Love is like sugar and marriage is like water

Cao Pu took a step back and let Murong Lian enter the room. Then he closed the door and followed Murong Lian into the bedroom.

He was still the same powerful businessman - unshaven, unkempt, dirty clothes, even the socks he wore were in tatters, and there was a hole in the front of his slippers.

Murong Lian sat down on the sofa and scanned the house.

There was a wine glass on every table in the room, and every ashtray was filled with cigarette butts. Cao Pu has not cleaned the room since Murong Lian left.

"Husband, why are you in a bad mood?"

Cao Pu dragged his heavy steps to his favorite chair, sat down, raised his head and looked at his wife carefully, as if he was scolding the stranger who broke into his home without permission.

"Who said that? I'm in a very good mood...who said that?"

"I heard what others said..."

"who?"

"It was the neighbors who told me... They were worried that something might happen to you. Don't worry, they are all neighbors."

"I'm fine!"

"Why don't you shave now?"

"I just don't like shaving, why don't you mind your own business?"

"After all, I'm still your wife, so I have to take care of you. Even if you make a little concession, I can live with you."

Before the accident, Murong Lian could still tolerate Cao Pu's complacent, arrogant and unattractive appearance.

However, today's Cao Pu does not look like a human being.

Cao Pu leaned towards Murong Lian and said:

"Don't think that your coming back is a gift to me. No, it's not. I don't want your gift... Do you hear me? Never think about it!"

Murong Lian pointed to the ashtray, the wine glass, the newspapers on the floor, the dust, the dirt, and even the dead cockroach lying straight on the dirty carpet.

"Husband, there is only one way to get rid of this situation..."

"You said."

"I've told you time and time again that you don't have to admit it to anyone, not even me. You just have to get it out of your mind."

"Get away! Is this the way to go? No!"

Murong Lian couldn't help but used her previous scolding tone and said:

"You have to know that it is indeed your fault!"

However, this kind of tone never convinced Cao Pu, but made him even more disgusted, so they always quarreled.

She added: "You know, you cut corners, and you know best in your heart that government investigators will find out sooner or later. It's better to wait until your conscience finds out..."

"Shh... don't talk, listen..."

Cao Pu interrupted her without any doubt. At the same time, he no longer looked at Murong Lian but raised his head and stared at the ceiling with wide eyes.

"Did...did you hear that? Really."

There was a dead silence in the room, neither of them made a sound, only a breeze blowing from the lake blew in through the open glass and corridor.

At this time, Murong Lian was also staring at the ceiling and asked: "What do you want me to hear?"

"Listen...for God's sake, couldn't you hear it? There are people's footsteps and voices up there!"

However, Murong Lian heard almost no sound except her heartbeat speeding up.

"Honey, aren't we already on the top floor? How could there be footsteps and voices coming from above? There is no one living up there at all, but our roof garden."

"But, but... I heard it. It was so clear..." Cao Pu said, "I can hear it every day, especially in the middle of the night, I hear it more clearly... There are footsteps and voices coming from above. Voice……"

Voices... footsteps...

Is this... the weird behavior the female neighbor said?

"What? How long has it been?" Murong Lian asked. She frowned, startled. She didn't believe it at all before, but now she almost believes it.

Murong Lian noticed that Cao Pu had an unkempt beard and his face was as white as the ceiling, like a ghost. “It’s been about ten days!”

"Ten days ago was the third anniversary." Murong Lian repeated what she had said to her female neighbor.

Cao Pu looked at Murong Lian and started to remember.

His mouth opened wide, his eyes seemed to roll out of their sockets... and his body began to sway violently.

He had to hold the arms of the chair with both hands to steady himself from swaying.

Murong Lian has been persuading Cao Pu to do that, and now Murong Lian feels that this is a good time.

Murong Lian leaned her upper body towards Cao Pu, determined to pierce the window paper.

"Husband, think about it again. Three years ago you were building a building in this community. The building suddenly collapsed and turned into a pile of reinforced concrete. Six construction workers were killed..."

"You never use smart people but honest people, so these six workers may not be able to see your scam. But... all six of them have wives and children!"

"That building collapsed because you cut corners. Husband, you know that. Even if it were other people, they wouldn't do that. Are you surprised to hear their footsteps and voices now?"

Murong Lian kept talking nonstop, confusing Cao Pu's thoughts.

Cao Pu opened his eyes wide and stared at the ceiling in fear.

"Husband, please tell me."

"Say what?"

"Tell me what to do, don't put it off like this, otherwise you won't be able to get over this hurdle in your heart... As long as you are willing, as long as you admit that it was your fault, you will feel calm and peaceful in your heart.'

"No, no! Damn it, I won't say it, I won't admit it."

"It's okay not to admit it, husband!"

"I won't say it for you or anyone else!" Cao Pu jumped up from his chair, still shaking his head and shouting stubbornly.

"Why didn't you say it? Our child Cao Jingcai died because of you..."

"Ah, stop talking, I can't bear it!" Cao Pu was extremely sad.

"Why don't you say it? If you hadn't done these immoral things, my son would not have died. But, you still don't admit it...this is retribution!"

Cao Pu staggered a few steps, then stood still, staring firmly at the ceiling.

"Ah...Honey, I'm about to collapse! Listen to them, listen, my God!"

"Honey, I don't listen...I don't want to listen...They don't talk to me."

"Listen! Listen quickly... It's impossible not to listen... I can't stand it..."

"What are they talking about?"

Cao Pu knelt down and covered his ears with his hands.

"They said that I killed them and that I was of the same kind as them. Why did they do this? Ah...my wife, what should I do? Oh, my God!"

"Honey, calm down, don't get excited, and do as I say."

Murong Lian jumped up from the couch.

Cao Pu began to sob.

"Don't you see? I can't do it...I can't do it...I can't tell anyone!"

"Then I won't talk to you here. I'll go back to my room." Murong Lian turned to leave, "Husband, only in this way can you feel at ease, otherwise..."

"I..." Cao Pu was in agony.

"Admit it! Speak out and confess to the government that you killed these six people because of greed. Admit that you regret it and beg them for leniency." Murong Lian persuaded again as she walked.

Newbie, new book, hope you like it.