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Ever since that day when she was touched by the song "Daughter of Heaven" at "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision," Rui Xiaodan seemed to have been bewitched.

That voice, which reached the depths of her soul, was like a seed planted in her heart, which took root and sprouted wildly, growing into an undeniable longing.

She wasn't seeking extravagant material enjoyment, but rather the pure, extreme auditory shock that touched upon a realm in her spiritual world that she herself had never clearly recognized.

This intense desire even overwhelmed her reason and discipline as a criminal investigator.

For the next week, Rui Xiaodan was driven by an almost obsessive impulse.

During her breaks from patrol duty, she drove her conspicuous police car and searched almost every place in the old city that might sell or have access to high-end audio equipment...

She tried to find out about everything, from the electronics departments of several large state-owned department stores to secondhand electronics shops hidden deep in alleys and known only to insiders, and even some trading companies that might be agents for imported brands.

She described to the shop owner and knowledgeable people over and over what she heard at "Ningjing Zhiyuan" that it was not loud, but very real and very clear, as if the singer was breathing right in front of you!

"The bass is deep and clear, and the treble is bright but not harsh..."

However, the responses were mostly blank shakes of the head, or dismissive recommendations for expensive but poorly performing ordinary brand audio equipment.

Some people even thought that this pretty policewoman was a bit "obsessed"—was it really worth going to such lengths just to hear a sound?
Time and time again, we set off full of hope, only to return disappointed time and time again.

The huge psychological gap and the anxiety of not getting what she wanted made her even more persistent.

Sometimes, while on patrol, she would instinctively stop to listen to music coming from a shop to judge the sound quality, which caused her to deviate from her planned route several times, and her reactions seemed somewhat absent-minded.

This unusual behavior quickly caught the team's attention.

First, a colleague kindly reminded her: "Xiao Dan, what's wrong with you these past few days? You're always running around outside, and you seem distracted."

Then came the captain's stern address: "Comrade Rui Xiaodan, recently some members of the public have reported frequently seeing our police cars parked in front of the electronics store. You are a people's police officer; you must be mindful of your image! You cannot slack off in your duties!"

But at that time, Rui Xiaodan seemed to be caught in a vortex of obsession, and she could hardly listen to the reminders from the outside world.

During a crucial surveillance mission, she nearly missed the best opportunity to encircle the enemy because she took a detour to a newly opened audio equipment store.

Although the mission was ultimately accomplished, this blatant violation of discipline can no longer be ignored.

The team has taken this matter seriously.

A strongly worded notice of criticism was posted on the bulletin board, pointing out that Comrade Rui Xiaodan had recently been lax in her work attitude and misused official vehicles, especially neglecting official duties for personal reasons during the performance of her duties, which had caused a negative impact. She was given an administrative demerit and was required to make a profound self-criticism at a meeting of all officers.

The moment the disciplinary decision was announced, Rui Xiaodan stood in the familiar conference room, listening to the leader read out the punishment opinion, her face burning with embarrassment.

Shame, grievance, but more than anything, a sense of bewilderment that is hard to put into words.

She paid a real price in pursuit of a vague and elusive "voice".

Only then did she seem to awaken slightly from a fever and realize how irrational and absurd her behavior had been over the past week.

However, will that yearning for the ultimate sound really disappear because of this?

Perhaps it was just temporarily suppressed by the cold water of reality, and buried even deeper.

And the one who started all of this...

The restaurant named "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision" and its owner, Su Ning, were thus shrouded in an even more complex and mysterious veil in Rui Xiaodan's mind.

……

Time flies, and the ivy on the ancient city wall turns green and then yellow. Before he knew it, Ding Yuanying had been lying low in this small town for a year.

During that year, he lived a secluded life, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, causing almost no ripples.

Even Rui Xiaodan, who was entrusted by her friend Xiao Yawen to take care of him, almost forgot about him because of their busy lives and Ding Yuanying's almost "isolated" low profile.

One sweltering afternoon, Rui Xiaodan received a call from her landlord.

