FY - 55

Zhou Yan went home early in the morning to make breakfast for Zhou Siyuan.

When Zhou Siyuan came out of his room and saw Zhou Yan, he didn’t show his usual joy. He ate the egg pancakes and small steamed buns without much appetite.

Zhou Yan poured him a glass of orange juice and brought it to him.

Zhou Siyuan just glanced at it and had no other reaction.

Zhou Yan felt sad and didn’t dare to get close to him. She hid far away by herself.

She wasn’t afraid of Si Wen. She wasn’t afraid when he pinched her, drugged her, or told her to die. But she was afraid of Zhou Siyuan acting like this. He was her only family, the little sun that warmed her life. She was so afraid of him treating her this way.

After Zhou Siyuan finished eating, he put on his backpack and went to school.

As soon as he left the house, Zhou Yan’s breathing became rapid, and her face became distorted.

What should I do?

Siyuan must not want to forgive her.

Zhou Yan put her feet on the sofa, hugged her legs, and buried her face.

She didn’t know how long she stayed like that. Zhou Siyuan came back and stood in front of her.

Hearing his footsteps, Zhou Yan looked up. When she saw Zhou Siyuan, she quickly patted her face to look less pale. “What’s wrong? Why are you back?”

Zhou Siyuan reached out and cupped her face. “Are you cold?”

Zhou Yan covered the back of Zhou Siyuan’s small, chubby hand with her palm. “No, I’m not.”

Zhou Siyuan didn’t expose her lie. He hugged her neck. “I’ve never done anything for you, so I’ll accept your choice. The people in movies are all selfish. I’ll allow you, at least once, to do something for yourself.”

Zhou Yan’s clenched fists were trembling violently.

Zhou Siyuan let go of Zhou Yan, took out his hand warmer, and clumsily pressed it against her face. “Sister, I know that handsome uncle isn’t your coworker. Someone called me the son of a prostitute. I looked it up in the dictionary.”

“Siyuan doesn’t blame you. Siyuan knows you’re the person who loves Siyuan the most in the world. You’re doing this for Siyuan’s own good.”

“Even though Siyuan might miss you a lot, Siyuan will bear it. Siyuan will also grow up well and protect himself. But, sister, can you promise Siyuan that you’ll come back when Siyuan grows up?”

Zhou Yan bit her lower lip and hugged Zhou Siyuan again. “Sister promises you.”

Zhou Siyuan’s eyes were red and swollen. He couldn’t guarantee that his middle school life would be smooth sailing, and he didn’t want to cause Zhou Yan any trouble. Leaving her was the only way to give her peace of mind and for him to have a smooth life. He knew that.

That morning, Zhou Siyuan didn’t go to class. Zhou Yan gave him a lot of instructions and packed his things—clothes, toys, and everything he used. She listened to him talk about his recent academic difficulties and how he solved them.

They were still like they used to be, but neither of them felt at ease.

At noon, the doctor and his wife came over. Zhou Yan took Zhou Siyuan with them to complete the adoption paperwork. When they came out of the office, the doctor and his wife took Zhou Siyuan away. Zhou Yan stood behind them, watched for a while, and then ran after them. “Siyuan!”

Zhou Siyuan also broke free from the doctor’s hand and turned around, his face streaming with tears.

He rushed into Zhou Yan’s arms, his small hands holding her tightly. “Sister, don’t you forget. You must come back. What will Siyuan do if you don’t?”

Zhou Yan nodded. “Sister promises you. You have to study hard and be good. The doctor and his wife have a clean reputation and are respected by others. Siyuan will make many friends, and Siyuan will never be looked down on again. Sister doesn’t ask Siyuan to be very successful in the future. Sister just wants Siyuan to live a happy life, to be able to do what he wants, and to love who he wants.”

She didn’t know if she was saying the last few sentences to Zhou Siyuan or to herself.

In the end, Zhou Yan only let him go when Siyuan had to go to class.

The doctor and his wife walked ahead with him. Zhou Yan followed behind like a ghost.

She couldn’t hold back again and was about to rush forward when an arm from behind pulled her into an embrace.

