"You've heard that Wang Guohua is dead, right? His embezzled money has never been found. I contacted his son who was studying abroad. According to his son, apart from the more than 500,000 yuan that Wang Guohua took out at once when he first went abroad, there were no other major expenses. You wouldn't believe it even if I told you, but Wang Guohua was the kind of person who would mend his underwear three times before throwing it away. I really can't believe that he swallowed this money all by himself."
"So what do you think is going on? Didn't you say that all the evidence and clues point to him? I've always told you, intuition can lie, but evidence won't."
"No, it's not just intuition. A few days ago, I went to the Construction Bureau where Wang Guohua worked. I just looked through some old documents and talked to some people. I wasn't expecting any breakthroughs, but I actually discovered something new. Someone within the bureau reported that a year ago, the Development Planning Department approved a piece of land for a hot spring resort under construction by Guangli Company, a subsidiary of Jiangyuan Group. There might have been procedural problems. The person in charge of Guangli is surnamed Ye, named Ye Bingwen, who is the younger brother of Ye Binglin, the chairman of Jiangyuan. Ye Bingwen and Wang Guohua have always had a close relationship. I have reason to believe that Ye Bingwen may have given Wang Guohua some benefits. And this was the last project Wang Guohua handled before he committed the crime. If I can find this money and follow the clues, maybe things will progress. But I have some doubts. Why is it that when I dealt with the Construction Bureau so many times before, no one or any information revealed even the slightest problem with this matter? How come this was exposed as soon as Wang Guohua died? Dad, do you think this means that there is someone behind this case, and that there are hidden secrets?"
Dean Han paused for a moment and said, "In my opinion, this case involves too many things, and you can't finish investigating it in a short time. Ultimately, this is a matter for the West City Court. Your priority should be to report to the Municipal Court as soon as possible. You can hand over the things you have to other colleagues."
Han Shu was somewhat surprised. "Dad, didn't you always tell me to finish what I start?"
Dean Han stopped what he was doing and said, "I've said before that if you can't finish a task, you should first examine your own ability to do the task, not the difficulty of the task. How come you don't remember that again?"
Han Shu was outmaneuvered by his father, which meant that all his previous efforts in this case were completely negated by his father, who regarded him as an idol in his career. He couldn't help but feel unhappy, so he ate his meal in silence and stopped talking.
Fortunately, Han's mother quickly came to the rescue, saying, "I dislike it most when you two talk about work at the dinner table. It's rare for you to have a proper meal together, is there nothing else to say?"
Dean Han probably realized he'd spoken too harshly, and his expression softened somewhat. "What did I say? Putting work aside, isn't your son a headache too? He's thirty years old, still like a child, and doesn't even have a place to live. As the ancients said: 'Cultivate your family, govern your state, and bring peace to the world…'"
Here we go again. Han Shu rested his chin on his hand, his expression pained, but it didn't stop Dean Han from continuing, "...Do I even need to explain the concept of settling down and starting a career? A man who dares to shoulder the burdens of his family and face his responsibilities squarely is truly mature, and then he can pursue better development in his career. But you can't even do that, and you don't even know how to be discreet in your private life..."
"How am I being indecent!" Han Shu almost jumped up, putting down his chopsticks to argue, "I have talked to them four times..."
"You can't even remember how many times you've been talked to, four or five times? What is this if not indecent behavior?" Dean Han shook his head.
Han Shu grabbed his mother's hand and recounted his family's revolutionary history, "Mom, you can be my witness. Although I've had 'several' girlfriends, none of them lasted, but every relationship was legitimate, with a beginning and an end, and legal and reasonable. I didn't start relationships and then abandon them, nor did I commit adultery, incest, promiscuity, or homosexuality... I didn't violate public order and good morals or break the law, so how can my private life be considered immoral?"
After all, they were from different generations. Dean Han found it inappropriate to hear Han Shu casually utter words like "adultery" and "incest," so he quickly stopped the conversation, preventing the boy from going further and further astray. He gestured for the conversation to end there. "Don't say so much. Just find a girl of similar appearance and character, settle down, and that's better than any excuses."
Han's mother also touched her son's hand and said with a worried expression, "My dear, what kind of woman do you want to find? A celestial beauty or a female celebrity?"
Han Shu, looking like he couldn't stand it, waved his hand dismissively and said, "I want to find a hybrid of Slow Sheep and Lazy Sheep."
Dean Han and his wife were completely baffled, as if they had heard Martian language.
"What sheep?"
