Flowers were blooming in the glass greenhouse.
Chen Zemian was in a good mood all day as he looked at the colorful flowers in the garden.
Lu Zhuonian had also recovered from the weakness brought on by his illness. His mental and physical strength were gradually returning, which should help stabilize Chen Zemian’s mood swings.
It was time to talk to Chen Zemian about his father.
Dinner was seafood porridge. After Chen Zemian had two bowls, he noticed the casserole was empty.
“Why did you cook so little today?” he complained, turning to stare at Lu Zhuonian’s porridge bowl. He said suggestively, “I’m not full yet.”
Lu Zhuonian ignored the hint.
Unlike Chen Zemian, who was still craving seafood porridge, most of Lu Zhuonian’s attention was now focused on what he was about to say.
He had done his best to create a comfortable environment.
A warm, splendid greenhouse, a cheerful mood all day, delicious and easily digestible seafood porridge… He had even considered the possibility of stomach discomfort caused by emotional excitement and had specifically instructed the chef not to prepare too much porridge to prevent overeating and nausea.
Seeing Chen Zemian reluctantly put down his spoon, Lu Zhuonian asked, knowingly, “Are you finished eating?”
Chen Zemian stared at Lu Zhuonian’s porridge bowl. “Do you want that?”
Lu Zhuonian pushed it aside. “Chen Zemian, I have something to tell you.”
Chen Zemian leaned back lazily, propping himself up with his hands. “Go ahead.”
Just as Lu Zhuonian was about to speak, the phone on the table rang sharply.
His heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding crept in. He turned to look at the screen—The words “Beijing Public Security” were clearly displayed.
Lu Zhuonian frowned slightly, picked up the phone, and stood up. “I’ll take this call.”
Chen Zemian couldn’t see the screen from his angle and responded indifferently, “Okay.”
Lu Zhuonian walked into the study and answered the call as he closed the door behind him.
A middle-aged man’s solemn, commanding voice came through the line.
“Hello, Mr. Lu. I’m Sun Yueping, Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau.”
Lu Zhuonian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Director Sun.”
Sun Yueping got straight to the point. “Mr. Lu, I know you’ve been investigating the Nanfeng matter and that you’ve already made some progress. I’m calling to strongly advise you to stop the investigation immediately. Also, please remain silent—do not disclose anything to the person beside you. You understand, this is to protect him.”
Lu Zhuonian’s expression didn’t change. “You tapped my phone?”
Sun Yueping neither confirmed nor denied it. “This call is encrypted, but I know someone as cautious as you would still be suspicious. Let’s be direct. Please come to the Municipal Bureau. We’ll talk face to face.”
At the same time, the doorbell rang.
Chen Zemian, who had secretly been drinking Lu Zhuonian’s bowl of porridge, jumped in surprise and called out with a guilty conscience. “You take your call. I’ll get the door.”
Two police officers were standing outside.
One was a man in his forties, the other a young officer in his early twenties.
The older officer looked at Chen Zemian with deep, unreadable eyes and said nothing.
The younger officer showed his badge. “Good evening, sir. We’re from the Criminal Investigation Team 2 of the Beijing Public Security Bureau. A suspect in a theft case has confessed to stealing Mr. Lu Zhuonian’s property. We’d like to take a statement from him. Is he home?”
Chen Zemian called for Lu Zhuonian and turned back to the officers. “Wait a moment, he’s on the phone. Please come in and have a seat.”
The younger officer glanced at the older one.
The older man rasped, “No need.”
The younger one added, “We’ll wait here.”
Chen Zemian opened the door halfway and handed out two glasses of water. “You guys are really dedicated—coming to the victim’s house to take a statement.”
The young officer replied, “There’s also physical evidence involved that Mr. Lu needs to identify. Since it’s late and we were nearby, we decided to stop by.”
Chen Zemian glanced at the two-bar insignia on the older officer’s shoulders and nodded. “I thought it might be more than just a statement. You don’t usually send someone this senior for something minor.”
The older man’s epaulettes showed two bars and two stars—the insignia of a second-level police inspector. With the tight staffing in Beijing, that rank usually meant at least a deputy director.
