At that time, Wang Gaozhan didn't understand what he was trying to accomplish. He ended up lingering outside Han Songshan’s company for several days without seeing him. Standing alone on the street, he watched the hurried pedestrians, thinking about Wang Yifei, who was probably drifting somewhere in the bustling crowd with his backpack. During those days, Wang Gaozhan was like a lost soul, constantly replaying the conversation in the motel, wondering which words he had said wrong, which had struck a nerve and caused Wang Yifei to suddenly turn against him. Seventeen years of estrangement had left him unable to understand his son. He couldn’t even answer the questions Wang Yifei had asked that day. This world is inherently unfair. If people insist on finding answers where there are none, what can they hope to achieve? Wang Gaozhan couldn’t figure it out. He only knew that when people are in misery, they instinctively search for their own mistakes. He felt that the rift between him and his son was like this unresolvable problem, a form of self-torture born from Han Songshan's existence. As long as Han Songshan existed, Wang Yifei would never be at peace. Three or four days later, Wang Gaozhan saw a man resembling Han Songshan near his company. He instinctively rushed across the street, his vision filled with the glaring sun and indistinct figures, feeling as if he were in a dream. Just as a hand grabbed his collar and yanked him back from his dizzy state, a car sped past, missing him by mere inches. The driver slammed on the brakes, leaving a black skid mark on the ground. The driver leaned out the window, shouting, "Are you crazy? Not looking at the road? What do you want to do?" Wang Gaozhan stood dazed, while behind him, Zheng Xianwen shouted back, "Why so fast? What’s your problem? Believe it or not, he could lay down right now and make you pay him insurance!" After a brief exchange, the driver drove off. Zheng Xianwen, still unsatisfied, walked back and looked Wang Gaozhan up and down, asking, "Wang Gaozhan, right? What are you doing here? Why are you in City D?" Wang Gaozhan knew Zheng Xianwen was a smooth talker and didn’t want to engage. He glanced at him and turned to leave. Zheng Xianwen, however, was intrigued and followed him, chatting non-stop. "Are you waiting for Han Songshan? What grudge do you have with him?" Wang Gaozhan ignored him, but Zheng Xianwen continued, "I've seen you a few times. After prison, you should find a proper job. What, you think you can take revenge on someone like Han Songshan? He’s fat but could still knock you down with one hand." He sounded like a prison guard advising an inmate not to repeat past mistakes. Wang Gaozhan walked along the sidewalk, stepping on the black lines. Zheng Xianwen kept circling him, talking with an annoying grin, "Where’s your son? Did he abandon you? People avoid us because of our criminal records, right?" Then he offered, "I can help you find a job. I know many people, even from prison. We can work together in a place where the environment isn’t too oppressive." Despite being in prison for murder, Wang Gaozhan had a high education, good attitude, and gentle personality, making him somewhat special. Zheng Xianwen, who was well-connected, had learned about him from other inmates and was told not to mess with him. After half an hour of talking, Zheng Xianwen’s mouth was dry, yet he wasn’t annoyed by the lack of response. He pushed Wang Gaozhan lightly, "Say something. I just saved you." Wang Gaozhan finally stopped and entered a nearby noodle shop. Zheng Xianwen followed, sitting across from him and cheekily said, "Treat me to a bowl of noodles, an 8-yuan shredded pork noodle." He ordered immediately. When the food arrived, he ate voraciously, not afraid of the heat, finishing everything in less than two minutes. He wiped his mouth roughly and said, "I gave all my money to my mom. She had nothing when she died and probably hated me for it." Hearing this, Wang Gaozhan felt less hostile towards him. Seeing him staring at his own bowl, he empathized with his plight and asked, "Want more?" "Yes," Zheng Xianwen smiled shamelessly, "I’ll have another bowl." He ordered a plate of fried rice, more filling. When it arrived, he said sincerely, "Wang, they weren’t wrong. You’re a good man." Whether this was genuine or fake, Wang Gaozhan couldn’t tell. He paid the bill, preparing to leave. Not long after, Zheng Xianwen, carrying a takeout box, caught up and asked, "What do you want with Han Songshan?" Wang Gaozhan replied dismissively, "I’m not looking for him." "Don't lie. I’ve seen you around here. You rushed over when you saw Han Songshan. Don’t tell me you were mistaken." Zheng Xianwen, looking mysterious, added, "He’s going back to City A tomorrow. He’s only here to pick up a document. You won’t find him at his company." Wang Gaozhan