Han Shu suppressed a laugh, "It's Slow Sheep and Lazy Sheep. Dad, Mickey Mouse isn't popular anymore. You should check out 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf,' it's a really good cartoon, and it's quite popular among lonely old people."
Dean Han finally realized that his son was subtly mocking him. He couldn't understand why his son, whom he had raised with such strict discipline, was becoming increasingly incomprehensible. He treated such a serious matter of life like a joke. Enraged, Dean Han nearly fainted. Pointing at his wife, he yelled again, "Send your son to see a psychologist—no, send him straight to a mental hospital! Right now!"
Han Shu quickly served his father some food, saying, "I'll go right away once I'm full."
Just as Han Shu had predicted, if he obediently ate a meal with his parents, he would be scolded thoroughly, one gently and one harshly. His mother's earnest "education of love" and Dean Han's stern moralistic theories made the meal taste like cardboard. Finally, he had to resort to his trump card: clutching his stomach, claiming a stomachache, and removing himself from the table, thus barely escaping with his life.
After dinner, while Han's mother was tidying up in the kitchen, Dean Han watched the evening news on time. Han Shu quickly made an overseas call to his sister, urging her to go online.
When Han Lin's face appeared on the computer screen, Han's mother immediately put down what she was doing and rushed out of the kitchen. The mother and daughter chatted happily. Dean Han watched the TV intently, but her ears were perked up.
Being separated by the distance between the two sides of the Earth, the microphone's sound was intermittent, and when the audio couldn't keep up, Han Shu would chat with her sister on the keyboard on behalf of her mother. She also took the opportunity to exchange her thoughts on watching "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" with Han Lin. Speaking of which, this cartoon was recommended by Fei Ming, who said her aunt also loved it. Han Shu not only found it herself and did her research, but also ended up liking it and recommending it to her sister.
Han's mother chatted with her daughter with the same fervor as if they were reunited after a lifetime. More than an hour later, Han Shu finally caught his mother going to get a drink of water, leaving him and his sister alone together.
"Little Er, Mommy's precious little wolf, why do you look so gloomy?" Belgium is six hours behind China, so it was noon there. Han Lin was sitting by the window with her laptop in her arms, her smile as clean and warm as the winter sun.
His older sister was one of the few close confidantes Han Shu could talk to. It would have been better if she hadn't asked. But when she did, Han Shu found his eyes were red. To avoid Han Lin laughing at him, he held back and quickly asked her before his mother rushed back.
"Sister, I'm just asking... it's someone else's business... is there anyone or anything you can't forget after all these years?"
“Just ask me, when did a grown man become so timid… How many years do you mean by many years… I forget a group of people every few years.”
"More than ten years... let's say eleven years."
Han Lin tilted her head and thought seriously for a moment, then said solemnly, "I think so."
"who……"
Seeing Han Shu's furtive, low-voiced manner, Han Lin couldn't help but burst into laughter, "It's you, isn't it? Did you return the Zhang Xinzhe album cassette tape you borrowed from me in high school?"
Han Shu had already heard his mother's commotion, and in his anxiety, he snapped, "Hey, I'm serious!"
Perhaps due to network signal issues, Han Lin's lip movements and voice were slightly delayed. Han Shu saw her smiling as she opened and closed her mouth before he heard his sister's voice.
Han Lin said, "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to forget it even after eleven years. Why bother arguing with myself? I'd just never forget it for the rest of my life, so what?"
"What are you saying? The two siblings are whispering to each other." Han's mother appeared behind Han Shu.
Han Shu quickly raised his voice and said to Han Lin, "I'll send you the whitening skincare products you mentioned last time in a few days."
Han Lin answered smoothly, "Two portions, you buy them and have Mom send them to me."
After chatting with his sister, Han Shu sat on the sofa and watched CCTV-4 with Dean Han for half an hour before making an excuse to leave.
Dean Han gave him another lecture, saying he couldn't sit still at home as if he had a nail in his seat. Fortunately, Dean Han seemed to have arranged a gathering with some work friends after dinner, and the driver was already waiting downstairs, so Han Shu's escape wasn't too difficult. Han's mother, meanwhile, busied herself packing nutritional supplements for her son, always two large bags at a time.
Han Shu lamented that he would die of overnutrition sooner or later while saying goodbye to his parents. As he reached the elevator, a young man stepped out of it.
