Make a mistake
Du Pianjian stood ramrod straight, almost stiff, in front of the tombstone.
The stone is made of the finest black jade, gleaming with a cool, ethereal light under the setting sun, much like the skin of a person. Its edges are polished to an extremely sharp point, every line exuding undeniable precision and exclusivity.
However, this sleek, expensive surface was completely blank.
The air was so humid it felt like it was raining.
Luo Zangrui carefully examined Du Pianjian's profile, put away his gun, and said softly, "I've always heard lies. From the moment I was born, they've lied to me in all sorts of ways. They lied that I was my father's child, that I was stronger than Luo Zangqi, that I called many people 'Mom,' but none of them were my real mother. Actually, I'm not that angry, Pianjian. What you said is true. She's actually dead, I know. Like you, my mother died a long time ago."
Luo Zangrui took out a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the cuffs of his shirt were wrinkled because of his violent driving earlier, and he carefully straightened them.
"The only son of the Luo family and the nanny, the genius musician and the employee, you and I, born 'unworthy,' with such similar fates, what reason is there not to be together? Alas, I've come to take you to see your mother one last time. After this, we will be leaving this place."
"Why?"
"The sirens you heard are real; this place is no longer safe. But don't worry, it's just a fresh start. I'll still be sitting at the poker table."
Du Pianjian reached out and touched the top of the monument, the icy touch sending a chill through her fingertips: "The police have found out you're the murderer?"
“No, that’s not it.” Luo Zangrui’s lips slowly turned up, revealing two rows of neat white teeth, the lines of which were etched with contempt. “It’s just that yet another sanatorium has gone out of business. Oh, that old bastard Kong Jiaogeng, every time something happens, he runs away faster than a rabbit. He even has two secretaries and assistants with him, he can’t be in two places at once. Alright, it’s so cold outside, let’s go inside the church.”
The old wood exudes a faint fragrance over the years, and the sunlight refracted by the stained glass presses the coolness from the cracks in the stone onto the ground. Luo Zangqi stands at the door, gracefully bending his arm into a perfect arc, his movements fluid and standard, as if he had practiced it a thousand times.
“Come on,” he said, his voice deep, pleasant, and brooking no refusal.
Du Pianjian chuckled softly, stopped looking at him, and placed her hand on his clothes.
The two walked in unison, their posture perfect, along the short path in front of the church, flanked by silent wooden benches and ancient biblical stories overhead.
Standing on the steps of the altar, Luo Zangrui faced Du Pianjian, took his hands in his, touched his ring finger, and said regretfully, "It's a pity I don't have a ring with me right now. Otherwise, completing the ceremony under the watchful eyes of our mothers would surely have brought us happiness."
"Your mother? Where is she?"
“There.” Luo Zangrui pointed to the right front, next to the mural, a pure white marble statue of a saint with a compassionate face, looking down at the equally pure white box in her arms.
Du Pianjian looked up, his brows furrowed. Luo Zangrui took the opportunity to hug him, resting his head on his shoulder and pulling his arm around Du Pianjian's back to lower the bracelet. A faint smell of alcohol wafted from around him. He leaned against Du Pianjian's neck as if drunk: "I'm so lonely. What can eliminate loneliness? It's you. Let's take one last look. We really have to leave."
How do I leave?
"There's a secret passage behind the church. If the police come after us, they'll only find you and me burning in the car."
Where to?
"Asian, how about it?"
“That is truly remarkable.” Du Pianjian slowly raised his hands, looking into the saintess’s eyes. “Excellent.”
Blood droplets danced in the beautiful light spots, and the pheromones they released resembled those of an abandoned wine cellar.
Luo Zangrui immediately pushed Du Pianjian away, his hand flashing as he reached for the back of his neck. Intermittent pain surged through him, while a wet, warm sensation seeped from between his fingers.
Du Pianjian staggered two steps, the needle tip on his fingertip slightly deformed. He laughed without restraint, the small mole under his lip becoming the most triumphant mark of his expression, slowly moving upwards in the light and shadow, like a private seal on his silent declaration of victory.
"How dare you—!"
Luo Zangrui reached for his lower back, his movements stiffened by extreme rage, yet faster and more ruthless. Without hesitation, he aimed at the raised Du Pianjian, his eyes flashing with murderous intent faster than a bullet.
"Bang!"
He pulled the trigger.
There was no fire, no smoke, no bullets, only a dry, faint, almost laughable "click" as the hammer struck the empty firing pin.
An expression of anger and pain froze on Luo Zangrui's face. His pupils contracted and dilated sharply in disbelief, and he murmured unconsciously, "No... impossible..."
The next second, he looked at Du Pianjian again, and his fingers pulled the trigger hard and repeatedly with an almost spasmodic frequency.
"Click"
"Click"
The equally clear mechanical sound grew louder and louder in the silent church, only able to dispel the pallor on Luo Zangrui's face.
Du Pianjian raised the magazine in her hand, her face showing disgust: "You shouldn't have hugged me."
"Give me!"
