Late Night Bookstore - Chapter 43

As a surgeon, Zhou Ze could easily detect the unusual signs of death on a corpse, so those professional forensic experts would certainly notice them as well.

Therefore, in Zhou Ze’s view, the staging of this car accident was actually a failure. It was nothing more than a facade that could not withstand scrutiny.

He didn’t know whether these people had other backup plans or methods to patch up this case into a flawless accident, or if they were simply amateurs.

Of course, now was not the time to think about that, because these people didn’t seem inclined to continue talking.

“Catch them, and drive their car away.”

The bus driver glanced at the time; time was precious now.

Several of his men rushed forward. To them, a thin man and two young women posed no real threat.

Bai Yingying tilted her head slightly to look at Zhou Ze, waiting for his command.

Dr. Lin stood frozen in place. It was obvious she was nervous, but she neither screamed nor shouted. Being able to maintain this level of composure was already remarkable.

Most people faced with this situation, even those who usually boast of having nerves of steel, would probably drop to their knees in fear and beg for mercy, shouting, “I didn’t see anything.”

“No killing,” Zhou Ze reminded.

“Haha.” The bus owner laughed upon hearing this.

Unfortunately, Zhou Ze’s words weren’t directed at him.

Bai Yingying responded with an “Okay,” and immediately charged forward.

Zhou Ze stepped back, grabbed Dr. Lin’s hand, and said, “It’s fine, I’m here.”

Bai Yingying almost stumbled as she rushed forward.

This old lady is charging ahead up here, and you actually have the mood to go back and flirt?

Even a mistress—no, even a maid—has her dignity, okay!

Dr. Lin pressed her lips together and murmured guiltily, “I’m sorry.”

It was her decision to stop the car and try to save someone that had dragged them into this crisis, so she apologized.

“It’s fine, just an occupational curse.” Zhou Ze gave a bitter smile. The last time at the cinema, he had rushed in the same way. Some professional habits were impossible to change.

The female corpse, having just been force-fed a handful of dog food, unconsciously used a bit more strength.

“Come here, little missy. Let big brother take care of you.”

A man spread his arms, ready to grab the high school girl.

Their boss had told them not to kill here but to take the targets away, so this matter couldn’t be delayed for long.

However, his arms caught nothing but air.

In the next instant, the female corpse seized his left arm.

Crack…

Crack…

Crack…

Dr. Lin shuddered at the sound, and even Zhou Ze felt his scalp tingle.

He thought to himself that if the “Miaocuijiao” snack company recorded the sound effects for its commercial here, it would turn out better than the actual ad. Crisp and crunchy.

The man’s mouth opened wide, but he couldn’t even scream. The female corpse took another step forward and kicked his shin.

“Crunch… Crunch… Crunch…”

Another series of sharp cracks.

Pringles could probably come record sound here for their commercials, too, Zhou Ze thought.

“I… F*ck…”

The man curled up on the ground, with one arm completely ruined and one leg shattered. He lay there like a crippled toad, moaning and twitching.

Zhou Ze felt no sympathy. His instruction against killing wasn’t out of mercy; matters of the living world should be handled by the police. He trusted the country’s justice system to expose all evil.

But these people were cold-blooded murderers who had planned to attack them. Zhou Ze wasn’t saintly enough to pity them.

Who knew what they had planned to do to the three of them?

If he were still the doctor from his previous life, and the female corpse were just a high school girl, who would pity them then?

Bang!

Clang!

Smack!

The other two men were swiftly taken down as well. Their bones cracked; the injuries weren’t fatal, but they were thoroughly crippled.

From Zhou Ze’s professional perspective, even if the three were taken to the hospital, they would likely remain disabled for the rest of their lives.

The bus driver’s phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground.

He swallowed hard, feeling that everything before his eyes was utterly unreal.

He hadn’t brought a gun because their plan had involved facing interrogation and investigation by the traffic police, so of course, he couldn’t carry anything illegal.

