I'll wait for you amidst the romance of nature.

This was the first time in my life I had been detained in a police station. Looking at that cold-colored light, my heart was filled with anxiety and helpless panic. I wanted to smoke a cigarette to relieve the pain, but even the freedom to smoke was taken away.

I can only passively wait for the hospital to issue a medical report. If it is a minor injury, it may only involve medical expenses. But if it is a more serious injury or a minor injury, then the matter will be complicated. The worst outcome would be several years in prison, or even longer.

My life had already been difficult enough, and I really couldn't bear this consequence. The immense psychological pressure caused my brain to explode with pain.

I don't know how much time passed before the door opened again. It was the same police officer who had interrogated me earlier. He threw a medical report in front of me and said, "The medical report is in. It's a minor injury. Your friend is currently communicating with the victim. It's still in the police investigation stage; it hasn't been submitted to the procuratorate yet. If you can reach a settlement and pay the full amount owed, the matter will be over. If it's transferred to the procuratorate, things will get complicated. Even if you get the victim's forgiveness, you'll still be sentenced, but you can get a suspended sentence… Think about it, even with a suspended sentence, your status has changed… Therefore, I suggest you try to reach a settlement with the victim during the police investigation stage."

I wiped my face hard with my hand. I had a million things I wanted to say, but when the words actually reached my lips, they seemed so pale, so I simply chose to remain silent.

……

The next morning, I met Bai Lu. She looked just as exhausted as I did. She sat down opposite me and said, "Michael, we've fallen into a trap. The other side's attitude is very clear: they want us to transfer the inn to them first before they'll accept mediation. I've asked my lawyer friend, and if they don't accept mediation, you could be sentenced to one to three years in prison if you're transferred to the procuratorate. If they still don't accept mediation by then, you might not even get a suspended sentence."

"Hmm, who is this person?"

"It's not like they're doing any legitimate business. As for whether they have any connection with Cao Jinbo, it's hard to say for now."

I nodded without saying a word. After a moment, Bailu sighed and said to me, "The incident with that unlicensed taxi driver last time should have served as a warning to us. Why are you still so impulsive?"

Looking at Bai Lu, I felt terrible. I replied, "I admit I acted impulsively, but I don't understand. The one who did the wrong thing was that brat who got beaten up, so why is everyone blaming me? Is a strong sense of justice so unpopular in today's society? People think the one who actually did something wrong is cunning?... Heh, if this world is so morally ambiguous, I'd accept it even if it meant spending my whole life in jail."

Bai Lu fell silent for a while, but I felt an even stronger urge to smoke. At the same time, I began to question myself more. Was my personality really not suited for the ways of the world? I had no intention of harming anyone; I just wanted to run the inn well with a spirit of hard work. So why was it so difficult? Was it because of my poor background that everyone could take advantage of me?

Bai Lu finally spoke, replying, "I didn't mean to blame you... I just wanted to remind you that we all have a long road ahead of us in life. While we don't expect to be constantly on edge, we should at least maintain a basic level of vigilance. Because while there are many good people in this world, there are also many bad ones. I don't want you to suffer... and those people certainly deserve condemnation. However, in this matter, we were indeed outmaneuvered. The other party is adept at using the law to plunder the vulnerable, and we are now in a very passive position."

"How much are they offering for the inn for sale?"

Bai Lu replied softly, "50, one price."

"Holy shit...this is outright commercial extortion!"

"There's no other way. If we don't agree, you'll definitely face jail time... I've discussed it with everyone, and we all agree that this is just a lesson learned. There will be many more opportunities in the future, after all, we're all young."

"I can't agree to that. I can afford to serve a year or two in jail."

Bai Lu shook her head. Someone outside was already urging her, and she probably had to use connections to be able to meet me during the summons phase, so she couldn't stay any longer. She picked up her handbag and said to me before leaving, "I'll get this done as soon as possible, so you won't suffer in there... Now that things have come to this, try to calm yourself down."