The young officer introduced, “This is our deputy captain, Luo Jianan—Captain Luo.”
Chen Zemian’s father was also a captain, so he was used to hearing people call him “Captain Chen.” The familiar title made him feel oddly close, and he greeted politely, “Captain Luo, thank you for your hard work.”
Luo Jianan looked at Chen Zemian with a complex expression but only nodded silently.
Just then, Lu Zhuonian emerged, now fully dressed. He wasn’t wearing a coat—his luxurious cashmere coat was draped over his arm. His walk was brisk and confident, radiating poise.
In mere minutes, he had changed, applied cologne, adjusted his hair, and put on his expensive eight-digit watch. He looked less like someone going to the police station and more like a celebrity headed to a red carpet event.
Polished, composed, radiant.
He stood at the doorway, nodded graciously, and said, “Thank you for waiting.”
Chen Zemian: “…”
He was stunned. What on earth is this guy doing? Is he competing at the station?
Lu Zhuonian’s aura screamed “I am extremely valuable.”
If the two police officers weren’t present, Chen Zemian would’ve asked if he was going on a blind date.
Despite all the internal complaints, he still had to support the performance in front of outsiders.
Since Lu Zhuonian was setting the tone as a noble young master, it was Chen Zemian’s job—as the loyal follower—to help carry that tone to the end.
He noticed Lu Zhuonian was still wearing cotton slippers and suddenly had an idea.
Then he did something that surprised everyone.
Chen Zemian bent down, took a pair of leather shoes from the shoe cabinet, and placed them at Lu Zhuonian’s feet.
Lu Zhuonian: “?”
Luo Jianan’s brow furrowed deeply. His gaze swept sharply toward Lu Zhuonian.
The young officer also frowned.
Chen Zemian waited for a moment. When he saw Lu Zhuonian wasn’t putting the shoes on, he half-knelt on the ground, looked up, and asked respectfully, “Is this pair not suitable, Mr. Lu?”
*****
All of Lu Zhuonian’s confidence crumbled in that instant.
He had armored himself, ready to prove to Director Sun and others that he was fully capable of protecting Chen Zemian.
But before even leaving the house, he was completely defeated—by Chen Zemian.
You haven’t helped me put on shoes in a hundred years—why did you suddenly get the urge to do it in front of his father’s old comrade today?
Chen Zemian, you are so abstract.
If Chen Zemian didn’t know his father’s identity, Lu Zhuonian would have suspected he was deliberately putting on a show.
Lu Zhuonian reached out, pulled Chen Zemian up, and whispered, “What are you doing?”
Chen Zemian replied matter-of-factly, “Helping you change your shoes.”
Even with Lu Zhuonian’s IQ and EQ, he didn’t know what to say at this moment.
He was speechless.
Because he knew very well that if he asked, “When have you ever changed my shoes?” Chen Zemian would answer without hesitation, “Every day.”
Lu Zhuonian walked out of the villa in silence.
Unexpectedly, Chen Zemian followed him.
He trailed just behind, not walking side by side but half a step behind—playing the role of a follower with full professionalism.
Lu Zhuonian paused slightly and turned to look at Chen Zemian with an indescribably puzzled expression.
Chen Zemian immediately stepped forward and asked, with affected formality, “Mr. Lu, what do you need?”
Lu Zhuonian lowered his voice. “Can you act normal, Chen Zemian?”
His voice was already soft, but unfortunately, the two policemen ahead still heard it.
The younger officer couldn’t help but say, “The police car is at the gate of the courtyard. Mr. Chen doesn’t need to see us off.”
Chen Zemian’s IQ flickered. “How do you know my last name is Chen?”
The young officer: “…”
Luo Jianan explained, “You were registered when we came in. The guard told us.”
Lu Zhuonian glanced at Chen Zemian. “Why are you coming? It’s cold outside.”
“I’m driving you,” Chen Zemian replied. “How else would you get back?”
Lu Zhuonian & Luo Jianan: “…”
Chen Zemian shook the car keys, turned, and walked toward Lu Zhuonian’s car—playing the loyal servant role to the hilt.
Whether it was truly loyalty or not was another matter.
But both Lu Zhuonian and Luo Jianan now had chest pain.
