Volume Two: Second Scroll
The End of the Green Duckweed (4)
The intensity of that night’s battle situation could be seen from a single spot.1
The day the verdict came down was an ordinary weekend.
Song Yuhang was teaching her how to cook.
Lin Yan stood in the kitchen, sunlight spilling in from the glass window. Her slender, fair fingers pressed down on a carrot, and she was methodically cutting it with the rolling cut2 method that Song Yuhang had taught her.
Accustomed to the thin sharpness of a scalpel, picking up a kitchen knife felt slightly clumsy, not as deft as she had imagined. A thin sheen of sweat seeped out on Lin Yan’s forehead, and she bit her lip slightly; the corners of her eyes would turn a little red whenever she got anxious.
Song Yuhang stood to the side, watching her every move, on tenterhooks.
“How about, Yanyan, we just forget it, I’ll do it.”
Lin Yan raised her head and shot her a cold glare, still a bit puffed up with anger.
“It’s none of your business, I insist on learning.”
Song Yuhang supported her forehead with her hand. Wasn’t it just because she had casually praised a dish Ji Jingxing made when they went to the Song family home for dinner a few days ago?
Lin Yan had been fixated on it ever since they got back. Not only did she not let her into the bedroom to sleep that night, but she also denied her that thing. When she finally got a chance to pin the person down on the bed, Lin Yan used her old trick again, subduing her with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the three-piece set of blindfold, silk scarf, and handcuffs.
After all, she was the one at fault first, so Song Yuhang half-heartedly complied, having bitterness that she could not speak of, in so much pain she wished for death.
After that time, she thought the matter was over and done with, but who knew that it was just the beginning.
As Song Yuhang watched that gleaming blade hover over her delicate fingertips, her scalp tingled.
She swallowed: “Yanyan, Yanyan, how about I go buy some white mice, rabbits, and pheasants for you to practice on?”
Song Yuhang meant well, but the subtext Lin Yan understood was: You’re not suited for this, just forget it.
Lin Yan flew into a rage. The knife slipped, and the carrot on the cutting board went flying out, landing in the sink.
“Be careful!”
Song Yuhang rushed over in a single stride, grabbed her hand, and without even looking, put it in her mouth, holding it gently.
Her fingertip was enveloped by the warm, moist mouth. Not only did it not hurt, but there was instead a very strange sensation.
Lin Yan raised her eyes to look at her.
Song Yuhang kept her head lowered, focused on licking her wound for her. The bangs on her forehead slightly covered her eyelids, her expression both anxious and earnest, as if she had contracted some incredible terminal illness.
“Are you okay?”
Feeling her lover’s gaze, Song Yuhang finally came back to her senses. She let go of her finger, not even noticing whether she had tasted blood or not, and was about to get her a bandage.
Lin Yan pulled her to a stop, the corners of her lips curling into a slight arc, her expression proud and pampered, her tone slightly reproachful.
“Come back, it’s not necessary. How could I be that fragile.”
Song Yuhang was bewildered: “Ah?”
She wiggled her fair fingers.
“Look clearly, there’s no wound. Really, didn’t you taste any blood when you were licking it yourself? The knife was fast but I pulled my hand back even fast…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Song Yuhang was staring intently at her.
That gaze was filled with tenderness, and also an indescribable heartache.
“Do you really want to learn?”
Lin Yan’s voice gradually lowered: “Mm…”
Song Yuhang turned around, wrapped her arms around her waist, pushed her to the stove, and stretched out both their hands to wash them together.
Her palms were large, enough to envelop hers.
Dense foam overflowed in their palms, covering the palms and backs of their hands.
A delighted smile gradually appeared at the corners of Lin Yan’s lips.
After the foam on her hands was rinsed clean, Song Yuhang set the cutting board up again and took out another washed carrot.
Lin Yan held the knife first, and she gently covered the back of her hand with her own. Her other hand copied the method.
“Like this, cut from here, it’s not easy to slip…”
Song Yuhang taught her hand over hand, speaking as she demonstrated, patient, meticulous, and focused.
Lin Yan learned very seriously, not even raising her head, following the force of her hands to make cut after cut.
“Is it like this?”
Outside the window, the sunflowers were thriving.
Her side profile was as white as jade, her blood vessels faintly visible. Only the tear mole3 at the corner of her eye was dazzlingly beautiful.
Rather than calling it a tear mole, it was more like a scar left from her undercover career.
Lin Yan had burned it on herself with an iron wire.