When Han's mother saw her son coming out, she explained to Han Shu, "This is your father's driver, Xiao Xie. He's a very hardworking young man. You're carrying so many things, and the parking lot is far away. Xiao Xie was waiting for your father downstairs, so I asked him to come up and help you out."
"Is it really necessary? Your son takes so many nutritional supplements, how could he be so weak that he can't even lift this little thing?" Han Shu said to his mother with a smile, but he also understood the old woman's love for her son, so he couldn't refuse her good intentions.
The young driver had already taken the things from Han Shu's hands with quick reflexes. He wanted to carry them all for him, but Han Shu felt embarrassed, so he only handed the bag in one hand to the young man, thanked him, and then gestured for his mother to go back. He then went into the elevator with the driver.
Dean Han lived on a high floor, and only Han Shu and his driver were in the elevator. It was their first time meeting, and they had nothing to say to each other. Han Shu smiled, and they stood there in silence.
The young driver had a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile and was quite handsome. Han Shu hadn't met his father's new driver before, but he did know that the High Court where his father worked had recently undergone personnel reforms. Jobs like drivers, clerks, and receptionists—common positions—were no longer filled by permanent staff, but instead were all filled by contract employees hired from outside the system. This young man was probably one of those recruits brought back during these reforms.
Han Shu grew up in a family of officials and knew all too well that for some leaders, their personal drivers were among their closest confidants. His father, Dean Han, was a meticulous man, and those around him were mostly quiet and unassuming people, much like Ju Nian's father, Xie Maohua. This young driver looked to be no more than twenty years old; how did the old man choose him?
However, when he thought of Xie Maohua, and then recalled what his mother had just said, what was the young man's surname again? Was it Mo or Zeng? No, he remembered, the young man's surname was Xie!
Han Shu's heart skipped a beat again. He thought, "Could it be this weird?" On Christmas Eve, when he heard that Tang Ye's girlfriend's surname was Xie, he became suspicious for a while, even thinking he was just being paranoid. But then he actually bumped into Xie Junian. But what did this surname Xie mean?
"How old are you?" he asked the young driver standing in the corner of the elevator, raising his chin.
"I'm already eighteen!" the young driver quickly emphasized. At this moment, the elevator had stopped on the first floor. Han Shu parked the car in the parking lot closest to the gate, and the young driver followed two steps behind him, walking closely and saying, "I've been driving for Dean Han for more than half a year. I drive very steadily."
"What's your name?" Han Shu asked as he took out his keys.
"Xie Wangnian, Section Chief Han, my name is Xie Wangnian, Wang as in Wangjianglou, and Nian as in New Year's... You can just call me Little Xie. My dad used to drive for Dean Han... Oh..."
Han Shu's sudden stop almost caught Xie Wangnian, who was following behind him, off guard. Luckily, the young man reacted quickly and stopped immediately, but even so, he almost tripped and fell.
Han Shu stood there for a while, still not fully digesting what had happened. He turned around with a strange expression and asked Xie Wangnian, who looked puzzled, with a hint of hesitation.
"You're Xie Maohua's son... You're so grown up... So... you're Xie Junian's younger brother?"
Upon hearing the name "Xie Junian," Xie Wangnian, who had always served Han Shu with utmost sincerity, showed a slightly embarrassed expression, but still nodded honestly, "Yes... my sister has a criminal record, but our whole family hasn't had any contact with her for a long time, and Dean Han knows this too?"
Han Shu understood why the young man was so bothered; staff in the judicial system valued this aspect more than those in other organizations. Xie Wangnian was afraid that his family's background would cause him to lose a good job. However, Han Shu felt a mix of emotions for a long time. Although he had always known that Ju Nian lived alone with Fei Ming and rarely interacted with others, this was the first time he had truly learned from her own brother that her closest relatives had completely cut off from her.
If it were him, he would drown in this isolation.
But who is the culprit behind all this?
With several dozen steps to go before reaching the parking lot, Han Shu walked along, and suddenly lost the courage to ask the person behind her to serve her. It was none other than her younger brother, who shared the same blood as her.
"Thank you, I can do it myself."
Without a word, Han Shu tried to take the things back from Xie Wangnian's hands. Wangnian was startled, thinking that he had been young and ignorant and had accidentally said something wrong that angered Dean Han's son. He frowned and refused to let go, repeatedly saying, "I'll do it, I'll do it."
Little did he know the turmoil and fear in Han Shu's heart. Seeing him like this, Han Shu simply gave up on everything; after all, the pile of nutritional supplements was useless to keep, yet a pity to throw away. He fled to his car, started the engine, and stepped on the gas, wanting to leave. He was afraid that if he looked at him a few more times, he would see a familiar trace in that young face.
