CH 54

Pei You’s serious tone surprised Zhou Qingbo, and he glanced at him with a momentary loss for words.

Perhaps influenced by Pei You’s attitude, this time Zhou Qingbo didn’t make light of the situation with jokes. He lowered his head, gently pushing the xiaolongbao in his lunch box with his chopsticks, swallowing the hot and savory soup inside.

Uncharacteristically, he felt somewhat embarrassed and absentmindedly licked his lips.

“It’s nothing,” Zhou Qingbo said, “I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”

Pei You had intended to add something, but before he could say it, Zhou Qingbo cut him off.

“All adults know that life isn’t a fairytale, and it can’t always be smooth sailing,” Zhou Qingbo toyed with a xiaolongbao with his chopsticks. As if compelled by some unseen force, he continued, “But if it’s you, I hope your life goes smoothly.”

Perhaps because it was Pei You, Zhou Qingbo unexpectedly abandoned all his upbringing and societal experience, becoming somewhat naive.

“So you don’t need to thank me,” Zhou Qingbo said, “I wanted to protect you myself.”

Pei You’s heart was gently stirred by these words, creating a slight itch alongside the softness. It made him feel unsteady, as if all his emotions were tangled into a chaotic mess.

The term “protect” was akin to a promise exchanged between children, sounding solemn and official. Hearing it even caused Zhou Qingbo to feel uneasy after saying it, almost like he couldn’t bear the weight of the words.

He touched his nose awkwardly, feeling his ears burn hot. Pei You’s gaze seemed to have solidified, as if it could burn a hole in him at any moment.

Pei You’s heart felt like it had been kneaded into a soft, airy cloud by Zhou Qingbo’s words, swelling and filling his chest.

Suddenly, he felt like he had so much to say, yet nothing could come out.

Those profound, impatient desires to express themselves couldn’t be put in words. Instead, they transformed into indescribable emotions, safely tucked away in his heart.

Unfortunately, Zhou Qingbo’s heartfelt confession lasted only three minutes. Once it was over, he shifted from embarrassment to anger, pushing the vinegar bottle toward Pei You and saying, “Hurry up and eat – it’ll get cold if you don’t, we shouldn’t waste food.”

Pei You smiled, softly acknowledging, then lowered his head and bit into a xiaolongbao.

However, this subtle and ambiguous atmosphere couldn’t last long. After 11 o’clock, Zhou Qingbo received a call from the police. They informed him that the investigation into Liu Xin’s case was mostly complete. Liu Xin had been detained according to procedure, awaiting transfer to the prosecutor’s office.

Since the case involved Qingshan, Zhou Qingbo was to visit the police station to understand the case progress and obtain related certificates if necessary.

This was the result they had been waiting for in Weinan, so they hurriedly finished breakfast and took a taxi to the police station.

The police station was bustling on a weekday morning. Zhou Qingbo avoided a few young people arguing over reporting cases at the entrance and walked along the corridor.

As soon as Pei You and Zhou Qingbo entered the lobby, they happened to see the officer in charge of the case. Pei You paused, about to greet him, when he heard a hoarse sob from the corner.

Zhou Qingbo followed the sound and saw an elderly lady crouched in the corner.

She was petite, hunched over into a small ball when sitting. Her clothing was decent, though she seemed to have rolled in dirt somewhere. A few strands of gray hair fell from her neatly tied bun, giving her a messy appearance at first glance.

She was surrounded by two young female police officers, who were trying to persuade her and help her up from the ground.

“Her, you see.” The police officer handling Liu Xin’s case followed the direction of Zhou Qingbo’s gaze and sighed, saying, “Liu Xin’s mother, she’s been here all night.”

The police officer looked neither young nor old, in that in-between age range. Upon seeing the situation, he also showed some compassion. Shaking his head, he said, “getting in trouble and committing countless crimes, why don’t they think about their own mothers at home?”

Zhou Qingbo’s gaze turned compassionate and complex upon hearing this.

“Follow me this way.” The officer in charge pointed in a direction and said, “the east river under Dongjiang company is involved in a money laundering case and can’t operate for the time being. How to resolve it later will depend on the circumstances. Whoever is representing Qingshan, sign an informed consent form.”

