Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Nan Shuyi's meeting with He Nuanqing at the detention center lasted only half an hour, but it was enough for him to learn about the Jiang Yicen of the past.

He Nuanqing had no idea why Nan Shuyi was asking about all this.

"Where should I start?"

Nan Shuyi: "Start with how you found out about this kid at the orphanage."

He Nuanqing recalled: "He Xinzu brought him home from the orphanage. He had a friend who used to work there. Back then, the orphanage wasn't as strict about that sort of thing. At the time, his friend brought the kid to the orphanage without telling the director right away. He used the excuse that the couple had a fight, and left the kid at the orphanage, and that's how the kid ended up with me and became my son."

Nan Shuyi: "When he was growing up, did he have any hobbies? Do you know?"

He Nuanqing could see he wanted to know, so she was happy to share. She was reminiscing about the past herself. She had raised the boy herself, so of course she had feelings for him. She had lost her own daughter, and only she knew how awful she felt. But after going along with her family's terrible advice, she poured all that grief over losing her own child, along with her maternal love, into Jiang Yicen.

She said: "Of course I know, but that was all before high school. After high school, he went to America, so I don't know if he still has those interests."

Nan Shuyi: "Did he ever study music, chess, calligraphy, or painting? Did he have a habit of reading?"

He Nuanqing shook her head: "When he was little, he couldn't sit still. He was a handful. Of course, we did sign him up for some extracurricular classes. He could play a little piano, but only a few pieces, just enough to keep Jiang Gongming happy. I also tried to get him into reading, but that didn't work. He didn't like reading and never got into it as a kid."

Nan Shuyi: "Did Jiang Yifeng bully him a lot?"

He Nuanqing shook her head: "No. Jiang Yifeng lived with the Lu family when he was a kid. Later, when the two brothers returned to the Jiang family, they must have heard some gossip while staying at the Lu's, and they always believed I was the one who wrecked things between Jiang Gongming and his ex-wife. Jiang Yifeng always held a grudge against me."

Nan Shuyi: "Not when they were kids, but it started when they got older?"

He Nuanqing: "I wasn't a good mother. They attended the same middle school. That's when Jiang Yifeng started picking on Yicen. I brought it up with Jiang Gongming a few times. Jiang Gongming warned Jiang Yifeng and even made him kneel in the ancestral hall, and that put a stop to it. After they entered high school, Jiang Yifeng somehow got those gay videos off Yicen's phone. He deliberately spread rumors at school to humiliate him in public. When Jiang Gongming found out, he felt humiliated, so he locked Yicen in the ancestral hall and then arranged for him to go abroad." She paused, then sighed, "That's how he grew up."

Nan Shuyi: "Is he scared of dogs?"

He Nuanqing: "Yeah, he's scared of dogs. Before he went abroad, we didn't have dogs at home. Later, since he didn't come back often, that's when I got one. Whenever he was home, I'd have someone take the dog somewhere else."

Nan Shuyi: "What about his eating habits?"

What Nan Shuyi knew about Jiang Yicen—what Jiang Yicen showed him the most—was about food. He seemed like he'd eat anything, but he was actually pretty picky. If something didn't taste good, he'd stop eating, but he wouldn't say anything to spare the cook's feelings.

He Nuanqing: "He likes noodles and pasta. His favorite is zhajiang noodles."

Nan Shuyi: "Didn't he grow up in Lincheng? Why does he like northern-style food?"

He Nuanqing: "I took him to Beijing once when he was little. After that, he fell in love with northern noodles. He doesn't like seafood, especially fish. He told me fish always smells fishy, no matter how you cook it, he just doesn't like it."

But Nan Shuyi knew that Jiang Yicen actually preferred rice, wasn't big on noodles, and loved seafood. He was a true Lincheng native.

Nan Shuyi wanted to ask He Nuanqing if she'd ever noticed that Jiang Yicen seemed different than before, but remembering she'd wanted him dead, he held back.

Nan Shuyi: "Are his old books from before high school still around?"

"They used to be, in the bookcase on the third floor. Now that Jiang Gongming wants a divorce, they might clear out his and my stuff." Seeing that Nan Shuyi kept asking about stuff from before Jiang Yicen went abroad, she couldn't help asking, "Why do you want to know about his life before high school?"

Nan Shuyi: "I want to understand the man I love better."

He Nuanqing: "Meeting you is his good fortune."

Nan Shuyi had no more questions.

He stood up to leave. The moment he rose, he corrected her: "You've got it backwards. Meeting him is my good fortune."

The real reason Nan Shuyi was so eager to know why Jiang Yicen was so different before and after was mainly his worry about Jiang Yicen's mental state. First, he had a stress response to gunshots. Second, he never talked about America. He didn't have any of the traits people usually have after studying abroad and coming back.

