Sheng Guoning had accidentally brought the bottle of water into the car, purely because it was unopened and he didn’t want to waste it. He hadn’t noticed the reversed logo and text on the bottle, but it gave Yi Shi a reason to confront him directly. At this point, Sheng Guoning couldn’t feign ignorance even if he wanted to.
“Yi Shi, really… wouldn’t it be better to just go home and sleep peacefully?” Sheng Guoning gripped the steering wheel. “Just pretend you don’t know anything. You’ll see him eventually anyway, so why rush?”
There was definitely something off about him. His tone had the air of a villain who believed he was in control of everything. Yi Shi replied calmly, “It’s different. The future can wait, but I need to see him now.”
“Why are you so determined to find Lin Heyu?”
“Why are you trying to stop me?” Yi Shi countered, pressing his lips together. “You’ve met Lin Heyu; you knew the explosion was going to happen, but for over a month after the incident, you never even mentioned him to me. Why?”
Sheng Guoning was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he responded in the tone elders often use: “…I didn’t tell you for your own good.”
“Just like how you fabricated my background for my own good?” Yi Shi lowered his eyes. “Do you really think pretending to know nothing can avoid all these things connected to me? If I had remembered him sooner, I might’ve avoided making a lot of mistakes. Maybe I could’ve found a way to break the cycle of fate.”
This was the first time Sheng Guoning had seen Yi Shi like this. It wasn’t that Yi Shi was incapable of being emotional—he just hadn’t found the right person to trigger it before. Lin Heyu was both his haunting shadow and his bitter remedy, and their fates were intertwined more closely than either of their relationships with Lin Zhizhi.
Yi Shi was no longer the clueless child he used to be, and it was no wonder he had shown up here so unexpectedly.
Sheng Guoning knew Yi Shi well enough to know that he was far more difficult to handle than Lin Heyu. Lin Heyu was composed, disciplined, and principled, and dealing with him didn’t require as much caution. But Yi Shi was completely different—impulsive, extreme, disregarding rules and behaving unpredictably. This was exactly how Yi Shi’s colleagues described him.
In short, Sheng Guoning had nothing to fear when facing Lin Heyu. But dealing with Yi Shi? He had to be on high alert and use a bit of trickery to keep him in check.
“It’s true, you can’t avoid this, but it’s also not something that can be stopped,” Sheng Guoning said, placing a hand on Yi Shi’s shoulder and giving it two light pats. “I’ve already spoken to Lin Heyu. He’s willing to let things develop naturally. You should listen and not interfere with tomorrow’s case.”
Yi Shi stared at him, “And what about Xiao Shitou? Are you still going to take him to the factory?”
Lin Heyu’s accusations echoed in Yi Shi’s mind. Sheng Guoning avoided Yi Shi’s piercing gaze. “I’ll take care of it. Let me take you home first.”
Yi Shi was silent for a few seconds, then brushed Sheng Guoning’s hand off his shoulder. “You might not really understand what we’re trying to change.”
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a scarred right arm. “Weren’t you curious about what happened back then? I can tell you now—these are from tomorrow’s explosion. Lin Heyu shielded me, taking the heat and shock from the blast at a very close range. His internal organs were severely damaged, which is why he couldn’t come back.”
“These scars have been with me for twenty years. I won’t even mention the pain I went through during treatment or the inconvenience in my daily life. I used to be able to ignore all of it. But now, every time I see this arm, I’m reminded of the moment he fell in front of me. Ever since my memories returned, I’ve had constant nightmares and guilt. This has been going on for a while, and Lin Heyu always comforts me. He cares more about how I feel than anyone else.”
“We understand very well how firmly fate is set, and we know there are times when things are left to run their course. But if there’s even a slim chance for a good outcome, how can we just do nothing when the explosion is right in front of us? I don’t want these scars, reminders of painful memories, and I don’t want to watch him die.”
Yi Shi’s voice was cold as he asked, “Where is he? Is he still safe?”
A wry smile flashed across Sheng Guoning’s face, and he sighed. “He’s gone back. He’s safe now.”
“Gone back?” Yi Shi was stunned. “How?”