In order to perfectly disguise herself as Pei Jinhong, for the success of the mission, and also for her own safety, she had sacrificed too many things, including her appearance, which she had once been proud of, having undergone minor cosmetic surgery.4 Although Song Yuhang had repeatedly emphasized that she didn’t mind these things, she still had them reversed before being discharged from the hospital.
At that time, Lin Yan was sitting on the hospital bed, wearing a blue and white patient gown. She smiled faintly, a smile so pale and weak.
This is what she said: “In the past, I really disliked the identity of Lin Yan and tried every possible way to escape it. This is the only time I have so eagerly longed to live in the sunlight, to use the name Lin Yan to stay by your side for a lifetime.”
Song Yuhang’s heartache was such that nothing could be added, but she also respected any decision she made. The surgery was successful, but this scar that had been burned on, because it was poked too deeply at the time and the wound had become infected, couldn’t fade for the time being.
As she looked and looked, as if guided by a ghost, she gently touched it, felt the uneven texture under her fingertip, and opened her mouth.
“Does it hurt?”
Lin Yan thought she was asking about cutting her finger just now, and without raising her head, said: “It’s fine, it stopped hurting long ago.”
The hand covering the back of her own lost its strength.
She looked up in astonishment and fell into a pair of light brown pupils.
Ever since she came back from being undercover, she always looked at her with this kind of gaze.
Song Yuhang’s eyes could speak, filled with a sea of stars. With every move Lin Yan made, love would overflow.
She always had a misconception, that no matter what she asked her to do, even if it was to die, she would gladly endure it.
Lin Yan’s heart was leaping with joy, and at the same time, she felt a secret panic.
What virtue and what ability did she have to deserve such love?
Don’t they all say that a good horse is paired with a good saddle5, and a nanny can only be paired with a security guard?6
A person like herself, covered in mud, was actually not worthy of such a grand and sincere love.
Their four eyes met.
Song Yuhang understood her thoughts.
Nothing could be hidden from her eyes.
She gently stroked that raised scar, her voice lowered, and therefore a bit hoarse.
“Lin Yan, let’s get married. I want to give you a home.”
A home sufficient to make her forget all her current unstable thoughts; the sense of ceremony was secondary.
She wanted to give her a sense of security, to make it so this pair of eyes would no longer be frightened, no longer bitter, no longer cry, no longer flustered, and no longer improperly belittle herself.
She deserved all the most beautiful things in this world.
The cut carrots rolled onto the floor.
Lin Yan didn’t answer for a long time. Her eyes reddened, and she opened her mouth.
Song Yuhang nervously watched her every frown and every smile, her every move.
“I…” She had just uttered a single syllable.
The television turned on, and the light and cheerful morning music was replaced by real-time news.
“Recently, the Binhai Province High People’s Court publicly announced the verdict in the case of Zhao Junfeng, former member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, for involvement with organized crime. The defendant Zhao Junfeng was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for ten crimes including corruption, bribery, harboring and condoning a mafia-style organization, and abuse of power. He is deprived of political rights for life, and all personal property and illegal gains are to be confiscated. Zhao Junfeng stated in court that he would accept the verdict and would not appeal.”
On the television, the female anchor’s brightly colored mouth opened and closed. His photo was shown on the screen, along with a video clip.
The old man, past sixty, had white hair and a white beard. He was wearing a prison uniform, his back hunched, apologizing to the camera.
The hand Song Yuhang had on Lin Yan’s waist slowly slid down.
The female anchor picked up another press release from the desk, raised her head, and spoke with fervor and righteous indignation.
“For the same case, the former Director of the Binhai Province Anti-Drug Bureau, Hu Senji, the Deputy Captain of the Binhai Province Public Security Department’s Criminal Investigation Corps, Nie Bin7, the Deputy Director of the Jiangcheng City Public Security Bureau, Li Wei8, and the technician from the Jiangcheng City Public Security Bureau’s Technical Investigation Division’s Network Security Brigade, Zheng Chengrui, among ten others, were sentenced to terms ranging from life imprisonment to fifteen years in prison.”
“With this, the largest case involving organized crime since the founding of Binhai Province has been declared solved. A total of 256 people, including members of the mafia-style organization, have been sentenced. Its leader, Lin Jueshui, has been sentenced to immediate execution and deprived of political rights for life.”
It turned out the inner ghost9 wasn’t one “person,” but many people.
No wonder she had been pursuing the truth for so many years without success.
Only at this moment did Lin Yan dazedly feel a sense that the dust had settled.
Her eye sockets felt hot. She tilted her head up slightly, and tears slid down.
