Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Persuasion

Su Qing returned to the courtyard in Xilin Alley and went to check on Tian Qiu’s place. The courtyard was still deserted.

Su Qing wasn’t worried. She took the ivy vines Branch from her space and initiated a time reversal.

At first, there was nothing of interest—just scenes from Jin Zhiwei’s daily life. Su Qing fast-forwarded until she saw him going to a relative’s house to drop something off. She initially thought nothing of it, but a conversation between the two of them caught her attention.

"Bro," Jin Zhiwei said to a man two or three years his senior who bore a slight resemblance to him. "I need to talk to you."

"Perfect. Zhiwei, you’ll stay for dinner. I’m going to the co-op to see if they have any fish. Zhicheng, you take good care of Zhiwei, you hear?" The speaker was Jin Zhiwei’s aunt, a woman Su Qing recognized as the one who had been comforting Jin Zhiwei’s mother at the police station.

"Okay, don’t worry, Mom," Jin Zhicheng quickly replied.

After Jin Zhicheng’s mother left, only the two cousins were left in the house. Jin Zhicheng smiled at Jin Zhiwei and said, "Zhiwei, what did you want to tell me?"

Jin Zhiwei hesitated. He pursed his lips, glanced at Jin Zhicheng, then looked down and remained silent for a long moment.

Seeing Jin Zhiwei’s hesitation, Jin Zhicheng chuckled and teased, "Well, now, what’s got our family’s college student all shy? Did you find a girl you like? Tell your big bro. I’ll help you figure things out."

"Bro—" Jin Zhiwei was in no mood to joke. He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself, and said to Jin Zhicheng, "Bro, can you please stop plotting with that person to harm Su Qing?"

Jin Zhicheng’s smile vanished the moment he heard Jin Zhiwei’s words. His expression turned grim. "Zhiwei, who told you that? Did someone say something to you?"

"No one told me," Jin Zhiwei said, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"If no one told you, then what nonsense are you spouting?" Jin Zhicheng’s expression darkened. "Zhiwei, be honest with me. Why are you saying this stuff today? Who is Su Qing? And why would you say I want to harm her? I don’t even know the woman."

"Bro! You don’t have to deny it." Hearing Jin Zhicheng’s denial, Jin Zhiwei sighed. "I heard what you said to that person the other day. I heard everything. You were plotting to harm Su Qing. You’re planning to leave, aren’t you? You’re going to leave Hua Country, right? I heard the promise that person made to you. After you harm Su Qing, he’ll get you and Aunt out of Hua Country, to Xiangcheng or some other country. I heard it all. No one told me. I heard it with my own two ears."

Jin Zhicheng’s brow furrowed. He stared intently at Jin Zhiwei, his mind reeling. ’He never imagined that Jin Zhiwei would overhear his conversation with that man. This was supposed to have nothing to do with him; he never intended to drag his younger cousin into it. But how could it be so damn coincidental...’

’Any other matter would have been manageable, but this... this was a matter of life and death!’

When Jin Zhicheng only stared at him without a word, Jin Zhiwei pleaded, "Bro, I’m begging you, please, stop. Don’t do this, okay? It’s against the law. One wrong move and you could go to jail. Besides... besides... Bro, I’ll be honest with you. I like Su Qing. I don’t want to see her get hurt."

’Now Su Qing understood. This was why Jin Zhiwei had warned her but refused to say who was trying to harm her. His own cousin was involved. It seemed Jin Zhiwei was close to his cousin; he didn’t want anything to happen to her, but he didn’t want anything to happen to him either.’

Su Qing watched as the man, Jin Zhicheng, suddenly widened his eyes. "You like that Su Qing?"

"Yes, Bro, I like her," Jin Zhiwei nodded. "That’s why I don’t want you to hurt her. Bro, can’t you just back out of this? Stop. Is someone forcing you? You should go to the police, okay?"

"Zhiwei, do you have any idea what you’re saying?" Jin Zhicheng asked, sucking in a sharp breath. ’Go to the police? Isn’t that like walking right into a trap?’

"Bro, you can’t get in any deeper. You guys won’t succeed," Jin Zhiwei said, lowering his head slightly. "Besides, I already told Su Qing. She’ll be on her guard..."

Before Jin Zhiwei could finish, Jin Zhicheng seized him by the shoulders, his eyes wide with alarm. "Zhiwei, what did you say? You told Su Qing? Do you realize you could get me killed? I’m your brother! We grew up together! Is our bond worth less to you than some woman?"

"Bro, I didn’t tell her it was you! I just told her someone was trying to harm her so she should be careful," Jin Zhiwei said frantically. "So, Bro, you still have a chance! Please, don’t get in any deeper, okay? I’m begging you. I don’t want to see you go down the wrong path."

"Is that really all you said?" Jin Zhicheng asked, pressing his lips together.

"Bro, I really didn’t give you away. You’re my brother, I could never hurt you." Watching Jin Zhiwei’s pleading expression, Su Qing couldn’t help but sigh. ’He’s just too naive. He doesn’t understand that once you start down a certain path, there’s no turning back. All he’s done is put himself in grave danger.’

"Good." Jin Zhicheng looked into Jin Zhiwei’s eyes and could see he wasn’t lying. He let out a silent sigh of relief. "Alright, Zhiwei, I understand what you’re saying. But since you heard our conversation, you should also understand that I’m not the only one making decisions here. Even if I agree to back out, there’s still the other person. I’ll have to figure out how to persuade him, and I’m afraid that won’t be easy."

Seeing Jin Zhicheng relent, Jin Zhiwei’s heart leaped with joy, and he blurted out, "Bro, then let me help you persuade him, okay? As long as you two don’t hurt Su Qing, just tell me what I can do. I’ll definitely help."

"Really?" Jin Zhicheng asked.

Jin Zhiwei nodded firmly. "Bro, I mean what I say."

"In that case, I’ll get in touch with him. Tomorrow morning, let’s go to the woods where we always used to play. You still remember the spot, right?" Jin Zhicheng asked.

"I remember."

"Good. I’ll arrange for the three of us to meet in the woods tomorrow. You can help me talk some sense into him. Don’t worry, I’ll be right there with you, backing you up."

"Okay, Bro. Don’t worry, I’ll be there tomorrow morning, right on time," Jin Zhiwei said happily.

"Alright. We’ll leave it at that for today. My mom will be back soon, so don’t you dare let anything slip," Jin Zhicheng added, still a little worried.

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