I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

The next day, Li Wei brought Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan to a quaint little restaurant in the town. The restaurant was filled with the aroma of food and a warm atmosphere. They sat down at a table by the window. Outside the window was a quiet town with a few people walking on the street.

Zhang Wanqing looked around. The decoration here was simple and warm, with local handicrafts hanging on the walls and wooden tables and chairs emitting a faint wood fragrance. She could feel the tranquility and peace of this place, which was in stark contrast to the tension and danger they had just experienced. Fu Siyuan's face also showed a relaxed smile.

Li Wei asked Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan to order first. They glanced at the menu and ordered a local specialty. Li Wei then expertly ordered a few side dishes and even requested a bottle of local aged wine.

"Tonight, we need to relax." Li Wei's voice was full of boldness. "You have been through too much. It's time to relax your tense nerves."

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan smiled at each other. They knew that Li Wei was right. They needed to put down their burdens temporarily and accumulate strength for the next battle.

The food and wine were served, and they began to eat and chat. Li Wei opened the bottle of aged wine, and the aroma of the wine filled everyone's glass.

"This wine, like my story, becomes more fragrant as it ages." Li Wei raised his glass, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

The three of them clinked their glasses, the wine swaying gently in the glasses, reflecting the warm light in the restaurant. Li Wei took a sip of his wine and began to recount his experience.

"I used to be a police officer. Back then, I was full of passion and believed I could uphold justice," Li Wei said in a low voice, a trace of pain in his eyes. "But when I refused to participate in corruption, I was ostracized and marginalized."

"I was transferred to the police force's useless and sinecure position—the archives. My daily job was to sort through the files and categorize them. When I had free time, I'd pull out the old files and analyze the cases myself. Actually, many cases could be solved, but those useless people just didn't want to. I've been working in the archives for several years and I can remember all the cases by heart."

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan listened quietly. They could feel the helplessness and anger in Li Wei's words.

Li Wei continued, "Because I wasn't successful at work, I was depressed all day, so I started drinking. Every day after work, I would go out for a drink and only go home drunk. I didn't chat with my wife, didn't care about the children, and she did everything at home alone. Every day when I got home, I would just sleep. The next day, I would wake up groggy and go back to work. My wife couldn't stand me, a lazy drunkard, and couldn't stand that kind of life. She left me with the children and never contacted me again. I continued my life of drunkenness until you showed up."

"I never thought that I, a drunkard despised by everyone, would be an outstanding detective in your eyes. You may not know how much hope you gave me. It made me discover for the first time that I was still a useful person. Yes, I am still a person, and I am still alive. After the chemical plant incident, of course I was even less treated. The leader talked to me and said that I would be transferred to the message room to guard the gate. When I heard that, I got anxious and left without saying a word. I quit! Hahaha! At that moment, I felt so good!" Li Wei laughed loudly while drinking.

The proprietress brought the dishes over and said, "Brother Wei is a very good man. Although he sometimes speaks incoherently, you should feel that he is hundreds of times more upright than those so-called beasts in human skin!" The proprietress's words made Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan admire Li Wei even more.

"From then on, I swore that I would use my own way to expose the true face of those corrupt officials. So I became a private detective. Actually, it's not that, I just investigated those things privately. I originally thought I was alone, until I saw you bravely reveal the truth once again. I have been following you secretly. It's not that I don't want to join you, but actually... I'm afraid that you will dislike me. After all, I'm not a policeman now, just an idler!" There was a slight tremor in his voice, but there were no tears in his eyes, only a determined light.

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan were filled with respect, knowing that Li Wei's experience coincided with their goals. They raised their glasses and saluted Li Wei.

"Li Wei, you are not an idler, you are an uncrowned king, a brave and just man. Your struggle is not alone. From now on, we will fight side by side." Zhang Wanqing's voice was firm and powerful.

"Yes, we are the iron triangle! Together we will expose the crimes of the 'Shadow Ink' organization and bring justice to the world." Fu Siyuan also nodded, with the same determination flashing in his eyes.

"Okay, since you said that, I will do it boldly! From now on, the three of us will not only do this well, but also keep fighting for justice!" There seemed to be tears in Li Wei's eyes, but he still held back and didn't let the tears fall.

"Fight for justice!" said Zhang Wanqing.

"Yes, we are the iron triangle!" Fu Siyuan also echoed.

They clinked their glasses again, the wine swaying gently in the glasses, as if toasting their determination and courage. The proprietress beside them saw this scene and looked at them with admiration.

The people in the restaurant gradually dispersed, leaving only the three of them. They drank and chatted, discussing their past and future.

Fu Siyuan also told Li Wei about his experience as an international journalist abroad, but Zhang Wanqing did not tell him that she had traveled through time. She felt that it was not the right time yet. Perhaps she did not trust Li Wei enough. Maybe she would tell Li Wei in the future.

Late at night, they returned to Li Wei's cabin, drunk and determined. Li Wei had fallen asleep, and Fu Siyuan was also a little dazed. Only Zhang Wanqing was still awake, looking thoughtful, perhaps with a lot on her mind at the moment.

"All problems can be solved, except mine. I am a person from the Tang Dynasty, and one day I will have to travel back in time. No matter how many people and things there are in this era that are worth my nostalgia, in the end, they will all become nothing to me." Thinking of this, Zhang Wanqing couldn't help crying.