On the way to the police station, the young officer drove while Luo Jianan sat in the passenger seat. Several times, he felt his blood pressure spike. Every time he thought of his old comrade’s only son serving the Lu family’s young master like a servant, his lips twitched with fury. He kept a cold expression and said nothing.
*****
Inside the Municipal Bureau – Director’s Office
The faint buzzing of fluorescent lights could barely be heard over Sun Yueping’s furious ranting.
“That so-called young master of the Lu family—what crap! What’s so great about having a little dirty money?”
He had just heard Luo Jianan’s report, and now he was livid. He’d already smoked three cigarettes in a row and cursed every spoiled brat in the city.
Sun Yueping jabbed a finger toward the door and growled, “He’d better not fall into my hands!”
Luo Jianan remained solemn, brows tightly furrowed. “Lower your voice.”
Knowing Sun Yueping’s temper, if it weren’t for Chen Zhe waiting downstairs, he’d probably leave Lu Zhuonian hanging for hours just to knock that smug young master down a notch.
But leaving Lu Zhuonian waiting meant leaving Chen Zhe waiting too.
Suddenly, Sun Yueping stood up and strode toward the reception room.
Lu Zhuonian greeted him calmly, “Director Sun.”
Sun Yueping remained firm, leaned back in his chair, and raised a hand. “Sit.”
The two men—tall and composed—faced each other across the table.
Sun Yueping’s gaze swept over Lu Zhuonian, lingering for a second on the luxury watch peeking from his sleeve.
The sapphire dial shimmered coldly under the lights—much like the man himself: aloof, poised, and impossibly expensive.
He finally spoke. “The Yaotai Langyuan case is very complex. Over the past twenty years, anyone who’s privately investigated the matter has been considered a suspect. I ask for your understanding, Mr. Lu.”
Lu Zhuonian turned his phone over and slid it forward. “Can you clear me now?”
Sun Yueping’s voice was authoritative and firm. “You’re indeed not a suspect. I also know you’re assisting Chen Zhe with the investigation. But I must ask you to remain silent—for his protection, and for your own.”
Lu Zhuonian ignored the implication and said in a steady tone, “You use this method to protect him—but have you ever asked if he wants to be protected like this?”
“It’s more than just protection,” Sun Yueping said, frowning. “This goes deep. I can’t tell you all the details, but you must know that not all suspects in the Yaotai Langyuan case were ever brought to justice. That’s a fact you can verify in the newspapers.”
Lu Zhuonian’s fingers moved slightly. His platinum cufflinks caught a glint of light.
Sun Yueping noticed this flicker of hesitation and leaned in. “If Chen Zhe learns the truth and gets caught in the crosshairs, he won’t just be in danger—he’ll compromise the years of preparation we’ve put into this case.”
Lu Zhuonian lowered his gaze and remained silent.
Sun Yueping continued, more earnestly now, “Both professionally and personally, this is not the time for Chen Zhe to get involved in anything related to Nanfeng. I care about him—Qingyu was like a brother to me. But until the truth comes out, we must remain quiet.”
Lu Zhuonian looked up and asked flatly, “You’ve spent twenty years on this case. But what about Chen Zhe’s twenty years?”
Sun Yueping stood and said solemnly, “I promise, when the truth is revealed, we will clear Chen Zhe’s name—and his father’s.”
Lu Zhuonian met his gaze. “You’ll give him an explanation then. I…” He paused, then looked directly at Sun Yueping. “I’ll keep the secret—not because I agree with your protection methods, but because, as a citizen, it’s my duty to cooperate with the police.”
Sun Yueping nodded. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
Lu Zhuonian checked the time. “Is there anything else?”
“One more thing,” Sun Yueping replied. “A suspect confessed to stealing something from your car. Several boxes of tea were recovered. We need you to give a statement.”
“All right,” Lu Zhuonian said.
He agreed, but didn’t move.
Sun Yueping raised an eyebrow. “Anything else?”
“I have one question,” Lu Zhuonian replied.
“Go ahead.”
Lu Zhuonian stared at him and asked, unexpectedly, “Is Chen Qingyu still alive?”
*****
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