I am unable to make a choice in this matter. On one hand, there is my brother. He has killed someone. Should I be the one to personally send him to the executioner's block? On the other hand, there is the issue of morality. The education I received from childhood makes it impossible for me to know that a murderer has committed their crime and pretend otherwise. I can't accept the notion that Bi Dawang wasn't a good person anyway, so he deserved to die.
…
Because of this, I stayed in the hotel from night until morning. During this time, I ate breakfast in a daze, and then spent the morning in a stupor.
Just then, I received a call. It was from an unknown number, but I answered it anyway.
"Tang Nan, it's Huang Xinghao."
"Brother Haozi, why are you calling me?"
"I need a favor from you."
Huang Xinghao is a very proud person. He said he was asking for a favor, but his tone was still quite demanding.
How could I argue with a SWAT officer from the Criminal Investigation Bureau? I said indirectly on the phone, "Brother Haozi, you're being too formal. Just tell me what you need."
"You know I want to take Xiao Luo to the Maldives for a vacation, right?"
"I heard about it the other day. I was even planning to buy you a gift. I wish you a blissful union and all your dreams come true."
"Don't just say nice things to me. Can I even go now? I'm asking you, did you tell Xiao Luo that Liu Chenxi has an accomplice?"
"I didn't say anything. I was already planning to go back to my hometown, just preparing to buy a train ticket."
"Then who did?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Qin Sisi said it!"
I completely washed my hands of the matter. In truth, I really didn't want to get involved anymore.
"You're the one who said it so well. This is the favor I'm asking you for. Aren't you good at persuading people? Go and tell Yu Xiaoluo that this accomplice has nothing to do with the Jiang Wufang case, and tell her not to get involved."
"How can I possibly manage that?"
"You're really not going to help?"
Huang Xinghao's already strong tone became displeased.
"No, no! Of course, I'll help. I'll go over there right now."
…
When I went to find Yu Xiaoluo, she was very busy and in a meeting, so she couldn't see me. I waited outside for a while. I didn't see Yu Xiaoluo, but instead saw Wang Zeyu walk out of the conference room, a folder under his arm and a large ceramic mug in his hand. Wang Zeyu saw me, "Oh, Little Tang, you're here. When are you leaving? Let me check the time and treat you to some authentic Peking Duck."
"In the next couple of days. You don't need to treat me, I'm just doing what I should be doing."
"Don't be polite with me. I can afford to treat you to Peking Duck with my salary. Then I'll be quick. What are you here for today? To say goodbye?"
"No, I heard Sister Xiaoluo has taken on a very dangerous mission."
Wang Zeyu's brows furrowed when he heard this. "Haozi told you, didn't he? His loose mouth needs to be re-forged. Since you know, come to my office, I have something to tell you."
…
In fact, that's not how it was at all. Yu Xiaoluo was very professional and wouldn't try to force Liu Chenxi's assistant, Leng Yan, out using underhanded tactics. The police setting traps is something from TV dramas. In reality, Yu Xiaoluo worked diligently and earned recognition from leaders at all levels. Thus, Yu Xiaoluo joined a special task force. The task force primarily targeted the fraudulent organization 'Logical Paradox.' 'Logical Paradox' used its ill-gotten cash to purchase collectibles as a means of moving money out of the country, leading to many 'national treasure' level antiques flowing out of China. This operation resulted in profits for the criminal organization, while the national treasures could not be recovered, causing severe losses to the country. Therefore, led by the Criminal Investigation Bureau, a special task force was formed in conjunction with the Public Security Departments of Beijing, Yunnan, and Shaanxi. Its codename was 'Black Gold.'
Wang Zeyu was the leader of the task force, and Yu Xiaoluo was the liaison officer for the various responsible units.
Because the murder of Jiang Wufang by his wife was inextricably linked to the 'Logical Paradox' organization, this criminal case, which was originally handled by the Major Crimes Unit, was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Bureau and reclassified as a comprehensive crime case.
I listened intently as Wang Zeyu finished speaking, breaking out in a cold sweat. Was this information I was supposed to know?
"You don't need to tell me all this."
"This criminal organization is very special. To uproot it, we plan to set up an informant. I've applied for this role for you, not to be used immediately, but after we have a better understanding of 'Logical Paradox's' structure, to embed you logically within the enemy ranks."
"Embed me alive?"
Hearing me say that, Wang Zeyu burst into laughter. "Of course, we'll need your consent. I didn't plan to tell you, but I didn't expect Haozi to lose his head over love and ask you to be a peacemaker. I was afraid you might actually persuade my liaison officer to go to the Maldives."
I smiled helplessly. "Director Wang, you make it sound like I have a silver tongue. In that case, I won't interfere. I'll go back to my hometown and look into retaking my high school exams."
"That's fine. You still have half a year. When you apply for college, try to lean towards military and police fields, and aim for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Because once you complete your mission, I'll help you apply for an additional police position, one that allows for Beijing residency."