“The fountain pool at Pingju Square.”
Yi Shi was shocked. His first experience of crossing through water had been through that very fountain, and he vividly remembered the gut-wrenching sensation. There was no way Lin Heyu had entered the water willingly. Sheng Guoning’s shirt sleeves and front were damp, making it obvious that he had forcibly pushed Lin Heyu into the water. Such an action was no different from committing a crime.
“He’s Zhizhi’s brother!” Yi Shi clenched his fists. Sheng Guoning still wore a smile. “Exactly, which is why I really didn’t want to lay a hand on him. And you—you’re my son. I don’t want to hurt you, either.”
The cold muzzle of a gun was now pointed at Yi Shi. It was his old friend, the Type 92 pistol, though this was their first time meeting in such a way. Yi Shi furrowed his brows. Sheng Guoning must have retrieved the gun before heading out earlier.
“I’m getting old. I can’t compete with you young people, so I have to use some special methods.” Sheng Guoning pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and motioned for Yi Shi to hold out his hands. “Don’t be afraid. As long as you cooperate, you won’t get hurt.”
The fact that he was willing to point a gun at his own son made this promise of safety sound as hollow as trying to soothe a child. Yi Shi suddenly felt all the years of familial trust and affection shatter. The foster father he had known—cheerful, upright, responsible—was respected as a leader outside the home and a father who was both strict and loving. He had worked tirelessly to maintain a peaceful and happy life, always ensuring that Zhizhi wore a smile that was hard to conceal. Despite their lack of blood ties, Yi Shi had always considered Sheng Guoning his closest family. In the absence of memories of Lin Heyu, Yi Shi’s decision to attend police academy had been influenced by him. It was unimaginable to think that such a righteous and kind father would resort to such ruthless methods.
“…I want to know the reason,” Yi Shi said with his head lowered. “I really don’t understand how this benefits you. I want to change the facts, I want to live a good life with Lin Heyu, what’s wrong with that? Has all your care and love for me over the years been fake?”
Sheng Guoning suppressed the guilt surging within him and took a deep breath. “One day, you might understand… No, it’s better if you never find out. Let me bear the pain alone.”
Pain? Yi Shi’s eyelid twitched. To Sheng Guoning, fame and fortune were insignificant; what truly mattered to him was family and affection. The phrase “let me bear the pain alone” suggested that the hidden reason would entangle them all in misery. The answer was clear—it involved Lin Zhizhi.
A sharp noise came from ahead, and both men turned to see that two private cars had collided in the parking lot. Their attention was drawn to the drivers who were arguing and calling the police. Yi Shi reacted first, his hand moving like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, the gun was in his hand.
The moment he held it, he realized he had fallen into another trap—the gun wasn’t loaded, and after feeling around, he discovered there was no magazine either. Sheng Guoning had been covering that part of the gun the entire time, and in the dim light, Yi Shi hadn’t noticed this glaring omission.
With a “click,” his left hand was cuffed to the metal bar of the passenger seat headrest, leaving his arm suspended in the air. Yi Shi shook his arm, finally understanding the meaning of “losing both the lady and the soldiers.”
Sheng Guoning sighed. “I told you I didn’t want to hurt you, didn’t I? After all, you’re my son.” He took the gun back and tucked it into his coat. “The magazine is on me. Before coming to the hospital, it was still in the gun, but as soon as I knew I’d be meeting you, I took it out.”
“You originally planned to use it against Lin Heyu?”
“Of course not, I just wanted to scare him.” Sheng Guoning chuckled and ruffled Yi Shi’s short hair. “What? You don’t believe me? That look in your eyes says you want to eat me alive. It’s true what they say—once a son leaves home, he’s like water thrown out, never to return.”
Yi Shi: “…”
After lingering in the parking lot for over twenty minutes, the car finally started. Sheng Guoning was looking around for road signs when Yi Shi spoke heavily, “Handcuffing me won’t work. I still have one hand free.”
“I know how capable you are. This isn’t to stop you from attacking me, it’s to prevent you from jumping out of the car and escaping.”
