Light beyond the Road

When the rain stopped, everyone had mostly calmed down.

Both families were taken to the police station. After being lectured by the officers and considering there were no serious injuries, coupled with mutual reconciliation, no further action was taken.

The Fan family left first. After signing the paperwork, Ye Ling returned to the lobby and saw everyone sitting on the benches.

Huang Guifen was leaning against Ye Sibei, crying. Ye Sibei, Qin Nan, and Ye Nianwen sat with their heads bowed in silence.

Ye Ling suddenly seemed to have aged ten years. He walked up to his family and sighed softly, "Let's go home."

By the time the family stepped out of the police station, it was already evening.

Lin Feng and Team Leader Zhang stood at the entrance. Lin Feng appeared to have been crying. When she saw the Ye family emerge, she approached and stood before Ye Sibei. After a long silence, she controlled her emotions and spoke hoarsely, "I'll keep investigating the case. If new evidence surfaces, I'll notify you. You can appeal."

Ye Sibei remained silent, so Qin Nan responded for her, "Thank you, Officer Lin."

Ye Sibei seemed deaf to the outside world. She turned and walked toward the parking lot.

Her reaction pained Lin Feng, who felt guilty but couldn't articulate it.

The Ye family drifted away like silent ghosts. When they were out of earshot, Team Leader Zhang stepped beside Lin Feng. "Don't take it too hard. You're a police officer—don't get too emotionally invested in one case."

"I am a police officer," Lin Feng looked up at Zhang Yong with reddened eyes, "but Team Leader Zhang, I'm also human."

"And being human means having a conscience."

Zhang Yong lowered his head. After a long pause, he spoke, "Earlier, I asked Judge Gao about the reason for the acquittal. He said that while emotionally he strongly sympathized with Ye Sibei, he couldn't rule based on feelings."

"He told me about a case his predecessor handled in '96. A woman accused a man of rape. Though the evidence chain had flaws, it still pointed to the man's guilt. Given the era's emphasis on confessions and the woman's heart-wrenching testimony, the man was sentenced to twelve years. After his release, he appealed continuously for years until a fugitive finally confessed to the crime, clearing his name. No one could believe such a coincidence had happened back then."

"Twelve years in prison, followed by eight more fighting for justice—most of his life wasted on this. Judge Gao said," Zhang Yong's gaze was steady, "we must understand that once the law is involved, whether it's victims denied justice or innocents wronged, the suffering is immense. We're not gods; what we see isn't absolute truth. All we can do is seek the closest possible facts within the law's constraints."

Lin Feng said nothing for a long moment before giving a bitter smile. "Being a judge is so hard."

"Someone has to do it."

Zhang Yong patted her shoulder. "Let's head back. If you're truly determined," his eyes turned cold, "keep digging into this case."

"This case," Zhang Yong glanced in the direction Fan Jiancheng had left, "isn't over yet."

Qin Nan first drove Ye Ling, Huang Guifen, and the others back to the Ye residence.

When they reached the alley near the Ye home, Ye Nianwen helped Huang Guifen inside. Ye Ling checked the time and invited Qin Nan, "Come in for dinner first. You haven't eaten all day—let's have a meal at home."

Qin Nan looked at Ye Sibei, who showed no expression. She stared at the light rain outside the car window, as if everything had nothing to do with her.Qin Nan thought for a moment and, considering Ye Sibei's condition, finally persuaded her: "Sibei, let's go get something to eat first."

Ye Sibei turned to look at him. Just as Qin Nan was about to add a few more words of persuasion, he saw her nod calmly, push open the car door, step into the rain, and follow the Ye family inside.

She seemed to have suddenly become unusually rational, as if everything that had happened was no different from before.

Qin Nan went to park the car while the family walked down the alley toward the house.

The light rain made the courtyard unusually quiet. Everyone was holed up in their own homes, watching TV, simmering soup, or taking an afternoon nap.

The exhausted family reached the door. Ye Ling stepped forward to open it, and they all went inside. Ye Ling urged Huang Guifen to rest in bed while he went to the kitchen to heat up the food. Ye Sibei and Ye Nianwen sat silently in their seats.

"Sis," Ye Nianwen glanced at Ye Sibei, "why don’t you go rest in my room for a while?"

