First, then, love.

First Detention Center.

trial room.

The stark white light shone on the iron chair.

Wang Lei was taken in for questioning.

He still had no idea what was happening outside.

He sat in the interrogation chair, legs crossed, looking impatient.

"Officer, I've told you everything I need to say. That woman fell on her own; I didn't lay a hand on her. I'm warning you, release me right now. My buddy is Deputy Chief Sun."

The iron door to the interrogation room was pushed open.

He Zheng walked in.

He wasn't wearing a police uniform, but a black short-sleeved T-shirt, and was carrying a thick file bag.

He pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Wang Lei.

I threw the file folder on the table.

When Wang Lei saw He Zheng's face, he was first stunned, then his anger flared up.

"It's you! You dare hit me! This is police brutality! I'm going to file a complaint against you!"

He Zheng ignored his rage.

Lean forward and place your hands crossed on the table.

Wang Lei is the legal representative of Hongda Building Materials Company.

He Zheng spoke, his voice completely flat.

"Yesterday at noon, he instructed his men to throw paint at Yin Xia's parents' house and intimidate the witnesses."

"This afternoon, your CFO confessed. Two sets of books, evading taxes amounting to twelve million."

"In the shed behind the factory, there were seven migrant workers you had locked up for three days. One of them had a broken leg, and the injury was classified as serious."

With each word He Zheng spoke, Wang Lei's arrogance diminished.

My legs started shaking uncontrollably.

"You... what nonsense are you talking about... I don't know what you're talking about..." Wang Lei stammered.

He Zheng sneered.

He untied the thread from the file folder.

He pulled out a stack of photos and slammed them down in front of Wang Lei.

"have no idea?"

The photos show a shut-down underground casino, loan shark IOUs with bloody handprints, and the horrific wounds of rescued migrant workers.

Finally, He Zheng pulled out an official document and slapped it on top of the photos.

"Your sworn brother, Sun Zhigang, was taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation two hours ago. This is the official notification."

He Zheng stared at Wang Lei's face, which had completely lost its color.

"Your protective umbrella has collapsed."

"Suspected of organized crime, illegal detention, intentional injury, and tax evasion."

He Zheng spoke slowly and deliberately, like the King of Hell reading from the Book of Life and Death.

"Fifteen years at the very least, and you'd better prepare to spend the rest of your life in jail."

Wang Lei stared blankly at the official document on the table.

Sun Zhigang has been arrested?

It's over, it's over.

A tremendous fear instantly overwhelmed him.

He tried to stand up, but his legs were too weak to move.

Suddenly, a dripping sound came from under the partition of the interrogation chair.

A foul stench filled the interrogation room.

Wang Lei wet his pants.

He slumped in the chair, his whole body convulsing violently as if he were electrocuted, his face covered in snot and tears.

"Officer... I confess... I confess everything... Please reduce my sentence..."

He Zheng stood up.

Looking at this once arrogant thug who used to beat women to death.

A flash of extreme disgust crossed his eyes.

A cowardly bully who preys on the weak.

"Your explanation is for the judge to hear."

He Zheng turned around and strode out of the interrogation room.

The iron gate slammed shut behind him.

Lock all filth and evil completely in darkness.

*

The iron gate slammed shut behind them.

He Zheng walked to the restroom at the end of the corridor and turned on the faucet.

The cool water washed over his large palms.

He squeezed out a large dollop of hand soap and scrubbed it expressionlessly, trying to completely wash away the stench of scum that had clung to the interrogation room.

Dafei walked in carrying a stack of documents, his face full of excitement.

"Team Leader He, the procuratorate intervened early, and they can turn a zero-confession case into an ironclad one. All of Hongda Building Materials' accounts have been frozen. Wang Lei is completely finished this time."

He Zheng tore off a tissue to wipe his hands and threw the crumpled tissue into the trash can.

"The rest will be handled through legal proceedings. Keep a close eye on it and don't let anyone take advantage of the situation."

"Understood!" Dafei stood at attention.

He Zheng walked out of the detention center gate; the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling.

He took out his phone, and a WeChat message popped up on the screen.

Shu Yao sent: 【Is Yin Xia's matter resolved? I'll open a bottle of good wine tonight, and get back early.】

He Zheng's lips curled into a very faint smile.

He put his phone back in his pocket and strode toward his car parked on the side of the road.

*

On the steps in front of the courthouse.

Yin Xia was clutching two pieces of paper tightly in her hand.

One of them is a divorce certificate.

The other document is the court's criminal judgment.

Wang Lei is suspected of multiple crimes, including organized crime, provoking trouble, and intentional injury.

He was convicted of multiple crimes and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

All illegal gains were confiscated.

Wang Lei's unreasonable parents were slumped on the floor of the courthouse, slapping their thighs and wailing, but no one dared to go up and help them up.

Yin Xia didn't look back.

She walked down the steps, one by one, into the sunlight.

Shu Yao, wearing sunglasses, leaned against the car door, watching Yin Xia walk over.

Yin Xia had lost a lot of weight, and the bruises on her face had completely faded. She had changed into a clean white shirt and tied her hair into a neat ponytail.

Although there was still a faint scar at the corner of his eye, those eyes, which were once filled with fear and despair, were now shining with an astonishing light.

There was light and life inside.

"Senior sister." Yin Xia walked over, her eyes reddening, and suddenly hugged Shu Yao.

"Thank you... If it weren't for you and Officer He, I might have been beaten to death by him." Yin Xia's voice choked with emotion, but it also conveyed a sense of relief.

Shu Yao patted her on the back.

"Don't thank me, bad people will get their comeuppance sooner or later."

Shu Yao opened the passenger door and shoved Yin Xia inside.

The two went to a quiet coffee shop.

Shu Yao took out a letter of intent for employment from her bag and pushed it in front of Yin Xia.

"I've already spoken to Principal Liu of the children's arts center. Your basic skills are solid; you're more than qualified to teach violin. You'll get a base salary plus hourly rates, plus all the benefits of social insurance and housing fund."

As Yin Xia looked at the letter of intent, tears welled up and fell onto the table with a "plop".

She held the paper in both hands as if it were a rare treasure.

"Senior sister, I'll report for duty tomorrow, and I'll definitely do my best."

Shu Yao took off her sunglasses, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents.

"Live well and make up for all the violin lessons you didn't finish playing before."

*

night.

A huge 28-inch silver suitcase was spread out on the bedroom carpet.

Shu Yao was sitting cross-legged on the ground, stuffing clothes inside.

Tomorrow morning, she will set off with the orchestra to begin her first national tour as the principal cellist.

I traveled to seven cities and couldn't go home for half a month.

The four kittens were already running all over the place, and were now using her silk pajamas as a cat tree, tearing and chewing them wildly.

"Go away, stop causing trouble here." Shu Yao picked up a black and white kitten and casually tossed it into the cat bed next to her.

A soft click came from the security door as it was unlocked by fingerprint.