She abandoned her husband first, then her children, and was ecstatic after the divorce.

Chapter 230 I just want to escape from her side

Seeing this, Lin Qingran pressed her advantage, "Zhao Long, you have also suffered hardships. Don't you want to break free from these people's control and start your life anew? As long as you tell the truth, I can guarantee your safety and give you a chance to turn over a new leaf."

Zhao Long's resolve began to waver. He looked up at Lin Qingran's eyes, trying to find a trace of sincerity in them.

After a long while, he finally spoke, "Okay, I can tell you, but you must promise me that you will keep your word."

Lin Qingran nodded slightly, a hint of relief in her eyes, "Don't worry, I, Lin Qingran, always keep my word."

The dim yellow light flickered in the damp room, illuminating Zhao Long's tired and weathered face.

He slightly raised his head, staring blankly ahead, as if lost in deep memories. His lips trembled slightly as he began to recount that long-buried past.

"You all think I was treated well by my adoptive parents back then." A self-deprecating bitter smile appeared on Zhao Long's face, his eyes filled with pain and resentment.

"In reality, they were just putting on a show. Those leftovers and tattered clothes were the true reflection of my life. I became the bully in the village just to protect myself from being bullied. And they, seeing that my bad temper could bring benefits to the family, indulged me in running rampant outside, but they doted on their own son, treating him like a precious gem."

Zhao Long's hands clenched into fists involuntarily, veins bulged on his forehead, and his voice became hoarse with excitement.

“Every time I saw how good they were to my brother, I was reminded of my own miserable life. Why? Why did I have to suffer like this? Finally, one day, I couldn’t take it anymore… When they weren’t home, I strangled my brother to death. When I came to my senses, I was terrified. I could only run for my life, run out of that home that I loathed so much, and escape that cannibalistic mountain village.”

A flicker of fear crossed his eyes, as if he were back in those icy, snowy days.

“I wandered all the way and suffered countless hardships. On that snowy day, I thought I was going to freeze to death. Just when I was in despair, a man appeared. He said that as long as I helped him run errands and transport goods, he would give me money, food, and shelter. I was desperate and had no other choice but to agree.”

A hint of confusion flickered in Zhao Long's eyes, as if he were recalling those chaotic days.

“At first, I just transported small boxes, inconspicuous, and no one suspected anything. With these, I gradually made some money, enough to eat and wear, and even go out and have fun. But when is the human heart ever satisfied? I asked him if there were any other ways to make money, and he took me to the capital.”

"In that magnificent mansion, I saw a woman dressed in luxurious clothes, about forty years old, very well-maintained, and with the air of a noblewoman in every gesture."

A hint of humiliation flashed in Zhao Long's eyes. "The way she looked at me was full of contempt, as if I were the dirtiest thing in the world. But my so-called older brother kept speaking well of me in front of her. She seemed to be persuaded and called my brother into her room for a private talk. After that, I changed my identity, stayed in the capital, and even went to high school."

Zhao Long gave a wry smile as he said this.

"That woman was very strict with me. If I didn't meet her standards in the slightest, her bodyguards would beat and kick me."

As Zhao Long spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing a series of shocking scars on his body, his eyes filled with hatred.

"That's Zhou Lan. Those bodyguards didn't know their own strength at all. Several times I thought I was about to die. After being rushed to the hospital and saved, I had to go back to her side and continue to suffer."

Zhao Long's body trembled slightly, and the muscles on his face twisted with anger.

"Under her pressure, I actually got into the most famous medical university in Beijing. After graduation, I became an anesthesiologist and was then arranged by her to work in a major hospital in Jiangcheng. From then on, I started helping her conduct illegal drug experiments on those people who were arrested."

His eyes were filled with pain, he held his head in his hands, and his voice trembled.

“Those people were screaming in pain under my hands, begging me to let them go, but I couldn’t do anything! Some of them were mentally unstable because of the drugs, and that pervert Zhou Lan actually locked them up together and watched them kill each other.”

Zhao Long could no longer hold back, bent over, and began to vomit profusely.

Lin Qingran stood aside, watching him quietly, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

A trafficked child, who has never experienced true warmth and care, grew up in a distorted environment and embarked on this path of no return, is truly pitiful.

However, Zhao Long's aiding and abetting the wicked makes it difficult to sympathize with him entirely.

Zhao Long squatted on the ground, holding his head in his hands, panting heavily, and it took him a while to recover.

He slowly stood up, his eyes filled with exhaustion, and looked at Lin Qingran again before continuing.

"You don't know, Zhou Lan is simply a demon, ruthless to the extreme. I live in fear every day, watching those people who are used for experiments struggle in pain. I know that sooner or later, I will end up like them."

His body trembled slightly, and a look of fear appeared on his face.

"So I've always wanted to escape, but I have nowhere to escape to! My identity was given to me by her, and my life is tightly controlled by her. Every step feels like walking into a trap she has set. Fortunately, she doesn't care much about the little salary I earn from my job, which gives me a glimmer of hope."

A sly glint flashed in Zhao Long's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by helplessness.

“I discovered that being an anesthesiologist could be quite lucrative. The patients’ families would often secretly slip me red envelopes to make their loved ones suffer less during surgery, and they were quite generous with them. At first, I hesitated, but thinking about escaping Zhou Lan’s clutches, I gritted my teeth and did it.”

He slightly raised his head, seemingly recalling those disgraceful past events, a complex expression on his face.

“I started to get close to the families of those people, saying ambiguous things to hint that I should give them benefits. They all understood, and one red envelope after another went into my pocket. I did this for three years and finally saved up some money. I thought that this money should be enough for me to go far away and start a new life.”

At this point, Zhao Long's eyes dimmed, his face fell, and his expression was full of regret.