Chapter 909: Final Response

“The trial results are now announced. The defendant is found guilty of murder and sentenced to death!”

The judge’s announcement caused an uproar in the entire courtroom. Wide-eyed, the defendant raised his handcuffed hands and exclaimed, “Your Honor, I’m innocent!”

“What are you watching?” Chen Shi asked Tao Yuanyuan, who was sitting in front of the television.

Tao Yuanyuan pointed to the male lead on TV. “Look, it’s the parallel universe you.”

“Haha, am I that pathetic?” Chen Shi patted Tao Yuanyuan’s head. “Let’s get ready for dinner.”

Three days after the trial ended on September 11th, Lin Dongxue, Tao Yuanyuan, and Chen Shi finally had time to celebrate together. When Chen Shi was declared innocent in court, Lin Dongxue and Tao Yuanyuan were moved to tears, turning their long anxiety into joy.

“It smells amazing!” Lin Dongxue, wearing an apron and oven mitts, brought out a large iron platter from the kitchen. After several failed attempts, her baked fish this time didn’t look too bad.

Chen Shi sniffed the crispy fish. Though it didn’t quite match the restaurant’s presentation, it was still praiseworthy. “Your cooking skills have improved!”

“Of course!” Lin Dongxue beamed with pride. “Yuanyuan is such a critic. She complains everything I make is bad and lectures me, ‘Criticism is for your betterment.'”

“Sister Lin, you got it wrong. I said, ‘Without criticism, praise is meaningless,'” Tao Yuanyuan corrected seriously.

“Well, the meaning is the same. Try it!” Lin Dongxue passed the chopsticks.

Tao Yuanyuan took a piece of fish, tasted it, and after careful consideration, said, “If 100 is full marks, this fish deserves 90.”

“Fantastic!” Lin Dongxue was thrilled.

“Don’t misunderstand. I mean the fish is a 90, but your dish overall is a 73,” Tao Yuanyuan clarified.

“Are you saying I ruined the ingredients?”

“It’s still decent!” Tao Yuanyuan softened her critique.

Lin Dongxue’s spirits dampened. “Cooking isn’t my forte. Let’s just order takeout.”

Chen Shi intervened, “One fish isn’t enough for three people. I’ll order some dishes!”

“Today we’re celebrating your innocence. Are we just going to eat takeout and this baked fish?” Lin Dongxue felt it wasn’t festive enough. “How about Hot Pot at Hai Di Lao?”

“No need. Just being together is enough.” Chen Shi reassured.

Lin Dongxue took the day off. In the afternoon, she opened beers and sodas. They raised their glasses. “To celebrate… though you have two names, I’ll still call you Old Chen. Cheers to Old Chen’s innocence!”

They clinked glasses. Tao Yuanyuan felt a moment of happiness, sitting with these two people who weren’t family by blood, yet felt like family.

As they ate and chatted, Chen Shi checked his phone. “The delivery guy got lost. I’ll go get it.”

“Poor service. Just make a call,” Lin Dongxue commented.

“I’ll be back soon!”

Outside, Chen Shi didn’t receive a delivery message. He headed to the community’s outskirts, where a car was parked. He sat in the passenger seat, where an elderly man with white hair handed him a small box. “I bought this myself. Consider it a congratulatory gift for your innocence.”

Chen Shi opened it. It was an old-fashioned, durable mechanical watch. He chuckled, “Your taste is still stuck in the last century.”

“You ungrateful brat. If you don’t like it, return it to the store,” the old man teased.

“Why wouldn’t I like it?” Chen Shi put it on and tried it out. “Since you’re here, why not come to my place?”

The old man waved him off. “You young people enjoy yourselves. I just wanted to say a few words to you.”

Chen Shi already guessed what he wanted to say but listened patiently.

“Xiao Lin just got out of the hospital. Although he wants to stay on the front line, his body hasn’t fully recovered. I plan to transfer him to the political department for a while.”

“Working internally suits him. He’s meticulous and likes to get to the bottom of things. I didn’t want to dampen his spirits by not telling him sooner. His talents aren’t quite suited for the front line.”

“I see.” The old man smiled. “He’s the slow bird that starts first, but whether that smart and fast bird wants to come back is another matter.”

“Director, after everything that’s happened, I’m no longer Song Lang. I’m now Chen Shi, worldly and conservative. I’m quite content with my life now. I don’t want to be a cop anymore; I have some psychological shadows.”

“You’re wasting your talent.”

“Not at all!” Chen Shi shrugged. “I’ll still hang onto the consultant title. When you need me, I’ll help.”

The old man chuckled. “Being a captain isn’t just about solving cases. There are many responsibilities you must bear.”

“I feel I’m not worthy anymore.”

“That’s just your feeling. In my eyes, there’s no one more suitable than you.”

After a moment of silence, Chen Shi said, “It’s been four years. With so many people in the Public Security Bureau, isn’t there anyone else suitable? Must it be me?”

“Let me tell you a story,” the old man began leisurely. “Once upon a time, a farmer dug up a worn-out bronze sword in his field. He casually placed it under his roof. Later, a merchant from the Western Regions came by and asked if he could buy the sword for a hundred silver coins. The farmer agreed, and they agreed to meet the next day for the exchange. That night, lying on his bed, the farmer wondered why this sword was so valuable. Perhaps it was a treasure. So, he picked it up and studied it. With a light swing, the sword emitted a sword aura and split a large stone in front of his door. The farmer was astonished. The next day, when the merchant came and saw the sword, he stamped his feet in regret, saying, ‘Did you use it? This is a sword that can split mountains. I bought it to move mountains and fill seas. But once used, it’s just scrap iron, worthless.'”

The old man looked meaningfully at Chen Shi. “A mountain-splitting sword is meant to split mountains. Using it to split rocks is a waste, understand?”

Chen Shi sighed. “How can I refuse you?”

“The choice is still yours.”

Chen Shi looked out the window silently. When the judge read the verdict, it marked the heaviest page turned in his life. But this page would shape his future, which he hadn’t yet planned out.

“Director, I want to take a back door.”

“You brat, bargaining even now?”

“You have many connections in the police academy. I want to arrange a test for a child who missed the high school entrance exam. Of course, she’ll pass based on her own abilities.”

“That girl wants to be a cop?”

“We talked about it extensively last night. This incident made me realize, with her talents, she could either become an outstanding police officer or the most dangerous criminal. I hope it’s the former. I convinced her, and she’s willing to give it a try.”

“Testing her won’t be an issue. She caught Zhou Xiao single-handedly, a national sensation. If the media hadn’t been stopped by you, she’d be a little celebrity by now. Even though she missed the high school exam, the police academy would be eager for this raw talent. But after I help you with this…”

“After it’s done, I’ll seriously consider your words today and give you a clear answer.”

“I hope it won’t take too long. I’m retiring soon, and I don’t have much time left to wait for you.”

“Don’t worry!” Chen Shi assured him.