Song Yuhang pulled the person into her embrace. Lin Yan trembled slightly in her arms, biting her lower lip to keep herself from crying out.
She stroked the back of her head, once and then again, her gaze also slightly wistful as she looked at the sunflowers outside the courtyard, then kissed her forehead.
“It’s okay, if you want to cry, just cry. It’ll be better once you cry it out.”
“Cry about what… I should… be laughing.”
She buried her head in her embrace, a smile on her lips, trying hard to make herself happy, but the tears welled up more and more. In the end, she hugged her and began to wail her heart out.
After the verdict came down, Zhao Junfeng was transferred to Binhai Province Prison to formally serve his sentence.
Song Yuhang accompanied Shimu to visit him.
The two of them waited outside the door, anxious and uneasy.
“Zhao Junfeng, someone is here to see you.”
The iron door opened with a clang. Wearing a “zebra suit,” the old man with graying temples walked out, his back hunched.
He suddenly lifted his head. Seeing it was them, his body trembled slightly. His lips quivered, his wrists were in handcuffs, and he turned to leave.
“Not seeing them, not seeing them…”
He muttered under his breath.
Before Song Yuhang could make a move, her Shimu had already rushed forward, slapping the glass window.
“Lao Zhao10, Lao Zhao…”
That faint call finally came through the amplifier.
Zhao Junfeng stopped in his tracks but still didn’t turn back.
“Go back…”
He spoke with difficulty, turning as if to leave.
Song Yuhang also took a step closer: “Shi…”
The word had just left her mouth when she gritted her teeth and quickly changed it: “Your verdict has already come down. We don’t know if there will be another chance to see you in the future.”
The old woman was also leaning against the glass, watching his back, sobbing uncontrollably.
This sound of sobbing seemed to be a condemnation of him.
Zhao Junfeng squeezed his hands hard, pinching the tiger’s mouth11 of his hand red. Finally, he shrank his handcuffs inward, hiding them in his sleeves, and turned around to face his wife through the window.
The old woman covered her lips, tears streaming down her aged face.
Song Yuhang supported her, gently patting her back to help her catch her breath.
Zhao Junfeng walked over slowly with faltering steps. His fingers caressed the window, as if he could touch her graying hair.
Perhaps because he hadn’t rested well for days, his eyes were very red, and his voice was a bit hoarse.
“Just go back, ah, take good care of yourself. Take your medicine on time, and go for your check-ups.”
“You received the clothes I asked Yuhang to bring you last time, right? What else are you missing? Tell me, and I’ll bring it to you next time.”
Zhao Junfeng smiled, and the handcuffs on his wrists rattled as he moved.
“I still want to eat the dumplings you make, the ones with cabbage filling.”
“Yes, okay, okay. When you come back, I’ll make them for you. I know, the skin has to be thin, and the filling has to be plentiful, and you only eat the lean meat, not the fatty kind.”
The old woman agreed through her tears, and then gave him some warm clothes for the cold, nagging him about every little detail.
“It’s getting cold, your old cold legs, I brought you some medicinal plasters.”
“And thermal underwear, wear it underneath, it’s warm.”
“I brought two pairs of cotton slippers, you can switch between them.”
“I also brought some toiletries. If it’s not enough, just ask someone to send a message.”
Zhao Junfeng had thought she would ask him why he was in here, but she didn’t mention a word of it, only repeatedly telling him to take care of his health. His eyes couldn’t help but redden slightly.
He took a step back. In just a few short months, he had aged so much. His body was on the verge of collapse, and his hands began to tremble.
“I know… you should go back too, don’t let people laugh.”
The visiting time was almost up, and the prison guard began to urge them.
The old woman had almost collapsed to the ground, relying entirely on Song Yuhang for support.
He raised his eyes to glance at her, his lips moving: “I did all these things by myself, it has nothing to do with her. If you have time, go see her for me.”
Song Yuhang didn’t answer. A sarcastic smile appeared on Zhao Junfeng’s lips. He shook his head and turned as if to leave.
At this point, what right did he have to ask her to do anything?
Song Yuhang handed the old woman to a waiting prison guard to support her for a moment, leaned closer to the microphone, and said in a deep voice.
“I will. After all, I’ve eaten my fair share of those dumplings. But, can you tell me why you did it?”
Her gaze was as sharp as a sword, staring fixedly at his back, hoping for a turn or an answer.
Zhao Junfeng gave a bitter smile, lifted his foot, and continued to walk forward.
Song Yuhang clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white.
“Do you still remember what you said to me the first time you saw me?”
Time rewound to when she was eighteen.
