The Same Fate Awaits All Sins Chapter 15

Malice – 15

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The 4.4 major burglary and homicide case came to a close with the death of Huang Chufeng. Among the items Huang Chufeng left behind, a piece of network cable used for the murder was discovered. Although it had been washed, DNA residues from both Lu Yu and Huang Chufeng were still detected. The car with a cloned licence plate used to run down Wei Liang was found at a mass grave within Lingzhou's jurisdiction. After Zhang Bin's identification and forensic investigation, it was confirmed to be Huang Chufeng's vehicle, which he had driven that night.

Huang Chufeng had thoroughly destroyed Lu Yu's computer hard drive. Chen Chen put considerable effort into recovering parts of the data, but nothing of value was uncovered.

Zhang Bin, Old Knife, Niu Bo, and others were sent to compulsory drug rehabilitation centres, where they would await legal trials. 

Ultimately, the police were unable to find evidence linking Huang Chufeng or his mentor to drug manufacturing, and his mentor had already fled abroad.

All surveillance outside the laboratory had been deliberately destroyed, and there remained no clues about the individual who planted the bomb on the transport vehicle.

The explosion at the Yuchuan University Experimental Centre resulted in four deaths and nine injuries. Gu Yanta was suspended and placed under investigation for inadequate operational command. All wages and bonuses during his suspension were withheld, and whether he could return to duty would depend on further deliberation by his superiors.

The only truly revealing item was Huang Chufeng's diary, which documented his twisted psychology and pathological hatred. Whenever Lu Yu was mentioned, the tone was invariably distorted, filled with resentment and malice.

'I just hate you. I hate the fact that you're living the life I've always dreamed of. I hate your privileged background and your well-rounded character. I hate my own bad luck for keeping me from being your equal. You're so outstanding and kind, and you've helped me so much, but I still hate you. Everything you do feels like pity and charity to me. Around you, I feel like a stunted clown, so grotesque, so mediocre, so unworthy.'

Huang Chufeng died and went to hell, dragging Lu Yu, Wei Liang, and three innocent police officers to hell with him. The true culprit was the malice festering within his own heart.

Evil emerges without warning, yet it pushes people into an abyss of despair.

When you tell a lie, you must create more lies to cover up the truth.

When you make a malicious decision, you have already crossed a point of no return.

Gu Yanta closed his notebook and rubbed his temples.

End of Part One.

———

One month later, the suspended Gu Yanta, now staying at home, received a call from Lin Feiyu.

"Comrade Gu Yanta, I'm formally inviting you to the wedding of Mr Lin Feiyu and Miss Lai Jingjing, at eleven a.m. on May eighth in the banquet hall of the Yile Meidi Hotel," Lin Feiyu paused for a moment, "and remember to bring a big red envelope, no less than ten thousand yuan!"

"Don't worry, Old Lin, neither guns nor bullets will stop me from witnessing the most important moment of your life! About that red envelope though... I haven't been paid recently, can I wait... how about I write you an IOU instead?"

"Gu Yanta, you... I'll report to Director Wu, saying your mindset has been extremely improper lately, your reinstatement might need further consideration..."

"Okay, Lin Feiyu, is the friendship between us, after six years of being desk-mates in primary school, worth only a ten-thousand-yuan red envelope?"

"Of course not, it also pays me back for the two times in third and fifth grade when I got beaten up on your behalf!"

Gu Yanta burst out laughing. The gloom in his heart lifted, at least temporarily, thanks to Lin Feiyu's upcoming wedding.

The next morning, Gu Yanta drove his beat-up Jeep to attend the wedding. As he prepared to enter the parking lot, he spotted a black Bentley ahead, leisurely searching for a parking spot about ten metres in front of him.

Sure enough, a moment later, a tall and slender young man stepped out of the car.

"Lu Xiaozheng!" Gu Yanta stopped his car beside him. "Old Lin is such a miser, you've only just joined the police force, and he's already roped you in for his wedding! Looks like he's dead set on squeezing every penny out of this rich kid!"

With a beep, Lu Zheng locked his car and turned back to reply, "That's normal, even if Section Chief Lin hadn't invited me, I would've come on my own."

"Why don't I see you showing such social etiquette toward me?" Gu Yanta pouted in dissatisfaction. "I've been suspended for so long and you haven't visited me or even made a single phone call, truly heart-wrenching. Ai..." He shook his head dramatically as he spoke.

Lu Zheng didn't even lift his eyelids, walking straight toward the hotel entrance.

"Lu Xiaozheng, stop! What do you mean by this?" Gu Yanta took big strides and chased after him.

Inside, the background music was a solemn wedding march. Lin Feiyu stood on the stage, his face radiant with happiness, as his beautiful bride, Lai Jingjing, slowly walked toward him, arm in arm with her father.

"Boss, look at the expression on Section Chief Lin's face, he looks like he's so happy he might faint!" Chen Chen said, his mouth full of shrimp, his words muffled.

"Eat your shrimp, Old Lin's only getting married once in his life, can't he enjoy himself to the point of tears? If you're envious, why don't you hurry up and find yourself a partner!"

"I'm in no rush. I'm only twenty-six. But you, Boss… hehehe…" Chen Chen glanced at Gu Yanta, then at Lu Zheng.

"Hehe your head!" Gu Yanta raised his hand and smacked Chen Chen on the back of the head.

"Boss, I'm seriously starting to suspect that getting hit by you is how No Brain became a fool..."

"Achoo!" Two tables away, Ma Qin let out a loud sneeze, muttering to himself, who's talking about me behind my back?

The wedding proceeded in a harmonious atmosphere, eventually reaching the part where the couple gave thanks and received red envelopes. This blend of Chinese and Western traditions had become the standard wedding style for young people these days, exhausting, repetitive, and extravagant, yet an unavoidable ritual. By the end of it all, the newly-weds and their families were utterly drained.

"Lu Xiaozheng, what are weddings like for you rich kids? Tell me about it," Gu Yanta leaned in toward Lu Zheng.

"Captain Gu, first of all, my name is Lu Zheng, second, haven't I already told you, stop calling me a rich kid. I really hate people slapping labels on others..." Lu Zheng replied, sounding a little impatient as he dealt with Gu Yanta's pestering.

"Alright, alright... I won't bring up the rich kid thing again, so in return, you can't call me Captain Gu any more. Call me Brother Gu, or just Brother, only then can I forgive you for your indifference toward me," Gu Yanta declared with 'righteousness'.

"Fine. Then I'll stop calling you Captain Gu and call you Boss instead, how about that?" Lu Zheng's lips curled into a devilish smirk.

"What? That's what the kids call me, you're not one of us..."

"Boss, you don't know yet, right? Consultant Lu has already decided to officially join our police force after graduating in July!" Chen Chen chimed in, his mouth stuffed with beef.

Gu Yanta widened his eyes in disbelief and stared at Lu Zheng. "Lu Xiaozheng? Is everything he said true?"

Lu Zheng nodded.

"What? Then what about my reinstatement? Chen Chen, how's Director Wu's attitude been lately?"

"Boss... handle your own issues! You're an adult, why are you asking others for help?" Chen Chen's tone was full of dissatisfaction. Then, with a sudden yelp, he added, "Boss, don't step on me! I'll find out for you! I'll look into it right away..."

"Now for the exchange of wedding tokens!"

At the officiant's loud announcement, Lin Feiyu, beaming with joy, slid a diamond ring onto the bride's finger.

A loud applause rang out around them...

"May the newlyweds grow old together and be happy for a hundred years!"

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: November 25, 2024 by Angel

Edited: December 19, 2024 by Angel