew rapid, as if she might break down at any moment, a painful whimper rising from her throat, though her eyes remained mostly dry.

“Are you alright?” Yan Xue quickly fetched her a cup of hot water and handed it over, worried she might have some kind of episode. “If you’re unable to continue right now, we can always reschedule this conversation.”

Deng Chun shook her head in distress, her hands trembling as she took the paper cup from Yan Xue and sipped a little water, then began to gulp down air like a hiker just rescued from some barren desert.

“I have one more request—please, you must help me!” After a moment, she finally spoke again. “Could you give me Wenrui’s home address? After what happened, his parents must be devastated. There’s nothing much I can do, but at the very least, I could visit them and offer some comfort. That’s one of the few things I can still do for him.”

“Well…” Yan Xue hesitated at the request, knowing it was not something they could decide on their own. “How about this—you rest a bit while I consult with Wenrui’s parents about it.”

This was not an unreasonable request, and Deng Chun agreed it was only proper. Yan Xue left her with Kang Ge and stepped aside to make the call.

Yan Xue dialed Wenrui’s father, since she knew Wenrui’s mother was not in the best emotional state and easily upset. Even when Wenrui had been dating Wu Beibei, the family had strongly opposed the relationship. Although she could confirm Deng Chun had dated Wenrui, she wasn’t sure how his parents felt about her. Deng Chun’s need to ask for the address was itself a sign that their relationship had never grown particularly close.

Wenrui’s father picked up quickly, his voice on the other end tinged with anticipation and anxiety.

“Hello, Officer Yan—is there any news about Wenrui’s case?” he asked.

“No, I’m calling today to confirm something with you,” Yan Xue replied. “Do you and Wenrui’s mother know a young woman named Deng Chun? She was in a relationship with Wenrui, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Wenrui’s father answered, and upon hearing it wasn’t news about the case, his voice fell flat with disappointment. “Is something wrong with that girl?”

“She’s fine,” Yan Xue reassured him. “She only just heard about Wenrui and came to ask us if she could have your address. She wants to visit and offer her condolences, so we need your consent first.”

Unexpectedly, Wenrui’s father’s tone changed at once. “Absolutely not! Please don’t give her our address. Now is not the time for her to come by! Today, for the first time in ages, my mother and my wife aren’t blaming each other over our son, and I don’t want any more trouble.”

Yan Xue was surprised at such a strong reaction and pressed further. At first, Wenrui’s father was reluctant to explain, but under Yan Xue’s persistent questioning, he finally recounted the reason behind his refusal.

Though Deng Chun had never visited their home, Wenrui’s parents had met her a few times—always outside, never at their house. The reason she was never invited over was that their first meal together, arranged by Wenrui, had gone poorly. Wenrui’s mother found Deng Chun wholly unacceptable, even intolerable, and nothing came of it afterward.

Even Wu Beibei, before her lies were discovered, had at least managed to win Wenrui’s mother’s favor with her demeanor and speech. Only after repeated deceptions about her family background did that goodwill gradually evaporate. Deng Chun, however, had failed to make a good impression from the start and was instantly dismissed by Wenrui’s mother.

Ironically, while Wenrui’s mother outright rejected Deng Chun and refused to let her visit, Deng Chun herself seemed completely committed to her relationship with Wenrui. At their very first meal together, she spoke openly about their plans after graduation—how long they would date, when they would marry, even when they might have children. Sometimes, people are strange in this way: if the right sort of person talks about the future, it’s seen as sincerity and commitment, something to cherish. But if it comes from someone you dislike, those same plans only breed resentment.

Thus, Wenrui’s mother paid little heed to Deng Chun, telling her son in private that this girl was unsuitable, not good enough for the family, and that he should break up with her soon rather than drag things out and risk further hurt. Wenrui’s response was lukewarm—he didn’t agree to break up immediately, but neither did he react as strongly as he had when his mother demanded he end things with Wu Beibei. He merely said he understood and asked her to stop nagging.

After some time, Wenrui’s parents assumed he had ended things with Deng Chun, but then, at a family dinner for all five of them, Deng Chun turned up again, uninvited.