Chapter 20 - 2#

My eyes couldn’t see clearly, and I couldn’t even muster the strength to lift them.

“Th-Three, Third Master… this—this is—”

I heard a sharp slap, followed by the bureau chief’s angry voice: “What the hell are you people eating?! You dare offend Young Master Ren! He was just fine, and look at what stupid things you’ve done!”

“Young Master Ren, look at all this sweat—could it be heatstroke? My apologies, my apologies. These subordinates of mine have no eyes for how to handle things…” The bureau chief pulled out a handkerchief, as if to wipe my sweat.

All I saw was a hand blocking the way.

“Chief Xu, no need for that trouble.”

“Th-Third Master—please, hear me out. This is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!”

“Chief Xu, Third Master will handle this matter on his own.”

“Th-This—this—”

When I got into the car, my whole body seemed to go limp. Someone patted my back, and I suddenly felt nauseous, turning my head to cough dryly, as if I might cough up my lungs along with it.

A hand suddenly pulled me into the darkness. The strong scent of sandalwood made me deeply uncomfortable.

I pushed back with all my strength, but it was futile.

I hadn’t slept all night. Maybe this was just a dream.

After I woke up, everything would… everything would…

—————————

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the main residence of the Ren family. I moved my hand and felt a numb sensation.

I frowned, turned my head to look, and saw the IV stand by the bed, which made me dizzy. Instinctively, I raised my hand to pull at it, but just as I was about to yank it off, the door suddenly opened, and I heard Old He’s startled cry, “Young Master!”

“Young Master! Stop messing around, will you? Ah! The doctor told you to keep the IV in. Really—how did you become so disobedient once you grew up? Causing trouble every few days.”

Old He grabbed my hand and tucked it back under the blanket. I stared at him blankly. Old He sat on the chair by the bed and rambled on: “Young Master, how did you suddenly come down with anemia? Have you not been eating properly while living alone outside? Look how skinny you’ve gotten over the years. My wife nags about it every day—do you want to worry the two of us old folks to death?”

I pursed my lips and whispered hoarsely, “Xiao He, can you get me a newspaper?”

“No way! You’re in this state and still want to read the newspaper? Do you know that when Third Master carried you back this afternoon, your face was so pale it scared people half to death! Not to mention how worried Third Master was, my wife was so panicked she nearly twisted my ear off.”

“Xiao He… go get it for me. I need to see the newspaper…”

Old He snorted. I reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

“This—ah, fine, lie still and wait, my little ancestor…”

I gave him a faint smile and watched Old He walk out before closing my eyes in exhaustion.

A while later, when I sensed someone approaching, I barely opened my eyes.

“Xiao He…”

“When I was little… every holiday, the house would be full of people.”

“There were actually a lot of kids in my generation, all close in age. They’d run around the house, play cops and robbers, hide-and-seek, swap candy and toys…”

“I couldn’t play with them. Grandma would get angry, and Mom would feel terrible. I couldn’t swap candy either, because my teeth were bad when I was young, and Mom wouldn’t let me eat much sugar… and I couldn’t swap toys. I only had a toy train given by some uncle I didn’t know, and a few small models—those were all I had, my treasures.”

“I never really had friends. I once thought I’d found some, but later, I didn’t even know if those were what you’d call friends.”

“I feel like I’ve lived a long time just to understand what it means. If there’s someone who, no matter who you are, is willing to stand by you, help you in times of danger, think of you when they’re in trouble, share happy things with you, and come to you even when they’re sad or troubled—no matter what happens…”

“I think… friends should be like family. No one gives up on or betrays anyone else. Everyone is important to each other.”

“Xiao He, you and Sister Fang are like my friends, my family.”

‘Damn it! You women just love to bully the weak! Bastards! A bunch of loudmouths! Calling people fat—look at your own stomach rolls first! What do you think, Fatty?’

‘Fatty… I’m dead, I’m really dead. Mom’s going to execute me on the spot this time. You have to cover for me…’

‘Fatty, do you have time? Let me talk to you about my family crap—God, it’s driving me crazy!’

“…Cheng Chen is my friend too. A friend like family.”

“You’re all I have… I can’t give up on anyone.”

‘I… promise you, after this is over, I’ll listen to the old man.’