Luo Zangrui roared and lunged forward, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes blazing with ferocity, as if he wanted to tear Du Pianjian to pieces. The magazine remained in Du Pianjian's hand, and he deftly dodged each attack, the wooden chair being knocked about and tilted.
"Haven't you figured it out yet? How could Ji Huisheng alone destroy your decades-long career in one fell swoop? The exposure of the small island hundreds of kilometers away from the capital, resulting in the director, the head, and the boss all being arrested, is far too fast."
Luo Zangrui was rooted to the spot by these venomous words; the overly precise name and position revealed his identity as the mastermind behind it all. His nerves were being torn to the limit, and reason slipped through his fingers like a slippery bandage.
"Why? I've been so good to you!"
He roared, his pheromones overflowing from his body in excess. He was on the verge of collapse, and without regard for anything else, he rammed into something.
This time, the scope was too large and the speed was too fast.
Although Du Pianjian retreated quickly, he still tripped over the bench in the chaos, where the force was not clearly visible.
A mere fraction of a second of opening was enough for Luo Zangrui to get close.
A gigantic hand shot out like a trap, gripping Du Pianjian's wrist as he held the magazine, while the other hand reached for his throat. In the instant of being suppressed by this absolute power, enduring the pain of his bones being crushed, he twisted and hurled the magazine, still warm from his own touch, towards the door with all his might.
The magazine fell to the ground and slid more than a meter away, its surface shimmering with iridescent light before finally settling on a jewel-like blue.
But from Luo Zangrui's perspective, he could only watch helplessly as the magazines lay piled up behind the chaotic wooden chairs, layer upon layer, dark and gloomy, like a garbage dump.
"Squeak," Du Pianjian whistled, watching Luo Zangrui slowly turn his head, "Go and search like a dog."
"you--!"
At this moment, all emotions in his eyes had been burned away, leaving only pure rage. The veins on the backs of his hands bulged menacingly, as if they wanted to completely crush his throat.
"Well!"
All the air was instantly cut off, his lungs felt stuffy and burning, and physiological tears slid down his cheeks, but his gaze, which was somewhere between scattered and focused, still held contempt.
"boom--"
The wheels rolled over the magazine and smashed aside the chair blocking the way.
Wood chips scattered everywhere, like gunpowder smoke.
The blinding high beams oblivious Luo Zangrui were slammed to the ground. The black car braked abruptly half a meter in front of them, and the door was kicked open. The Alpha, who stepped out of the car, was overwhelmed by the intense, almost tangible, pheromones. His already fragile rationality crumbled even further. His blood raced through his veins, his eyes were bloodshot, and his pupils reflected Du Pianjian's frail, now-ceaseless body.
"Let him go!"
Without thinking, without hesitation, like an enraged beast, he charged forward with an aura of destruction, concentrating all his strength into his fist and slamming it fiercely towards Luo Zangrui's temple.
Before Luo Zangrui could even cry out in pain, he fell to the side, staggering a few steps before leaning against the podium on the steps. He was panting heavily, the rise and fall of his chest causing the hilt of his sword to move rhythmically, but it was still not as terrifying as the person in front of him—Yu Zou.
He looked down, and blood gushed from his throat; his lungs must have been injured.
No wonder Du's paper has markings.
No wonder Du Pianjian wasn't afraid.
No wonder Du Pianjian betrayed him.
Luo Zangrui stood up, supporting himself on the steps, and turned to look at the statue of the saint. Although his eyes were blurred and his consciousness was unclear, he was certain that the saint's face was still gentle and loving, and that whatever he said could be forgiven.
"It's all your fault! Why did you sleep with Luo Zangqi when you were clearly a mismatch? You could have just taken the money and left, why did you have to give birth to me? What do you mean Alphas can't marry? You insisted on marrying his father, making me call my grandfather 'Dad' and my father 'Brother.' Everyone knows..." Luo Zangrui spat out a string of blood, the bubbles rising to the surface emitting a smell of alcohol. He hated this smell, like cheap stuff packaged to fool poor people. He turned to look behind him. Yu Zou had slashed his wrist with a wooden splinter, blood flowing into Du Pianjian's mouth. His collar had been torn off, and he was biting the blade.
"Useless." It was a truly pleasing sight. Luo Zangrui raised the left half of his face mockingly, the expression finally spreading to his eyes. "He's long dead."
The moment he crushed his throat was so wonderful that he really didn't want to let go.
Yu Zou's pheromones had nowhere to go, so they stayed close to the ground, circling around Du Pianjian. His CPR movements slowed down and eventually stopped.
He slowly stood up, his knees bending slightly before he forced them straight. He looked at Luo Zangrui, his gaze slowly falling on the hilt of the knife in his chest. Luo Zangrui had already walked to the statue of the saintess, leaning against her leg, breathing heavily. Noticing Yu Zou's gaze, he smugly straightened the hilt of his knife and said, "This was done by Du Pianjian. Come on, pull it out and kill me!"
