Lu Feixiang was not currently directly linked to the Mou Dianpei case, so he was allowed to leave after his statement last night. Zeng Shu was very worried about him and waited until he came out. Lu Feixiang was still not very talkative; it was Zeng Shu who did most of the talking.

After being forgiven, Zeng Shu felt much more relaxed and wanted to press on to clear up the other matters for which Lu Feixiang had been wrongly accused.

“Don’t worry, you don’t need to be involved. I’ll handle everything,” Zeng Shu said. “After Xue Bin and I broke up, we’re just normal acquaintances now. He might still hold a grudge about what happened back then. I want to contact him, clear the air, and also have him recall what happened with the theft in your dorm. And the lab incident…”

Lu Feixiang listened distractedly. Zeng Shu’s words barely registered, but refusing or explaining would require more energy than he had. His mind was completely occupied by the look in Shen Wei’s eyes in the hallway, leaving him unable to think about anything else.

So, he agreed to whatever Zeng Shu said. Zeng Shu had been apprehensive, thinking he would disagree. Seeing him go along with her plans, she suddenly felt confident. “I’ll get right on it. Brother Feixiang, if you’re free, can I treat you to a meal?”

Lu Feixiang snapped back to reality. “Sorry, I have to get back to the shop.”

Zeng Shu was a little disappointed. She had seen the shop; it was small and in poor condition. If it weren’t for her, Lu Feixiang wouldn’t have had to waste two years there. But she was well-mannered and knew her limits. Since Lu Feixiang insisted on going back, she didn’t press him. There was still a lot of work to be done to clear his name anyway.

Lu Feixiang took the bus back to “Old Shen’s Box Lunch.” A regular customer complained, asking why he had opened for a while only to close again, and whether he was still in business. Lu Feixiang was in no mood to explain. As he looked up, he saw Chen Xiangli.

“Auntie Chen.” Lu Feixiang’s expression turned uneasy the moment he saw her. He subconsciously glanced around. “Why are you here?”

Chen Xiangli looked worried. “While I was at work today, I heard people say you were taken away by the police. I rushed over this afternoon, but you were closed, and I didn’t dare to call you. What happened?”

Lu Feixiang was about to speak but suddenly caught himself and changed his words. “It’s nothing. The police were investigating my withdrawal from school.”

Chen Xiangli peered into the shop doubtfully. “Then why don’t I see your Uncle Shen?”

“He ran into a police officer he knew at the station. It seems they’re discussing Uncle Tan’s case again.”

Chen Xiangli frowned, looking very concerned. “Sigh, he just can’t let it go.”

Lu Feixiang’s gaze on Chen Xiangli was a bit strange, but she didn’t notice. She sat at the stall for a while. “I just came to check on you both. I have to take care of a patient tonight, so I’ll be heading back.”

“Okay, take care.”

After Chen Xiangli left, Lu Feixiang watched her retreating figure, his expression gradually darkening.

Meanwhile, after returning home, Zeng Shu immediately contacted Xue Bin through a mutual friend. Although the incident back then had caused a huge stir and was embarrassing for both of them, two years had passed, and they had each moved on with new lives. When Xue Bin received Zeng Shu’s call, he was surprisingly able to talk calmly.

Zeng Shu told him the truth and what she was currently doing. Xue Bin was surprised for a moment. “So that’s how it was.”

They talked for a long time. Xue Bin finally said that he was the most to blame for Lu Feixiang’s withdrawal from school and that he also wanted to compensate him. As for the dorm theft, he gave a bitter smile. “Our dorm did have things stolen, but I never suspected Lu Feixiang. I just didn’t think he was that kind of person. If it weren’t for you two being together… Forget it. I was just blinded by anger and lost my mind, only wanting him to drop out.”

Xue Bin promised he would find out the truth about the theft.

Zeng Shu was very happy, feeling that past mistakes could be corrected. Lu Feixiang had only lost two years, and they would do their best to pull him back onto the right path.

Shen Wei was temporarily detained at the Municipal Bureau, awaiting further investigation. Through several interrogations, he never changed his testimony.

News that the owner of “Old Shen’s Box Lunch” was in trouble spread quickly around the Third Hospital. All sorts of rumors flew, and gossip soon linked Shen Wei to Mou Dianpei’s death.

On this day, a “familiar face” arrived at the Municipal Bureau—Fu Shun’an.

