Chapter 78 - Why Are You So Much Like My Brother ZhouXiang? (2/2)

Maybe telling CaiWei everything would free the both of them from these tormented binds.

At least, CaiWei will no longer blame himself because of him. As for him, he won’t have to carry the burden of keeping this big secret. With a person to confide in, it can validate that him, ZhouXiang, had once lived as another person. This can also be considered redemption for himself.

Maybe with CaiWei’s help, he can get back his parents’ relics. He no longer had any hope to get his condo back, but at least with the things in his home that were filled with his childhood memories, he wanted to get them all back.

ZhouXiang pondered over and over. Finally in the end, he decided to find an appropriate time to tell CaiWei the truth. He’ll just wait… wait until CaiWei sobers up. Then, he’ll bring two bottles of good wine, find a quiet place and tell CaiWei everything, hoping that CaiWei can forgive him.

The next day, ZhouXiang didn’t go to the company. He guessed that CaiWei couldn’t get up so he (ZhouXiang) simply didn’t go.

He had left home for more than two weeks so he should spend some time with ChenYing. This afternoon, he went with ChenYing to the hospital for her dialysis treatment.

Although ChenYing’s health has been recovering very well, having to do dialysis twice a week really wears down a person’s willpower. She can’t go far nor can she do heavy work. It’s like her whole life is shackled to the hospital. Although ChenYing doesn’t complain, ZhouXiang could always see her unconsciously sighing.

On the way home, ChenYing was sighing again. ZhouXiang couldn’t help but asked, “Mom, why are you always sighing lately, aren’t we good now?”

ChenYing smiled, “I’m thinking…I’m thinking about when you can get married?”

ZhouXiang smiled, “This…”

“I’m not saying that you must marry a wife. It’s fine even if you find a good boyfriend. You’ll be twenty-seven years old after this year. It’s not good to be alone. Mom may not be here any day. You can’t always just stay with an old lady.”

“What are you saying? As long as you keep up with the treatments, you’ll have no problem living for another two to three decades.”

ChenYing giggled, “I don’t want to live that long. That’s torture. Ah Xiang, you really haven’t found anyone compatible? Don’t be afraid. Mom really doesn’t mind. The two years you were in a coma, I’ve opened up. Whether it is a man or woman, whether or not there are grandkids, nothing is more important than your health and your happiness. At that time I thought, even if you are paralyzed, as long as you can open your eyes and look at me, I’m willing to take care of you for life. So your homosexuality is not a big deal, I’ve long not cared about it. As long as you’re happy, as long as it’s someone you like, bring him home to meet me. Mom won’t object.”

ZhouXiang smiled forcefully, “Mom, if there is suitable person, I’ll definitely bring him home to meet you. It’s just that I really don’t have time to find one right now. I’m too busy with work.”

ChenYing “Oh,” but still unwilling to give up, “Find a decent person but he can’t wear skirts and make-up.”

ZhouXiang is dumbfounded, “Mom, where are you heading…”

—–

“Everyone is here.” YanMingXiu said to Team Leader Wang as he glanced at LanXiRong and CaiWei.

LanXiRong had just returned to New York for less than half a month when he received CaiWei’s call. He immediately dropped his work there and rushed back. No work can be more important than catching the thief.

He wanted ZhouXiang’s things to return to the way it was before.

Team Leader Wang nodded and gestured the subordinate to begin playing the surveillance video.

Several people sat around the computer and concentrated on the screen.

Team Leader Wang explained, “According to Mr. Lan, the suspect appeared at about 3:30am in the morning. This is one of the three surveillance cameras at the intersection. Since it is impossible to determine when the suspect entered the home, we will first start looking at after 2:00am. If Mr. Lan could not see the assumed suspect, then we’ll start looking before 2:00am. We at least have to watch from 10:00pm the evening before or maybe even earlier or later. If we can’t find him on this surveillance camera, there are two other ones. As long as the suspect isn’t someone falling from the sky, he won’t be able to escape capture from these three cameras. But everyone…please be mentally prepared, this is a very time-consuming effort. Especially for Mr. Lan, since you are the only witness, you’ll need to concentrate even more.”

LanXiRong nodded, “No problem, play it.”

YanMingXiu look at him gloomily, “Look carefully. Identify the thief or you will also become a suspect.”

LanXiRong glared at him but didn’t respond as he started to focus on the screen.

CaiWei also looked carefully. He remembered hearing ZhouXiang’s continuous apologies near his ears when he was drunk the other day. He always felt that there was something suppressing his heart that couldn’t be swallowed, making him very uncomfortable. He felt that he had come in contact with something but that thing is covered in a thick veil. Looking at the surveillance video that looked very blurry under the dim street lights, he had a strange feeling that he could find something here.

Starting from two o’clock, several people concentrated on the screen.

Since there were relatively few people appear at this time, they were able to catch those passing by once in a while. But unfortunately, from 2am-4am, LanXiRong did not see the suspect’s shadow from his memory in this video.

