Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Uncle Luo stood at the kitchen doorway, hands folded in his pockets, watching He Feng's slightly silent profile in the living room. His mind was as clear as a mirror. This kid had always had a thorn in his heart. The past was like a heavy stone, weighing him down, making him breathless. He usually carried an unrelieved gloom, his brow rarely relaxed.

But life must go on, right? Uncle Luo sighed softly. Some people drift away, like sand through your fingers, impossible to keep and no need to force. As life's train moves forward, new people will slowly enter the carriage to accompany you on the journey ahead. He Feng was still so young, in his twenties. He couldn't stay trapped in the shadows of the past, living a gloomy life for the rest of his life. That would be a waste of time.

He had wanted to pull He Feng aside and say a few heartfelt words, to persuade him to move on. But with his old bones, half of his body buried in the earth, some words turned over and over in his stomach, and when they came to his lips, he swallowed them back. If he said it softly, he was afraid it would not carry enough weight and would not move this stubborn child; if he said it too harshly, he was afraid he would touch a sore spot and hurt him.

The appearance of Ma Xin seemed to have brightened He Feng's otherwise gloomy life. The way the two of them interacted, while not exactly passionate, exuded a peaceful tacit understanding, which comforted Uncle Luo deeply, more than drinking two ounces of fine wine.

The thought that He Feng might be able to use this momentum to slowly move on from the past quagmire made Uncle Luo feel bright. He grinned and hummed a little ditty he'd heard in his youth. The tune was a little off, but it was filled with joy. He then turned and went into the kitchen, busying himself with the clatter of cooking—stir-frying shredded potatoes with vinegar and braised hairtail fish, both of He Feng's favorite home-cooked dishes.

Soon, several piping hot dishes arrived. The vinegar-fried shredded potatoes were golden with emerald green, their sour aroma tangy; the braised hairtail fish was bright red, evenly coated in the sauce, making one's mouth water. He Feng looked at the delicious array of dishes on the table, then turned to see Uncle Luo, aproned and busy, wiping his hands. He felt like he was being enveloped by something warm, a warmth coursing through his body.

He stood up, his voice filled with genuine gratitude: "Uncle Luo, these past few days, thanks so much to you. You've been busy running around inside and outside. You must be exhausted, right? Why don't you sit down too, and the three of us can eat together?"

Uncle Luo quickly waved his hand, a playful smile on his face, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes squeezed together: "No, no, you young people, eat your own food. An old man like me standing here is like a bright light bulb, an eyesore! It won't stop you from saying sweet words."

Ma Xin's cheeks flushed slightly when he heard this, and he quickly smiled and waved his hands: "Uncle Luo, what are you talking about? It's more lively when you're here. We don't have much to talk about during the meal, and we can chat more with you here."

Uncle Luo laughed and waved his hand: "An old man like me won't get involved in the fun of you young people. I'm going back to my room to have a drink and take a rest." As he said that, he picked up the coat on the back of the chair, turned around and went out, and considerately closed the door gently.

He Feng looked at Ma Xin and explained a little embarrassedly: "Uncle Luo is just like that, he likes to joke around, don't take it to heart. You must be hungry too, eat quickly, the food won't taste good if it gets cold."

Ma Xin nodded, a gentle smile in her eyes. Without saying anything more, she picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of shredded potatoes. He Feng followed suit, picking up a piece of hairtail and tasting it. It tasted just like what he remembered. The atmosphere at the table was peaceful and warm. The moonlight from outside the window crept in, falling on the steaming food, bringing with it the unique, soothing warmth of home-cooked food.

The meal was rather dull, with a faint awkwardness hanging in the air. He Feng tried several times to say something to break the silence, but he didn't know where to begin. He could only silently pick at the rice in his bowl, looking a little awkward.

Ma Xin saw it all, her mind clear as a mirror. Though she didn't say it out loud, she knew that while she hadn't completely won He Feng's obedience, she had already held a special place in his heart. She knew her current mission was to lie low, but the identity of "expert" was too conspicuous, making it difficult to conceal her tracks. After much deliberation, she decided that the identity of "He Feng's wife" was the perfect fit—it allowed her to remain openly by He Feng's side while avoiding excessive attention.

Ma Xin had already made up her mind: with this identity, she could more easily search for those of her own who were lurking in the shadows, and when the time was right, she would capture them all in one fell swoop. She even had a hope that once things over there were completely resolved, she would no longer have to live in such fear and could live a peaceful and stable life with He Feng.

In reality, Ma Xin had long since grown tired of this life of constant concealment. Ever since Ma Ran's departure, she'd been forced into intense training, and her abilities were now comparable to Ma Ran's. However, she hid her identity well, never revealing it to the public. Furthermore, her superiors were affiliated with a highly specialized organization, so few knew her true identity.

She poured He Feng a glass of water and said in a natural tone (with a somewhat calm look in her eyes): "He Feng, you don't have to take it too seriously. I am also responsible for that matter. I didn't expect the alcohol content of the wine to be so high."

He Feng had just taken a sip of water when he nearly choked upon hearing this. He put down his cup, looked at Ma Xin, and said seriously, "Ma Xin, I know nothing I say now will seem meaningful, but I still want to tell you that after the investigation into Ran Qiuye's case is complete, I will definitely marry you."

After listening to this, Ma Xin didn't say much, just nodded slightly, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

After He Feng finished his meal, he drove Ma Xin back home.

As He Feng's car gradually drove away and disappeared into the night, the gentleness on Ma Xin's face instantly faded. She turned and walked to the door, picked up a knife that was placed there, and with a stern look in her eyes, she quietly pushed the door open and walked in.

The room was pitch black, and a dark figure could be vaguely seen standing in the middle of the living room. Without even turning on the lights, Ma Xin swung his knife at the figure without hesitation. The figure reacted extremely quickly, raising his hand to block the blow.

Then, Ma Xin turned on the lights, and a bright glow instantly illuminated the entire room. She looked at the person before her, her face expressionless—in fact, she had already guessed who it was, and that previous move had been merely a test. She asked (with a hint of surprise in her tone), "Master, why did you come in person this time? Don't you know this is no longer our territory? It's too unsafe for you to come here."

This shadowy figure held a high position within the organization, yet because he kept a low profile, few knew of his existence. His name was Luo Hao, and he was Ma Xin's superior. Ma Xin's helpers were also his apprentices.

Ma Xin was somewhat surprised. He had never expected such a small matter to alarm his master. After all, his master had always lived in seclusion, rarely leaving his base. Could it be that he had some extremely important mission to deliver?