You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 629

Zhao Gang was silent for a moment, his arms folded across his chest, and he spoke in a low but firm voice: "...Tang Yin was indeed almost dead, and it was Hua Lu who saved Tang Yin."

Gao Zhijie leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he sneered: "Maybe he's pretending."

"Not likely." Qian Jin stood beside the table, raised his head and glanced at him, his tone calm, but with a hint of unquestionableness.

He paused and continued, "...You saw it, right? Those are the real symptoms of poisoning."

Qian Jin's words plunged the entire cafeteria into a brief silence, an invisible pressure thickening in the air. Tang Yin then noticed Hua Lu standing not far away, cradling Xiao Mei in her arms, quietly coaxing her with her head lowered. Unlike usual, she wasn't wearing her signature jet-black coat, but a plain white dress that made her figure appear even thinner.

"It seems that Tang Yin and Hua Lu are both human beings." Zhao Gang suddenly spoke, with a hint of relief in his tone.

Gao Zhijie frowned, his eyes flickering: "Then..."

"Wait." Qin Ming, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly interrupted him. His voice was low, but it revealed a suppressed anger. "The murderer is not my mother."

Everyone's eyes turned to Madam Chen Xiang.

She sat on a chair at the back of the cafeteria, her fingers tightly gripping her apron, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force. She lowered her head, her face pale, as if she had been pushed to some limit, yet she still gritted her teeth and remained silent stubbornly.

Tang Yin spoke slowly, breaking the dull atmosphere: "...Besides me, there were other people who also ate the porridge at that time, right, Qin Ming?"

Qin Ming paused, looked up at Tang Yin, and nodded: "...Yeah, but after what happened to you, no one ate it anymore. But the poison shouldn't have been in the pot."

"The poison should be in your bowl." Qin Ming added with a hint of hesitation in his tone.

Qian Jin pushed up his glasses and swept his eyes over the crowd like a knife: "Or maybe they poisoned the food while it was being served."

"No!! It wasn't me!!" Mrs. Chen Xiang raised her head suddenly, her voice sharp and trembling, with an almost desperate defense in her eyes.

Qian Jin's tone remained calm, yet with a hint of ruthless scrutiny: "...Mrs. Chen Xiang, I'm not targeting you. It's just that, theoretically speaking, you are indeed the most suspicious person."

"I know!" Chen Xiang's voice almost screamed out, her eyes slightly red, tears welling up in her eyes, "Because I was the only one at the counter at the time, but it really wasn't me, I didn't poison!"

Qin Ming frowned, his voice low but firm: "I said, the tableware was placed on the shelf, right? No one was paying attention there at the time, so anyone could have had the opportunity to poison it, right?"

"No," Qian Jin shook his head, his tone calm, "On the contrary, it's because anyone can see that place, so if there's any suspicious behavior, it's easier to be discovered, right?"

He paused, fixing his gaze on Madam Chen Xiang again. "Besides, you were the one who went to get the tableware before the meal was served, right? Are you saying that you are the murderer?"

"I have no motive!" Qin Ming suddenly interrupted, with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Qian Jin sneered, his tone carrying a hint of meaning: "That's right. Besides, there's no name written on the tableware. Apart from distributing the bowls personally, there's no way to identify Tang Yin, right?"

The atmosphere in the cafeteria instantly became oppressive. Everyone's expression was extremely complicated, as if lies and truth were in an invisible clash in this small space.

Qin Ming's voice suddenly rose, filled with suppressed anger and anxiety: "I know! But please think carefully! If something like this happens, Mom will definitely be the first one to be suspected!"

He swept his eyes over the crowd, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the exertion. "In this situation where the truth could be easily revealed, what good would poisoning Tang Yin do to Mom?"

Qian Jin pushed his glasses up and frowned, as if he was thinking about something. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "Qin Ming, I don't want to say this, but..."

"Perhaps the wolf is determined to eliminate the snake, even at the cost of its own life." Zhao Gang interrupted Qian Jin. His tone was calm, as if he were stating a simple fact, yet it only made the atmosphere in the cafeteria even more tense. He glanced around coldly and continued, "...Qian Jinlai can't be the only villain in this matter."

