Ping An discovered with surprise that in just one month, Liao Yuan looked more than ten years older.
Her once jet-black, straight hair had become like withered vines, emitting an indescribable color somewhere between gray and white, clinging tightly to her scalp. Her eyes, which had always conveyed sharp intelligence, were now half-closed, with thick bags underneath like sacks ready to spill their contents.
"What happened to you?" Ping An asked in the interrogation room, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I know it's murder, but considering your cooperative attitude and the information you've provided to the police—you'll definitely avoid the death penalty, at most a suspended sentence—I have some excellent lawyers who can help you. Oh, and they can try to get you a fixed prison term."
Ping An's words carried a tone of desolation.
"No need. I'm fine, hehe. I'm locked up, but my wealth remains. The lawyers working for me are the best in the country. I appreciate your kindness." Liao Yuan said, "It's rare to see an old acquaintance. Officer Gao mentioned you went out with a beauty? Living the good life?"
"Hah, good life? I almost died in the graveyard of Gao Xiaofei's ancestors," Ping An said to Liao Yuan, as if joking. "I don't know how your daughter was raised; she's full of wild ideas, daring and resourceful! Oh, this time, my Su Tang was also let loose for a bit. These two sisters ran wild across the mountains and plains, giving each other a run for their money, ha ha!"
"That's a given. My daughter, from a young age, followed me north and south, negotiating deals. Meeting three people, she'd know their disposition; talking through five circles, she'd know their thoughts. By ten, she could partner with me, facing clients on the mahjong table, outthinking them. She knew precisely when to win and when to lose—many bosses signed contracts with me precisely because of her..."
No mother dislikes speaking well of her own child, and once she started, she couldn't stop. Liao Yuan grew happier as she spoke, her disheveled crow's feet transforming into musical notes, creating a cheerful melody in the cold room.
"My Su Tang is no slouch either. With a small piece of jewelry, she single-handedly uncovered a pile of useful information. Then she went to Sichuan alone, strategizing from a thousand miles away, directing the local police to perform a phantom maneuver that had your daughter spinning in circles, almost catching her," Ping An countered, not to be outdone, even dredging up a few less-than-perfect idioms to praise his own child.
"Although Su Tang did well this time, after we returned to Hechuan, I still grabbed her and found an excuse to beat her soundly with a small wooden stick. Hey, my hands were swollen. Her crying even attracted the security guards," Ping An recalled last night's lesson, still seemingly relishing the memory.
"Why? If a child does something right, they should be encouraged and praised! When my Jiaozi does something, I only look at the result. As long as it's beneficial, nothing else matters..." Liao Yuan expressed her confusion about Ping An's indiscriminate punishment of his child.
"She deserved it. Even if she saved the world, I would still hit her!" Ping An said without hesitation. "Because she did wrong. Even if the outcome was good, wrong is wrong. Look, she deceived adults, went out without permission, and met three unsavory characters. Tell me, shouldn't she be punished?" Ping An asked, as if seeking consultation, yet also as a rhetorical question.
The previously harmonious conversation fell silent. Liao Yuan looked at Ping An, her gaze shifting from dazed to unwilling, and finally to acceptance.
"She should! She should be beaten severely!" Liao Yuan wiped away tears that had fallen at some unknown point, her voice firm.
"You can't get out, and Yang Jie can barely save himself. If you want me to help you, you have to tell me how!" Ping An finally dropped the pretense of casual chat and got down to business.
"What's the current situation? Is she still not satisfied? How far has she gone?"
In an instant, the once capable Liao Yuan was back.
"It's worse than you think. It's not that I'm incapable, nor that I'm unwilling to help you, but you've hidden things from me that you shouldn't have." Seeing the familiar Liao Yuan return, Ping An became less reserved.
"How far has it gone?" Liao Yuan replied, not answering the question directly.
"Pretty much. After returning from Shuicheng, Yang Jiao disappeared. I suspect she's being controlled," Ping An summarized the subsequent events in a few words, adding his suspicion, "I guess the one controlling her is that old butler of yours."
"Is it finally starting?" Liao Yuan chuckled helplessly.
"Tell me. We're at this point. Your Liao family, the old, the big, the small, have all taken turns using me. I won't hold a grudge anymore. All I want now is the truth. To help you save your daughter. The child took a wrong path, but she doesn't deserve death!" Ping An said.
"You... you know everything?" Liao Yuan asked, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"First it was the younger one, using Su Tang as a stepping stone to force me into meddling. Then you and Yang Jie, the older ones, not too early, not too late, specifically waiting for me to stay at Gao Xiaofei's house before going out to kill. I mean, to lure me into the game, you even killed someone who was already dead once? Finally, it's the oldest, relying on me as a sword to force you two to stop consolidating power. Fine, you asked for a meeting gift as soon as we met..." Ping An said impatiently. "I must have owed your Liao family in my past life, being used wave after wave, endlessly? Finally found a beautiful woman, and you used her one last time, almost costing me my life..."
