Blank Charge

Yang Shiyu’s birthday was on December 31st, the last day of the year.

About half a month ago, Jin Zhou counted the days eagerly awaiting that day. But when it finally arrived, if he hadn’t set an alarm in advance on a whim, he might have forgotten about it.

He dug through the corner of the wardrobe and took out something he had prepared long ago. Jin Zhou pinned two furry little dog ears in his hair and turned to Yang Shiyu, saying, “Wife, do you like them?”

Yang Shiyu slowly sat up from the bed, stretched his long arm to turn on the bedside lamp, and looked at Jin Zhou, asking, “Damn, but aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Today is your birthday.” Jin Zhou quickly changed into dog tail underwear and put a collar around his neck. He hopped back onto the bed, saying, “Of course, we should do what you love.”

“Little energetic dog,” Yang Shiyu said, picking up his gold-framed glasses from the bedside table. He dangled the anti-slip chain under the warm-colored bedside lamp, reflecting a tranquil light. “Give me the handcuffs.”

Jin Zhou searched in the box and handed the handcuffs to Yang Shiyu.

“Not those,” Yang Shiyu said. “I want the ankle shackles.”

Jin Zhou buried his head back into the box, but he quickly realized something. His two dog ears stood up suddenly, and he looked at Yang Shiyu, asking, “How did you know about ankle shackles?”

Yang Shiyu didn’t answer and calmly said, “Give them to me.”

“So, you’ve already seen what’s inside the box?” Jin Zhou immediately realized that his surprise had been exposed. “You sneaky little thing, you saw it all along and didn’t say a word. Why were you pretending?”

“Who’s the sneaky little thing?” Yang Shiyu grabbed the chain on the collar and pulled him underneath him.

Ten minutes later.

“It’s me! I’m the sneaky little thing!”

“Good boy.”

The next day, Yang Shiyu still had to go to work. Jin Zhou got up early and cooked a bowl of longevity noodles for his beloved judge. He yawned and entered the bedroom, saying, “Wife, wake up and have breakfast.”

Yang Shiyu seemed still half-asleep. He rubbed his temples, forced himself to wake up, put on his gold-framed glasses, and looked at Jin Zhou, asking, “How’s your butt?”

“I’m fine, I take it good don’t I?,” Jin Zhou said, feeling a bit proud. “I’m in my twenties, while you’re already thirty one today, Judge Yang.”

Yang Shiyu got out of bed, took off his pajamas, and raised an eyebrow with sleepy eyes, asking, “So, what are you waiting for? You said you can handle it”

“You are being vulgar again.” Jin Zhou frowned unhappily. “I quit smoking for you, can’t you stop using foul language for me?”

Yang Shiyu changed into a shirt in silence. After a while, he said, “Okay.”

The longevity noodles were prepared simply, with only eggs and vegetables added.

Jin Zhou and Yang Shi Yu quietly ate the noodles in their respective bowls, relieving the fatigue from last night’s intense erotic activities.

The room was filled only with the sound of utensils clashing, and on this supposed lively day, it seemed somewhat desolate.

Whether it was due to excessive erotic activities or not, Jin Zhou was too tired to eveneat. He stopped his actions and looked at Yang Shi Yu, saying, “Remember your birthday wish.”

“Okay,” Yang Shi Yu replied, seemingly having already decided what he wanted to wish for.

Jin Zhou didn’t ask about the content of Yang Shi Yu’s wish because when it came to birthday wishes, they wouldn’t come true if spoken aloud.

Jin Zhou’s birthday was in March, during their senior year of high school. He made a wish to get into the Political and Law University, to become Yang Shi Yu’s junior, and then… he never spoke his wishes aloud on his birthday again.

“What are your plans next?” Yang Shi Yu suddenly asked.

The topic came up abruptly, and Jin Zhou hesitated as he chewed on his chopsticks. “Plans?”

“Regarding Liu Yongchang'” Yang Shi Yu said.

Jin Zhou involuntarily lowered his gaze, showing little emotion on his face. “I don’t know.”

Although Jin Zhou was 90% certain that Liu Yongchang was the killer of the case seventeen years ago, he had no evidence. Moreover, they had many mutual friends, and he didn’t know what to do.

He could almost imagine that if he told Tiger about this, Tiger would never choose sides but instead advise him, “Jin Zhou, don’t talk about things without evidence.”

Xiao Wu might slightly lean towards him, but what would be the point?

Just because 51 out of 100 brothers sided with him, what good would it do in the end?

It would only plunge his life into greater chaos.

“Do you still dislike my friends?” Jin Zhou raised his gaze and looked at Yang Shi Yu, asking, “I remember when we met back in that building, you were very repulsed by my gang of friends.”

“It’s fine now,” Yang Shi Yu said. “Your friends are my friends too.”

“Wife, you’re so good.” Jin Zhou was deeply moved, sighed, and continued, “But I might end up with no friends.”

The situation between Jin Zhou and Liu Yongchang was most awkward because both of them were at the center of their circle. It was like the Big Boss and the Second Boss having an unsolvable conflict, unable to peacefully coexist in the same place anymore.

Jin Zhou could continue investigating the case, either proving Liu Yongchang’s innocence or sending him to prison. But he didn’t have the luxury to do that now because he still had some things he wanted to confirm with Liu Qian.

