Chapter 23: Sin and Punishment

Jiang Xiaoyu was worrying over how to approach Ji Wangan. After thinking it over, he decided to start with Cotton.

“You want the dog to help you continue hurting the master? That’s impossible!” Although Teddy was afraid of cat punches, its instinct to protect its master gave it the courage to bare its teeth and let out some low growls.

Jiang Xiaoyu wasn’t angry. He crouched in front of Teddy, doing everything short of rolling over to show friendliness. “If he turns himself in, his sentence will be reduced or even exempted.”

Talking law with a dog was really difficult. He broke down the facts and explained them simply to Teddy. “Turning himself in is his best option right now.”

Cotton lowered its guarded expression and looked down at its paws with some dejection. “You really won’t hurt the dog’s master?”

“I guarantee it. Everything I do is for justice. The scales of the law won’t favor anyone. They will accurately punish the guilty and firmly protect the innocent.”

Teddy was bewildered. It didn’t understand the words, but the black cat in front of it seemed extremely reliable. It had given it respect it had never received before. It was just a dog—why explain so much to a dog like it? Yet it had patiently explained its actions, even if they didn’t matter.

“Can the dog trust you?”

Jiang Xiaoyu nodded. “I guarantee it with my personal integrity.”

“But you’re a cat. Where would a cat get personal integrity?”

…Fair point. This Little Teddy hadn’t seen his human form yet. He glanced around, confirmed no one was nearby, and whispered, “Watch closely.” He smoothly shifted back to human form. Amid Little Teddy’s shocked open-mouthed reaction, he turned back into cat form.

“You… what are you?”

“I’m a cat, and also a human.” Jiang Xiaoyu had no good explanation for their abilities— even scientific research didn’t have solid answers. Fortunately, the country had long accepted people like them and established relevant regulations.

“No wonder…” An image of Ye Lian suddenly flashed in Teddy’s mind. It muttered inwardly: Could that scary person turn into a cat that makes dogs afraid too?

“What should the dog do?” It seemed to accept Jiang Xiaoyu’s suggestion, barking once more as if to confirm. “It really can help the master, right? You’re not tricking the dog, are you?”

“I guarantee it.” Jiang Xiaoyu patiently repeated the answer, then leaned close to its ear and whispered his plan.

—

It was time for Cotton’s SPA day again. Ji Wangan originally wanted to have the servants take it, but after losing his phone, the Old Madam had become paranoid and protected him tightly. Aside from necessary outings, she hardly let him step out of the mansion.

But Cotton pitifully clawed at his pant leg, letting out aggrieved whimpers.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Wangan’s voice still sounded listless, as if part of his soul had drifted away.

Cotton kept whimpering and bit his pant leg, tugging toward the car.

“You want me to go with you?”

Seeing Cotton nodding vigorously, Ji Wangan pursed his lips. “Then I’ll go ask Grandma.”

Lei Guangyu’s first reaction to Ji Wangan’s request was to refuse, but seeing her grandson—whom she’d cherished since childhood—in such a dazed state, she relented. “Then take a few bodyguards with you.”

Ji Wangan gave a bitter smile. “Grandma, I’m just taking Cotton for grooming.” What use were bodyguards? If the police really had evidence and came to arrest him, were they supposed to fight the cops?

Ye Lan smoothed the bun at the back of her head, her tone gentle. “Mom, I’ll go with you. I just saw some new styles; I need to go shopping too.”

The Old Madam was all smiles and affection toward her grandson, but she snorted coldly at her daughter-in-law. “You’ve got money now, huh? Is it that good son of yours being filial?”

She recalled how the Ji Family had suffered a major crisis back then. She’d asked Ye Lan to seek help from the Ye Family, but was refused. Full of resentment.

Ye Lan put on a humble, gracious demeanor. “The Old Madam has misunderstood.” Her expression shifted to mild dissatisfaction. “How could I count on him? He doesn’t even visit his own mother. You think he’d support me in old age?”

“Aren’t you just like the rest of the Ye Family? Heartless, ungrateful wretches without a shred of decency.”

This had been the dynamic since Ji Wangan’s childhood—the two elders were harsh toward Ye Lian, but they truly doted on him. His nose tingled. “Grandma, just let Mom come with me.”

Seeing her grandson like this, Lei Guangyu’s heart instantly ached. She hugged and cooed over her precious baby for a while, then told Ye Lan, “Take Wangan out for a stroll. Whatever he wants to buy, charge it to my account.”

Ye Lan smiled and nodded. As she turned away, her expression turned indifferent. This old hag and her bastard spawn dared to curse her Lian’er like that. Soon, soon—she comforted herself. She’d get the key very soon.

She lowered her gaze, a soft smile on her face. “Let’s go, Mom will go with you.”

—

Jiang Xiaoyu carried the cat carrier, carefully instructing the Little White Cat inside. “Remember to act friendly later.”

Little White Cat was the chubby one that the calico had mocked as a shut-in before. Eager to help the boss, it was full of energy and meowed, “Boss, don’t worry! This cat will definitely complete the mission!”

Jiang Xiaoyu curved his lips, reaching through the mesh to pet the cheek gland that Little White Cat was rubbing against. He pushed open the pet shop door. “Hello, I want a check-up for my cat.”

Little White was taken into the CT room. Jiang Xiaoyu leaned against the wall, lost in thought with downcast eyes. His black hair, pale skin, and tall, slender figure gave off an otherworldly aloofness, like a painting.

So when Ji Wangan entered, he immediately noticed him. He handed Cotton to the staff, remembered the Old Madam’s instructions not to wander, and sat on the sofa next to Jiang Xiaoyu, waiting for Ye Lan to finish shopping.

Jiang Xiaoyu’s toe twitched. He asked softly, “Can I sit here?”