She crashed into his chest, opened her mouth, and bit him. “Why did I have to send him away! Why!”

Si Wen kissed the top of her head. “Because you love him.”

Zhou Yan bit him hard, without holding back. “Is it not love if I keep him by my side? I can take him somewhere far away, a place where no one knows I’m a prostitute. We’ll live a good life. We...”

Si Wen: “Because you love me.”

Zhou Yan let go of his arm and punched him with her fist. She knew.

Si Wen grabbed her hand. “Do you regret it?”

Zhou Yan was so sad. “It’s because I don’t regret it that I’m like this. But how could I not regret it? My gut feeling tells me that being with you means living a life of danger and walking into a dragon’s den. How could I not regret it?”

Si Wen hugged her again, carefully collecting her sadness and placing it in a corner of his heart.

He had to remember not to make her so sad again.

But he was relieved to see that she was becoming more open with her feelings.

In the past, he was so unbearable. He would bully her until she was almost dead and still not be satisfied. He bullied her so much that she wouldn’t even talk to him and her expression wouldn’t change. She was like a soulless puppet, posed in whatever way he liked, but he was still not satisfied.

He didn’t understand back then, so he lost her.

When he was lucky enough to see the determined look on her face, the one he had never seen before, the one that said she was definitely leaving him, he finally understood why he was never satisfied before. It turned out he wanted a flesh-and-blood Zhou Yan.

He wanted her to be loudly angry and happy. He wanted her to be as bright as she was in her youth. He wanted her to be carefree and never have to worry about which way the wind was blowing.

He would pave the way for her and always be her way out.

________________________________________

The Ministry of Public Security.

The minister threw a stack of documents at Feng Zhongliang. “Look! Look! What kind of chaotic news is this! I said you’ve been appearing and disappearing lately. Are you getting old and starting to fall in love?”

Feng Zhongliang caught the papers. “I was doing it for someone else.”

The minister’s face turned red. “Then tell me who it was for!”

He had never doubted Feng Zhongliang’s loyalty. This was Feng Zhongliang’s greatest achievement since becoming the director of the anti-narcotics bureau—no one inside would ever think he had any ties to drug dealers.

They only thought he had been so infatuated with a woman that he had done something so disgraceful as to be caught at a drug deal.

Feng Zhongliang couldn’t say. He just handed in his letter of resignation.

The minister was shocked, and his expression was as if he was about to eat him alive. “What in the world are you trying to do!”

Feng Zhongliang told him a half-truth. “I haven’t had enough of my career as a civil servant for half a lifetime, but my body can’t keep up. I don’t have many years left. Taking advantage of the intensity of this incident, I might as well retire to not cause trouble for the ministry and give newcomers a chance.”

The minister paced back and forth in front of his desk, holding a glass teacup, his knuckles turning white.

Feng Zhongliang looked out the window. “How long has it been since I’ve properly looked at the sun? I’ve forgotten if it’s glaring.”

The minister stopped, put the teacup on the table, and leaned his hands on the edge. He was stunned for a few seconds and then waved his hand. “Alright, go and do the paperwork!”

Feng Zhongliang didn’t rush to leave. He bowed deeply to the old minister. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for the country and the people. I will never forget how you overcame all difficulties to buy us time and opportunities, saving so many people from danger.”

The minister was old and didn’t like to hear these things. He directly kicked him out. “Get out of here!”

Feng Zhongliang insisted on completing the bow before turning and walking out.

When the door closed, the minister finally showed his sadness. He clenched his fists and pounded on the table, sighing three times.

The resignation process went smoothly, but the various levels of leadership couldn’t help but be confused by his choice. He kept answering their questions, and eventually, he just posted his resignation letter and medical report on the official website forum.

His kidney disease had reached an uncontrollable stage, which meant his life was numbered, and not even a god could save him.

Three days later, Feng Zhongliang received the “Approval to Resign from Public Office.” When he came out of the building, he looked up at the sun. Tears were scorched out of his eyes with a single glance, but he didn’t look away. He insisted on watching for a while until the tears ran down his wrinkled face and left a noticeable puddle on the ground.

He was reluctant to leave, but he had to. Some people could guard something until they died, and that was all. After death, there was nothing left.

