Chapter 53: Growing Old Together

Bo Xixi did not call again.

Ji Feng said, "Combined with the contents of Chen Zhou's diary, the general outline of this case has been basically clarified. First, Chen Zhaoran betrayed Bo Qianqian. While Bo Qianqian was in the hospital, she met Chen Zhou and the two established a romantic relationship, and their relationship was very good. This is consistent with Yong Xiangdong's statement."

Ji Feng paused, then continued, "After finally becoming pregnant after enduring so much hardship, Bo Xixi had already gotten over her heartbreak and was preparing to get married. But then, Shen Zhaoran reappeared, deceiving the naive Bo Xixi into carrying drugs for him. This way, if Bo Xixi was discovered by the police, he could completely deny the charge and keep himself out of the crime. There was no way to prove that he was the one behind the drug trafficking."

Jiang Bo nodded and said, "Lu Chenzhou's diary said that he knew that Shen Zhaoran tricked and coerced Bo Qianqian into carrying drugs for him. I think the reason why Shen Zhou knew this is because the drug trafficking case that Shen Zhou was undercover in might be the case that Shen Zhaoran was involved in."

"Yes, it's very likely." Gu Xiaozheng said.

Ji Feng continued, "Chen Zhaoran repeatedly threatened Bo Xiqian to sell drugs for him, which instantly shattered Bo Xiqian's vision of a happy future. A woman who longed for a happy life was easily turned into a female drug dealer by Shen Zhaoran. Bo Xiqian once again fell into despair of life, and was filled with hatred for him. She began to think about killing Shen Zhaoran. Because drug trafficking organizations are basically single-line connections, that is to say, as long as Shen Zhaoran is killed, Bo Xiqian's drug trafficking can be put to an end and will never be exposed. Just at this time, she accidentally saw Shen Zhou and a charming girl go to a hotel to get a room. Her already broken spirit was hit again. She completely collapsed, and thus came up with a plan to kill each other with one stone."

The other three nodded in agreement with Ji Feng's analysis. Xin Xiao added, "The diary reveals that Chen Zhou and the woman's hotel room was a forced, undercover affair. In other words, it was a massive misunderstanding, a misunderstanding that turned black into white. And from that, it led to a human tragedy."

"Bo Qianqian also has deep feelings for Chen Zhou. Even if she doesn't consider herself, she will think that if she becomes a drug dealer, she will implicate Lu Chenzhou, a policeman. She is even more worried that Chen Zhou will break up with her after knowing the truth, so Bo Qianqian is very conflicted about whether to tell Chen Zhou the truth." Ji Feng continued.

"There are four things that caused Bo Xixi the most pain. First, she never expected to fall into a misunderstanding that completely overturned her understanding. Perhaps it was also related to her state of mind at the time. When people are desperate, they always tend to assume the worst."

"Oh, what a human tragedy! It's so tragic!" Gu Xiaozheng sighed.

"Secondly, Bo Xixi only discovered after reading the diary that, before killing Shen Zhaoran, Chen Zhou, as a criminal psychology expert, was fully aware of Bo Xixi's double murder plan. However, instead of revealing it, he silently cooperated with Bo Xixi's plan."

"Third, Lu Chenzhou, under immense pressure, killed Shen Zhaoran. To prevent the police from suspecting Bo Xiqian, he took the pair of 'Little Dragon' thuja spice ornaments before leaving, creating the illusion of a murderous plot. Now that I think about it, as a criminal police officer, he certainly knew how to conceal himself. But he didn't. Several times, he deliberately exposed himself to the cameras, aiming to make it easy for us to find him and thus protect Bo Xiqian."

"Fourthly, in his final moments, Chen Zhou was still thinking about how to free Bo Xixi from the pain of longing for him. He chose not to defend himself, but to vent his pain in his diary, silently accepting the infamy of being called a 'scumbag.'"

"His deliberate act of exposing himself was the reason we were able to solve the case relatively smoothly. Afterwards, he returned to the auto parts store, packed up his belongings, and went to the hospital to complete the admission procedures, quietly awaiting death."

Xin Xiao said with tears in his eyes: "In order to protect his wife and children, he took all the blame and swallowed his anger. What a man Chen Zhou is!"

