Volume One, Chapter Six: You Came Too Late; She’s Dead

Pu Zhuqing took a step forward, not forgetting to pick up the coffee cup on the table. He was utterly exhausted; otherwise, he would never have forgotten such an important matter.

“I heard that Chu Nanqing behaved well in prison and was released early.”

A few faint lines appeared between Zhou Jincheng’s brows, so subtle that even he barely noticed them.

“When did this happen?”

As he spoke, his gaze lowered, and he fussed unnecessarily with the suit jacket draped over his arm, only making it messier.

Pu Zhuqing had only overheard some judges casually mention it—just rumors that passed by, nothing concrete.

“I don’t know the exact time; it must have been within the last ten to fifteen days.”

“You said you met a client who resembled her. Could it be Chu Nanqing?”

“It’s not her.”

Zhou Jincheng cut him off. The usually composed man sounded a bit anxious as he spoke.

“How can you be so sure?”

“You’d know if you’d seen her.”

Without further explanation, Zhou Jincheng turned and pushed open the door, stepping outside.

“Hey, you haven’t told me how I can see her. Let me help you figure out if it’s really Chu Nanqing,” Pu Zhuqing called after him.

He was joking—he had no strong impression of Chu Nanqing, having only seen her silhouette once. Even if they bumped into each other face-to-face, recognition would be doubtful.

Back then, Zhou Jincheng’s relationship with the young woman had been rushed, without even a proper confession. He never once introduced Chu Nanqing to their circle of close friends.

By his own admission, his relationships were merely to satisfy physical needs—callous and heartless.

If it hadn’t been for Zhou Jincheng’s rejection of the campus beauty’s confession witnessed firsthand, one might have believed his words.

If it were really about satisfying desires, the campus beauty was infinitely more appealing than Chu Nanqing, with a more attractive face and figure.

West City Women’s Prison.

Outside the iron gate lay an open space, overgrown with weeds along the roadside, where a low-profile black Mercedes was parked.

Zhou Jincheng stepped out of the car, carrying a briefcase. His dark gray suit was crisp and clean, and his custom-made thin-soled leather shoes gleamed.

The officer on duty at the entrance recognized him; several cases he handled involved inmates held here.

Today, a young officer manned the archives room.

He sat at the desk, organizing some old, damaged inmate files. Looking up, he set down the file folder and asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m Zhou Jincheng from Jingheng Law Firm. I’m here to find someone.”

The young officer pushed back his chair and stood solemnly. “Please show your legal investigation documents, lawyer’s license, and a certificate from your firm.”

Zhou Jincheng’s eyes were calm, his jaw tight. “This isn’t about investigation—just finding someone.”

The officer sat back down and resumed sorting the files. “This is a prison, not a police station. You can’t just say you want to find someone and have me do it. You’re a lawyer; you should understand the proper procedures.”

Zhou Jincheng pulled out twenty thousand yuan in cash from his briefcase and placed it before him, his tone indifferent. “Just a little convenience.”

The officer instinctively leaned back, unwilling to take the money.

“It’s not about convenience. Without proof, I can’t show you the files.”

“Put the money back quickly. If my superiors see this, they’ll think I’m abusing my power.”

The officer stuffed the money back into the briefcase, refusing to help him find any files.

“I’m not here to look at files—just to ask a few questions,” Zhou Jincheng said seriously.

“Go ahead.”

“Is there a woman named Chu Nanqing who was released early?”

“Where did she go? Who picked her up?”

He asked three questions in a row, but the officer couldn’t answer any.

“I haven’t heard of any prisoner by that name…”

“She was imprisoned here five years ago, sentenced to six years,” Zhou Jincheng added.

The officer thought for a moment, replying firmly, “I’ve been here for over half a year, and I’ve never heard that name. There have been some early releases recently, but none with the surname Chu.”

“What surname then?” Zhou Jincheng pressed.

Before the officer could respond, a female police officer passing by stopped and called out, “Officer Li, who’s in here?”

Officer Li quickly answered truthfully, “A lawyer named Zhao, here to inquire.”

The female officer entered. Her short black hair framed a sharp chin, her black eyes bright and spirited. Her distinct features included a straight nose and a sun-kissed complexion, evidence of regular outdoor exercise.

“Please show your identification.”

The archive room fell silent. Her gaze briefly swept over Zhou Jincheng. Her voice was cool and detached.

Zhou Jincheng produced his credentials. The young female officer’s lips curved slightly as she inspected them, then extended her hand to shake his.

“Hello, Lawyer Zhou. I’m Du Yimei, deputy warden of this sub-division. Officer Li is new here and still unfamiliar with many matters. Feel free to ask me anything.”

“Officer Du, I’m here to find a prisoner—a female inmate held in this prison.”

“What’s her name?”

Du Yimei’s tone was friendly. Though she had never met him, Zhou Jincheng’s reputation preceded him.

His mentor was one of the world’s most renowned top lawyers at the largest American law firm. He himself graduated from a prestigious university, gifted and undefeated in all his past cases.

She wondered if such an elite, a luminary in the field, ever found his future so bright that sleep eluded him at night.

“Chu Nanqing.”

At the mention of those three words, Du Yimei’s smile vanished in an instant. Her entire expression froze, and her eyes grew vacant and numb.

“Officer Du, do you have no recollection of this prisoner?”

Zhou Jincheng’s voice was neutral, his deep black eyes fixed on her with scrutiny and inquiry.

Du Yimei lowered her head and smiled faintly, casually saying, “I just never expected anyone to ask about her after all these years.”

“Where is she?” Zhou Jincheng interrupted. He was glad she recognized the name; he didn’t want idle chatter.

Du Yimei’s cold gaze swept his face, discerning his anxiety and realizing he was Chu Nanqing’s ex-boyfriend.

Truly handsome, resembling a movie star. No wonder Chu Nanqing despised him so much yet risked her life to bear his child.

Upon closer inspection, the child Xiao Jing bore a striking resemblance to her unfeeling father—their eyebrows and eyes molded from the same pattern.

“You’re too late. She’s dead.”

Du Yimei’s mouth twitched slightly as a bitter ache rose in her heart.

“That’s impossible. She had no illnesses; in fact, she was healthier than most people.”

Zhou Jincheng’s tall frame slammed against the filing cabinet by the wall with a thud. His eyes reddened as he struggled to control emotions that threatened to break free.

“You’re speaking of the Chu Nanqing from before, not the one imprisoned here. She couldn’t adapt to prison life; both her body and mind suffered immense torment. Moreover…”

Du Yimei paused, looked at Zhou Jincheng calmly, and continued.

“A little over two months after she was imprisoned, she was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. It was discovered too late, and since the prison’s medical facilities are limited, she died before she could be sent to a hospital.”

“The cell she stayed in still has a bloodstain on the floor. After all these years, the blood has darkened. If you want, you can go see for yourself.”

Zhou Jincheng was stunned.

Two months ago... that was the night before the police took her away, when they had shared a room outside the school.

“Who are you to her?”

Zhou Jincheng didn’t know how he had left the prison. The female officer followed him out, relentlessly asking, her questions piercing his heart like a sharp dagger.

He remained silent. How could he explain who he was to Chu Nanqing?

Was he the man she loved deeply, the father of her child, or the killer who caused her death?