convenient
After cleaning his wound, Fang Chengyin received a phone call.
"Hello, I am Zhang Weike, the captain of the first team of the Yanyang Criminal Investigation Bureau. Someone reported to the police that you pushed him down the stairs and asked me to come to the Yanyang Criminal Investigation Bureau."
Zhang Weike? The person in charge of the kindergarten teacher's death case.
"I pushed someone down the stairs." Fang Chengyin repeated himself and then chuckled self-deprecatingly. This world is truly full of wonders.
Fang Chengyin rushed to the investigation bureau.
Upon meeting the person who reported the crime, the scarred man was walking out of the interrogation room. As he brushed past Fang Chengyin, he chuckled in a low voice, "If you've been framed, then the medical expenses are not something I should be worried about."
Fang Chengyin came to his senses. These were the words he had said to him at the hospital. He never expected that the boomerang would come back to haunt him. He had really been having a run of bad luck lately.
Inside the interrogation room, Fang Chengyin stated frankly, "I was just passing by."
Zhang Weike laughed: "It was pouring rain, an abandoned building, and you just happened to be passing by there, near the orchard where you tracked the murderer?"
Fang Chengyin suddenly understood the other party's unspoken meaning: "You called me here this time because you actually wanted to ask about the kindergarten teacher's death case."
He was certain that this was the person's true purpose.
Zhang Weike laughed, as if overstepping his authority: "Yes, the complainant's methods of framing are too low-level; he's just making things up without any evidence."
Fang Chengyin: "I already made it very clear that day regarding the kindergarten teacher's death case."
"Yes, but what I want to ask is, the person who gave the statement with you was also the one who called the ambulance to take the person who reported the crime to the hospital, and the person who reported the crime said that you pushed him down the stairs, so you two were both at the scene. If I remember correctly, on the day of the kindergarten teacher's death, you tracked the murderer to the vicinity of the orchard and also encountered him. I would like to ask, what is the relationship between the two of you?"
Fang Chengyin: "We've met a few times, and now we're roommates."
"Oh, I see." She exclaimed, as if suddenly realizing something.
His tone was very unpleasant, and Fang Chengyin said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
"Okay, thank you for your cooperation." Zhang Weike handed over the documents. "Please sign them."
As Fang Chengyin signed, he stared intently at the plush doll peeking out from Fang Chengyin's backpack: "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask why you carry that thing with you at all times?"
Fang Chengyin followed his gaze and stuffed the hairpin doll inside, saying, "It's a toy a friend gave me."
"Friends wouldn't give you something like this to ward off evil spirits."
Fang Chengyin paused, then calmly said, "Everyone has different preferences."
"You saw the yellow talisman that day, didn't you?"
Fang Chengyin looked up at him.
Zhang Weike said, "In this case, it would be very difficult to do it manually."
"The news report said the suspect resembled Fang Bokang."
"People are always afraid of the unknown, and what we do is to prevent people from panicking."
So the suspect isn't Fang Bokang?
Fang Chengyin asked angrily, "Does that include fabricating facts?"
"We haven't found out the truth yet. Until we do, it's our responsibility to ensure the case meets people's expectations."
Fang Chengyin found it incomprehensible: "Why would people think that people want Fang Bokang to be the murderer? Just because he is Song Zixin's husband? Don't you know that a trial by media has already taken place online? Is the investigation bureau, which is supposed to serve the public, so happy to see innocent people get hurt?"
How do you know she's innocent?
Zhang Weike's eyes were more sinister than ever before.
Fang Chengyin didn't know what he meant and stared straight back at him.
Zhang Weike stopped discussing the topic, only saying, "We will find out the real culprit and give the victim justice."
·
As dusk settled and a light drizzle fell, the scarred man, leaning on his cane, walked into the alley. Halfway there, he received news that Zhang Weike's report to the police was unfounded.
He cursed under his breath. He hadn't had much hope to begin with, but the policeman seemed very enthusiastic, so he got more and more into making up stories. In the end, he still failed to extort money.
After learning about the high medical costs during his recovery period, he considered getting a refund. Fortunately, the hospital didn't make any excuses and agreed to his discharge this morning.
It's a waste of money to just lie there all day; it's much more comfortable to get a refund and keep it in your hand.
