After graduating from university, Shen Jin joined the criminal investigation unit. He never expected that the first case he handled would involve his college roommate. Along the way, he worked with the unit's captain, Liu Fanlin, on case after case. Behind the murders lay a tightly concealed chain of gray-market operations, including human trafficking, sex work, and surrogacy. Together, they uncovered one horrifying truth after another. Most terrifying of all, the cases were connected in countless ways to the bloodthirsty dark web. In the end, every one of these heinous crimes pointed back to Shen Jin...
"I will love you forever, until my life comes to an end."
That year, a corner beneath the ghostly crimson trees became Liu Fanlin's final resting place. "I don't want to break my promise to you, but I don't want to go on living in pain, either."
In the cold, alluring Night KTV, a man held a glass of whiskey in one hand and slowly tapped the sofa with the other. "A Chen, why can't you behave?"
In a cabin deep in a remote forest in Central America, a man sat in a chair, propping his chin on one hand as he smiled. "A Chen, I knew you'd come see me." He crouched down and caressed the face of the bound man. "The moment you decided to return home, this outcome was inevitable. You see, the world may admire heroes, but it loves watching them brought to their knees, too. I told you they'd all abandon you. I was the only one who loved you faithfully, but you chose them and betrayed me. A Chen, didn't you say you'd be with me forever?"
"If the timing hadn't been wrong, if fate hadn't played such a cruel trick on us, could things have turned out differently?"
"No."
"Our very first meeting was a mistake. I don't want to see you again in another life."
"But to me, meeting you was the greatest good fortune of my life." He died at last in the arms of the person he loved most.
The loyal are laid to rest in the green hills, returning wrapped in their armor. Shen Jin ultimately returned to the embrace of his homeland.
A pessimistic yet righteous shou x a cold, sharp-tongued, devoted gong
Warnings: 1. Some cases in this story are based on real cases. Read with caution.
2. Some details may differ from reality, and parts of the story are fictionalized.
3. This story has a bad ending.
4. Three male leads.
Theme: Sometimes you can't have both.
