Chapter 20 The Sword Finally Falls
The audio that exposed my crime finally arrived.
Yet after listening to it, I strangely calmed down. I asked him,
“So many years—what exactly do you want?”
“Don’t misunderstand me, Nanfang.” His voice on the other end was still gentle. “If I wanted to threaten you, I could have sold it to the media privately instead of contacting you first.”
“Of course. Snitching isn’t something a top student would do.” I sneered.
“Nanfang, I just hope you’ll lower your guard with me.” Zhou Ke actually sounded a little hurt.
“I’ve always known you’re wary of me, that you think I have bad intentions. I admit I was wrong to keep that recording, but it was only because I was too curious about you.
“I wanted to understand your past, your secrets, your hardships and endurance. In fact, after learning the truth, I only felt heartache for you.
“How could outsiders understand the bond between us? We’re both eldest children. Our parents favored our younger siblings. And I… I’ve done something similar to what you did.
“So I completely understand your reasons. I even envy how decisive you were.”
“Wait—” I cut him off, chills running down my spine. “Similar mistake—what do you mean?”
He laughed softly.
“The mistake was, a long time ago, I said my younger brother was special needs. But it wasn’t congenital.
“I once gave him a certain drug that damaged his brain. Mother never knew. If nothing had happened, he would have been smarter than me.
“But you won’t be too surprised, right, Nanfang? Because we’re the same. Our starting point wasn’t fairness or justice—just pure jealousy. When you were under hypnosis, you said it was to avenge that little dog, but you never mentioned its name.
“—Was it really that important to you?”
“Now you have dirt on me too. So, are we on the same boat now?”
“You lunatic!” I couldn’t help cursing.
“You too.” He shot back. “Nanfang, since reality torments us so much, why not find a way to leave?
“After college graduation, I’ll sell the house my father left me. I’ll take you abroad, to a place where no one knows us, and we’ll live happily.
“Nanfang, I really don’t want to leave you.”
I don’t remember how I hung up.
I only remember saying one sentence to him—
“Okay. Then come find me.”
I was wrong.
But so was he.
A madman shouldn’t provoke another madman.