The scarred man felt increasingly pleased. Although he had been injured, he had received a large sum of money, so he thought he had made a profit.
The reason he didn't find a place to stay first was because he wanted to find the bastard who made him fall down the stairs that day.
It wasn't that he slipped that day; someone tripped him. The snacks that spilled were also from that person. He swung his arms back and forth before falling, and that's when the snacks that the person was holding were knocked away.
If I hear any noise in an abandoned supermarket, I'm already there sneaking food and drinks. It's raining now, so I'm sure they're still inside.
The rain intensified, the raindrops pattering against the tin roof eaves like countless steel needles piercing eardrums. The scarred man stepped through the puddles at the bottom of the steps, his scattered snacks floating in the water.
He scoffed, leaning on his cane as he climbed the steps, raindrops dripping from his clothes and spreading dark spots on the dusty ground.
"You little brat, come out here!" The scarred man stood at the supermarket entrance and roared into the dark, moldy interior, "You cowardly bastard!"
There were sounds of footsteps and rustling as people moved inside.
The scarred man chuckled: "Still dare to run?"
Leaning on his crutch, he limped inside, completely unaware that the door behind him had been filled with black, fluffy material on both sides.
"ah!!"
The piercing screams echoed through the supermarket.
After a while, the fibrous material dissipated, and an iron shelf fell to the ground, with fresh blood continuously oozing out. It was pressing down on the scarred man who had stopped breathing.
The rain fell like countless silver needles. Jiang Zhi rode his fruit cart, glanced into the alley as he passed the entrance, and then drove off as if nothing had happened.
·
For the next few days, to avoid being afflicted by the plague, Fang Chengyin returned to his dormitory on time every night. However, he still didn't want to eat at the same table as his roommate, and every day he would hesitate between the various cafeterias with a depressed look on his face. In short, he could only feel comfortable if he wasn't in the same space as that plague.
Although I tried to avoid it, it was still a torment to go back every day. Even though I was a tenant, I felt like I was living under someone else's roof.
Not only that, Liu Jinyi, that senior high school student, also started appearing at the school gate every few days, always right on time, just a few minutes after I finished class.
Fang Chengyin said helplessly, "If my dormitory isn't near the school gate, are you just going to wait like this?"
"Yes," Liu Jinyi replied earnestly.
Fang Chengyin chuckled, "What do you want from me?"
Liu Jinyi made no secret of the fact that Fang Chengyin was the only one who had ever pursued the suspect and should have paid attention to the person's physical characteristics.
Fang Chengyin looked at him suspiciously, noticing a hint of guilt in him, but didn't expose him. Instead, he led him to sit down and chat in the maple forest on campus, buying him food and drinks along the way.
Summer is almost here, the maple trees are turning green, the wind is rustling, and the air is still filled with a swaying, oppressive heat, but thankfully the stone benches are cool.
Fang Chengyin didn't get straight to the point, but simply asked, "You didn't skip class, did you?"
Liu Jinyi was looking around. The stone benches were full of college students engrossed in their studies. After hearing what he said, he looked away and shook his head.
Fang Chengyin handed him a boxed lunch: "This food tastes pretty good."
Liu Jin thanked him.
"Uncle Wu told me you're a senior in high school. Aren't they gossiping about you going out so often?"
Liu Jin took a bite of rice and simply said, "I looked at the honor wall of past college entrance examination results, and you were at the top. I also heard that you loved to have fun in high school."
Fang Chengyin laughed, "That's called a balance between work and rest."
“But you also go out frequently,” Liu Jinyi insisted.
"You've found out so much about me in just a few days?"
Perhaps feeling guilty, Liu Jinyi's momentum weakened considerably. "I didn't inquire."
As soon as I stood on the wall of honor, I overheard the gossiping and envious remarks from the younger students reading Fang Chengyin's column.
Fang Chengyin found his awkwardness much more endearing than the sullen face he had shown the last time.
However, as a senior, I still had to bring the child back on track, so I said seriously, "Don't go out of school so often. People will think you're isolating yourself, and in the long run, others will isolate you. No matter what urgent matter is, you can put it on the weekend. The most important thing right now is to prepare for the exam. Even if the sky falls, you shouldn't have to shoulder the burden of anything else."
“But it shouldn’t be Dad’s responsibility.” Whenever this topic comes up, Liu Jinyi always reveals a different side that sends chills down people’s spines.
