Chapter 59: It’s a pity for those who were involved
On the day when Sun Yong's case file was finally transferred to the procuratorate, the sky was clear for a rare time. The sun shone through the windows of the criminal police office, but it could not illuminate the haze in Yu Hao's heart. After the interrogation that day, he sent a message to Luo Xin, saying that the case was solved and asked her to rest assured. Luo Xin only replied "OK" and there was no further response. It was like an invisible wall separating two people who were once so familiar with each other. He suddenly realized that his feelings for Luo Xin may never have been love. It was sympathy, responsibility, and the habit of relying on each other for twelve years. It was like two trees growing on the same land, with roots entwined underground, but branches and leaves growing in different directions. He has been immersed in this confused and gloomy mood for the past few days, as if he had been sucked into the bottom of the water by the vortex of the case, and often felt like he was about to suffocate. This case completely changed his usual life, and for a while, all his emotions could not find an outlet. In the Criminal Police Brigade office, he clutched the case report, his fingertips repeatedly rubbing over the words "intentional homicide." The chain of evidence was as complete as an airtight iron plate, each piece sufficient to ensure a verdict. "Captain Yu, the procuratorate has signed for it." Lu Chao pushed open the door, a relieved smile on his face. "The case is finally closed. Wanna go out for a drink tonight?" Yu Hao shook his head and put the report in the filing cabinet. "No, you guys go get together. I have some work to do. Please have a few drinks with my brothers for me." Lu Chao's smile faded. "Captain Yu, why do you seem so worried?" Yu Hao didn't answer. He simply patted Lu Chao on the shoulder and smiled faintly. "Everyone's been working hard lately. Go relax for a while." With that, he left the office. * Wang Kun's arrest happened much faster than expected. That day, Yu Hao was sorting through the follow-up materials for the Sun Yong case when he received a call from Qin Guoan, asking him to lead a team to the Coastal Construction Company immediately. By the time he arrived, the company building was surrounded by SWAT police, their alternating red and blue lights glaring against the glass curtain wall. "Master, what's going on?" Yu Hao walked over to Qin Guoan and saw he was holding a thick file. "We've closed the net," Qin Guoan's voice was tired, yet a hint of excitement couldn't be concealed. "Wang Kun is suspected of organizing prostitution, illegal detention, intentional injury, and organized crime of a triad nature. The evidence is irrefutable." Yu Hao then noticed that among the group being escorted out by the SWAT police was not only Wang Kun but also Gou Rong from the auto repair shop. They were all handcuffed, their heads bowed, their former arrogance gone.
On the day Sun Yong's case file was finally transferred to the procuratorate, the sky cleared up for a rare moment. Sunlight streamed through the windows of the criminal police office, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom deep in Yu Hao's heart.
After the interrogation ended that day, he sent a message to Luo Xin, saying that the case had been solved and asked her not to worry.
Luo Xin only replied "OK" and nothing more. It was like an invisible wall separating two people who were once so familiar with each other.
He suddenly realized that his feelings for Luo Xin had never been love. They were sympathy, responsibility, and the habit of relying on each other for twelve years. They were like two trees growing on the same land, their roots intertwined underground, but their branches and leaves growing in different directions.
In the past few days, he has been immersed in this kind of confusion and gloomy mood, as if he has been sucked into the bottom of the water by the vortex of the case, and often feels like he is about to suffocate.
This case completely changed his daily life. For a while, he had no outlet for all his emotions.
In the Criminal Police Brigade office, he clutched the case report, his fingertips repeatedly rubbing over the words "intentional homicide." The chain of evidence was as complete as an airtight iron plate, each piece sufficient to ensure the verdict was beyond doubt.
"Captain Yu, the Procuratorate has signed for it." Lu Chao pushed the door open with a relieved smile on his face. "The case is finally closed. Let's go out for a drink tonight?"
Yu Hao shook his head and put the report into the filing cabinet. "No, you guys go get together. I still have some things to do. Have a few drinks with the brothers on my behalf."
Lu Chao's smile faded a little: "Captain Yu, why do you seem so worried?"
Yu Hao didn't answer. He just patted Lu Chao on the shoulder and smiled. "Everyone has worked hard during this period. Go and relax for a while." Then he walked out of the office.
*
Wang Kun was caught much faster than expected.
