Luo Jian looked at him thoughtfully. From a legal perspective, Ding Wei had broken his probation. However, the sentence for his offenses would still be less than three years. Moreover, he was still young. Moreover, a stay in prison would bring him into closer contact with Ding Shenghuo and other criminals. It was very likely that correcting the course of his life would then be impossible. However, if the suspended sentence was upheld, Ding Wei could still give his life a turn.

"We will take into account that he cooperated with us on his own initiative to free you," he said, with the intention of reassuring Wenjie. "He is still young. I hope he will take this opportunity. And for you, for now, recover and finish your studies."

"Thank you," Wenjie murmured. His gaze remained fixed on the phone. 

"That's all in the past now. You may put it behind you." He had already told him that twice in other words. Now that Wenjie knew his father was alive and the case was solved, he hoped the student could finally let go and look to the future with more hope. 

With a gentle smile on his lips, Luo Jian stood up. "You have my phone number. If there's anything, you can contact me. You have nothing more to fear from Xu Zhengqing, Ding Shenghuo and their accomplices."

Wenjie gave a pained smile. It didn't take much to realize that the young man was forcing himself. He didn't want to worry Luo Jian. "I'll let my colleagues at the university know that your friends can visit you."

The smile died. The sudden expressionlessness in the student's eyes, immediately caused Luo Jian to worry again. "Aren't you happy?"

"I need some time for myself."

"A little distraction will be good for you." Luo Jian didn't need to tell him, that he could write to his friends when visits were fine with him. That was something the policeman would not interfere with. If the student wanted to be alone, he would tell his colleagues to tell Wenjie's friends, that he would contact them as soon as he wanted a visit. 

"Mmm..." Wenjie looked past him, out the window. There was an expression of indifference in his eyes. 

Luo Jian didn't like to see him like this. On the one hand, he doubted that Ding Wei could do anything about it, on the other hand, he approved of anything that helped Wenjie. Thoughtfully, he left the room, intending to come back when the last formalities concerning the case had been completed. 

Xiao Dao was waiting in the hallway. The young man was leaning against the opposite wall. He had his hands buried in his jacket pockets and immediately looked in another direction, when Luo Jian came out of the room. 

"I hope you're really serious," the policeman addressed him. 

Xiao Dao winced as if he had received an electric shock.

"Wenjie needs friends, he can rely on."

Ding Wei wheeled around. "I won't abandon him," he blurted out.

Luo Jian eyed him urgently. Then he put a hand on his shoulder, whereupon Xiao Dao almost slumped under the touch. "I won't question you in the office, but here. You have Wenjie to thank for that."

Ding Wei's eyes widened. "What did he say?"

"So you didn't consult with each other?"

"When should we have?" gasped Ding Wei. 

Luo Jian let go of him again. "How did you find out about the kidnapping?"

"Xu Zhengqing contacted me and summoned me to his place. I had to wear a blindfold and temporarily hand over my knife the very first time. At first, I just did what he said without thinking much about it." He sighed deeply and lowered his gaze. "I was mean to Wenjie. If I had known what Xu Zhengqing was going to do to him, I would have held back my stupid comments. I really wanted to be his friend. But I'm not very good at making friends."

Now he looked like a bundle of misery as he stood there, his posture bent and remorseful. Luo Jian knew from the research they had already done on the Water Lily case, that Ding Wei had not had an easy life. Accordingly, it had been easy for Ding Shenghuo to lead his son astray. "What do you know about his imprisonment? The last time we met, you said that Wenjie was not well. His friends confirmed your statement."

Ding Wei nodded. "Xu Zhengqing locked him up in a cellar hole. He had to sleep on an old mattress. There were even the springs peeking out. That's probably why Wenjie preferred the floor. Monsieur planted fake evidence on him about you being dead, and threatened to kill anyone who helped him."

But there was more. Luo Jian sensed that clearly. His gut feeling was rarely wrong. So he waited, but Xiao Dao did not speak further. "You shouldn't keep anything from me," he reminded the young man of how important his cooperation was, to the completion of the investigation. 

Ding Wei paled noticeably "I can't tell you that. Wenjie confided it to me before you came. It's...I would never have thought Xu Zhengqing could do such a thing. Don't make me say it. I want to be a good friend."

This made Luo Jian almost smile, despite the seriousness of the situation. The young man's tone of voice, combined with his pleading look, was enough proof for him. Apparently, Wenjie's suffering had brought about a change of heart in Ding Wei. It was to be hoped, that he would not go astray again due to his father's bad influence.

At the same time, however, the statement increased Luo Jian's concern for the student. Inevitably, he glanced at the door behind which the young man was in his bed. "He won't talk if he doesn't want to." He knew that already. "He seems to trust you. Don't disappoint him." 

Again Ding Wei winced under his words. Then he nodded hastily. "I won't do anything stupid anymore, I promise!"

"You haven't visited your father yet, nor have you called him," Luo Jian changed the subject, abruptly.

Xiao Dao's looked at him with irritation. "No. Why?" There was no trace of a conflict of conscience, only honest surprise. 

"You don't hold a grudge against Wenjie for putting your father in prison and deceiving you, too?" 

Ding Wei frowned. "You still think I have ulterior motives? If I wanted to hurt him, I would have had plenty of opportunity to do so, and I certainly wouldn't have helped you to free him. Okay, at first it was because it's really not fun to piss off someone, who's so miserable. But then. Somehow. I don't know. I just like him. The conflicts of the old generation are not mine. And it was clear from the beginning, that he'd try to sell us out. We were aware of the risk. It's water under the bridge now," he gushed. 

Luo Jian watched him carefully, every emotion on his face and his posture. He still left him hanging with an answer for a full minute, which undoubtedly increased the young man's nervousness. It was good, that he was afraid of the police and the consequences that crimes could have. It would help him stay on the right track. "I believe you," Luo Jian finally said. 

Ding Wei exhaled audibly and leaned against the wall again. "You scare the hell out of me every time."

"It'll keep you from committing crimes in the future." Luo Jian smiled and patted his shoulder encouragingly now. "I'll work to keep your suspended sentence up and let you do community service."

to be continued...