He requested to see Shen Wei in his capacity as a lawyer. However, according to regulations, it was not yet time for him to see his client. His appearance seemed more like an attempt to probe for information from both the police and Shen Wei.

Ji Chenjiao received Fu Shun’an. “Lawyer Fu, you’re early.”

Fu Shun’an said, sounding a bit anxious, “Shen Wei is an old classmate and friend of mine. I’m very worried about him being in this predicament. Please forgive me if I’m being presumptuous. I’ve said it before, if he ever gets into trouble, I will definitely defend him.”

Ji Chenjiao looked at Fu Shun’an with cold eyes. “But an experienced lawyer like you should know that you can’t see Shen Wei right now, shouldn’t you?”

Fu Shun’an sighed. “It’s just that I’m anxious. What exactly is his situation?”

Ji Chenjiao let him stew for a moment, then said suddenly, “Shen Wei confessed to drugging Mou Dianpei.”

Fu Shun’an’s eyes widened instantly. Ji Chenjiao pretended to observe him casually, feeling that Fu Shun’an’s surprise concealed a hint of delight.

This was perhaps the answer he had come here hoping to hear.

“There must be some misunderstanding!” Fu Shun’an was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. “How did Old Shen get the drug? How did he know Mou Dianpei was the killer?”

Ji Chenjiao cut him off abruptly. “You seem very eager to know the answer.”

Fu Shun’an froze, then quickly said, “Please let me know when I can see him.”

After Fu Shun’an left, Ling Lie leisurely strolled over to Ji Chenjiao. Ji Chenjiao said, “Still not planning to ask Shen Wei about Fu Shun’an and Chen Xiangli?”

Ling Lie raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you the one who said that would be too cruel?”

Ji Chenjiao said, “But he’ll find out sooner or later.”

“It’s different. Finding out when the truth is revealed versus finding out now has two different psychological effects,” Ling Lie said. “That’s why I think the breakthrough right now should be with Lu Feixiang.”

Ji Chenjiao’s gaze didn’t leave Ling Lie’s face. Ling Lie grinned at him. “Looking at your superior again.”

Ji Chenjiao chuckled. “You always become gentle in these strange ways.”

Ling Lie quickly hugged himself and shivered.

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

Ling Lie: “What’s this about being gentle? It’s giving me goosebumps.”

After insisting on staying open for two days, Lu Feixiang temporarily closed “Old Shen’s Box Lunch.” His cooking skills were not as good as Shen Wei’s, and with so much on his mind, the food he made was barely edible. If he kept the shop open, he would surely ruin Shen Wei’s reputation.

Having been turned away at the Municipal Bureau, Fu Shun’an came to find him. Ever since Chen Xiangli’s visit, Lu Feixiang had a new question—were Chen Xiangli and Fu Shun’an really as kind as Shen Wei thought?

That day, he had seen an emotion in Chen Xiangli’s eyes that shouldn’t have been there—glee. With Shen Wei detained, from what standpoint would Chen Xiangli feel gleeful?

And Fu Shun’an, if it weren’t for Fu Shun’an, Uncle Shen would never have…

Lu Feixiang didn’t want to let his thoughts run wild. Uncle Shen had taken all the blame upon himself to protect the people he wanted to protect. This included him, as well as Chen Xiangli and Fu Shun’an. Should he really be doubting Fu and Chen now?

Fu Shun’an said, “I went to the Municipal Bureau to see Old Shen. He’s doing okay. I will defend him, but with the police present, there were many things he couldn’t tell me.”

Lu Feixiang was startled. “You were able to see Uncle Shen?”

Fu Shun’an was vague. “I pulled some strings. Xiao Lu, you’re crucial right now. Can you tell me everything you know? Let’s save Old Shen together. I don’t believe he would poison Mou Dianpei, but if he really did it, I can also get his sentence reduced to the minimum, just three to five years.”

“He…” The words were on the tip of Lu Feixiang’s tongue when he suddenly felt an extremely strong sense of contradiction. Wait a minute, why would Fu Shun’an say he didn’t believe Uncle Shen would poison Mou Dianpei? Anyone could have been unaware, but not Fu Shun’an!

He stared at Fu Shun’an, his gaze growing colder. Fu Shun’an looked back warily. “Xiao Lu, what’s wrong?”

They looked into each other’s eyes, like a silent probing in the deep darkness. Both sides extended venomous tongues, clashed briefly, and then retracted them.