Ye Sibei nodded, got up, and went to Ye Nianwen's room. She took off her coat and lay numbly on Ye Nianwen's bed, staring blankly at the cobwebbed ceiling, her mind completely empty.

Once Ye Sibei left the room, Ye Nianwen finally mustered the courage to open his phone.

The media was always quick to chase news. The trial had ended in the morning, and now news reports were everywhere. No one wanted to lose in this battle for information.

Though these media outlets hadn’t been able to enter the courtroom, they were relentless, somehow piecing together the details of the proceedings and even attempting to reconstruct the entire trial.

Among all the related news, the most trending topics—aside from the initial announcement of the trial results—was another headline: "Key Witness Speaks for the First Time: 'Victim Was Conscious When We Parted.'"

Ye Nianwen clicked on the article and found it was an exclusive interview with Zhao Chuchu.

The setting was a café. Zhao Chuchu wore a mask, her face pixelated, with only her voice recorded.

The transcript of the interview formed the content of the piece.

Reporter: "Can you describe what happened that day?"

Zhao Chuchu: "We both had been drinking, then headed home together. My place was only ten minutes away, so I got out first. When I left, I told her to message me when she got home, then I went on my way."

Reporter: "Was the victim conscious when you parted?"

Zhao Chuchu: "She was talking to me when I left. We were in similar states."

Reporter: "What did you talk about?"

Zhao Chuchu: "She said life was too hard. I told her no matter how hard, we had to keep going."

Reporter: "So, you didn’t 'abandon' her?"

Zhao Chuchu: "It was just the two of us that night, both in the same condition. If it wasn’t her, it would’ve been me. By your logic, if my place had been farther away, would that mean she abandoned me? Between the two of us, is one always guilty?"

Reporter: "Did she later confirm she got home safely with you?"

Zhao Chuchu fell silent for a moment before answering: "All I can say is, I made sure she was safely asleep. I don’t want to answer any more questions about this."

Reporter: "Online rumors claim the victim took out loans to buy a marital home for you and her brother. Were you aware of this beforehand?"

Zhao Chuchu: "No. When our families decided on the marriage, my father asked for a betrothal gift and a marital home. Their family negotiated, saying they couldn’t afford the gift but would buy a property under both our names, with a joint loan. I always thought his parents had pooled the money for it. Had I known the victim contributed, I wouldn’t have accepted it. Now, with this lawsuit, the house has been sold, and I have no ties left with their family."

...Ye Nianwen stared at Zhao Chuchu's reply, listening to the sounds of cooking from the kitchen. He gripped his phone tightly, taking deep breaths as he tried to force back his tears.

Countless questions swirled in his mind as he kept recalling Zhao Chuchu's demeanor in court. He didn't understand. He couldn't comprehend.

After much deliberation, he grabbed his phone and stood up abruptly, rushing out the door. While running, he opened the family tracking app on his phone and saw Zhao Chuchu's location moving toward her home. Ye Nianwen hailed a taxi and headed straight for Zhao Chuchu's residence.

As Ye Nianwen raced toward Zhao Chuchu's place, Qin Nan parked his car and returned to the Ye household. Hearing Qin Nan's arrival, Ye Ling glanced outside. "Qin Nan?"

"Dad."

Qin Nan nodded, noticing the emptiness of the house. "Where are Sibei and Nianwen?"

"Probably resting? Go check," Ye Ling called out loudly.

Qin Nan's instincts told him something was wrong. The house only had two bedrooms—Huang Guifen was resting in the master bedroom, so Ye Sibei and Ye Nianwen couldn't possibly be in the same room. He knocked on Ye Nianwen's door, and Ye Sibei opened it. Qin Nan scanned the room and frowned. "Where's Ye Nianwen?"

Ye Sibei froze, looking around blankly. Realizing something, Qin Nan quickly pulled out his phone and searched, immediately finding the interview about Zhao Chuchu. His expression darkened. "I'll go find him," he reassured Ye Sibei.

"I'm coming too."

Ye Sibei grabbed her coat, exchanged a quick word with Ye Ling, and ran out with Qin Nan.

Once in the car, Ye Sibei took out her phone to search for information, but Qin Nan snatched it away. "Don't look."

Ye Sibei was stunned. Qin Nan leaned over to fasten her seatbelt. "We'll appeal. We'll win. Don't read anything."