‘I’ll study hard and get into university.’

‘I will, I will… listen to you all…’

—You need to know, the trouble your friend’s in is no small matter. After reform school, he’ll still spend half his life in prison.

—If you keep your mouth shut, you’re an accomplice. You rich kid, aren’t you afraid of getting yourself into trouble?

I turned my head, lifted my eyes, and froze.

I looked at the person before me. For some reason, I felt cold and shrunk my feet back.

His hand was still suspended in midair, then slowly withdrew.

Third Master Ren said nothing. Deep shadows lay under his eyes, his face looked sallow from exhaustion, as if he’d been hollowed out. He seemed more like a patient than I was.

I opened my mouth but couldn’t find words.

Third Master Ren sat down by the bed.

“You’re a bit anemic. Overly tense nerves… you’ve worn yourself out.”

His tone was very light, as if afraid to startle me.

“Are you hungry…?”

“You like Sister Fang’s cooking… your third uncle asked her to make you some congee.”

“Third… Uncle,” I called out softly.

I had barely eaten or drunk anything since waking, and I felt completely drained. My voice was weak as I said, “I need to go see Cheng Chen.”

Third Master Ren murmured, “You need rest.”

“I just have some things I want to… ask him.” I raised a hand to my forehead and took a deep breath. “Third Uncle, promise me… I won’t cause any more trouble.”

“I definitely, definitely won’t bring any more trouble to the family.”

His gaze was dark and heavy, his face expressionless.

After a long moment, Third Master Ren pulled the blanket up and tucked me in tightly.

“Alright.”

He nodded gently and called softly, “Qiri.”

His fingers were icy cold.

“Don’t say ‘trouble’ to your third uncle.”

“Your third uncle… promises you.”

Maybe because Third Master Ren had personally come by, everyone in the police station was a bit nervous when they saw me. They even offered tea and said they’d call Chief Xu to receive the guest. They also said that orders had come from above to take me directly to see the person.

Cheng Chen was currently being held in a detention room. Apparently, General Cheng had personally brought a team of lawyers to cause a fuss several times, but Cheng Chen insisted he was the murderer and even produced the murder weapon. Old General Cheng couldn’t believe it. Maybe the Cheng family had some influence, or maybe the case was truly suspicious, but it hadn’t been closed yet. Cheng Chen naturally couldn’t get bail and had been detained in the station for three days.

When Cheng Chen saw me, he looked a little surprised but immediately bowed his head.

He seemed okay overall, just extremely disheveled. Not a trace of the handsome kid remained. There was a large red handprint on his face, and half his cheek was swollen. Seeing it made me freeze.

“Who… hit you?” I asked, eyes wide. Cheng Chen curled his lip. “Who else? That old man. Turns out he’s got some strength. That slap didn’t show any mercy.”

He grinned like it was nothing, then suddenly grabbed my hand and said urgently, “Hey! I heard they came after you? Damn it, I knew this would drag you in. Fatty, I…”

Cheng Chen’s eyes suddenly reddened.

“I let you down.”

I pinched my nose, feeling a strong ache.

“You know you let me down. Do you know you let your dad down the most? And your mom? And you told me that this Christmas we’d celebrate with your little brother and sister too. On top of that, you owe me a huge debt and said you’d be my slave for life to pay it back. Do you remember saying ‘a word once spoken cannot be taken back’?”

Cheng Chen chuckled, lowering his head.

I sighed softly and said, “Tell me what happened.”

“That’s what happened. I killed someone. Killed Sister Xin’s husband. Now I’m going to jail.” Cheng Chen turned his head, his tone indifferent.

“Fatty, that’s the truth. I killed someone.”

I looked up at him and said firmly, “I don’t believe it.”

“Cheng Chen, I know you. No matter how impulsive you are, you’re not that brutal.”

“Cheng Chen, tell me the truth. What really happened?” My eyes dropped. “And where is Sister Xin now?”

Cheng Chen turned back to me and said, “Sister Xin has nothing to do with this. She went to the clinic for a check-up that night. She has an alibi. It’s none of her business.”

I stared at him. “I didn’t say it was Sister Xin’s business. Why are you so defensive?”

Cheng Chen paused.