Lu Feixiang looked away, putting a stack of plates back into a cabinet. “Sorry, I’m not feeling well. Uncle Shen never talks to me about his family matters. I can only guess that he found out Mou Dianpei was the killer, so…”

Fu Shun’an’s reaction changed. The feigned concern vanished. “Fine, I’ll think of another way then.”

Lu Feixiang sat in front of the closed shop. The phone on the table kept vibrating. It was a message from Zeng Shu, saying that Xue Bin was returning to the country and that they were actively contacting old classmates to find the real thief.

“Self-congratulatory,” Lu Feixiang muttered coldly to himself. “What’s the use of doing all this now?”

He suddenly had a violent urge to delete Zeng Shu. Compensation, justice—he didn’t want any of it. He couldn’t afford it.

Just as he was about to turn and grab his phone, a figure who had been appearing frequently lately came into view. His chest tightened involuntarily. He stood up. “What is it?”

Ling Lie glanced into the shop. “Do you have any mung bean soup?”

“We’re already closed.”

“Then I’ll go buy some next door.”

Five minutes later, Ling Lie returned with two cups of iced mung bean soup, handing one to Lu Feixiang. Lu Feixiang said, “What do you really want to ask?”

“It seems to me you’re the one with more questions.”

“…”

“Fu Shun’an came to see you? What did he say?”

“I have no obligation to tell you.”

“Oh, trying to protect him? What if he’s deceiving you?”

Lu Feixiang’s face darkened. “What do you know?”

Ling Lie spread his hands. “I don’t know anything. I’m just guessing. Did he tell you he saw Shen Wei?”

Lu Feixiang’s expression instantly gave him away to Ling Lie. “Then why don’t you think about it? How powerful could he be, to see whoever he wants at the Municipal Bureau?”

Lu Feixiang’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down several times. He seemed to want to speak but was still hesitating.

Ling Lie said, “Do you know what the relationship is between Chen Xiangli and Fu Shun’an?”

“They’re… just friends, aren’t they?”

“Is that what Shen Wei told you?”

Lu Feixiang fell silent.

Ling Lie: “Why don’t you go see for yourself? Since you’re not opening the shop anyway, go see where Chen Xiangli goes after work, and then see where Fu Shun’an goes after work. If you have any thoughts, remember to contact me.”

After finishing the mung bean soup, Ling Lie clicked his tongue. “Not as good as the one your Boss Shen makes. This shop, it’s better if it continues to exist.”

Lu Feixiang’s mind was in turmoil, his suspicion of Chen Xiangli and Fu Shun’an growing heavier. Restless, he changed into a black outfit, put on a baseball cap, and slipped into the Third Hospital under the cover of night.

He saw nothing that day. Chen Xiangli got off work after eleven and returned to her rented apartment alone. But the next afternoon at five, he saw Chen Xiangli leave the Third Hospital not in her caregiver’s uniform, and Fu Shun’an was waiting to pick her up at the entrance.

Both of them were smiling, and Chen Xiangli even playfully nudged Fu Shun’an.

The weather was hot, yet Lu Feixiang felt as if he could hardly breathe. He immediately called Ling Lie, his voice trembling, “I saw Fu Shun’an and Chen Xiangli together.”

Ling Lie: “Then are you interested in coming to the Municipal Bureau? Or should I come pick you up?”

Fu and Chen had already driven away. Lu Feixiang stood like a wooden post under the scorching sun. His eye sockets burned, and the heat waves before him seemed to transform into Shen Wei’s sorrowful face. He felt it was so unjust for Shen Wei!

Municipal Bureau, interrogation room.

Ling Lie: “Are you here to turn yourself in?”

Lu Feixiang was shocked, the muscles of his jaw clearly visible on his cheeks.

Ling Lie smiled. “The day you ran out, Shen Wei stood before me just like this and said he was turning himself in.”

The red veins in Lu Feixiang’s eyes looked like they were about to burst. He lowered his head heavily, his voice hoarse. “Uncle Shen, I’m sorry.”

Ling Lie: “Say your apologies to Shen Wei in person later. Right now, I need you to tell me the truth you know.”

