Seeing that Guan Xia completely disbelieved her words, Lin Jinnan wasn't angry either. She just looked at her with a half-smile, shrugged, and said indifferently, "Believe it or not, I've already told you the truth. Alright, I've answered your question, so now it's your turn to answer mine."
Without waiting for Guan Xia to speak, Lin Jinnan leaned forward, staring intently at Guan Xia, and asked impatiently, "We have always acted with extreme caution and discretion. I believe we left no obvious traces or clues. How on earth did you discover us, and even manage to pinpoint Wu Xingxian, Lijia Village, and even the seemingly unrelated rainy night murder case in Yongquan City? I've been thinking about it the entire time we were on the run, but I still can't figure out where exactly we slipped up."
Faced with Lin Jinnan's question, Guan Xia didn't answer, merely offering a smile devoid of any particular meaning.
Why did they lose? Of course, they lost to the system. Whether it was the Zhang Weiyan case, which first revealed the existence of the criminal organization, or the impostor Wu Yingze, which raised major red flags and led them to Wu Xingxian, the system had played a huge role. After all, it could see through appearances and strike at the core.
Even though the pieces weren't initially connected, investigating them one by one eventually allowed everything to be pieced together like a complete puzzle.
However, there was no need, nor was it possible, to explain all this to Lin Jinnan. So, Guan Xia quickly gathered her thoughts and retorted sarcastically, "I ask about one thing, and you answer about another. Being so uncooperative, and yet you still want me to answer your question?"
Lin Jinnan's puzzled expression instantly changed, her gaze once again filled with hatred as she looked at Guan Xia. "I answered, and even provided an extra piece of information. It seems to me that you're the one trying to mess with me."
Guan Xia sneered, "I asked you about the orphanage, and you answered with Meng Lan. Who's messing with whom?"
Guan Xia had long known that Lin Jinnan wouldn't confess obediently. Given any opportunity, she would definitely play tricks. So, her evasion and deliberate mention of Meng Lan didn't surprise Guan Xia, though it inevitably caused some irritation.
Seeing Guan Xia's cold, glaring expression, Lin Jinnan instead smiled. She leaned back in her chair again and said calmly, "I indeed still prefer it when you show this kind of aggressive side. If you had been like this back in the orphanage days, perhaps we could have even become family."
Guan Xia frowned at her, increasingly convinced she was a pervert. What family? The kind of family like Yao Qingyan, whom they used as a blade?
Guan Xia couldn't be bothered to engage in this war of words. She just glared and said, "If you keep spouting this nonsense, then there's no need for us to continue talking."
Perhaps genuinely wanting to know how Guan Xia had detected them, Lin Jinnan, though still very reluctant to cooperate, began to reveal a bit of truth, albeit evasively.
Lin Jinnan stopped looking at Guan Xia and instead stared at her own slender fingers, as if suddenly discovering their beauty. She turned them over and over, examining them endlessly, while speaking, "Although you may not believe it, I truly wasn't lying. The children from the orphanage whom we developed into organization members were indeed contacted through a network. What I said about them participating to change others' lives and change the world is also true. After all, I also came from that orphanage. Whether you admit it or not, we can all be considered brothers and sisters. As an older sister, how could I harm those equally pitiful children? So, Yao Qingyan and others are blades, but those children are not. If we're talking about participation, at most they discover targets and initiate missions."
Lin Jinnan spoke vaguely, forcing Guan Xia to frown and press further, "What do you mean by 'discover targets, initiate missions'? Are they doing things similar to what Feng Xingping and Wang Huiqin did?"
"No, no, no," Lin Jinnan shook a finger, smiling as she said, "I consider myself a good person, of course I want to take care of those brothers and sisters. How could I let them do such tedious things that are highly likely to attract police attention? As my brothers and sisters, they should naturally live the easiest lives while doing the most important and meaningful work. You probably can't imagine it, but they actually all have their own jobs. They might be inconspicuous receptionists, managers at a company, or even entrepreneurs who have become bosses. But no matter which stratum of society they are in, without exception, they always encounter or witness injustices. Just like you, Officer Guan, you've encountered them too. Although you might not care, for others, it often brings resentment and a sense of injustice."
Lin Jinnan began to toy with her fingers again, speaking nonchalantly, "Take Meng Lan, for example. Being abandoned by her biological parents and then being sold by them for their own gain was an injustice. Being targeted by that manager, what's his name... Luo, from the construction company, was also an injustice. Wasn't Meng Lan driven to the point of attempting suicide? If I hadn't had people watching her all along, do you really think she would have survived until you found her again? In a way, I can be considered her benefactor. And do you think that Luo guy just gave up? If I hadn't sent Yao Qingyan to threaten his son, why would he have let go of meat already in his mouth?"
Guan Xia wasn't shocked, just felt a sense of realization, like a stone finally landing. They had long suspected that the kidnapping of Luo Deye's son was related to the organization. So it was true.
Guan Xia instinctively asked further, "For all the people from the orphanage you targeted, did you have people watching them?"
Lin Jinnan resumed her casual demeanor, replying offhandedly, "Most of them. After all, they are people I have high hopes for. If they were to accidentally die, I would feel somewhat sorry."
Only now did Guan Xia realize that although Lin Jinnan's crimes were similarly numerous and equally too many to record, she was ultimately different from Wu Yang. She was, after all, still human. Although she also despised the law and trampled on life, she at least retained a tiny shred of human compassion for the vulnerable.
This time, Guan Xia didn't show any sarcastic expression, just listened quietly.
