Good and Evil Chapter 118: Stewart's Account

"Dehua, do you two know each other?"

Yan Wanyi was quite surprised to see Shi Dehua and Xu Lang chatting as warmly as old friends.

Upon hearing Yan Wanyi's question, Shi Dehua stopped looking at Xu Lang. He turned his head and said to Yan Wanyi, "We've met a few times, but we aren't close."

"Oh, I see."

Yan Wanyi caught the subtext: Shi Dehua did indeed know Xu Lang, but they were merely acquaintances, not friends.

After speaking, Shi Dehua looked up at the scorching sun hanging in the sky. He instinctively squinted and raised a hand to shield his eyes.

Xu Lang caught this movement. His eyes immediately fell on the Rolex watch on Shi Dehua's wrist. It was identical to the one missing from Han Xingchang. Xu Lang asked, "Attorney Shi, that's a nice watch. May I take a look at it?"

Shi Dehua was momentarily stunned. He lowered his hand, glanced at the watch, then at Yan Wanyi, and finally back at Xu Lang, smiling, "Certainly."

As he spoke, he took off the watch and handed it to Xu Lang. After a close inspection, Xu Lang confirmed it was the same model as the one Han Xingchang had lost. Whether it was the exact same piece would require professional verification.

"Attorney Shi, if I'm not mistaken, this is a Rolex. You..."

Xu Lang didn't finish his sentence, but his implication was clear: given Shi Dehua's financial situation, he could not afford such an expensive timepiece.

"I can't afford such an expensive watch, but someone else can," Shi Dehua said, fixing Xu Lang with a provocative gaze.

"Oh? If you didn't buy it yourself, then who did?" Xu Lang asked with interest.

"Naturally, my girlfriend."

"Attorney Shi has a girlfriend? Who is she? When will you introduce us?"

"Dehua's girlfriend is me," Yan Wanyi finally spoke up.

Xu Lang glanced at Yan Wanyi, then back at the watch in his hand, and asked, "So, you are the one who gave this watch to Attorney Shi?"

"That's right, I gave it to him. What's the matter? Officer Xu, is it against the law to give someone a watch?" Yan Wanyi asked, staring into Xu Lang's eyes.

Xu Lang shook his head and smiled. "Giving someone a watch isn't against the law. But the watch you gave Attorney Shi is identical to the Rolex that went missing from the wrist of your murdered husband, Han Xingchang. That makes it hard not to be suspicious."

"Officer Xu, what do you mean by that?"

Hearing this, Yan Wanyi's face turned ugly. She knitted her brows in anger and glared at Xu Lang.

"I don't mean anything. I was just speaking casually."

Xu Lang turned back to Shi Dehua. "Attorney Shi, I suspect this watch is the one that went missing after Han Xingchang's death. I need to take it back for identification. You don't mind, do you?"

Although he phrased it as a question, Xu Lang was already placing the watch into an evidence bag provided by Ning Yanran.

Shi Dehua stiffened. He instinctively looked at Yan Wanyi, but she refused to meet his eyes, filling him with a sense of dread.

After handing the evidence bag to Ning Yanran, Xu Lang ignored Shi Dehua and turned his attention to Yan Wanyi. "The reason we came to see you today is to ask: what is the attic in your villa normally used for?"

At the mention of the attic, Yan Wanyi's eyelids twitched, and her expression grew flustered. She glanced at Xu Lang, then quickly looked down, pretending to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not used for anything. Is it a crime to have an attic in a villa?"

Xu Lang smiled slightly and shook his head. "A villa can certainly have an attic. But it is quite puzzling that someone has been living in such a tiny space."

As soon as Xu Lang said this, the color drained from Yan Wanyi's face. She quickly composed herself and whispered, "The attic is so small, how could anyone live there? Are you joking, Officer Xu?"

"I initially thought the same, but we found signs of habitation in your attic yesterday. That is why we are here today to ask if you know anything about it."

"I don't know anything. Ever since we bought the villa, the attic has been locked. Han Xingchang had the keys. I never knew anyone was living up there," Yan Wanyi hurriedly defended herself.

"Oh, if you don't know, then consider it unasked."

Xu Lang turned to Shi Dehua and smiled. "Attorney Shi, congratulations on finding such a wealthy girlfriend. However, I advise you to be as sharp at judging people as you are when defending your clients in court."

With that, Xu Lang left with Ning Yanran, leaving Yan Wanyi, Shi Dehua, and Shen Xiaowen behind.

Once Xu Lang and Ning Yanran had driven away, Yan Wanyi let out a heavy sigh. Shi Dehua, having heard the conversation—especially about the evidence of someone living in the attic and Xu Lang's parting words—felt a heavy weight in his heart. He looked at Yan Wanyi with complex emotions, though he said nothing. Soon after, the three of them departed.

On the way back, Ning Yanran drove while Xu Lang sat in the passenger seat, holding the evidence bag containing the Rolex. It was a high-value luxury item.

While women often favored expensive cosmetics, designer clothes, and jewelry, men tended to prefer luxury cars and watches, especially successful ones; it was as if these items were the only way to assert their status.

"Yan Wanyi is lying. She clearly knows someone was living in that attic, and Han Xingchang's death is definitely related to her," Ning Yanran said resentfully.

