The End of the Night (17)

"Lu He, I'm sorry." Liang Ran knelt in front of Lu He and cried loudly, "I apologize to you on behalf of my father. I should never do this..."

Lu He's eyes were red and filled with tears. He never thought that for the past 24 years, he had been raised by the enemy who murdered his mother. During these 24 years, he respected Liang Chenghao as his adoptive father and mentor, but Liang Chenghao only treated him as a chess piece.

He always gets sick during thunderstorms because of the illness left over from his mother's murder. He has been trying to find the truth about the devil in his nightmares. In fact, the devil is his mentor whom he has been with day and night. His ideal collapsed and the truth of black and white made him feel heartbroken.

Heavy tears slid down Lu He's tough cheeks and fell on Liang Ran's forehead.

Liang Ran raised her head, her eyes were full of tears, her whole face was red from crying. This was the first time he had seen Liang Ran like this, she had suffered a great misfortune in her childhood. It was true that in these 24 years, Liang Chenghao was the enemy who murdered his mother, but Liang Ran had always been good to him, but this was not a reason for him to sympathize with her.

For a criminal policeman, he knows what to do and what his identity is.

His gaze slowly moved forward, looking at Meng Siqi lying quietly on the table. He felt distressed, but the remote control of explosives in Liang Ran's hand was tightly held by her. He had to find the most appropriate way to make her put down the remote control and not hurt Siqi.

"I know you've been wronged," Lu He said coldly, "but why did you kill those innocent people? Du Lianxi, Yin Mo, Tan Xiaoshuang, Zhao Yuting...what did they do wrong? Why did you also attack Siqi?"

"What did I do wrong?" Liang Ran cried, as if he was desperately accusing fate of being unfair. "I thought I had achieved a true phoenix nirvana, but you all simply despised me. I was so good to you, Lu He, but you always kept your distance from me. In high school, you would rather move out than see me, because you knew about me when you were a child. In your heart, you think I am dirty! You have always believed so."

Lu He was stunned. He had treated her as his elder sister since childhood. He had always kept his distance from her. He regarded her as someone he truly admired. He was good to her, but he knew the right way. He stayed away from the Liang family because he respected her.

He shook his head. "You're wrong. I don't know anything about your childhood. I don't know anything about you."

"Yes, you might say so. When I was in college, Shen Xiangming pursued me, and you seemed eager to send me away, right? You were afraid that I would get close to you, so I agreed to Shen Xiangming. I just wanted to see your attitude, but I didn't expect that you didn't care about me at all!"

"I didn't!" Lu He retorted. He had felt happy for Liang Ran for finding her happiness and for her returning home.

"You did! I thought you had no interest in women in your life," Liang Ran smiled, "but Shen Xiangming actually told me that you like Meng Siqi and you even risked your life for her. Look, the difference is obvious. This shows that you have always disliked me and thought I was dirty!"

Lu He closed his eyes. He didn’t understand why Liang Ran was so “harsh” on him. He didn’t understand why she couldn’t get over it. She hadn’t gotten over it in 24 years.

"The night I married Shen Xiangming, do you know what he said? He asked me if I had ever been in a relationship? Do you know what he meant? He said that he disliked me for being dirty and for having been played with by someone before..."

Lu He no longer wanted to blame her. He felt that Liang Ran was beyond redemption. His heart was also bleeding.

"I found out I couldn't have children when I grew up," Liang Ran's crying gradually became softer and softer, "Lu He, do you know who Shen Lele is? In fact, she is Jiang Sheng's illegitimate daughter. Jiang Sheng gave her to me to raise because he saw that I had no children."

Lu He sighed for a while, and said with great sorrow: "You are the real culprit behind the Seattle Club. You are the real white-faced man?"

"...So what? I'm a fair-faced man." Liang Ran smiled, "You didn't expect that? I remember that time Jiang Sheng found me..."

That was five years ago, around 1989. Jiang Sheng came to the province and made an appointment to meet her at her home.

When Jiang Sheng saw her, he called her "senior sister" because they were classmates and had the same teacher, Xie Wenjuan.

Liang Ran sat on the sofa and asked, "Jiang Sheng, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Jiang Sheng sat down. After the nanny brought him coffee, he saw that no one was around and said, "Sister Liang, your father is a professor at the University of Political Science and Law, and your husband is the leader of the Provincial Public Security Bureau. Your Liang family is even more important in the province. I won't beat around the bush. The Seattle Club needs your help. I want to join the Masked Society. Please help introduce me."

"How do you know about the Mask Society?"

"It is said that his 'mask' is almost identical to the face of a cold corpse. This is the most mysterious organization in Haijiang Province. As long as Sister Liang helps me fulfill my wish, I am willing to give her a generous reward."

"You want to use the Masked Society to protect your Seattle club? What sinister plot are you planning to do?"

"Senior Sister Liang, you misunderstood. Jinyang City is also your hometown. I know that you grew up in Jinyang City when you were a child. You and I were in the same grade at Xiwang Primary School. You were also Xie Wenjuan's student. One day I heard Xie Wenjuan and Xu Wangtu arguing, and you happened to be at her house that day..."

