Chapter 308: Immediate Outbreak of War

~34 min read 6,615 words

Li Xuewu glanced at the little boy who had appeared at the villa window, then smiled and said to the woman, "Madam, you wouldn't want your child to see me using coercive measures against you, would you?"

The woman looked back at her child, frowned, and said to Li Xuewu, "What Fu Haibo does is none of our business."

Li Xuewu produced his credentials and said, "We aren't here for revenge; we are here to find someone."

The woman was visibly stunned when she saw Li Xuewu's credentials; she had never seen anyone carry two sets of identification before.

Li Xuewu smiled and explained, "Showing you the Security ID is to tell you where I come from; showing you the Police ID is to tell you the severity of the matter."

Putting the credentials away, Li Xuewu continued, watching the woman's hesitant expression, "I have the authority to search Fu Haibo's home, and I have the authority to arrest anyone who harbors or conceals a criminal."

The woman frowned at Li Xuewu and said, "No need to say such things. I'm just a woman—what is there for you to arrest me for?"

Although she spoke bluntly, she still opened the wooden door.

Li Xuewu smiled at the woman, who was both stubborn and cooperative, and said, "Then, excuse the intrusion."

Looking at Li Xuewu, whose tone was gentle and refined but whose face appeared fierce and wicked, the woman turned and led the way into the villa.

Liu Zhaolun held his rifle in his hands; he did not follow Li Xuewu into the house, but instead circled the villa once before entering through the back door.

At the woman's gesture, Li Xuewu sat on the sofa, feeling the softness beneath him and taking in the opulent decor of the room.

"Li Kezhang Fu certainly knows how to enjoy himself. It's not easy to find a house like this in the capital. Why bother rushing to the capital?"

The woman glanced at Li Xuewu, then continued brewing the tea in her hands.

"That is his idea; it has nothing to do with me."

Watching the little boy holding a wooden toy gun sitting on the stairs and looking at him, Li Xuewu smiled at the boy and asked, "Is this Li Kezhang Fu's child?"

The woman did not answer, nor did she pay any mind to Liu Zhaolun, who had entered from the back door. She placed two cups of tea on the coffee table in front of Li Xuewu.

"State your purpose. What exactly do you want to do?"

Liu Zhaolun did not sit in the sofa seat corresponding to the teacup; instead, he walked up to the little boy with his rifle in hand, made a face at the child, and then passed him to go upstairs.

The little boy looked at Liu Zhaolun expressionlessly, then fixed his gaze on the Type 56 assault rifle in Liu Zhaolun's hands.

Li Xuewu looked at the woman sitting upright on the single sofa, elegant in appearance and refined in temperament; the panic from just moments ago had completely vanished.

"Fu Haibo has committed an offense, and we must find him."

"I told you!"

The woman emphasized, "He is not here. He hasn't been home for a long time."

Li Xuewu smiled and didn't take the bait, instead asking, "What is your name?"

The woman looked at Li Xuewu's expression, hesitated for a moment, but still answered, "My name is Zhou Wang Yamei."

Li Xuewu nodded and asked again, "Are you a local?"

Zhou Wang Yamei saw that Li Xuewu hadn't asked about Fu Haibo, but was asking about her instead.

Although somewhat impatient, she remembered the two sets of credentials she had seen earlier and replied, "Yes, I am from Steel City."

Li Xuewu took a cigarette case out of his pocket, gestured toward Zhou Wang Yamei, and asked, "You don't mind if I smoke here, do you?"

Zhou Wang Yamei watched Li Xuewu's actions, frowned, and pulled a gray ashtray from under the coffee table, placing it in front of him.

"Thank you."

After saying thanks, he used the lighter in his hand to ignite the cigarette held between his lips.

Li Xuewu wasn't relaxing, nor was he putting on an act, and it certainly wasn't a meaningless gesture.

Smoking leisurely would put pressure on Zhou Wang Yamei, subconsciously telling her that his attitude today was that he would not stop until he achieved his goal.

Even if he couldn't find Fu Haibo, he had to obtain important clues.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu, who was leaning back on the sofa, and said, "This is indeed Fu Haibo's home, but Fu Haibo really isn't here. I haven't seen him for a long time either. You should go look somewhere else."

Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "We came from the capital. Once we landed, we were completely in the dark. Where are we supposed to look?"

"Then you can't just...!"

"Can't what?"

Seeing Zhou Wang Yamei excitedly wanting to say something, Li Xuewu chuckled and asked in return, then narrowed his eyes and said, "If we can't find him, we can't report back. We have no choice but to wait here."

Zhou Wang Yamei took a breath, but it was all dissipated by Li Xuewu's shamelessness.

She had never seen such a shameless investigator.

"I really don't know where he went. Pressuring me is useless."

"No, no, no."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "How could I pressure you? Our attitude is very clear; I told you when I came in that I just wanted to chat with you."

"Chat about what?"

Zhou Wang Yamei asked, her nose flared, "Well, go ahead and ask!"

This was Li Xuewu's brilliance: whether interrogating or gathering evidence, he flexibly applied conversational techniques based on environmental changes.

Now, Zhou Wang Yamei was the anxious party; the more Li Xuewu acted this way, the more anxious she became.

Li Xuewu pointed at the little boy, who was sitting on the stairs reaching out to touch the rifle of Liu Zhaolun, who had just come down from upstairs, and asked, "Is this child Fu Haibo's?"

This double-entendre question made Zhou Wang Yamei frown once again.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean nothing by it."

Li Xuewu rested his cigarette on the ashtray, stood up, walked over to the little boy, and squatted down, his eyes level with the boy's.

"What is your name?"

The little boy looked at Li Xuewu with the same expression he had for Liu Zhaolun, which for a moment made Li Xuewu suspect the child couldn't speak.

But when Li Xuewu pulled out his flashy M1911, the little boy's eyes lit up, and he pointed at Li Xuewu's pistol, asking, "What kind of gun is that?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "This is called the Gun of Kindness. It's very kind. I gave it a nickname; I call it 'Little Hammer'."

The boy's eyes widened; he couldn't believe the gun actually had a name, and such a fun one at that.

"Is it yours? Can I see it?"

"Zhidong! Go upstairs!"

Zhou Wang Yamei shouted at the boy in a cold voice.

The boy stood up, somewhat frightened. Li Xuewu steadied him with his hand and asked, "Your name is Zhidong?"

The boy looked at his mother, then glanced back at the gun in Li Xuewu's hand, his eyes full of reluctance.

Li Xuewu smiled and raised the gun in his hand, saying, "Since I know your name, let me change the question. Tell Uncle, who was the uncle who just left your house? What did he come here for?"

Before the little boy could speak, Zhou Wang Yamei hurried over and scooped the boy up from Li Xuewu's side.

Watching Zhou Wang Yamei, who was pursing her lips and glaring at him, Li Xuewu smiled and said, "It's nothing, just playing with the child. Don't be nervous."

Perhaps the little boy sensed his mother's nervousness; he hugged Zhou Wang Yamei's neck and said to Li Xuewu, "Uncle Wang came for a medical visit, he's not a bad person."

"Zhidong."

Zhou Wang Yamei shook the little boy, then pushed past Li Xuewu and carried the child upstairs.

Li Xuewu exchanged a look with Liu Zhaolun.

Seeing the smile in Li Xuewu's eyes, Liu Zhaolun blushed and stopped looking at Zhou Wang Yamei's back.

When Zhou Wang Yamei came down from upstairs, she saw that annoying person sitting back on the sofa; his cigarette was finished, and he was reading a book.

Liu Zhaolun glanced at the woman slowly walking down the stairs, then turned back to look out the window.

This woman was even more alluring when viewed from below.

Unlike the attire of most women today, she wore pale green slippers on her feet and gray wool trousers with black checkered patterns.

On her upper body was a dark green sweater, covered by a pale red cotton cardigan.

It had to be said that Zhou Wang Yamei possessed a scholarly aura, and this home attire truly highlighted her extraordinary temperament.

Li Xuewu didn't look toward the stairs, focusing instead on the book in his hands.

"Let's be frank. What exactly do you want? I will cooperate with whatever I can. Whatever you want to ask, if I know it, I will tell you."

Li Xuewu folded the page of the book and closed it, raising the book in his hand, "This compilation of documents from the Representative Congress is quite good; it's hard to find. Was Fu Haibo reading this?"

