FI CH67: Everyone to Their Places

In the archives, the surveillance footage played on the screen.

A familiar figure slipped a note under Zhou Li’s dinner plate and quietly left. Although the surveillance didn’t capture a clear view of the face, the clothes were unmistakably Song Jin’an’s.

Shao Lan felt as if the blood in her veins had frozen. “What… is this?”

On the screen, Zhou Li glanced at the note and then headed towards the B2 level…

Shao Lan came back to her senses and looked at the silent Zhou Li beside her.

Recalling his momentary pause in the room, what was there not to understand? She grabbed Zhou Li’s arm. “Xiao Li, you knew all along, didn’t you?”

She turned back to the screen, her hand tightening. “An’an knew too…”

He knew Zhou Li was her son, and he knew there was a harmful formation on the ship. Yet he pushed her son into it with his own hands.

Her fingertips tightened more and more, and a warm hand suddenly covered hers.

Turning her head, she saw Zhou Li comforting her. “Mom, don’t be angry.”

Just as Shao Lan’s heart warmed a little, she heard Zhou Li add cheerfully, “There’s another part later.”

Her, “?”

Lin Su, He Zhenling: “…”

Xuenima whispered: [Is Xiao He’s heart smaller than a needle’s eye, and Zhou Li’s heart bigger than the sea?]

Lin Su gently pinched it: You don’t spare anyone.

In the space of a few sentences, the surveillance footage moved on.

Song Jin’an’s figure appeared again in the H University dormitory area, holding two cups. When he came out again, the cups in his hand were gone.

Although there was a blind spot in the surveillance, Shao Lan instantly guessed what had happened.

She looked at Zhou Li anxiously. “What happened after that?”

Zhou Li scratched his head, as if it was awkward to say it himself.

Lin Su glanced over and spoke very directly, “The young master claimed his watch was missing and demanded everyone open their luggage in public to prove their innocence. As a result, two cups were found in my senior’s suitcase.”

Shao Lan’s face was grim. She said worriedly, “Then you—”

Zhou Li immediately said, “It’s okay, my junior proved my innocence!”

Shao Lan suddenly let out a sigh of relief and looked at Lin Su, bowing slightly. “Student Lin, I really don’t know how to thank you.”

Given Zhou Li’s upbringing, it was a great achievement for him to get into H University. If he had ended up with a criminal record over this, for someone of his “ordinary” status, it would have basically ruined his future.

Thinking of this, her gaze darkened.

Lin Su smiled faintly. “It was nothing, just a small effort.”

…

After they finished watching the surveillance, Song Xiaotian returned.

Shao Lan’s expression was grave. “Xiaotian…” she began, but noticed that Song Xiaotian was even more silent than she was. “…?”

A storm was brewing in Song Xiaotian’s eyes.

“How did the surveillance footage look?”

Shao Lan pulled up the two clips for him to see. The storm in Song Xiaotian’s eyes immediately swirled a bit larger. He pursed his lips and didn’t speak for a long time.

Shao Lan, “What’s wrong? The phone call…”

The man finally spoke. “We’ll talk at home.”

It was already nearing dinnertime.

Song Xiaotian was preoccupied. He looked at his phone, then at Lin Su. “We were supposed to have dinner together today to thank Student Lin… and President He. But now, at home—”

Lin Su waved his hand. “You should handle your family matters first.”

Song Xiaotian apologized, “I’m so sorry. How about in a couple of days…”

“It’s fine. I’ll be staying in the capital for a while longer.” Lin Su finished, then paused and looked at He Zhenling beside him. “…We are staying for a while longer, right?”

He Zhenling lowered his eyes and chuckled. “Aren’t you the one in charge?”

Lin Su said shyly, “Oh, you…”

The three people in front of them: “…”

The subordinate nearby: “…”

The family of three slowly took their leave. “We won’t disturb you any longer. We’ll be in touch.”

Back at the Song family home, the house was brightly lit.

