88 Morning and Evening with You (Final Chapter)
Jin Lang Studio's statement was released in the early morning. It was rigorously worded and protected rights in accordance with the law. However, in the face of surging malice, this piece of paper was like a stone thrown into the sea, not even making much of a splash. The film's opening ceremony, originally scheduled for the morning, was forced to be postponed. The air in the Ancheng Traffic Police Brigade service hall was stuffy, and the old house was filled with a musty smell due to the continuous rain. Liu Yuwei sat on the cold metal bench, holding the completed application form in her hand, the edges of which were soaked with sweat. She had spent most of the day here, and without Zhao Dongyang's power of attorney, she could only apply for "assisting in the investigation of the impact of the traffic accident on the reputation of the deceased party", and every step was like walking on thin ice. The policeman in the window looked up for the third time, with a hint of helplessness in his tone. "Miss, the files from more than a decade ago haven't been entered into the system yet, so we have to go to the old archives to look them up. Furthermore, to review the accident responsibility determination form, regulations require the party involved or their immediate family to apply. Your reason..." "Comrade," Liu Yuwei interrupted him, her voice low but filled with unyielding persistence, "A citizen's right to reputation is protected by law. Now, malicious slander is being spread online against my client's father, seriously infringing upon his legal rights and interests and causing immense distress and harm to his surviving immediate family. This accident determination form is key evidence in clarifying rumors and restoring the truth. I implore you to understand the urgency of the situation and assist in reviewing it. If the procedure requires additional materials, I will do so immediately." Her eyes were clear, her tone earnest and professional as she pushed in a prepared statement of the situation. The police officer lowered his head to read it, his brow furrowed. Finally, he picked up the intercom and whispered a few words. "Go to the fifth door over there, the Archives Department. Hurry, they're almost off." "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Liu Yuwei practically leaped up, thanking him profusely. She grabbed her bag and hurried down the long corridor, heading for the door that held the truth. Meanwhile, in a small teahouse in the old Acropolis district, Zhao Jian sat with several veteran drivers. Spread out on the table were several sheets of letter paper, each word bearing a crooked yet weighty narrative. Zhao Jian carefully collected each fingerprinted testimony, weighing heavily on the heart of justice. … The online furor subsided with time, but the labels of "son of a deadbeat" and "gnawing on the dead" lingered like maggots. Liu Yuwei sat at her computer, the cold light of the screen illuminating her slightly pale face. Inside the folder lay two compressed files: one containing the driver's testimony she had obtained from Zhao Jian; the other, "Traffic Accidents...", a document she had painstakingly retrieved from a dusty archive.
Jin Lang Studio issued a statement early in the morning, carefully worded and upholding legal rights. However, faced with the surging hostility, this single page of paper was like a pebble thrown into the sea, barely making a splash. The film's opening ceremony, originally scheduled for that morning, was postponed.
The air in the Ancheng Traffic Police Brigade office hall was stifling, the old building filled with a musty odor from days of rain. Liu Yuwei sat on a cold metal bench, clutching the completed application form, the edges damp with sweat. She had spent the better part of the day there, but without Zhao Dongyang's authorization, she could only apply for a position "to assist in the investigation of the impact of a traffic accident on the reputation of a deceased party." Every step was a delicate one.
The policeman in the window looked up for the third time, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"Miss, the files from more than ten years ago haven't been entered into the system yet. We have to go to the old archives to look them up. And to access the accident responsibility determination form, regulations require the person involved or their immediate family to apply. Your reason..."
"Comrade," Liu Yuwei interrupted him, his voice low but filled with unwavering determination. "A citizen's right to reputation is protected by law. My client's father is being maliciously slandered online, seriously infringing upon his legal rights and interests and causing immense distress and harm to his surviving immediate family. This accident report is crucial evidence in clarifying the rumors and restoring the truth. I implore you to understand the urgency of the situation and assist in reviewing it. If any additional materials are required, I will immediately provide them."
Her eyes were clear, her tone earnest and professional as she pushed in a prepared statement of facts. The officer glanced down, his brow furrowed. Finally, he picked up the intercom and spoke in a low voice.