“Tell me, what happened?” I took his hand and patted the back of it gently, like I always did. “Are we still friends? If something’s wrong… can’t you tell me?”

Cheng Chen’s face shifted. He yanked his hand back abruptly and said hastily, “It’s—it’s just like that! I—I killed someone! That night, when I went to find Sister Xin, I ran into that bastard Xu Chenghong! I’d wanted to teach that scumbag a lesson for a long time!”

“Then how did you kill him?”

“He fought me, and I accidentally beat him to death! How was I supposed to know he was that weak?!”

I looked at him and asked slowly, “Cheng Chen, how many years have you studied taekwondo?”

He was taken aback, probably by how off-topic the question seemed.

“…I forgot. I’ve been learning since I was little.”

“Yeah, I remember. In your first year of high school, you were a representative and went to Malaysia for a competition. You got a gold medal, didn’t you?”

“Ah! Yeah, yeah, what’s with bringing that up?!” He scratched his head and snapped at me.

My gaze turned cold. “Xu Chenghong was a lawyer who loved drinking and gambling. I doubt he was much of a fighter, but he was unarmed. Cheng Chen, why did you need to hit him with a stick?”

Cheng Chen froze for a moment before rushing to say, “I—I just wanted to smack him with a stick!”

“Fine. Xu Chenghong was found dead in an alley at night. You said you ran into him by chance since you were heading to Sister Xin’s. How come you had a stick with you?”

“Cheng Chen… tell me what really happened.”

“Are you… protecting someone?”

Cheng Chen suddenly roared, “I already said I killed him! Stop asking! I killed him! I killed Xu Chenghong! I couldn’t stand Sister Xin marrying him! The way he treated her, he deserved to die! That bastard Xu Chenghong deserved to die a long time ago!”

“Sister Xin has been alone since forever. She’s never had an easy life! She thought she’d finally found the right person after all the suffering, but she married an animal!! Her only brother is gone too—dead or alive, nobody knows!! Who does she have to rely on?! What did she do wrong in her life?! I just couldn’t stand it!”

“Cheng Chen, calm down—”

Just then, a police officer walked in, followed by Chief Xu. Behind them was an old man with a weary face—Uncle Cheng.

Uncle Cheng walked up silently, and Chief Xu followed with a fawning smile, saying to me, “Ah, Young Master Ren is here too. Perfect timing! It was all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding…”

I was stunned. Uncle Cheng stepped forward and patted Cheng Chen’s shoulder.

Chief Xu wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and said to Cheng Chen, “The coroner’s report came out yesterday evening. It was clear something was off about this case. The real culprit has also… I told you, how could a fine young man like Master Cheng be a murderer…”

Cheng Chen jumped up and screamed, “What real culprit?! I’m the real culprit! You fat bastard, don’t go arresting innocent people!”

“You unfilial brut—!”

Uncle Cheng roared and slapped Cheng Chen across the face again.

“Aiya aiya… Master Cheng is young and hot-blooded. Ah, it’s all sorted out now. Master Cheng was just misled into committing the minor crime of harboring someone—”

“You motherfucker—!” Cheng Chen suddenly lunged forward, nearly grabbing Chief Xu by the collar. Chief Xu dodged quickly, and several officers swarmed in. Uncle Cheng was furious, pulling Cheng Chen and shouting, “Hit me! Go ahead, kill me, your old man! If you kill me, I’ll accept it! You unfilial brat!”

Cheng Chen gritted his teeth. I quickly stepped between them, holding Cheng Chen back, and looked at Chief Xu and Uncle Cheng. “What exactly is going on?”

“The coroner examined Xu Chenghong. There were two wounds on his head. The fatal one was inflicted nearly two hours earlier. The police also found bloodstains in an alley by another building, confirming it was Xu Chenghong’s—”

Chief Xu glanced at Cheng Chen’s fierce expression and continued, “This morning—early this morning, we received word. That Du Yixin committed suicide by charcoal burning in an apartment in the new district last night. She left a suicide note explaining the entire process of the crime. We even found the real murder weapon!”

What…?

Cheng Chen shuddered, his eyes wide, muttering under his breath, “No… impossible…”

“You’re saying… Sister Xin is dead? Sister Xin is dead! No way! No way—!!”