The maid was surprised to see the three of them return. “Sir, aren’t you eating out?”

Song Xiaotian took off his overcoat and only asked, “Where’s Jin’an?”

“Still upstairs. He said he’s on a hunger strike.”

“Is that so? Then let him skip the meal.”

The maid was shocked. She had never seen Song Xiaotian speak with such a cold face. She vaguely sensed that the atmosphere was wrong and answered, “Yes, sir,” then went upstairs to pass on the message.

She went upstairs and knocked on the door. “Young Master, the master and mistress are back.”

Song Jin’an was stunned, a little pleased: So playing pitiful works. They still sided with me. But he still said stubbornly, “I’m not eating even if they’re back!”

After he said that, he heard a pause from outside the door:

“The master said, then don’t eat.”

“…What?”

Song Jin’an was stunned for two seconds, then shot up and pulled the door open, disbelieving. “What did you say? My dad said that?”

The maid nodded. “Yes.”

Song Jin’an had never been so wronged. He couldn’t hold it in any longer and stormed downstairs, thump thump thump. He was just about to stage a scene of “crying, fighting, and threatening to hang himself,” but when he got downstairs, he saw the three of them sitting on the sofa.

Song Xiaotian and Shao Lan were sitting upright. Seeing him come downstairs, they both looked over with grim faces.

His heart immediately “thumped.”

Song Xiaotian said directly, “Come here.”

Song Jin’an moved over nervously. “…What’s wrong?”

Song Xiaotian pursed his lips and got straight to the point. “I’m asking you, you said before that you had no idea about your and his parentage. Is that true?”

“Ye-yes, it is.”

“Is that so.”

This time, Song Xiaotian didn’t hold back and pointed it out. “But when we brought Xiao Li back, we never said you weren’t our son. There were clearly other possibilities… How were you so sure it was a baby swap?”

Song Jin’an was shaken! His face turned deathly pale.

He argued, “But… other possibilities are impossible. We’re the same age. Could it be that… Dad, you have an illegitimate son?”

The man in front of him: “…”

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Song Xiaotian slapped his thigh and quickly turned to Shao Lan. “Madam, you know, I would never betray you, and you would never betray me.”

Shao Lan, “…”

She closed her eyes and pushed his handsome face back.

Then she looked at Song Jin’an. “Mom is asking you one last time. Were you really unaware?”

Song Jin’an hardened his heart and insisted, “I didn’t know.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhou Li next to him. Thinking of their conflict on the ship, he was certain that Zhou Li had said something. Tears immediately welled up in his eyes, and he said aggrievedly:

“We did have a dispute on the ship, but I already apologized… I never intentionally targeted you…”

After he finished, he saw that the disappointment in Shao Lan’s eyes had grown.

“An’an, Xiao Li never mentioned a single word about you.”

Song Jin’an’s tears stopped, and his voice abruptly cut off.

What? Then why…

“We just gave you one last chance,” Song Xiaotian said, taking out his phone and opening it. It was the two recorded surveillance clips from the cruise ship—

His figure was recorded throughout.

Everything he had done was displayed before his eyes. Song Jin’an’s mind went completely blank. He had never expected that even after the cruise ship was raided, the surveillance footage would still end up in his parents’ hands.

Right, that day… Boss Jin hadn’t had time to delete it.

Song Xiaotian then flipped his phone, and a list of transfer records was displayed. The recipient was listed as: xx Jade Store. At first glance, there was no problem, but the account owner was a familiar name: Liu Jinfeng.

He said in a deep voice, “Do you have anything else to confess?”

With the investigation having gone this far, the evidence was ironclad.

Song Jin’an trembled for a moment, then suddenly burst into tears, confessing with sobs and tears: “I didn’t want to… but ever since I can remember, she sought me out, telling me I wasn’t the Song family’s child… threatening me, asking me for money. She said if I didn’t give it to her, I would definitely be kicked out of the family when the real one came back…”

He cried miserably, “I was still young then, I was really scared…”

After his pitiful crying session, he saw that his usually soft-hearted parents showed no signs of pity. Song Xiaotian looked at him calmly and asked:

“You were young then, but what about later?”

