Chapter 58#

That evening, the entertainment newspapers reported on the manslaughter case with the headline “Shi Xing Entertainment CEO Jiang Qin Accused of Murdering Former Major Shareholder! The Truth Revealed After Fourteen Years!” The bold black characters on the front page were extremely eye-catching.

The newspaper reporter had even miraculously obtained the confidential court records. Although only a part was made public, the twists and turns of the process and the bizarre plot could be glimpsed from just a few short paragraphs.

At the beginning of the trial, Jiang Qin was accused of accidentally injuring someone leading to their death, and subsequently disposing of the body to destroy evidence, a heinous act. Immediately after, the defense lawyer presented witness statements revealing that Zhao Chengqiang had been suspected of forcing female artists in the company to take drugs. Back then, two victims were sent by Jiang Qin to Hong Kong for drug rehabilitation. After succeeding, they changed their names and lived in exile. Jin Yan had spent a lot of manpower and resources to find them, and it was unknown whether he used coercion or persuasion, but he managed to convince them to go to the police station to provide testimony.

The trial then took a sharp turn. The victim’s wife, Yao Shuwen, personally appeared to testify that Zhao Chengqiang had kidnapped Jiang Qin’s adopted son, who was less than two years old at the time. On the night of the incident, Zhao Chengqiang tried to use this to threaten Jiang Qin into participating in drug trafficking. After being refused, he attempted to kill him to silence him. In the ensuing struggle, he was accidentally injured in the head by Jiang Qin and died as a result.

Jiang Qin confessed to the above facts without reservation, stating that he respected the court’s judgment and would not appeal regardless of the outcome.

After an hour and a half of intense discussion, the court reached the following consensus: There was no direct evidence showing that Jiang Qin caused the death while acting in excessive self-defense. However, considering the testimony of the victim’s wife, the fact of manslaughter was established, and he should be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years.

Although the victim had committed a major fault first—kidnapping the defendant’s young adopted son and coercing the defendant to traffic drugs—there was still no direct evidence to prove this. On the contrary, the evidence of the defendant disposing of the body was conclusive, indicating subjective malice, so the standard sentence should be set at more than five years.

It is worth noting that more than ten years have passed since the incident, and the public security organs had not filed a case. According to the relevant regulations on the statute of limitations for manslaughter, if the maximum sentence is not less than five years but not more than ten years, the prosecution period expires after ten years, and prosecution can be waived.

Jiang Qin’s situation fit this point. He was exempted from criminal punishment and released in court.

After the verdict was announced, Jiang Qin stood in the defendant’s dock, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes hard with his palms. Captain Wang, sitting in the gallery, looked at him with some surprise.

Although he hadn’t spent much time with Jiang Qin, he could tell that Jiang Qin had a strict upbringing and rigorous etiquette; his every move was very decent and restrained. For him to make such a gesture in public actually meant his emotions were a bit too exposed.

Jin Yan almost rushed down from his seat. Fortunately, the lawyer grabbed him; otherwise, he would definitely have received a fine for contempt of court.

Yao Shuwen retreated to the gallery, smiling and shaking her head, suddenly feeling very emotional. She thought of the arrogant and insufferable Zhao Chengqiang from back then. If he had a spirit in heaven and saw everyone in the courtroom today getting their wishes fulfilled, what would he feel?

When he was alive, he brought pain to so many people. After he died, no one sought that hypocritical justice for him. So, what was the meaning of the power and prestige he possessed in life, other than adding to people’s ridicule?

“…Jin Yan,” Yao Shuwen sighed with emotion, saying, “Go back and live a good life with Little Jiang. Don’t touch those businesses if you can help it, and never become…”

“Become a second Zhao Chengqiang?” Jin Yan laughed loudly. “Don’t worry, Sister Yao, I still have a wife and child to take care of!”

These words were too improper. Everyone around was embarrassed, but Jin Yan was completely unaware and still looking smug.

Jiang Qin was escorted out of the courtroom door. Before his feet even touched the ground, he was scooped up in a princess carry by someone who rushed up.

Jiang Qin was so startled that his glasses fell off: “Jin Yan—! Put me down! The release procedures haven’t been completed yet!”

“What procedures? What’s there to complete! Are all those lawyers I support just eating for free?! —Hey, you there, go handle the procedures!” Jin Yan happily held his wife and said, “Let’s go! Home!”