Young people are too impulsive.
Fang Chengyin doesn't like lecturing, but when he has to, he can be very stubborn, saying, "This is just a necessary procedure in the process of justice."
"Don't you also not trust my father?"
"It's not that I don't believe it, but I hope what he conveys will convince me. You watched the news, right? What do you think of the question the deceased's sister asked?"
Fang Chengyin was referring to the passage where he questioned the investigation bureau:
"Flower Kindergarten has advanced sensor cameras. Outsiders whose faces aren't registered will start shouting as soon as they step inside... How did the criminal get in?! He's either a parent, a school staff member, or someone inside helping him! There's no other possibility! I repeatedly begged the kindergarten to re-verify the information of those who entered the kindergarten that day, but I haven't received a single response! What are they afraid of keeping such a tight-lipped explanation for?!"
Liu Jin couldn't answer, and Fang Chengyin didn't want to press him. "The mystery hasn't been solved. I think your father could give you the answer, but he didn't. Even if he said he didn't know, that would have been fine, but he didn't say anything. He refused to answer."
Liu Jin said coldly, "Then you shouldn't have given him your final judgment."
“I didn’t say it was him, I just expressed my doubts, and it was just a questioning technique.”
Liu Jinyi: "That's right, why do I need to prove myself?"
He no longer wanted to pay attention to Fang Chengyin's flawed self-justification.
Fang Chengyin: "I don't think this is about self-proof, but rather whether or not I assisted in the investigation."
Seeing that the person was unwilling to continue the conversation, Fang Chengyin didn't want to make a fool of himself. "I don't expect you to ask your father for the answer on my behalf. Let's eat first, and I'll take you around afterwards."
Seeing how generous the person was, Liu Jinyi stopped being petty and simply said, "Mm."
After taking a couple of bites of rice, Fang Chengyin couldn't help but ask again, "You still haven't said why you came to see me. It's not really because you came to ask me what the suspect looks like, is it? I've already said it countless times."
Liu Jin hesitated, then said, "It's nothing."
Fang Chengyin couldn't figure out the psychology of high school students for a while, so he gave up.
Unexpectedly, Liu Jinyi arrived as promised in the following days, and each time his answer was: "It's nothing."
On Friday, Fang Chengyin lost his temper and said, "Don't come looking for me if there's nothing wrong."
Is it reasonable for a high school senior preparing for exams to run off-campus every day?
Seeing that Fang Chengyin was serious, Liu Jinyi put down her chopsticks somewhat awkwardly. "Are you very busy?"
At that moment, Fang Chengyin finally understood what the eyes of abandoned stray animals looked like, pleading to be taken away—it was just like Liu Jinyi's.
They looked so pitiful, it made me feel ashamed and uneasy.
Tsk! But for the sake of his future, Fang Chengyin still decided to be ruthless, "Well, I've been making time to come out these past few days, thinking you had something important to do."
She secretly hoped that Liu Jinyi would explain his purpose.
But Liu Jin didn't say anything, only that, "I know. I'll go back after I finish eating."
Fang Chengyin's heart softened instantly. He was afraid that the boy was being isolated, which was why he was frequently leaving school. But then he thought that didn't make sense. Bullying was practically nonexistent at Yanyang No. 1 High School, and it was the exam preparation period. He was too busy taking care of himself to have the energy to bully or isolate others.
"Senior year of high school is the best time to find yourself." Fang Chengyin couldn't bear to add the last sentence, which was not about letting things drift.
Liu Jinyi seemed a little moved, and then lowered his head to eat again.
Fang Chengyin laughed, "Once you get into university, you're welcome to use my meal card anytime." Even though the monthly balance isn't much.
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Fang Chengyin raised an eyebrow. "Of course. You'll be taking the college entrance exam next year, while I'll still be in college."
"Pinky promise!" Liu Jin's palms were sweating with nervousness.
Fang Chengyin's outstretched hand was interrupted by a voice.
"Eating? No wonder you didn't go home to eat."
Fang Chengyin watched as Jiang Zhi approached, a camera in his hand. It was lunchtime, and most students had finished eating and returned to their dormitories. He wondered why Jiang Zhi was here.
Liu Jin stopped and looked coldly at Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi walked to the two of them, and the other party said eagerly, "Save some room in your stomach, I stewed some ribs."
