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On the plane, Luo Mingjing categorized the cases he needed to handle and created a timeline.
He read aloud to Shi Min: “The cases already accepted are against Ke Ge and Wang Zhenyu. The earliest trial date is March 18th for the Twenty-Four Solar Terms plagiarism case involving Ke Ge and Guohong Clothing. Next is the April trial for the Chinese Crane plagiarism case… In the same month, there’s also the malicious defamation case against Wang Zhenyu…”
As he spoke, he made notes and set calendar reminders: “For Haishi, Lawyer Huang suggested we first file a lawsuit against the Liu family—her father, Liu Changchun, for extortion and false accusations.”
“After that, it’s the Fengxi District police station. Lawyer Huang advised me to provide the investigative team with the injury report. Apart from dereliction of duty, falsifying evidence, false accusations, and illegal detention, they’re also suspected of torture… If convicted, the earliest trial date would be in June.”
After marking everything, he closed his notebook and looked at Shi Min. She was resting with an eye mask on but raised her hand in response. “Mingjing, where’s your head? Let me stroke your hair and comfort you.”
After all, this year would be filled with lawsuits. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take at least a year to get all the results. Someone burdened with legal battles would undoubtedly be exhausted.
“No need,” Luo Mingjing said with a helpless smile. “You rest.”
Shi Min replied, “Then let me touch your hair.”
Luo Mingjing sighed. “I knew you loved my hair more than anything.”
He tilted his head toward her, and Shi Min gently stroked it twice, softly saying, “May everything go as smoothly as your hair this year.”
“Hahahaha…” Luo Mingjing laughed. “You’re really something, Miss.”
Shi Min chuckled and withdrew her hand, then suddenly asked, “Mingjing, will you cut your hair in the future?”
“No,” Luo Mingjing smiled. “Since you like it so much, I won’t cut it. I’ll keep it for you.”
Shi Min sighed inwardly.
In the photos Xu Qianqian provided for the injury report, Luo Mingjing’s hair had been shaved off—it was very short, exposing scars on his scalp and forehead. Just looking at those photos once made Shi Min feel overwhelmingly agitated, wanting to lash out and curse someone. If not for her habitual self-restraint, she might have actually done so.
Xu Qianqian had told her that when Luo Mingjing was first detained for questioning, his head wasn’t shaved. He thought explaining his situation would lead to a quick release—but that wasn’t the case. Luo Mingjing had always resented how the Haishi police treated him like a criminal, but eventually, they truly treated him as one.
“My brother told the psychologist he was forced to have his head shaved while being held down. It made him feel deeply humiliated and struck a heavy blow.”
After his release, Luo Mingjing never stepped foot in a barber shop again, nor dared to touch a pair of scissors to his hair. If anyone approached him, he’d become uneasy, instinctively avoiding them, his expression turning unnatural.
In fact, the first time he attended a comic convention to meet fans and sell his art books, his fans noticed this. Unaware of the backstory, the girls later happily told their friends, “Our fairy spirit is so kind and gentle! If you get too close, he gets nervous, hahaha.”
“So it seems he’s easy to tease.”
“I feel bad teasing him. Even taking photos makes him nervous. I said I wanted to hug him, and he shook his head so hard it left an afterimage, saying, ‘No, that’s not allowed, hahaha.’”
“Don’t bully such a sincere kid. Poor people work hard to earn money. He’s probably an introvert. Everyone should be nicer next time.”
Shi Min was also reflecting, recalling how her gaze was instantly drawn to Luo Mingjing’s long hair the first time she met him. That length was rare even on women, yet he carried that heavy mane of hair into the streets, maintaining his own rhythm, standing out from everyone else.
Thinking about it now, her chest ached slightly.
He was indeed as he said—he had to work very hard to convince himself to start living again. He wanted to escape his past and the broken version of himself, yet at the same time, he clung to ways of life that brought him a sense of security.
He curled up in a corner, trying to live alone, making small changes—starting livestreams, working toward the future—while carefully avoiding old scars, unwilling to step into a barbershop or recall the lowest point of his life.