Although she hadn't said a word at the courthouse, she had clearly observed the changes in Yan Wanyi's expression. If the circumstances allowed, she would have loved to haul Yan Wanyi back to the station for interrogation, but she lacked sufficient evidence. Furthermore, they were accompanied by two lawyers, Shi Dehua and Shen Xiaowen.

Ning Yanran had always disliked lawyers, especially those who specialized in defending the wealthy. She despised how they exploited legal loopholes and blurred concepts for money, resulting in lighter sentences for criminals who deserved severe punishment.

"Why are you so angry? We didn't leave empty-handed today," Xu Lang said with a smile.

"Empty-handed? What did we gain?"

Ning Yanran glanced at the evidence bag. "You mean this watch? Let's be realistic. Even if it's the same model, how do you know it's the exact same one?"

Xu Lang smiled slightly. "Only identification will tell."

"I hope so," Ning Yanran sighed.

Soon, they returned to the precinct. Ning Yanran took the watch to the forensics department, and Xu Lang went to his office.

No sooner had he sat down than his phone rang. It was an unknown number. He hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello, this is Xu Lang. Who is this?"

"It's Shi Dehua," came the voice on the other end.

"Ah, Attorney Shi. Is there something I can help you with?" Xu Lang asked.

"Can we meet? I'd like to talk to you."

Xu Lang paused, then agreed. They arranged to meet at a café not far from the station.

At the café, Xu Lang spotted Shi Dehua sitting by the window, nursing a cup of coffee. He walked straight over. Shi Dehua waved at him.

After sitting down and ordering a cappuccino, Xu Lang asked directly, "Go ahead, what did you want to talk about?"

Shi Dehua looked at the young man, a decade his junior. His feelings were complex; in Xu Lang, he saw a reflection of his own past self.

Years ago, Shi Dehua had been a man of talent, filled with justice and responsibility. But after leaving the university and entering the "great dye vat" of society, those ideals had been slowly eroded by money and pressure. Often, he knew his clients were vicious criminals, yet he defended them for the sake of profit, seeking to reduce their sentences.

Shi Dehua had been watching Xu Lang for a long time. Ever since the rookie had cracked several major cases, Shi Dehua had taken note. Beyond envy and admiration for the young man’s wit and integrity, there was a sting of jealousy—jealousy of Xu Lang's youth, his cleverness, and his persistence.

"Sir, your coffee. Please enjoy." The waiter placed the cup down and walked away.

Xu Lang ignored Shi Dehua's distracted state. He took a sip of coffee and waited. He knew that since Shi Dehua had called him, he would speak eventually.

Ten minutes later, Shi Dehua finally snapped out of his trance. He offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I was miles away."

"It's fine," Xu Lang replied.

"Are you investigating the murder of Yan Wanyi's husband, Han Xingchang?" Shi Dehua asked.

Xu Lang nodded, watching him silently.

"Have you found the perpetrator?"

Xu Lang shook his head. "Not yet."

"Oh, I see." Shi Dehua fell into silence again.

Expecting him to reveal something, Xu Lang grew impatient. "Attorney Shi, you didn't call me here just to watch you drink coffee. If that's all, I'll be going." He started to rise.

"Wait," Shi Dehua said quickly.

Xu Lang sat back down.

Shi Dehua took a sip of coffee and smiled bitterly. "I imagine you're very curious about my relationship with Yan Wanyi."

"If you're willing to tell me, I'm all ears," Xu Lang said, leaning back in his chair.

Shi Dehua began his account. They had met by chance two years prior. Shi Dehua had won a case for a wealthy man whose brother had severely injured someone in a brawl. Through a combination of settlement money and legal maneuvering, Shi Dehua had successfully reduced the brother's sentence to three years.

During a celebratory dinner hosted by that wealthy man—an associate of Han Xingchang—Shi Dehua had met Yan Wanyi, who was attending with her husband. The two were immediately drawn to each other. They exchanged contact information, and before long, they were an item.

About six months later, they had their first secret rendezvous at a hotel. The rest was inevitable. Shi Dehua became Yan Wanyi’s lover, maintaining the facade of a housewife and a high-profile lawyer while secretly carrying on their affair.

Shi Dehua also revealed that Yan Wanyi was involved with another wealthy man named Zhao Deyi. Shi Dehua had discovered this by accident when he ran into them while out shopping. They had all pretended not to know each other, and Zhao Deyi had even introduced them formally.

Yan Wanyi had secured Han Xingchang's inheritance so quickly thanks to both Shi Dehua’s legal assistance and Zhao Deyi’s influence.

The watch on Shi Dehua's wrist had been a "thank you" gift from Yan Wanyi half a month ago. He had assumed she bought it with her newfound wealth. It wasn't until Xu Lang's comments at the courthouse and Yan Wanyi’s subsequent nervous behavior that Shi Dehua began to suspect the truth.

He had known only bits and pieces about Han Xingchang's murder, initially assuming it was a robbery gone wrong. Now, he realized it was far more complex. He had contacted Xu Lang out of self-preservation; if the watch was indeed the stolen one, he would inevitably be a prime suspect.

Xu Lang sighed inwardly. He didn't know what to say.