Chapter 1146: Chapter 1146: Old Tricks Repeated 11

“Xiaojia laughed softly, “Brother He, the other day, came back after leaving, saying he forgot something. But really, wasn’t it just to bring you that necklace? I’d never seen you wear it before that day. After he came back, there it was around your neck. It’s beautiful. Brother He has great taste.”

He Zhilan nodded and reached for the pendant with her wet hand. “He’s never done anything like that before. That day… it gave me such a shock. Do you think he’s silly? To run all that way back here, from the county to the village, just for something like this.”

Life in the village, though peaceful, felt unbearably lonely for He Zhilan without He Teng’s company.

Sometimes, He Zhilan even regretted it; if she’d just kept pretending she didn’t know what He Teng was hiding from her, maybe now he would still be by her side.

But regret was nothing more than a fleeting emotion. Once she came back to her senses, calmed down, she convinced herself that letting He Teng return to the army was what was best for him.

Xiaojia was a quiet girl, but one with exceptional patience. Listening to He Zhilan vent, she would chuckle along softly by her side. Occasionally, she’d chime in with a comment or two, but she never mocked He Zhilan for speaking so openly about her longing.

The two walked back from the river, each carrying a basket overflowing with mushrooms. The mountains were teeming with these treasures—wild vegetables, mushrooms, and all sorts of bamboo shoots—which were some of He Zhilan’s favorites.

When they returned, Niu Li, who had gone to the county, was already back. As they stepped into the courtyard, they overheard Niu Li talking about something… someone named ‘En.’

“You’re back?” Hearing noises near the door, Niu Li immediately turned around. Seeing Xiaojia with her basket, he walked over to take it from her, even grabbing He Zhilan’s as well to carry to the kitchen.

“What was Niu Li just talking about? Everyone’s faces look kind of odd.” Xiaojia glanced at her family in the courtyard and asked.

“That… what’s the name… Gu En? Yes! Gu En!” After a moment of thought, Niu’s father finally got the name right. “Niu Li said Gu En has been declared a wanted criminal! The arrest warrant even made it to the city. When he went to the county, people all over were talking about it! They say the capital’s been chaotic recently. Apparently, Gu En killed four people and escaped. The police in the capital are still hunting her down. She hasn’t been caught yet.”

“Killed four people and escaped?” He Zhilan and Xiaojia were instantly taken aback, their expressions so stunned that words failed them entirely.

Niu Li emerged from the kitchen and continued, “Supposedly, she killed two police officers, a doctor, and a nurse—four people in total—and then escaped from the hospital. The arrest warrant’s being circulated even in the city. Someone from there brought a few back; Gu En’s photo is on them. There’s even a reward—five thousand yuan—for anyone who can provide useful information.”

He Zhilan was genuinely terrified. She truly hadn’t expected Gu En’s methods to be so ruthless, to kill four people and escape from police custody.

Four lives—this was almost unfathomable for an ordinary person like He Zhilan, like hearing something out of a fantastical tale.

How ruthless must someone be to take lives so easily, without even batting an eye?

He Zhilan wasn’t the type to mourn for hours over a squished ant, but in her daily life, it was He Teng who usually handled the killing of chickens, ducks, and fish—or she bought them pre-slaughtered.

And now, to think of a girl, around the same age as her, able to kill without hesitation… What kind of monstrosity, what kind of twisted person could she possibly be?