Chapter 106

When Yang Lei woke up, he had a splitting headache. He looked around him, and after a while, noticed that he was lying on the bed in the bedroom of his new house.

“…”

Yang Lei only remembered drinking until he was very drunk last night and going to karaoke. As for how he came back later, his mind was blank. He sat up and glanced at the wall opposite him. A wedding photo of him and Fang Mei was also hanging on the bedroom wall. Yang Lei was a little disgusted. He didn’t know who brought him here.

He shook his heavy head, feeling like he had a dream. It was messy and hut, but there were only vague fragments swaying in his mind.

He dreamed of Fang Yu. Like countless dreams in the past, he and Fang Yu were hugging tightly and kissing…

But the feelings that remained from this dream were very real, making Yang Lei feel a little confused.

He spaced out for a moment, glanced at his watch, and quickly tossed aside the blanket and got out of bed. He had overslept and had to rush back to the army immediately.

He pressed his hand on the sheets next to him, but he was stunned.

The sheets were still warm. There was still lingering warmth.

“…” Yang Lei was stunned.

He was still spacing out when his cell phone rang.

“Are you in your new house?” Yang Dahai’s voice.

Yang Lei didn’t expect it to be Yang Dahai. Right after the New Year, Yang Dahai went abroad for investigations. He wasn’t in Jianghai for a long time, and Yang Lei also hadn’t returned home for many days. He didn’t know when he came back.

“Come back immediately!” Yang Dahai’s voice sounded a little unusual. Ever since father and son had reconciled, Yang Dahai had not used such a stern tone in a long time.

“What’s the matter? I have to rush back to the army.” Yang Lei was already late.

“I asked for leave on your behalf. Come back immediately.” Yang Dahai hung up the phone.

Yang Lei returned to the home in the military region and went in the door. Yang Dahai’s expression was abnormal.

“What’s the matter?” Yang Lei thought that something must have happened for Yang Dahai to call him back so urgently.

Yang Dahai didn’t reply immediately. He told him to sit down on the sofa. Yang Dahai’s expression was dark.

“What have you been busy with lately?”

Yang Dahai’s tone was condescending, like it had been before. Yang Lei was a little uncomfortable.

“Holding an investigation?” Yang Lei didn’t know what Yang Dahai wanted to talk about.

“What about your life?” Yang Dahai stared at Yang Lei.

“What about my life?”

“…The things between you and Fang Mei, how long will you delay them?”

Yang Dahai frowned deeply and raised his voice.

“You told me to ask for leave and come back just to say this?” Yang Lei was impatient. “There’s no delay! Isn’t she going out of town to study? We’ll wait until she comes back.”

“You two first go get the certificate today. Get the certificate first, and then she can go study. It won’t be a hindrance!”

“Fang Mei and I have already discussed and made a decision. You all don’t need to worry about it!”

Yang Lei was annoyed that Yang Dahai was anxiously pressuring him about this matter the moment he returned.

“How long have you two been delaying? Before, you said that the house was not renovated. Now, the house is done. Fang Mei’s family is urging her every day, and you still want to delay! How much time will it take you to get a certificate? All day long, it’s either this or that excuse! …Tell me the truth today. Do you still want to get married or not?! You… Do you not want to get married??”

Yang Dahai suddenly lost his temper, his expression irritated.

“I said that we’ll wait until she comes back!”

Yang Lei didn’t want to argue with Yang Dahai. HE didn’t know why Yang Dahai suddenly lost his temper over this matter as soon as he came back.

“…You haven’t been busy with marriage these days. Just what are you busy with?” Yang Dahai suddenly asked.

“Are you messing around with those people from the past again?”

Yang Lei was stunned and looked at Yang Dahai.

“…That Fang Yu, when did he start looking for you?”

Yang Dahai suddenly said, his expression very unpleasant.

Yang Lei knew that Yang Dahai had always been very averse to him interacting with his past gangster friends, especially Fang Yu. During these years, the relationship between father and son had improved. They always avoided talking about this issue, knowing that they couldn’t agree with each other. Yang Lei thought that Yang Dahai had probably heard about Fang Yu’s return to Jianghai. But now, Yang Lei heard that Yang Dahai’s tone when mentioning Fang Yu was full of disgust, and Yang Lei couldn’t stand it.

“Can you not use that tone? So what if he came to find me?”

“So what? You…”

Yang Dahai had gone to the new house in the morning. In the house, he saw someone he had never expected. Fang Yu sat by the bed as Yang Lei was fast asleep. Fang Yu saw him, didn’t say anything, and walked out. Yang Dahai was shocked…

“Why did he come to you? What did he say to you?”