"Ping An, I'm sorry. It's our family that owes you. You didn't have to be so kind. We had no choice. You could have avoided all this, couldn't you?" Liao Yuan interrupted Ping An.
"Tell me. It's the final stage anyway. Being used by you one more time won't hurt." Ping An said.
"I like that child's eyes. I always felt like she was someone who had crossed over to help me," Liao Yuan sighed.
The Liao family had been in business for generations. By Liao Yuanchao's generation, they had caught a good break, making a fortune from coal mines and wind power projects, earning significant government subsidies. Although their own business was doing well, when Liao Yuanchao was forty-five, he suddenly contracted a rare, strange illness, causing all his internal organs to deteriorate continuously. To find a cure, Liao Yuanchao visited all the top hospitals globally. However, due to genetic issues, current medical technology couldn't cure it, unless—
"Organ transplant! Yes, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, all transplanted! To extend life in this manner." Liao Yuan said, "Twenty years ago, my father spent a fortune to find a suitable match abroad. He paid one million RMB and facilitated the immigration of that person's wife and daughter to China, in exchange for all their organs to be willingly transplanted to my father. In reality, even with a successful match, my father had a sixty percent chance of dying on the operating table. Fortunately, after a three-day, three-night surgery, he survived."
Liao Yuanchao, having been brought back to life, savored the joy of a healthy body. But he also knew that the transplanted organs had a lifespan of at most twenty years. Liao Yuanchao, greedy for life, began searching for new organs immediately after his discharge. For this, he first found Yang Jie.
Twenty years ago, Yang Jie, from a poor family, had just graduated with a master's degree in mechanical engineering. Full of confidence, he joined the then-burgeoning wind power group. At that time, the Liao family's old butler, who was searching worldwide for organs for Liao Yuanchao, accidentally discovered from the medical reports of a new employee that Yang Jie had a very high compatibility with Liao Yuanchao. Although not the ideal ninety percent, it could be life-saving in a critical moment.
Thus, with a precautionary approach, the old butler introduced Yang Jie to Liao Yuanchao. The moment Liao Yuanchao saw Yang Jie, he took a liking to him. Indeed, he liked the young man, who was not arrogant despite his youth and brimming with vitality. If he hadn't been ill, he might have greatly valued him. But this young man was likely to be his "lifeline" in twenty years. Therefore, he not only wanted to value him but also to find a permanent solution to keep him bound to his world.
"My father begged me in the most humble terms to marry Yang Jie. Even though he knew about my sexual orientation at the time, he didn't care. He just wanted me to marry Yang Jie and integrate him into our family, so his lifeline would never escape." Liao Yuan said. Yang Jie was young and handsome; frankly, marrying him wouldn't be a loss. But she didn't love men. Most importantly, after twenty years of marriage, she might even send him to the operating table to meet his death. Wasn't that the most tragic thing in life?
Liao Yuan, also young at the time, finally succumbed to her father's greedy demands and successfully married Yang Jie. However, on their wedding night, facing the expectant Yang Jie, Liao Yuan finally told the truth.
"The one I owe the most in this life is him, Yang Jie, my lover, oh no, my kin." Liao Yuan said. Yang Jie, upon learning everything, was surprisingly calm. Not only did he not blame her, but he comforted her, saying that since they were married, they would face these unsavory matters together from now on.
That night, there was no passion between the newlyweds. Instead, there was long-term planning and scheming. They agreed that within twenty years, they would find an even better donor than Yang Jie.
Coincidentally, a year after their wedding, a hospital nurse, whom Liao Yuan had bribed, suddenly brought her good news: a young girl recently admitted to the hospital had a match rate of ninety-four percent with Liao Yuanchao. This meant that once Liao Yuanchao used this young girl's organs, his surgery survival rate would significantly increase, and he could live until natural death.
Overjoyed with this good news, Liao Yuan couldn't possibly let this young girl go, for her father and her husband. Thus, the scene of barging in and open negotiation ensued.
"I knew people like Chang Suo would likely leave their daughter with us, because he also knew we could give the child the best life," Liao Yuan said. "Even if Chang Suo took the child away then, since we knew about Chang Suo's connection, there would always be a way to get the child back."
Thus, Liao Yuan, carrying the child and the hospital examination results, met her father. Liao Yuanchao was extremely pleased with the gift his daughter brought. Yang Jie could also be a donor, but his health in twenty years was uncertain. However, this little girl was the best "lifeline." As soon as she reached adulthood, the healthiest and safest organs would guarantee his rebirth.
