Pure Darkness

Chapters 24.2

Jian Yao got out of the car. From afar, he could see Li Xunran standing in the doorway of the restaurant, and beside him stood a man he did not know.

“Xunran!” Jian Yao walked over, and the two men smiled.

“Yaoyao*, let me introduce you.” Li Xunran patted the shoulder of the man beside him. “He is also from our Tong city, famous lawyer Luo Lang. When we were young, he even took us fishing, do you remember that? ”

*T/N (yaoyao) – Nickname Li Xunran for Jian Yao. It is common to take someone's name and ‘double it’ as a nickname.

Jian Yao saw that the man was tall and stocky, his facial features were proportionate. Looking to be in his thirties, he wore a well-made complete suit, and his entire body exuded elegance. Luo Lang looked at her and also gave her a gentle smile. “Jian Yao, hello.”

They had been fishing together as children? Jian Yao really could not remember this. He also smiled and shook his hand. “Hai, Lawyer Luo.”

“You are too polite,” Luo Lang said with a smile, “we are all from the same hometown, and Xunran called me Brother Luo.”

Xunran also smiled.

Jian Yao replied wholeheartedly, “Alright, Big Brother Luo.”

They entered the restaurant. The people from Tong town were already there. During the dinner, everyone discussed the local conditions and customs of Tong town and their work in Beijing, all speaking with their hearts content.

Xunran has also been transferred to Beijing for work, but he is in another sub-bureau. He had met Jian Yao frequently. Jian Yao felt the distance between them was quite good. Their relationship will not change.

Since Luo Lang was a lawyer, he attracted a lot of questions and a lot of attention. Someone laughingly asked, “Brother Luo, you are a lawyer. After today, if we face any legal issues, we can ask for advice from you, right? ”

Luo Lang smiled and replied, “Of course, I will give the people of our hometown consulting service.”

Everyone laughed, all jostling to toast him. Luo Lang did not pretend to be ashamed, and generously accepted the toast. Jian Yao observed all of this and immediately felt that this man was friendly and honest. Thus, it is very easy to like it.

Almost as if she felt her gaze, Luo Lang turned to look at her, asking in a low tone, “What's wrong? If you can't drink, don't force yourself, I'll drink to you. ”

Jian Yao's heart warmed. He smiled and replied, “No need,” take a glass of wine and drink it all in one gulp. Xunran laughed, “Brother Luo, you underestimate him, his alcohol tolerance is better than mine.”

Jian Yao put down her glass, and was greeted with a shocked and amused look from Luo Lang. He smiled and said, “Brother Luo, I also have a question. I'll just take the opportunity today to consult with you. ”

“Please go.” Luo Lang filled his glass again.

“We once found a case where a man married five women. Of course, out of these five people, he only had a marriage certificate with one of them, but the other four lived with him, just like the wealthy landowners of the past. In this case, is the law powerless to do something?”

When everyone heard this, they all wanted to know looking up.

Luo Lang thought about it and said, “No. He is listed as married to his original wife, and, while he is not registered with the others, he lives with them and has a marital relationship with them. This is considered polygamy. This kind of behavior, in which a person ‘takes a concubine secretly’, is a betrayal of the obligation of loyalty between husband and wife. However, currently in our country, polygamy belongs to the category of crimes that are widely described as ‘not to tell, not to admit’. This means that unless someone involved files a lawsuit, the court will usually not take the initiative to accept and adjudicate the case.

“Ohh,” muttered Jian Yao, and the others.

Luo Lang raised his full glass and said, “Everyone is in Beijing, so we naturally have to look after each other. I have always admired the police a lot, I never thought that the little girl who followed Xunran and me when we were young would be an impressive criminal investigator now. First of all I will toast to Jian Yao. In many ways, lawyers actually have the same goals as the police; we all pursue justice and truth. Since you are calling me ‘Lo’ Sister, in the future, if you have any questions about the law, you can consult me at any time. I'll definitely do everything I can to help and support you.”

Everyone listening was inspired by this lively speech and encouraged him to toast to Jian Yao. Jian Yao was also very touched, yet also felt a little awkward as they were not very familiar with each other, and she did not want to accept someone's help in vain. He nodded, stood up, and said, “Sister Luo, you are very straightforward. I'll thank you in advance. After today, if there is anything I can help, my husband and I will definitely be happy to help.”

Luo Lang smiled, and downed his glass in one gulp.

——

Jian Yao bid farewell to the others and got into the car. From afar, one could see a man coming down the window, revealing a pale and handsome face. He nodded towards Li Xunran as a greeting, looked at the others for a while, then closed the window and left.

Luo Lang and Li Xunran stood side by side.

“That's her husband?” Luo Lang asked.

“Ya.” Li Xunran replied with a smile, “Specialists and famous criminal investigation professor. Amazing man.”

After a moment of silence, Luo Lang asked, “Why didn't you catch it yourself?”

Li Xunran did not move in the slightest. After a while, he laughed and asked, “What are you talking about?”

Luo Lang laughed and patted her shoulder, then turned around to get into his car.

The afternoon wind was blowing slowly. The city lights were shining brightly in the distance. Luo Lang drove his black Cayenne for a short distance, then stopped the car on a deserted road under the bridge. He opened the window and lit a cigarette.

Someone walked past and looked at the calm face of the man in the car. Luo Lang also looked at him, but it was as if he was staring at the scene in front of him and was instead looking at some unknown place in the distance.

After a while, he switched off his cigarette, lowered his head, and scrolled through the pictures on his phone until he found the group photo they had just taken. Jian Yao stood in the middle, as beautiful and clear as a painting. He stood beside her, smiling.

He pulled out his wallet again and took a yellowing photo from the compartment. It was the image of Jian Yao as a young girl. The silhouette was very smooth and beautiful like the old version. Her hair was ponytailed, her eyes were big, and she was smiling sweetly.

Luo Lang looked at the photo for a moment, then smiled. He changed the wallet in his pocket and left.

——

On an equally calm night, Jian Yao sat in the passenger seat, looking over her phone. As Bo Jinyan was driving, she hummed following the soothing symphonic music that was softly played. However, she hums very gently – she does not allow anyone to listen to her sing. Even though she was married, she flatly refused to sing for him.

Jian Yao was engrossed in what she saw.

Those were photos posted by a university friend about the wedding photoshoot and her wedding ceremony in their chat group. Jian Yao texted ‘Happy’, but, soon, another university friend texted: Jian Yao ah, I heard you are married, why don't you hold the wedding ceremony?

Jian Yao sent a smiling emoji and replied: I will hold it if there is time.

Wow, people's wedding ceremonies can be very beautiful. Beautiful blue stage, a place decorated with fresh flowers and lush greenery. There were even some elegant little flower girls. As the groom hugged the bride, happiness emanated on their faces. The friends and relatives around them were all smiling, and everyone was very happy.

Suddenly, Bo Jinyan asked, “What do you see?”

“Not what.”

However, they had reached the intersection of the red light, and the light was red. Bo Jinyan had stopped the car, so she bowed and had a very clear view of what Jian Yao saw on her phone.

“Ah, so so. .marriage.” Bo Jinyan looked at him meaningfully, then continued driving.

Jian Yao was startled for a moment.

“How is it?” He gently pulled her arm, but no matter how she persuaded, he would only smile thinly without saying anything.

. . . That means look at my feet! The whole world can see that you are content in your heart to have hidden the secret of our wedding ceremony!