As the car passed by Xie Wangnian, Xie Wangnian, still carrying a bag of things that Han's mother had prepared for her son, stood there blankly, not knowing what had happened.
Han Shu finally parked the car next to Xie Wangnian.
He rolled down the car window and said to the bewildered young man:
"She hasn't done anything wrong to you, so why can't you be nicer to her?"
Extra story Zhuang Xian
Zhuang Xian
--A belated birthday gift for my dear Guagua
Zhuang Xian met him at a freshman orientation forum during her sophomore year. At that time, he was just a freshman who had just escaped the hardships of his senior year of high school.
Zhuang Xian usually avoids crowded places and tries to avoid departmental or college activities whenever possible, preferring to sleep in bed. That night, she was on the verge of catching a cold, feeling dizzy and with a sore throat. However, her roommate Guo Rongrong encouraged her, saying that second-year girls are like daylilies starting to wilt. Since boys in the same or higher year haven't taken a liking to each other for so long, there's probably no hope. She might as well go and cultivate the "field of hope" among the freshmen.
Guo Rongrong confidently declared that she would definitely regret not going. Zhuang Xian, being close to Guo Rongrong, always let her make the decisions, so she foolishly went along. As for that night, whether Zhuang Xian would have regretted it afterward, having taken a cold pill, climbed into her bunk bed at 9 pm, and slept until dawn, remains a mystery. The truth is, she went, met him, and truly regretted it for many years.
The law school is a key department of the university, enrolling many students every year. The lively and bustling seminar venue resembled a market. After wandering around for a while, Guo Rongrong suddenly nudged Zhuang Xian hard with her elbow and whispered in her ear, "Hey, look, look over there, the one in the yellow shirt!"
Actually, Zhuang Xian had already seen him at that time. Was it because his bright T-shirt was too eye-catching in the crowd? Or was it because the corner she was in made it too easy for her to create a contrast of light and shadow with him? She rarely used her gaze to carefully trace the outline of a man, this time it was an exception.
The crowd around him made him appear taller, his skin appearing even whiter against the bright yellow T-shirt, and his dark eyebrows preventing him from looking effeminate. More importantly, he had a pair of eyes that conveyed affection even when he wasn't smiling, which created a contradictory yet wonderful harmony with his slightly reserved lips.
He stood in the center of a small group of people, chatting and laughing with those around him with ease, as if he had always been the center of attention. If it weren't for the vibrant energy on his face, and Guo Rongrong's repeated insistence that she had never seen such a person at school, Zhuang Xian would almost feel that she, in her somewhat reserved manner, looked more like a silly and uncouth college freshman than him.
One night, the bright lights of the college activity center made Zhuang Xian, who already had mild cold symptoms, dizzy. In her dreams, she was surrounded by bright yellow light, like the most dazzling sun at noon; and the white tissue he used to carefully wipe his hands.
It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but through his eyes, before one can even see the scenery inside, the door to the heart has already been quietly opened.
The next day, Guo Rongrong brought Zhuang Xian cold medicine from outside, and also brought back his name.
His name is Han Shu.
Zhuang Xian pieced together everything about Han Shu from information relayed by the well-informed Guo Rongrong, and from the traces she left behind during their chance encounters on campus, sometimes seemingly by chance. Like an oil painting, it started with a few quick sketches, gradually developing layers and colors, becoming lifelike, just as she had envisioned.
Zhuang Xian was a shy and introverted girl with a beautiful face, big eyes, and long, jet-black hair—the epitome of a boy's dream girl at her age. When she first entered university, countless boys pursued her, but most gave up after only observing her or getting to know her briefly. The biggest reason was Zhuang Xian's overly reserved personality. She always stuttered when speaking to people she wasn't familiar with, and she was always unsure what to do with her hands in crowded places. She was afraid of making eye contact and struggled to express her emotions. Occasionally, a boy would admire her quiet, shy beauty, but after spending some time with her, he would find her too boring and give up. Eventually, even boys willing to challenge her became rare, and Zhuang Xian's reputation as a "wooden beauty" spread beyond the law school to the entire university. Even Guo Rongrong jokingly referred to her friend as "beautiful, but completely soulless."
