Chapter 908: The Detention Center

The afternoon sun streamed into the courtyard of the detention center. The detainees, dressed in blue uniforms, walked around in small groups, rarely talking. The only sound was the crunching of gravel underfoot. Most of their faces showed a numb and indifferent expression, having grown accustomed to their surroundings.

Armed patrol officers, barbed wire fences, and whitewashed slogans on the walls were all familiar sights to them.

This was Chen Shi’s twenty-fourth day in the detention center. He marveled at the adaptability of humans. In the first few days, he felt a significant psychological gap, struggling with the monotonous and regimented daily routine, bland meals, and mandatory classes with other detainees. He resisted all of it.

Gradually, these routines became less hateful and unfamiliar. He developed a standard biological clock, waking up at the same time each day, feeling hungry when it was time to eat, and even having a regular schedule for bathroom breaks.

Of course, getting used to something doesn’t mean you like it. The air here was filled with emptiness and boredom. The repetitive daily life felt like a slow, torturous grind. Most of the time, he was lost in thought, mentally listing things he would do once he got out. The anticipation of reuniting with Lin Dongxue and Tao Yueyue kept him going, giving meaning to each new day.

Several detainees were playing a homemade game of hacky sack, laughing and shouting like school children. One of them, a man wearing glasses, called out, “Brother Chen, join us!”

“I have something to do,” Chen Shi smiled and declined, walking towards the southeastern corner.

Many people stopped and stared, whispering in surprise. That area was usually avoided because it was where the feared serial killer, Zhou Xiao, sat alone on a stack of old tires. His long hair hung over his eyes, giving him a sinister look. In the minds of some detainees, even the air he breathed was toxic.

Zhou Xiao and Chen Shi had arrived at the same time. Initiation rituals for newcomers were a longstanding subculture in the detention center. Both had received “friendly” welcomes from their cellmates.

After a few displays of grappling techniques, Chen Shi managed to establish a peaceful coexistence with his cellmates.

In contrast, Zhou Xiao’s retaliation was more brutal. On his second night, he bit off a cellmate’s ear. After three days in solitary confinement, he returned and gouged out another cellmate’s eye with his bare hands. Since then, no one dared to provoke him. Whether during yard time, group lessons, labor, or meals, he was always alone, like a lone wolf on the outskirts of the pack.

Seeing Chen Shi approach Zhou Xiao made everyone nervous.

Hearing footsteps, Zhou Xiao snapped out of his daze and looked up. Chen Shi stopped half a meter away, neither greeting nor moving closer. They stared at each other.

Zhou Xiao broke the silence first. “What? Waiting for me to tell you a joke?”

Chen Shi pulled out a pack of cigarettes and tossed it to him. Zhou Xiao caught it, looking suspicious. Chen Shi said, “Yueyue sent these in. She promised to get you some smokes.”

“You saw her?”

“You probably don’t know, but you can’t see family before the trial.”

Zhou Xiao understood the implicit jab and laughed. He sniffed the cigarettes deeply before pocketing them. “Song Lang, don’t think you can get anything out of me with a pack of smokes.”

“Don’t worry, I have no interest in a hopeless case like you.”

“Song Lang, you have to admit, we made you. Without criminals like us, there would be no legendary cops.”

“I admit that. But I’d rather there be no legends if it meant those lives you took were still here.”

“You say that, but catching criminals and getting medals must feel pretty good, right? You cops want more people like me, don’t you?” Zhou Xiao mocked, countering with, “We complement each other, like light and shadow.”

“Zhou Xiao, do you know where you went wrong?”

“My good education from Tao Yueyue?” Zhou Xiao sneered sarcastically.

“You failed yourself. You killed Gu You and boasted about it to Yueyue. You can’t imagine how much that hurt her. It pushed her to decide to arrest you. A life means nothing to you, but you reaped what you sowed.”

Zhou Xiao nodded indifferently. “If I had another life, I’d choose the same path. It’s my nature; nothing can change that.”

Chen Shi didn’t want to delve further. They were worlds apart, and reasoning with a caged beast was pointless. He simply said, “Good luck.”

Yard time ended, and a soldier called out Chen Shi’s number. He had become so attuned to it that it felt like hearing his own name. He stepped forward, and the soldier said, “Your lawyer is here to see you.”

In the meeting room, a middle-aged man in a suit and glasses sat at the table, nodding and smiling at Chen Shi. “I’m still not sure whether to call you ‘Mr. Chen’ or ‘Mr. Song.'”

“Mr. Chen will do,” Chen Shi replied with a smile.

“Mr. Chen, your case won’t go to trial for another month. I hope you can be patient.”

“I have plenty of patience,” Chen Shi said. “What about Zhou Xiao’s case?”

“His case has caused a huge stir outside. It will likely go to trial before yours. Speaking of which, the media has been eager to interview your guardian. Officer Lin turned them all down, saying they need the guardian’s consent. I wanted to get your opinion on this.”

“I don’t want her surrounded by media all the time. Turn them all down. Unless she wants to speak out, which I doubt she will.”

The lawyer nodded and noted it down. “The key evidence in your case is Zhou Xiao’s confession, but he said nothing during pre-trial. Captain Peng mentioned a gunshot wound from four years ago. The medical examiner found it on Zhou Xiao, but it’s still just a single piece of evidence. It won’t be enough to prove your innocence.”

Chen Shi’s heart sank until he heard the lawyer say, “But…”

“But, during the investigation of the Lie Guoxiao case, someone named Wang Xi provided crucial evidence. Lie Guoxiao hired Zhou Xiao’s gang to kill Officers Han and Li because they had incriminating evidence against him. The same person can’t be killed twice, and you never took money from Lie Guoxiao. So if I can prove Zhou Xiao killed Officers Han and Li, you have a good chance of being acquitted. Many people outside are helping you, even those you don’t know.”

“What?” Chen Shi was shocked. “Zhou Xiao’s target was Han Luoxi back then.”

“Yes.”

Chen Shi felt a mix of pain and relief. Framing him had been an opportunistic move. Han and Li had died fighting crime.

Reflecting on the past, Chen Shi sighed.

“How are they?” he asked.

The lawyer understood who he meant. “Officer Lin has been staying at your place with Yueyue. Officer Lin is very concerned about the case, visiting my office every three days. Sometimes, I don’t know how to answer their questions. They brought some things for you, which I gave to the detention center staff. They’ll pass them to you after inspection.”

“I also wrote a letter to Yueyue, which they’ll give you.”

“There’s one more thing…”

“Go ahead.”

“An old man asked if you would return to the police force after the trial.”

Chen Shi laughed. “I might get executed along with Zhou Xiao.”

“Mr. Chen, don’t doubt my abilities.”

“Alright, alright, you know what I mean. We’ll talk about it after the trial.”

“The old man wanted an answer today.”

Chen Shi stroked the table. “Can I continue to assist the police as a consultant? By the way, has Xiao Lin woken up?”

“He has. He wants to see you.”

Chen Shi shook his head with a bitter smile. “So much pressure. I suddenly want to stay here longer.”