The bailiff had black lines all over his head, and the lawyer’s face was full of “=口=” expressions.

Jiang Qin said angrily, “Isn’t this embarrassing? Put me down quickly!” As he spoke, he struggled hard to jump down, twisting his foot and almost falling flat on his back.

Yao Shuwen covered her mouth and laughed behind them. Jiang Qin looked back and immediately felt very embarrassed: “Sister Yao is back? Is it for my matter? Sorry to trouble you to make a special trip…”

“No, no, I also came back to see Li Meng by the way.”

Jiang Qin was confused by this remark, but before he could ask, he was forcefully pulled back by Jin Yan, who sniffed at his neck like a wolfdog and said, “Hmm, wifey, you took a shower…”

Jiang Qin pushed him away, his face flushed red: “What’s so strange about taking a shower! Go drive the car!”

Jin Yan rolled his eyes and said, “No, you drive. I’m exhausted from driving to the court early in the morning. You don’t even feel sorry for your man.” Saying this, he acted like a rascal and refused to move from the roadside.

Jiang Qin was thin-skinned after all, and the parking lot was only a few steps away, so he could only obediently go get the car.

As soon as he left, Jin Yan turned his head and asked, “Sister Yao, about that Zhao Xue, do you want to flay her alive or steam her? It might be inconvenient to take her to the US. I can lend you a place…”

“…Zhao Chengqiang couldn’t even compare to you back then, okay!” Yao Shuwen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Save it. I’ve already thought of a way to deal with her. No need for you to worry!”

“Fuck, Sister Yao, you didn’t act like a saint this time, did you?”

“No,” Yao Shuwen said. “I think she’s quite pitiful too. Her mother didn’t instill correct values in her since she was young. A perfectly good child just… People can’t choose their birth. I don’t want to take out my resentment against her mother on her.”

Jin Yan considered for a long time and said seriously, “If Jiang Qin cheats on me behind my back, I will definitely slaughter that gigolo’s entire household register.”

“That’s you, okay, Jin Yan?” Yao Shuwen laughed. “To be honest, although I feel that way emotionally, what she did is unacceptable… I talked to Zhao Xue about the drug trafficking, and then handed her over to the police. If she is willing to give up her supplier, the criminal circumstances should be greatly reduced.”

Jin Yan had a look of disapproval on his face.

“I will discuss this point with Xu Xiaoxuan again. The lawyer suggested that I switch from criminal prosecution to civil compensation so that Xu Xiaoxuan can get money and Zhao Xue won’t be in jail for too long.” Yao Shuwen sighed and said, “They are all young kids. Leaving personal grievances aside, I can’t bear to let their lives be ruined because of this.”

Jin Yan was just about to add fuel to the fire when Jiang Qin slowly drove the car over. The moment he saw his wife, CEO Jin automatically entered rogue mode, running up happily and shouting, “Hey—! Wifey! I’ll drive, I’ll drive! You go rest quickly!”

“…Weren’t you exhausted to death?!”

“I’ve recovered just now!”

Jiang Qin felt deeply embarrassed and had to obediently get out of the car to let Jin Yan drive. As a result, Jin Yan was still not behaving. Instead of getting in, he stood by the road with his arm around Jiang Qin’s shoulder and asked, “Where should we eat for lunch? That full snake banquet Director Duan treated us to last time was not bad. Or seafood? If you don’t like any of them, let’s go home and eat your man…”

Jiang Qin said weakly, “Save it. Does acting like a rogue in front of Sister Yao give you a sense of accomplishment? I found that you actually get particularly excited when there are people around…”

The little couple stood by the roadside with the car door wide open, bickering. A silver-blue Toyota drove up from behind. The window slowly rolled down, and Captain Wang’s face, wearing sunglasses, poked out: “Yo, not going home yet?”

Jin Yan had absolutely no self-awareness as a successful member of society. He shook his leg idly and said, “Yo! Captain Wang! Going back to the police station to investigate a case? There’s nothing involving us this time, right?”

“No, no, no, just asking casually.” Captain Wang pointed to the road sign and laughed, “—Just a reminder, parking is prohibited here.”

Jin Yan: “…”

Jin Yan’s face instantly became very colorful.

Jiang Qin was very decent. He nodded and thanked Captain Wang: “Thanks for taking care of me in the detention center. I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble. We were just about to go eat. Want to join us?”

