Chapter Seventy-Eight: I Refuse the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

After Tsukimi Suzuna was called away, Song Xi shifted the conversation to Chen Zi’ang.

This was rather odd, for the groom was right there, yet his fiancée seemed barely acquainted with him, and what’s more, the groom appeared entirely unfazed by it, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Chen Zi’ang grew more convinced that this was a marriage of political convenience. Qin Song suddenly laughed and asked, “Mr. Chen, where do you work?”

There was a trace of jealousy in his tone, but Chen Zi’ang felt oddly relieved. To be honest, with your fiancée behaving like this, if you weren’t the least bit bothered, I’d be worried on your behalf.

“No need to answer,” Song Xi said with a cheerful smile. “He’s always had a crush on Suzuna.”

“No hard feelings,” Qin Song said, his expression turning a shade darker. “I just want to know what I lost to.”

“I’d like to know as well,” Chen Zi’ang sighed. He likes her, and she likes me—what kind of a tangled relationship is this?

“Know what?” Tsukimi Suzuna appeared behind them, curiosity lighting her face.

“Nothing,” Chen Zi’ang replied hastily, changing the subject. “Weren’t you meeting the elders? How did that go?”

“It was nothing much,” Suzuna replied lightly. “It’s just like visiting relatives at New Year, exchanging a few pleasantries.”

Both Song Xi and Qin Song looked at her with admiration. After all, while Shi Di was easy enough to deal with, his position and power commanded respect; and as for Song Mingyuan, he was the most cunning old fox of them all. Even the most fearless scions of the elite would find themselves unnerved before these two, yet Suzuna handled it all with ease—which proved her nickname of “Princess” was truly deserved.

“Who went to meet the elders?” A man’s cheerful voice sounded from not far away, and then someone slung an arm around Qin Song’s shoulders.

“Let me introduce you,” Qin Song said a bit sheepishly, turning to the group. “My father.”

Qin Song’s father, Qin Senhe, was a cordial, smiling middle-aged man. He had his arm around his son as he greeted Tsukimi Suzuna, “Suzuna, you’ve grown so much! The last time I visited your home, you were still in high school!”

“Uncle, you haven’t changed a bit,” Suzuna replied with a smile. “But I heard you’ve been promoted recently—congratulations.”

“Haha, let’s not talk about that.” Qin Senhe seemed eager to move on, turning to look at Chen Zi’ang. “Qin Song, this is…?”

“Suzuna’s boyfriend,” Qin Song announced. “Chen Zi’ang.”

“Actually, just a friend…” Chen Zi’ang tried to clarify, but Qin Senhe clearly didn’t buy it. His expression shifted to one of new respect as he nodded, smiling. “Very good, very good. When Qingzheng was drinking with us old fellows, he was worried his daughter’s standards were too high and she’d never find anyone suitable. But I always felt Suzuna has a mind of her own—she doesn’t need us elders meddling.”

“I’m just a bit willful, that’s all,” Suzuna said with a laugh. “My father always says if I were as obedient and filial as Qin Song, he’d have far fewer worries.”

Chen Zi’ang stood in awe, thinking, Though I’m older, it seems I can’t match Suzuna when it comes to social graces. Glancing over, he saw Song Xi silently taking out her phone to make notes, clearly intending to learn from her.

“All right then.” Qin Senhe patted Suzuna’s shoulder, smiled, and nodded at Chen Zi’ang. “I’ll be taking the groom along for a bit. You all continue your chat.”

He cheerfully led Qin Song away to toast other guests.

“See that?” Suzuna pointed after him. “Qin Senhe—a textbook political animal. When you’re of no use to him, he won’t spare you a glance. But once he finds out you’re my boyfriend, his attitude warms instantly.”

“So why let him misunderstand our relationship?” Chen Zi’ang asked, puzzled.

“Because that’s exactly the role a guest’s male companion is supposed to play,” Song Xi interjected. “Once people see Suzuna has a suitor, over half the elders who want to introduce their sons, nephews, or even grandsons will give up.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Mimi,” Suzuna chided, before turning to Chen Zi’ang. “By the way, do you remember that previous case?”

“The Lingyi Town one, or the Martial Arts Hall?” Chen Zi’ang confirmed.

“Lingyi Town,” Suzuna replied. “In fact, this very Qin Senhe is the main advocate for the current ‘Animal Rights Bill.’”