That day, Yu Hao was sorting through follow-up materials for the Sun Yong case when he suddenly received a call from Qin Guoan, asking him to lead a team to the Coast Construction Company immediately. When he arrived, the company building was surrounded by special police, and alternating red and blue police lights flashed glaringly on the glass curtain wall.
"Master, what's going on?" Yu Hao walked to Qin Guoan and saw that he was holding a thick file in his hand.
"We've closed the net." Qin Guoan's voice was tired, yet a hint of excitement could be concealed. "Wang Kun is suspected of organizing prostitution, illegal detention, intentional injury, and organized crime of a mafia nature. The evidence is irrefutable."
Yu Hao then noticed that among the people being escorted out by the special police was not only Wang Kun but also Gou Rong from the auto repair shop. They were all handcuffed, their heads lowered, and their former arrogance was gone.
Qin Guoan patted his shoulder and said in a grave tone, "Deputy Director Ma, who is in charge of criminal investigation, is their umbrella."
Yu Hao froze in place, as if struck by thunder. He finally understood why Deputy Director Ma had inexplicably reprimanded him that day, and why he was so eager to close the case—he was afraid that Wang Kun would be found out and implicate him! But he hadn't realized that Wang Kun hadn't committed the two murders.
"He abused his power to tip off Wang Kun and destroyed a lot of evidence." Qin Guoan sighed, "If we hadn't set up this trap long ago, we probably wouldn't have been able to catch him."
Yu Hao recalled Deputy Director Ma slamming the table, demanding results, and his panic when he mentioned "city accountability." He felt sick. He had once respected this veteran leader, but he had never expected him to be this kind of person.
"Are you okay?" A cold voice sounded beside him.
Yu Hao turned his head and saw Sun Wei standing not far away, "Why are you here?"
"The bureau arranged for us to come over and play supporting role as well."
Yu Hao smiled and said, "Since a forensic pathologist can be arranged, it seems that our bureau should also recruit new personnel."
Sun Wei also smiled. "Indeed, with Director Ma's arrest, there have been a lot of personnel adjustments. Your promotion to captain is almost a foregone conclusion."
Yu Hao shook his head, "It doesn't matter."
"Look, you are so humble. What belongs to you is yours." Sun Wei said with a smile.
*
The door of Luo Xin's house was ajar, and Luo Xue's laughter could be heard from inside. Yu Hao knocked on the door, and Luo Xue rushed out like a little cannonball. Seeing the book in his hand, her eyes lit up instantly: "Uncle Yu! You bought me a book!"
Yu Hao handed her the book, looked over her shoulder and saw Luo Xin standing in the living room.
She was thinner than the last time they met, with a faint dark spot under her eyes. When she saw Yu Hao, she smiled politely, "Come in and sit down."
The furnishings in the living room remained unchanged, except for Luo Xue's school uniform jacket on the sofa. When Yu Hao sat down, he noticed two movie tickets on the coffee table, obviously planning to take Luo Xue to see a movie.
"Want to go out?"
"Maybe in a while, it's not time yet."
"Oh, I'll just sit for a while and leave."
The two were silent for a moment, then said in unison, "Murder..."
Seeing that the other party had already mentioned the murder case, Yu Hao said, "You go first."
Luo Xin smiled and said, "Xiaoxue doesn't know. I didn't tell her."
"She's still young, she shouldn't know this." Yu Hao's fingers clenched the warm wall of the cup. "As for Sun Lei, the police station coordinated with the village committee to arrange for someone to take care of her, and the school has also reduced tuition."
Luo Xue was lying on the carpet flipping through a book. When she heard the mention of "Sun Lei", she looked up and asked, "What happened to Brother Sun Lei? He hasn't come to play with me in a long time."
Yu Hao and Luo Xin fell silent at the same time. It was Luo Xin who spoke first, stroking her daughter's head. "Brother Sun Lei has something to do. Can you let him come and play with you later?"
Luo Xue nodded as if she understood, then lowered her head to read again.
Yu Hao looked at her serious face, and his heart felt like something was tugging at him. This child was always so sensible, so sensible that it made people feel distressed.
He recalled twelve years ago, Luo Xin holding the infant Luo Xue, standing at the entrance of the alley in Nan'an Village, his eyes filled with confusion and stubbornness. Time flies so fast, and in the blink of an eye, that little baby has grown so big.
"I should go now." Yu Hao stood up. "I have something to do in the team."
Luo Xin walked him to the door and suddenly said, "Yu Hao, I'm sorry."
