The door silently creaked open, and a slender figure slipped inside. Guo's mother, thinking it was Guo Xiaopeng, quickly sat up. "Peng'er, is that you?" she called out joyfully.
Hu An quietly approached the sofa, "I'm a friend of Guo Xiaopeng."
Her face fell, her joy evaporating instantly.
Hu An spoke softly, "Xiaopeng asked me to check on your health."
She gave no response.
"Has anyone come here looking for Guo Xiaopeng recently?" he asked again.
Still, she remained silent, her face expressionless.
Hu An's voice turned stern, "If you don't speak, you may never see your son again!" Trembling, she murmured, "I'm fine. Tell him not to worry about me and to flee far away."
Hu An turned and left, shutting the door tightly behind him. He got into his Red Flag car, started the engine, and pulled out his phone. As the car slowly descended the slope, he dialed a number.
Guo Xiaopeng's voice came through, "How is it?"
Hu An responded in a calm tone, "Your mother is fine. The police have concluded that you committed suicide. The surveillance on your mother's residence has been lifted."
Guo Xiaopeng's voice sounded relieved, "I'll notify you when I arrive. Prepare a Mitsubishi SUV with armed police plates."
"Understood," Hu An replied cheerfully.
In a building opposite Xishan Villa, Qiang Min watched the infrared surveillance screen absentmindedly.
Lu Xiaofei tiptoed in and suddenly froze. "Look closely!" she exclaimed, pressing the pause button.
Qiang Min scrutinized the screen and gasped, "Isn't that Secretary Hu from the city government? What is he doing here?"
Lu Xiaofei's heart sank, "The Secretary-General of the city government?"
Guo Xiaopeng decided it was time for his final move. He bid farewell to the village and the woman who had cared for him and began his journey back to Haizhou. To be cautious, he neither flew nor took an express train. Instead, he sneaked into a freight train car headed for Haizhou.
After arriving in Wuzhou, he quietly disembarked and rested for a day at a small suburban inn. At dusk, he boarded a long-distance bus to Haizhou.
By the time he arrived in Haizhou, it was late at night. Guo Xiaopeng hurried directly to Xishan Villa. In the building opposite, Qiang Min was intensely watching the surveillance screen. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the wide-angle infrared monitor. Every nerve in Qiang Min's body was on edge as he stared unblinkingly at the screen. The figure moved into the woods beside the villa and took out binoculars to survey the area.
Qiang Min focused, recognizing Guo Xiaopeng. His heart pounded as he called Lu Xiaofei. She ordered him to transmit the images.
In the Criminal Police Unit's meeting room, Zhang Xiaohua, Li Xinjian, and others stared intently at the monitor. Lu Xiaofei enlarged the image and, after a moment, confirmed, "It's Guo Xiaopeng!"
Zhang Xiaohua spoke gravely, "Move out immediately!"
Li Xinjian and Lu Xiaofei dashed out, joining the waiting officers. They sped off in police cars. Armed officers surrounded the villa from all directions. Qiang Min, panting and munching on instant noodles, ran up to Li Xinjian and Lu Xiaofei, "He just went inside. You arrived just in time."
Li Xinjian cocked his submachine gun and said to Qiang Min, "Cover me, I'm going in!" Lu Xiaofei's face glowed under the lights. She ordered, "No one move. Give him ten minutes."
Li Xinjian was puzzled, "Why?"
Lu Xiaofei's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Qiang Min explained, "The doctor said his mother only has a few days left."
Li Xinjian's face softened but remained silent, fiddling with his gun.
Guo Xiaopeng's tall figure appeared on the stone steps of the villa. He walked out slowly, his long hair waving in the night breeze.
The officers closed in.
Guo Xiaopeng, indifferent, walked to Lu Xiaofei and extended his hands.
Haizhou Intermediate People's Court
In the defendant's seat, Guo Xiaopeng, pale but upright, showed no emotion. The presiding judge announced, "According to Articles 347 and 232 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, the defendant, Guo Xiaopeng, is found guilty of smuggling, trafficking, transporting, and manufacturing drugs. He is sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life, and his property is confiscated. For the crime of intentional homicide, he is sentenced to death and deprived of political rights for life. The combined punishment is death and deprivation of political rights for life. If you do not agree with this judgment, you may appeal to the Provincial High People's Court within fifteen days of receiving the judgment. Written appeals must be submitted in duplicate: one original and one copy."
Standing in the defendant's seat, Guo Xiaopeng's eyes were vacant, seemingly indifferent to the verdict. The court police approached and handcuffed him.
The prison van returned him to the detention center, locking him in cell number four and shackling his feet. His hair was neat, his clothes tidy, as he sat on the iron bed, staring blankly at the moving shadows on the ground. The next day, as per the law, Guo Xiaopeng met with his lawyer. Upon entering the meeting room, he found Han Lifeng already waiting.
Guo Xiaopeng's first question was, "How is my mother?"
Han Lifeng, feigning sorrow, replied, "She passed away the morning after your arrest." Tears welled up in Guo Xiaopeng's eyes. He bit his lip, forcing them back, "Did she suffer?"
"She passed peacefully," Han Lifeng sniffed symbolically.
"Have her ashes been taken care of?" Guo Xiaopeng sat down.
Han Lifeng also sat, "According to your wishes, her ashes were placed with your father's."
Guo Xiaopeng sighed in relief.
"Why aren't you appealing?" Han Lifeng offered a cigarette.
"Thanks, but I've quit," Guo Xiaopeng said, addressing his question, "As a professional, how can you ask such a foolish question?"
Han Lifeng replied, "At least it buys some time." He lit a cigarette, feeling uncomfortable knowing Guo had quit for Lu Xiaofei.
Guo Xiaopeng, no longer interested in reading people's emotions, frowned, "Time? Whether the execution truck hits a red light or gets stuck in traffic has no real significance!" He stood up.
Han Lifeng adjusted his glasses, "Aren't you concerned about Liu Mei?"
"Do I need to ask?" Guo Xiaopeng coldly retorted.
"She terminated the pregnancy and wants to accompany you to the execution ground," Han Lifeng informed.
"Her survival is my greatest comfort," Guo Xiaopeng said, reluctant to discuss the matter further, "My close relatives, including Secretary Hu, have been arrested. More will be implicated." He spread his hands, making his chains clink, "I have no control over my assets anymore. I can't pay your fees."
Han Lifeng quickly responded, "That's a minor issue!"
Guo Xiaopeng turned and walked out the door.