Lin Jinnan continued, "Actually, my initial plan was for Yao Qingyan to deal with Meng Lan's parents and that brother of hers. Who knew this girl would be so desperate, nearly going down together with all three of them. Although Yao Qingyan made a wasted trip that day, I was very pleased. I hadn't seen a child with such resilience and courage in a long time. I truly had high hopes for her. I even thought that perhaps before long, Wu and I could have another person by our side, working together to promote our ideals. But what disappointed me was, I waited and waited, but never received word that she had opened that website. I was also very angry. This child had courage, but more often than not was still too timid. Her persistent refusal to open that website meant she wasn't yet worthy of becoming one of us."
Guan Xia very much wanted to ask what that website actually was, but she feared derailing the topic and causing Lin Jinnan's hard-won opportunity to open up to close again. She could only restrain herself and continue listening.
Lin Jinnan said, "Although I was disappointed in her, I still held onto hope. I was looking forward to her complete transformation, and I even went so far as to mention her in front of Boss Wu, just to give her a push. But what disappointed me even more was that after that incident where she almost went down with everyone, she seemed to revert back, blending into the crowd once again. I waited patiently for almost two years, but never saw her change again. Gradually, I lost interest and stopped paying much attention to her."
Guan Xia's heart stirred upon hearing this. She quickly calculated the time. Almost two years... it had been about two years since she and Meng Lan parted ways. So, it seemed the time when Lin Jinnan lost interest in Meng Lan and stopped watching her coincided precisely with the time when Guan Xia persistently sought out Meng Lan and they re-established contact.
Looking at it this way, Guan Xia and Meng Lan were truly lucky. If they had connected even a little earlier, or if Lin Jinnan had remained interested in Meng Lan for just a bit longer, then Guan Xia would have entered Lin Jinnan's field of vision much sooner than she did.
In that case, their investigative path would have been far more difficult. They might have been eliminated, caught completely off guard and knowing little, as soon as they discovered the organization.
Thinking this, Guan Xia felt immensely relieved. Fearing her expression might betray her, she used all her strength to maintain a serious face.
Guan Xia deliberately waited a few seconds. Seeing that Lin Jinnan showed no intention of continuing, she pressed further, "What would have happened if Meng Lan had opened that website?"
Lin Jinnan smiled and said, "Naturally, she would have joined our big family. Just like the other children who left the orphanage, she would have sent us reports of injustices she saw or heard around her through that website. Upon receiving them, we would naturally send someone to verify. If true, we would handle it—settling scores, repaying grievances—just like the Zhang Weiyan case you investigated."
Guan Xia's eyes widened. "So, they would have unknowingly become accomplices of your organization."
Lin Jinnan smiled again. "How could it be unknowing? They're not fools. They made contact with our people, took that slip of paper, opened that website, and on top of that, had their own grievances resolved by us. Even if they weren't particularly clever, the moment they started sending us reports of injustices around them, they would know they were becoming one of us, working to change this world."
Guan Xia stood there, stunned. Many previously inexplicable points now made sense.
No wonder Yao Qingyan and Wang Huiqin were at the scene the day of the gas leak at Meng Lan's home, where she almost died with her parents and brother. One was responsible for keeping an eye on Meng Lan, and the other was responsible for clearing away her troubles, all to recruit her.
Meng Lan probably sensed this. That's why she didn't wait for Yao Qingyan to act, but instead took the initiative, solving her own problem in a drastic, all-or-nothing manner. This was also why she dared not open that website.
Guan Xia also guessed that the reason Meng Lan hadn't contacted her for nearly two years was because she sensed the danger—too scared and afraid. And the reason they later reconnected was naturally because Meng Lan felt the surveillance on her had relaxed.
So, the subsequent evasiveness and pretending everything was fine were Meng Lan's attempts to avoid implicating her. It was only after learning that Guan Xia had many new friends, and that they were all police officers, that Meng Lan dared to reveal everything she knew was amiss.
Guan Xia couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Meng Lan was truly bold and clever, and also an excellent actress. She had been dealing with dangerous criminals like Lin Jinnan and Wu Yang, all without Guan Xia's knowledge. If her act had been even slightly less convincing, Meng Lan, Pang Le, and Xu Nian would have been in danger.
However, one thing puzzled Guan Xia: since Meng Lan knew something was off about Wu Yang and Lin Jinnan, why didn't she just tell her directly?
As soon as this thought crossed her mind, Guan Xia paused. No, that wasn't right. Meng Lan had actually hinted at it. During the few times they met in those six months, Meng Lan had repeatedly brought up Wu Yang in their conversations. Guan Xia vaguely remembered Meng Lan also mentioning a secretary around Wu Yang.
Thinking further, Guan Xia recalled another detail. She remembered Meng Lan telling her that Wu Yang had seen the portrait of her hanging in the orphanage training center's corridor and had expressed great admiration for her.
Perhaps Meng Lan was worried that Wu Yang and Lin Jinnan would set their sights on Guan Xia, hence the desperate hints. Or perhaps she was worried that Guan Xia was too straightforward and a poor actress, likely to give herself away in front of Wu Yang and Lin Jinnan, so she only hinted instead of speaking plainly. Or maybe Meng Lan only had a feeling something was wrong without concrete evidence, so she merely suggested it.
Recalling all the details of their reunion, although Guan Xia speculated on many possibilities, she couldn't be sure which was true. In the end, she would have to wait until she returned to Yongquan City to confirm it with Meng Lan.
Guan Xia was already eager to return home. With this added reason, she wished she could fly back tonight.