Ye Sibei remained silent. As Qin Nan started the car, she finally asked, "Where are we going to find Nianwen?"

"Zhao Chuchu's place."

Hearing Zhao Chuchu's name, Ye Sibei slowly processed the situation. She turned to Qin Nan. "What did she say?"

Qin Nan didn't answer. Ye Sibei raised her voice. "What did she say?!"

Zhao Chuchu was the key witness. If Ye Nianwen was heading to Zhao Chuchu now, Qin Nan could tell from the news that it had to be because of something Zhao Chuchu had done. Why had the case been lost? What evidence was lacking? Why was Ye Nianwen going to see Zhao Chuchu?

Questions flooded Ye Sibei's mind. She reached for Qin Nan's pocket to grab his phone. Finally, Qin Nan spoke. "She said you were sober!"

Ye Sibei blinked, looking up at him. "Sober how?"

"She said when she left you, you were talking to her, fully aware of your surroundings. You weren't in a state of confusion. She told you to message her when you got home to confirm you were safe and asleep."

Qin Nan relayed what he had read in the news. As Ye Sibei listened, her mind grew hazy. She recalled that night, watching Zhao Chuchu walk away. But suddenly, another memory surfaced—Zhao Chuchu bending slightly outside the glass, making a "call me" gesture with her hand and saying, "Message me when you get home."

Ye Sibei had waved. "Okay."

Now, she couldn't tell which memory was real. Dazed, she sat in the car, replaying the past in her mind. After a long silence, she took the phone from Qin Nan."Fine," she said calmly, "I just want to see what exactly happened."

As Ye Sibei and Qin Nan rushed to Zhao Chuchu's home, Ye Nianwen arrived first. He sat by the roadside outside her house, constantly rehearsing the questions he would ask her when they met.

The wait felt unbearably long, reminiscent of the day he had confessed his feelings to her years ago.

That day, he had woken at five in the morning, carefully styled his hair with gel, sneaked past Huang Guifen's watchful eyes, and quietly left home. He had waited right here—until the girl emerged from the courtyard, backpack slung over her shoulder, bidding her parents goodbye before skipping down the steps.

The spot where he now sat was exactly where Zhao Chuchu had stood that day. He remembered it so clearly, not a single detail forgotten.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally saw a taxi pull up. Zhao Chuchu stepped out, exhaustion evident in her movements.

Then she noticed the young man sitting under the streetlight, his gaze lifted toward her, eyes glistening with accusation and hostility.

Zhao Chuchu closed the car door. Ye Nianwen stood up.

She paused briefly, as if anticipating something, then shut the door firmly and remained where she was, watching him.

The taxi drove off into the distance, leaving the rain-drenched street empty and silent.

Zhao Chuchu smiled faintly. "You came?"

"What lie?" Ye Nianwen's voice was hoarse.

Zhao Chuchu remained composed. "What lie are you talking about?"

"In court," Ye Nianwen struggled to control his emotions, "you lied in court!"

Zhao Chuchu said nothing, her eyes scanning him calmly. "Take out your phone and recorder."

Ye Nianwen stared at her in disbelief. She met his gaze steadily. "I know you. Take them out."

"What kind of person do you think I am?!"

Ye Nianwen lunged forward, grabbing her collar and lifting her slightly. "No need to take anything out," he hissed, glaring at her. "I'm grabbing your collar, threatening a witness—even if you recorded this, it wouldn't count. Are you satisfied now?!"

Zhao Chuchu didn't resist. She watched his outburst, her eyes reddening slightly. "Satisfied."

With that, she pulled his hand away. "Let's go inside. This isn't the place to talk."

She turned and climbed the steps. After a moment, Ye Nianwen followed her upstairs.

Zhao Chuchu's home was a two-story self-built house. She led him inside, greeted her parents briefly, and headed to her room on the second floor.

Once inside, she set down her bag and wearily gestured to Ye Nianwen. "Take off your coat, empty your pockets, and hand over your phone."

Ye Nianwen took a deep breath, yanked off his coat and threw it to the floor, then dumped the contents of his pockets onto the table with a loud clatter.