"Go to the fifth door over there, the Archives Department. Hurry, they're almost off duty."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Liu Yuwei almost jumped up, thanked him repeatedly, grabbed her bag and walked quickly through the long corridor towards the door that sealed the truth.
At the same moment, in a small teahouse in the old city of the Acropolis, filled with the aroma of tea, Zhao Jian sat with several veterans. Spread out on the table were several sheets of letter paper, each word bearing a crooked yet weighty narrative. Zhao Jian carefully collected each of the handprinted testimonies, weighing heavily on them the justice that the people yearned for.
…
The online storm subsided over time, but the labels of "son of a deadbeat dad" and "gnawing on the dead" still lingered like maggots on the tarsal bone.
Liu Yuwei sat in front of the computer, the cold light of the screen reflecting her slightly pale face.
Inside the folder lay two compressed files: one containing the driver's testimony obtained from Zhao Jian; the other, a "Traffic Accident Responsibility Determination" she had finally found after much trouble in a dusty file bag. The yellowed paper clearly recorded: Driver Zhao Dongyang's blood alcohol content was 35mg/100ml, indicating drunk driving.
The two documents, along with her compiled timeline and key points, were attached. Her cursor hovered over the "Send" button, but her finger on the mouse never clicked. Finally, Liu Yuwei created a new txt document titled "Important Notes" and typed a few lines.
Jin Lang:
The attachment is all the evidence proving Zhao Dongyang's defamation and blackmail, please be sure to read it carefully.
There is another thing. After careful consideration, I think you have the right to know the whole truth.
In the lawsuit involving Uncle Jin, the plaintiff’s attorney was my mother, Yuyao.
She took over temporarily at the time and had objections to the terms of the contract itself, but due to her professional stance, she also felt regretful about the matter.
I have no intention of exonerating my mother, I am just stating the facts.
How to face it, how to choose, the power is all yours.
Liu Yuwei
After the words "Delivered" appeared on the screen, Liu Yuwei leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath, but a heavier stone weighed on his heart.
She turned off her computer and walked to the window. The night was deep, the city lights flickering in the distance. Her phone was at her side, the screen set to its brightest setting. The hands crawled across the clock face: one minute, ten minutes, one hour…
Silence flowed, there were no new emails in the mailbox, and the only message in the WeChat dialog box was "I sent you an email, it's very important, please check it as soon as possible!!!"
When I woke up in the morning, it was gloomy outside the window. I waited for the whole morning, but there was still no news from Jin Lang.
Liu Yuwei's heart felt like it was soaked in ice water, getting colder and colder.
Did he see it?
He...can't accept it?
Waiting was like cutting flesh with a blunt knife, torturing her sanity with every second.
She needed an answer, closure.
In the afternoon, dark clouds piled up and slanting rain fell like silk.
Liu Yuwei arrived alone at Lingshan Cemetery on the outskirts of the city. Rainwater wet her hair and seeped into her neck, bringing a slight chill. Following the information she'd obtained earlier, she found Jin Junping's tombstone.
"Tomb of Loving Father Jin Junping" was engraved on the plain black granite. The man in the photo had a resolute face and deep eyes. Raindrops slid down the stele like silent tears. She gently put down the white chrysanthemum in her arms.
"Uncle Jin..." She started, her voice particularly clear in the silent and empty cemetery.
"I'm Liu Yuwei. Jin Lang... he might not have mentioned me to you..."
The rain was getting heavier, crackling against the umbrella. She took a deep breath, the damp air, mixed with the fragrance of pine and cypress and the fishy smell of soil, choking her nose.
"I came here today to talk to you..."
"I know that lawsuit... crushed you, crushed the company, and also... completely changed the trajectory of Jin Lang's life."
Her voice was choked and trembling, and her hands clenched the umbrella handle tightly, her fingertips turning white.
"My mother took on that case and it was her duty to defend the plaintiff, but the result was... I can only say I'm sorry."
"Zhao Jian and I have found evidence to support the online rumors. You made sacrifices to protect the company and the drivers back then. They all remember that and are now willing to stand up and help Jin Lang."
"You are a good and responsible person. Jin Lang... is very similar to you."
"Uncle Jin, I have told Jin Lang all the evidence and... everything about my mother."