"You're really painting a rosy picture for me."
"Do I seem like that kind of person? How about this, keep your phone charged. I'll call you after work, and we'll go eat Peking Duck. Thank you for providing a clearer direction for the massive fraud case we've been tracking."
"I'll arrange the restaurant."
"Okay, you arrange the restaurant, and I'll pay. If you dare to pay, I'll charge you with bribery."
…
After I left Wang Zeyu's office, Yu Xiaoluo had also finished her meeting. She saw me, her eyebrows merely lifting slightly, and then she said, "I need to hand over my work to the Major Crimes Unit. Come with me."
"Why should I go with you? I'm just an ordinary citizen."
"Director Wang didn't tell you."
"He said he'd treat me to Peking Duck tonight. After this meal with the director, I'll take advantage of this good fortune and head back to my hometown tomorrow."
Yu Xiaoluo's brows furrowed. She was being manipulated by me. Since Wang Zeyu hadn't said anything, she couldn't use work to keep me. Just then, Haozi came over, gave me a look, and I winked back. Yu Xiaoluo looked surprised. "What are you two doing, exchanging glances?"
"Nothing!" Haozi and I denied in unison.
Yu Xiaoluo, being rather oblivious, didn't notice our little scheme. Instead, she handed a set of keys to Huang Xinghao and said, "Haozi, my neighbor called and said my place is leaking. Can you go take a look for me when you have time?"
"How could you be so careless? Didn't you turn off the faucet?"
"I turned it off. I haven't been back for several days."
Huang Xinghao sighed. "Then you probably didn't turn it off for days. The place must be flooded like the Yellow River bursting its banks. Don't worry, I'll go after work. I'll buy groceries and cook. You go home early when you're done."
I wanted to slip away, so I interjected, "Brother Hao, I'll leave with you."
"Where are you going? You have your own things to do."
I knew what Huang Xinghao wanted me to do, but I couldn't possibly complete it. This 'Black Gold' special task force seemed like a secret mission, and I couldn't just blurt things out. And Yu Xiaoluo, she's the liaison officer. Who was I to tell her to quit?
After Huang Xinghao left, Yu Xiaoluo looked at me and asked, "What are you busy with?"
"Right, what am I busy with?"
"How about you come with me."
"No, no. I'm going to pack up and get ready to go home. I can still catch the train tomorrow to be home for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
…
Now that I knew about the 'Black Gold' special task force, I felt extremely guilty. Especially Wang Zeyu, who valued me highly and confided in me, wanting me to become a police officer, believing I had potential. Yu Xiaoluo always wanted me to accompany her to work so I could understand more, in case I was needed later.
But me? I had let them down. I was still concealing the fact that Laotie had killed Bi Dawang. I was utterly unworthy of being an undercover agent, let alone possessing a police identity. I truly wished I hadn't gotten involved.
I tidied my belongings in the hotel. There wasn't much to pack. I decided to go and check out Laotie's shop and his rental room. The shop had a "For Rent" sign, but his belongings were still inside. It seemed he had completely abandoned his current life and left without a backward glance. I then went to the dormitory building he rented. The door wasn't even locked. I pushed it open and entered. It was a bit dark, so I turned on the light.
The books were still on the bookshelf. The small kitchen where one couldn't turn around was equipped with all the necessary condiments. Laotie truly lived a life with soul and memories in Beijing, but he was completely corrupted by the 'schemer' and murdered someone. And all for the sake of the title 'schemer,' he abandoned everything.
I could actually understand Laotie. Once I tasted the life of a 'schemer,' I too was restless, and finally, with no hesitation, I followed in Laogui's footsteps, first going to Ruili and then to Beijing.
Since that was the case, as brothers, let him be the schemer he wanted to be.
With that thought, I decided to destroy the letter Laotie had left me. That way, as long as I kept the secret, no one would know he was the murderer.
…
Just as I reached for the envelope I carried with me, my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar mobile number. I answered, and Yu Xiaoluo's hoarse voice came through, "Where are you?"
"I'm off work. I've booked the restaurant."
"I'm asking where you are!"
"What's wrong?"
I heard Yu Xiaoluo's voice, filled with profound sadness, "Haozi is dead. Director Wang said you're in danger too."
Huang Xinghao is dead? How could that be possible? Yu Xiaoluo's grief-stricken and hoarse voice confirmed it. She had no reason to lie. How could Huang Xinghao have died? I thought of Leng Yan.
"I'm at..."
Just as I was about to reveal my location, a surge of electricity coursed through my body from my neck to my limbs. My consciousness was gradually fading. As I collapsed, I seemed to hear Yu Xiaoluo's desperate cries on the phone: "Tang Nan, what's wrong? Speak! Where are you, exactly? Tang Nan, Tang Nan..."