Chapter 2 The Next Day

The next day.

As I had agreed with my mother, I arrived at the restaurant early. It felt like I had to start all over again after being away for a few days.

I had been away longer than I had worked there, and I hadn't even gotten to know the people in the kitchen well.

My mother came in when I was at my busiest, sorting the newly delivered vegetables and seafood.

As I carried basket after basket to the designated spot, she stood behind me and asked, "You came back last night and didn't even come to see us."

I straightened up and looked at her. Perhaps influenced by Lin Hai's words last night, I felt uncomfortable looking at her. I wanted to ask her, but I didn't know how to start. My sixth sense told me that she was definitely my mother. If Lin Hai wasn't my father, then her behavior was questionable. If that were the case, it would be even harder to accept than being adopted!

"I just got back, I didn't have time," I replied curtly.

"Didn't you drive? I specifically looked for your car outside but couldn't find it."

"I had a bit to drink last night, so I parked it somewhere else. I took a taxi here this morning." I squatted down again.

"After going abroad, I feel like there's something wrong with your attitude."

My mother asked, seemingly without a care, standing next to me. Seeing that I didn't answer, she asked, "Didn't you go see your father?"

"Is he my biological father?" I answered quickly this time.

"Of course he is. Does he deny it?"

I was confused by their attitudes. From either side, I felt like they had no reason to lie.

I stood up again. To find the answer, I had to be direct. "I went last night, said a few words to Lin Hai, but didn't go into their house. I plan to do a paternity test with him because he firmly believes I'm not his son. So, you don't have to hide anything from me either. After that, we can do one too. Then the truth will be clear. If I'm not related to either of you, then either I was adopted, or the hospital mixed things up."

"He's lost his mind, and you're going along with him? If we weren't mother and son, would we look so alike?"

"If we are, and I'm not related to Lin Hai, it would be even worse for your reputation." I directly hit the nail on the head.

"Go get it done! Did he agree?"

"After Lin Yang's funeral. If he doesn't go, I'll tie him up and drag him there. I'm more curious than either of you."

"I know this matter best. Go do it without worry. He'll slap himself in the face then."

My identity had to be clarified. There were only two possible outcomes: yes or no!

Around ten o'clock, I received a call from Wen Wen, who told me that Xiao Wu had been taken away by the police early in the morning. This time, he was being detained to assist with the investigation.

I listened silently to Wen Wen's account on the other end of the phone. If I really wanted to help Xiao Wu, I had to find Acheng and Xiao Hei, no matter where they had been moved. Only by seeing them could Xiao Wu be released quickly. But on the other hand, if Acheng and Xiao Hei were the culprits, it meant they would have to go in, and Chen Biao behind them would definitely not let them appear.

I hung up the phone. I could empathize with Xiao Wu's current suffering. I was directly sentenced, so Xiao Wu's situation was even more difficult than mine. If the real killer wasn't found, this was a murder case.

If I really wanted to save Xiao Wu, I knew only one person had a chance: Pei Xianglong. Regardless of his status or prestige, he could overrule Lao Liang. Overruling Lao Liang meant Chen Biao could also be subdued. I didn't know if my logic was correct.

All day, I was thinking about Xiao Wu's situation. Only a few days had passed since the Spring Festival, but the events that had occurred were unbelievable, and the key to everything still revolved around me...

"Lin Che, someone's looking for you."

I suddenly heard a waiter call my name. I looked up and saw him pointing outside, explaining, "They're waiting outside. Can you come out for a moment?"

I immediately walked outside and saw Xiao Hei and Acheng, who I had been looking for. They looked extremely disheveled. By now, the restaurant was gradually filling up with people. I quickly pulled them outside. I understood the law: before figuring out who the killer was, the less they interacted with people, the better.

I took them away from the restaurant to a relatively secluded corner and immediately asked, "Did you kill Lin Yang?"

"No," they both denied in unison.

"How did you find this place?"

"Xiao Wu mentioned it to us before," Acheng replied softly.

"Do you know where Xiao Wu is?"

Neither of them spoke. I deliberately raised my voice and said, "He was taken away by the police. Aren't you three like brothers?"

"Why was he taken away?"

"Xiao Wu's fingerprints were the only ones on the knife. You must know the inside story. Now that you've come to find me, you must have some ideas in mind. In that case, let's get straight to the point. I just want to ask: did Chen Biao order this?"

"It's not that we don't want to say, but it's better for you to know less. We came to you because we were forced into a corner. Someone attacked us last night. Luckily, we managed to shake them off, or we would have met Lin Yang last night."

I then realized how great the threat was. I quickly looked around to observe the surroundings. I lowered my voice and said unhappily, "In this situation, you rashly come to find me? Aren't you trying to drag me into this too? If their informants see you, they'll definitely think I know who the mastermind is. Don't you think that's dangerous?"

"We had no choice. We're out of money. Even if they don't kill us, we'll starve to death."

I leaned close to Xiao Hei's ear and asked, "Did Chen Biao order you two to attack Lin Yang?"

"It's better if you don't ask. Just pretend you don't know. It's beneficial for you. We came to you just to borrow some money. We're still young, and we don't want to die. We've been living in fear these past few days."

"If you're hired to kill someone, you should be getting paid, right? Are you idiots? Don't you know that killing someone means paying with your life? Go confess to the police. You can't escape. But before you confess, I need to think this over carefully. Your current situation is extremely dangerous."

"Not only won't you give us money, but you want to kill us to silence us." Xiao Hei was so scared that he stuttered.

"Confessing only reduces the sentence. The days of hiding are not as good as turning yourself in. Even if you can escape abroad, you'll never be able to live openly in this life. You might not get the death penalty. As long as you help the police catch the mastermind, you can still get a reduced sentence."

Acheng's expression was conflicted. My words might have disrupted their previously discussed escape plan. It still took courage to take the step of turning themselves in. During the conversation, I kept looking around warily. If Acheng and the others were being followed, the visitors would definitely be there to take lives. I didn't want to be one of them.