Zhao Gang's gaze stopped at Madam Chen Xiang, and his tone was somewhat gentle: "However, personally, I believe in Sister Chen Xiang."

He paused, his eyes gradually becoming deep, as if recalling something. "For Sister Chen Xiang, if it was to protect Qin Yi, she would definitely slaughter us all, not just Tang Yin. Moreover, even if the matter was exposed, she would not make excuses."

Zhao Gang raised the corners of his mouth slightly, his smile bitter yet with a hint of respect: "Her motherly love is so shocking."

Tang Yin was slightly startled, his heart trembling at Zhao Gang's words. He clearly knew her so well, yet he still loved her deeply...

Zhao Gang's feelings for Chen Xiang are obvious, and Tang Yin wants to wish the couple well from the bottom of his heart.

Tang Yin lowered his head, a smile playing on the corner of his mouth, then raised his head and said solemnly: "I believe you too, Madam Chen Xiang."

He looked at Chen Xiang, his eyes sincere and firm: "...From the indirect evidence, she is indeed very suspicious. However, I think her character is enough to offset this suspicion."

"Besides," Tang Yin looked at Zhao Gang, his tone light with a hint of relief, "I am willing to believe Zhao Gang's analysis. After all, he believes in me too."

Gao Zhijie snorted coldly and interrupted, "The execution can't be carried out today. We'll talk about tomorrow's affairs tomorrow."

His tone was full of weariness, and he clearly had no interest in the current dispute.

With Gao Zhijie's words, the tense atmosphere finally eased a bit. With the exception of Chen Xiang and her son, everyone else left the cafeteria one after another, their footsteps echoing in the empty space.

When he reached the door, Gao Zhijie suddenly stopped and looked back at Wang Lina: "By the way, Lina, where is my gun?"

Wang Lina's expression changed slightly, and her tone was a little hesitant: "...that..."

Zhao Gang waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone: "Don't worry, Lina, Uncle Gao is fine."

Tong Xiaoliang, who was standing by, suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, I found it..."

Everyone turned to look and saw the hunting rifle leaning against the wall of the cafeteria, unexpectedly conspicuous.

only……

Gao Zhijie walked over and carefully examined it, his brows furrowed. "...Where is the bolt?"

Wang Lina lowered her head and spoke in a thin, whispery voice, "...thrown into the thick fog." Gao Zhijie's expression froze, and then he sighed helplessly. Mumbling something unhappily, he took the hunting rifle from Tong Xiaoliang and walked into the thick fog outside the cafeteria. His figure gradually melted into the night, leaving only a vague outline.

Wang Lina raised her head and forced a smile, but it looked particularly tired in the dim light: "...I feel so useless."

Her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, her fingertips trembling slightly, as if she was trying to suppress some emotion.

"You did the right thing." Zhao Gang leaned against the wall, his tone comforting. "It really should be disassembled. If you throw the whole gun away, people will definitely suspect that you've hidden it, right?"

Wang Lina bit her lower lip and whispered, "...I can't stand it anymore. Everyone is so suspicious. How long will it take for the fog to clear?"

Qian Jin raised his head from the table, pushed up his glasses, and said calmly as always: "Don't worry, we will have a direction tomorrow."

Everyone nodded, the atmosphere relaxing slightly as they rose to leave. They exchanged a few simple goodnights, but until the very end, Hua Lu remained silent with Tang Yin. Her figure, under the dim light, appeared lonely and distant, as if separated by an invisible barrier, shielding her from all Tang Yin's attempts and concerns.

……

After returning to his room, Tang Yin spread out the bedding and sat down cross-legged. His movements were slow and steady, his eyes radiating a cool sharpness. He was certain from the beginning that the murderer was not Madam Chen Xiang.

From his perspective, the truth is right at hand.

Although the villagers' discussion just now seemed logical on the surface, its initial premise was wrong.

Tang Yin lowered his head to look at the notebook beside the table, his eyes gradually becoming more profound. His thoughts were like a complex spider web, gradually untangling themselves into a clear thread. What he had to do today was already clear.

He decisively took out the notebook, wrote the two words "Qin Yi", and then placed it carefully next to the pillow.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

Tang Yin's nerves tensed, and his fingers subconsciously clenched the quilt. Who would come at this time?
He held his breath and looked out through the crack in the door.