Listening to Li Xuewu's erratic questions, Zhou Wang Yamei grew angry, glaring as she asked, "Who exactly are you? What do you want?"

Li Xuewu put down the book, leaned forward, and stared at Zhou Wang Yamei, saying, "I want to find Fu Haibo."

Zhou Wang Yamei covered her face and collapsed onto the sofa. It took a long while before she said, "I want to know what offense he actually committed."

Li Xuewu shifted his seat to the end of the three-person sofa, closing the distance to Zhou Wang Yamei as much as possible.

"Then tell me your attitude."

Intellectuals never speak directly or frankly; they insist on being circuitous and subtle, forcing Li Xuewu to pierce that layer of film before they are willing to sit down and communicate calmly.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Haven't you already seen it?"

"No, no, no."

Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "I never trust my own eyes. Sometimes, eyes can deceive me too."

Watching Zhou Wang Yamei stare at him, Li Xuewu smiled and explained, "I prefer to listen to you speak, and use my own brain to judge whether what you're saying is true."

"You are just as perverted as Fu Haibo!"

"Hiss~"

Hearing Zhou Wang Yamei's assessment of him, Li Xuewu instantly performed a tactical lean-back.

"Really? Although I've only met Fu Haibo once, I don't feel we have any similarities. Isn't that adjective a bit inappropriate for me?"

Zhou Wang Yamei stared at Li Xuewu and said, "You are the same as him; you both have hearts as ruthless as wolves, and you both love to control the situation and control others."

"Hiss~"

Li Xuewu had to look at Zhou Wang Yamei in a new light; this woman was not simple. This level of insight was not something a typical housewife should possess.

Seeing the surprised expression on Li Xuewu's face, Zhou Wang Yamei's tone calmed down.

"Before the Liberation, I studied at the Fengtian Girls' Middle School. Later, I was admitted to Medical University. After graduation, through family arrangements, I married Fu Haibo, who had returned from the capital."

That Fengtian Girls' Middle School was no simple place, and that Medical University in Fengtian was even less so. Li Xuewu became a bit interested in this woman; he leaned back on the sofa and earnestly became a listener.

Zhou Wang Yamei pinched her fingers, head bowed, and paused before continuing, "When he was as young as you, he was also very hardworking, just like you are now."

Li Xuewu spread his hands in a gesture of feigned exaggeration, a bitter smile on his face as he said, "I appreciate your praise, but unfortunately, that really isn't a good comparison."

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu's vivid expression made Zhou Wang Yamei chuckle. She then gently covered her mouth and nodded at Li Xuewu.

"I'm sorry."

Seeing Li Xuewu shake his head, Zhou Wang Yamei smiled and said, "At least you are more humorous and witty than him. My son never talks to strangers, but at least you..."

"Even if you praise me now, I won't easily forgive you. At least use a better-sounding term than that comparison from before."

"Hehehe."

Zhou Wang Yamei covered her mouth and laughed again, then said to Li Xuewu, "Thank you."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I have a friend whose situation is somewhat similar to yours. I understand you very well, and I often counsel her."

Zhou Wang Yamei no longer felt the vigilance she had when they first met, and looking at that terrifying profile of his no longer produced feelings of fear or disgust.

Instead, she felt that Li Xuewu carried a kind of dashing demeanor in both his speech and his actions.

Especially when Li Xuewu spoke of his friend, she felt an even greater sense of empathy and closeness.

Li Xuewu called himself socially phobic—a social terrorist, even more terrifying than a social butterfly.

"It was probably two or three years after we were married, right when the natural disasters hit. Actually, we weren't starving, but he..."

Zhou Wang Yamei seemed to think of something, frowned, and said, "It was like he was possessed."

As she spoke, Zhou Wang Yamei shook her head, rubbed her forehead, and continued, "That year, he often didn't come home. Sometimes when he did return, he brought money for me."

"What money? Where did it come from?"

Li Xuewu lit a cigarette and handed it to Zhou Wang Yamei's side.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at the cigarette Li Xuewu handed over, skillfully clamped it between her index and middle fingers, held it to her lips, and took a puff.

Li Xuewu had long since noticed Zhou Wang Yamei smoked; that ashtray wasn't for men—it was too exquisite, and there was even a jade-inlaid female cigarette ring on it.