Zhuang Xian admired her classmate and roommate Guo Rongrong's competence and straightforwardness. Guo Rongrong was the class's Youth League secretary, a student leader in the college, and a key member of the literary society. She was energetic, outspoken, and always knew where she wanted to go. Zhuang Xian knew she could never be a girl like Guo Rongrong, which was perhaps why she and Guo Rongrong were so close and compatible. Although Guo Rongrong had a sharp tongue and Zhuang Xian often suffered in silence, it didn't hinder their friendship.
There are many outstanding male students at the University of Political Science and Law, but Han Shu's popularity remains undiminished. He was the talk of the town in many girls' dormitories after lights out. Did he have a girlfriend? What kind of girls was he interested in? Who was he close to? Was so-and-so from a certain department showering him with attention?
Girls' late-night chats are made up of one gossipy and ambiguous topic after another. No matter where you are, there are always boys like him who play the main character in those topics.
Han Shu's love of fun was common knowledge among those who followed him; unlike other outstanding boys, he wasn't mysterious. On the contrary, he was energetic and boundless, seemingly interested in everything new and interesting. He loved excitement and being in groups, and within a year of starting school, he had friends everywhere, both male and female. He participated in badminton, basketball, literature, choir, and computer clubs, and his presence could be found in activities big and small. He was equally popular among teachers and classmates. However, while many knew him, few were truly close. He didn't deliberately keep his distance from girls; he accepted any kindness shown to him and rarely refused invitations to go out, unless they were a couple. Yet, the more he acted this way, the more enigmatic his love life became. His list of "potential" partners was long, but none were confirmed.
Guo Rongrong was one of the few girls who didn't take Han Shu seriously. When Han Shu first joined the literary society, Guo Rongrong, as the vice president, gave him the cold shoulder in public quite a few times. Among the manuscripts written by the new members, she picked out Han Shu's works more than once, reading them aloud and then sighing that God was indeed fair.
Zhuang Xian once secretly asked Guo Rongrong why she particularly disliked Han Shu. Guo Rongrong replied, "I hate spoiled brats like him who think they're prince charming. Without a good family background and good looks, he's nothing." She often mercilessly mocked those "flirtatious bees and butterflies" who "feigned shyness" and "had no dignity" in front of Han Shu in front of Zhuang Xian. Whenever they thought they had succeeded but ended up with nothing, she would gleefully ridicule them.
“Even if there really is a prince, not every ordinary girl can become Cinderella. What is Cinderella? Cinderella is a woman who is perfect in every way except for having a stepmother.” This is a sentence that Guo Rongrong often says. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Zhuang Xian always feels particularly embarrassed whenever she hears this sentence. She seems to feel that Guo Rongrong’s words are meant for her.
Yes, how could Guo Rongrong not see through Zhuang Xian's little scheme? Zhuang Xian thought she was hiding it well, but a girl's thoughts are always written on her face. She listened so intently to the rumors about Han Shu that she would sometimes blush without even realizing it; when Han Shu appeared within ten meters of her, her nervousness and excitement were so obvious. She was pretty, but every girl around Han Shu was beautiful. Even without Guo Rongrong pointing it out, Zhuang Xian knew she was dreaming.
But Guo Rongrong wouldn't let her off the hook. As students in the same college, they had many opportunities to meet. Whenever they appeared at a place where Han Shu was, Zhuang Xian was already at a loss, but Guo Rongrong would still try her best to nudge her with her elbow, suppressing her laughter and winking at her.
Guo Rongrong would also tacitly bring back rumors about Han Shu—he was the son of a Grand Justice; his father's photo was displayed in the honor gallery of outstanding alumni; it was said that the department head had a close relationship with his family; he was very good at badminton; he and his teammates won a prize in a university debate competition; he was the only disciple of a certain professor… Although Zhuang Xian didn't care about these things, all she saw were Han Shu's ambiguous smile, his occasional silent distractions while waiting for the badminton match, and the smile that never quite reached his eyes when he was happy. Yet, she still blushed and revealed her true colors time and time again in Guo Rongrong's vivid narration.
Once, the literary society organized a barbecue outing for all members. Guo Rongrong insisted on dragging Zhuang Xian, an unofficial member, to join. From beginning to end, Zhuang Xian hid in the least crowded corner, grilling food for everyone, ignoring Guo Rongrong's encouragement to go up and greet Han Shu. She thought she could avoid it this way, but Han Shu, disregarding past grievances, came over and greeted Guo Rongrong.
The moment he walked over and stood in front of them, Zhuang Xian turned into a human-shaped red tomato. Guo Rongrong was talking to him, while she twisted her fingers, staring intently at her toes.