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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 157: Blooming Youth
Above her head was the blazing sun, and the pavement beneath her feet seemed to be scorched. Turning back, she was met with a dazzling white light, the reflection of a gun barrel on the shoulder of a guard. Rong Ying was oblivious to it all; she gazed into the distance, her expression vacant as she looked back at the path she had come.
In the torrent of memories, the floodgates opened during this lonely moment.
It was like when she was a child, timidly hiding behind a wall, watching men, women, and children rush to see an execution. It was a grand event back then. She remembered her mother pulling her into a corner of their home, crying and wiping her tears over and over again. Now she understood; it was a helpless surrender.
Later, she would wait at the crossroads, waiting for her father, reeking of smoke and with a rough demeanor, to return home. He would bring sweet candies that melted in her mouth... but she never saw him again.
Then there was her brother, who always stood behind her whenever something happened—whether it was debts, trouble, or being caught by the police—he would always appear just in time to defuse the crisis. She remembered every weekend spent lazily sleeping at home, waiting for him to call her for dinner... but that too came to an end.
And then there was Brother Nie, who always spoiled her, protected her, and indulged her. Soon… she would have to wait for him too.
“Yingzi, control your emotions… wait until the mortician comes out before you go in, okay?” Guan Yiqing said cautiously. She felt anxious; this girl was on the brink of collapse, and she truly didn’t know how else to help.
“Thank you,” Rong Ying replied blankly, her breathing becoming increasingly labored.
Guan Yiqing turned around in panic and saw the approaching convoy. She tightly grasped Rong Ying's arm and said, “Listen to me, Yingzi, don’t get agitated…”
Suddenly, Rong Ying burst into tears. She broke free from Guan Yiqing and ran toward the convoy. The vehicles slowed down but did not stop. Rong Ying dashed toward the enclosed prison van, pounding on its side with all her might while hoarsely shouting, “Brother… Brother, I’m here to see you! Can you hear me… Brother, I’m here!”
“Yingzi… listen to your brother; live well… live well…” Inside the van, Nie Qifeng shouted with all his strength.
“Brother, I heard you! I understand… Brother, I miss you…” Rong Ying pounded on the van's side; her voice cracked as she desperately tried to break open the door and stop it from moving forward. But it was futile; the vehicle slowly drove toward the gate.
“Yingzi… your brother is leaving… live well; be my sister in our next life…” His voice was filled with sorrow and pain as it echoed through the van's enclosure, intensifying Rong Ying's cries.
She pounded harder on the prison van; she slammed against it with all her strength until her hands were bruised and bleeding. Yet she remained oblivious to her injuries as she cried out desperately: “Brother… Brother, why don’t you appeal? We have a chance… there must be a chance… I can’t bear to lose you… Brother…”
She was blocked at the entrance by an expressionless guard. At that moment, her frail body could no longer bear the weight of death. She collapsed to her knees facing the direction of the prison van as she wept uncontrollably.
“Yingzi… Yingzi…” Guan Yiqing called out to her, but the dazed girl remained unresponsive, lost in her sorrow.
“Yingzi… Yingzi…” Someone was calling her from behind. Guan Yiqing turned around abruptly and saw Xiao Mu, tears streaming down his face. He bent down, supporting Rong Ying, who was crying uncontrollably. Xiao Mu choked out, “Yingzi, I’m here… I’m here, look at me… I know you hate me, but you heard Brother Nie say to live well…”
Rong Ying wiped her tears and recognized Xiao Mu. Anger surged within her; with bloodied hands, she slapped Xiao Mu hard across the face, her cries growing louder.
One slap… two slaps… three slaps… Each fierce blow intensified her wails as she cried out, “You harmed them, you harmed them… They liked you so much, you harmed them… I liked you so much, and you’ve been lying to me…”
“It was me who harmed them; it was me who deceived you… I know you won’t forgive me, but I came anyway. No matter what happens, we can still bear it together like before…” Xiao Mu felt a burning pain on his face as he tried to exchange their past feelings for even a hint of forgiveness.
“Get lost!” Rong Ying shouted fiercely, slapping Xiao Mu again. She continued to hit him until blood appeared at his nose and the corner of his mouth, yet she didn’t stop until Guan Yiqing held her hand. Then she broke down completely and embraced Guan Yiqing.
The three of them stood there together as their intense emotions gradually calmed down, but the wounds could never heal. Once Rong Ying’s tears dried up, she returned to her dazed state, staring blankly at the door as if waiting for her father or brother to come back. This time, they would not return.
After a long while, the armed police began to withdraw without casting a glance in their direction. The family of the Death Row Inmate could only receive disdainful looks from them.
After some more time passed, an ambulance sped away. Guan Yiqing leaned closer to Rong Ying and whispered in her ear, “He didn’t die; his corneas will give someone the gift of sight again; his kidneys will also save a life… His life will continue through others.”
“Really?” Rong Ying asked sadly as if she had seen a glimmer of hope.
“Really. In every life’s journey, there is kindness that shines through… Your brother had that too; you should bless him for realizing it at the last moment,” Guan Yiqing said softly as she brushed back Rong Ying’s messy hair. She took out a tissue and gently dabbed away the blood on Rong Ying’s forehead.
“I know, I know… They were good people; they were good people…” Rong Ying said weakly through her tears, clinging to her own beliefs.