"I don't know."

Zhou Wang Yamei exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "He would just suddenly return, give me some money, and tell me to put it away. I asked him, but he wouldn't say."

Li Xuewu lit one for himself, maintaining the same posture as Zhou Wang Yamei.

"Later, we moved to a different house."

"This one?"

"No, not this one, it was..."

Zhou Wang Yamei glanced at Li Xuewu and said, "You've been there; it's the house my mother lives in now."

"Oh, oh."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "A very nice living environment. It seems he is quite a filial person."

"Yes, he says so himself, and my parents say so too."

Zhou Wang Yamei said sarcastically, "He is good to everyone, except..."

Seeing Li Xuewu's puzzled expression, Zhou Wang Yamei explained, "Not long after we moved into that house, one night someone came to the house carrying a bag of money. After that, we moved into this current house, and the original house was given to my parents to live in."

"Who? Who was the person who came?"

Zhou Wang Yamei took a puff of smoke and said to Li Xuewu, "It was Ma San'er, the one who pushed him into the abyss."

This was the second time Li Xuewu had heard this name today; he frowned but didn't continue asking.

Zhou Wang Yamei flicked the ash and continued, "After moving here, he would stay away for months at a time. I raised the child all by myself. When he did return, he would stay for a little while, throw down some money, and leave again."

"So you want to..."

"Yes, it's just as you think. Living like this is worse than finding a new way to live. If I keep going like this, I'm going to get sick."

Li Xuewu took a puff of smoke and pointed toward the next room, saying, "Don't worry, I am a person who keeps his mouth shut. I won't say anything."

"Hehe."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked into Li Xuewu's eyes and said, "Wang Ruoxia? Do you still remember what I told you about where I graduated from?"

"Medical University."

"Mm."

Zhou Wang Yamei nodded and said, "He really did come for a medical visit."

As she spoke, Zhou Wang Yamei stood up, walked to the door of the study on the first floor, opened it, and gestured for Li Xuewu to see for himself.

Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Wang Yamei, stood up, and followed her into the study.

It was a standard study layout; the walls were covered with bookshelves, and the shelves were packed with books.

However, what was special was that by the window in the study, there was a recliner. Next to the recliner was a round table, on which a desk lamp was lit, and beside the round table was an American-style sofa.

In the inner corner, there was a desk with some books on it.

This scene was somewhat familiar, especially that recliner.

"Are you a psychologist?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu with some surprise and asked, "You know about this discipline?"

"No."

Li Xuewu shook his head, walked over to the recliner, and pressed down on it—it really was comfortable.

"I've just heard others mention it a few times."

"Then you really are well-informed."

Zhou Wang Yamei walked over to the sofa and sat down, pointing at the recliner, "Want to try it?"

Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Wang Yamei and tentatively asked, "When did this discipline first appear in our country?"

Seeing Li Xuewu's intent, she realized he did understand the discipline; saying he didn't know earlier was just nonsense.

But after the conversation they'd just had, Zhou Wang Yamei's attitude toward Li Xuewu had changed somewhat; she smiled and explained, "1900, at Peking University, established by Mr. Cai Yuanpei."

"So early? Did mental illness exist back then?"

"Hehehe."

Watching Li Xuewu talk nonsense with a straight face, Zhou Wang Yamei covered her mouth and laughed, "Who told you that a psychologist only treats mental illness? And who told you that mental illness is the same as insanity?"

"Mm, mm, mm."

Li Xuewu nodded, tentatively sat on the recliner, and gestured, asking, "Is this okay?"

"Of course. I can give you a free session."

Before lying down, Li Xuewu said to Liu Zhaolun, who was standing at the door looking around, "Come, come, come inside. If this lady hypnotizes me in a moment and I start saying secrets, remember to wake me up."

"Hahahahaha."

Liu Zhaolun looked at the dead-serious Li Xuewu and the very beautiful lady who was covering her mouth and laughing.

"Yes, mission guaranteed!"

Liu Zhaolun agreed decisively. Although he didn't know what hypnosis was, it didn't prevent him from understanding what a secret was.

Watching the young man standing there with a serious expression holding his rifle, Zhou Wang Yamei couldn't stop laughing, tears even coming to her eyes. She felt that Li Xuewu was both pleasant to talk to and very fun.