Change…
Shi Min suddenly remembered that the second time she saw him, his hair was half its original length.
“Luo Mingjing,” Shi Min decided to ask, “Why did you cut your hair back then?”
Luo Mingjing was silent for a long time before answering, “…Because it was heavy.”
Carrying the weight of the past was too much. That day, he had met Shi Min, and when she asked if his hair was real or fake, he went home and suddenly felt the urge to change. If pressed for a reason, he couldn’t quite explain.
It was as if his mindset had shifted—or perhaps his heart sensed that he might have a new future, one outside his plans and imagination. And for this new future, he needed to make changes, starting by cutting away unnecessary length.
“Well, I’ll tell the truth,” Luo Mingjing confessed under Shi Min’s silent “care.” “Honestly, it sounds pretentious, but I mustered the courage to cut my hair. Actually, my hair didn’t need to be that long—I always wanted to trim it shorter, but I was too afraid to go to a barber shop or touch scissors. Whenever I thought about it, I’d become extremely tense and anxious, fearing I wouldn’t be able to handle returning to my previous state. But that day, I met you, and the first serious thing you said was about my hair. When I got home, I realized I was almost out of shampoo. Everything seemed to be hinting at change, so I decided to change.”
Shi Min said, “That length was fine.”
“You think so? Maybe 1.3 meters… though that’s not important. What I mean is…”
“I understand,” Shi Min said.
Her tone was light, but it wasn’t dismissive or placating—she genuinely understood.
Luo Mingjing sat still in his seat, suddenly realizing that everything Shi Min had done seemed fated.
The day he met her, he found the courage to step out of his life. And she, noticing his change, immediately took him home and gave him positive feedback. She had Shi Chu help him style his hair, and he reluctantly accepted.
It seemed that from that moment on, he discovered that change wasn’t difficult. His heart felt grounded, no longer afraid of stepping out into the world.
Shi Min suddenly lifted her eye mask and said, “But the first time, you told me with a pitiful expression that you wore long hair and dressed in women’s clothing just to make money, saying you were actually shallow and not as good as I imagined. Luo Mingjing, you wrap yourself up too tightly. If I try to move you, you throw up smoke bombs to make me retreat.”
“…Not true,” Luo Mingjing was ashamed to admit how overly defensive he had been. “You’re overanalyzing.”
Shi Min chuckled softly, closed her eyes, and rested. “Luo Mingjing, you absolutely fell for me at first sight.”
Seeing her confident expression, Luo Mingjing laughed. “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t believe in love at first sight. With you, it was a gradual realization that you’re not bad.”
“No, it was love at first sight,” Shi Min said confidently. “Only because you liked me did you open up, repeatedly making concessions, accommodating me, and responding to me. If you hadn’t liked me, from the very beginning, you wouldn’t have tried to step out of your shell or paid any attention to me.”
“Unilateral advances are useless unless the other person responds,” Shi Min said. “If you had resisted me, I would have stopped bothering you after trying. I have pride too. If the other person is cold, I’d give up immediately after encountering resistance. But you weren’t ice or wood. When I tested you, you responded, albeit subtly. You’ve been slowly opening up to me, holding expectations from the very start. That’s why I decided to grind your dull blade.”
What had sparked her interest, making her determined to put effort into winning this man? It was that tentative knock on the door, after which he slowly opened his shell, extending feelers outward. He was trying hard to respond to her, though clumsily, cautiously, and slowly—even he hadn’t realized it.
Shi Min smirked, smiling faintly.
How could she give up on someone who worked so hard? No matter how difficult, she had to conquer him completely.
After landing, Xiao Pi handed the rented car keys to Shi Min and sat in the passenger seat, briefing her on the current situation in Haishi.
“Just received the news—eight people have been suspended pending investigation, including Chief Liu,” Xiao Pi said. “Liu Rong’s parents are currently living with her and her family. Six people are staying in the house, including Li Xiang’s mother. The court summons has been sent, but I’m not sure if Liu Changchun received it. Turn left ahead and go over the bridge.”
