My Alleged Husband

Chapter 929: Chapter 832: Telling_7

”This matter isn’t up to me—I’m not the victim. If you want me to forgive you, you must first obtain Li Jiayuan’s forgiveness. If you truly wish to earn my approval, if you really want to be with Zhentian, then you should know what to do,” Old Master Zhang said to Xia Jing.

Xia Jing realized this was the biggest concession Old Master Zhang was willing to make. She had no choice but to seek Li Jiayuan’s forgiveness; otherwise, it would be nearly impossible for her and Zhang Zhentian to be together.

After Zhang Zhentian left Xia Jing’s place, he didn’t return to the Zhang Family home. He wasn’t sure how to bring up Xia Jing with his father if he went back. He didn’t want his father to develop deeper misunderstandings toward the woman he loved.

He stood by the lakeside for a long time deliberating. In the end, he decided to return home. He still wanted to defend Xia Jing in front of his father and conceal certain things. What he didn’t know was that not long after he left, Xia Jing had gone to meet his father and confessed everything, explaining her side.

The Zhang Family.

When Zhang Zhentian arrived home, Old Master Zhang hadn’t returned yet. He assumed his father was unaware, so he pondered how to broach the subject. Should he tell the truth or keep something back out of personal interest? No matter how egregious Xia Jing’s actions were, he was still terrified she might leave him. After much thought, Zhang Zhentian resolutely decided to help Xia Jing by hiding the truth a little longer. He figured he could explain it to his father after he and Xia Jing were married.

In the evening, Old Master Zhang returned home. Upon stepping inside, he spotted Zhang Zhentian sprawled on the sofa. Old Master Zhang slammed the door shut with a bang and strode towards his son.

Hearing the slam, Zhang Zhentian didn’t need to guess—it was his father. He immediately sat up and looked at Old Master Zhang.

”Dad, you’re back. Have you eaten? Let me make you some food,” Zhang Zhentian said, hastily heading towards the kitchen. He couldn’t bear to face his father’s eyes—those piercing eyes that seemed capable of dragging people into an abyss.

But Old Master Zhang wasn’t about to let Zhang Zhentian avoid the confrontation so easily.

”Stop right there. Have you not been telling people you don’t believe Xia Jing actually killed someone?” Old Master Zhang asked directly.

Unfazed, Zhang Zhentian replied, ”Yes, I don’t believe Xia Jing killed anyone. So what? Why would you conclude she’s a murderer just based on the one-sided claims of Li Haixiao and Li Jiayuan’s parents? Is that fair to Xia Jing?” Zhang Zhentian’s voice grew louder as he spoke, eventually shouting at Old Master Zhang. What Zhang Zhentian didn’t know was that Xia Jing had already told his father the whole truth during their meeting. Poor Zhang Zhentian, unaware of this, continued to vouch for Xia Jing with confidence.

”Fine. You don’t believe me. Didn’t you question Xia Jing yourself? Tell me—what did Xia Jing say to you?” Old Master Zhang stared at Zhang Zhentian. Zhang Zhentian knew Xia Jing couldn’t deny it, but he still wanted to protect her. He didn’t want his father’s hard-earned goodwill toward her to evaporate completely.

”Yes, I questioned Xia Jing, and she told me she didn’t kill anyone. So what now? Does her answer satisfy you?” Zhang Zhentian said to Old Master Zhang. He thought defending Xia Jing this way was helpful, but little did he know it only deepened his father’s suspicions of her. If Old Master Zhang hadn’t already learned the truth, he might have believed his son. But now, Zhang Zhentian’s insistence made Old Master Zhang assume Xia Jing had lied to his son, rather than suspecting that Zhang Zhentian might be lying himself.

”Are you certain that’s what Xia Jing told you? You didn’t alter her words even slightly?” Old Master Zhang asked, still holding onto hope that Xia Jing hadn’t lied to Zhang Zhentian. However, Zhang Zhentian’s response inadvertently betrayed Xia Jing.

”Yes, that’s exactly what she said. I didn’t alter a single word,” Zhang Zhentian replied firmly. He thought his conviction would reassure his father that Xia Jing truly hadn’t committed murder.

”You’re absolutely sure that’s what Xia Jing told you? That you didn’t change anything at all?” Old Master Zhang questioned Zhang Zhentian again.