"No need, I'm full from eating this."
Crack!
Jiang Zhi pointed the camera at the lunchbox and took a picture, then said to Liu Jinyi, "Yanyang No. 1 Middle School uniform? You're from the same high school as Cheng Yin. Do you need me to take a group photo for you?"
Fang Chengyin was taken aback.
Unexpectedly, Liu Jinyi said, "Thank you for your trouble, senior."
So Fang Chengyin inexplicably took a photo with Liu Jinyi. During the photo, his mind was blank, and the only thing he felt was the warmth of Liu Jinyi's arm, which, unlike his icy face, was warm.
After taking the photos, Jiang Zhi showed the two the results. Unexpectedly, Fang Chengyin's phone rang, and he walked a little further away to answer it.
Jiang Zhi glanced at him, then handed the camera to Liu Jin. In the photo, Fang Chengyin was incredibly handsome.
Liu Jin's expression was calm at first, but after a few times, his expression changed repeatedly, and finally his lip color faded considerably.
The camera contains photos of his current life as a senior in high school.
Jiang Zhi put away his camera and said casually, "Don't come looking for me again, or I'm not sure what might happen."
Liu Jin stared at him intently, filled with hatred.
Jiang Zhi glanced at the lunchbox again. "We've almost finished eating. Shouldn't we go back for our lunch break?"
Fang Chengyin happened to return, and Liu Jinyi told him that he had left first.
Once Liu Jin left, Jiang Zhi became even more unrestrained, saying, "Let's go."
Losing his appetite, Fang Chengyin put away the lunchbox and threw it into the recycling bin next to him with a clatter. Ignoring the living person next to him, he sat back on the stone bench, and then a shadow fell over him.
Fang Chengyin raised his left hand to chase after him, but it was instead grabbed.
In fact, Jiang Zhi's hands weren't much bigger than his, and their long, slender fingers were about the same size, but they still carried a sense of protectiveness and possessiveness.
Jiang Zhi leaned close to his ear and breathed, "If you don't behave, I don't mind kissing you right here."
Fang Chengyin struggled a few times but couldn't break free, so he could only growl, "Can't you go somewhere else to be a pervert like this?!"
There was no one around; everyone had gone home for their afternoon nap. The fluttering green leaves rustled softly.
Jiang Zhi nuzzled his nose, breathing heavily into his mouth, "You're so handsome, how come your words are always so filthy?"
Fang Chengyin turned his face away, "What do you want?"
Jiang Zhi did not answer, his gaze wandering in an unpredictable direction, before finally letting go of the person.
Fang Chengyin abruptly stepped back several meters, raising his hand to wipe the tip of his nose that had been touched. "I'll say it again, I'm not gay, and even if I were, I wouldn't be interested in you. Please have some self-respect!"
The camera snapped a picture, capturing Fang Chengyin's agitated expression. By the time he turned his face away, it was too late.
"Why are you taking it so seriously?" Jiang Zhi said while looking at the photos. "Isn't the point of coming to university to skip classes, hang out in bars, and have some fun?"
Scumbag! That's all Fang Chengyin wanted to say to him.
"That's your way of life, please don't involve me! Also, I will abide by the agreement, and from now on we'll keep to ourselves, please remember that!"
Jiang Zhi laughed, "Why don't we take the agreement to a formal institution and get it legally binding? The supervisory effect might be better after that."
"You're sick!" Fang Chengyin said before leaving.
Jiang Zhi followed behind, laughing, his footsteps rustling through the fallen leaves.
Fang Chengyin had class in the afternoon. Although he planned to go back to his dormitory for a lunch break, he was caught sitting at the dining table. The person opposite him reminded him, "You really love to lie."
"I've already eaten." Fang Chengyin believed he wasn't lying.
"The agreement clearly states in black and white that if we rent a place, we have to eat together."
Fang Chengyin remained silent and did not touch his chopsticks; this man's personality disgusted him.
Jiang Zhi: "It's not that I can't feed you."
Fang Chengyin exclaimed in surprise at his shamelessness before picking up his chopsticks.
The weather outside the window began to change; a downpour, accompanied by dark, leaden clouds, swept in, and the sound of the rain soothed my unease.