Nan Shuyi had many classmates and friends who studied abroad. After coming back, they'd always weave bits of their time abroad into everyday conversation—not to brag about foreign countries, but because it was part of their life experience. But Jiang Yicen had none of those traces. Nan Shuyi couldn't find any no matter how hard he looked.

After leaving the detention center, he went to the Jiang house.

Jiang Yiting was busy fighting Jiang Da for power and had left before dawn. Jiang Yifeng, whose reputation was ruined, had disappeared and hadn't been home in days.

The Jiang house used to have guests coming and going, with servants everywhere. Now none of the family was home, just the butler and the servants.

When the butler saw Nan Shuyi at the door, he hesitated, unsure whether to stop him.

Nan Shuyi said, "I'm here to pick up some of Jiang Yicen's personal stuff—his old books."

Butler: "Of course. Want me to help you find them?"

Nan Shuyi: "If you don't mind. That way, if anything goes missing later, they can't blame me."

The butler smiled: "That won't happen."

Nan Shuyi still turned on his phone to record. He didn't want the Jiang family coming after him later.

The butler helped him find Jiang Yicen's old high school books.

The butler was just an employee of the Jiang family, so he naturally wouldn't offend Nan Shuyi: "They're all here. Which ones do you want? I'll find a box to pack them up for you."

Nan Shuyi flipped through a few books that had notes in them, especially ones with names written in them.

He asked the butler: "How long have you been at the Jiang house?"

The butler didn't expect Nan Shuyi to make small talk with him: "About ten years or so."

Nan Shuyi: "Then you must have watched Jiang Yicen grow up?"

The butler nodded: "You could say that. The previous butler quit to go home and take care of his grandson. When I arrived, he was already in elementary school."

Nan Shuyi: "He never came home for New Year's, did he?"

Butler: "No, he didn't."

Nan Shuyi: "During New Year's at your house, does the chef make dumplings? Like sauerkraut dumplings or something?"

Butler: "No. Mr. Jiang and his wife are both from Lincheng. They never had the tradition of eating dumplings for New Year's. Mr. Jiang once said sauerkraut dumplings were too low-class for the table. In all my years here, we've never had dumplings for New Year's."

Nan Shuyi: "Do you have any photos of him from before high school? Or photos from when he came home for New Year's each year?"

Butler: "Yes, I'll go find them for you."

Nan Shuyi got the answers he wanted and left the Jiang house. But he didn't go home. Instead, he took two handwriting samples to Jiang Ruolin's law firm.

The last time he'd visited Jiang Ruolin's law firm was when it first opened.

Nan Shuyi had let Jiang Ruolin know he was coming. He was their company's legal consultant.

Jiang Ruolin: "You're here? What's so important that you had to come in person?"

Nan Shuyi said with a serious look: "Personal matter. An important one."

Jiang Ruolin saw how serious he looked and figured this might be important: "Let's talk in my office."

Nan Shuyi took out two samples of handwriting—one from Jiang Yicen's high school textbooks, one was a note Jiang Yicen had left him, a very cryptic love poem, and another was a document with his signature.

Jiang Ruolin saw the note first: "You're here to force-feed me couple goals?"

Nan Shuyi shot him a look: "You think I wanted to show you this?"

Jiang Ruolin was confused: "Then what's this supposed to mean?"

Nan Shuyi: "Can someone's handwriting completely change after six years?"

Jiang Ruolin hadn't dug deep into handwriting analysis, but he handled cases often and had a basic understanding.

"Everyone has their own personal habits. Even if there are slight changes, some small habits can't be changed. These two samples really are very different. Are you looking for an expert to verify them?"

Nan Shuyi had shed his usual laziness: "Yes."

Jiang Ruolin was puzzled: "Aren't you two all lovey-dovey? Why are you suspicious of him?"

Nan Shuyi: "I'm worried he might be sick."

Jiang Ruolin: "Sick?"

Nan Shuyi: "Mm."

He pulled photos out of his bag that the Jiang family's butler had given him.

Although Jiang Gongming harbored a dislike for this son, the family portrait was taken every year, to keep up appearances.

Nan Shuyi had gotten photos of Jiang Yicen from childhood to adulthood. After he went to the U.S., he came back every two years, so there weren't many photos, but they were enough.

"Look at the difference between his pre-marriage photos and his current ones?"

Jiang Ruolin's demeanor turned serious. Nan Shuyi was probably worried that Jiang Yicen had developed a psychological condition—a drastic personality change could mean depression, or in worse cases, schizophrenia.

Jiang Ruolin: "The old Jiang Yicen looked normal, but he lacked spark. Looking closer, his smile was superficial, a bit gloomy. It was clear he wasn't happy."