turned to look at him. Zheng Xianwen asked, "Seen the news?" Wang Gaozhan took out his phone and searched for news about Han Songshan and Guangyi, as instructed. Before going to prison, he had worked in a related industry. Despite several legal amendments, his professional judgment remained sharp. Based on financial reports, he quickly confirmed that the speculation was entirely plausible. Zheng Xianwen joked, "If this deal goes through, Han Songshan could easily make billions. People like him make money effortlessly, just by talking. I wanted to be like him but failed, ending up in prison." Wang Gaozhan wanted to explain that business acquisitions were complex but didn’t want to delve into technical terms. He pocketed his phone, looking directly at Zheng Xianwen, silently questioning his intentions. Zheng Xianwen toned down his playful smile, "Are you going back to City A?" Wang Gaozhan himself didn’t know where he could go. The world felt too vast, leaving him adrift without any goals. His only wish was for Wang Yifei to be happy. "Then I’ll go with you," Zheng Xianwen, assuming he understood, hooked an arm around his shoulder, "Brother Wang, let me tag along for some food." He Chuan Zhou interrupted, suspiciously asking, "What did he want you to do?" Wang Gaozhan hesitated, then shook his head, "Nothing." Despite his slick tongue, Zheng Xianwen didn’t seem malicious. Lacking higher education and professional skills, he excelled in persuasion and reading people, thriving in his social circles. Wang Gaozhan couldn’t explain the feeling, but with Zheng Xianwen around, even his lies felt genuinely concerned. After Wang Yifei left, the piercing emptiness and crazy thoughts were strangely soothed by Zheng Xianwen’s chatter. It was probably because he was too lonely that Zheng Xianwen's appearance seemed just right. Sitting in the back seat and having remained silent, Zhou Tuoxing suddenly interjected, "Why doesn't he sell health products to the elderly? He would have been rich ages ago." He Chuan Zhou found this somewhat amusing and explained, "Zheng Xianwen has a peculiar sense of professional ethics. He says he doesn't do that kind of thing." Wang Gaozhan turned his head slightly and wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. After the tears dried, his skin felt a bit tight. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, hesitated for a moment, and then suppressed it. He Chuan Zhou, who had been observing his expression, noticed the fleeting hesitation and handed him a few tissues, casually asking, "Didn't he talk to you about any business?" Wang Gaozhan leaned forward slightly, pressing his knees. Though not particularly old, his back habitually hunched, his temples graying, and his face showing deep fatigue, as if he was used to hiding himself from the world's gaze. He took the tissues from He Chuan Zhou and lowered his head to blow his nose, not speaking immediately. --- Brother Huang came out of Jiang Pingxin's house, found a secluded corner, looked around, and dialed Captain Zhang's number. "The little ancestor confessed," he sighed with relief as soon as the call connected, "Jiang Pingxin did go to the riverside that night, but only once. The person she saw was Zheng Xianwen. He was covered in blood, soaking wet, and wearing a hat." Zheng Xianwen recognized Jiang Pingxin, smiled at her, and said, "Go back." Jiang Pingxin was so frightened that she ran all the way home. After calming down, she thought that it might have been Zheng Xianwen. She initially wanted to call the police but hesitated, sitting at her door with her phone all night, fearing that Zheng Xianwen would come to silence her. Early the next morning, she went to the riverside again and this time saw a figure lying in the grass. "Apparently, Wang Yifei saw Han Songshan being thrown into the river, was so shocked that he had a seizure and fainted in the grass. Jiang Pingxin thought he was dead and went to check, only to have her ankle grabbed by the awakening Wang Yifei, which scared her to death." Brother Huang, both amused and exasperated, scratched his head and said helplessly, "These two, one determined to take the blame and the other not wanting Zheng Xianwen to go to jail again, conspired to make false statements. They had agreed to give Wang Yifei a day to visit friends in City A and planned for Jiang Pingxin to report the body on the 17th. But Jiang Pingxin couldn't bear it and didn't report. It wasn't until the police started a large-scale investigation and questioned her that she finally spoke up." Captain Zhang replied thoughtfully, "I see." Brother Huang looked around to make sure no one was there and whispered resentfully, "This time it can't be false, right?" Captain Zhang's voice also lowered as he covered the phone's speaker, saying, "I'm at Zheng Xianwen's house now. We'll talk later."