The matters concerning Gao Ziyan were inextricably linked with Wang Ren. Wang Ren neither admitted nor denied it, but during the period of my bet with her, the relevant authorities had already agreed to Gao Ziyan's release on bail.
"Tang Nan, thank you!"
Gao Ziyan was still as charming as ever, approachable and natural like a girl next door, without any airs of her prominent family or the impression of intruding into someone else's marital life. If Qin Sisi hadn't told me that Gao Ziyan liked me, based on Gao Ziyan's demeanor, my judgment would have been that they were purely friends.
"You're welcome, we are all friends."
Saying this used to be easy and natural, but now, with these words, my heart stirred. I constantly thought about finding an opportunity to clarify this matter with Gao Ziyan.
"It should be fine for me to go to a restaurant for a meal. Shall we meet?"
Gao Ziyan extended an invitation, which I declined with a suitable reason.
"No, I'm not in Beijing right now."
At this point, Gao Ziyan's voice carried a hint of disappointment: "I've just been released on bail, and you're not going to help me anymore."
"No, I'll make sure you get back to Hong Kong," I said, truthfully.
"Then where did you go?"
"To the mountains."
Gao Ziyan wasn't one to dwell on things. After a few questions, she tactfully said, "You're such a busy person. Then I won't bother you. Let's get together when you return to Beijing."
...
As a person from the Northeast, I truly didn't understand the concept of people living in the mountains. Because where I'm from, there aren't any particularly high mountains. When you walk on the road, for the most part, the horizon stretches endlessly. Whether it's oil fields or farmland, they are all within your wide field of vision.
But Li Feng's hometown was different. After leaving Beijing and driving for a few hours on national highways, we began to enter mountain roads. Not only were the mountain roads steep, but gradually, the range of vision also narrowed. Mountains surrounded us, countless mountain ranges.
Those villages were hidden between the mountain ranges. Some with just a few houses were called a village, while others had more residents. However, the land around their homes was spacious, with enough space in each yard to park several trucks. They were sparsely distributed, some living by the mountainside, others by the fields. The small paths winding through the villages also rose and fell, and we encountered simple, honest faces.
...
Li Feng's hometown was one such village. It was hard to imagine that someone who grew up in a place like this could be a natural schemer. The term "natural schemer" was a nickname I gave Li Feng based on Wang Ren's evaluation of him. Someone who, from a young age, could scheme for survival, learning it on their own, wasn't that a natural schemer?
Da Huang was busy with restaurant matters, so I asked Chang Dachun to drive me. Since there were few opportunities for us to spend time together, I directly asked him how things were going with Xiao Zian.
"An Xiaoyue."
Chang Dachun was very professional and emphasized Xiao Zian's new name.
"How are you getting along with An Xiaoyue?"
"It's okay, we're just living together."
I knew Chang Dachun's personality quite well, and I was more concerned about Xiao Zian, knowing about Xiao Zian's orientation issues. After thinking for a while, I still asked: "Have you two...?"
"Of course, we're married now."
"Oh~" I awkwardly ended the conversation.
"I know about An Xiaoyue's past; she told me everything. Marriage first, then love, things like this happen. Tang Nan, you're my brother, and I'll tell you the truth. An Xiaoyue doesn't like me. She lives with me and sleeps with me only for her son's sake. And I know this. I'm willing to play along because I like her. I believe that as we spend more time together, she will come to like me too."
Chang Dachun's honesty made my face flush. I also felt a bit guilty. If our fates hadn't become intertwined, he wouldn't have had to go through such emotional turmoil.
"I'm sorry, Brother Chang, for getting you involved."
I spoke the truth, but Chang Dachun seemed displeased and his face fell: "What does it have to do with you? You weren't even in Beijing when I developed feelings for her. Tang Nan, it's not me lecturing you, but your mental breakdown in Beijing a while ago shows something: it means you're under too much psychological pressure. Don't think you're the only one who can solve problems in this world. Everyone is a superhero in their own home, especially men. Now, my daughter, An Xiaoyue, and her son, we've formed a new family. We have a responsibility to protect this family, and I will be the pillar of this home."
...
I believed Chang Dachun's words. For years, he had been our elder brother, our role model, and our pride.
We were nearing Li Feng's hometown when I received a call from Wang Ren.
"You went to Li Feng's hometown?"
"Yes, Senior Aunt. Did you send someone to follow me?"
Wang Ren replied with a laugh: "Don't joke with me. You know perfectly well that I can have people follow you in Beijing, but how can I follow you in the mountains?"
"Then why are you calling me?"
I thought that even if Wang Ren knew my whereabouts, there was no need for this call.
"Someone in Beijing was following you and has already reported to me. They said you and Chang Dachun left Beijing by car this morning. They asked if they should follow, and I said no. I guessed you were going to Li Feng's hometown, but I still needed to call you. But I was too busy today, only now am I calling you."
"Does Senior Aunt have any instructions?" I asked, with a hint of sarcasm. Wang Ren easily diffused it: "Yes, the pot-stewed chicken there is delicious."
"You've been here?"
My heart skipped a beat. If Wang Ren had been here, then everything I was doing was still within her control. Wang Ren chuckled and didn't answer my question directly. She changed the subject and said, "Because my subordinates reported this way, that Chang Dachun went with you, I can't help but tell you something in advance."
"What is it?" I had a bad feeling.
"I don't think you can change Li Feng..."
"Pouring cold water?" my tone was icy.
"Hear me out."
"You may speak."
"I don't think you can change Li Feng, so I've arranged a second move in preparation. The person chosen for this second move is Chang Dachun, who is with you."
"This joke is too much?" Even as I said this, I was very nervous, my palms sweating.
"Until you prove my theory wrong, my judgment has always been correct. Whether it's Li Feng or Chang Dachun, their future is that of murderers. As a schemer who can see the trend, I feel sorrow for this, but there's nothing I can do. Once I determine someone will commit a crime, no one has ever changed their fate so far."
The more confident Wang Ren was, the more it affected my performance. I glanced at Chang Dachun and inexplicably felt my nervousness intensifying. I could only take deep breaths to calm the storm in my heart. Chang Dachun, driving, also noticed my unusual state: "What's wrong, Tang Nan!"
"Nothing!" I didn't want to say. How could I explain this?
"You don't look like you're fine," Chang Dachun pressed.
Everything Wang Ren said was too vague. She wasn't like a deity who could declare someone guilty and they would be. From my perspective, this wasn't a skill, it was sheer nonsense. However, given what I carried within me, I couldn't completely dismiss Wang Ren's words. If everything Wang Ren was doing now was a "move" by a schemer, then the most difficult part of this move was that the participant had no way of seeing through the scheme.
Seeing through the scheme was a crucial part for a schemer. Without understanding the scheme, how could one plan? Without targeted planning, how could one break the scheme? The current situation was utterly disheartening. If I didn't want to be led by Wang Ren, I had to break free from her. Yet, I couldn't completely escape her; without her guidance, everything I did felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. Now, with my friends in such dire straits, there wasn't enough time for me...
Li Feng's situation had already made me doubt myself. Then, Teacher Wang Ren threw out a trump card at this moment, and the person accused of murder was Chang Dachun!
This Chang Dachun, my elder brother for many years, a man of steady temperament and good social skills, now with a family atmosphere filled with warmth. How could I believe he would commit a crime!
Li Feng's issue hadn't been resolved, and the shadow of Chang Dachun loomed like a mountain, pressing down on me. It was truly one wave after another!
Chang Dachun was still waiting for my answer. How was I supposed to respond? Suddenly, I saw the village sign and immediately changed the subject: "Is this Li Feng's hometown?"