The landlord complained somewhat discontentedly, saying that the tenant on the top floor was the Mr. Ding who was introduced by Rui Xiaodan a year ago. His rent was due almost half a month ago, but he had neither mentioned renewing the lease nor moving out, and he could not be reached by phone. So he had to come to Rui Xiaodan to ask about the situation.

Rui Xiaodan then suddenly remembered that there was a person named Ding Yuanying in the ancient city.

After hanging up the phone, a pang of guilt swept through her heart. Xiao Yawen's words of advice still echoed in her ears, yet she had ignored him for a year.

Out of a sense of responsibility and a touch of curiosity, she decided to go to Ding Yuanying's residence herself.

Ding Yuanying rented a room on the top floor of an old-fashioned residential building without an elevator.

Rui Xiaodan walked up the narrow, mottled stairs step by step. The higher she went, the stronger the sense of stuffiness mixed with the old smell and the afternoon heat became.

After knocking on the peeling wooden door, it took quite a while for it to be opened.

Behind the door, Ding Yuanying wore a faded old undershirt, his forehead beaded with sweat, and his face held its usual calm, devoid of emotion.

There was no air conditioning in the room, and probably not even a fan. The heat wave, along with the distinctive smell of books and paper, hit her in the face, making Rui Xiaodan, who had just come in from outside, feel suffocated.

"Miss Rui?" Ding Yuanying seemed a little surprised by her arrival, but still stepped aside to make way for her in the doorway.

Rui Xiaodan stepped into the top-floor room, and the scene before her eyes shocked her.

The room was extremely simple, almost bare.

Apart from a wooden bed, an old desk piled high with books and manuscripts, two chairs, and a few conspicuous cardboard boxes for storing records in the corner, there was nothing else of value.

Because of the sun and rain on the top floor, the walls have peeled in some places, revealing the gray base underneath.

The worst part was the heat. The west-facing sun beat down on the roof without any shade, making the whole room feel like a steamer, and even the air was scalding hot.

She found it hard to imagine how someone, especially someone who was supposedly very knowledgeable and had worked in Beijing's financial sector, could endure a whole year in such an environment, especially the unbearable summer that had just passed.

“Mr. Ding, the landlord said the rent is due, so I came to check on things.” Rui Xiaodan tried to make her tone sound natural. “It’s so hot here…why didn’t you install an air conditioner?”

Ding Yuanying picked up an old palm-leaf fan from the table and fanned himself slowly, his tone as calm as if he were talking about someone else: "A calm mind brings coolness. You get used to it, it's alright."

Looking at his sweat-soaked back and then at his living conditions, which were comparable to those of an ascetic, Rui Xiaodan felt a pang of unease.

A mixture of sympathy, guilt, and confusion welled up inside me.

The person Xiao Yawen asked her to take care of was actually living such a life right under her nose.

"How can this be!" Rui Xiaodan's tone became resolute. "This house is in terrible condition. It's unbearably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. Mr. Ding, let me find you another place to stay. I know a few neighborhoods with nice surroundings and reasonable rents, at least they'll be more comfortable."

She looked at Ding Yuanying with sincere eyes.

She couldn't bear to watch someone, especially someone her father had entrusted to her, continue living in such a place.

This goes beyond simple "care" and touches upon her basic kindness and compassion.

……

After witnessing the astonishing sound system of "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision," the fire in Rui Xiaodan's heart was not extinguished by the punishment, but instead burned even brighter.

She was determined to recreate that soul-stirring sound in her own home, no matter what.

She found out that the most knowledgeable person about audio equipment in the ancient city was a young man named Ye Xiaoming, who ran a small Hi-Fi audio shop on an inconspicuous street, so she went directly to his shop.

Ye Xiaoming's shop is filled with all kinds of audio parts and equipment, which looks a bit messy, but he himself exudes the focused energy of a tech geek.

When Rui Xiaodan described the sound effects she heard at "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision," Ye Xiaoming initially thought it was just another audiophile with too much money to burn exaggerating.

It wasn't until Rui Xiaodan confidently described how the voice "made one's hair stand on end" and "as if the singer were right in front of them" that Ye Xiaoming gradually abandoned his contempt.