She didn't even mind that Li Xuewu had used such a vulgar term to refer to her in front of his subordinate.

Li Xuewu ignored Zhou Wang Yamei, who was still laughing beside him, took off his leather jacket and leather shoes, and lay back on the exceptionally soft recliner.

It had to be said, it was truly warm in this room. Lying on the recliner covered by his clothes, he looked up at the American-style ceiling painting above his head.

He didn't understand what the painting was depicting; it was just someone half-naked holding a candle, surrounded by some people and animals.

Zhou Wang Yamei laughed for a while before stabilizing her emotions and asking, "You know about hypnosis? Didn't you tell me you didn't understand this discipline?"

Li Xuewu couldn't see Zhou Wang Yamei while lying there; he felt her voice entering his ears from all directions.

"Just hearsay. I said that just to show off in front of you."

"Really? I don't believe it."

"Mm?"

Li Xuewu turned his head abruptly. That "I don't believe it" sounded a bit familiar. He craned his neck to look at Zhou Wang Yamei, who was sitting in the sofa with her legs crossed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Li Xuewu glanced at Zhou Wang Yamei and turned his head back to lie down.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at the somewhat alert Li Xuewu and turned off the desk lamp on the table.

It was high noon outside, but the study windows were covered with thick velvet curtains, keeping the room very dark.

"I still don't know your name."

Zhou Wang Yamei's voice was as light and gentle as ever, with a slight lilt at the end. Hearing it from this position made his whole body feel numb and itchy; no wonder Liu Zhaolun kept looking at her.

"Li Xuewu. 'Li' as in the plum tree, 'Xue' as in 'learning without success,' and 'Wu' as in 'stopping the conflict'."

"Can you tell me about your experiences?"

"Mm..."

Li Xuewu lay on the recliner, closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and asked, "Where should I start?"

"Start with the thing you are most proud of."

"That year I was only 15, she was 17, no, maybe a bit older..."

Li Xuewu began to chat about his experiences with this woman he had met for the first time—the woman who was the target he was supposed to capture.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

Winter afternoons are the most drowsy, and it was a rare, clear, sunny day.

The sunlight shone on the dark velvet curtains, and the curtains, having absorbed the heat, transferred the temperature into the dim study.

The dimness usually implied a chill, but in this darkness filled with the scent of ink and vanilla, Li Xuewu felt very warm and comfortable.

His highly tense nerves, which had been strained for a long time, were suddenly released, as if a burden of thousands of pounds had been lifted from his body.

Perhaps it was the biological clock he had developed during lunch breaks at the steel mill; Li Xuewu woke up after sleeping for less than an hour.

Although he was awake, Li Xuewu still didn't open his eyes, instead lying there thinking about something.

He felt the sound of slippers rubbing against the floor slowly approaching him, followed by the sound of a cup being placed on the table.

"You're awake?"

"Mm."

Li Xuewu replied through his nose, then asked in a lazy voice, "Did I say a lot of childish things?"

"Hehehe."

Zhou Wang Yamei smiled and said, "A very interesting life experience; it made me envious."

Li Xuewu sat up and let Zhou Wang Yamei help him place his shoes by his feet.

"I know why Fu Haibo doesn't come home. Any secrets he had were dug out by you."

Regarding Li Xuewu's teasing, Zhou Wang Yamei thought for a moment and said, "Maybe so."

"I studied psychoanalysis. To help a patient regress to their childhood state, I have them do consultations on a recliner."

Actually, Li Xuewu understood the logic Zhou Wang Yamei was talking about; everyone encountered it, it just wasn't usually so formal.

Anyone who had lived in a university dormitory might have had such an experience: after the lights were forced out, everyone might still talk for a long time, and the things discussed at that time might have little to do with rationality, focusing more on emotional aspects.

Seeing Li Xuewu putting on his shoes, she pointed to the cup on the table and said, "Remember to drink a large glass of water after waking up."

Li Xuewu looked at the cup on the table, then looked into Zhou Wang Yamei's eyes and said, "I never drink water given by others, nor do I eat food given by others."

Hearing Li Xuewu's words, Zhou Wang Yamei's expression stiffened, but then she looked on in surprise as Li Xuewu picked up the water cup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

"Didn't you say you don't drink water given by others?"