At that time, she had just been admitted to the police academy. Even with her combat experience from the provincial sports team, in a place like this that was full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons12, she was just a grain of millet in the vast sea13.
In the first class of the semester, she was brutally defeated in everything, whether it was free combat, ten-meter rapid-fire pistol shooting, or physical fitness.
The male classmates in the class jeered: “What’s a woman thinking, wanting to be a criminal police officer? Better to test for a civilian post and muddle through for a living.”
Song Yuhang’s eyes were red. Clutching her injured arm, she limped away, a roar of laughter erupting from the crowd behind her.
At night, when the students had all returned to their dormitories to rest, she stood alone on the ring again, hitting the sandbag. She wasn’t even wearing boxing gloves, continuing until she was exhausted and blood seeped from between her knuckles.
Her knees went weak, and she knelt on the ground, slowly leaning back, lying on the floor and panting heavily.
The mocking laughter of her classmates from the daytime still echoed in her ears.
“Get up, aren’t you the provincial champion?”
“What champion, made of water, right?”
“If you ask me, she shouldn’t even be trying to take a spot from us. She should go home, get married, and have kids as soon as possible.”
…
Song Yuhang gritted her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.
The originally dark gymnasium was suddenly brightly lit. She subconsciously raised her arm to block the glaring light, and a somewhat stern voice came over.
“Get up.”
She looked in astonishment at the middle-aged man standing before her. He was wearing an old jacket and had a righteous-looking square face14.
“You are?”
She had never seen him at the school.
The man repeated once more: “Get up.”
For some reason, his back was ramrod straight, and he had an aura of authority that made people subconsciously want to obey him.
Song Yuhang pushed herself up with all her might. Seeing that her body was trembling, a slight smile appeared on the man’s lips, and he reached out to help her up.
Song Yuhang stood firm, still a bit puzzled: “This is a police academy, you can’t just come and go as you please. Who are you?”
The man didn’t answer her question. He just said: “This is a police academy, and there are only two kinds of people here: police officers and reserve police officers.”
Song Yuhang was stunned. He had already turned and walked away, about to disappear through the doorway.
The young person chased after him a few steps: “Hey, who on earth are you?”
The man stopped, turned his head slightly, the light and darkness cutting across his body.
“You’ll know in the future.”
The next day, in combat class.
The students had changed into their white taekwondo uniforms. Heads were bobbing, and some were whispering.
“Hey, have you heard? A new instructor is coming today. I heard he’s a Second-Rank Police Supervisor15 from the Provincial Anti-Drug Corps. He’s won countless merits and even captured a drug lord alive in Southeast Asia. He’s amazing.”
Usually, this kind of glamorous resume was suspected of being falsified. Song Yuhang curled her lip noncommittally, wrapping the straps of her boxing gloves. She suddenly looked up, and Zhao Junfeng walked in.
He had changed into a brand-new dark blue uniform, his back ramrod straight, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, his shoulders adorned with two four-pointed star flowers and silver olive branches.
At that time, there was no white in his hair, his figure had not gone out of shape, his fingers were pressed against the seams of his trousers, and he raised his hand in a military salute.
“Hello everyone, my name is Zhao Junfeng, a visiting professor at the Binhai Police Officer Academy. For the next period of time, I will be the instructor for the course ‘Police Physical Fitness and Practical Combat Skills Training’.”
His high-spirited and vigorou demeanor back then formed a stark contrast with his current aged and dejected state, especially the prison uniform on his body, which was even more jarring.
Song Yuhang gritted her teeth: “You said, in the police academy, there are only two kinds of people: police officers and reserve police officers.”
“Later, when I graduated and started working, you specially came from the provincial department to Jiangcheng City to see me being conferred my rank16. It was also you who said…”
She paused slightly, tilting her head up a little so the tears wouldn’t fall.
“Once you enter the Public Security Bureau, there are also only two kinds of people: police officers who have already sacrificed their lives, and police officers who are ready to sacrifice their lives at any time.”
“And you? Which kind are you?”
This question left him speechless. Zhao Junfeng was silent for a long time, staring at the gleaming handcuffs on his wrist.
Song Yuhang kept watching his back, waiting for an answer.
Zhao Junfeng slowly lifted his foot, still walking forward without a word. The prison guard had already opened the iron gate.
“Shifu…” Song Yuhang’s heart tightened, her eyes reddened, and she called out in a hoarse voice.
Zhao Junfeng’s steps faltered slightly, and his back straightened again. The end of the road was near. The old man had thought that in this life, apart from his wife, nothing could stir the waves in his heart anymore.