Song Jin’an froze.

Shao Lan looked on in pain. “You were threatened to give money. Were you also threatened to do what you did to Xiao Li on the ship? You knew he was Mom and Dad’s child… How could you do it?”

“I… That was…”

“If you didn’t say anything, we wouldn’t have blamed you. We don’t require you to be brave, but at the very least, you shouldn’t do things to harm others.”

Shao Lan said, “Do you know that some things are illegal?”

Song Jin’an was speechless, just sobbing. “I… it was all because I was being intimidated…”

He cried for a while, then suddenly paused. “I can testify!”

He knew this matter would not be taken lightly.

As if grasping at a lifeline, Song Jin’an looked fiercely at Song Xiaotian and Shao Lan, eager to clear his name. “It was them who threatened and intimidated me, extorted a lot of money from me—”

“…I have evidence, I’m a victim too!”

After he finished speaking, the living room fell silent for a moment.

Song Xiaotian, as if thinking of something, stared at him for several seconds, the warmth in his eyes completely gone.

After a long while, he spoke, “Fine.”

The next day, the police arrested them.

The Liu Jinfeng sisters were both in the capital.

Back then, she had switched the babies and fled to Ji County, thinking Zhou Li would never have any contact with the Song family again.

And when the child was old enough to understand, she went to the capital herself to find her biological son. Song Jin’an gave little money when he was young, starting with a few thousand, then tens of thousands.

Last year, when he came of age, the Song family relaxed their control over him, and he started giving her hundreds of thousands at a time.

The accumulated amount was several million.

Involving a huge amount of extortion, the police station directly detained them.

The Song family was powerful. Song Xiaotian sued on two charges: “extortion” and “child trafficking.” From filing the case and collecting evidence to the trial, the entire process was green-lit, and the case was brought to court within a week.

On the day of the trial, Lin Su also went to join the fun.

The Song family’s affair had spread like wildfire in their social circle, and many people from the circle came to the trial.

When Lin Su entered, he saw the Song family of three standing in front. Song Jin’an, as a witness, was also on the side, but his expression was haggard, with an out-of-place stiffness and awkwardness.

Those rich kids had also come to watch.

They looked at Zhou Li with surprise and warmth, but when their gaze fell on Song Jin’an, it became distant:

“Turns out he’s an impostor…”

“His parents could actually do something like that, swapping lives.”

“Remember that incident on the ship? Didn’t he say his watch was lost, but then it was found in his luggage?”

“Right, right, I was holding my tongue back then…”

Lin Su ambled past them. Suddenly, someone said “Hey!” He turned his head and saw Le Jiawei looking at him. “You, why are you here too?”

Lin Su raised an eyebrow slightly, didn’t answer him, and walked away.

Someone called after him, “Hey! You—”

Before he could finish, he saw Lin Su walk straight up to Zhou Li. Zhou Li turned his head in pleasant surprise. “You’re here, Junior Lin!”

Lin Su gestured behind him. “They all want to come talk to you.”

Zhou Li said “Huh?” “Do I need to socialize with them?”

A hand gently rested on his shoulder. Shao Lan smiled gently at him. “No, you only need to befriend those you want to befriend.”

Zhou Li let out a sigh of relief, happy. “Okay!” ^O▽O^

…

The trial began shortly after.

All the evidence was complete, and the Song family had hired top lawyers. The Liu Jinfeng sisters were suspected of joint extortion and child trafficking. With several crimes combined, they received the maximum sentence.

The extorted amount was ordered to be returned in full, and the portion that had been spent was to be compensated.

In an instant, they were bankrupt.

After the trial, they were led away again.