"It all stems from that scumbag Shen Zhaoran!" Gu Xiaozheng clenched his fists, his eyes wide open with anger.

"It's a pity that I didn't know Lu Chenzhou at that time. If Captain Ji was there, things wouldn't have been so complicated." Jiang Bo's words contained some self-reflection.

"It's my fault. I didn't watch the video carefully. I didn't expect Lin Wantang to be Lu Chenzhou." Xin Xiao also blamed himself.

"Don't misunderstand me, and there's no need to blame yourselves. First of all, the video surveillance is a bit blurry, which is an objective fact; secondly, no one would have thought that this blurry suspect is a criminal police officer and a classmate at that. By the way, he even used a pseudonym. If it were me, even if I recognized him, I wouldn't dare to believe it." Ji Feng comforted.

The door of the conference room was open. The clerk sitting outside heard the four of them sorting out the case intermittently. He was shocked at first, then felt emotional, then sighed, and finally couldn't help sobbing in his seat, almost crying out loud.

Yes, it was too tragic! How could a weak woman like Bo Xixi endure such pain? The four men sighed and lamented the injustice of fate to Bo Xixi.

At this time, Ji Feng's phone rang again, Bo Qianqian.

After Ji Feng answered the call, he still turned on the speakerphone.

"Captain Ji, I'm sorry to trouble you." Bo Qianqian seemed to have not stopped crying yet.

"Not really. In public, it's my duty; in private, Chen Zhou and I are buddies." Ji Feng said.

"Captain Ji, can I add you on WeChat?"

"Of course." Jifeng agreed without thinking.

"I'd like to ask you for a favor, please?"

"Of course, go ahead."

"That Thuja warehouse has been handed over to Mr. Zhang from Enyuan Hall. When Mr. Zhang went there today, he happened to run into Officer Liang from the police station who was installing security cameras. He asked Mr. Zhang to produce proof that the warehouse belonged to him. But Mr. Zhang didn't have the donation agreement with him. Could you call Officer Liang and explain?"

Ji Feng then remembered that Xiao Liang was completely oblivious to what had happened in recent days. He simply replied, "No problem. I'll contact Officer Liang right away."

Bo Qianqian's request reminded Ji Feng of a question he had never fully understood, so he asked, "If Chen Zhaoran is such a bad person, why would he give you such a valuable Thuja warehouse?"

"That scumbag, could he be so kind? Could he give me something so valuable? Every time I brought him drugs from Hong Kong, he would ask me to go to that cypress warehouse to hand them over, so I knew about that cypress warehouse. After he died, I was the only one who knew about that cypress warehouse, so naturally I took over. Besides, there was money he owed me in it."

The four of them exchanged glances again, suddenly realizing what was going on. They all agreed that Bo Qianqian's explanation was logical, and they nodded continuously.

"Captain Ji, thank you for not arresting me, a murderer and drug dealer, yesterday."

After passing Bo Qianqian’s WeChat authentication, Ji Feng saw that her WeChat nickname was: Tongchuandu.

"I don't think you are a murderer. You and Shen Zhou's plan to kill Shen Zhaoran coincided. Shen Zhou wanted to protect you and the child, and you wanted revenge. In the end, it was Shen Zhou who carried out his murder plan."

"So, I believe it was Shen Zhou who successfully carried out his murder plan. Your murder plan is still just an idea. Even if you are guilty, it is not a serious crime."

"No, it was Shen Zhou who carried out my murder plan for me. He cooperated with my plan. He wrote it clearly in his diary."

"You're not wrong to say that. But if we delve deeper, it could become a complex legal issue that requires a final judgment from legal professionals. I can't do anything about it. Furthermore, Chen Zhou is already dead, so..." Ji Feng wanted to say that Chen Zhou was already dead, and as long as Bo Qianqian didn't confess, even with the diary as evidence, she couldn't be convicted directly. But the words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back, thinking it was a bit inappropriate.

"In addition, ten years ago, synthetic cannabinoids were not yet regulated as drugs in our country. Clearly defining them as drugs was only made in recent years, even though they were already subject to extremely strict controls before then. Therefore, your actions ten years ago would generally not result in criminal liability."