Song Yuhang was an exception.
The young person was steady, smart, and driven. Most importantly, she had a heart of gold that would never yield.
Female students in the police academy were few and far between, and those like her who were determined to be on the front lines were even rarer than phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
His classes were naturally extremely strict. Practical combat training had a certain casualty rate. Song Yuhang was often beaten until she was black and blue, yet after class, she would stay behind to practice alone late into the night.
Sometimes when Zhao Junfeng returned to the gymnasium to lock up, he could still see her hitting the sandbag, panting, sweat dripping from her short hair like water.
He stood below the ring and watched her: “Why do you have to work so hard? Isn’t it good to work in logistics?”
Song Yuhang panted, sending the sandbag flying with a punch.
“Why should I admit defeat? Isn’t it good to be on the front lines?”
Zhao Junfeng shook his head: “It’s not good, it’s very dangerous.”
“There’s a risk of choking to death when eating, a risk of choking to death when drinking water, and even a risk of sudden death while sleeping at home. Are we not going to eat, drink, or sleep just because we’re afraid of the risks?”
An unexpected answer. Perhaps every police officer has such moments of lofty sentiment when they are young.
Zhao Junfeng placed one hand on the floor and vaulted onto the ring.
“Your form is wrong. Take another step back, wait for the sandbag to swing back before you hit it.”
“Right, left hook.”
“To the right, low, whip kick. The sandbag is the enemy, don’t let it get close to you.”
…
Following his instructions, Song Yuhang sweated profusely.
An hour later, she had completed the full set of essential movements, not only efficiently but also with great insight.
She sat paralyzed on the ground, panting heavily. The middle-aged man smiled slightly and handed her a can of Coke.
“Good job.”
Song Yuhang raised her eyes to glance at him, reached out, and took the Coke. She pulled the tab, drank it in big gulps, and after a while, wiped the corner of her mouth.
“Thank you, Instructor Zhao.”
From that day on, when Song Yuhang came to the boxing gym at night, she would often run into him.
Sometimes Zhao Junfeng would spar with her, sometimes he would point out the essentials of her movements. Her form of address for him went from “Instructor” at the beginning, to “Teacher,” and finally to “Shifu.”
Zhao Junfeng was the person she admired most throughout her student years, her ideal, her beacon, and her guide.
This one word, “Shifu,” reawakened his long-lost memories.
He remembered on the day of her graduation, the two of them had scheduled one last boxing match. From her being unable to beat him at the beginning, to being evenly matched, and then to him willingly conceding defeat17.
It took Song Yuhang a full four years.
In these four years, she had looked forward to this day at every moment. When she really did knock him down, Song Yuhang felt a little wistful. This meant she had grown up, and Zhao Junfeng was growing old.
At that time, there were already a few strands of white hair at his temples, and his skills were not as agile as before. After being knocked to the ground by her, he couldn’t get up for a long time. Song Yuhang reached out to help him up.
“Shifu…”
Zhao Junfeng waved his hands repeatedly: “No need, no need, my arthritis is acting up again…”
She helped him to the side of the ring to sit down. Zhao Junfeng rummaged through his bag, took out two cans of Coke, and handed one to her.
“Here, happy graduation.”
Song Yuhang was taken aback, then also pulled the tab and clinked cans with him, foam spilling out.
“Happy graduation.”
In the end, the young person felt it was a bit unsatisfying.
“It’s been four years, and you’re just treating me to this?”
Zhao Junfeng laughed heartily, patting her shoulder forcefully.
“The police academy has rules, students are not allowed to drink alcohol.”
Song Yuhang muttered: “As if you can drink once you start working.”
Speaking of work, the smile on Zhao Junfeng’s face faded, becoming somewhat meaningful.
“Starting work is the real beginning of your career.”
Song Yuhang put the can aside and stretched her shoulders: “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
Zhao Junfeng smiled slightly, took a sip of Coke, and then drank no more. The doctor had already forbidden him from drinking high-sugar, high-calorie beverages.
“A career as a criminal police officer is not as easy as you think. You will encounter danger, you will experience setbacks, and even…”
He paused slightly: “There are also many unseen temptations.”
Song Yuhang seemed to half-understand, then picked up the can and took another gulp: “Have you experienced all of these things you’re talking about?”
Zhao Junfeng was silent for a long while, then glanced at his watch.
“It’s getting late, I should be heading back.”
Song Yuhang got up to see him off, helping him up from the seat. Zhao Junfeng picked up his backpack, patted the dust off, and put it on.