Zhao Chuchu poured herself a glass of warm water from a small thermos on the table. After drinking, she seemed slightly calmer. Before she could speak, her phone rang. Her father's voice came through: "Chuchu, Ye Sibei and Qin Nan are asking where you are. What should I tell them?"

"Let them come up," she replied softly. "It's fine."

After hanging up, she stood with her back to Ye Nianwen, steadying herself before speaking quietly. "Ask whatever you want."

Ye Nianwen hesitated, his thoughts in disarray. Finally, he managed to voice the most pressing question: "Why did you lie?"

Zhao Chuchu lowered her head without hesitation. "In court, apart from the matter of the condom, I didn't lie about anything else."

Just then, Ye Sibei and Qin Nan reached the second floor and paused outside Zhao Chuchu's door.Zhao Chuchu and Ye Nianwen had left the door open when they heard noises outside. They looked up to see Ye Sibei standing there. Zhao Chuchu met her gaze with calm composure. "I lied," she said.

Ye Sibei watched as Zhao Chuchu spoke wearily: "That night, Zheng Qiang kept pressuring people to drink. He had an incredible alcohol tolerance. After keeping up for a while, I couldn't handle it anymore. Fan Jiancheng suggested I use taking care of Sister Ye as an excuse to leave with her and avoid more drinking. That's why I trusted him so much back then—I genuinely thought he was a good person."

"Actually, after you threw up that night, you recovered quite well. You weren't much different from usual—just emotionally unstable, talking more, but still fully aware of people and able to hold conversations." Zhao Chuchu leaned against the table, turning to face Ye Sibei. It was clear she was speaking directly to her. "After you left, we chatted. You asked me why life had to be so hard. I told you that suffering has its limits, and all we can do is keep moving forward."

"I remember."

Ye Sibei didn't deny it. Zhao Chuchu lowered her eyes. "I asked you to call me when you got home. I was exhausted when I returned, so I set an alarm for an hour later and fell asleep immediately. When I woke up, I saw your message saying you'd arrived home. I didn't think much of it and went back to sleep."

"Show me the message."

Ye Nianwen stood abruptly, reaching out urgently.

Zhao Chuchu pulled out her phone, scrolled through her WeChat history, and handed it to Ye Nianwen.

The timestamp read 00:07 on April 9th. The message from Ye Sibei contained her home address with a single line: "I'm home."

Ye Nianwen stared blankly at the screen. Qin Nan stepped forward to look as well, then pulled out Ye Sibei's phone from his pocket. He entered the passcode, opened WeChat with practiced ease, and searched for that day's records.

There were none.

"It must have been Fan Jiancheng..." Ye Nianwen muttered, gripping the phone tightly. "He drove my sister to the neighborhood entrance, used her phone to send that message, then deleted it. The call too—he made it and deleted it! By midnight, my sister was already unconscious."

"I'll give this message to the police."

Zhao Chuchu kept her gaze down. "At first, I decided I'd just say whatever Sister Ye said. If she claimed she was unconscious, then she was unconscious."

"Then why change your story? Why mention the condom if you didn't tell my sister about it?" Ye Nianwen refused to believe her, his eyes burning into Zhao Chuchu. "You're lying! You must be lying!"

"I keep having this dream lately," Zhao Chuchu ignored Ye Nianwen, speaking only to Ye Sibei—the only person here who might understand. "We're trapped in a cage together. People outside poke at us with sticks and knives, forcing me to bite you and you to bite me. They say we're both sinners, that we made mistakes and deserve this punishment."

Her expression grew distant. Ye Sibei studied her exhausted features.

Though not a victim of this particular incident, Zhao Chuchu had cut her hair short, scrubbed her nails clean, and now wore long sleeves and pants with no makeup—just like Ye Sibei.

"I keep wondering what I did wrong. Maybe I shouldn't have taken that sales job, shouldn't have gone to those drinking parties. I should've called my family, shouldn't have left you behind. Every day I ask myself—why did I do those things?"

"Why did I trust strangers? Why was I too scared to call my family? Why did I take that sales job just to earn more money? Why did I leave you in that car? Why couldn't I hold on until the end?"

"How could I be so terrible?"

Tears welled in Zhao Chuchu's eyes. "But I don't have the courage to be a good person. It's too hard to be good in this world. I just... can't do it.""I'm selfish, I indulge, I'm utterly devoid of conscience," Zhao Chuchu lowered her head, "but at least this way I can live a little better. Everyone does it, so I might as well too."