Lu Feixiang sighed deeply and glanced at the operating camera. “Uncle Shen is my benefactor. If it weren’t for his encouragement and for taking me in, I might not have been able to withstand the blow of dropping out of school and might have taken my own life. So I would do anything for him. He doesn’t like to talk about his family matters, but after spending so much time together, I more or less know that his older brother was murdered, the police were useless, and they haven’t found the killer in seventeen years. I also know that he considers Chen Xiangli family and is very grateful to his friend Fu Shun’an.”

“He used to just dislike Mou Dianpei. He said Mou Dianpei was a man of poor character but was unlikely to be the killer. That day, it was Fu Shun’an who told Uncle Shen that the killer was Mou Dianpei.”

Lu Feixiang couldn’t help but clench his teeth. “It was Fu Shun’an who instigated Uncle Shen to seek revenge!”

In Lu Feixiang’s impression, Chen Xiangli was like an older sister to Shen Wei, taking good care of him. Occasionally, she would bring over a nutritious soup she had made for him. After he became part of “Old Shen’s Box Lunch,” he could also enjoy a bowl along with Shen Wei. Shen Wei treated Chen Xiangli like a sister and a sister-in-law, so he treated her as an aunt. That’s why when he saw Chen Xiangli being harassed by Liu Xuelin, he stepped up and beat Liu Xuelin up.

As for Fu Shun’an, the lawyer who was always impeccably dressed had appeared before him only a handful of times. But Shen Wei had told him that Fu Shun’an was outstanding and righteous, and that he owed much of his own progress over the years to Fu Shun’an’s help. Regarding the school withdrawal incident, Shen Wei had also consulted Fu Shun’an to see if Lu Feixiang’s name could be cleared so he could return to campus.

That was the first time Lu Feixiang met Fu Shun’an. Fu Shun’an had told him cruelly but rationally that in reality, not all mistakes could be corrected, and not all grievances could be redressed. Some people live with injustice for a lifetime because the cost of fighting back is something that insignificant people like them cannot bear.

He had asked what he should do then. Fu Shun’an said to forget what was lost, seize the present, and if he still wanted to study medicine, he should work hard to earn money, use all his spare time to study, and take the self-study exam in two years.

For the past two years, that was indeed what Lu Feixiang had been doing.

If he had diverted any energy to ponder anything else, it was to figure out the murder case in Shen Wei’s family. Since Shen Wei wouldn’t tell him the details, he secretly looked through old newspapers. His library card from the medical school hadn’t been canceled when he dropped out, and he would go to the library to read whenever he had time.

There, he found out about the cases of Tan Fabin and Bi Jiang, and knew that Shen Wei and Fu Shun’an had never given up searching for the killer. The difference was that Shen Wei was in the open, while Fu Shun’an, as an elite in the legal circle, couldn’t come forward himself and provided clues to Shen Wei in secret.

That day, Lu Feixiang felt unwell. He fainted halfway through his afternoon work, but fortunately, he woke up after a few minutes. Shen Wei told him to stop working and wanted to take him to the hospital.

But there were only the two of them in the shop. Going to the hospital meant closing up. Lu Feixiang insisted against it. Being poor meant that if you had a minor illness or pain, you just had to endure it.

Shen Wei sighed, knowing he was afraid of losing income and spending money. So he went to the pharmacy next door, bought some medicine, and told him to go sleep on the second floor.

The restaurant was said to have a second floor, but it was actually just a short, narrow loft. Shen Wei himself didn’t live there; he only rested there when he was really tired.

After taking the medicine, Lu Feixiang fell into a groggy sleep. When he woke up, it was already dark. The heavy feeling in his body and the splitting headache from the afternoon had subsided. He was about to go downstairs for a drink of water and to help Shen Wei clean up when he suddenly heard voices from below the stairs.

There was a concrete floor between the upstairs loft and the shop, but also wooden planks with gaps in between. From above, he could see what was happening below.

It was only eight o’clock, but Shen Wei had already closed the shop. Fu Shun’an was in the shop. Both were smoking, the air thick with smoke, and Shen Wei’s expression was terrible.

What happened? He instinctively held his breath, like a ghost clinging to the ceiling.

“This is what I found out by asking around everywhere. Mou Dianpei is a man who cares a lot about his pride. He let his guard down when he was drunk. You can tell this is his voice.” As Fu Shun’an spoke, he tapped his index finger on a small black rectangular object.

Lu Feixiang looked closely; it seemed to be a recording pen.

Shen Wei nodded. A long ash fell from his cigarette and landed on his knee, but he didn’t move.

