That day, aside from Pei Shi Yu and Wang Rui, everyone else got along very well. My mother was the happiest, followed by Old Wang.

Then there was Pei Xianglong, who invited Old Wang to expand his business investment, proposing to start an investment company together. I didn't really understand the details, but that was the general idea.

After leaving the restaurant, I didn't see Pei Shi Yu and her father off. I'd had a few drinks, so I called a driver to take me home.

...

The next morning, I was still curled up in bed, but my mind was occupied with Lin Yang's funeral arrangements. If it weren't a criminal case, I imagine he would have been buried long ago.

I checked the time. It was still early, not even six o'clock. After thinking for a while, I dialed Lin Hai's number. He answered quickly, but his tone sounded a bit harsh...

"What is it?"

"Where is Lin Yang's body?" I asked him directly.

"You'd better not ask and don't get involved."

"I don't want to get involved in your family's affairs, I just want to give him a proper send-off as a friend."

"No need," Lin Hai refused flatly.

"You should bear the greatest responsibility for Lin Yang's death. Knowing there was a conflict with Chen Biao, you still went when he called. Even if you wanted to deal with me, you should have used your brain."

This time, Lin Hai didn't get angry or say anything. Maybe he realized it himself. Regret was useless; he couldn't bring Lin Yang back to life. So I didn't say much to him, there was no need.

After a long silence, he replied, "Do you know what? I'll remember this debt with Chen Biao forever. He killed my son, and he won't keep his own life."

Now it was my turn to be silent. Did he not know Chen Biao was dead? Or was it just because I went to the Criminal Investigation Team that I got firsthand information from Pei Xianglong?

After a while, I directly told him again, "Chen Biao is already dead. Don't let it mess with your head."

"How do you know?" Lin Hai asked urgently.

To answer that question, I had to explain in detail from the beginning. Maybe it was that night's conversation that made me let go of a lot of things. I patiently started to explain...

"Xiao Hei and A Cheng were the ones who directly killed Lin Yang. They came to me yesterday. I persuaded them to turn themselves in, and they've been sent to the Criminal Investigation Team..."

I paused, gathered my thoughts, and continued, "The real mastermind behind this is still pulling the strings. Xiao Hei and A Cheng were just pawns hired by Chen Biao, and that includes Chen Biao himself. He was also killed by the same method by the person who manipulated him in the dark. The murderers who killed Lin Yang have indeed been found, but they're not the masterminds. It's like a series of traps, so you need to keep a low profile these days. Things are far from as simple as you think."

My concern provoked Lin Hai's questioning instead, "How do you know all this? Are you involved?"

"I'm not as despicable as you. As a man, you should dare to act and take responsibility."

Lin Hai was silenced by my retort. I took the opportunity to ask, "Is Lin Yang's body at the funeral home?"

"The funeral is today."

Lin Hai hung up on me after those few words. If it wasn't for my grandmother's sake, I wouldn't have debased myself to this extent. I could only explain my initiative as a way to comfort my own soul.

I immediately got out of bed and chose a dark suit. But when I saw the black shirt, I suddenly had an indescribable feeling of coincidence. It was the one I bought in Rome, and Wang Rui helped me pick it out. It was as if it had been arranged long ago, and the first time I was wearing this unopened shirt was to show it to Lin Yang.

Sometimes I think life is really impermanent. Just a month ago, he was fighting with me, and now he's gone, leaving behind parents who loved him with all their lives. Nothing is more cruel than that!

The sudden emotion slowed my movements. After dressing neatly, I stood by the window and habitually lit a cigarette...

The weather was fine yesterday, but today it suddenly changed, as if nature was putting on a somber face. Although it wasn't raining, the sky was exceptionally gloomy. Could it be that even heaven was sad for someone like Lin Yang?

The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang. I thought it was my mother checking up on me, but it was Pei Shi Yu calling. As soon as I answered, she asked, "Do you know Lin Yang's funeral is today?"

"How do you know?"

"My dad mentioned it to me on the way home last night."

"I just called Lin Hai and he already told me. I'm about to head over," I explained.

"Do you think I should go?"

"Do you want to go?"

"I don't want to, but I feel like Lin Yang was really good to me when he was alive," Pei Shi Yu answered hesitantly.

I didn't answer immediately, but weighed it in my mind. If Lin Hai's wife saw me and Pei Shi Yu together, would she make a scene? After all, it was a funeral, and I didn't want to argue with them in front of both families' friends and relatives. As long as I paid my respects at the mourning hall, that would be enough.

"If you don't want to go, then don't. It would be awkward if you went, and any arguments would be annoying."

"Okay, I called because I thought you should go."

"I know," I replied very gently.

"Do you want to have lunch together?"

"I've never been to a funeral before, so I don't know how it works. If I have time, I'll come find you."

"I didn't go to work today."

Pei Shi Yu's words surprised me. I immediately asked her, "Why not?"

"I'm still a little tired. I stayed up all night the night before, and didn't sleep well last night either."

Her answer made me smile on the other side of the screen. Sometimes she's prickly, sometimes she's gentle, and now she's the latter. I enjoyed her coquettish tone!

"How about you come sleep at my place tonight?" I tentatively invited.

"No."

Although Pei Shi Yu refused me, her tone was completely approachable. Due to the urgency of time, I didn't press her too much, but left myself some leeway and said, "We'll talk about it at noon. No matter how late, I'll bring you food."

"Call me first."

"Okay, I'm hanging up now, it's getting late."

I heard the sound of Pei Shi Yu hanging up and then walked into the bathroom.

In the mirror, I realized that the black suit paired with the black shirt looked pretty handsome. And the style of shirt Wang Rui picked out was very nice, the delicate collar accentuated my temperament. I brushed my teeth casually a couple of times and immediately rinsed out the toothpaste foam.

I had only slipped one leather shoe on, and was dragging the other as I walked out the door. With the heavy sound of the security door, I was already rushing downstairs. Since I was going, I didn't want to miss it. Now that he was dead, the past unpleasantness was written off. Besides, there wasn't a deep conflict between Lin Yang and me. Many of our differing views came from what our parents had instilled in us.

{This chapter is purely fiction}