“Where are you taking me?” Yi Shi glanced out at the familiar streets. “I can’t ‘go back’ like Lin Heyu, and I can’t go home either. As soon as I get the chance, I’ll definitely escape. You might as well shoot me.”
“Tsk, is that how low I’ve fallen in your eyes? What am I going to do? Find you a place to sleep!”
Yi Shi furrowed his brows, increasingly unable to understand what Sheng Guoning was thinking.
Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of a building in Changlong Garden. Sheng Guoning got out, leaving Yi Shi locked in the car alone. He took the keys, and the doors were locked. Yi Shi rummaged through the glove compartment, but there was no wire or sharp object to be found. It seemed Sheng Guoning had come prepared, having confiscated anything that could be used as a tool.
Yi Shi picked up the bottle of water, stared at the reversed text for a few seconds, then adjusted the seat with the side button. He slid the water bottle under the floor mat, pressed it down several times to ensure it was tightly wedged in, and covered it with the mat. It wouldn’t be found unless someone looked very carefully.
Next, he took another bottle of water from the glove compartment, removed the plastic wrap intact, turned it inside out, and placed it back on the bottle. After opening it and taking a sip, he held it in his hand.
Sheng Guoning returned from the building, carrying Xiao Shitou in his arms, and handed him to Yi Shi through the passenger door.
Xiao Shitou was breathing steadily, deeply asleep, showing no signs of waking up despite the movement. Yi Shi cradled Xiao Shitou with one arm and called his name several times, but the child remained in his deep sleep.
“Stop calling him. He’s sleeping soundly—what if you wake him up?”
“…” That’s exactly what Yi Shi wanted. Having finally gotten his hands on an unconscious Xiao Shitou, of course he was trying to wake him up.
“Now you’re making me worried he’ll actually wake up.” Sheng Guoning got into the car, pulled out a syringe with a small amount of clear liquid from his pocket, and said, “I’ll just give him a little more. Hold him steady.”
“Hey!” Yi Shi tightened his hold on Xiao Shitou, placing his arm between them to shield him, his back to Sheng Guoning. Sheng Guoning, irritated, said, “Hey, hey, don’t block me. I’ll just give him a little, I promise it won’t hurt him.”
There was no way Yi Shi was going to let someone inject Xiao Shitou with drugs in front of him. He clutched the boy tightly, struggling to defend him in the cramped car, and with his left hand still restrained, he had only his right hand to fend off Sheng Guoning.
Sheng Guoning grabbed his strong, firm arm. Yi Shi, determined to protect Xiao Shitou, pressed his shoulder down hard, but suddenly felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand. Startled, his right hand jerked slightly before being pinned down again.
In just one second, most of the syringe’s contents had been injected into Yi Shi’s veins. Sheng Guoning, not being a medical professional, had caused blood to bead up at the injection site, and he casually wiped it with a tissue. “You care too much, Yi Shi. You really neglect yourself.”
…So all of this had been orchestrated just to inject him with the drug? Yi Shi felt like his mind had been blown open. Sheng Guoning’s actions had once again shattered his understanding of him. The man before him, full of schemes and tricks, was becoming more and more unfamiliar.
Sheng Guoning laid Xiao Shitou down on the back seat, even covering him with a small blanket to prevent him from getting cold. Yi Shi was speechless. He knew exactly what kind of drug had been injected into him, but being caught twice by Sheng Guoning like this was hard to accept.
In a way, Sheng Guoning knew Yi Shi’s temperament all too well. Twenty years of being a father hadn’t been in vain. Before today, Sheng Guoning had always been sincere in his love and care for Yi Shi. After today, though, only the innocent and oblivious Yi Shi could live peacefully alongside him.
This time, the car drove in the opposite direction of the machinery plant. Yi Shi leaned against the window, watching the patches of yellow light from the street lamps pass by and disappear. The blurred guardrails outside looked like hypnotic tools, and his eyelids grew heavy. An unprecedented drowsiness swept over him, and even digging his nails into his palms couldn’t stop it.
“Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi?”
Yi Shi wanted to lift his head but struggled for a few seconds before it weakly drooped again.
Before he fell into darkness, he heard a faint apology: “…I’m really sorry. I hope you don’t hate me too much.”