With ulterior motives, the Liao family showered the little girl with extreme favor. Liao Yuanchao even publicly declared that he would gift her shares upon her eighteenth birthday.
While Liao Yuan was busy arranging the girl's adoption, Yang Jie happened to be away on a business trip. When he returned home and saw a girl in the house, he immediately understood his wife's intentions. Thus, Yang Jie, who had promised Liao Yuan to find donors together, erupted and got into an argument with her.
"Yang Jie is actually a good person. He absolutely disagreed with my approach, but I had my difficulties. I did it for him," Liao Yuan said. "Yang Jie told me that time changes everything, but I misunderstood him, thinking he was hinting that my father wouldn't live to see another matching donor. Thus, our argument lasted for a year."
Time was the most formidable enemy.
Over the course of a year, Yang Jie's attitude towards the little girl changed from indifference to affection. He truly began to see her as his own child.
"Isn't it ironic? We loved this child, treating her as our own. Everyone hopes their children grow up quickly, but I wished my poor little Jiaozi would never grow up," Liao Yuan cried. "But that day still came! The wind power community was initially built to provide my father with a place for surgery and recovery. I watched him arrange for us to move into the community, watched him order his confidantes Shui Gang and Wang Huanan to keep a close eye on Jiaozi day and night, watched the doctor named Fang Xin prepare to perform surgery on me under the guise of treating me, setting up a standardized operating room within the community, yet I was powerless."
Perhaps noticing his daughter's change, Liao Yuanchao began to warn her against doing anything foolish. And since last winter, Liao Yuanchao's health had suddenly deteriorated, and he urgently needed surgery. However, Jiaozi had not yet reached the optimal age of eighteen, making Liao Yuanchao hesitant to proceed, forcing him to rely on medication to sustain himself.
"My father's persistence gave Yang Jie and me the idea to kill him!" Liao Yuan said. "Yes, I raised a child for over a decade and then watched her go to her death? Impossible. I can't do it. I love her, Yang Jie loves her, she is a part of our lives, our family. How could we watch her die again?" Liao Yuan said that she and Yang Jie planned to resist. Yang Jie's intention was to completely seize Liao Yuanchao's power and then send the old man to the hospital for legal and legitimate treatment. However, their plan was discovered by Wang Huanan, her lover.
"I underestimated Wang Huanan's loyalty to my father. She loved me and wanted me to leave that cold family soon and be with her. But, but family, can family be just love? In the end, isn't family all about kinship? Yang Jie, Jiaozi, they are not only my husband and daughter but also my kin!" Liao Yuan said. "I tried to kill Wang Huanan, but I failed that time because I was scared. I had never killed anyone."
It turned out that the peeping incident the stalker discovered first was not a pre-arranged scenario, but the scene of Liao Yuan's first failed murder attempt.
Her former lover wanted to kill her, and Wang Huanan was thrown into a state of panic. However, she mistakenly believed that since Liao Yuan hadn't the heart to kill her, she would side with her. Therefore, she didn't report it to the police or inform Liao Yuanchao, but concealed everything.
"Not only did I fail to kill someone the first time, but I also discovered there was a stalker in the community. Later, I found out that the one investigating these matters was you, Ping An!" Liao Yuan said. "Upon discovering you were investigating the stalking incident, I was afraid you might uncover my hidden secrets. But Yang Jie said that your appearance might be a good thing for us."
"A good thing?" Ping An was also puzzled upon hearing this.
"Yes, because someone who knows you once said that Ping An, that kid, doesn't have much talent for solving cases. He can solve those cases entirely through sheer tenacity. Once he latches onto something, he won't let go even if he's covered in blood." Liao Yuan said. "The situation was already dire. My father had already instructed Fang Xin to prepare the surgical drugs. But if you interfered at a crucial moment, given my father's timid nature, he might not dare to operate under your nose."
Indeed, Ping An's accidental involvement made Liao Yuanchao wary, forcing him to postpone the surgery. To delay Liao Yuanchao's greed and to make Ping An take this matter seriously, the Liao Yuan couple, taking advantage of Ping An staying overnight at Gao Xiaofei's house and the incomplete community surveillance equipment, murdered Fang Xin and Wang Huanan overnight.
And on that very night, the "money-making" peeping business, because it captured something it shouldn't have, had already exposed Wang Huanan to the police. Fearing further complications and that Ping An might obtain more intelligence from the peepers, Liao Yuanchao gave Shui Gang a strict order: all four peepers must die!
Thus, that night was a night of murder!
The deaths of Fang Xin and Wang Huanan made Liao Yuanchao understand his daughter's stance. From that night onwards, the affection between father and daughter completely vanished.
