Chapter 852: Principle of Avoidance

“I’m so furious.”

After leaving the hotel, Lin Dongxue angrily kicked a stone on the road. That scum kept talking about family ties, which disgusted her. What was even more revolting was that this scum was her father, sharing half of his genes with her!

“Don’t be upset,” Chen Shi consoled her. “Actually, you’re luckier than most people.”

“Am I lucky like this?” Lin Dongxue smiled bitterly.

“Most people hate their parents without even having the chance to express it. You, on the other hand, can splash tea on his face as a police officer. You can even arrest him and throw him in jail to pay for his actions.”

“Old Chen, do you hate your parents too?”

“No, although my family has had its ups and downs, they brought me into this world and gave me the chance to meet you. I’m very grateful to them.” Chen Shi held Lin Dongxue’s hand.

Tears fell from Lin Dongxue’s eyes onto their clasped hands as she said, “Right now… I feel really low.”

“I’ll be with you.”

Suddenly, Lin Dongxue remembered something. “You casually took those two cards, didn’t you?”

Chen Shi took them out from his pocket. “You two were so busy teasing each other that I didn’t get a chance to return them. Here, take them. Donate them to impoverished mountain areas or use them as a reward for collecting clues.”

“I don’t want them. I don’t want to touch that old man’s money. You donate them yourself!”

“I’ll hand them over to your brother tomorrow.”

The next morning, they arrived at the office and found Lin Qiupu packing up his office. Lin Dongxue asked in surprise, “What’s going on, brother? Are you being transferred?”

Lin Qiupu put down a box. “The suspect has been confirmed to be our biological father, so we have to step back from this case. I’ve applied for suspension until Lié Guóxiāo’s trial is over, then I’ll consider whether to come back.”

Seeing Lin Qiupu looking so weary, it seemed he hadn’t slept much the night before.

“But I don’t want to leave the Second Team. I can’t be a detective, and I might as well go sell grilled fish!” Lin Dongxue said.

“You don’t have to transfer, but you have to withdraw from this case. If they need to gather information, both you and I will have to cooperate as direct relatives involved.”

Lin Dongxue pursed her lips and nodded. “This morning someone finally called the hotline, saying they have evidence of Lié Guóxiāo’s crimes. The case finally seems to be making some progress. Sigh…”

“We must maintain impartiality.”

“I have no objections. I just feel… disappointed that I can’t personally deal with that old bastard.”

“Old bastard? He’s our biological father, after all!” Despite also disliking Lié Guóxiāo, Lin Qiupu couldn’t be as carefree as Lin Dongxue. After all, he still cherished eleven years of memories with his father.

“What kind of father is he? He caused my mother’s death to hide his identity, evaded for over twenty years, and that night he intended to kill me!” Lin Dongxue said indignantly.

“Actually, being able to step back might be for the best. Honestly, I don’t know how to face him.” Lin Qiupu sighed.

Chen Shi interrupted their conversation. “If you leave, who will be the team leader?”

“You know the people in the team better than I do. Do you have someone in mind?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“In terms of experience and ability, I think Old Zhang is suitable.”

“I’ve also suggested that to the chief. Let Old Zhang temporarily lead the team!”

“Brother, what will you do after leaving the team? How about traveling? You haven’t taken a vacation in years.”

“Get married.”

“What? Marriage? With whom?”

“I don’t know. I’m starting blind dates tomorrow. The plan is to get the certificate next month, and then we’ll see about the wedding… Do you have any requirements for your future sister-in-law that you want to mention now?”

Lin Dongxue was speechless. Lin Qiupu spoke about marriage as casually as discussing a to-do list. She reluctantly replied, “As long as you like her.”

“It’s not just about liking her. She needs to be compatible in all aspects and accept my job. Cops can’t be too family-oriented. I’ll draw up a detailed contract later… Chen Shi, why are you laughing?”

“Nothing. I completely agree with your practical approach. With your job nature, hoping for a romantic encounter and finding someone who can live with you is harder than winning the lottery. Blind dates are also a very objective and rational way of choosing a spouse.”

“Ah, are all you men so rational about marriage?” Lin Dongxue said disdainfully. In her mind, marriage should be beautiful and romantic. Alas, maybe she was still too young.

“After selecting a candidate, I’ll consult with you.” Lin Qiupu said seriously.

“No need to consult me. As long as you like her,” Lin Dongxue said, bidding them farewell.

Withdrawing from the case, Lin Dongxue suddenly felt very lost. She had been busy with it day and night for some time. Chen Shi suggested taking a half-day off to relax, which Lin Dongxue gladly agreed to.

As they left the Public Security Bureau, Lin Dongxue saw many strangers lining up at the entrance to fill out personal information forms. Xu Xiaodong said, “Oh, where are you guys going?”

“These people…” Lin Dongxue started.

“They’re here to provide evidence of Lié Guóxiāo’s crimes. We didn’t expect so many at once. Wow, today’s going to be busy.”

With the investigation into the drug planting case deepening, Lié Guóxiāo’s downfall was inevitable. Many celebrities in Long’an City hinted on unofficial platforms like Weibo that they would sever all ties with him, publicly and privately.

Drug planting, murder, extortion, intimidation… How many years will Lié Guóxiāo sit in prison? Even if he can afford Long’an’s best lawyer, his own safety is far from guaranteed.

Thinking of the sorry fate of this old man, Lin Dongxue felt a mixture of satisfaction and a trace of sadness. Their undeniable blood relation was like a bond that pulled at her heartstrings in the shadows.

Avoidance was indeed a wise decision. One cannot control the heart.

Late at night, Lié Guóxiāo angrily crumpled a newspaper. In his villa on the outskirts, a place isolated with hundreds of square meters of yard and guarded entrances, he didn’t need to worry about being seen.

Two guests sat opposite him on the terrace. One leisurely enjoyed wine while the other played with their phone, wearing a thumb cover.

In the yard outside the terrace, Lié Guóxiāo’s henchman, Liu Feng, was digging something with a shovel.

Actually, there was another man inside the house. He was naked, wearing a dog collar, squatting like a dog on the ground, staring at the guests with a vacant look. The guests were also sizing him up. One asked, “Old Lié, what breed is this ‘dog’?”

Lié Guóxiāo was feeling very despondent right now. “The day I’m finished, even this dog I’ve kept for years will abandon me!”

“Old Lié, our master said that this world is just a game, a dream. It’s enough to have lived with pomp and circumstance. There’s no need to care about how it ends.”

“Mr. Zhou, you’re not very good at comforting people. As someone as distinguished as me, I can’t even end well, let alone leave behind a good reputation. It’s really pitiful. Perhaps everything is destined!”

Liu Feng dragged a box out from the yard and brought it onto the terrace. He opened it, revealing a tantalizing golden shine that made the two guests’ hearts tremble.

“Mr. Zhou, Miss Ling, this gold is my personal collection. Now, I can only use it to pay the commission. This is my final commission. This time, you can freely take revenge on those who ruined me! When the mountain collapses, some people are bound to be crushed!”

Zhou took up a hefty gold bar and said, “We’ll definitely satisfy you!”

“But there’s one condition…”