“So annoying.” Jin Zhou absentmindedly rubbed the back of his head. “Why are all these things piling up now?”

“If you want to continue investigating Liu Yongchang, you can find some new evidence and hand it over to the police for investigation,” Yang Shi Yu suggested. “Criminal investigation is the job of the police, and there are limits to what a lawyer can do.”

Not just limits, lawyers could only rely on existing clues for deduction. Even if they were already very close to the truth.

“But how can we find new evidence?” Jin Zhou asked, puzzled. “The case happened a long time ago, where can we find new evidence?”

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be new testimonies or physical evidence, as long as there are doubts,” Yang Shiyu said. “I have a classmate who is a forensic expert, I can introduce you to them. You can talk to the forensic expert, and maybe you can discover some overlooked details.”

“It’s a headache,” Jin Zhou scratched his hair into a mess. “Why do I have to do all this?”

“Of course, you don’t have to do it. It’s entirely up to you,” Yang Shiyu made his position clear, no matter what Jin Zhou planned next, he would support him.

“Let’s talk about it later,” Jin Zhou said listlessly.

Most of the brothers who associated with Liu Yongchang valued loyalty above all else. If Jin Zhou really sent Liu Yongchang to prison, those brothers would probably consider it a betrayal.

But Jin Zhou couldn’t pretend as if nothing had happened.

Liu Yongchang was suspected of murder, how could he still consider him a friend?

“I’ve just realized…” Jin Zhou looked at Yang Shiyu with a worried expression. “It seems like I will lose my social circle.”

“Yes,” Yang Shiyu had obviously seen this coming a long time ago. “It will be difficult for you to stay among your friends.”

Investigating Liu Yongchang would mean losing his current social circle, but not investigating Liu Yongchang would leave a nagging feeling in his heart.

Whichever choice he made, none seemed easy.

“Let’s just leave this place,” the thought suddenly popped into Jin Zhou’s mind. “Running away is shameful but needed at this point.”

“Where to?” Yang Shiyu asked.

“To the south, a place with abundant sunshine,” Jin Zhou said, as the vague thought in his mind became clearer. “Preferably a sunny island! We can buy a boat and go out to sea whenever we want.”

Yang Shiyu lowered his eyes in contemplation. “Sounds good.”

“That’s right!” Jin Zhou eagerly took out his phone. “Let me check.”

“You want to leave now?” Yang Shiyu raised an eyebrow, “What about WangTai? Luo Xueqing is still hospitalized, and you haven’t figured out whether Liu Yongchang is a killer.”

Upon hearing those words, Jin Zhou instantly deflated, supporting his chin with his hand. “Why is life so difficult?”

“Don’t be too dramatic,” Yang Shiyu stood up, rubbed Jin Zhou’s messy hair, picked up two empty bowls, and turned to the kitchen. “Handle one thing at a time. Once we resolve all these issues, I’ll accompany you wherever you want to go.”

“Then I want to go to a sunny island,” Jin Zhou could only console himself with imagination. “I want to go to the beach every day and admire handsome guys, their six-packs and perky butts. Just thinking about it is thrilling.”

“Okay,” Yang Shiyu said calmly, with no hint of excitement in his tone. “After you’re done watching, come back and describe it to me.”

That would surely lead to another round of conflict between them.

Thinking of this, Jin Zhou smiled and took out his phone, looking at flight ticket prices. “You have a three-day holiday for New Year’s Day, right? How about we go there?.”

Yang Shiyu finished washing the dishes and came out, wiping his hands. He said, “I can’t go on New Year’s Day.”

“Hmm?” Jin Zhou wondered, “Why?”

“There’s something I want to tell you,” Yang Shiyu pushed his glasses up. “WangTai invited me to his cruise for New Year’s Eve.”

“What?” Jin Zhou suddenly stood up from his chair. “When were you planning to tell me about this?”

“Right now,” Yang Shiyu said.

Jin Zhou took a deep breath. “He was just released, and he’s definitely investigating what happened. He invited you for New Year’s Eve. Isn’t this clearly a trap?”

“It’s not just me,” Yang Shiyu said in a calm tone. “Most of the guests from the masquerade party will attend. WangTai’s intention is to show that the previous party was just an ordinary gathering. By inviting these guests for New Year’s Eve, he wants to show that such gatherings are common for his circle.”

WangTai’s motive seemed reasonable, but Jin Zhou couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.

“I have a bad feeling, Yang Shiyu,” Jin Zhou furrowed his brow tightly. “The day my parents had an accident, I had a bad feeling too. I don’t want you to go.”

“But if I don’t go,” Yang Shiyu paused, “it will only arouse suspicion from WangTai.”

That made sense.

If everyone else attends and Yang Shiyu doesn’t, it would be like telling WangTai outright that Yang Shiyu is up to something.

“Then take me with you,” Jin Zhou said. “Just don’t go alone.”

“That’s not possible,” Yang Shiyu shook his head. “Each guest has a specific invitation card, you can’t just blend in.”

Seeing that he was about to be late for work, Yang Shiyu stopped talking to Jin Zhou and left the house.

Jin Zhou knew that Yang Shiyu simply didn’t want him to go, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. So he took out his phone and made a call to Zhang Rui, “Is WangTai still looking for that lady in cheongsam?”