"Captain Ji, it doesn't matter anymore. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to atone for my sins to Chen Zhou. The money I just transferred to you via WeChat is clean. I have no relatives in this world, so I want to ask you for one last favor. Is that okay?"

"Transferred some money?" Ji Feng hurriedly checked, and sure enough, Bo Qianqian transferred some money to him through WeChat. Only then did he understand Bo Qianqian's intention of adding him on WeChat.

"You, what are you doing?" Ji Feng was surprised, and had an ominous premonition.

It looms over my heart.

"After I die, buy me a better tomb. Then, move the sunken boat from

Move that simple tomb over here and bury me and Chen Zhou together. Is that okay?"

The four of them jumped up from their seats at the same time, their chairs clattering against each other. "What did you say? Where are you? What are you doing?" Ji Feng asked anxiously, his forehead instantly covered with sweat and his face turning pale.

"I'm with Chen Zhou, Captain Ji, thank you... and goodbye." After saying that, a busy tone of "beep beep beep" rang out on the phone.

"Thin..." Ji Feng was stunned on the spot, beads of sweat the size of beans sliding down his cheeks.

He stood there blankly, saying foolishly, "Quick, Xin Xiao, call... Xiangdong and tell him... him to go to the sunken ship cemetery quickly. Bo, Bo Qianqian is, is... there." Ji Feng's voice was trembling, and he could hardly utter a complete sentence.

"Xiao, Xiaozheng, hurry up, call the Modao Emergency Center and tell them that someone has committed suicide in Nanling Cemetery."

However, the other three, like Ji Feng, just stood there in a daze. The clerk outside heard the word "suicide" and rushed over.

Ji Feng was stuck there stupidly, his lips moving, unable to utter a word. Tears mixed with sweat fell all over the floor. "Xiao, Xiao Zheng, drive, go, go, to Modao, the cemetery."

Xin Xiao and Gu Xiaozheng finally reacted, and the conference room erupted in chaos. The clerk, unable to suppress his grief any longer, crouched on the floor, weeping bitterly—for a criminal suspect he had never met.

Humans are not plants or trees, so who can be heartless...

Gu Xiaozheng grabbed the car keys and rushed out of the meeting room first, making a phone call while running, "Hello, is this 120..."

Xin Xiao was also nervously calling Yong Xiangdong. He and Ji Feng had long forgotten that Yong Xiangdong was now in Southern Jiangsu Province and had not returned.

Jiang Bo, however, had already been petrified. The only evidence that he was a living being was the two streams of tears that flowed like gurgling streams...

At the Nanling Cemetery on Modao Island, Bo Xixi's body had been taken away by the funeral home. The only traces of her presence were the bright red stains and a strand of her hair on Lu Chenzhou's tombstone. She had finally "crossed the same boat" with Lu Chenzhou...

Ji Feng, Xin Xiao, and Gu Xiaozheng stood there in a daze. The red streak stretched along the tombstone, winding its way to the ground. It was so dazzling...

The sunset was picturesque, and the clouds piled up on the horizon were dyed into a broken golden red by the setting sun, as if the gods had overturned the furnace of molten gold;

The setting sun was like blood, and the last ray of red light sprinkled on the tombstone like blood, like a trace of a tragic painter's brush dipped in blood and tears, ruthlessly smearing on the sky;

The wind blew, making low whimpers as it blew through the pine branches, like the earth's weeping elegy.

In Lu Zhiyao's new office, Hua Ailing was still gently wiping away tears. In the wastebasket at her feet, clumps of used tissues lay like white flowers, much like the humble little flower worn on everyone's chest at the funeral that had just concluded, a symbol of infinite grief.

Lu Zhiyao's face was heavy as he chain-smoked, the room thick with smoke, and the ashtray before him was already overflowing with cigarette butts. His eyes often glanced out the window, distant and profound. This was the first time in his life he had attended a stranger's funeral. Yet, he had to go, despite Jifeng and Hua Ailing's attempts to dissuade him.