———
Lin Heyu returned home. In the current timeline, he was supposed to be out of town on a case and definitely wouldn’t have run into anyone, but to his surprise, Zhizhi was at home. She was startled when she saw him come in.
“Brother, aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip today? Why are you back?” Lin Zhizhi pointed to his coat. “And you changed clothes. Is that new?”
“They changed the schedule. I’m leaving tomorrow,” Lin Heyu said as he ruffled her hair. “Why are you back? Weren’t you going to be a bridesmaid at your friend’s wedding?”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m making some gifts for the bridesmaid group, one for each of us.” Lin Zhizhi pulled Lin Heyu along and opened her room door. “Ta-da! Look! It’s a big project. I’ll be busy for the next couple of days.”
The floor of the room was covered with all kinds of craft materials, and the workbench was a complete mess. Lin Zhizhi enthusiastically introduced which items were for making accessories and which were for making charms. She had majored in design and dabbled in a wide range of crafts during college. She often boasted that she was a “jack-of-all-trades in handmade crafts.”
“Alright, alright. I don’t understand any of what you’re saying. Just remember to keep the light on when you’re working so you don’t hurt your eyes.”
Lin Heyu wasn’t in the mood to focus on anything else. His mind was filled with thoughts of Sheng Guoning’s actions. If there really was a hidden reason, why not bring it out in the open and discuss it? He was, after all, his brother-in-law, practically part of the family. Was that still not enough to trust him?
At least Sheng Guoning had only pushed him into the water, and the consequences of that action were somewhat predictable, so it wasn’t entirely heartless. Even so, Lin Heyu couldn’t quell his anger toward him. The main reason was that Sheng Guoning was too good at hiding things. He was deeply calculating, and leaving him around Zhizhi made Lin Heyu incredibly anxious.
Can he time travel? I saw it that time…
Lin Heyu pondered. What had he seen? Was it when he saw Yi Shi disappear from the fountain?
If Sheng Guoning was telling the truth and had no complete memory from before, then there was no reason for him to follow Yi Shi to Pingju Square in the middle of the night and watch him time travel through the fountain. But if Sheng Guoning was lying, how much of his memory was intact? How many times had he interfered?
“Brother, brother! Huh? Where did you go?” Lin Zhizhi ran out and saw Lin Heyu sitting on the couch. “You didn’t go anywhere? The kettle in the kitchen has been whistling non-stop!”
The boiling water he had put on for tea had completely slipped his mind. Lin Heyu hurried to the kitchen to turn off the stove. Lin Zhizhi followed him. “Brother, you’ve been acting strange today. Did something bad happen at work?”
“…Something like that,” Lin Heyu glanced at her. “I met someone awful.”
Lin Zhizhi jogged into the kitchen, her gossip radar on full alert. “Who, who? Someone from the municipal bureau? Or from your team? The only one I know is Brother Yuan. Come on, tell me! Don’t bottle it up, I’m willing to listen.”
Looking at his vibrant and lively younger sister, Lin Heyu rubbed his forehead in frustration. Right now, Zhizhi didn’t even know who Sheng Guoning was. At best, he could only give her a small warning.
“You don’t know him. But I’ll warn you, once you move to Nanyi, you need to protect yourself. Stay away from people who seem decent on the outside but are rotten on the inside. Don’t let anyone deceive you.”
Lin Zhizhi’s eyes curved into a smile. “Of course! I’m a girl living alone, so I’ll definitely protect myself. And if I run into trouble, I’ll call the police, right?”
“Don’t call the police!” Lin Heyu immediately objected, then coughed when he met her surprised gaze. “You can just call me. People’s hearts can be hard to read. Not all officers are reliable.”
“I know, I know. But my brother is the most reliable!” Lin Zhizhi waved her hand. “If you don’t want to say more, that’s fine. I’ll get back to work. Let’s go out for dinner tonight. A new hot pot restaurant opened nearby, and it’s super good!”
Lin Heyu nodded, and as Zhizhi’s room door closed again, he rubbed his temples in frustration. How did his precious little sister end up with Sheng Guoning?
I’m hoping there’s a good reason for all this…