Official statement: Tongwei is dead! You chose Ruijin, didn't you?

Evening, Jingzhou Children's Palace, Planetarium.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the giant glass dome, casting a soft golden glow on the cold astronomical telescope.

Sun Liancheng wore a pair of old reading glasses, his fingertips holding a chamois cloth as he slowly and methodically wiped the lenses.

The movements were gentle, focused, and completely calm.

Since being stripped of his official post, branded as lazy in his duties, and exiled here, he has completely severed all ties with officialdom.

Power struggles, political achievements, factions, promotions—these worldly pursuits and gains are insignificant and laughable in the face of the vast galaxy.

While others spend their nights scheming for promotions, wealth, and choosing sides to protect themselves, he only cares about the workings of galaxies and the trajectories of the universe. The hustle and bustle of the mundane world no longer stirs the slightest ripple in his heart.

He didn't seek a future, a chance to turn his life around, or a clean record; he only wanted to live a peaceful life watching the stars, living a life of quiet contemplation until retirement.

"Teacher Sun, someone outside is looking for you. They say they are an old acquaintance."

The planetarium assistant cautiously peeked in, her tone reserved.

Sun Liancheng continued wiping his glasses without pausing, not even lifting his eyelids, his tone as indifferent as water: "I won't see them. I won't see anyone from officialdom."

He was too tired.

He was ruined by Li Dakang in this life, taking the blame and being abandoned. He didn't complain, fight, or make a fuss. He only wanted to get rid of the trouble completely and live out the rest of his life in peace.

He had no desire to get involved in any political maneuvering or factional infighting.

"The other party said it was Judge Gu from the Intermediate People's Court, an old acquaintance."

Upon hearing this, Sun Liancheng paused slightly, but eventually slowly put down the chamois cloth in his hand.

He walked slowly out of the planetarium, the setting sun falling on the white hair at his temples. He was wearing a simple children's palace uniform, and his whole being exuded a sense of relaxation and numbness from being isolated from the world.

Gu Changfeng, dressed in a plain gray jacket, sat on a bench in the courtyard.

No public transportation, no entourage, just an ordinary shared bicycle parked beside him, so low-key that he was almost invisible.

"Judge Gu."

Sun Liancheng's tone was flat, devoid of joy or surprise, offering no pleasantries or enthusiasm, only detachment: "A rare guest. What brings you to my quiet stargazing spot?"

Gu Changfeng stood up, adjusted his glasses, and smiled gently and restrainedly: "I was passing by the Children's Palace and remembered that an old colleague was staying here, so I came over to visit."

"Don't call me 'old colleague' anymore."

Sun Liancheng waved his hand dismissively, saying in a nonchalant tone, "The former District Chief Sun is dead. Now I'm just a stargazer. If you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm going to enjoy stargazing."

Gu Changfeng put away his polite smile, lowered his voice, and got straight to the point: "Teacher Sun, Secretary Yuliang asked me to pass on a message."

Upon hearing this name, Sun Liancheng's usually calm heart remained unmoved; he merely gave a faint, smirking smile.

"Secretary Gao is barely able to protect himself, how can he have the mind to care about an idle person like me? I have neither power nor business now, I'm already labeled as lazy and negligent in my duties, the case has already been settled, it can't be overturned, and I don't want to."

He was completely relaxed, numb, and devoid of fighting spirit throughout; there was no anger, only utter indifference.

"I'm doing quite well now. I don't have to take sides, I don't have to be a scapegoat, and I don't have to pay the price for other people's achievements. Every day I enjoy the vast starry sky, peace and tranquility, which is much more comfortable than being in officialdom."

Looking at him lying completely flat, Gu Changfeng didn't give a passionate lecture, but gently laid bare the cruelest reality, each word tender yet piercing to the heart:

"Teacher Sun, do you think that by escaping into the starry sky, you can escape the game of chess?"

"You've seen through the ways of officialdom, but you haven't seen through people's hearts. Li Dakang's decision not to punish you or investigate you isn't out of sentimentality or leniency, but because he dares not, and he's keeping you quiet."

"If you stay put and watch the stars, you'll be a safe pawn; but if you make the slightest move, or if Li Dakang manages to stabilize the situation completely, you'll be the only scapegoat."

Sun Liancheng lowered his eyes, his fingertips stiffened slightly, and he remained silent, showing no emotional fluctuation.

He understands these principles.

"In the past, the power was in the hands of Li Dakang and Sha Ruijin, and you had no choice but to endure it."

Gu Changfeng softened his tone, matching his mood, no longer inciting, but simply stating the facts, "But now, the situation in Handong has changed."

"Hou Liangping confessed to everything, Sha Ruijin was suspended from his duties and is under investigation, and the top faction has been completely reshuffled. The supervisory team is not looking to punish anyone, but to investigate and clear up old grievances."

"I know you have no desires, no ambitions, no want to turn things around, no want to get back in office." Gu Changfeng accurately hit his weak spot. "But you can protect yourself. You don't seek credit, you don't want to overturn the case, you don't want to clear your name, you just want to avoid being the last scapegoat and live out the rest of your life peacefully. That's not wrong, is it?"

Sun Liancheng finally raised his eyes, and there was a slight movement in his eyes after a long period of silence. There was no passion, no impulse, only the weary compromise of an adult.

He wasn't afraid of officialdom or investigations; what he feared was—

He wanted to escape the world, but in the end, he inexplicably took the blame for everything, ended up in prison, and couldn't even see the stars anymore.

"I have no interest in getting involved in your game."

His voice was dry and flat, without any emotion, "But I don't want to die for someone else for no reason."

Gu Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief: "Team Leader Zhou of the supervisory team is waiting alone at Tingyuxuan in the south of the city. He's just verifying clues; he won't force you to take sides or get involved. You're just leaving yourself a way out."

Sun Liancheng stood quietly for a moment.

He finally saw through it all: no matter how vast the universe is, it cannot contain the mess of human affairs; no matter how wide the Milky Way is, it cannot escape deliberate framing.

Rather than passively waiting to die, it's better to proactively reveal the truth and gain a lifetime of peace.

"Let's go."

He uttered two words indifferently, turned around and walked back to the planetarium, slowly took off his work clothes with the Children's Palace logo, and put on that faded old jacket.

As he reached the door, he stopped and turned back, taking a deep look at the telescope that had been with him for so long.

He originally intended to spend his life immersing himself in the stars and detached from worldly affairs.

But in the game of worldly chess, ordinary people are never allowed to withdraw.

After tonight, he will no longer be the cosmic district chief who escapes reality and gazes at the stars.

He wants to personally tear off the black bag that has been pressing down on him for years and reclaim the peace that belongs to him.

The starry sky is boundless, and the game of chess is not yet over.

An idle man, forced to make a move.