Chapter 544: Things Are Not Just on the Surface
Snap——
The flame from the lighter looked particularly dazzling in the dusk. It jumped in Zhou Yichen's hand, lighting the cigarette butt and also igniting a hint of warmth in the teahouse.
After Zhou Yichen lit a cigarette, he handed the cigarette box to Li Muhan, who politely waved his hand to refuse.
Zhou Yichen didn't say much, but just silently put the cigarette box back, then took a deep puff of cigarette. The white smoke swirled in front of him, as if hiding the expression on his face.
At this moment, the two were sitting in a small teahouse not far from the hardware store. The decoration here was simple and rustic, with a few wooden tables and chairs, and some faded calligraphy and paintings, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Zhou Yichen didn't want to say much to Li Muhan. He was a little annoyed that Li Muhan came to his house.
But he also knew that he didn't have the ability to drive Li Muhan away. Whether it was a physical confrontation or a verbal confrontation, he was no match for Li Muhan.
What's more, the conversation between Li Muhan and his grandmother made some of the lies he had told before become untenable.
So now he can sit here, drink tea and smoke a cigarette with Li Muhan, and he also wants Li Muhan to help him keep the secret.
But Li Muhan didn't seem interested in exposing his lies, and his attitude surprised Zhou Yichen.
Li Muhan picked up the teacup, blew away the steam in it, took a sip, and continued, "I thought your family was in Lingyu City, but I didn't expect you also have property in Tianhai City."
Faced with Li Muhan's half-joking words, Zhou Yichen did not react at all. He just smoked his cigarette, his eyes seemed fixed on the teacup on the table.
After a long while, he slowly said, "It's just a pile of junk left by the old man."
"Your registered residence is indeed Lingyu City, and you actually came to Tianhai City a year ago, so... did you encounter anything at that time?" Li Muhan's tone was calm, but the question went straight to the point.
"Sir, are you checking my household registration?" Zhou Yichen sneered and said to Li Muhan, "I don't think I've broken any law."
"Is it illegal to assassinate the director of the Special Management Bureau?" Li Muhan also responded with a smile, his smile carrying a hint of deep meaning.
The smile on Zhou Yichen's face disappeared, his eyes became sharp, and then he said coldly: "The Special Management Bureau is not a clean place."
Li Muhan nodded, his eyes revealing a hint of understanding: "There is no absolutely clean place in this world. All we can do is make our hearts a pure land."
Zhou Yichen fell silent. He shifted his gaze away from Li Muhan and looked outside the teahouse.
The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the streets, giving this ordinary evening a blush.
He knew that there was something more to Li Muhan's words, and his heart was also stirred at this moment.
"Don't say those nice words, Boss. You may be strong, but you can't change these things. What on earth do you want to do by coming to me? If you want me to apologize, I'm sorry, but I've never said sorry to anyone in my life."
Zhou Yichen's face regained its previous rebellious look, but Li Muhan saw a hint of desire in his eyes.
It was as if he really wanted Li Muhan to refute him and overturn his words.
But Li Muhan knew that some things and some words could not be said too thoroughly and required some guidance.
Alas, it is easy to think too much when you are "old". If Li Muhan was still in high school, he might have started a fight with Zhou Yichen by now.
"The old people you just mentioned, are they your parents? Can you tell me about them?"
"Why should I tell you this?"
Zhou Yichen frowned unhappily.
"You don't have to tell me. You've violated the rules so many times that I can't protect you anymore. Since you don't need my help, I can kick you out of the team. Someone from the enforcement team will come to extract your memory later. Just live your life well."
After Li Muhan finished speaking, he stood up and was about to walk out.
Zhou Yichen was surprised at first, because he had calculated that Li Muhan was a good guy, and no matter how excessive he went, he would never do anything extreme.
But now seeing Li Muhan was about to leave without looking back, was he mistaken?
"Why do you... I was chosen based on my own ability, and you..."
"Because I'm your mentor, because I'm better than you."
Li Muhan walked to the door of the teahouse and said coldly.
Zhou Yichen's body trembled slightly, and then he sneered a few times: "As expected, those of you who have power just like to trample on others for fun."
"No, you're wrong."
Li Muhan tilted his head slightly and said calmly, "Those who truly possess power pursue different things from those who appear powerful but are weak inside. You have nothing right now, Zhou Yichen. No matter what you want, you can't achieve it now. I happen to be a strong person to you. If you really have something you're obsessed with, tell me about your situation."
Zhou Yichen was silent for a while, and finally sighed as if accepting his fate.
"...Boss, give me two plates of peanuts and a few bottles of wine."
In the teahouse, Li Muhan felt a little weird when he asked the owner for some wine.
But the chubby teahouse owner obviously knew Zhou Yichen. He took out two bottles of beer and two plates of peanuts, then said to Zhou Yichen, "Xiao Zhou, don't act crazy in front of me after drinking."
Zhou Yichen ignored him, and Li Muhan slowly turned around and returned to his seat.
There was wine and peanuts, which already meant that Zhou Yichen was willing to talk to Li Muhan.
"My hometown is Lingyu City, or more precisely, a small county town under Lingyu City. My parents have always run a business in Tianhai City. It wasn't a big business, just that shabby hardware store you see. But they died when I was ten. I was ten at the time, and my sister was five. We lived with our grandmother in the countryside, and this store has always been run by my uncle."
Li Muhan did not interrupt, but just listened carefully. He found that this was the first time Zhou Yichen took the initiative to mention his sister to him.
It was also clearly written in his file that his sister had died tragically in Lingyu City a year ago due to an alien attack.
Presumably this is also the reason why Zhou Yichen chose to join the Special Management Bureau.
But what Zhou Yichen said afterwards made Li Muhan frown.
He originally thought it was a simple matter, but it sounded very complicated.
"What does the file say?" Zhou Yichen poured beer into Li Muhan's glass and said with a hint of self-mockery, "My sister, Zhou Yingying, died at the hands of an alien?"
"Two dog demons escaped from their control and fled to the county town, where they killed a fifteen-year-old girl. That must be your sister."
Li Muhan told what he saw in the file.
But he found that there was fire in Zhou Yichen's eyes.
"Hehe, as expected, even you can only know what they want you to know."
"Don't be so stupid, Zhou Yichen. Who is this guy you keep talking about? How did your sister die?"
"My sister...Zhou Yingying..."
Zhou Yichen slowly raised his wine glass, and then, as if using up all his strength, squeezed out a sentence: "She was killed by the Special Management Bureau."
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