The Song family was sitting in the front row. As Liu Jinfeng was being led past them, she suddenly turned her head and met Song Jin’an’s eyes. She froze, then suddenly lost control and lunged at him—

She raised both hands and scratched fiercely at his face. “It’s all your fault, you little bastard!”

Song Jin’an’s face was suddenly scratched. “Ah!!”

The law enforcement officers quickly caught up and restrained the crazed Liu Jinfeng. Liu Jinfeng’s hair was disheveled, and she was still cursing hatefully and angrily, “Ungrateful wretch! Sending your own mother to prison! Without me, would you be enjoying life in the Song family!?”

She was led away, still cursing.

Song Jin’an clutched his scratched face, crying in alarm, but was warned by a law enforcement officer with a cold voice:

“No noise.”

He trembled, and his voice abruptly stopped.

The trial was over, but the crowd had not completely dispersed.

Song Jin’an, under everyone’s gaze, spoke awkwardly, “Dad, Mom, the people who should be in jail are in jail. Then we…”

Song Xiaotian looked at him. “You should go back to your own home too.”

Song Jin’an was shocked. “…What?”

Song Xiaotian said calmly, “If you hadn’t done those wrong things, we would naturally treat you as our own. But when you did those things, did you consider us your parents?”

Song Jin’an opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

“I…”

“Considering it wasn’t your intention at the beginning, we won’t sue you for extortion and trafficking. But from now on, you should walk your own path.”

Song Xiaotian turned and called his subordinate. “Send him away.”

“No! Dad, I know I was wrong! Mom…”

Song Jin’an looked at Shao Lan in panic, but saw only disappointment in her eyes. She finally turned her head away, not pleading for him. He lunged over to beg:

“Mom, you can’t—”

The next moment, he was taken away by the subordinates and packed into a car.

Lin Su, with his hands in his sleeves, watched the figure disappear into the distance.

Xuenima perched on his head: [Is this case considered successfully closed?]

“I guess so.”

Although not all the extorted money could be said to be fully returned, it was basically settled.

Most importantly—

He looked at the handsome and bright Zhou Li in front of him: although he had strayed from his path, he had grown into a straight and resilient young man from a pile of rubble. In the future, he would soar to the heavens.

As for the other person who returned to the pile of rubble from a nest of gold and jade…

Lin Su sighed softly. “Some people will find that, although they didn’t go to jail, it might be worse than going to jail.”

Xuenima was delighted: [On this point, the butler has some experience to share.]

“…”

He paused: Ah, there’s still that guy.

In a small alley in Ji County.

Song Jin’an was forcibly thrown here, and the car had already driven away. He had no money and no ID on him, so he could only brace himself and walk towards the gate in front of him.

The doors and windows looked poor and dilapidated. Red paint had been splashed on the entrance, and the garbage pile stank to high heaven.

He held his nose in disgust. Before he could decide whether to leave, the door was pushed open with a clang! A messy middle-aged man walked out. It was Zhou Dongmin.

Zhou Dongmin had already heard about what happened. He cursed and dragged the person into the house. “Damn it! Keeping me in the dark, raising someone else’s son for over a decade. Everyone’s enjoying life except me!”

He then sized up Song Jin’an. “You’re dressed so damn well. You got money on you, right? Hurry up and give it to your old man as a tribute!”

Song Jin’an trembled. “I don’t have any money.”

“Bullshit! You’re a young master. A single piece of your clothing costs thousands, tens of thousands. What about the balance in your phone? You must have at least a few hundred thousand, right?”

“I don’t. Only 200…”

He had paid compensation to people on the cruise ship last time, so his balance was basically empty. He hadn’t had a chance to get more after returning home; they had said they were restricting him for a week.

“200!?” Zhou Dongmin’s face changed instantly, and he slapped him across the face. Smack! The blow made him cry out loud.

“So damn useless. Even Zhou Li could give me a few thousand!”