"...It's me, Tang Yin." Wang Lina's voice came from outside the door, with some hesitation and uneasiness.

Tang Yin breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

"I have a few questions to ask you, that..." Wang Lina's voice seemed a little lower than usual.

Tang Yin frowned slightly, his tone becoming slightly serious: "...What's wrong? Should we go back to Wuji now? It might be dangerous outside."

"It's okay." Wang Lina said softly, with a hint of stubbornness in her tone, "Everyone is spreading around here... Well, it doesn't matter even if it's through the door, can we talk?"

Tang Yin was silent for a while, and finally nodded: "Okay."

Wang Lina outside the door took a deep breath and whispered, "...I can't do anything. In fact, I've always been at the bottom of the class. I've been causing trouble for everyone since I was a child..."

There was self-mockery and bitterness in her tone, as if she was mumbling to herself, or as if she was confiding in Tang Yin.

"That's why I studied so hard, got into university, and left the village." She paused, her voice trembling slightly, as if she was suppressing something. "Do you know? Apart from going to university or working, people from Kirigakure are not allowed to leave the village..."

Wang Lina lowered her head. Her voice was soft, yet it seemed to carry the weight of memories. "Zhao Gang originally lived outside the village with his parents. Eight years ago, there was an accident... no, it should be the Huangquan Feast. Many people died. So he came back to help everyone clean up the village..."

"...Is that so?" Tang Yin nodded gently, his voice low, "No wonder Zhao Gang didn't know about the last banquet. Did I hear that the others went to Baifeng Manor at that time?"

Wang Lina looked up at Tang Yin, her eyes showing some hesitation, but she still spoke slowly: "Only Uncle Gao and Master Lang stayed in Wuyin Village and attended the banquet."

"So..." Tang Yin murmured thoughtfully.

Wang Lina, as if a memory had been brought back to her, suddenly said, "I remember one thing. One night, Gao Mei said she was lonely, so she left the boarding school alone and walked back to the village along the mountain road."

Her voice rose slightly, as if she wasn't even aware of the uneasiness in her tone. "Later, the adults said they found Xiaomei at the entrance of the village. However, there are rumors that she saw something in the Hidden Mist Village."

Tang Yin's brows furrowed even tighter, his eyes flickering: "What did you see?"

"No one knows." Wang Lina shook her head, her voice lowering again. "I don't know if it's because of this incident, Gao Mei has become more and more strange. Everyone is saying that she is possessed by the wolf god..."

"Wolf God..." Tang Yin repeated silently, his heart sinking slightly.

Gao Mei's case might indeed be a breakthrough, but he knew it was too late to pursue this clue now. Tang Yin closed his eyes, suppressing his doubts. No matter what was hidden behind all this, he had only one goal at the moment—for everyone to survive.

He took a deep breath, and his tone became a little more relaxed: "By the way, why do you think you can't do anything?"

Wang Lina's fingers clenched tightly around the hem of her clothes, a hint of dejection in her voice: "...Because I don't even know who to vote for, and I can't think like Qin Ming or Zhao Gang."

She lowered her head, her tone full of self-mockery: "Qin Yi, and even Qian Jin, did what they could."

Tang Yin's tone was gentle but firm: "But I think that it is because of your existence that everyone can hold on to their bottom line."

Wang Lina raised her head, her eyes a little confused: "What do you mean?"

Tang Yin smiled slightly, a smile that carried a hint of bitterness, but more of a rare calmness. "We, everyone in this village, have already killed someone. Moreover, we've become accustomed to deciding the lives of others in this absurd way. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we've gone crazy, right?"

Wang Lina's pupils shrank slightly, and her lips trembled slightly, but she did not speak.

Tang Yin continued, his voice low but powerful, "In this situation, if you let anger, resentment, or sadness take over and kill people crazily, you'll definitely regret it later, right? It might even lead to unmanageable consequences."

He paused, looked directly at Wang Lina, and added a touch of tenderness to his voice: "You have been doing your best to avoid this situation... That's what I think."

A complex emotion flashed across Wang Lina's eyes. Her lips parted slightly, but she seemed unable to speak. She could only gently lower her head, clasping her hands tightly, her fingertips almost digging into her palms.

(End of this chapter)