The Sweetest Marriage (2)

Ch. 342: Chen Qing Released from Prison

As night fell, a dark inkiness swept down, instantly engulfing the entire world.

Lights in thousands of homes were lit in succession, painting the dark night with vibrant colors.

Darkness was banished, leaving misdeeds to hide only within the shadows. Once a beam of light shone their way, the darkness couldn't escape.

But before the light arrived, let the darkness have its moment.

Outside the outskirts of Shanghai, at L Prison.

A dusky yellow light cast upon the prison gates. Outside sat a car with a person inside, holding a lit cigarette.

This person seemed restless, occasionally glancing towards the prison, waiting for its gates to open.

The moon slowly ascended to its zenith when a slight sound came from the prison gates. Shortly after, the gates opened, and a young man walked out.

The young man looked rather disheveled, with stubble on his face. His clothes were oversized, draping loosely over his frame.

The person in the car honked, drawing the young man's attention. He briskly walked to the car and opened the door, getting in.

"Chen Qing, welcome back," said Lu Xiuran, tapping the cigarette ash off, smiling at Chen Qing.

"Mhm," Chen Qing nodded, his expression indifferent.

Lu Xiuran started the car and said, "Cheer up a bit. Since you're out, don't be so down."

"What about my dad and grandpa?" Chen Qing ignored the comment and asked.

"The old man and uncle are waiting at home for you. Knowing you're out, they couldn't be happier."

As Chen Qing was about to meet his family, a faint smile finally appeared on his face.

The car delved into the darkness, soon disappearing into the vibrant, colorful city that never sleeps, Shanghai. As Chen Qing glimpsed the prosperous scenery outside the window, he felt a sense of being in a different world.

As the car continued, Chen Qing soon realized something was amiss. This wasn't the way home.

"Lu Xiuran, where are you taking me?" Chen Qing asked, furrowing his brow.

"Going home," Lu Xiuran replied, chuckling. "But, Chen Qing, you didn't think your home is still in the villa area, did you?"

"Old man had to cover losses and wanted to invest in business. He sold off the properties under his name," Lu Xiuran explained. "Did you really think the Chen family in Shanghai would still be as influential?"

Chen Qing fell silent, quietly gazing out of the window. He knew things would have changed drastically while he was inside, but how long had it been? Why had the Chen family fallen like this?

Chen Qing didn't have much time to dwell on it. Over an hour later, the car drove through the bustling streets of Shanghai and finally stopped at the entrance of an old, rundown neighborhood.

Chen Qing stared at the dilapidated area in silence for a long, long time.

"Chen Qing, let's go," Lu Xiuran called out, picking up his bag and leading the way. He walked ahead slowly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Earlier that morning, after a heavy rain, although the roads in the neighborhood weren't muddy, there were puddles here and there. Under the dim yellow lights of the neighborhood, they seemed like bottomless abysses, ready to swallow anyone who stepped in.

By the time Chen Qing and Lu Xiuran reached a dry patch, their shoes were soaked through, but Chen Qing's complaints were absent during this period.

Chen Qing remained silent throughout the journey, not because he couldn't adapt to such an environment-after spending so long in prison, he had experienced all sorts of environments. It was just that there was a mental hurdle he couldn't overcome. Even now, he couldn't believe...