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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 12: Late Night Call
Fang Huai'an.
Those three words on the phone screen burned into my retina like three fiery brands. My heart was instantly gripped by an invisible hand, nearly stopping in its tracks.
Why would he call me at this hour?! It was the middle of the night! Shouldn't he be asleep?! Could it be… that he knows I went out earlier? Does he know I got that bag?! That police siren… could it really be his doing?!
My mind was a chaotic whirlwind, countless terrifying thoughts surged forth, each one capable of plunging me into an abyss of despair. The phone vibrated furiously in my palm, like a death knell, buzzing loudly in the silence of the room, making it all the more jarring.
Should I answer? Or not?
If I answer, what will he say? A test? A warning? Or will he lay everything bare? How should I respond? Would my voice betray my fear?
If I don’t answer, it would be like confessing! It would reveal my guilt! The consequences could be even worse!
I felt as if I were standing at the edge of a cliff; one step forward led to a mountain of blades, one step back to a sea of fire—there was simply no way out!
The phone continued to vibrate insistently. Each buzz struck my nerves like a hammer.
I couldn’t hesitate any longer!
I took a deep breath, summoning all my strength to barely control the trembling of my fingers as I pressed the answer button. I could even hear my own rapid heartbeat, amplified by my extreme anxiety, coming through the receiver.
“Hello… Fang, Teacher Fang?” My voice was dry and hoarse, trembling noticeably; even I couldn’t stand to listen to myself. Damn! So cowardly!
“Ha ha, Xiao Qin, still awake at this late hour?” The familiar voice of Fang Huai'an came through the line—neither too high nor too low, carrying his usual calmness and even a hint of… amusement? He sounded nothing like someone who had just been awakened from sleep.
That hint of amusement sent chills down my spine more than any stern questioning could.
“I… I’m not asleep yet, Teacher Fang. Just a bit restless,” I forced myself to calm down, trying hard to make my voice sound natural, but my tongue still felt tied. “Is there something you needed to discuss at this hour?”
“Oh, it’s nothing serious,” Fang Huai'an said casually, as if making small talk. “I just suddenly remembered something and was afraid I’d forget during the day, so I called to ask you.”
Remembered something? At this time? What a load of nonsense!
“Y-yes… please go ahead,” I tightened my grip on the phone, my palms sweaty and my back tense as if it were made of stone.
“It’s nothing much, really. I just wanted to check in on you. You’ve been in Luoshui County for a while now; how are you finding the work? Are you facing any difficulties in life?” Fang Huai'an’s voice carried a tone of concern typical of an elder towards a younger person, sounding so amiable.
But all I felt was a chill creeping from my feet to the top of my head. He was probing! He was definitely probing! He wanted to see my reaction!
“I’m doing… quite well, Teacher Fang. Thank you for your concern.” I forced my tone to sound surprised and flattered. “Captain Zhao and the colleagues have been very supportive. I’m working hard to learn, but I still need to seek advice from you and the seniors.” I deliberately placed myself at the lowest position, trying to appear obedient and compliant.
“Good to hear,” Fang Huai'an seemed satisfied with my response. After a pause, he shifted his tone. “Xiao Qin, you’re a smart kid with decent skills, but sometimes… you can be a bit too serious.”
Here we go again! The same old line!
“Yes, yes, Teacher Fang has taught me before; I remember,” I quickly agreed, while inwardly cursing: If I weren’t serious, would I have noticed the dirty deeds your group is up to?!
“Ha ha, just remember that,” Fang Huai'an chuckled lightly. “Young people should have ambition, but they also need to be adaptable. Clear waters have no fish; overly observant people have no followers. You understand that principle, right?”
I understand your nonsense! I cursed silently but could only respond meekly, “I… understand a little…”
“A little understanding isn’t enough,” Fang Huai'an’s tone suddenly turned serious, carrying an undeniable pressure. “Xiao Qin, let me speak frankly with you today. In this place, many things can’t be solved just by relying on textbook knowledge. Human relationships and interests are tangled together. Sometimes, turning a blind eye can lead to mutual benefit; that’s the way to survive.”