Nan Shuyi: "Then what about his photos with me now?"

Jiang Ruolin then studied the current Jiang Yicen. He had met him a few times as well.

"In everyday interactions, I never noticed anything off. On the contrary, he's very polite, well-dressed, pays attention to detail, has proper posture—a refined rich young master with manners and upbringing. He's also really happy with you."

He looked back at Jiang Yicen's family photos, comparing them to the current Jiang Yicen. The old Jiang Yicen stood with a slight slouch, uneven shoulders, not-so-upright posture, and his energy wasn't as vibrant as now.

"Maybe marriage agrees with him?"

Nan Shuyi was glad Jiang Ruolin saw his marriage with Jiang Yicen in such a positive light, but now wasn't the time for that.

"So what did you notice?"

Jiang Ruolin said honestly: "It's like two different people. The contrast is really significant."

Nan Shuyi: "Can you get me in touch with a handwriting expert today?"

Jiang Ruolin: "I could, but they might not be free today. You'd have to make an appointment."

Nan Shuyi: "I'll pay extra."

Jiang Ruolin knew he must be in turmoil: "I know you're anxious, but don't rush into anything. People with mental health issues don't like others bringing it up. You'd better not let it slip when you get back."

Nan Shuyi knew that panicking wouldn't help.

Jiang Ruolin: "Honestly, I think the current Jiang Yicen is really great. If it's dissociative identity disorder, would you break up with him or..."

Nan Shuyi: "Who said I'd break up with him? He's naturally kind and pure. Of course, I'd be there with him through treatment."

Jiang Ruolin: "What if after treatment, the current personality disappears, and you're left with someone you didn't marry?"

Nan Shuyi paused: "..."

He knew Jiang Ruolin made a good point.

He didn't want to lose the current Jiang Yicen.

Nan Shuyi: "Let's do the handwriting analysis first. What if he's not sick, but just a different person?"

Seeing his mood darken, Jiang Ruolin tried to comfort him: "That's true. What if the person you married is Jiang Yicen's twin brother? It's not impossible. I've handled a case where one of a set of twins committed a crime. The police found his DNA at the scene, but weirdly, he had a perfect alibi. After investigating, they found the culprit was his twin brother who'd been lost in childhood. The world is full of surprises."

Nan Shuyi spent the whole day out, then sat alone in a café for a long time, thinking about what to do next. He stayed out until six in the evening, and when the workday ended, he decided to go home and cook a nice dinner for Jiang Yicen.

But when he got home, he found Jiang Yicen wasn't there.

Only then did he realize his phone had died.

Five minutes after plugging it in, he saw a message from Jiang Yicen.

"Liu Dan's dad is in the hospital, might be near the end. Liu Dan and I are on our way to Ningzhou."

He checked when the message was sent—it was over three hours ago.

Three hours—by car, they should be in Ningzhou by now.

He called Jiang Yicen right away.

Liu Dan's dad was at the end of his life, and Nan Shuyi didn't really know him—he'd only met him once. Why go?

Jiang Yicen always picked up his calls right away.

Nan Shuyi: "Made it to Ningzhou?"

Jiang Yicen heard Nan Shuyi's low, soft voice: "We just got to the hospital. Are you still out and about?"

Nan Shuyi: "I got home and found you weren't here."

Jiang Yicen: "It was sudden. Liu Dan picked me up from the office, and I left. I couldn't reach you."

Nan Shuyi: "It died. Why'd you go along?"

Jiang Yicen thought about whether to tell Nan Shuyi, his voice carrying a hint of sadness: "Liu Dan said Grandpa Liu was asking for me, wanting to see me. It's an old man's dying wish, so I figured I'd go and see him off."

Nan Shuyi heard the faint sadness in his voice: "Alright, which hospital? I'll be right there."

Jiang Yicen: "Don't come. The forecast says there's gonna be heavy rain and thunder tonight."

Nan Shuyi had had a few drinks in the afternoon and said, "It's fine. I'll have Uncle Chen drive."

For some reason, he had a strong urge to see Jiang Yicen today.

With more evidence piling up proving he was completely different from the old Jiang Yicen, and Jiang Ruolin's words still echoing in his mind, he felt a deep unease—afraid that one day he'd wake up and the person beside him would suddenly be a stranger, not the Jiang Yicen he knew.

He pressed a hand to his cold chest, before Jiang Yicen could keep trying to talk him out of it, and said again, "Wait for me."

Jiang Yicen said, "Then be careful on the road, and check in with me every half hour so I know you're safe."

Nan Shuyi chuckled softly, "Okay."

By this time, Jiang Yicen had already arrived at the hospital room door with Liu Dan.

The only person he knew in the world was about to die, and his heart was heavy with grief.