After embracing Zhou Songyue, Jiang Cheng turned to Lin Qiuyun beside him and called out, “Mom.”
The two elders of the Zhou Family had already learned about Jiang Cheng’s situation from Tan Shiming. Now, seeing him in person, his face still bore bruises and wounds that had yet to fully fade.
Lin Qiuyun’s heart ached, and she couldn’t help but let her tears fall. “A’Cheng, how could you hide something so dangerous from your dad and me?”
Jiang Cheng raised his hand and gently wiped away Lin Qiuyun’s tears, saying softly, “Mom, it’s all my fault.”
The one who had driven them here was Yan Bin.
He watched Jiang Cheng and thought to himself that five years really does change a person.
Jiang Cheng used to be so reckless and brash, always stealing the spotlight in everything he did. Now, the sharp edges about him had softened considerably — though not in a way that made him smoother or more tactful, but rather with a kind of steady, grounded sharpness.
Yet he was still Jiang Cheng. A fist came swinging into Yan Bin’s shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked up to find Jiang Cheng wearing that same cocky grin.
Jiang Cheng said, “What are you staring at me for, kid? Forget who your boss is?”
Yan Bin couldn’t help but laugh, cursing back, “How the hell did you not die out there?”
“I’ve got a tough life. How have things been? Don’t tell me you’re still mooching off your parents.”
“I opened a hotpot place — just messing around for fun. Lucky you came back. Come see how well I’m doing these days!”
“Alright, you little—”
Before Jiang Cheng could finish, Yan Bin landed a punch squarely on his chest in return.
Jiang Cheng still had a knife wound on him. Taking a hit like that made him immediately grimace in pain, baring his teeth.
Yan Bin was startled and asked with concern, “What’s wrong — are you okay?”
“Won’t kill me.” Jiang Cheng pressed his hand over the wound, coughing repeatedly, then said, “I have to stay alive. Someone’s got to inherit your restaurant someday and ride on Third Brother’s coattails.”
Seeing he still had the nerve to crack jokes, Yan Bin cursed again, “Inherit my ass — I’m definitely going to outlive a reckless idiot like you!”
As the words left his mouth, his voice trembled slightly at the end. He finally couldn’t hold back the ache in his chest, and one arm wrapped firmly around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders.
After a long moment, Yan Bin finally said, “…Boss, welcome home.”
Jiang Cheng remained unmoved and scoffed, “Can you tone down the drama? You’re making my skin crawl.”
Yan Bin immediately lost any urge to cry, and slapped him hard on the back in irritation. “I really can’t believe I wasted that on you.”
Jiang Cheng burst out laughing.
---
Zhou Jin was halfway back to the Serious Crimes Unit when she learned that Tan Shiming had told Zhou Songyue about Jiang Cheng’s situation ahead of time.
Tan Shiming had called Zhou Songyue intending to talk about Zhou Jin’s mental state, and in the course of the conversation, Jiang Cheng inevitably came up.
By that time, Tan Shiming had already obtained Yao Weihai’s written note, and had pushed through a handwriting analysis overnight — confirming that Jiang Cheng was completely innocent. So he had gone ahead and told Zhou Songyue about the hearing as well.
He knew about the relationship between Jiang Cheng and the Zhou Family, but even so, he hadn’t expected the family to care so deeply about this young man — the moment they heard the news, they insisted on coming straight over.
Tan Shiming remarked to Zhou Jin, “They treat him better than their own son.”
“More or less,” Zhou Jin said. “When my brother and Jiang Cheng got into trouble together as kids, my dad would usually punish my brother and let Jiang Cheng off scot-free.”
Seeing that she still had the mood to share a funny story, he asked, “Feeling a bit better?”
Zhou Jin said, “I was fine to begin with, Shifu.”
Five years ago, Zhou Chuan passed away, and Jiang Cheng left. During that period, even the two Zhou Family elders had been submerged in grief, and Zhou Jin suddenly found herself without anyone to lean on.
From only being able to cry and drift through her days in a daze, to making the firm decision to transfer from the Public Security Brigade to the Serious Crimes Unit, and then to carrying out everything that followed — she had walked through that long and agonizing stretch of time entirely on her own.
Having lived through those days, no matter how great the pressure she faced afterward, she found she could handle it. Nothing felt insurmountable anymore.
All she needed was time.
Besides, she was no longer alone now. She still had Jiang Hansheng by her side.
Thinking of Jiang Hansheng, Zhou Jin quickly dialed his number.
When the call connected, she first heard the sound of running water, but his voice didn’t come through for some time.
“Professor Jiang?” Zhou Jin said.
After another moment, Jiang Hansheng’s slightly low voice came through — “Mm.”
“Where are you?” Zhou Jin asked. “My parents are in Haizhou. Are you free for dinner tonight?”
Jiang Hansheng said, “My dad and Aunt Fang came back from abroad yesterday. I need to spend the evening with them.”
Zhou Jin thought it over — Yan Bin would be there tonight, and Jiang Hansheng never seemed to have an easy time around him. Seeing less of each other was probably for the best.
She suggested, “Then we’ll split up for the night.”
“Alright.” After a brief silence, Jiang Hansheng asked again, “What time will you be home tonight?”
Zhou Jin thought about it. “Hard to say. If it’s not busy at the unit, I’ll head back early.”
When she returned to the Serious Crimes Unit and learned that the two Zhou Family elders, Jiang Cheng, and Yan Bin were in the break room, she pushed the door open and walked in.
Yan Bin spotted her first, flashing a wide grin full of bright white teeth, and waved at her. “Xiao Wu, over here!”
Zhou Jin went straight to Lin Qiuyun’s side and asked, “Mom, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”