“I never thought it was him, that bastard!” Shen Wei gritted his teeth. “How could he act so nonchalantly, coming to my shop to eat? And even call me brother?”

Fu Shun’an: “He’s showing off to you. The police couldn’t do anything to him back then, and now he’s parading in front of you, a victim’s family member, and you still treat him as a fellow townsman. Isn’t that enough to make him smug?”

Shen Wei gritted his teeth. “He’s insane!”

Lu Feixiang must have had enough sleep. Although he only heard this fragmented conversation, he quickly understood that Fu Shun’an had found the killer in the Tan Fabin case and had recorded Mou Dianpei’s own confession.

“I’m going to the police station right now!” Shen Wei snatched the recording pen, but Fu Shun’an immediately stopped him. “Old Shen, don’t be rash.”

Shen Wei said urgently, “I’ve been looking for him for seventeen years! I’ve finally found him! I’m going to have the police arrest him, how is that rash?”

Fu Shun’an shook his head. “Have you forgotten what happened back then? The police suspected him so strongly, but they still had to release him due to lack of evidence. Seventeen years have passed. How can they arrest him now?”

Shen Wei was stunned. “But isn’t there a recording? He admitted it himself!”

“A secret recording can’t be used as evidence, and he was drunk at the time. Nothing he said can be counted,” Fu Shun’an said. “Old Shen, I’m a criminal defense lawyer. Trust me.”

Shen Wei was like a child who had been given hope only to have it snatched away. He slumped back onto the stool, his hand holding the recording pen trembling. “Then… then what should we do? If this can’t be used as evidence, can it be a clue? I’ll give the clue to the police and let them gather evidence!”

Fu Shun’an said sadly, “How can they gather evidence? No evidence was left back then. Do you want the police to get a confession from Mou Dianpei? How could he possibly admit it? As long as he doesn’t confess, the police can’t arrest him.”

Shen Wei: “Is there no other way? We’ve come this far, and we can only watch the killer remain at large?”

Fu Shun’an fell silent. Lu Feixiang, sitting on the wooden planks, was also silent.

After a few minutes, Fu Shun’an said, “Some evils, indeed, cannot be punished by law. I’ve been in this profession for over a decade, don’t I know that? This is the helplessness of reality. But in fact, revenge doesn’t have to rely on the law.”

Shen Wei was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

Fu Shun’an: “Old Shen, let me ask you, do you want to avenge Brother Tan?”

Shen Wei’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

“You do, you dream of it!” Fu Shun’an’s voice was very low. Listening from the darkness, Lu Feixiang thought it sounded like some kind of curse.

Shen Wei: “I…”

“Brother Tan can’t die in vain! The law can’t punish Mou Dianpei, so are we just going to let trash like him get away with it?” Fu Shun’an’s eyes were red, and his voice trembled with emotion. “Old Shen, think about the life you’ve lived for these seventeen years! Think about the life Sister Xiangli has lived! You were supposed to be prosperous and happy!”

Shen Wei fiercely grabbed Fu Shun’an’s arm. At that moment, neither of them spoke. Lu Feixiang closed his eyes, as if hearing the struggle from Shen Wei’s soul.

He suddenly thought, Uncle Shen saved me, gave me a place to stay. When no one believed in me, it was Uncle Shen who believed in me. When I couldn’t feel the warmth of family, it was Uncle Shen who took me to his home to make dumplings and eat New Year’s Eve dinner.

Uncle Shen was a good person, an honest man. Why couldn’t he help Uncle Shen for once?

“I understand,” Shen Wei said hoarsely, quickly putting away the recording pen. “I won’t go to the police. I’ll think of another way.”

Fu Shun’an instructed, “Don’t let anything slip. Mou Dianpei was dead drunk and doesn’t know what he said. If you make up your mind, don’t mention it to him, just directly…”

The rest of his words disappeared into an exchange of looks.

Shen Wei nodded, then walked Fu Shun’an to the door. There was no movement downstairs for a long time. Lu Feixiang didn’t dare to move, guessing that Shen Wei was probably smoking at the entrance.

Half an hour later, Shen Wei finally returned, his steps heavy. He sat alone at a table, letting out a deep sigh after a short while.

Lu Feixiang came downstairs. Shen Wei’s expression changed from surprise to evasiveness. “How are you? Feeling better?”

Lu Feixiang said, “Uncle Shen, I heard everything.”