“Teacher Fang…”
“Let me finish,” he interrupted me with a tone that felt more like brainwashing than guidance. “You see, as forensic doctors, we hold a certain power—not too big and not too small. If used well, it can help resolve many troubles. For instance, when someone from a financially struggling family dies unexpectedly and the insurance company refuses to pay out, we can ‘optimize’ the report slightly so they can receive their money sooner and get through tough times—wouldn’t that be doing good?”
“Or take some young people who make impulsive mistakes and accidentally cause ‘consequences’ that aren’t life-threatening but could impact them for life. Can we not slightly ‘blur’ the details within our responsibilities to give them a chance for redemption? Isn’t that a form of humanitarianism?”
I felt a chill run through my body, my stomach churning violently. How could he twist the abuse of power and tampering with evidence into something so "noble"? And what about "accumulating virtue" and "humanitarianism"? Pah! This was nothing but a misuse of authority, a manipulation of the law!
"But Teacher Fang, our profession..." My voice trembled, a mix of anger and fear threatening to overwhelm my reason.
"Professional ethics? Legal boundaries?" Fang Huai'an scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain and the wisdom of someone who had seen too much. "Xiao Qin, you’re too young. When you reach my age and have seen more, you’ll understand. The so-called morals and laws can sometimes be very fragile in the face of real interests and complex human relationships. What we can do is to maintain a superficial balance, satisfying all parties as much as possible without crossing the 'core red line.' That is the 'rule' here."
Core red line? What does that even mean? Who defines it? Isn’t it just whatever Fang Huai'an says it is?!
"And," Fang Huai'an lowered his voice further, almost hypnotically, "abiding by this 'rule' will only benefit you, not harm you. Look at Captain Zhao and the others; why do they respect me so much? Because I’ve helped them, and they are 'understanding.' In the future, whether in Luoshui County or back in the province, having more friends means more opportunities. Some resources and connections cannot be gained just by working hard."
He was trying to win me over! Or rather, he was blatantly tempting me to join him in corruption! He implied that as long as I "knew my place" and followed his "Old Rules," I could gain tangible benefits and integrate into their dark network of interests!
A wave of nausea surged within me, making me want to throw my phone against the wall! To collude with these people? To become a part of their filthy chain of transactions? I would never be able to sleep soundly again!
"Teacher Fang... I..." My throat felt constricted, unable to utter a single word. Anger, fear, disgust, helplessness—all these emotions churned violently within my chest.
"Heh, no need to rush your answer." Fang Huai'an seemed to sense my struggle and returned to his "gentle" tone. "You’re still young; some things take time to digest. I’m just reminding you not to get stuck in a rut—look around more, think more. The path is yours to choose."
He paused, his tone becoming exceedingly slow, each word deliberate as if delivering a final ultimatum:
"By the way, Xiao Qin, there’s an important case analysis meeting at the bureau tomorrow at eight-thirty in the morning. You should attend as well. It’s in the small conference room on the third floor. Don’t be late."
A case analysis meeting? Tomorrow morning? So sudden? What case was it? Why did he specifically want me, a temporary worker?
My heart sank suddenly, an intense sense of foreboding enveloping me.
This was definitely not just a simple meeting! It felt more like... a banquet at Hongmen!
Was he planning something at this meeting? Targeting me? Or... targeting someone else?
"Okay... okay, Teacher Fang, I will definitely be there on time." I squeezed out those words with the last bit of strength I had.
"Mm, get some rest early," Fang Huai'an said before decisively hanging up the phone.
As I listened to the busy tone on my phone, I felt completely drained, slumping against the wall.
Cold sweat soaked my clothes, and my heart raced wildly.
That call from Fang Huai'an terrified me more than any direct threat. He was like an experienced animal trainer, wielding a whip while tossing out treats, trying to completely dismantle my psychological defenses and pull me into his camp.
The seemingly ordinary meeting notice felt more like a sword of Damocles hanging over my head, filled with unknown dangers.
I looked toward the direction of the cloth bag I had carefully hidden, my gaze becoming resolute.
Lin Field. The place marked with a red cross.
I had to go! And I needed to go before tomorrow's meeting!
I didn’t know what awaited me there or what I would find.
But I knew this was my only chance. Before they took decisive action against me, I had to find something that could turn the tables!
I was betting everything!
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