Time passed without her noticing until Shen Lingchen emerged with two Executioners calling for Rong Ying. Guan Yiqing was blocked from entering. Shen Lingchen nodded at her to leave.
This was the final procedure. Soon after, they saw the hearse slowly driving away toward the crematorium.
“Wipe your face,” Guan Yiqing offered a tissue to Xiao Mu, who had been sitting there in a daze.
Xiao Mu took it and casually wiped his nosebleed before finally saying, “Thank you.”
"You're welcome. After getting to know her, I realized that Rong Ying has quite a tragic background... She's a good girl, you should cherish her," Guan Yiqing said softly.
"Is there still a chance?" Xiao Mu touched his swollen face and asked awkwardly.
That question was difficult to answer. Guan Yiqing pursed her lips and replied, "Maybe there is. It's clear she likes you a lot."
"Yes, the more she likes me, the more she hates me," Xiao Mu said, a self-deprecating awkwardness on his face. Even if he could exhaust all theories of psychology, he probably still wouldn't understand every corner of the human heart, just like he couldn't quite grasp Nie Qifeng's final mindset. He asked, "By the way, didn't Lin Department Head say that Nie Qifeng voluntarily requested to donate his organs?"
"Yes, what's wrong with that?" Guan Yiqing inquired.
"Nothing much, just found it a bit strange. A person with antisocial traits shouldn't act like that. How could he even agree to an interview with reporters?" Xiao Mu wondered aloud. He could understand if others were soft-hearted, but someone like Nie Qifeng, the Brutal Bandit, would never comply unless he wanted to.
"It's not that complicated. He actually just wanted to leave some money for Yingzi... and also to let Yingzi go far away and not see you again," Guan Yiqing explained with a slight smile. Forgiveness was impossible; the hatred had been taken to the grave.
Xiao Mu shyly shifted his gaze away, lowering his head as if feeling a bit embarrassed. Given such motives, it seemed normal; perhaps this resentment would remain unresolved until death.
"Don't dwell on it too much. After all, he got what he deserved... You should be happy; you saved more than one person, and among those you saved was Yingzi. In a way, Yingzi also saved Nie Qifeng. At least before he died, he did something humane," Guan Yiqing said.
Xiao Mu smiled and replied, "I... take back my previous evaluation of you. Actually, you're the wise one here; my little tricks are nothing but trivial cleverness."
"Everyone has their own usefulness. By the way, I heard you've made quite an impact again. You went to Luzhou for just a few days and caught the Trafficker King," Guan Yiqing comforted him, trying to boost his sense of achievement.
"It was really a coincidence. Remember that guy who jumped off the building? Early in the morning, he insisted on going for local snacks. The taxi driver said the most famous old shop on the snack street is called Shrimp Wontons... That guy also stole the handcuffs from Baldy and showed off in the shop, which scared off the Old Trafficker, who was eating there too," Xiao Mu summarized briefly. That unfortunate brother Ruhua truly had terrible luck; even having a meal led him to encounter a fugitive.
"Did he go too?" Guan Yiqing asked with a laugh.
"We're both down on our luck and heartbroken; we were planning to hide out for a few days when we got dragged into Luzhou by Baldy. Haha, enough about me—how about you?" Xiao Mu asked.
"What about me?" Guan Yiqing tilted her head and countered.
"Just... forget it. Everyone's life has its highlights and frustrations. I wish you well," Xiao Mu changed the subject and chose not to press further. It was evident that this female officer remained confused, just like him; when it came to matters concerning oneself, there seemed to be no choice at all.
"May you be blessed as well. There's no need to hide. A person with an antisocial personality can never escape the entanglement of family ties, let alone you," Guan Yiqing said with a smile.
The two stood in silence for a moment before finally hailing a taxi. However, Xiao Mu did not get in; instead, he waved goodbye as she left.
It wasn't that they were going different ways, but Xiao Mu felt that knowing too much about someone who deliberately closed themselves off was a source of anxiety. He walked aimlessly along the lonely road, from the blazing sun overhead to the setting sun in the west, all alone, casting an increasingly long shadow behind him.
As dusk approached, he found himself inexplicably at Kang Yuyuan Community, quietly hiding behind the rockery bushes like a thief.
For a long time, he had returned this way quietly. At this hour, he could see his father hurriedly leaving to prepare dinner; evenings were the busiest time for business. It was also during this time that he occasionally ran into his stepmother, Zhong Xiaomei, pushing a double stroller with a pair of identical chubby boys inside.
He saw them again, but the situation was quite different now. His father was holding one child while his stepmother held the other. As they came out of the building, they placed the boys on the ground. With one hand holding onto each child, they could already stumble around on their own and were difficult to manage. Once they were set down, they would run off, causing the nanny to chase after them in a panic. It seemed that two children were more than enough to handle; in an instant, they were kicking and scratching each other while the nanny nervously separated them.
Xiao Mu smiled. The trivial happiness he witnessed felt so real to him. He saw his stepmother opening the car door for his father, leaning in to whisper something, and then waving goodbye as he hurried off. She rushed over to grab one son who was trying to climb into the flower bed.
He watched in a daze for a long time. Each time he immersed himself in this feeling, it was like traveling back to his childhood, reliving love in a way that intoxicated him.
He never wanted to disturb this happy family life. So, as usual, amidst their playful sounds and joyful laughter, he quietly slipped away—just as his father had always thought him heartless for never returning to visit…
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