His voice was refreshingly clear. Ji Wangan reflexively replied, “Of course.” He looked up following the voice. The moment their eyes met, he felt like he’d fallen into a crystal-clear emerald lake. Those eyes were so pure and bright, sparkling with astonishing light—beautiful enough to hold his gaze captive. “Your eyes are really beautiful.”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s body stiffened slightly. At a loss for a response, he awkwardly said, “Thanks,” and sat on the other side.

He was fretting over how to strike up a conversation when the nurse came out holding Little White. “Mr. Jiang, the scans will take half an hour. Please wait patiently.”

Jiang Xiaoyu took it and agreed. He pinched the base of Little White’s tail as he held it on his lap. It shuddered in pleasure twice, recognizing the signal from the boss, meowed, and jumped straight into Ji Wangan’s arms opposite.

Ji Wangan let out a small “ah,” but didn’t show any disgust. He petted the cat, a smile—the first in days—appearing on his face. “Your cat is very friendly.”

“It’s very well-behaved.”

This started their conversation. Jiang Xiaoyu was supposed to guide it, but he wasn’t great at socializing. Instead, the other started talking more.

“Mr. Jiang, how old are you?”

“22.”

“So young.”

Ji Wangan glanced at the young man opposite him. His looks were top-tier, though he seemed a bit reclusive and quiet. He didn’t like guys—he’d realized that clearly after that sinful night—but that didn’t stop him from appreciating beauty. He found himself warming to the person before him unconsciously.

“What’s wrong with the little cat?” Ji Wangan asked.

Jiang Xiaoyu watched Ji Wangan’s gentle petting of Little White—the normal, tender care unique to pet owners.

How could someone like this do such a thing?

“It jumped from a building and broke a bone. I’m checking if it’s healed.” This wasn’t a lie; he’d picked up Little White after someone threw it off a building right in front of him.

“How did that happen? Didn’t you seal the windows?”

“No… It’s my friend’s cat.” Jiang Xiaoyu was obviously bad at lying. He racked his brain for the excuse he’d prepared. “It wanted to find its owner and jumped when no one was watching.”

“I see.” Ji Wangan wasn’t one to care about others. In fact, without this incident tempering him, he’d probably still be out partying with his bros at some club. But this person made him follow up naturally. “What about its owner then?”

“He’s dead.” Jiang Xiaoyu looked up. “His name was Zhou Xu. The police said he drowned himself.”

Ji Wangan’s body stiffened, his petting of Little White halting.

“I don’t believe he would commit suicide. He lived with his grandparents. His grandpa was sick; he worked at a club to earn money for treatment. How could he kill himself? He was outstanding, on scholarship from his department, with a bright future. How could he possibly suicide?”

Ji Wangan stared blankly at the speaker’s eyes. At first, they were a clear lake; now, a bottomless abyss. He hadn’t expected to run into that person’s friend or family. He was stunned, dizzy and lightheaded, forcing himself to stand. “Ah… um, I need to pick up my dog. I have to…”

“I don’t know who else to tell.” Jiang Xiaoyu said softly. “His grandparents are already heartbroken. I don’t want to make them even sadder.”

“Please, just hear me out.”

Ji Wangan didn’t dare look into his eyes. He trembled as he parted his lips, but couldn’t make a sound. Under the other’s gaze, he stiffly sat back down on the sofa, listening as the other spoke of everything about Zhou Xu.

Yeah, he was called Zhou Xu. He had learned this man’s name from the name tag on his clothes. He had watched the atrocity unfold before his very eyes. If that person hadn’t suddenly fallen ill, he might have joined in as well. Not to mention that after the man died, he had driven his older brother’s car to help Shen Qie dispose of the corpse.

“I just don’t believe it, don’t believe he would abandon his family like this.” Jiang Xiaoyu stroked the book in his hands. “If there’s a chance, I’d like to discuss the book’s contents with him.”

This “he” might have been referring to Zhou Xu, or perhaps to Ji Wangan. Jiang Xiaoyu sighed, then scooped up Little White and stuffed it into the cat carrier. “Thanks for listening for so long. I’m off to pick up the photos. Goodbye.”

Ji Wangan sat there pale-faced on the sofa. By the time he snapped back to reality, the man was nowhere to be seen. On the sofa lay the book he had left behind, its blood-red cover bearing an axe—Crime and Punishment.

He picked up the book. The title page still held the warmth of that person’s touch, with a handwritten line upon it in bold, elegant script unlike that man’s handwriting. It was probably a passage from the book: Go there right now, immediately, stand at the crossroads, first kiss the earth you have defiled, then bow to the whole world and loudly proclaim, “I am a murderer!” Then, God will grant you life once more.

The words pierced his eyes like a sharp blade, the lingering warmth burned his fingers like a branding iron. He flung the book away as if he couldn’t bear it any longer, his body instantly going limp as he collapsed to the floor.

“Mr. Ji, are you alright?” The nearby store clerk hurried over to help him up. “Feeling unwell anywhere? Do you need us to take you to the hospital?”

Ji Wangan waved the hand away, unable to suppress the wail rising from his throat.

“Wangan, what’s wrong?” Ye Lan came over after finishing her shopping to pick him up.

Ji Wangan buried his head in Ye Lan’s embrace like he’d found his pillar of support. “Mom, I killed someone.”

Ye Lan was greatly startled. “What nonsense is this?” She chided him lightly, then gave the store clerk an apologetic smile. “The kid’s just talking nonsense, doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

The store clerk wore a bizarre expression. Mr. Ji looked to be nearly thirty, didn’t he? And this was called a kid?

She watched as that older lady stroked Mr. Ji’s head and softly comforted him, her words gentle, yet her expression cold.