Before Song Jin’an could cry for long, there was a sudden loud bang outside the door! It sounded like the door was about to be smashed in. He trembled with fear and heard curses from all around:

“Get out here!”

“Zhou Dongmin, pay back the money!”

A rock crashed through the glass with a clang and hit him squarely on the forehead. Song Jin’an cried out in pain, clutching his bleeding head.

He finally remembered: Muchen Casino was still chasing him for debts.

…

The week-long case was finally over.

The Song Xiaotian couple finally invited Lin Su and He Zhenling to dinner.

The treat was at the famous Ginkgo Restaurant.

There were five of them in total, in a small private room. After the dishes were served, the family of three first toasted to express their gratitude, then let everyone help themselves.

Shao Lan smiled. “I only remembered later that President He is actually Mr. He from Lingsheng Group. I didn’t expect him to also be Student Lin’s lover.”

He Zhenling paused and looked over sideways.

Lin Su, “…”

He buried his head in his food with a normal expression, taking small bites of shrimp.

The gaze from his side moved away, and the hand holding the chopsticks curled slightly. A soft “Mm” was heard.

The conversation quickly moved on.

Lin Su had just crunched through a few bites of food when a hand reached out and took two tissues from in front of him. He Zhenling took advantage of this moment to lean in slightly and whisper to him:

“…Lover? Is that how you introduced me?”

Lin Su’s movements paused. He wiped his mouth demurely. “Actually, no.”

He Zhenling, “?”

Lin Su consoled him, “Don’t be too disappointed. How about this, how do you want me to introduce you in the future?”

He Zhenling, as if thinking of something, suddenly chuckled. His breath grew a bit warmer as he took the tissue and drew back. He carefully wiped his knuckles and didn’t speak.

Lin Su, “?”

He leaned closer and nudged him under the table. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.” He Zhenling put down the tissue, his gaze sweeping over his face for a moment. “I just remembered something you called me…”

Lin Su: Hmm???

He spoke in his mind: Nima, he’s laughing so hotly.

Xuenima: [Try calling him ‘Big Bird He’ and see if he still laughs.]

“…” Lin Su praised it: What a wonderfully terrible idea.

[Hehehehe…]

…

However, with outsiders present, the two were still relatively restrained.

The meal finished around eight o’clock.

After settling the bill, they stood up and walked out. They left the private room, took the elevator downstairs, and arrived at the first-floor lobby.

The smooth floor tiles reflected the bright lights, and the entire lobby was very spacious.

As they were talking, there was a commotion ahead.

Looking up, they saw two lines of people in uniform walking neatly into the lobby. The formation wasn’t loud, but it had a strong presence. Especially the young man at the front, his snow-white robes were magnificent, his demeanor gentle and proper.

People around made way. Song Xiaotian also paused and turned his head. “Let’s let them pass first.”

Lin Su glanced over. “Oh…”

He Zhenling seemed to pause for a moment, his hand resting on his Tang knife.

As they stood there, they could hear quiet discussions from the surroundings:

“That’s the Tianshi Association headquarters…”

“The one at the front is the President. Don’t be fooled by his young age. To be able to sit in that position, he must have an iron fist.”

“Look, his smile has a sharp curve.”

Lin Su, “…”

Just as they were speaking, the young man in white swept his gaze over, and it suddenly paused.

The next moment, he was seen turning and leaving the group, his sleeves flapping as he rushed straight to the side of the lobby—

“Teacher!!!”

Bai Jiang stopped in front of Lin Su and the expressionless He Zhenling, beaming brightly: “What a coincidence~” ^▽^

__

Author’s notes:

Bai Jiang: A sharp curve, me? ^▽^

He Daniao (Big Bird He): My Tang knife.

Kun (Author): You need to have fatherly love.

Shao Lan: …Son, didn’t you call Student Lin ‘junior’?
Li Erha (Li the Husky): Dunno, I was just following what Pei Jin called him, haha~
KunNiao are still in the ambiguous/flirting stage ^▽^*

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