“Going back to investigate a case—it’s a real investigation! Haha, let’s eat next time.”

Jiang Qin didn’t insist and said, “If there’s anything I can help with in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will definitely help if I can. Thank you very much for this time.”

Captain Wang smiled and agreed. Just as he was about to roll up the window, he suddenly paused.

Jin Yan was resentfully moving the car at this time, two steps away from them. Jiang Qin turned around and walked towards him.

In that short gap of a few seconds, Captain Wang suddenly felt an uncontrollable impulse: “Hey…”

Jiang Qin looked back.

“Sorry, I promise this is the last sentence.” Captain Wang looked into his eyes and asked seriously, “Did you kill Zhao Chengqiang or not?”

The street was full of traffic, as if it had all turned into a blurred background, flickering with distant and faint light.

Captain Wang waited for a long time without an answer and finally turned his head in self-mockery. “The case is over. I don’t know why I still wanted to ask you. Maybe being a policeman for too long makes one’s personality a bit paranoid…”

“Captain Wang,” Jiang Qin said, “Actually, I am naturally soft-hearted. I haven’t even killed a chicken.”

Captain Wang turned back in shock, but Jiang Qin waved his hand and turned to walk towards Jin Yan.

At that moment, the wind blew his hair, and his bangs covered his eyes, making his expression unclear.

That noon, they ate and drank their fill. In the afternoon, he called Li Meng again and listened to him whining and acting spoiled with snot and tears for a long time. It wasn’t until the call was over that Yao Shuwen got up to say goodbye. Jin Yan drove her back to the hotel, then turned around to drive Jiang Qin home.

It was just getting dark when they arrived home. As a result, Jin Yan couldn’t hold back in the elevator. While burying his face in Jiang Qin’s neck and sniffing hard, he hummed and said, “Wifey, you took a shower. You definitely took a shower…”

Jiang Qin pushed him hard: “Isn’t taking a shower a very normal thing!”

“No, how can you shower casually in the detention center? Don’t think I don’t know just because I haven’t been in there!”

Jiang Qin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You just don’t know. There’s a boss in the detention center who is a Go fan. Last week, he suddenly held a newspaper and asked if I taught Li Meng Go. Then he happily ordered extra dishes for me and even provided me with a single shower room…”

Jin Yan was thunderstruck. “Huh?! All the money I stuffed didn’t work!”

Jiang Qin said angrily, “Don’t think money can solve everything! And what competition did Li Meng participate in? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“That’s not important, not important…” Jin Yan squeezed him hard against the elevator wall, rubbed his thigh vigorously between his legs, and laughed lewdly, “Come on, wifey, don’t move! Be a good boy and let me press you…”

CEO Jin was very quick when there was food to eat. Although he resisted with all his might, poor Jiang Qin was still almost stripped naked. Fortunately, there was no one outside when the elevator door opened. Jin Yan was like a victorious general, holding Jiang Qin and saying, “See! I told you there was no need to be shy!”

Jiang Qin roared, “Give me back my clothes—!”

CEO Jin was thick-skinned. He carried his wife and swaggered through the market. As soon as he entered the house, he immediately pushed the person onto the carpet. Jiang Qin got up and wanted to run to the room, but Jin Yan hugged him backhand and pressed him to the floor, asking, “Do you miss me?”

Jiang Qin panted, “Go back to the bedroom first…”

“No, I want to do it in the living room.”

“Li Meng…”

“Li Meng isn’t coming home tonight.”

Jiang Qin’s cheeks were flushed red. Jin Yan looked at him wickedly for a while, then whispered gently in his ear, “You’re hard too…”

The rough soft fur of the carpet pressed against the skin, and the air was filled with the smell of passion. Jin Yan slowly lowered his head to kiss Jiang Qin’s moist lips, feeling his teeth slightly open, his breath carrying a warm and sweet scent, trembling slightly due to unbearable lust.

Jin Yan’s heart suddenly swelled with warmth, and he asked in a low voice, “Do you miss me, hmm?”

Jiang Qin’s lips pressed against his strong neck. He didn’t answer immediately. After a while, he asked, “—Do you miss me?”

“Yes.”

“Then I miss you too.” Jiang Qin opened his mouth and bit him, not too lightly or too heavily, and said, “I missed you to death.”