"I'm not afraid of going to jail, because I have a clear conscience... You absolutely must save the inn!"

Bai Lu glanced at me, said nothing more, and then walked out of the room...

Perhaps because she was too tired, her departing figure left me feeling extremely dazed. I seemed to see myself again, shirtless, decorating the small bar with Coach Ma. During that time, we were extremely tired, but we felt it was all worthwhile because we were all full of expectations for this inn.

I can't forget Coach Ma's weathered smile, nor can I forget the day the inn reopened, when he finished smoking and called his two sisters. If the inn is really sold off cheaply because of this, then I've let him down, because I've destroyed his hope of starting anew. I've also let down others; I'm a sinner!

I kept hitting my head, but the guilt in my heart didn't lessen in the slightest.

……

I couldn't tell if it was day or night anymore. I could only hear the faint sound of rain outside, pattering like it was calling out for something. I could also see my own feelings: a little cold and a little desperate... Then I felt like a stone, unable to control what was happening outside or save myself from being trapped inside.

I've never been so disappointed in myself. I thought of Lu Jia and Wang Lei again, and a lot of messy people and social relationships. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like I had claustrophobia...

For a fleeting moment, I even wanted to go back to Shanghai. There, although I lived with anxiety, I wasn't afraid. But now, all the bad emotions are plaguing me like an illness. I don't dare think of Lao Mi. If he knew I was involved in something that could land me in jail, he would break down; he would also hate me even more for being so useless because I didn't listen to him and go back to Shanghai.

……

It felt like years had passed before the door to the room finally opened again. This time, it wasn't the same police officer who had interrogated me before who came in, but a female officer I had never seen before. She first placed an A4 sheet of paper in front of me, and then said, "The party who was assaulted has agreed to a settlement. Sign this mediation agreement, then go collect your belongings, and you can leave."

I quickly picked up the mediation agreement and looked at it. It required compensation for various expenses, totaling 52,000 yuan. Although I could afford to pay that amount, it was already a significant financial blow, not to mention the inn outside of this agreement.

If this was a complete scheme, then I have lost utterly!

……

As I walked out of the police station, the rain had stopped. A ray of sunlight pierced through the dark clouds, stinging my eyes. I instinctively lowered my head. The uneven road surface stirred up my emotions again. I didn't know who would come to pick me up later; or perhaps, I would have to go back by myself.

As my eyes gradually adjusted to the light, I looked up at the Cangshan Mountains behind me... only to realize that while it was raining in the ancient city, it was snowing on the Cangshan Mountains...

I've heard from the locals that when seagulls fly back to Dali from Siberia and snow begins to fall on Cangshan Mountain, Dali will usher in a new peak tourist season. But what can I still do in this city?

Do I still have the face to face Tie Nan, Coach Ma, and Bai Lu? And Tao Zi, she gave up everything in Shanghai just so she could settle down in Dali with Tie Nan, and now their dream has been shattered.

And what about the money lost from the transfer of the inn? How could I possibly make up for it?

……

I finally used the last of my spare change to buy a pack of cigarettes from the newsstand across the street. After lighting it, I sat on the curb opposite the police station, but my mind was even more confused than when I was inside, because I saw many consequences beyond my control.

Looking out again, Erhai Lake seemed to have taken on a new layer of color, even more beautiful than before. But alas, I am no longer the same person I once was. I don't know where I should go; I feel as if that inn no longer belongs to me…

I wish someone would guide me and tell me where to go, but I'm also afraid to see those familiar faces, and I hate those who scheme against me even more...

……

In my confusion, I lit another cigarette. When my lungs started to hurt from smoking, a car stopped beside me. Then I saw Sun Jiwei with the car window open. This shouldn't be a coincidence, but why was he the one who came to pick me up?

Confused, Sun Jiwei waved to me, signaling me to get in the car first.