He had thought that even with a few extra “warm-hearted” people like Zhou Ze, the situation wouldn’t deviate too much from the plan.

Even if there was a change, he had believed he could still control the situation.

However, the problem now was serious, because that girl was walking toward him.

“I…” The bus owner, who had been acting so convincingly before, suddenly found himself unable to speak.

Bang!

The female corpse reached out and flipped the bus owner straight onto the ground, planting one foot firmly on his neck.

“Wait.”

Zhou Ze called out.

The female corpse stopped immediately, not asking why.

Zhou Ze walked up, squatted down, and patted the bus owner’s bearded face a few times.

Then he felt that the gesture was rather pointless, and wiped his hand on the female corpse’s pant leg.

This guy’s face was disgustingly greasy.

“……” The female corpse said nothing.

“Is there anyone else here with you?”

What Zhou Ze had to consider now was how to eliminate all possible loose ends. He himself wasn’t afraid, but this matter couldn’t be covered up forever. If he cleaned up the small fry but one of the big ones escaped and took revenge on Dr. Lin, what then?

You can’t guard against thieves forever.

Previously, the little girl had said that there was someone like her in Rongcheng, a being of the same kind, who had overstepped his bounds and taken on the role of a judge himself. Zhou Ze had no intention of following in his footsteps.

Emotionally, Zhou Ze really admired him and felt he was impressive and full of ambition.

But this matter had already affected his daily life. He had to take matters into his own hands and put an end to it.

The female corpse suddenly brought her hand down hard on the bus owner’s left arm.

Crack…

“Ahhh! That’s all, that’s all…! There’s no one else, it’s just us! We met while working part-time… It’s just us! We were hired by an employer!”

Zhou Ze nodded, then looked at the female corpse. “Is there any way to make them forget what happened?”

He didn’t want any trouble, and he definitely didn’t want to end up on the news.

The female corpse made a throat-slitting gesture.

Zhou Ze shook his head. They couldn’t kill them, at least not by his own hand.

“Then maybe, Boss, you could use your nail to prick them a little. It’ll make their minds go blank for a while, like being drunk, and then they’ll black out.”

“How much should I prick?” Zhou Ze asked.

“Just a tiny bit, or they really might die. Also, I know you don’t want trouble, Boss. When you go back, burn the rest of that ghost money you have left. That’ll keep trouble from finding you. Though I doubt anyone will be throwing money at your shop entrance anymore.”

Zhou Ze glanced at Dr. Lin in the distance, then silently walked to each of the fallen thugs and, with the black nail on his pinky finger, discreetly pricked each of them. Their bodies twitched violently, foam spilling from their mouths, and soon they were all unconscious.

None of them were in danger of dying.

Looking around, he saw there were no cameras here; otherwise, they wouldn’t have chosen this place for their staged accident. Zhou Ze picked up one of their phones, dialed the police, and tossed the phone away.

After everything was done, Zhou Ze waved at Dr. Lin and then got back into her car.

Dr. Lin also got into the driver’s seat.

“Drive. Don’t stop here,” Zhou Ze reminded her.

“Okay.” Dr. Lin took a deep breath and started the engine.

“Don’t tell anyone about this,” Zhou Ze said as the car rolled forward.

“Why?” Dr. Lin clearly didn’t understand.

Zhou Ze pointed to the back seat.

“She’s a descendant of the Taiji Baguazhang school. During a sparring match, she accidentally crippled someone, so she fled here to me for refuge. She just saved my life, so our identities can’t be exposed. Otherwise, the police will take her away.”

The female corpse in the back seat rolled her eyes.

What a ridiculous lie.

Dr. Lin remained silent. It was unclear whether she believed him or not. She just kept driving quietly.

The car still drove toward the People’s Hospital. For Dr. Lin, even if Zhou Ze hadn’t told her to go there, she would have unconsciously headed in that direction anyway. After all, it was her workplace, a place where she could feel safe.