"So," Ye Sibei looked into her eyes, "that night, I shouldn't have been conscious."

Zhao Chuchu nodded: "You didn't drink much. When we parted, you were just tipsy, excited."

"Why didn't you think I was lying?"

Ye Sibei countered. Zhao Chuchu spoke, and Ye Sibei understood, simply saying, "Thank you."

Zhao Chuchu turned her head away, holding back tears, not daring to look at Ye Sibei. After a moment's thought, Ye Sibei asked, "Some things—if you don't say them now, do you plan to never say them in this lifetime?"

Zhao Chuchu stiffened. After a long pause, she replied in a rigid voice, "I'm sorry."

Ye Sibei understood her meaning and nodded, then turned to Ye Nianwen beside her: "Let's go."

"But we should clarify—"

"No need." Ye Sibei cut Ye Nianwen off. "Let's just leave it at that. Let's go."

With that, Ye Sibei gently took Qin Nan's hand and prepared to leave. But before stepping away, she glanced back at Zhao Chuchu, who was leaning against the table, hugging herself with her head bowed.

"Chuchu," her voice was soft. Zhao Chuchu looked up blankly. Ye Sibei gazed at her, her expression reminiscent of years past—like an elder sister returning during a holiday to offer guidance. She looked at Zhao Chuchu and gently told her, "You're not a bad person. And never become one."

Tears streamed from Zhao Chuchu's eyes. Ye Sibei explained, "In court, I can request a closed hearing. Not many people will know. Of course, I do have my own selfish reasons. You've considered too much already—don't take it to heart."

Zhao Chuchu stared at Ye Sibei in a daze. Ye Sibei smiled slightly. "Goodbye."

She gave Zhao Chuchu a slight nod in farewell, then turned and led Qin Nan downstairs. Ye Nianwen gathered their things, unable to stay a moment longer, and hurried after Ye Sibei.

Zhao Chuchu stood frozen for a moment before suddenly realizing something. She rushed down the stairs in a panic, chasing after Ye Sibei out the door.

"Sis! Sis!"

She dashed into the courtyard and grabbed Ye Sibei's hand. "Don't pursue this anymore."

She looked at her through tears, her eyes brimming with pleading as she gasped for breath. "I'll give you money—all my savings. Go to the provincial capital, take the civil service exam, buy an apartment, live a good life. Just don't pursue this anymore."

She clutched Ye Sibei's hand desperately, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry... I wronged you... I'm sorry... It's too hard, sis. Just let it go..."

Ye Sibei looked at her, her own eyes slightly red. She reached out and patted Zhao Chuchu's shoulder.

"I understand," Ye Sibei reassured her. "I don't blame you. I know, no matter what, you never meant harm. Don't overthink it. Just live well from now on."

As she spoke, Ye Sibei tried to pull her hand away, but Zhao Chuchu clung to her, weeping and refusing to let go. Seeing the situation, the Zhao family stepped forward, pulling Zhao Chuchu back and apologizing to Ye Sibei: "We're so sorry. Chuchu hasn't been emotionally stable lately..."

"Take good care of her," Ye Sibei instructed the Zhao parents. "Give her time to recover."

The couple nodded repeatedly, thanking her profusely.

Finally free, Ye Sibei walked away calmly, listening to Zhao Chuchu's cries behind her.

And as Zhao Chuchu watched her retreating figure, in that moment, she understood clearly.She set up a boundary to trap them in a cage, forcing them to turn on each other, but the person opposite her did not abide by the rules of this boundary.

Some wielded blades against the weak to survive, while others fought against the boundary, covered in wounds.

Zhao Chuchu was pulled along by her parents, watching as Ye Sibei walked away. In the end, her knees gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, wailing in despair.

Ye Sibei, Qin Nan, and Ye Nianwen walked out together. Finally, Nianwen couldn't hold back his question: "Why didn't you press further?"

Ye Sibei turned to look at him. Nianwen stared at her intently: "She lied. She had something to say. She claimed you committed perjury, and you just believed her? If she was prepared to lie under oath, why didn't she discuss coordinating testimony with you? Why didn't she tell me?"