The words “Qingshan” triggered a nerve in the old woman. She raised her head sharply, accurately spotting Zhou Qingbo’s figure in the crowd.

The Liu and Zhou families had some deep connections. Li Chunmei almost instantly recognized Zhou Qingbo when she saw him.

Her eyes suddenly lit up with a glimmer of hope. She pushed aside the hands of the female officers trying to help her and stumbled over, grabbing Zhou Qingbo’s arm.

“Qingbo, is it you, my child?” Li Chunmei’s tears flowed freely, she looked at him pitifully and with complexity, her fingers gripping tightly around his arm, almost spasming. In a hoarse voice, she said, “I… I know Xin Xin did wrong, but can you not let him go to prison? How much money does he owe you? We’ll repay it, even if we have to sell everything we have!”

Originally walking beside Zhou Qingbo, Pei You pursed his lips and reached out to grasp Zhou Qingbo’s arm, attempting to rescue him from the grasp of the old woman.

“Auntie.” Pei You said softly, “This is not a problem he can easily solve. Liu Xin committed a crime, and he awaits the judgment of the law.”

His voice was gentle, as if carrying a sense of consolation. However, the old woman clung to Zhou Qingbo like a lifeline. She didn’t let go; in fact, she held on even tighter.

“I, I know, my child.” Li Chunmei looked at Pei You, then shifted her gaze back to Zhou Qingbo’s face, pleading, “But… Can you please understand him a bit? He made a mistake this time, just this once, forgive him.”

She didn’t know that Liu Xin had been using drugs, or that he was involved in money laundering with drug dealers. She still innocently believed that Liu Xin had merely embezzled money from Qingshan, and as long as the money was repaid, there was still hope.

She believed in her husband so much that she couldn’t even entertain the idea that he could have raised a “bad child.” Thus, when she came to plead with Zhou Qingbo, she appeared exceptionally pitiable.

However, that couldn’t be allowed. Zhou Qingbo thought pity couldn’t save him from going to jail.

“Auntie.” Zhou Qingbo lowered his head, met her gaze seriously, and softly said, “His mistake isn’t something I can forgive, and it’s not just about money.”

Li Chunmei looked at him with a blank expression, a kind of naive confusion appearing in her eyes. She blinked, seemingly unable to believe what she was hearing, and then stared at Zhou Qingbo, her fingers clenched tightly on his arm.

Pei You instinctively wanted to intervene, but Zhou Qingbo shook his head slightly at him.

“Specifics, I can’t say. It depends on the police’s decision.” Zhou Qingbo didn’t reveal the details to Li Chunmei. He spoke seriously, “But he committed a serious crime.”

The phrase “serious crime” was a top-level mistake for someone of Li Chunmei’s age. Her eyes glistened with uncomprehending confusion, she blinked and then asked, “What other crime?”

Pei You had intended to stop Zhou Qingbo, but the latter leaned against his shoulder and whispered, “It’s alright.”

The two of them quickly completed the necessary procedures. When they walked out of the police station, the rain was still falling.

Li Chunmei’s sobbing seemed to still echo in Zhou Qingbo’s ears. He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking a bit fatigued.

He didn’t sympathize with Liu Xin, nor did he find him pitiable. However, he couldn’t help feeling a bit off.

“Zhou Qingbo,” Pei You called out to him.

“Feeling uneasy?” Pei You asked.

Zhou Qingbo responded with a weary “Mm,” then turned his head and rested his forehead on Pei You’s shoulder.

Pei You held an umbrella in one hand, and after a brief hesitation, his other hand moved in the air and lightly patted Zhou Qingbo’s back.

“It’s alright,” Pei You said, “He deserves his punishment. It has nothing to do with you.”

Zhou Qingbo wasn’t feeling guilty, but he was tired. A sense of fatigue that came from leaving his comfort zone unexpectedly surged up, dragging his mood down a bit. It felt as if he could only replenish his energy a little by staying close to Pei You.

“Pei You.” Zhou Qingbo rested against him for a while, then said softly, “Let’s go back to Beijing.”