Li Xuewu put down the cup and said, "You are the first person I've opened my heart to and revealed my inner self to. If I've shown you my heart, what is there left to cherish about my life?"

Zhou Wang Yamei pursed her lips and looked at the man standing up to put on his clothes; she suddenly felt he was different from Fu Haibo.

Yes, the more she looked, the more different he seemed.

Li Xuewu put on his leather jacket and was led by Zhou Wang Yamei to sit in the chair opposite the desk.

"So, do I have a problem?"

Zhou Wang Yamei smoothed the trousers behind her thighs with both hands and sat in the chair.

"Yes. Do you know you have a problem?"

Li Xuewu leaned back in the chair and nodded, saying, "I have a friend who told me that I likely have a mental illness, but it is improving."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked into Li Xuewu's eyes and smiled, saying, "You have quite a lot of friends."

Li Xuewu earnestly emphasized, "This time, I really do have a friend. She is also a doctor, but she is a surgeon."

Zhou Wang Yamei nodded and said, "Your friend is right, but not entirely."

Looking at the psychoanalysis notes in her hand, Zhou Wang Yamei explained, "The mental trauma you previously received is fading, but some new stimulus is slowly affecting your spirit."

Li Xuewu pointed to the red cap badge on his hat and asked with a smile, "It's this, isn't it?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu and then said, "It's possible, because what you talked about most just now was work-related matters, while you said very little about family. You are subconsciously hiding information about your family, or rather, protecting information about your family."

Li Xuewu nodded and said earnestly, "Yes, family is more important to me—precious to the point of being irreplaceable."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu's expression and said somewhat dejectedly, "I can tell, especially when you talk about your daughter."

Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said, "She is an angel suddenly bestowed upon me by heaven, although this little angel has a very bad temper."

"Hehehe."

Zhou Wang Yamei smiled at Li Xuewu and said, "I quite envy your life."

"Forget it."

Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "Not to mention the capital, just here in Steel City, there is more than one person who wants me dead."

Zhou Wang Yamei, of course, knew who Li Xuewu was referring to.

"Can I know now what crime Fu Haibo committed? If it were something here in Steel City, it would be impossible for people from the General Factory to come and arrest him, let alone someone of your rank."

Li Xuewu wanted to reach for the cigarette in his pocket, but after feeling the carpet under his feet, he put his hand back.

"Actually, I shouldn't tell you. He committed an offense. But since you've told me your attitude, I cannot break my word."

Crossing his hands over his stomach, Li Xuewu adopted a serious expression and said, "To hinder my progress, Fu Haibo, in collusion with Fu Zhanghua, planned and implemented acts of destruction, including theft, robbery, and harassment, in the workers' residential area."

"So..."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked calmly at Li Xuewu and asked, "If he is caught by you, he won't be able to get out?"

Li Xuewu smiled and didn't answer the question, instead asking in return, "Do you know what 'the land of the first benevolence' means?"

Zhou Wang Yamei nodded, indicating she understood the meaning of Li Xuewu's words.

"I don't know much. Every year during the New Year, people come to the house to give gifts—some from the transport team, some from the construction team, some from various factories. He also sends gifts to others; he once sent gold bars to Luo Jiaping of the Steel Mill. He probably sent gifts to other leaders too, but I don't have contact with those things and don't know who he sent them to."

Li Xuewu nodded, helping Zhou Wang Yamei think, and guided her by asking, "Does he have other women? Is it possible these things are hidden with other women?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked calmly at Li Xuewu and said, "Remember what I told you? He is perverted."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is that true?"

"Yes."

Zhou Wang Yamei nodded and said, "It might have been caused by that crisis. Just like you, it's a mental illness that can be treated, but every time I tried to guide him, he was very resistant. Gradually, we had nothing left to say to each other; whenever we spoke, it was an argument."

Li Xuewu rubbed his fingers, frowning as he thought about the scene when he saw Fu Haibo that time.

Zhou Wang Yamei continued, "Most of the gifts others sent were given away by him to other people. The money is all with me."

Hearing Zhou Wang Yamei say this, Li Xuewu stared at her with wide eyes.

"Don't be surprised. He fears me, but he doesn't hate me. I know he doesn't trust anyone right now, but because I understand him best, and his son is here, the only person he can trust—and the only one he must trust—is me."