"She lied," Nianwen insisted stubbornly. "She harmed you. This case shouldn't have been lost."

"The one who harmed me," Ye Sibei said clearly, "was Fan Jiancheng."

"She was the key witness!" Nianwen shouted. "If she didn't testify for you, what does it matter even if you know Fan Jiancheng is the one who harmed you?"

"I'm sorry."

Ye Sibei spoke, and Nianwen was momentarily stunned. She looked at him: "I've held you all back."

Nianwen couldn't respond immediately, flustered: "Sis, I didn't mean..."

"Everyone has already sacrificed too much," Ye Sibei lowered her head. "Let's just end it here."

Nianwen froze. Ye Sibei's expression was calm: "From the beginning, I shouldn't have chosen this path. Look, Chu Chu almost committed perjury for me, and the family has been torn apart like this. The Fan family is powerful and well-established—we can't keep fighting endlessly. I've already gained so much from this ordeal. Now I have Qin Nan," she glanced at Qin Nan with a faint smile before turning back to Nianwen, "and I have you, my family. Knowing you all care for me gives me the courage to face many things in life."

"I don't want to pursue this anymore. I'm tired."

Ye Sibei tilted her head up, smiling at Nianwen: "I plan to go to the provincial capital, find a job, and live well there. Don't worry—we'll all move forward."

"Sis..." Nianwen felt an inexplicable unease, a flicker of fear. "We can appeal."

"No more."

Ye Sibei shook her head. "It's too exhausting, and too many people are involved. I've had enough."

Nianwen couldn't argue. He stared blankly at her. Ye Sibei checked the time: "Alright, let's go home for dinner. Should your brother-in-law and I see you off, or will you go back yourself?"

"You... you're not coming home for dinner?"

Ye Sibei redirected the question, and Nianwen couldn't press further.

She shook her head. "No, it's too late. I'll just make some noodles at home."

Nianwen nodded. "Then I'll go back on my own."

"Mm," Ye Sibei acknowledged. "I won't see you off. I'll head out first."

With that, she and Qin Nan walked away together.

Nianwen watched them leave, get into their car. Only then did he let his guard down completely. He stood rooted to the spot for a long time before finally turning to glance in the direction of the Zhao residence.

Ye Sibei and Qin Nan reached their car side by side. Along the way, Qin Nan held her hand tightly.

They both got into the car. As Ye Sibei fastened her seatbelt, Qin Nan rested one hand on the steering wheel, gazing at the streetlights through the fine rain ahead. After a moment of thought, he finally asked: "Really not appealing?"

"No more."

"Are you at peace with that?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Ye Sibei leaned her head against the window, eyes closed, her expression indifferent.

"But we've come this far..."

"Exactly—we've come this far," Ye Sibei murmured, slowly opening her eyes to look at him. "Aren't you tired?"

Qin Nan said nothing. After a pause, Ye Sibei reached out and gently covered his hand resting on the gearshift. "I've gained so much from this journey. I think the outcome is already good enough. This matter will pass. Stay with me, and we'll walk through it together."Qin Nan looked up at her, and Ye Sibei spoke as if coaxing a child: "Life is a long road, you know?"

"Alright," Qin Nan finally nodded, his voice hoarse. "No matter where you go, I'll be with you."

"You like me that much?"

Ye Sibei raised an eyebrow, then laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "Fine, with those words, I think it's enough."

With that, she let go of his hand and leaned back against the car window. "Let's go home. I'm tired."

Qin Nan lowered his head, hesitating before he couldn't help but ask, "But if we can't find the right path, don't you think—"

Ye Sibei closed her eyes, as if already asleep.

Qin Nan thought for a moment but didn't continue.

He started the car, released the handbrake, and gently pulled out of the parking spot, careful not to disturb the lightly sleeping girl.

But the one who seemed to be lightly sleeping was actually running through countless scenarios in her mind.

She couldn't act immediately—revenge would quickly draw the police's attention.

Their physical differences were too great; brute force could easily backfire.

She needed to map out his routines, preferably making it look like a random incident.

...

As she pondered these thoughts, her mind remained eerily calm.

Did he understand?

Ye Sibei slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the bustling streets filled with traffic and shimmering lights.

If this world wouldn't give her what she wanted, she'd take it for herself.