Team Leader Wang voiced, “We’ll check out the next video starting at the crucial time period first. If nothing can be found from the period of 2am-4am on all the three surveillance cameras, we’ll expand the time range starting from the first video again.”

After he said that, the second video captured by the surveillance camera is displayed on the screen.

The few people were tired from watching the video, especially LanXiRong, who barely dared to blink.

When the video was played at 3:37am, a person suddenly appeared on the screen coming out from the side door. His footwork was a bit impatient with his movements in between fast walking and running. At this time, he was the only person on the main street. His hasty expression looked very suspicious.

LanXiRong’s heart jumped erratically. He was just about to open his mouth when Team Leader shouted out first, “Stop!”

The little police officer immediately stopped the video.

Several people held their breath and looked at Team Leader Wang. YanMingXiu asked, “What? Is it him?”

“Zoom in, zoom in and see.” Team Leader Wang looked at LanXiRong, “Mr. Lan? This person’s movements are too suspicious. Take a closer look. Is it him?”

YanMingXiu faintly felt that this person’s back was somewhat familiar, but the way this man runs, he was limping a little. YanMingXiu could not see his walking posture and the picture was so dark and blurry that he couldn’t see clearly.

LanXiRong stared at the screen. He had an impression of the person’s clothes. At the time, the thief was wearing a pair of jeans with a blue long-sleeved shirt but the person on the screen did not wear hat and sunglasses. The lighting was too dark and the person was too far away from the camera. More importantly, the person on the screen was almost facing away from them so they could not see the face at all.

The more it was magnified, the blurrier the person became.

Although he couldn’t see the face, LanXiRong was still certain that this was that thief.

Not to mention the back looked familiar. His limping posture alone was the foot that he stepped on. He definitely won’t forget.

Looking at this person’s back again, LanXiRong even thought that this back very similar to the MV scene he saw that day of ZhouXiang’s back as he was running. Not only is the back profile similar, even the posture…. How could there be such a coincidence?

A series of questions raised in LanXiRong’s heart. The foremost is whether or not ZhouXiang really is this thief? Although it was only a back view, at this time, LanXiRong’s mind could no longer restrain from thinking all kinds of wild thoughts.

That person’s name, the way he talks, his career…

And what Team Leader Wang said, “The door lock was opened with a spare key.”

All these seemingly chaotic pieces of information coming together gave rise to a shocking speculation in LanXiRong mind. Because of this speculation, he was unable to tell the truth.

LanXiRong concealed his own turbulent emotions and said calmly, “Not him. That thief did not wear these clothes.”

Team Leader Wang is surprised, “Mr. Lan, are you sure? Look carefully. We’ve watched it for a long time. He is most suspicious.”

YanMingXiu also bunched his brows at LanXiRong. He had never trusted LanXiRong. So at this time, he is even more suspicious. But he couldn’t ascertain whether he (LanXiRong) was telling the truth or not.

LanXiRong said calmly, “Not this person. The figure and clothes are completely different.”

Team Leader Wang is very disappointed as he helplessly muttered, “Then let’s continue to look more.”

CaiWei looked deeply at LanXiRong. He was sitting closest to LanXiRong. When the person appeared on the screen, he clearly saw LanXiRong’s expression change with his body leaning forward. If it wasn’t for Team Leader Wang calling stop first, LanXiRong’s mouth was about to call stop. He knew that LanXiRong was lying. As for why LanXiRong would lie, he must find out.

They watched the videos late into the afternoon; until they were dizzy and could not watch anymore. Looking very concentratedly, but still they didn’t see anyone suspicious. Seeing as such, they would need to expand the time frame and continue to watch the videos. But it is obvious that none of them could continue on today. Team Leader Wang set a time for the next viewing with them and escorted the three people out of the door.

When they reached the door, YanMingXiu glanced at LanXiRong and said coldly, “You’re sure that your eyes have no problems right?”

LanXiRong ‘humph’ and responded, “My eyes are very good. I won’t mistake the wrong person and won’t miss what I shouldn’t miss.”

YanMingXiu’s expression darkened. Toward LanXiRong’s sarcasm, he couldn’t refute. Instead, his eyes exhibited bottomless sorrow and sadness, emotions so intensely deep that it shocked LanXiRong and CaiWei to their cores.

He faintly swept the two people a glance, “Let me know immediately when you have information.” After he said that, he got into the car and left.

LanXiRong watched his car leave and let out a sigh inaudibly.

CaiWei clasp onto LanXiRong’s shoulder from behind and said, “XiRong, I was sitting next to you earlier. All your expression and movements, I saw it all. You can’t hide it from me. You were lying. I want to know why.”

LanXiRong slowly turned around, his voice trembled, “Wei Ge, I don’t know how to say this. My brain is in a mess right now.”

CaiWei refused to let him go, “Let’s find a place. I’ll sit and wait for you to explain everything!”