“Don’t see me off. Don’t you have to report for duty tomorrow? Go back and rest early.”
For some reason, today’s Zhao Junfeng always gave her a feeling of being inscrutable.
Song Yuhang didn’t know where this feeling came from. She just chased him out of the boxing gym door and stood in the sunset, waving at him.
“Shifu, goodbye.”
Zhao Junfeng’s steps faltered slightly.
She cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone: “Take care of your health! No matter how far I go, or where I go, you will always be my Shifu! I will come back to see you!”
Like a slow-motion playback with a telephoto lens in a movie, she would forever remember the way Zhao Junfeng slowly turned around in that dusk.
Just like at this moment.
Two prison guards supported him, one on each side. The old man turned with difficulty. In that instant, she saw a long-lost smile appear on his face, and the decadent, gray aura around him was swept away.
Just like when she was twenty-two.
The Zhao Junfeng of that time was also smiling as he bent his finger and tapped lightly on his own temple. The movement was so high-spirited, dashing, and neat.
He said: “Yuhang, keep it up. If you have any difficulties, find Shifu. If anyone in Jiangcheng City dares to bully you, tell them to come find me.”
Song Yuhang chuckled, she now had the skills that it was already a case of thanking heavens and thanking earth if she didn’t bully others.
Before she could say anything more, Zhao Junfeng quickly turned and left, waving his hand to signal her not to see him off, his back disappearing into the campus.
Some say that eighteen is the coming-of-age ceremony, but Song Yuhang had always felt that the year she started working was the real one.
After that, she encountered many setbacks and hardships, but she gritted her teeth and endured them all. Although she never went to Zhao Junfeng for help, she always remembered that sentence of his. Treating a twenty-two-year-old adult like a student gave her immense warmth and comfort.
This memory lasted for many years.
Until now, facing a criminal police officer who could already stand on her own, Zhao Junfeng could no longer say words of looking after her, nor could he raise his hand as high-spiritedly as he did back then.
There was a hint of wistfulness in his eyes, and also a hidden trace of expectation: “Yuhang, I can’t get up anymore, but… you can.”
The moment he called out her name, Song Yuhang couldn’t hold it in any longer. She pressed her head against the glass, her hands clenched into fists.
“Why… why on earth is this?”
The old man shook his head grimly: “If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you get the tiger cub? To fight against the darkness, you must go deep into the darkness.”
“Is that your reason for acting as villains together18 with Ding Ye?!” Song Yuhang’s eyes were bloodshot as she roared through gritted teeth.
Zhao Junfeng trembled all over, his lips quivering, and he slowly turned his head away: “You wouldn’t understand… it’s better not to understand… go back… go back… don’t come again…”
Song Yuhang stared at his back and screamed: “I fight against the darkness only because I wear a police uniform, carry the national emblem on the brim of my cap, and bear justice on my shoulders! If I were to align myself with the darkness, then how would I be any different from a criminal!”
Zhao Junfeng’s steps paused. He said nothing more, and wearing handcuffs, he allowed the prison guards to lead him away.
That iron gate closed before her eyes again.
Song Yuhang’s body went limp. She sat down on the chair, covered her eyes with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.
What she hadn’t expected was that when Zhao Junfeng said not to come again, it would truly be a final farewell.
The day after she returned to Jiangcheng City, she received a call from the prison. He had suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and died on the way to the hospital.
The receiver in Song Yuhang’s hand slipped and fell. Her body swayed slightly, and Lin Yan quickly steadied her.
“Yuhang!”
She came back to her senses and looked at her lover’s worried eyes, forcing a smile: “I’m fine…”
Though she said she was fine, her eyes were red.
Lin Yan nodded: “Let’s go, we’ll drive there.”
After handling Zhao Junfeng’s funeral affairs, Song Yuhang collected his urn from the funeral home. Just as she walked out the main gate, the old woman who had been waiting by the side rushed over and snatched the box from her hands.
The old woman’s back was hunched, her hair completely white, and because she had been overworked for days and was in no mood to take care of herself, it was stuck together in strands. She was wearing a dirty old cotton-padded jacket and cotton shoes that exposed her heels, walking outwards with faltering steps.
She muttered under her breath: “Lao Zhao… Lao Zhao ah… going home… we’re going home…”
On the way back to Jiangcheng City, Lin Yan was driving. During a pause at a red light, Song Yuhang kept her head turned, looking at a small convenience store on the side of the street.
A van was parked there unloading goods. Workers were carrying boxes of drinks, busily going in and out.
Lin Yan looked over in that direction: “What’s wrong?”