The funeral was attended by only a few people, a stark contrast to Ji Chuan's grand farewell ceremony a few days earlier. Ji Feng did his best, telling everyone he could think of who knew Bo Qianqian. With the exception of Aunt Zhou, no one dared to share the tragic news with the octogenarian.

Let this tenant be a passerby forever, and go with the wind...

Jifeng purchased a large tomb for them, a three-story building on a gentle slope surrounded by verdant pines and cypresses and covered with wild chrysanthemums. From there, one could overlook the city of Modao...

The black marble tombstone is inscribed in gilded official script: "Tomb of my husband Lu Chenzhou," "Tomb of my beloved wife Bo Qianqian," and "Tomb of my beloved son Lu Bo Yunfan." These names were chosen by Lu Chenzhou's parents for their unborn grandson. The elderly man had a divination performed, and the results were perfect according to the Three Talents and Five Elements. However, the Eight Characters and Five Elements could not be calculated.

Inside the tomb, a small baby dress and a round crimson hat lay quietly between the father and mother.

Finally, it was Lu Zhiyao who broke the silence. He looked up at the wall clock and said, "It's almost lunchtime. There's a nice little restaurant downstairs. You guys go first. I'll take care of something and come back later."

Ji Feng glanced at Hua Ailing, and Hua Ailing glanced at Lu Zhiyao, her eyes becoming complicated and blurry, and then she said, "Okay."

After saying that, he stood up and walked out. Ji Feng could only follow Hua Ailing out of Lu Zhiyao's office.

This is a small yet stylish tavern, elegantly decorated. Under the soft lighting, every detail exudes ingenuity. Stepping inside, you feel gently enveloped by a warm twilight, the air filled with the subtle aroma of wood and wine.

They found a quiet corner and sat down. It was not yet the peak meal time, so the restaurant was empty except for the two of them.

The two sat facing each other in silence. After a long moment, Ji Feng sighed softly, "Two lives, alas..."

The waiter brought the menu and asked them to order.

Ji Feng looked at the menu and asked Hua Ailing, "Is Dean Lu still not very good at eating spicy food?"

Hua Ailing looked out the window and said, "I don't think he will come."

Ji Feng raised his head and looked at Hua Ailing in confusion, "What do you mean? Dean Lu is not coming?"

"Do you think he'll come?"

Ji Feng's eyes dimmed, and he silently handed the menu to Hua Ailing, "You order."

"Winner's order." Hua Ailing pushed the menu back to Ji Feng, her eyes still looking out the window.

"There is no winner." Ji Feng said without looking up.

"What are your plans for the next step?"

Jifeng ordered some exquisite Sichuan dishes, and the waiter took note of them one by one and left.

"I received an offer from the Philosophy Department at Oxford and Cambridge University. The semester starts in September, and I want to go there next month to get acclimated."

Hua Ailing nodded silently, and suddenly said softly: "It snowed heavily on the way home after the Spring Festival class reunion. We walked for a long time together, and our bodies and heads were covered with snow. You almost slipped, remember?" She gently withdrew her gaze from the window and looked at Ji Feng with a smile.

"Remember, respect freedom." Jifeng whispered.

"You say, this also counts as growing old together, right?"

Ji Feng's body shook violently as if he was electrocuted, and then he was frozen in time, staring at Hua Ailing with wide eyes.

In an instant, her vision became blurred, and tears fell like beads from a broken string, "I'm...I'm sorry."

The smile on Hua Ailing's face suddenly froze, and then turned into two lines of tears. She covered her face with her hands, and uncontrollable sobs leaked out between her fingers. "Congratulations..." Before she finished speaking, she grabbed her purse and stumbled out of the pub.

Only Jifeng was left alone, facing a table full of delicious food...

He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. Then he stood up in a daze and slowly walked out of the pub. Behind him, the waiter cast a surprised look at him...

"Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, the green grass stretches to the sky

The evening wind blows the willows, the sound of the flute fades, the sunset is over the mountains

At the end of the world, half of my friends are gone

A pot of muddy wine to end the remaining joy, tonight do not dream of the cold..."

A few months later, Jifeng, who was studying in a foreign country, received a WeChat message from an unfamiliar person with the nickname: Mingche.

"President Lu's resignation was not approved."

——End of the book