Chapter 11

“Alright! Quiet! I’ll shut up!” Xu Tianyou exclaimed, looking terrified. He ducked under his blanket as if trying to hide from An Xiaohai’s murderous glare.

An Xiaohai took several deep breaths to force down his anger, though a wave of deep despair still rose within him. Ten years… it’s just too long.

—

In the records room of Shenhai City First Prison

Wang Tiejun was flipping through files. This time, he was there openly to check on the files of detained drug traffickers.

But his real interest was An Xiaohai. Before, he hadn’t had a reason to look at An Xiaohai’s file, which would have raised suspicion. But now that An Xiaohai was being transferred to Zone A, it made perfect sense for Wang Tiejun to review his file.

The file was detailed, covering multiple pages of An Xiaohai’s alleged crimes. As Wang Tiejun read, his brows knitted tighter and tighter.

The file recorded that when An Xiaohai and Pan Zhuangzhuang arrived on the scene, they immediately got into a brawl with Zhou Tie and his gang. After some time, they separated with neither side gaining the upper hand.

If the incident had ended there, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. Even if the police had been called, it might have just ended with a warning for both parties. Zhou Tie would likely have faced more punishment, as An Xiaohai and his friends were all students, and the police generally leaned in favor of students, especially one like An Xiaohai from a top university.

But Zhou Tie wasn’t willing to let it go and threatened revenge on Lin Xuan’er, prompting An Xiaohai and Pan Zhuangzhuang to resume the fight. In the ensuing chaos, An Xiaohai ended up stabbing Zhou Tie, who eventually died from blood loss.

“What a shame…” Wang Tiejun sighed.

If Zhou Tie had been stabbed during the first fight, An Xiaohai wouldn’t have faced such severe punishment. Unfortunately, it happened in the second confrontation when Zhou Tie’s actions toward Lin Xuan’er had already ceased.

Because of this, the nature of the incident changed.

Still, a ten-year sentence seemed heavy.

“Zhou Tie…” Wang Tiejun flipped through Zhou Tie’s records, which showed he was the son of Zhou Weiguang, the village chief of Sha Tau Kok Village.

“A village chief has this much influence?” Wang Tiejun thought, puzzled.

To frame someone like An Xiaohai wouldn’t be easy. The conspiracy would need to reach through every agency—public security, the courts, and even the prison system. Could a mere village chief accomplish this? Wang Tiejun doubted it.

Initially, he hadn’t believed An Xiaohai’s claims of someone targeting him. But after using An Xiaohai’s tip to bust a drug ring in Haifeng Town, Wang Tiejun began to reconsider.

An Xiaohai had left a powerful impression on him. Calm, sharp, meticulous, deep—yes, deep. Each time Wang Tiejun met his gaze, he sensed an unfathomable depth in his eyes.

A year ago, An Xiaohai had entered National Defense University as a top-ten student in Haidong Province’s Information Engineering Department—a promising young talent. If he weren’t a prisoner, Wang Tiejun would have found a way to recruit him for the anti-narcotics team. An Xiaohai would have been a perfect fit.

Could such a smart young man be paranoid or feel targeted for no reason? Not likely.

If someone was out to get him, then who could wield such influence?

“Captain Wang, still reading?” Yang Yuanbing’s voice broke Wang Tiejun’s concentration. He had just come in.

“Oh, almost done.” Wang Tiejun closed the file, but then a flash of insight made him reopen it to examine it more closely.

“Lin Xuan’er… Lin Xuan’er! Why does this name sound so familiar?” Wang Tiejun murmured.

“What’s up, Captain? Is there an issue?” Yang Yuanbing asked nervously. Wang Tiejun was famously tough, and Yang had discreetly arranged for An Xiaohai’s cell transfer. Had Wang noticed?

“Nothing. I was just curious. Turns out, the girl An Xiaohai helped is only 18. Early romance, huh?”

“True, but 18’s not that young. She could’ve been a mom at that age in the past—only in modern times are people marrying and having kids later,” Yang joked, secretly relieved.

“Alright, I’m leaving. Keep an eye on these guys, especially Xu Tianyou—that kid is trouble. Only with him waiting trial here can I feel assured.”

“Of course! I’ll see you out, Captain Wang!”

“No need. Just handle things here. Thanks.” Wang Tiejun left, and Yang Yuanbing let out a sigh of relief, whistling as he began tidying up the files.

Yang was in high spirits. He had recently met “the boss,” casually mentioning An Xiaohai’s transfer to Zone A. Initially, the boss seemed displeased but then praised him, and even his attitude toward An Xiaohai softened.

In retrospect, it made sense. In Zone A, mingling with hardened criminals, An Xiaohai would likely end up on a dark path. When he eventually got out, he’d be deeply scarred by the experience.

“I wonder just how deep the grudge is,” Yang thought, shaking his head. He had nothing against An Xiaohai personally—he was just following orders to win favor for his own career.

After all, it was An Xiaohai himself who had requested the transfer.

“That kid is something else!” Yang muttered, trying to shake off the unsettling memories of An Xiaohai’s gaze that kept flashing in his mind.

“Who’s behind him anyway?” Yang mused.

“An enemy’s enemy is a friend… so his backer must be a rival to ‘the boss’?”

Political conflict was the most dangerous kind. Yang hoped he wouldn’t get pulled into it.

“Damn, could Wang Tiejun be working for the other side? No, he’s infamous for his integrity… or maybe that’s all a front…”

The thought made Yang’s heart race, but he quickly dismissed it. He’d already resolved to keep his head down and stay on everyone’s good side.

—

In the car, Wang Tiejun was chuckling uncontrollably.

“Ha, this is getting interesting! Boy, who says I can’t bend the rules? I’m about to show you just how easily I can. And this time, I’m doing it by the book!”

“So Lin Xuan’er really is Jianguo’s daughter. What a twist of fate!”