Chapter 27: A Life for a Life

Old Mrs. Jiang let out a long, weary sigh.

She continued, "You wanted to feign madness to deceive the police and evade your crimes. You are my granddaughter; if I tell the police that you are faking it, you will surely hate me."

"I don't want you to hate me, but you have taken a life, and you must pay the price. After much thought, I can only offer my own old life to settle your debt. Think of it as a life for a life."

Jiang Xue looked utterly stunned, tears streaming down her face incessantly.

"Grandma, I'm sorry. I really know I was wrong. I was just overwhelmed by the moment—I... I don't even know why I did it."

Suddenly, a man and a woman in their early fifties rushed over.

The woman lunged at Jiang Xue and slapped her across the face.

"You worthless wretch! You’ve brought such shame upon me! Of all things to learn, you chose to become a murderer? Your father and I have worked ourselves to the bone to support you and put you through university, and this is how you repay us?"

Jiang Xue clutched her burning cheek, too terrified to continue crying.

Unable to contain her rage, Jiang’s mother began to hit and strike her daughter with both hands.

"Have you lost your mind? You actually dared to kill someone! You’ve ruined your grandmother and dragged this whole family down. I’ll beat you to death right here and now, so we don't have to trouble the police officers to do it!"

Jiang’s father stood by with a leaden expression, watching his wife beat their daughter without moving a muscle.

Lu Chengfeng exchanged a look with Liu Xun.

Understanding, Liu Xun signaled the other investigators to step forward and pull the mother and daughter apart. He pulled a pair of handcuffs from his belt and, with a sharp click, secured them around Jiang Xue’s wrists.

Seeing her daughter being taken away by the police, Jiang’s mother collapsed onto the ground, wailing and hurling intermittent curses.

"Let's go," Lu Chengfeng said to Shu Yan.

Even from a distance, they could still hear the mother’s wailing and the father’s muffled attempts to hush her.

Because the car Lu Chengfeng was driving needed to be charged, he instructed Liu Xun and the other investigators to transport Jiang Xue back to the city first. He decided to leave the interrogation for tomorrow; everyone was too exhausted today.

Shi Wei refused to leave, insisting on waiting for Lu Chengfeng to finish charging the car. Since he wouldn't budge, Qin Yanbin suggested they find a place to charge the vehicle and then treat everyone to dinner as a token of gratitude toward Lu Chengfeng and Shu Yan.

Considering that Shu Yan had been busy all day and hadn't even had lunch, Lu Chengfeng agreed to Qin Yanbin’s proposal.

The four of them drove to the local police station to charge the car, then squeezed into Qin Yanbin’s vehicle to head to a restaurant. Qin Yanbin chose a popular local farmhouse-style eatery. He ordered a dry-pot goose, along with several side dishes; they would eat the meat first and then add bone broth for a hotpot-style finish.

By now, Shu Yan was ravenous. She wouldn't have minded just a bowl of plain rice.

She set aside her ladylike image, picked up her chopsticks, and began to eat the goose meat in silence.

Before she had finished the first piece, a goose leg was placed into her bowl.

She looked up to see Lu Chengfeng setting down the serving chopsticks. He said softly, "You’ve worked hard today. We wouldn't have solved the case so quickly without you. Eat up."

Shu Yan twitched the corner of her mouth. Not knowing what to say, she simply chose to remain silent and buried her head back into her meal.

Shi Wei watched them with a grin and teased, "Brother, I want a goose leg too."

Lu Chengfeng pulled a stern face. "Do you not have hands?"

Qin Yanbin quickly picked up a goose leg and placed it in Shi Wei’s bowl. "Here, take this."

Shi Wei let out a heavy, dramatic sigh. He wanted to call Lu Chengfeng out for prioritizing romance over friendship, but he didn't have the guts. He put on a disposable glove, took a bite of the goose leg, and looked at Shu Yan with a chuckle. "Director Shu, may I ask a personal question? Do you have a boyfriend?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lu Chengfeng delivered a heavy kick to Shi Wei’s foot under the table. Had Shu Yan not been sitting right there, Shi Wei would have jumped up. He could only grit his teeth and endure it, pretending nothing had happened.

Shu Yan was used to such questions, and she knew Shi Wei was asking on purpose. She was more concerned about whether Lu Chengfeng had told Shi Wei what happened that night. However, she could understand; after all, she had told her own best friend.

After a few seconds of silence, she replied, "No." She offered nothing more.

After graduating, Shi Wei had served as a police officer at the municipal bureau for a year. He had seen Shu Yan many times back then, though they had barely spoken. Shi Wei was just a rookie, while Shu Yan had been an intern at the bureau every summer and winter break since her freshman year. With her father’s reputation and her own natural talent, she was a star at the bureau. Many colleagues admired her, but because of her cold demeanor and the protection of Zhao Jianguo and Liang Feng, no one dared to confess to her.

"Do you remember me, Director Shu?" Shi Wei asked, taking another bite of the goose leg. "I worked at the municipal bureau for a year."

Shu Yan raised her eyelids to glance at him, her expression still detached. "I remember. I have a very good memory."

Shi Wei laughed and turned to Qin Yanbin. "Look at me, I forgot—Director Shu has the best memory in our bureau."

Qin Yanbin nodded and lifted his teacup. "Captain Lu, Director Shu, it’s inconvenient for us to drink since we’re driving, so I can only toast you with tea. I’ll treat you to alcohol next time. Thanks to you two, we caught the killer so quickly. I, Qin Yanbin, will never forget your great kindness."

Lu Chengfeng set down his chopsticks and clinked his cup against Qin Yanbin’s. "Mr. Qin, there’s no need for formalities. It is our duty."

Shu Yan also set down her chopsticks to clink her cup with Qin Yanbin’s.

"Include me in that," Shi Wei said, shamelessly raising his own cup.

Half an hour later, Shu Yan finished her meal, excused herself to the others, and headed to the restroom.

When she came back out, she saw Lu Chengfeng standing outside, seemingly waiting for someone.

Shu Yan stretched her back and asked as she walked, "What are you doing standing here? Feeding the mosquitoes?"

Lu Chengfeng smiled. "It’s dark out, and this place is remote. I was worried about your safety."

Shu Yan took it as a joke and retorted, "Captain Lu, do you really think any criminal would dare to target a woman wearing a police uniform?"

Lu Chengfeng replied, "You never know. We aren't in the city, after all."

Shu Yan raised an eyebrow and was about to walk away, but she was suddenly caught by a large hand and pulled into an embrace.

"What are you doing?" she exclaimed, though she kept her voice low, afraid of being overheard.

Lu Chengfeng murmured, "Don't move. Just for a moment—there’s something I want to explain to you."

Shu Yan stopped struggling and stared at him with wide eyes.

Lu Chengfeng’s lips curled into a faint smile. "I didn't tell Shi Wei about that night. However, I did ask him about you, so he assumes I’m interested in you. You don't need to pay him any mind."

Shu Yan’s ears turned slightly red. "Are you done? Can you let go now?"

Lu Chengfeng stared at her pink lips, desperately wanting to kiss her again. Heaven knows how much he had missed that night. Being near her every day without being able to be intimate was driving him mad. But he knew he couldn't force her, and he couldn't afford to make her resent him. He had to give her time until she opened her heart to accept him.

To Shu Yan’s surprise, Lu Chengfeng released her quite readily. She had been worried he might try to force a kiss on her, just as he had in the elevator.