“Officer Rui,” Ye Xiaoming pushed up his glasses, looking troubled, “just from the description, I really can’t replicate it exactly. With audio equipment, even the slightest difference can lead to a huge discrepancy. Unless… I can see and hear that system with my own eyes.”

To achieve her wish, Rui Xiaodan used a little "connection" to persuade Su Ning to take Ye Xiaoming into "Ningjing Zhiyuan" during a non-business period.

When Ye Xiaoming stepped into that quiet space and his gaze fell on Suning's equipment, which had an unassuming appearance but whose every detail was unusual upon closer inspection, he was instantly frozen in place, as if he had been struck by a spell.

Immediately afterwards, he rushed over like a devout believer seeing a sacred object, completely forgetting Rui Xiaodan and the shop owner Su Ning beside him.

He first circled the amplifier and CD player, carefully running his fingers over the modified interfaces and components, making incredulous clicking sounds: "These capacitors...this wiring...this heat dissipation...weird! Absolutely weird!"

Then he squatted down in front of the speaker, trying to see the structure of the crossover, his eyes filled with fervor and awe.

"Mr. Su... could I... could I have a sample?" Ye Xiaoming's voice trembled with excitement.

Suning smiled slightly, nodded, and inserted a record.

When the first note sounded, Ye Xiaoming's expression changed from excitement to utter shock, followed by an almost obsessive fascination.

He closed his eyes, leaned forward slightly, and took in every detail, sometimes nodding, sometimes frowning in deep thought.

When the song ended, he let out a long breath, as if he had experienced a spiritual cleansing.

He turned around, his gaze towards Su Ning filled with undisguised admiration: "Boss Su, I, Ye Xiaoming, am quite well-known in the ancient city for my expertise in audio equipment, but today I am completely convinced! You're not just playing with audio equipment, you're creating art! This sound... it's beyond what money can measure."

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he slapped his thigh and said to Rui Xiaodan, "Officer Rui, I understand why you can't forget about it! But this system, let alone an exact replica, I can't even copy it! The ideas used and the understanding of the components are completely beyond the scope of the current market. Boss Su's methods are too brilliant!"

He looked around at the elegant "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision" environment, lowered his voice, and said to Rui Xiaodan with the excitement of having discovered a secret: "You've used this sound system as your signboard, it's brilliant! This isn't just playing music, it's screening customers! From now on, those who come here and can understand this sound, can they be ordinary people? They'll all be this kind of people!"

He quietly gave a thumbs-up, a gesture directed at those sophisticated and powerful upper-class individuals.

Ye Xiaoming's words were like a ray of light shining into Rui Xiaodan's heart. She looked again at the silent stereo system and the smiling Su Ning, and suddenly realized that this restaurant was completely different from what she had initially imagined.

It sells not just food, but also a symbol of a very high level of cultural taste and lifestyle.

And the depths of Suning, the company that created all of this, are even more difficult to fathom.

……

Standing in front of the "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision" sound system, Ye Xiaoming experienced a profound emotional upheaval, going from technical confidence to complete utter admiration.

He eventually had to admit to the hopeful Rui Xiaodan that, with his abilities and the resources he had access to, it was impossible for him to replicate a system that even had a similar effect.

"Officer Rui, you should just give up on that idea!" Ye Xiaoming shook his head, his tone carrying a sense of relief and helplessness after witnessing the pinnacle. "What Boss Su is doing isn't just about piling on materials; it's about a level of understanding, a level of sophistication. It's even technology that's ahead of its time. I can't understand or learn the intricacies involved. Because this is no longer about money."

The bubble of hope burst completely. Although Rui Xiaodan was disappointed, seeing Ye Xiaoming's convinced expression, she understood that she couldn't force it.

Just as she was about to take her leave, her gaze inadvertently swept over the exquisite wooden shelf next to the stereo, which was specifically used to store records.

On the neatly arranged vinyl record covers on the shelf, a familiar personal seal caught her eye—"Yuan Ying".

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively pulled out a record. Sure enough, the same red stamp was clearly stamped on the back cover or inside pages of every record.