Yu Zou's body, stiffened by grief, made each step feel heavy, as if he were about to crush the place. The pheromones in the air had changed their scent, and everything around him no longer belonged to his world.
With a "whoosh," Yu Zou drew his knife without hesitation. Blood dripped onto his shoes. The tip of the knife was less than half a meter from Luo Zangrui's neck. His wound was bleeding, his body temperature was fading, but his mouth was smiling, and his eyes were gleaming: "Even if I die, I will still go find Du Pianjian. He has no mark, so I can do whatever I want with him."
The arm holding the sharp knife taut, stretched infinitely in that instant. Reason, like a flickering fire in the wind, knew that hesitation would only increase his self-blame, and that a quick death would be too easy for him.
The call for revenge echoed, the sharp blade rising and falling even faster.
"Police! Don't move!"
Yu Zou sat in the interrogation room, his eyes vacant.
He couldn't hear a word the police said; his mind had been blank since the moment he awoke. The police banged on the table, and Yu Zou instinctively looked up, but the sound of the tuning fork in his head drowned out everything else. He couldn't see or hear clearly, so he blankly lowered his head again, not even noticing the police leave. He didn't know how long he'd been in that interrogation room, but the police monitoring him knew that his most frequent action was looking down at his hands.
At this moment, he repeated it again.
A cold, heavy feeling came from his left wrist; he had been wearing them for a long time, but the handcuffs were shackles that never warmed him. He felt nothing in his right wrist; the bullet had grazed it, causing the knife to fall. The anesthetic under the gauze was already taking effect.
The lines on his palm blurred in his eyes, gradually filling with red blood.
How could he have killed someone?
It was to save Du Pianjian.
But.
He couldn't remember.
"...Zou, can you hear me? Yu Zou."
Yu Zou looked up, searching for the source of He Honghan's voice. He was the only one in the interrogation room. Finally, his gaze settled on the broadcast system in the four corners of the ceiling.
Yu Zou nodded.
"How are you?"
Yu Zou frowned, leaned forward, and tried his best to hear clearly, but said helplessly, "What? I can't hear you."
Behind the single wall of the interrogation room, He Honghan straightened up and wrote a string of drug names on a piece of white paper. Then she crossed out the special symbol that was commonly used among doctors. She tried her best to write each stroke carefully, but she still couldn't help but write in a continuous line.
“He is currently experiencing acute stress disorder with severe dissociative symptoms and is not competent to stand trial. He could barely stand trial half an hour after being injected with these three drugs, but he could not maintain the integrity of his testimony.”
He Can stood aside with his arms crossed and said, "That's enough."
If Yu Zou remains in this state, his testimony will only become more and more obscure over time. The operation against Xiangluo Island can be described as a resounding success, but that doesn't mean the case is solved. Numerous doubts do not constitute a complete chain of evidence. He doesn't want to let any criminal go, so he must pry Yu Zou's mouth open.
Half an hour passed in anxiety. He Honghan carefully observed Yu Zou's expression, his unfocused eyes frequently glancing at the radio. Finally, he spoke, "Hello, can you hear me?"
"Um."
"Please describe your name, gender, today's date, and where you are now."
"Yu Zou, male, Alpha, birth date unknown, interrogation room of the Capital City Public Security Bureau."
"Okay, why are you here?" He Honghan felt a little relieved, turned to the first page of the diagnosis form, and wrote in black pen that she had no severe depressive disorder.
"Because I killed someone."
"who?"
"Luo Zangrui".
Why kill him?
“He grabbed Du Pianjian by the neck and tried to kill him. I couldn’t do anything about it.”
"Please start from the beginning and describe in detail the moment you 'saw' your wife. What was she wearing? What was her expression? Please be specific about details such as color and style."
"I don't remember what he was wearing, but I saw that his face was flushed, his breathing was weak, and he was about to die."
Why did you go to church?
“I feel him there.”
"Feel?"
"Tag the link".
"When you rushed up, what part of Luo Zangrui's body were you targeting?"
"hand."
"Would that make Du Pianjian safe?"
"Yes, pull him away so that Du Pianjian can breathe and come back to life."
What did your wife look like?
"How can I describe what Du Pianjian looks like? Don't you have any photos? I..."
Seeing the pain on his face, He Honghan immediately interrupted him: "Okay, let's skip this for now. Before the incident, did you experience extreme sleep deprivation or excessive stress? Or did you take any substances that might affect your mental state, such as alcohol or addictive drugs?"
"No. I've only eaten."
"Please describe your relationship with your wife. Have you ever felt intense guilt or remorse because of his imprisonment, or believed that you were the cause of his crime?"
"I don't really understand my own feelings for him. I don't want him to commit a crime, and I don't want to commit a crime either."
"If right now, at this very moment, you 'feel' your wife calling you again, and you are in danger, what would you do? Would you act immediately like last time, or would you first try to contact the police or prison to verify?"
"I called the police, isn't that why you came?" Yu Zou's pupils began to blur. "Besides, Du Pianjian is already dead. I arrived too late..."
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