Yang Dahai’s tone was anxious, impatient, and even nervous.

Yang Dahai didn’t wake Yang Lei up immediately. Rather, he called Yang Lei back home. An official in the city government for many years, he wanted to talk calmly with Yang Lei. But now, Yang Dahai still lost his composure.

“Why do you ask?” Yang Lei stared at Yang Dahai.

“You two…”

Yang Dahai was impatient and blurted out:

“He came to you as soon as he came out?”

Yang Lei didn’t say anything and looked at Yang Dahai.

“Just came out? …What do you mean?”

“…I’m asking you whether he came to see you as soon as he was released from prison a few years ago? Have you always been in contact with each other? …Don’t keep it from me and say that you haven’t been in contact!”

Yang Dahai paused for a moment and reproached.

Yang Lei did not answer. He stared at Yang Dahai and did not move.

“…I told you to cut off contact with those indecent people long ago! You are not allowed to mess around with those people again, you hear? …Your marriage with Fang Mei must be done as soon as possible!”

Yang Dahai was angry, but he didn’t continue speaking. He walked out of the room.

“…” Yang Lei looked at Yang Dahai’s back. He stood in the room and didn’t move.

He thought about Yang Dahai’s words just now, and suspicions arose.

A thought that he never had before suddenly rose from the bottom of his heart, and Yang Lei’s mind was cold…

Yang Lei walked out of his house. He didn’t go to the army and went directly to the municipal bureau.

“Yo, Lei-zi!” Yong Ge was still at the municipal bureau. At that time, he had been promoted. Seeing Yang Lei, he greeted him warmly.

“Yong Ge, where is my uncle?” Yang Lei asked immediately.

“The director went to Dongbei. He brought a homicide team with him, and he’s taking charge personally. Why, you miss him?” Yong Ge joked.

“Yong Ge, I have something to ask you.”

Yong Ge was stunned for a moment. Yang Lei had an expression that he had never seen before. He had never seen Yang Lei look like this.

“Do you still remember Fang Yu?”

Yang Lei stared at Yong Ge.

“Of course I remember. Isn’t he your brother? He was released long ago. Why?”

In Fang Yu’s case back then, Yong Ge was one of the criminal policemen mainly responsible for the case. When Yang Lei brought Fang Yu to turn himself in, Yong Ge knew everything from beginning to end. Yong Ge also knew best about Fang Yu’s later sentencing, imprisonment, and file.

“When was he released?”

“It’s been a few years. Why do you ask me? You don’t know?” Yong Ge was puzzled. He didn’t know why Yang Lei was suddenly asking about this.

Yang Lei didn’t speak. Yang Lei’s thoughts were somewhat chaotic.

“…How many years were added to his sentence?”

“One year. Without the increased sentence, he wasn’t imprisoned for many years.”

“You’re not mistaken?”

“No mistake. Didn’t you also ask the brothers to look after him? If you don’t believe me, ask them.”

Yong Ge had a very deep impression of Fang Yu’s matter. Yang Lei pulled strings everywhere for Fang Yu. He even compromised with his father. Yong Ge knew some things about Yang Lei’s family. Just because of this, Yong Ge also had a deep impression of Fang Yu and his matter.

“…I have some things to ask about the prison where Fang Yu stayed. Help me find someone who knows the most about the situation. I want to go over there immediately.”

“Didn’t you ask before?” Three years ago, Yang Lei went to the prison and asked about the matter of Fang Yu’s sentence increase at that time. The prison’s reply to him was similar to the situation that Fang Yu himself had said.

“I have more questions to ask. Do me a favor, Yong Ge.”

“Okay, I’ll ask right away.”

Yong Ge was surprised. Ever since Yang Lei went into the army, his disposition was much steadier and calmer than before. He hadn’t seen Yang Lei so irritable and impatient in a long time.

“Wait a moment. Someone is being interrogated inside. The interrogation is about to be over. I will go through the formalities.”

Yong Ge pointed at the interrogation room, as though remembering something.

“Right, you probably know this person.”

“Who?” Yang Lei responded offhandedly. He was not in the mood to listen to other things right now.

“Chen Zhiqiang.”

“Chen Zhiqiang? Who?” Yang Lei passed it through his mind once, but he didn’t find this name. He didn’t remember knowing this person.

At this time, the interrogation ended, and the person was escorted out by the police.

Once Yang Lei raised his head, he saw the thin, delicate young man with short hair being escorted out by the police.

The young man looked up and saw Yang Lei.

Yang Lei was stunned.

“…Hua Mao?”