“The Animal Rights Bill?” Chen Zi’ang asked in surprise, immediately thinking of Nishikawa Miye. “How is that different from the ‘Ecological Protection Law’?”

“The Ecological Protection Law is mainly about prohibiting the killing of animals,” Suzuna explained. “The Animal Rights Bill, on the other hand, is about prohibiting animal abuse.”

“But animal abuse isn’t allowed even now,” Chen Zi’ang sighed. “If someone abuses cats or dogs and the neighbors report it, Section Three will come and give them a warning.”

“Not that sort of simple abuse,” Song Xi said, clearly familiar with the details and unable to suppress a laugh. “This bill contains some truly absurd provisions. For example: if you own a dog, you must take it for a walk at least once a day, or it’ll damage the dog’s mental health, which counts as abuse.”

“Stray dogs can’t be driven away by force,” Suzuna added calmly. “Even if they break into your yard, you can only scare them off with noise—you can’t use sticks or other tools, or that’s abuse too.”

“And the most ridiculous clause—illegal eviction,” Song Xi said with a grin. “If a stray cat or dog stays somewhere for three days—say, in a school, a stairwell, an empty rental, or even under your car hood if you haven’t driven for a few days—it’s considered ‘legally occupying a den,’ and you’re not allowed to evict them at will.”

“There’s no way such an absurd law could pass, is there?” Chen Zi’ang said, worried.

“Not at the moment, but there are a lot of supporters online,” Suzuna replied. “Just look at any major short-video platform: if you like cute pet videos, every so often it’ll push a clip about ‘school security violently evicting stray dogs,’ and the comments are full of calls to pass the Animal Rights Bill and give strays a home.”

“So,” she concluded, “I think if there are people—let’s say, with different opinions—letting them protest isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?”

Chen Zi’ang fell silent. He understood what Suzuna was getting at: Nishikawa Miye’s extremism was a product of a broader societal movement for animal protection, and it was almost impossible to reverse that trend by ordinary means.

Granted, Nishikawa Miye’s actions were undoubtedly evil, beyond redemption. But if her violent methods could temporarily check the tide of public sentiment…

“Suzuna,” Chen Zi’ang said seriously, “have you ever heard of ‘the fruit of the poisonous tree’?”

Suzuna paused for a moment, then replied, “The fruit of a poisonous tree, however sweet, must not be eaten.”

“I learned about this concept from Lawyer Takahashi—the woman you met before,” Chen Zi’ang said quietly. “In this world, the outcome isn’t everything.”

“I firmly believe there is right and wrong, good and evil, in this world.”

“What’s right is right—it doesn’t become wrong just because a so-called ‘bad person’ does it. And what’s wrong stays wrong, no matter how great the supposed benefit or noble the goal. You can’t justify a bad act for the sake of a higher ideal.”

“Otherwise, good and evil become blurred, black and white are reversed, and anyone can find an excuse for anything they do. That’s a terrifying world.”

“And as a peacekeeper, it’s my duty to stop those who brandish the banner of justice while committing despicable acts—who would drag the world into a hell without morality or order.”

Because Song Xi was present, Chen Zi’ang didn’t speak too plainly, but the meaning was clear:

I understand Nishikawa Miye’s motives, but I will never accept her methods.

Suzuna was left speechless, while Song Xi looked at her in surprise, her eyes saying, Goodness, I thought only children cared so much about right and wrong!

Suzuna, I never expected you to be this type!

“All right,” Suzuna quickly ended the topic. “Mimi, your wedding is about to start—hurry and get ready.”

“No, I want to keep listening to you talk,” Song Xi protested.

Compared to all those around her—calculating interests or guarding against being taken advantage of, all steeped in intrigue from childhood—this straightforward, stubborn senior from the grassroots was actually quite interesting.

“Stop it,” Suzuna said suddenly. “Oh, your father’s coming.”

“Don’t try to fool me!” Song Xi complained. “That’s the oldest trick in the book…”

“Mimi.” Song Mingyuan’s voice sounded behind her. “The wedding’s about to begin; what are you doing here?”

“Nothing!” Song Xi laughed awkwardly. “I’m heading to the dressing room now.”

She obediently turned and left. Song Mingyuan smiled at the two remaining, then suddenly addressed Chen Zi’ang:

“Chen Zi’ang, you’re an agent with Section Six, aren’t you?”