Only when this result was presented to him did Feng Zhongliang understand that Si Wen wanted him to step down. The process was not important; the result was. Whatever the result was, that was Si Wen’s ultimate goal.

But would he go to all this trouble for just that? He probably also wanted his life.

His idea was not yet fully formed until he found out that Zhao Youjin had been released on bail. Then he was certain.

Even though he knew very little about Zhao Youjin, he knew she would panic when things went wrong, which was evident from the business scandal before.

So how did she manage to cover up the entire conspiracy? Si Wen must have coached her.

If Si Wen’s goal was as simple as making him step down, why would he go to all this unnecessary trouble? The fact that he got Zhao Youjin out meant he had another move planned, and it was very likely his life.

He wasn’t afraid. He just hoped that if Si Wen couldn’t let go of the past, he would come after him alone.

In the feud between him and Si Wen, Zhao Youjin was innocent.

She should have her own destiny. The law would give her a suitable ending, whatever it may be. It wouldn’t be to die with him.

________________________________________

There was no direct evidence to prove that Zhao Youjin was a drug dealer. Her shooting of Xue Peng was considered self-defense, at most an excessive use of force. However, she had to kill Xue Peng, a known drug dealer, or she would have been the one to die.

She used this line of defense against the anti-narcotics team, and her lawyer applied for her release on bail.

So, she was released after being in the bureau for a week.

When she got back to her home in Qizhou, she walked through the door, her legs giving way. She knelt down, her head resting against the door, the image of Xue Peng falling in the Xiyi Hotel flashing before her eyes.

She should have died with him so she wouldn’t have to be at Si Wen’s mercy anymore.

After Si Wen fired the shot, he had quietly told her what to say to the police, repeating it twice, just before Feng Zhongliang broke through the door.

She had originally wanted to accuse Si Wen, but even she knew that the gun only had her fingerprints on it. Putting aside whether Si Wen could explain his presence there, it was certain that she couldn’t be acquitted. Therefore, her accusation would be completely unconvincing.

So she naturally told the anti-narcotics team what Si Wen had told her, and as a result, she was granted bail.

After a short rest, the phone she used to contact Xue Peng and Si Wen rang. At first, she was so scared she trembled. Later, she remembered that Xue Peng was dead, so it could only be Si Wen calling. She trembled even more violently.

She hesitantly answered, not even daring to say “hello.”

Si Wen’s voice came through. “Next, Feng Zhongliang will look for you and ask if I taught you what to say to the police. He’ll also tell you to stay away from me.”

Zhao Youjin responded, “Then what should I say?”

“Ignore him. Draw a clear line with him and don’t let him know that Hu Lai is in my hands,” Si Wen said again.

Zhao Youjin asked an extra question. “What are you going to do with Hu Lai?”

Si Wen said nonchalantly, “I’m going to have him lure the drug lord from the U.S.-Mexico border out. Only when he comes out can I kill him and take his place. But this has to be done well, or you’ll die a miserable death.”

Zhao Youjin’s heart sank. Could a person like Si Wen, who was so calculating, also die a miserable death?

Her rationality didn’t allow her to think too much. She quickly asked him one last question. “Why did you save me?”

Si Wen: “It’s always easier to get things done with one more woman in and out. And I don’t mind giving up a piece of the pie.”

So he was interested in her social skills.

Zhao Youjin had no more questions.

________________________________________

Si Wen hung up the phone, a smirk playing on the left corner of his mouth.

With just a few words, Zhao Youjin would definitely spill the beans to Feng Zhongliang.

She was so afraid of death. After hearing that he might die a miserable death, she would undoubtedly choose to side with Feng Zhongliang, who had never lost a battle. Si Wen could use this fence-sitter effortlessly.

At that time, Feng Zhongliang would surely try to stop him. Then, the two of them, along with Ban Ma, would meet head-on, and he would send them all to hell together.

This was Si Wen.

He held a grudge, and he always got his revenge.

What about Feng Zhongliang? What about Zhao Youjin? What about the drug lord on the U.S.-Mexico border?

They all contributed to his unbearable past, so he would give them a horrific ending.