She lowered her head and looked at the rain-soaked chrysanthemums in front of the tombstone, feeling exhausted and confused. "I don't know if he saw it, and I don't know what he would think."
"I understand that he may need time. If it were me, it would probably take me a long time to digest it, or even... I might never let it go." She raised her head, a tear slipped down her face, and the rain blurred her vision.
"This time, I'll give the choice to Jin Lang. No matter what his final decision is... resentment, staying away, or... something else, I will accept it."
"I hope your spirit in heaven will bless him with peace and prosperity in the future."
Liu Yuwei bowed deeply to the tombstone. The handle of her umbrella was tilted and the rain soaked her back, but she felt strangely calm in her heart as if everything had settled.
She did everything she had to do.
The rest is up to fate.
…
In the afternoon in northern Beijing, Jin Lang's studio was bustling with activity, and everyone was in a hurry.
Last night, Jin Lang received Liu Yuwei's email and read the weighty "explanation." He locked himself in his study and spent half the night carefully reading through all the attachments. After the initial shock, he was overwhelmed by heartache and an indescribable mix of emotions.
The testimonies Zhao Jian collected, those simple accounts, even punctuated by typos, allowed him to see his father busy among the drivers, angry, yet silently bearing the brunt of the burden. The accident report completely unraveled all the knots in Zhao Dongyang's lies.
As for Yuyao… hatred? It seems unlikely. Even the thought of "she also had regrets in her heart" had already dissipated.
My father faced the folds of time and a complex web of relationships, and he actually signed that contract. How much can a lawyer, even if he's on the opposite side, change?
What really weighed heavily on his heart was the honest words "the power is all yours", which made him feel more distressed than any evidence.
She could have concealed it, but she walked up to him with the sharpest truth in her hand, handed him the knife, and let him choose to stab her or put it down.
"Brother Lang, the live broadcast equipment has been debugged and connected to the platform. We can start at any time." Xiao Zhou pushed the door open and reminded.
At 3 p.m., Jin Lang's Weibo livestream suddenly opened. There were no announcements or pre-launches, but the sudden influx of viewers caused the server to freeze for a few seconds, with comments scrolling frantically across the delayed feed.
On the screen, Jin Lang wore a simple black shirt, his studio walls covered in posters in the background. He looked tired, the cold white light highlighting the dark circles under his eyes. His face was devoid of a smile, yet it held a quiet power that suggested a storm was brewing.
"Hello everyone, I'm Jin Lang."
He spoke, his voice deeper than usual, each word clear and penetrating the noisy barrage.
"I'm doing this livestream today to formally clarify and address some of the false rumors circulating online about my father, Mr. Jin Junping."
He did not evade the question and directly clicked on the screenshot of the key evidence in Liu Yuwei's email. His tone was firm, cold and serious.
"Netizen Xieyang Dongzhao exploited the irrefutable fact that my father had passed away to fabricate rumors such as 'no compensation for work-related injuries' and 'harsh treatment of employees,' maliciously defaming my father's reputation and using this as a pretext for extortion. We have submitted the above evidence to the public security authorities and will hold them accountable according to law."
Jin Lang paused, his gaze seeming to penetrate the screen and look deeper. The tense lines on his face softened slightly, and complex emotions surged in his eyes.
"The difficulties my father encountered in running his company and his personal record as a dishonest debtor are all facts, and I don't want to argue too much. Every era has its limitations, and behind every choice are hidden frustrations."
"But my father was a hardworking man who valued friendship and loyalty throughout his life. His greatest wish was to protect the drivers who relied on him for their livelihoods. To this end, he gave everything he could."
His voice was low and hoarse, and a glint of water seemed to flash in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. This restraint only made it seem more heavy.
"I'm standing up and saying this today not just to clear my father's name."
He changed the subject and his tone became unusually soft.
"The film 'The Past is a Dust, a Light, a Light' is not only a commemoration of my father, but also... my belated apology."
He lowered his eyes slightly, and when he raised them again, his gaze was deep and sincere, as if he was staring at someone behind the screen.
"Many years ago, due to family changes, I chose to push away someone who was very important to me in the worst way possible. I let her endure many unnecessary misunderstandings and pain alone."