Song Yuhang: “I feel like drinking a Coke.”
When she got home, she twisted open the Coke bottle. After the first sip, tears welled up.
Lin Yan hugged her from behind, rested her head on her shoulder, and tightened her arms.
After Zhao Junfeng passed away from illness, Song Yuhang visited Shimu once a week, rain or shine, an unbreakable routine.
One Friday, just as she was preparing to leave, she received a call from the community: the old woman had Alzheimer’s and had been hospitalized.
When she rushed to the provincial capital, Shimu no longer recognized her. She would grab onto other old men, calling them “Lao Zhao, Lao Zhao, I’ll make you dumplings.”
A staff member at the nursing home complained: “The old lady lives alone, but she can’t stay put, runs outside every day, and even picks up trash to eat. The community really had no other choice but to send her to us. I’m telling you, what is wrong with you children…”
Song Yuhang’s eyes were red: “I’m not…”
Her voice was quiet, and the staff member didn’t hear clearly.
“What?”
Song Yuhang muttered under her breath, then suddenly turned her head back: “She has no children, they died long ago. Take good care of her. No matter how much it costs, I’ll pay.”
The staff member was startled and watched her departing back, unable to make heads or tails of it: “A lunatic, right…”
Ding Ye had been executed, Zhao Junfeng was also dead, and the rest of the people had all been disciplined. Everything had settled.
There was only one major issue still weighing on Mother Song’s mind.
That was Song Yuhang’s marriage.
Seeing that both of them were getting on in years, especially Song Yuhang, who had also hidden her injury from Lin Yan, it was a headache just thinking about it. Although the two of them had a stable relationship now, old people always tend to think more. She only had this one daughter, and she still wanted to see her in a wedding dress one day.
So, it was inevitable that she would hint around the subject, visiting every few days to offer her “condolences.” Lin Yan not only had to endure the old woman’s physical attacks of feeding her like a pig every time she came, but also the magical attacks of her resentful gaze. And she couldn’t resist or rebut, sitting there as if on a bed of needles19, as if treading on thin ice, as if she had lost her parents20.
Song Yuhang had it even worse. Lin Yan had long since decided on no marriage and being DINK21. She had proposed more than once or twice, but she had never relented.
Seeing that she couldn’t get through to Lin Yan, Mother Song was not so polite with her own child. She would hit and scold as she saw fit.
More than once, Lin Yan had gotten up in the middle of the night to see Song Yuhang sitting upright in the living room, listening to Mother Song’s teachings.
“When on earth are you two getting married?!”
Song Yuhang had a mournful look on her face: “Mom, you have to ask Yanyan about that!”
“I did ask. Every time it’s ‘wait a little longer.’ You should think hard about whether you did something wrong to make her angry. Otherwise, why would she still not marry you after all this time?!”
Mother Song’s spit was practically flying onto her face.
Song Yuhang’s face was full of inner-cow tears22, she was just short of kneeling down.
“Mom, this really isn’t my fault…”
“I don’t care. I don’t have many years left to live. In my lifetime, I just want to see you two get married and be happy together.”
There it is.
The ultimate killer move was out.
For a moment, it was women silent, women cry23.
Lin Yan didn’t even have the heart to go to the bathroom anymore.
As things developed, Ji Jingxing also joined the marriage-pushing army, plus a Xiao Wei. This fighting force was top-notch. Song and Lin were in steady retreat.
Lin Yan gritted her teeth and held on: “You haven’t even gotten remarried yet, what right do you have to talk about me?”
Ji Jingxing’s face was beaming with the light of spring: “Who says I’m not getting remarried? I’m close. Now we’re just waiting for you two.”
The three of them were talking in the living room when the main door opened. A middle-aged man stood at the entrance, holding Xiao Wei’s hand.
Song and Lin turned their heads in unison. He actually had a key to Ji Jingxing’s house!
Mother Song also poked her head out of the kitchen: “Xiao Liang, you’re here! Quick, have a seat, have a seat!”
Xiao Wei broke free from his hand, carrying her schoolbag, with snowflakes still on her, and threw herself into her mother’s arms.
“Mommy, Uncle Liang played in the snow with me downstairs for a while before we came up. He also bought me a snowboard and said he’ll take us to the ski resort to ski this weekend.”
The man was a few years older than Ji Jingxing and looked very honest and simple. He stood to the side holding a snowboard and smiled at them.
“Hello, my name is Liang Shi24. I was colleagues with Jingxing when I worked at the law firm before.”
The two of them looked at each other, the same thought arising in their eyes:
This is way too fast.