“Bang!”

Liang Ran picked up the coffee cup and smashed it on Jiang Sheng, staining his head and suit. Jiang Sheng stood up slowly and bowed to her, "I'm sorry, Senior Sister Liang, I shouldn't have said such inappropriate words."

The air was terribly silent, and Jiang Sheng kept his head down. After a moment, Liang Ran smiled and said, "How can I believe in your sincerity?"

Jiang Sheng seemed to have expected her to ask this question, and replied, "Senior Sister Liang, I will never betray you. If you are worried, I can give you the things you think are most important to me as a condition for cooperation... I used to like a college classmate very much, and later she gave birth to a child for me, but unfortunately she has died. The child is only one year old now."

Jiang Sheng paused and said, "Sister Liang, you haven't had a child for many years, right? You've been to the welfare home recently. It just so happens that she doesn't have a mother either, so if Sister Liang is willing to raise her, she can."

"Humph." Liang Ran smiled. She was infertile and had always wanted to adopt a child, but it would not be Jiang Sheng's child. She smiled and said, "Jiang Sheng, between the interests and the child, do you really care about her?"

Liang Ran’s meaning was very clear, this child could not become a real condition.

Jiang Sheng said, "Sister Liang, I don't have anything more important than my life."

"You do!" Liang Ran said, "Jiang Sheng, you love your mother very much. She is the person you love most in your life."

"...but she is gone." Jiang Sheng suddenly felt sad when he heard the word "mother". Liang Ran was right. He had nothing to worry about in his life except his mother who was his lifelong pain.

After a moment, Liang Ran said slowly: "I promise to raise her. If you really die in the future, I will take good care of your child and bring her to your mother's grave every year."

There is always someone better than you. To Jiang Sheng, Liang Ran had control over him, really had control over him. One could even say that Liang Ran was the first person in the world who truly "cared" about his mother. He was even a little moved. Even if something really happened to him one day, he would not betray Liang Ran, let alone his "mother".

With Liang Ran's recommendation, Jiang Sheng successfully joined the Mask Club. Jiang Sheng fulfilled his promise and continuously gave Liang Ran money. This was a win-win situation for both of them. Liang Ran told Lu He this story, but she deliberately concealed the information about the Mask Club from Lu He.

"You turned into a white-faced man for money and to make Jiang Sheng hide your childhood experiences. But why did you still want to kill people?" Lu He almost roared.

"All those I killed deserved to die." Liang Ran looked up with a fierce look in his eyes. "The first girl was called Du Lianxi. She came from a wealthy family and was pretty. She had a smooth life from childhood to adulthood. How could she live so well? I remember one day, I was collecting folk songs in the scenic area of ​​Jinyang City. At that time, in order to take a photo for a magazine, Du Lianxi actually asked me if I could move aside so that she could take the photo. Her eyes were full of disgust. She was basically saying to me, I was so dirty, why was I standing in such a beautiful place?"

"Yin Mo was learning piano during that time. I remember she was also the kind of girl who was good at everything. They all deserved it. Why did they have such a good life? I remember I could never play the guzheng well, but she could learn everything. I also remember the time she performed outdoors. It was very intoxicating, but I accidentally stepped on her skirt. Do you know what she said to me? She said I had made her skirt dirty. I could clearly see the disgust in her eyes. She thought I was particularly dirty."

"Tan Xiaoshuang, I remember it was raining that day. I got on the bus and there was no seat. She was talking to her classmates. I learned that she came from a wealthy family and had many male admirers. She was also invited to an interview at a city TV station. I didn't understand why she was so successful. But at that time, she suddenly said to me, "Water from your raincoat dripped onto me." She spoke in a tone that showed no respect for me at all, as if she disliked me for dirtying her."

Lu He was extremely speechless. These motives for murder were actually the ridiculous reasons given by his "sister" who he lived with day and night.

"Needless to say, Zhao Yuting's life was smooth sailing, and she seemed to be everyone's darling. She walked out of the TV station and saw me that time. She must die, I must let her die. So do you know why I want Meng Siqi? The same with her. Why is she liked by all of you? What does she rely on! Lu He, I know I did something wrong, but there is no turning back. Finally, I want to ask you for one thing..."

Lu He lowered his head and looked at Liang Ran, who was almost neurotic.

"I cannot be tried or shot yet. I still have one thing to do. I promised you that I would never kill innocent people again. But I must kill one more person, Xu Wangtu's granddaughter Xu Yizhou. When she is sixteen years old, in her prime, I will put on beautiful red makeup for her and kill her with my own hands..."

Lu He: “…”

Liang Ran said: "I want Xu Wangtu to feel deeply regretful for the rest of his life and write a letter of repentance sincerely."

"I'm a policeman!" Lu He shouted, "Do you think this is something we can discuss?"

Liang Ran knelt in front of him and suddenly hugged his legs, "I beg you, promise me, I promise to kill Xu Yizhou and then surrender to you, I beg you, brother Lu He!"