“Boss Su, these records…” Rui Xiaodan looked at Su Ning in surprise.

Following her gaze, Su Ning calmly explained, "I acquired these from a Mr. Ding Yuanying. They are said to be his former collection."

“Ding Yuanying? He…why would he sell these records?” Rui Xiaodan was very surprised. She remembered Xiao Yawen saying that Ding Yuanying was a person who valued the spiritual world extremely much.

Su Ning's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible emotion, as if he were merely stating an objective fact: "From what I understand, Mr. Ding seems to be facing some financial difficulties lately. Selling his beloved possessions must be a last resort."

The word "embarrassment" pierced Rui Xiaodan's heart like a needle.

She suddenly remembered visiting Ding Yuanying's unbearably hot rooftop room, the sparsely furnished house, and the possible predicament hidden beneath his calm face.

It turns out that he not only lived in poor conditions, but was so desperate that he had to sell his treasured record collection!

A strong sense of guilt overwhelmed her instantly.

Xiao Yawen solemnly entrusted Ding Yuanying to her care, but due to her busy schedule and Ding Yuanying's own low-key nature, she almost forgot about it completely, leaving him to fend for himself in the ancient city, even to the point of having to sell his beloved possessions.

My so-called "care" was practically nonexistent.

Complex emotions surged within her...

There is sympathy for Ding Yuanying's situation, regret for one's own dereliction of duty, and a sobering realization after being exposed by reality.

She was silent for a moment, and when she looked up again, her eyes held a newfound determination.

She looked at Su Ning and said solemnly, "Mr. Su, thank you for telling me this. Ding Yuanying... is someone a friend of mine asked me to look after. I was negligent before."

After leaving "Ningjing Zhiyuan", Rui Xiaodan immediately dialed Ding Yuanying's number.

This time, her voice lacked the previous businesslike or curious probing tone, instead carrying genuine apology and concern:

"Mr. Ding, I'm Rui Xiaodan. Are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner."

She decided that this meal was not just a meal, but also a way to make up for her neglect and a new beginning to fulfill her promise to her friend.

She needed to get to know Ding Yuanying, who seemed calm as still water, in person, what kind of life he led in the ancient city and what kind of help he needed.

……

The ancient city is not large, and certain circles within it are well-informed.

After returning from "Ningjing Zhiyuan", Ye Xiaoming praised the amazing sound system and its owner, Su Ning, but what he talked about even more was Ding Yuanying, who sold his records to Su Ning.

In Ye Xiaoming's view, someone who can be recognized and acquired by a "superhuman" like Suning is definitely not an ordinary person.

During a drinking session with his friend Feng Shijie, Ye Xiaoming brought up the matter again.

Feng Shijie runs a car repair shop in the ancient city. He is a righteous man and has always had something important on his mind...

His hometown, Wangmiao Village, was a notoriously poor village in a poor county. Seeing his fellow villagers struggling to make ends meet, he always wanted to find a way out for his hometown, but he was frustrated by his lack of connections and knowledge.

Upon hearing Ye Xiaoming's description of Ding Yuanying, Feng Shijie's mind began to stir.

"Xiaoming, according to you, this Mr. Ding is truly a remarkable person?" Feng Shijie poured Ye Xiaoming a full glass of wine and asked tentatively.

“I can’t guarantee for sure whether he’s a master or not,” Ye Xiaoming said in a low voice, “but he’s definitely not simple! Think about it, someone who can make someone like Boss Su look at him differently and discuss audio technology with him so knowledgeably, can he be an ordinary person? Moreover, I heard that he used to work in finance and private equity funds in Beijing, so he’s seen a lot of things!”

These words were like a spark, igniting hope in Feng Shijie's heart.

After several twists and turns, he finally made initial contact with Ding Yuanying through Rui Xiaodan's introduction.

Although Ding Yuanying was aloof and didn't say much, the occasional snippets of conversation he uttered made Feng Shijie feel that he was unfathomable, which further solidified his thoughts.

