Chapter 102
Chapter 102
It was only a matter of time before Song Xiaotian was bailed out, but I didn’t expect it to happen quite so fast.
When it came to getting things done, this father and son duo were as reliable as they come-their word was their bond.
They said two days, and it really was exactly two days.
We waited for Song Xiaotian outside the detention center.
When he was released, I expected him to look dejected. Instead, the first thing he did was toss his head back, glare fiercely at the officer escorting him out, and spit on the ground with extreme arrogance before finally walking toward us.
“Yo, Young Master Song. Still acting so high and mighty after being locked up? Seems like you had a pretty good time in there.”
Uncle Song leaned against the car door, teasing his son.
The moment Song Xiaotian saw his father, his arrogant demeanor vanished instantly, like a student spotting their homeroom teacher.
“It was alright. I actually wanted to stay a few more days. Seriously, I could’ve gotten out even if you guys hadn’t bailed me out.”
Meng Yifan was shocked. “I can’t believe he’s still being this stubborn.”
Uncle Song likely knew exactly what kind of person his son was, so he ignored the comment and told him to get in the car.
Once inside, Meng Yifan took the wheel, giving the father and son a chance to talk.
Uncle Song raised his hand to pat Song Xiaotian’s shoulder, presumably to comfort him.
I don’t know if it was a reflex, but Song Xiaotian flinched so hard he nearly tried to jump out of the moving car.
“What are you doing?! I just got out and you’re already trying to hit me? I was framed!”
Seeing his reaction, I couldn’t help but wonder how many beatings he had endured as a child to be this terrified of his father.
Uncle Song glanced at him. “Who’s trying to hit you? You really do know how punchable you are, don’t you?”
“I wanted to ask what your plans are for the future.”
Song Xiaotian froze, his expression stiffening. “What do you mean? Was I fired?”
Uncle Song sighed. “Even your Master has been suspended. He’ll likely spend the rest of his career rotting away in the archives. That’s the best-case scenario. You two used public power for private matters and got caught red-handed.”
I could tell Song Xiaotian was hit hard by the news.
He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but deep down, he really wanted to be a cop.
“Heh, if I’m fired, I’m fired. I don’t give a damn anyway.”
Song Xiaotian crossed his legs and tossed his head back. “It’s their loss, not mine. Whatever.”
Uncle Song chuckled. “Exactly. Who wants that bird-brained job anyway? It’s a thankless task. Why bother looking after those bastards? Being an ordinary citizen is much more relaxing.”
“Come learn how to do business with me. Making money is much more fun.”
Song Xiaotian shook his head, refusing the offer.
“Fine, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Life is about experiences, and this is just the beginning. You’re young; you should enjoy yourself.”
As a father, Uncle Song was far more reasonable than most.
It was no wonder he had raised Song Xiaotian to be so confident.
The car pulled up to a restaurant, and we all sat down for a meal.
Song Xiaotian, usually a chatterbox, was unusually quiet today. Both we and Uncle Song could tell he was still brooding over being kicked off the force.
A good cop with a sense of pride probably couldn’t accept being defeated by the darkness.
Uncle Song didn’t push the issue. After we finished eating, he looked at Meng Yifan and me.
“You young people have your own business to attend to, so I won’t pry. Just make sure to stay safe.”
“Xiaotian has a foul temper, loves to cause trouble, acts impulsively, and rarely listens to advice. You guys must have had some terrible luck in your past lives to end up as brothers with him.”
I thought to myself, *Isn’t he describing Meng Yifan and me too?*
“Uncle, please don’t say that. If it weren’t for Brother Tian these past few days, Meng Yifan and I would be in a much worse state.”
Uncle Song laughed and stood up. “Alright then. I’ll go settle the bill. You guys take your time.”
With that, he left.
To be honest, it was my first time meeting such a reasonable father. I suspected that when Uncle Song was young, he was exactly like Song Xiaotian.
After he left, Meng Yifan and I didn’t know how to comfort Song Xiaotian.
He looked like he was going through a bad breakup.
“Brother Tian, I’m not just kissing your ass, but with your skills, the police station didn’t deserve you anyway.”
“Enough, I’m fine.”
Song Xiaotian tossed his head back, putting on his act again. “At worst, I’ll just become an underworld boss. Lin Zhifeng’s been caught anyway, so I’ll go and unite the gangs. If they won’t let me be a cop, I’ll become a cancer to society.”
He then looked at us. “While I was gone these past two days, did you guys find anything?”
I told him we actually found quite a lot.
I went through every clue and event from the last two days in great detail for him.
Finally, I handed him a list. “The people on this list are the most suspicious. We can check their bank accounts. Whoever withdrew ten thousand yuan in the last two days is our person.”
Song Xiaotian stared at the names on the list, lost in thought for a long time. I couldn’t tell if he was processing the clues or if he had something else on his mind.
After a long silence, he looked at me. “Are you sure everyone who’s suspicious is on this list?”
I nodded. “I screened almost all the management at my father’s factory. I even suspected the factory director, but he’s clean.”
“Alright, I’ll look into it.”
After finishing the meal, Song Xiaotian originally wanted to order a few more bottles of booze, but since he had to investigate the names on the list that afternoon, he refrained.
However, before leaving, he suddenly asked Meng Yifan and me a question.
“If-and I mean if-one day you suddenly discovered that the person closest to you had done something terrible, what would you do?”
I was stunned and asked why he was suddenly asking that, or if there was some hidden meaning.
Song Xiaotian smiled. “Nothing. It just popped into my head. Just asking.”
Meng Yifan answered quite sincerely. “Personally, I couldn’t bring myself to sacrifice my own family for the sake of justice. Maybe I just don’t have a high enough moral compass, but they’re family after all.”
I thought about it for a long time, but I didn’t know how to answer.
I was like Meng Yifan; I couldn’t bring myself to place justice above my own kin. After all, the people closest to me were my father and my grandfather.
However, if they really did something evil, while I might not sacrifice them for the sake of righteousness, my conscience would never let it go. Maybe I’m just too idealistic.
Seeing that I wasn’t answering, Song Xiaotian pressed me for a response.
But I still didn’t give him a straight answer. “That’s a hypothetical question. For something that hasn’t happened, any answer is just talk. Besides, I believe my family wouldn’t do anything bad. They’re good people.”
Song Xiaotian nodded and didn’t ask further.