Later, Liang Shi went to help Mother Song cook, shooed the old woman out of the kitchen, and tied on an apron himself to fry, stir-fry, cook, and deep-fry.
The four women sat around the stove, cracking melon seeds.
Only then did Song Yuhang learn that Liang Shi had had a secret crush on her for many years. He himself had a failed marriage and a son with his ex-wife who was already in junior high, with whom he didn’t have much contact.
Perhaps it was precisely because of their similar experiences. During Ji Jingxing’s most helpless period, while getting treatment for Xiao Wei and also having to work to support the family, Liang Shi not only gave her many cases but also helped her take care of Xiao Wei. The two of them slowly got together, and now their wedding date was almost set.
At the end of the conversation, Mother Song and Ji Jingxing simultaneously cast their expectant gazes upon them: “Now we’re just waiting for your good news.”
Lin Yan’s scalp tingled. If it weren’t for Xiao Wei holding onto her and not letting her go, she would have simply fled.
As things developed, Fang Xin and Duan Cheng also joined the marriage-pushing army. The four of them had finally managed to get together to hang out, but all they talked about was marriage. Especially Duan Cheng, who had his arm around Fang Xin’s shoulder and spoke with great animation.
“Lin-jie, look, you and Captain Song have escaped death so many times. It would be intolerable to the laws of heaven25 if you don’t get married.”
“Although same-sex marriage isn’t recognized in the country, you should still give each other a sense of ceremony.”
“Fang Xin and I have already met the parents. Ta-da, we’re even wearing engagement rings.”
Duan Cheng pulled up his girlfriend’s hand and shook it. The platinum ring nearly blinded Song and Lin’s dog eyes.
The corner of Lin Yan’s lip twitched. She wanted to take a needle and thread and sew his mouth shut.
Duan Cheng continued to chatter on: “If you ask me, Captain Song has had it too tough. You have no idea, during the time you were gone, she had a long face every day, washed her face with tears, and even ran to the detention center to…”
Alright.
This time, before Lin Yan could make a move, Song Yuhang had already pounced.
“Even Western food can’t shut your mouth!”
Duan Cheng caught the pre-dinner bread she threw at him, chewed it cheerfully, and didn’t forget to feed his girlfriend a spoonful of salad.
After the meal, the group walked back.
Song Yuhang and Duan Cheng fell behind because of paying the bill. He patted her on the shoulder: “Captain Song, don’t blame me for not telling you, but to deal with a woman like Lin-jie, you have to be unpredictable.”
Song Yuhang pulled her card back: “What do you mean?”
Duan Cheng looked around. Seeing that Lin Yan wasn’t there, he then crooked his finger at her, signaling her to lean in.
After Song Yuhang finished listening to him, she was red from ear to ear: “Will this work?”
Duan Cheng winked: “You won’t know if it works until you try.”
Song Yuhang: “…You young people have so many tricks.”
Duan Cheng: “Hai, I just read a lot of manga, that’s all. This is called applying what you’ve learned.”
It’s unknown what exactly Lin Yan went through that night. In any case, by the time Duan Cheng and Fang Xin saw them again, it was seven days later.
Song Yuhang’s face was beaming with joy: “We’re flying to Canada first to register our marriage, then we’ll have the wedding in Saipan and have our honeymoon at the same time. You guys hurry up and get your visas too, we’ll all go on an island tour together.”
Lin Yan was like an eggplant hit by frost26, listlessly letting out another yawn, lazily lifting her eyelids.
“Remember to come.”
It is said that later, when little Song Yan27 and Lin Xi28 were four or five years old and at their most mischievous, they found a large pile of mysterious toys deep in a certain drawer in the wardrobe, including handcuffs, blindfolds, whips, ball gags, feather ticklers, and so on. They even took them to kindergarten to play house with the other children, and were caught by Song and Lin who rushed over, and brought home for a good wife-wife mixed doubles beating29.
The intensity of that night’s battle situation could be seen from a single spot.
However, that is a story for another time.
The most pressing matter at hand was still the major life event of getting married.
LP: Re-translated on September 15, 2025
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Chengrui was also a mole?!
Chengrui was also a mole?!
It was stated that he sold out info including Lin Yan’s DNA test to Lin Ge in exchange for information on his sister’s whereabouts. The consequences were Lin Ge forwarding the information to the Supreme Leader who killed his sister and him learning that Lin Yan was undercover. The fallout of all of that resulted in the potentially unnecessary deaths of Lin Youyan, Butler Lin, the detention center guard, and others. And that’s all directly on Chengrui’s head.