There's a saying that goes, "Crossing a road isn't difficult, the challenge is knowing who is waiting for you on the other side." Many people think this refers to love, but I believe it speaks to life itself.
Ke Yingying lived her entire life in the shadows, unseen by us. After meeting me, she was candid, doing the dirty work I wouldn't.
Now, my dilemma is whether to accept this reality. If I forgive Ke Yingying, I'll be brought to the other side of that road, and my life from then on might be like rowing against the current.
This is another difficult principle, because my previous choice was a mistake. I trusted Lu Yao, and nearly died in his eternal night. Ke Yingying, like Lu Yao, is a four-color old king. Can I truly trust him?
"You don't like what I do?" Ke Yingying asked, seeing my silence.
"Do you know me, Mr. Ke?" I retorted.
"Yes."
"Then you should know that I'm different from the older generation. I don't have their decisive nature. I never casually harm anyone for the sake of a plan. In fact, most of my schemes are reactive."
"I understand. I'll keep my distance from you, so you won't be implicated if things blow up."
"Mr. Ke, Ke Yingying, you don't understand anything! If you follow me, you must stop doing these secret killings."
Ke Yingying frowned at my words. Then, a placating smile appeared on his face, "Please calm down, I understand. I won't kill anymore."
This attitude is wrong, it's mere perfunctory. But I also understand that someone who has walked in darkness their whole life wouldn't believe in the light within people's hearts. I sighed, "Mr. Ke, I will explain to Zhao Zhichao about Zhao Shicheng. The fault isn't yours, it's mine."
"You don't have to do that."
"Is it settled then? Do you have any news about Ye Qingcheng?"
"No! After being rescued by Lu Yao, Ye Qingcheng disappeared."
"And Lu Yao?"
"His wife."
"What?"
The murder occurred in 1993. Director Lu's son, Lu Fan, had just graduated from university. Director Lu was then the deputy director, with connections and influence. He wanted to arrange a civil servant job for Lu Fan through the procuratorate.
However, Lu Fan already knew what Director Lu had done to the Zhao family and coldly refused his father's offer, stating he would leave Xi'an for Beijing.
Director Lu, knowing he couldn't persuade his son, asked Lu Fan's mother to try. But Lu Fan's mother didn't, she supported Lu Fan and let him leave Xi'an.
When Director Lu found out, he was furious and beat his wife. He had drunk that day, and while he had gained power, he had lost his son, which sent him into a rage. He hit her a bit too hard. Director Lu's wife had a heart condition and died accidentally.
Director Lu then had a trusted forensic doctor handle the matter, attributing his wife's death to heart disease. The doctor saw fresh and old injuries on Director Lu's wife, took photos as evidence.
Not long after, this doctor also died. The photos and negatives he kept were destroyed. However, one photo was secretly kept. The person who helped Director Lu cover up the forensic doctor's situation was the manager of "Logic Paradox," Liu Shou. Liu Shou, wanting to control Director Lu, secretly kept the photo. Since Director Lu and "Logic Paradox" had always cooperated well, the photo was preserved until Liu Shou was killed by Lin Zhijun, and the photo mysteriously vanished.
It's likely around that time the photo fell into Zhao Zhichao's hands. That would have been at the end of 2002. Zhao Zhichao was in the prime of his life at thirty. She was likely very ambitious then. Why didn't she use this evidence against Director Lu?
"This evidence seems quite direct. Why didn't Zhao Zhichao use it against Director Lu?"
"I don't know. After Liu Shou died, I, as his backup manager, took over the dark world he built. That's when I started cooperating with Director Lu. I knew Liu Shou had evidence that could restrain Director Lu, but I didn't know what it was, or where it was."
"Sigh, do you know about the domestic violence?"
"No, I've never heard of any negative news about Director Lu."
"Lu Fan must have known about this, right?"
"Perhaps."
"According to your arrangements, when will they return to Xi'an?"
"This evening."
"I want to see Lu Fan."
I didn't meet Lu Fan at the hospital. Instead, at Ke Yingying's arrangement, I met him in a residential building. Lu Fan was quite tall, not much like Director Lu.
When I saw Lu Fan, he was with Zhao Zhichao. Two people nearing forty, holding hands.
"I apologize. We aren't police officers; we simply took a stand against your father for self-preservation. We now have evidence proving your father killed your mother due to domestic violence. Do you know about this?"
"Yes."
Zhao Zhichao gave a bitter smile. "In 2002, I discovered this evidence. Lu Fan and I discussed it, and we ultimately decided to protect Lu Fan's mother's reputation and not use this evidence against Director Lu."
Director Lu was very gentle in his dealings, making it hard to imagine he was an abuser. Perhaps because Director Lu had a dual nature, he managed his family with extreme strictness. His son, Lu Fan, had to be an excellent student, embodying all social virtues.
Director Lu's wife was a housewife, and Director Lu made her manage the children according to his wishes. If Lu Fan made a mistake, Director Lu would see it as his wife's incompetence and poor upbringing, believing that such things happened to his son because of her.
When he was young, Lu Fan witnessed his father beat his mother a few times. The intelligent Lu Fan quickly understood the reason. He dared not make mistakes, because his errors wouldn't be borne by himself; they would cause his beloved mother to suffer Director Lu's violent beatings.
If it had continued like this, Lu Fan's life might have been twisted. His repressed nature warped his thoughts. In junior high, he was both cowardly and harbored hidden violence. When faced with issues, he'd have the urge to kill, but wouldn't dare act.
Until that day, when Lu Fan was being beaten, Zhao Zhichao rushed over with her schoolbag. Zhao Zhichao fought fiercely, but she was still a girl. However, hiding behind Zhao Zhichao, Lu Fan seemed to see an angel in the sunlight.
Zhao Zhichao cursed, her face contorted, but in Lu Fan's eyes, it was the most beautiful sight. Lu Fan was mesmerized. Only after Zhao Zhichao left did he snap out of it, realizing he hadn't even said thank you.
So, Lu Fan quietly followed Zhao Zhichao and saw her using cold soda to numb her pain. He managed a smile he hadn't felt in a long time.