"I've been regretting it all these years. I believe it was my father's blessing that brought us together again."
A gentle smile appeared on his lips, and his eyes were shining with determination.
"She is the light that keeps me going in the darkness, and the confidence that allows me to face all the storms. So this time, no matter what lies ahead, I will not let go easily."
The live broadcast ended with screams, guesses, questions and blessings from the barrage of comments.
The screen went dark and Jin Lang stood up and left in a hurry.
…
By the time Liu Yuwei emerged from the cold, damp cemetery, the rain had stopped. The wind had dispersed the distant clouds, revealing a clear blue sky. The cicadas resting on the treetops began to flutter again, their chirping, shrouded in the damp mist, even more boisterous than usual.
She folded her umbrella and pulled out her phone. The moment the screen lit up, it was flooded with notifications. Top of the trending searches were #JinLangLiveClarifiesRumors, #JinLangDeeplyConfessed, and #JinLangTheMostImportantPerson.
Standing by the roadside, the early sunshine shone through the clouds onto her shoulders. With trembling fingertips, Liu Yuwei clicked on the replay of the live broadcast… A man’s deep voice came from the speaker, and the tears that had been accumulating for a long time could no longer be held back, rolling down her cheeks and hitting the screen.
The phone vibrated again. It was a WeChat message from Jin Lang.
She wiped away her tears and hailed a taxi coming from a distance.
...
After the rain, the basketball court was no longer as noisy as before, with only the wet plastic floor reflecting the golden light of the setting sun.
Jin Lang stood under the basket with his back to the entrance. His white T-shirt was blown up by the wind, and his posture was upright, as if he was still the boy running on the court back then.
Liu Yuwei paused at the entrance, her heart beating like a drum.
Still a few steps away, Jin Lang suddenly turned around. Their eyes met, and the wind seemed to stop.
His eyes were filled with so many things - the treasure that was lost and regained, the deep longing that could not be dissolved, and a love that was almost pious.
Time froze at this moment, and the chirping of cicadas, the sound of wind, and car horns became blurred background sounds.
Without a word, Jin Lang strode towards her, arms wide open. Liu Yuwei practically ran into his arms. His arms tightened instantly, the force so strong that it seemed as if he wanted to rub her into his bones and blood. It seemed that if he let go, the person in front of him would disappear again.
Her cheek rested against his warm chest, and the familiar scent of him lingered in her nose. Her tense nerves finally relaxed completely, and tears silently slid down again, soaking his clothes.
Liu Yuwei stretched out her hands and hugged his waist tightly, responding to this hug that was too late and spanned many misunderstandings.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long."
Jin Lang's voice rang out above her head, filled with deep apology and heartache, and his arms tightened even more.
"I'm the one who should say sorry..."
Liu Yuwei's muffled voice came from his arms.
Jin Lang let go of her slightly, held her face in his hands, gently wiped away the tears on her face with his fingertips, and looked at her with burning eyes.
"Thank you, Xiaoyu." His thumb stroked her trembling lips, "Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you... for not giving up on me, and thank you... for telling me the truth."
His eyes were as deep as the sea; guilt, gratitude, heartache, and love all eventually transformed into the purest firmness and tenderness.
"My father's affairs are in the past. What matters is the present, what matters is us."
Liu Yuwei looked at him, tears blurred her vision again, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, blooming into an incomparably brilliant smile, and she nodded vigorously.
There was also a sparkle in Jin Lang's eyes. He lowered his head and a soft and cherishing kiss, with the relief of regaining what he had lost and endless pity, gently landed on the corner of her lips.
"Xiaoyu, I love you."
Liu Yuwei broke free from his embrace and took a small step back. She tilted her head back, her profile shimmering in the rosy glow. It was like that summer vacation when she was eighteen, when she had shouted her heart's words to the clear sky.
"Jin Lang, I love you too!"
The evening breeze blew by, lifting the hems of their clothes. Their overlapping figures were infinitely elongated by the setting sun, frozen in the puddle and blending into a fiery and blurry halo.
The chirping of cicadas gradually faded, and lights in the distant houses came on. They walked side by side in the light and shadow, their fingers intertwined, holding on to all the mornings and evenings to come.
--End of text--
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