I didn't go into the police station immediately. Just like when I came out last time, I sat on the stone bench not far away, having a fierce internal struggle... Although Tie Nan's fate was already foreseeable, I still couldn't bear to push him with my own hands.

I don't want to be the executioner who "killed" him with my own hands. I keep making assumptions: if the seaside inn in Longkan hadn't been demolished, would things be different today?

It's hard to say, but at least back then everyone had the desire to "live and work in peace and contentment," and life was quite easy and enjoyable, full of hope.

But life is so unpredictable, and I have to accept this reality. Although I am a little unwilling, some things really can't be undone.

...

After sitting there for a while, I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at Ye Zhi's phone number, which I had just saved in my phonebook... I trusted her completely, and I believed that she had the ability to point me in the right direction in such a complex situation of human nature and relationships.

I lit a cigarette and finally pressed the call button on my phone screen...

Although Ye Zhi had only been gone a short time, it felt like an eternity. So, he couldn't help but feel a little estranged and a little uneasy, afraid that she wouldn't answer the phone, and also afraid that it would be awkward if she did.

She answered the phone.

I coughed instinctively, then whispered to her, "It's me... Michael."

"I know."

"I never expected to find out your phone number in this way... Originally, I didn't want to bother you so presumptuously, but I'm really at a loss right now. It seems like no matter how I handle this, it's wrong, but I can't just completely ignore it."

"Is it still about Tetsuo?"

"Well... things have gotten much more serious now. He's been reported for harboring drug users and prostitutes, which is now a criminal offense..."

I told Ye Zhi everything that had happened afterward, and then waited for her opinion. During this time, I felt like I could hear my own heartbeat...

While Ye Zhi remained silent, I asked her again, "Should I truthfully report to the investigators that Tie Nan is planning to buy a house?"

“This is very important evidence, and the country’s laws also give citizens the obligation to report criminal acts. From a moral and duty perspective, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you reporting this to the investigators.” After a slight pause, Ye Zhi continued, “Maintaining social order is a matter of righteousness, while protecting a friend is a matter of lesser righteousness. You should be able to distinguish between the two… Moreover, looking at the essence of the matter, you are not harming him… I think his character has already suffered a very serious problem. If there are no strong measures to stop him in time, he will only become more unscrupulous and even more despicable in the future.”

“I understand, but there’s just a psychological hurdle I can’t get over.”

Ye Zhi replied crisply, "The person I know is not someone who can't distinguish right from wrong... nor is she a pushover. You have principles and a bottom line."

"If it were most people in this society, what would they do?"

"I don't want to answer that kind of question... You are you."

"Um."

"Be a clean and decisive man, don't get caught up in pointless worries... People's time is very precious."

"The way you say it makes people feel cold and unsympathetic."

After a brief silence, Ye Zhi replied, "In fact, I am a woman who is not sentimental."

"Yes, I can imagine what you're like when you're handling work matters... You must have some exceptional qualities to be in your position."

"In your eyes, is being cold-hearted what you call being exceptional?"

"At least it's a way to protect myself... I'm particularly prone to getting hurt by these kinds of interpersonal conflicts... Believe it or not, in the days since this happened, I haven't slept more than eight hours in total. I know I could choose to ignore it, but some things are ingrained in me, and you can't change them!... If I really did nothing, I might be even more anxious and uneasy than I am now."

After a brief pause, I continued, "Actually, you're not really an unapproachable person... at least not when you're with me."

Ye Zhi suddenly became less decisive. After a long silence, she replied, "That's because I care."

I grabbed my clothes, as if tearing a hole in the smog-filled sky. Ye Zhi wasn't particularly good at expressing herself, but those few words inexplicably warmed my heart.

I sniffed and remained silent for a long time.

Ye Zhi broke the silence again, saying, "Actually, this matter isn't as difficult to resolve as you think... First, fulfill your legal obligations and tell the investigators everything you know... Then, help Tie Nan find a good lawyer to defend him properly. This kind of action to mitigate his crime through formal channels is the real help."

Ye Zhi's suggestion was like opening a window for me, and as it turns out, asking her to solve such a problem was absolutely the right thing to do. She really has an extraordinary sense of the big picture in such matters, and it is probably because of this ability that she is able to manage such a large group as a manager.

After a moment of silence, I finally spoke to Ye Zhi and said, "I understand. I'll go find a lawyer as soon as I get out of the police station."

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