Fang Chengyin thought for a moment, then said, "This morning, the Yanyang Criminal Investigation Bureau called me and suspected that you were involved in the kindergarten teacher's death case."
Jiang Zhirao looked at him with interest: "They probably suspect us, right?"
Fang Chengyin grew angrier the more he thought about it. He shouldn't have been so merciful: "I'm going home this afternoon, I won't be back this weekend."
Jiang Zhi simply hummed in response.
Although he didn't want to cross paths with Jiang Zhi, the rain was still heavy when the lunch break ended, and Fang Chengyin was tricked into getting into the fruit cart.
The two became an extremely bizarre sight on campus, with the children of the wealthy exclaiming in astonishment, "Is it even allowed to drive a tractor to school?"
Having lost face completely, Fang Chengyin hid himself away. Jiang Zhi, on the other hand, was quite composed and comforted him, saying that they were only so jealous because they couldn't even pass the fruit truck driving test. Fang Chengyin laughed, thinking that this guy was a complete lunatic.
·
When Song Zixin returned home that evening, she was still in the study.
Five years ago, after she left home, the housekeeper who cooked for her family quit her job. When she returned, she didn't hire anyone. The house was quiet and deserted. Fang Chengyin washed her hands and started cooking.
The rain outside the window gradually subsided.
"Bo Kang?"
Behind him, there were gasps of surprise. Fang Chengyin turned around and saw Song Zixin, dressed in her pajamas, go from being overjoyed to feeling disappointed.
She thought Fang Bokang had returned. In the past, Fridays were happy days for the family. Fang Bokang would cook for them after finishing his week's work, Fang Chengyin would come back from boarding school, and Song Zixin would cancel her dinner plans and go home.
"Mom," Fang Chengyin called out.
He knew very well that in Song Zixin's eyes, Fang Bokang was far more important than himself, and when this thought was particularly strong, he would inevitably think that he should never have been born, that Song Zixin had never intended to have him...
Song Zixin didn't say anything, but came over to help. While washing the eggplants, she said, "Sorry, I forgot to cook."
"It's nothing," Fang Chengyin said.
Before returning, he had considered this possibility. In the past, Fang Bokang would only appear at the dinner table on time if she was there. If Fang Bokang was busy with social engagements or was not feeling well and did not need to be at the dinner table, she would prioritize finishing what she was doing.
After cooking, the two sat down at the table facing each other.
"Are you free this weekend?" Song Zixin asked.
“I have a part-time job,” he said honestly, because there would be no family trips on weekends, and it would be impossible to go out to eat together.
Their relationship was kept secret.
Song Zixin fell silent again.
The relationship, which had just eased a few days ago, seemed to have stiffened again. Fang Chengyin didn't want to be forced to live so transparently, so he asked, "And you?"
"Filming for the new drama starts next Monday, so I'll be looking at the script these next couple of days."
With Song Zixin about to return to her career, Fang Chengyin was somewhat worried, "Those reporters..."
"We can't keep hiding forever; the law is the best protection."
Since her debut, she has reported to the police countless times, mostly for damage to her reputation and sometimes for invasion of privacy. Moreover, she never accepts reconciliation, even when her haters say they will issue a public apology.
Sending minors to juvenile detention centers is commonplace.
There's nothing to worry about with Song Zixin like this.
After dinner, Song Zixin sat on the sofa watching entertainment news, while Fang Chengyin sat beside her peeling an apple to keep her company.
The news was still reporting on the sister of the deceased woman. Even in the pouring rain, the frail girl stood tall at the kindergarten gate, but the topic of conversation had changed; people were now discussing her makeup.
What lipstick shade is it? What kind of base makeup is it? How is it so waterproof? Someone has uncovered the brand, and it sold out on e-commerce platforms within minutes.
"Is she faking it?" Song Zixin asked abruptly.
Fang Chengyin almost blurted out "yes," but said, "we can't make accusations without proof: Her demands are reasonable." He handed her the apple.
Song Zixin said thank you.
"I see," she said softly, then began chewing on her apple, her eyes seeming to hold a wisp of smoke.
The two stopped talking. As darkness fell, a camera lens dripping water was pointed at them from a building not far from the window, and it took dozens of pictures.
Before going to sleep, Fang Chengyin received a message from the "Unruly" production team, saying that training would begin at eight o'clock the next morning, and a detailed address was attached.
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