Yu Hao was stunned.
"If it weren't for me..." Luo Xin's voice was choked with sobs.
"This isn't your fault." Yu Hao interrupted her, his tone firm, "Take good care of Xiaoxue and don't think too much."
Yu Hao was about to turn around when Luo Xin called him again, "Yu Hao."
"What's wrong?"
Luo Xin blinked and said, "I wish you happiness."
Yu Hao knew that this sentence was a farewell and also a memorial to their relationship.
"You too, be happy."
When I walked out of the corridor, the sunlight was shining on my face, making it feel a little hot.
Yu Hao took a deep breath and felt as if the heavy stone in his heart had finally fallen to the ground.
*
On the night that Sun Lei learned that his father had been arrested, people in Nan'an Village heard crying and shouting coming from the house where he lived.
The sound did not sound like the whimpering of a young boy, but rather like the howling of a wounded little animal. The sound echoed in the silent night, making people feel nervous.
When Yu Hao arrived, the door was locked. He looked through the window and saw Sun Lei huddled in a corner, holding a wooden sculpture in his arms.
"Lei Zi, open the door." Yu Hao knocked on the door in a very soft voice.
There was no response from inside, only suppressed sobs.
Yu Hao stood at the door like this until dawn. When Sun Lei opened the door, his eyes were red and swollen like walnuts, and there were traces of tears on his face, but his eyes were unusually calm.
Yu Hao touched his head and said, "Some things you will understand when you grow up."
"It's for Luo Xue." Sun Lei handed Yu Hao a wooden sculpture of a flying bird, depicted with lifelike detail. "Give it to her."
"Why don't you give it to her yourself?"
Sun Lei didn't say anything, turned around and walked back into the house.
Yu Hao took the wood carving, and when his fingertips touched the cold wood, he suddenly felt his nose sore.
These two children...
*
The restaurant Sun Wei chose was very quiet, and the window seats offered a view of the sea in the distance. She took off her coat, revealing a beige sweater underneath that accentuated her fair skin.
"Actually, I've wanted to treat you to dinner for a while now, but you seem a bit busy lately." Sun Wei stirred the coffee in her cup, her eyes frank, "Actually, I've wanted to do this since college."
Yu Hao's heart skipped a beat: "You..."
"Back then, you were either doing an internship or reading in the library like a nerd." Sun Wei smiled, and the fine lines around her eyes smoothed out. "I wanted to talk to you, but I was afraid you'd find me annoying."
Yu Hao also laughed, thinking back to his college days. He was indeed a bit of a loner. Back then, Sun Wei was the goddess of the college, with good grades and good looks, always surrounded by a crowd. He never thought she would notice him.
"I thought you were too aloof back then," Yu Hao confessed, "like an iceberg."
"That's because you haven't seen me in private." Sun Wei raised an eyebrow, a hint of cunning in her tone, "My roommate and I stayed up all night watching dramas, and even secretly ate hot pot in the lab."
Yu Hao imagined the scene and couldn't help laughing. He found chatting with Sun Wei easy. He didn't have to be cautious or hide anything. He could talk about the troubles of the case or the trivialities of life. It had been a long time since he had felt this way.
"Don't take Sun Yong's case too seriously." Sun Wei's tone became serious. "You did the right thing."
"I know." Yu Hao looked at the waves outside the window, "I just feel it's a pity."
"What a pity?"
"It's a pity for Luo Xin, Sun Yong, and all the people involved." Yu Hao sighed, "If Wang Kun had been arrested earlier, perhaps none of this would have happened."
"There are no ifs." Sun Wei looked him in the eye. "All we can do is catch the murderer and give the victim an explanation. That's enough."
Yu Hao's mind suddenly brightened. He looked at Sun Wei, this seemingly aloof woman, but in reality, she was more insightful than anyone else. Her warmth wasn't in the sweet words she spoke, but in the determination hidden in her eyes, the hand she extended when he was lost.
"Thank you." Yu Hao raised his glass. "For closing the case, and for... our reunion."
Sun Wei smiled and clinked glasses with him. The glasses made a crisp sound, as if cheering for this new beginning.
Outside the window, the setting sun is slowly setting on the sea, dyeing the sky a warm orange-red.
Yu Hao knew that the past was past, whether it was the murder case in Nan'an Village or the complicated relationship between him and Luo Xin, it was time to come to an end.
And the new life has just begun.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