……

Meanwhile, Rui Xiaodan kept her promise and treated Ding Yuanying to dinner at Ouyang Xue's "Yafengju".

This meal, which might have been just an ordinary banquet with a compensatory purpose, became a watershed moment in Rui Xiaodan's emotional world.

During the meal, Rui Xiaodan originally wanted to talk about life and express her apologies, but the topic was unknowingly led by Ding Yuanying to a broader field.

He started with criminal cases familiar to Rui Xiaodan to explore the cultural attributes behind human nature and law; from the economic status of the ancient city, he extended to the deeper logic of market rules and social changes.

His words are precise and his perspective unique; he can often peel back the layers of appearances and get straight to the heart of the matter in just a few words.

That extraordinary insight, the almost cruel rationality, and the profound wisdom hidden beneath her calm tone, were like a powerful force that deeply attracted Rui Xiaodan.

She sat opposite, listening and watching, and her heart was struck by something she had never experienced before.

She had met all sorts of people, but she had never encountered a man with such profound thoughts.

A mixture of admiration, curiosity, and some indescribable attraction to wisdom itself quietly grew and spread in her heart.

Her gaze towards Ding Yuanying unconsciously became more focused, even...

A subtle, almost imperceptible admiration.

All of this was observed by the shrewd Ouyang Xue.

As Rui Xiaodan's best friend for many years, she knows Rui Xiaodan very well.

When had Rui Xiaodan ever looked at a man with such an almost "worshipful" gaze?
Especially men like Ding Yuanying, who are older, plainly dressed, and even somewhat down on their luck.

A protective instinct and a sense of indignation, as if "a cabbage is about to be eaten by a pig," instantly rose in Ouyang Xue's heart.

Furthermore, Ouyang Xue felt that Ding Yuanying was disrespectful by selling his records rather than asking Rui Xiaodan for help, and she could no longer suppress her anger.

She couldn't just stand by and watch her friend get caught up in it.

Suddenly, Ouyang Xue joined the conversation, her tone shifting sharply and aggressively.

She stopped talking about romance and everyday matters, and instead began to deliberately make things difficult for Ding Yuanying, with each question more realistic and more cutting than the last:
“Mr. Ding, Xiao Dan says you are very learned. But knowledge can’t put food on the table. Look at your age, you have to have some practical plans, right? You can’t keep living by selling things, can you?”

“You say you understand economics, so why don’t you plan ahead for yourself? How can you make money in this ancient city? Let us learn from you.”

"I heard you used to be successful in Beijing and abroad, so why did you decide to stay in this small, ancient city? Is it... that you've encountered some difficulties?"

Ouyang Xue's intention was clear: to tear off Ding Yuanying's veil of "expertise" and expose his true colors of embarrassment or hypocrisy, so that Rui Xiaodan could come to her senses.

Faced with this barrage of provocative attacks, Ding Yuanying initially just drank silently, his eyes calm, seemingly too lazy to argue.

Given his usual personality, he could have easily ignored it or ended this tedious test with a few indifferent words.

However, just as he was about to give a perfunctory answer, his gaze inadvertently swept over Rui Xiaodan across from him.

He saw that her clear eyes were now filled with complex emotions...

There was dissatisfaction and anxiety about Ouyang Xue's difficult behavior, but deeper down, there was a strong expectation that she herself might not even be aware of.

She was waiting for him to retaliate, for him to demonstrate his wisdom, and for him to prove himself worthy of the budding admiration in her heart.

That gaze, like an invisible whip, lashed at Yuan Ying's heart, which had long been accustomed to being closed off and alienated.

He had originally decided to live a low-key, secluded life in the ancient city, keeping a low profile.

But at this moment, driven by Rui Xiaodan's expectant gaze, he went against his usual wishes.

He put down his wine glass, raised his eyes to meet Ouyang Xue's provocative gaze, a faint, almost helpless smile curving his lips, and then began his response in his unique, calm yet penetrating voice...

What was originally an ordinary dinner party instantly turned into a battleground for wisdom and sharp wit.

And Rui Xiaodan's heart, in this confrontation, leaned further toward that unfathomable man.

...(End of chapter)