The car drove onto the cross-sea bridge, the navigation system guiding them to a star-rated hotel.
Xiao Pi adjusted his glasses and continued, “At eight o’clock tomorrow, the investigative team will interview several witnesses. Most of the witnesses are already in Haishi.”
“Have the local media been notified?”
“Yes,” Xiao Pi replied. “Preparations are complete.”
Luo Mingjing sat silently in the backseat. Upon arriving in Haishi, his emotions were complex. After five years, this city no longer felt familiar. Looking through the car window, the city where he grew up—a place filled with countless honors and rumors—had lost its warmth.
A cold, unfamiliar city.
As the car was about to leave the bridge, a white sedan suddenly appeared, seemingly intending to enter.
The white car was speeding, appearing silently. Shi Min sharply turned the wheel, narrowly avoiding the front side of the car, then came to a stop after stalling.
Her expression darkened as she stared coldly at the car behind her in the rearview mirror.
Xiao Pi, still shaken, said, “Isn’t this a one-way road? Why is this car turning here? Trying to go against traffic?”
“Forget it,” Shi Min didn’t want to pursue it. She restarted the car, turned the wheel, and prepared to leave.
However, the passenger door of the white sedan opened, and a square-jawed, neatly groomed man with cropped hair stepped out. He handed the crying baby in his arms to someone in the back seat, zipped up his jacket, frowned, and walked over.
Luo Mingjing said, “Shi Min, that’s… Li Xiang.”
Shi Min stopped, lowering her gaze to the rearview mirror. “Him?”
Li Xiang knocked on the car window. “Get out.”
Shi Min lowered her gaze, deep in thought. Luo Mingjing whispered, “…You don’t have to deal with him.”
Shi Min unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “Stay in the car. Don’t get out.” Then she opened the door and stepped out.
Seeing this, Xiao Pi immediately opened his door and followed her.
When Li Xiang saw her come out, he reached out to grab her clothes. “Come look. Look! Your car scratched ours. What are you going to do about it? There’s a child in my car—you scared the child, hear me?”
Cries from the baby in the white car could be heard.
Shi Min slightly shifted her body, avoiding his hand.
She stood straight, hands in her pockets, staring intently at Li Xiang, lips tightly pressed together.
Xiao Pi said, “Are you joking? This is a one-way road. We have dashcam footage. Your car illegally turned against traffic. Right?”
Xiao Pi didn’t have a good impression of him either. When he first arrived in Haishi to investigate Luo Mingjing’s situation, he had called Li Xiang countless times. But hearing Luo Mingjing’s name, Li Xiang hung up on him. Later, he said to wait at the studio, but Xiao Pi was ultimately stood up and never met him.
“Out-of-towner?” Li Xiang detected Xiao Pi’s accent and furrowed his brows even more. “Come look. We’re on the proper road. Everyone in Haishi knows this. There’s no sign prohibiting right turns here, but there’s a speed limit. You must have been speeding. Also, why didn’t you honk when exiting the bridge to warn others?”
Xiao Pi almost laughed. “Why didn’t you honk when turning? Fine, let’s say according to your logic, this road in Haishi allows you to turn and go against traffic. But shouldn’t right turns yield to straight traffic? Huh?”
Li Xiang fell silent, lowered his head, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a couple of puffs. He glared and cursed, “You’re driving so fast, rushing to die? Scratched my car and trying to deny it? Driving a shitty Mercedes-Benz, thinking you can ascend to heaven? What’s a grown man blabbering about here? Didn’t I make myself clear? There’s a child in my car! If you’re rushing to die, don’t drag my child into it!”
Only then did Xiao Pi realize Li Xiang’s car was a BMW.
“If my wife hadn’t dodged in time, and if something happened to my daughter, all of you would kneel and beg for forgiveness! I’ll fucking kill you!”
Shi Min smirked, raised her leg, and kicked swiftly. Her kick landed with force, and just as Li Xiang finished his tirade, he was sent sprawling, clutching his abdomen and unable to straighten up for a long time.