"That's enough, Liang Ran, stop daydreaming. Everything you have done should end today. I will arrest you now according to the law!" Lu He quickly took out the handcuffs.

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out in the warehouse.

The wound penetrated from the back to the chest, and Lu He's body was covered in blood. He never thought that Liang Ran's crying was all her performance.

He had difficulty breathing, and his whole body seemed to be gradually losing control, and he slowly fell down.

Liang Ran cried out, "Lu He, Lu He, what's wrong with you, brother..."

Lu He's lips turned pale and trembled, and his hands lost strength. He tried hard to look into the distance, looked in the direction of Meng Siqi, and desperately said with his last breath: "Liang Ran, I beg you to promise me one thing."

"You tell me, you tell me."

"Let her go, let Siqi go, I beg you."

Liang Ran cried and laughed: "You are really like this, Lu He."

"Promise me...promise me..." Lu He's lips kept moving and his eyes gradually lost their luster.

Liang Ran held Lu He's head and started crying, "Brother Lu He, I loved the time we spent together when we were little. Why do we have to grow up? Why can't we stay under the age of six forever? If I had known this, I wouldn't have asked my dad to cure your illness..."

"Lu He is dead." Facing the interrogation of Liang Yunfeng and Zhao Leiting, the sixty-year-old Liang Ran shed a tear, but she smiled, "Lu He wanted me to let Meng Siqi go, and I agreed to her. In fact, I know that Meng Siqi will be the most miserable one. I let her go just to make her suffer for the rest of her life. Haha..."

Zhao Lei Ting thought back to the past thirty years, when Meng Siqi had lived a miserable and lonely life. She jumped into the river in loneliness and despair. Liang Ran did it. She made Meng Siqi suffer for thirty years.

His eyes were filled with sorrow and he could not bear to look back.

Liang Yunfeng stood up suddenly and asked:

"Liang Ran, you took advantage of Shen Xiangming's connections to gain benefits behind his back and colluded with the underworld forces. Around 2013, Shen Xiangming found out about you and wanted to report you, but you killed him under the guise of the underworld forces. Is that right?"

"No, I didn't kill Shen Xiangming. When Shen Xiangming followed the Seattle club, he discovered the secret of the Masked Society. I advised him not to get involved, but he investigated frantically. As a result, he was persecuted by the Masked Society. He didn't know I was a member of the Masked Society until he died."

"You arranged for your adopted daughter Shen Lele to be molested when she was six years old. Shen Lele suffered great mental damage and committed suicide by jumping off a building in college. Is that right?"

"No." Liang Ran paused, his eyes slightly red. "Although Lele is not my child, I have always treated her as my own daughter. Xiang Ming didn't know that she was Jiang Sheng's daughter. He always thought that I was adopted from an orphanage, but he treated her as his own daughter just like me. When Shen Xiangming investigated the Masked Society, she was warned by the Masked Society, but Xiang Ming didn't give up at all. Until that day, Lele was raped by the Masked Society. Although I was a member of the Masked Society, I couldn't stop their evil deeds. They wanted to warn Shen Xiangming in this way. After Lele's accident, Xiang Ming became even crazier. He made up his mind to die, but he was cut into pieces. Lele suffered from severe depression during that time. Xiang Ming's tragic death was her last straw. Not long after, she jumped from the roof."

So this is the story. Liang Yunfeng's eyes turned red. He asked slowly, "Where did Qiao Shijie, who committed the crime with you, go?"

"He died of illness a long time ago."

Liang Yunfeng finally said, "Liang Ran, write down the list of members of the Mask Society, is there any problem?"

Liang Ran was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "I have also been looking forward to the day when this will end, when I can tell you what I know. But Director Liang, you must also be prepared, because the president of the Masked Society is also named Liang..."

*

Two days later, in the cemetery with the autumn wind blowing, Zhao Leiting sat on the ground in front of a tombstone, looking at the photo on the tombstone, feeling mixed emotions of sadness and joy. He cried and laughed and said, "Yuting, your sister Siqi finally avenged you. The truth about you has finally been found! The murderer has been brought to justice, and I just came to tell you..."

Zhao Leiting's tone became heavier and heavier: "Your sister Siqi has never forgotten you. It has been thirty years. She has been pursuing you for thirty years..."

He finally burst into tears. He would always remember Yu Ting's appearance thirty years ago, her sweet voice, her lovely look. So much time had passed, but she would often appear in his dreams. He dared not forget her, nor did he dare to face her. He felt extremely guilty.

In the past thirty years, he has solved countless cases, but Yuting's death is a shadow that he can never get out of.

He placed the flowers straight and carefully wiped the dust off the tombstone with a towel. The wind, rain and sun had long since dulled the luster of the photo, but Yuting's photo still had a smile on it, a pure and beautiful smile.

Zhao Lei Ting thought of Meng Siqi's words. He wiped away his tears and murmured, "Your sister Siqi said that in another world you are still alive, your parents are alive, you must be very happy there, and you will not be hurt! Yuting, no matter which world you are in, your brother will definitely risk his life to protect you!"