The car entered the hospital parking lot, and the three of them got out.

Dr. Lin didn’t ask Zhou Ze where he was going. She couldn’t have guessed that the place he wanted to go was the emergency room. She simply walked forward in silence.

The female corpse leaned close to Zhou Ze’s ear and whispered, “Are you still going to confess tonight?”

She was very sharp. From details like Lin Wanqiu buying the house Zhou Ze had lived in before his death, she had already pieced together many things.

“This isn’t a Qiong Yao drama. Why would I make it so melodramatic?” Zhou Ze shrugged.

Even though there had been an unexpected incident on the way that left Dr. Lin visibly shaken, Zhou Ze wasn’t planning to abandon his original plan.

A woman like this, who was also the legal wife of the body he now inhabited, if he didn’t tell her the truth so she could sleep beside him with peace of mind, wouldn’t he be out of his mind?

Keeping secrets, dragging things out with twists and turns, weeping dramatically and losing control were the sorts of things Auntie Qiong Yao loved to write about. Zhou Ze didn’t.

At the exit of the parking lot, Dr. Lin sat down on a long bench. Zhou Ze sat beside her.

The female corpse, knowing her place, didn’t come closer.

The two sat side by side.

Lin Wanqiu took a deep breath, her delicate features appearing even more refined under the moonlight.

Zhou Ze sat next to her, quietly admiring.

To have such a beautiful woman, such an attractive woman as his wife, who had been missing him for more than half a year after his death, gave him an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

“About what just happened… Are you sure it’s really okay?” Dr. Lin clearly hadn’t completely recovered from what they had just been through.

“We didn’t do anything wrong, right?” Zhou Ze comforted her.

Dr. Lin nodded.

“It’s like those brave anti-narcotics officers. They have to conceal their identities, and even their families do the same. It is a sacrifice they make to stay safe, a noble sacrifice.”

“So, you’re afraid of retaliation?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, I understand.” Dr. Lin nodded again.

Zhou Ze raised his hand, intending to put his arm around her, because what came next would be “the moment a miracle happens.”

But before he could act, Dr. Lin spoke first.

“What exactly is your relationship with her? Xu Le, please answer me seriously this time. Whatever you say, I’ll believe you.” She looked at Zhou Ze and added softly, “And I’ll forgive you.”

“It really isn’t what you think.” Zhou Ze gave a bitter smile. Everything had just been a coincidence—twice over.

Dr. Lin fell silent. Just as Zhou Ze was about to speak, she suddenly reached out and gripped his hand. Zhou Ze froze.

“Xu Le, I’m sorry. I’ve always loved another man. You’ve probably realized that already. Otherwise you wouldn’t have shown up in that house. Even though nothing improper happened between me and that man, I admit that I’ve betrayed you emotionally. I wronged you, because you are, after all, my husband in name.”

“It’s not—”

Before Zhou Ze could finish, Dr. Lin interrupted.

“I’ve thought it through. There are two choices. The first option is that we divorce. I’ll compensate you with one million yuan. The bookstore will also be yours.”

“Divorce? What for?” Zhou Ze said.

“The second option is that I will try to forget that man and choose to live properly with you, to be your true wife and make up for how I wronged you before.

Xu Le, I’m willing to try, to give you everything I have, to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as your wife.”

As she spoke, Dr. Lin’s eyes reddened. She had accepted her fate.

“Alright… Wait a second.”

Zhou Ze could not process it for a moment. The relationships were a bit tangled, and he needed to sort them out. Then, once the details finally clicked, he shot to his feet, pointed at Dr. Lin, and blurted out angrily without thinking, “No! You have to keep cheating!”

“……” Dr. Lin stared at him.

“Pfft…”

Off in the distance, the female corpse, who had been pretending to admire the scenery while eavesdropping with her unnaturally sharp hearing, burst into laughter.

She doubled over, clutching her stomach.

“Hahahaha! My stomach hurts from laughing so much!”