The more afraid of death someone is, the more they want to live. Liao Yuanchao was such a person. His will to survive had reached an unprecedented, pathological level.
Liao Yuan knew her father's formidable nature. After successfully saving Jiaozi, she secretly formed an alliance with her husband and later with Zhan Dou and Peng You to seize power. Simultaneously, she prepared to send Jiaozi abroad. As long as she couldn't be found, Liao Yuanchao would have no recourse.
However, Chang Suo's appearance made Liao Yuan realize that her daughter had her own ideas.
"I know my father made his move. He found Chang Suo and falsely accused Yang Jie and me of fearing that Jiaozi would seize power after inheriting the shares, and that we would suppress Jiaozi unscrupulously, thus naturally forming an alliance. Yang Jie and I swore and professed our love to Jiaozi several times, but the girl wouldn't listen to anything. I genuinely wanted to explain the truth, but I was afraid of truly losing this daughter," Liao Yuan said. "To escape Liao Yuanchao's clutches, Yang Jie and I had no choice but to force her to go abroad to study, inject her with allergy medication that would disrupt her health, and even hire people to scare her, just to make her listen to us temporarily!"
Thus, Liao Yuan used every means to temporarily subdue Jiaozi, and Yang Jie also successfully seized power. Liao Yuanchao, with his influence waning, sent the old butler to negotiate peace. Liao Yuan finally felt relieved and relaxed her supervision of Jiaozi. During that period, the family seemed to return to a normal life. However, no one expected that Mr. Ke would contact Jiaozi and, using psychological tactics, force Ping An to prematurely reveal the wind power community murder case. Liao Yuan knew that she would eventually be caught by the police, so she handed over Chang Suo's background to Ping An, hoping he would investigate thoroughly and expose all the dirty laundry of the Liao family.
"Honestly, for my daughter, I offended my father, committed murder, broke the law. I'm numb to it now, and I've done my best. If Yang Jiao still remains stubborn, I can't do anything more," Liao Yuan said. "People say a mother becomes strong. I've gone this far, and it's not for nothing that she called me mother for over a decade. I'm tired, my heart is dead. Let her be. Ping An, you handle the rest. And if you have a chance, persuade Yang Jie too, tell him to stop causing trouble."
It turned out that behind this cursed case lay such a tragic story. Yang Jiao trampled on familial bonds for wealth, defying all reason, yet she was merely a lamb in the eyes of others.
"I think the fairy tale incident can be used again. Don't worry, I'll finish the remaining matters," Ping An said. He then looked at the aged Liao Yuan and continued, "Try to live on. In twenty years, perhaps you and Yang Jie can come back to chat with me again!"
"Heh heh, you're a good person. By the way, I have one more thing. See if it's useful." Liao Yuan said. When Yang Jie was investigating Liao Yuanchao's financial situation, he discovered that the old man had invested in a biological laboratory, which was highly suspicious.
After bidding farewell to Liao Yuan, Ping An did not take a car, but walked back quietly.
The current case should come to an end. The villains must ultimately be brought to justice. Mr. Ke, whom he hadn't seen in a while, should also be confronted.
"Are you planning to walk back like this?" Ping An heard Gao Xiaofei's dissatisfied voice from behind him, his head poking out of the car window.
"I'm thinking, I beat Su Tang pretty hard last night. Hmm, I didn't hit her face. The child is older now; she values her face. I hit her hands. I put a lot of effort into it; it must have hurt," Ping An said as he spoke. "She gave me a few glaring looks this morning, her whimpers tinged with sobs. Do you think this matter should be resolved tonight? Should I buy some good food to comfort her?"
"That girl was indeed out of line this time. If you ask me, you've spoiled her usually. She needs to be disciplined when necessary. She's getting defiant. What, is she not your own just because she was adopted? Discipline her openly and let her experience the warmth of family. It's a good thing!" Gao Xiaofei consoled him carelessly.
"Mmm, mmm! You're right!" Ping An nodded, but still didn't stop walking.
"Hey, get in the car. What are you thinking about now?" Gao Xiaofei was getting anxious.
"I'm thinking, should I set up a trap and gamble!" Ping An continued without looking back. "This case is making me feel so depressed. I need to wrap it up quickly!"
"Whatever you say. You decide. I'll cooperate with you. Get it done quickly; I'm getting married next month. Also, don't play any dangerous games this time; I don't want to get hurt with you. By the way, you're the best man, so you're not allowed to get hurt, you hear me?"
"Heard you, heard you. Just getting married, do you have to be like this?" Ping An still didn't get into the car, and Gao Xiaofei's cursing could be heard from behind.
Under the setting sun, one person and one car, moving slowly along the suburban road.
It was like the finale of an old movie, playing the closing song.