Li Xuewu nodded. He didn't ask where the money was, nor did he ask how much money there was.

Li Xuewu really didn't care much for money now, because no matter how rich others were, they weren't as rich as Sister Lou.

Money to Li Xuewu was just a number. Now, he was slowly distancing himself from money and didn't need to spend his own.

"Then if I find Ma San'er, can I find Fu Haibo?"

Zhou Wang Yamei shook her head and said, "I don't know. You probably know too—he is even more cautious about his family's privacy than you are."

Li Xuewu frowned and asked, "How do you usually contact him?"

Zhou Wang Yamei pointed to the living room and said, "Telephone. I call his unit and leave a message. Sometimes he happens to be there and can pick up, but mostly it's just messages."

This was truly tricky. Had this bastard calculated that such a day would come?

How could he be so tightly guarded?

Li Xuewu frowned, tapped the table with his finger, and said, "Does he have anyone else he is particularly close to?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Do you have anyone you are particularly close to?"

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu knew Zhou Wang Yamei wasn't being sarcastic, but was helping him analyze Fu Haibo.

No matter how much Li Xuewu thought about it, apart from his family, he really didn't have anyone he was particularly close to.

There wasn't a single person who knew everything about his situation.

"Actually, you can wait."

Zhou Wang Yamei put the pen in her hand on the table and said, "He must know you've arrived."

"How do you say that?"

"Because he has hidden himself, tucked away his tail, and is hiding in the darkness staring at you, ready to extend his claws toward you at any moment."

Li Xuewu frowned, thought for a moment, and stood up to walk toward the living room.

Liu Zhaolun didn't know what had happened; why were they talking so intensely and then heading to the living room?

Seeing Zhou Wang Yamei follow into the living room, Liu Zhaolun also followed, his rifle on his back.

In the living room, Li Xuewu dialed Yan Brother Jiecheng's number.

"Hello, this is Li Xuewu. Is there any news from Han Zhan and the others?"

"Report, Li Kezhang, no. There hasn't been a call yet."

"Understood. Is everything okay on your end?"

"Everything is fine. I had a pancake for lunch."

"Understood. I'll call you back later. Keep an eye on Han Zhan and the others' phones."

After giving the instruction, Li Xuewu hung up the receiver.

Although he hadn't received news from Han Zhan, Li Xuewu's brow furrowed even deeper.

It seemed that just as Zhou Wang Yamei had said, that brat Fu Haibo really dared to extend his claws toward him.

Zhou Wang Yamei sat on the sofa beside Li Xuewu and said, "I've helped you as much as I can. If you need to seal the money and the house, I will cooperate at any time."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Thank you for your cooperation. I will try my best to preserve your personal property."

Zhou Wang Yamei smiled and said, "Thank you. I can support myself and my child."

Li Xuewu looked at this confident woman and said, "I believe you have that ability."

Zhou Wang Yamei handed the paper in her hand to Li Xuewu and said, "This is a prescription for Western medicine to calm the nerves. Of course, I heard you say your father is a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine; you could also have your father prepare some Chinese medicine for you."

After Li Xuewu took the prescription, Zhou Wang Yamei continued, "Actually, you should come here once a week for treatment, but I know that's not realistic. You can find a psychologist in the capital to continue the treatment."

In fact, there were very few psychologists in this era; most worked in psychiatric hospitals.

But the treatment methods of those doctors were very crude. Li Xuewu didn't dare go to a psychiatric hospital; the impact would be too great. No one would dare let a mental patient carry a gun.

Li Xuewu looked into Zhou Wang Yamei's eyes and asked, "What illness does the person next door have?"

Seeing Li Xuewu staring at her, Zhou Wang Yamei "pfft" laughed, then said, "I should protect patient privacy, but since you have credentials..."

As she spoke, Zhou Wang Yamei pointed to her head and said, "There is a type of person who lacks social skills, is unable to speak and live like a normal person, and lives forever in their own mental world. Do you know that?"

Li Xuewu nodded understandingly and said, "Then he is happy."

Zhou Wang Yamei was amused again by Li Xuewu's nonsense and said, "Who told you that a psychologist must treat mental illness? And who told you that mental illness is the same as insanity?"