Shi Min said, “This kick is what you deserve.”
Luo Mingjing quickly opened the door and ran over. He pulled Shi Min behind him and said, “Don’t get angry—it’s not worth it… Let’s go.”
“I just wanted to kick him,” Shi Min whispered. “I’ve kicked him. Let’s go.”
However, the female driver in the white car saw Li Xiang being attacked, screamed, and ran out as well.
“What are you doing!” The female driver rushed over, supporting Li Xiang, pointing her finger at Shi Min. “How dare you hit people? You think you’re above the law? Where are you from? Don’t move! I’m warning you, don’t chicken out later!”
She turned her head and shouted loudly, “Mom! Call the police!”
Luo Mingjing spoke up. “Li Xiang, so you two really got married.”
“Do you know each other?” The female driver stared wide-eyed at Luo Mingjing, then suddenly recognized him and lost her voice.
Li Xiang recognized Luo Mingjing’s voice. Bent over, eyes fixed on the ground, he didn’t dare straighten up or speak.
Another woman emerged from the white car, appearing to be in her fifties, wearing a white wool coat, her hair neatly tied back. Though older than Liu Rong, her demeanor was elegant and gentle. She resembled the kind of traditional, virtuous wife men dream of marrying—someone willing to sacrifice herself for family and country.
The woman walked over, holding a baby. She looked at Luo Mingjing in surprise and tentatively asked, “Mingjing?”
“Aunt Fang,” Luo Mingjing couldn’t muster a smile.
The woman pulled Li Xiang up, gently patting him as if to console him. After a long pause, she greeted Luo Mingjing: “You’re back?”
“Back to settle old cases.”
“Auntie, let me say this,” the woman said. “You and Li Xiang have been friends since childhood. Auntie understands you’ve been through a lot, but don’t dwell too much on things. Some matters require turning a blind eye for everyone to live comfortably. You’re like your mother—strong-willed. But what’s the point of being so stubborn? If you offend everyone, leaving no room for others to survive, what then? We all live in society, and some unfairness is inevitable…”
“Auntie, stop,” Luo Mingjing interrupted. “I see you’re older now, and I don’t want to say harsh words. I’m only settling accounts with Li Xiang—I won’t involve you. Don’t make me spell it out. What you owe my mother—since she’s gone, I won’t hold it against you anymore.”
The woman’s expression turned awkward. Li Xiang finally straightened up, shielding his mother behind him, and looked at Luo Mingjing. “Leave my mom out of this. Stop twisting the knife. Whether we owe a little or a lot, when your mother passed, it was me and my mom who helped with the funeral arrangements. Life and death are major events. Don’t be ungrateful.”
This unexpected meeting between them unfolded without arguments or physical altercations. Their conversation was surprisingly calm—at least on the surface.
Luo Mingjing asked in a steady tone, “How did my mother pass away? Why wasn’t her son there to take care of her funeral? Why did two outsiders have to handle it, Li Xiang? Do you dare to explain?”
After a long silence, Li Xiang said, “Fine, fine… If you insist on blaming me, I have nothing to say.”
With that, he dragged Liu Rong and his mother back into the car. He snapped at Liu Rong, “Why are you crying? I’ll drive.”
Luo Mingjing watched them drive away before saying, “Let’s go too. Honestly, we shouldn’t have bothered with him.”
But Shi Min remarked, “Is Li Xiang’s mother one of the women your father supported?”
Luo Mingjing was slightly surprised. “How did you figure that out?”
“Heard it,” Shi Min said. “Let’s get in the car.”
Once inside, Shi Min asked, “Xiao Pi, what are Li Xiang and Liu Rong doing now?”
“One runs a print shop, the other is a middle school art teacher.”
After a pause, Shi Min said to Luo Mingjing, “They’re likely still receiving money from the Luo family.”
Luo Mingjing didn’t react immediately. “What?”
“Xiao Pi, look into it.”
“Got it.”
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