Chapter 973: Justice and Kindness

Chen Shi reached out to place a hand on Lin Dongxue’s shoulder, but she angrily shrugged him off. Lin Dongxue shouted, “I didn’t know before, but now I know someone is going to die, and I can’t just ignore it!”

“Be rational. This is exactly what the Human Observer wants, throwing obstacles in our way!” Chen Shi said, clearly frustrated.

“How can I be rational? Waiting until someone is actually killed, then cleaning up the scene, doing autopsies, catching the perpetrator, and telling the victims’ families to stay strong, all while feeling secretly pleased about solving another case! If the police can’t protect ordinary people, then what’s the point of being police?”

“The police represent justice, not kindness! Kindness is vague and has no standards, but justice does. Besides, if you act this way, you’re admitting the Human Observer is right!”

“He is right!” Lin Dongxue shouted back.

Everyone around was stunned. A veteran police officer openly admitting the suspect was right shocked everyone, including Tao Yueyue, who covered her mouth in fear.

Lin Dongxue no longer cared about the consequences. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “I believe when he used the life function to predict potential criminals, he felt the same way I do now, wanting to prevent bad things from happening! You keep saying that we police don’t represent kindness, but when Yueyue was in danger, you investigated more diligently than anyone else. Don’t those about to die have family too? Now that I know, I can’t ignore it, even if it means not being a police officer anymore!”

With that, Lin Dongxue took out her badge, threw it on the ground, and left with a stack of life function predictions.

She had made up her mind to save people. She was someone who had lost family before, and even though she knew it wasn’t rational, sometimes human nature itself isn’t rational.

Footsteps.

Lin Dongxue hoped it was Chen Shi following her, but it was only Tao Yueyue. “Sister Lin, don’t be so agitated. Actually… I think you’re right. Life is more important than anything!”

“Thank you for understanding. Will you come with me?”

Tao Yueyue shook her head. “I can’t go with you. Uncle Chen is very upset. If I leave too, he’ll fall apart. Be careful! Will you come back tonight?”

“I don’t know. Take good care of him!” Lin Dongxue replied, heading towards her car parked at the door.

Tao Yueyue returned to Chen Shi’s office. He had angrily thrown everything off his desk, except for Lin Dongxue’s badge, which lay untouched.

“Are you okay…” Tao Yueyue asked timidly, rarely seeing Chen Shi this angry.

Chen Shi took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer, tore it open, and put one in his mouth, looking for a lighter.

Tao Yueyue quickly snatched the cigarette, “Don’t, smoking won’t solve anything.”

Chen Shi, still angry, said, “The life function predicts I will cheat in the future. I didn’t believe it then, but now I understand. She and I have fundamental differences. Being a cop can’t be too emotional, sometimes not even too kind! Do you also think she’s right?”

“Uncle Chen, that woman died a terrible death today. Her eyes were filled with despair! Didn’t you say some things have no absolute right or wrong? When justice and kindness conflict, which do you choose? Sister Lin chose kindness!”

Chen Shi was silent for a long time before saying, “But she ignored one thing: those future criminals are still free citizens protected by law until they commit a crime. That’s our duty! We’re not superheroes. We can’t exceed our duties to prevent future crimes!”

“But Sister Lin isn’t wrong either. She gave up her badge…”

Chen Shi looked at the badge, wiped it, and carefully put it in the drawer.

“You should go. I need to be alone.”

“Don’t smoke! You worked so hard to quit…”

Reluctantly, Tao Yueyue left.

Chen Shi was restless all day. Tao Yueyue checked on him several times. The last time, she found him playing a computer game in frustration. “It’s time to leave,” she said.

“Let’s go home,” Chen Shi replied listlessly.

In the car, Tao Yueyue asked, “What did you mean this morning about cheating?”

“Old Peng used the life function to predict it. I didn’t believe it at first, but now… I feel complicated.”

“Do you know how I felt when I learned I would kill someone in the future?”

“People shouldn’t know their future… But I also believe fate can be changed.”

“Then change it! Make up with Sister Lin.”

“No, I won’t go to her!”

“Why not?”

“Adult stuff!”

Tao Yueyue raised a finger in reminder, “We agreed not to use adult-child arguments. You sound like a sulking child.”

“Think of me as a sulking child. I won’t go to her right now. I stand by my view on this.”

Looking out the window, Tao Yueyue said, “I wonder where Sister Lin is now, if she has a place to stay tonight.”

Suddenly, Chen Shi made a turn and headed to a nearby bank. He took a number and waited in line. He transferred some money from his account. Though he remained silent, Tao Yueyue saw him send the money to Lin Dongxue.

Leaving the bank, Chen Shi explained, “This isn’t about caring for her. I’m her husband; providing financial support is my duty.”

“I understand, you don’t care about her at all,” Tao Yueyue said, stifling a laugh.

At home, Tao Yueyue exclaimed, “Wow, Sister Lin was here!”

Chen Shi’s eyes lit up, and he searched every room, but Lin Dongxue was gone. She had only returned to leave her gun and handcuffs and take some clothes. There was a note on the table: “Forgive my stubbornness this time. If I don’t save them, I’ll regret it for life.”

Chen Shi read and reread the short note, then took a bottle of liquor from the fridge, poured himself a glass, and sat gloomily on the sofa.

Tao Yueyue shook him, “Cook! I’m hungry.”

“Order takeout. Get whatever you want.”

“Then I’ll order the most expensive thing!”

“Sure, bankrupt me!”

“Hehe!” Tao Yueyue took his phone and ordered a luxurious meal she had always wanted but couldn’t afford. “I hope you two argue all the time so I can always eat well.”

Chen Shi rolled his eyes, “Taking advantage of the situation!”

With Lin Dongxue not at home, only Chen Shi knew how lonely the night felt. After a night’s sleep, he managed to reset his mood. The next morning, Chen Shi took Xu Xiaodong, Xiao Li, and Tao Yueyue to attend Haiguo Yang’s company’s new product launch.

This launch was unusual. Guests and reporters didn’t sit in chairs for Q&A. Instead, there were tables with food, drinks, and some phones to test the new products.

The new products were upcoming apps, including social, gaming, life assistants, and data management. Guests could try them out on the phones provided.

The four arrived, and KK was already there in a suit with his flashy yellow hair styled with gel. He handed four invitations to Chen Shi, “You’re dressed too casually!”

“We’re here to investigate. We just need to blend in,” Chen Shi replied.