"Shen Lang, you said she would fall ill and die within three hours. How long has it been since then?"
Song Shadao did not express belief or disbelief in Shen Lang's words. After taking a sip of tea, he asked with a smile.
"About two hours have passed."
Shen Lang blew on the hot steam from his teacup and said to Zhao Min's family, "I offered my heart to the bright moon, but alas, the bright moon shines on the ditch. Since you don't believe me, then consider it as if I never said anything."
"You should drink tea and enjoy family time as you please, but do not accuse me of following, stalking, or harassing you anymore."
Shen Lang smiled, "Whether I followed and stalked your family to this place, you can ask Director Song. Because it was he who invited me. Even if you don't believe me, you must believe the venerable elder, right?"
"However, since we're on this topic, I'll say one more thing."
Shen Lang's gaze swept over the Zhao family, a hint of casual amusement appearing on his face. He said, "I originally wanted to help, but not only did your family not believe me, you slandered and smeared me. Fine, since that's the case, I'll make this clear: whether Zhao Shihua falls ill or dies, I, Shen Lang, will not interfere."
"Boy, are you still spouting nonsense?"
As soon as Shen Lang finished speaking, Zhao Jianguo exclaimed, "My daughter is fine. If you curse her again, even with Director Song here, I won't be polite to you."
"Haha, why get so angry?"
Seeing this, Song Shadao smiled at Zhao Jianguo and said, "Since Shen Lang said your daughter would fall ill and even die in three hours, and two hours have already passed, why not wait for the outcome before decisively slapping his face?"
"Director Song is right."
Zhao Min heard this and said, "We will just sit here and drink tea, waiting. We don't believe my sister will truly fall ill and die in an hour."
"Believe it or not, it's all up to you."
Shen Lang picked up a piece of osmanthus cake with his chopsticks, brought it to his lips, and took a bite. He then said, "A gentleman is not troubled by others not knowing him. I, Shen Lang, do not need others' belief."
Zhao Min was Yu Xiao's homeroom teacher. Shen Lang had originally wanted to help her, but he didn't expect Zhao Min to treat him this way.
Since that was the case, Shen Lang wouldn't try to please people who were unwilling to accept him. Things would proceed as they should.
"Hmph, boy, just keep talking nonsense. When the time comes, let's see how you can still open your mouth."
Zhao Jianguo snorted angrily and then looked at Zhao Min, Zhao Shihua, and He Lan, saying, "We will sit here for an hour and see what he has to say then."
"Okay—"
Zhao Jianguo's words were met with unanimous agreement from his wife and two daughters.
"Little brother, they don't believe you, but your sister does."
After the Zhao family returned to their seats, Gu Qinghan picked up the teapot and gently poured a cup of tea for Shen Lang. She said, "You said Zhao Shihua would fall ill and die in an hour, so it won't be a minute early, nor more than ten minutes late. It will be exactly then."
"Thank you, sister."
Shen Lang didn't care about the misunderstanding and slander from Zhao Min and the others, but Gu Qinghan's unconditional trust moved him deeply. He said, "My meeting sister in Nanling is a blessing I accumulated in my past life."
"We don't need to say such things between us."
Gu Qinghan smiled and said, "You don't need to say this to me, just as you don't need to ask me why I'm willing to be so good to you."
"Good—"
Shen Lang drank the tea in his cup in one gulp and said, "I didn't have many relatives before, but now I do, and I will in the future. As long as I am alive, I will protect your peace for a lifetime and your happiness without worry."
"I can understand your deep sibling affection, but can you two not act like Wang family's girl and I don't exist?"
Watching Shen Lang and Gu Qinghan chatting and laughing, Song Shadao grumbled from the side, "The way you two are acting easily makes us feel like invisible people."
"Old Song, why didn't you speak up just now? Don't you believe Shen Lang?"
Hearing Song Shadao's words, Gu Qinghan said with some dissatisfaction, "Shen Lang has shed blood and rendered meritorious service for the Martial Guard Department. I never expected you, as the director, to not believe him at a crucial moment and not stand by him with unconditional support. You truly disappoint me."
"Nonsense."
Hearing Gu Qinghan's words, Song Shadao rolled his eyes and said, "Although this is my first time meeting Shen Lang, I know that Shen Lang is the kind of person who would never be jealous of others. I have a hundred percent faith in him."
"However, my hundred percent trust in him is useless. What's important is that the Zhao family also has a hundred percent trust in him."
"Sometimes, to gain others' trust, you don't need to argue desperately or search the world for proof. You just need to sit quietly and wait."
Song Shadao revealed a cruel smile. "Bitter medicine doesn't necessarily sober people up, but a lesson learned through blood will be remembered more deeply."
"Old Song, I've realized you're a scoundrel."
Hearing Song Shadao's words, Gu Qinghan cursed, "A person like you, who appears benevolent and gentle on the surface, is full of schemes in your heart. Fortunately, you're the director of the Martial Guard Department, otherwise, you'd surely be a villain."
"Haha, everyone is pure when they are young. But after countless beatings, especially by villains, you'll realize that purity cannot overcome evil. Only by being more wicked than the wicked, and more cunning than the cunning, can you succeed."
"However, even if I'm full of schemes, my heart is good. I've never done anything against my conscience, so when I sleep, I'm at peace. I can sleep soundly until dawn, without even having nightmares."
Song Shadao looked at Gu Qinghan and said with a smile, "Qinghan, your hatred of evil is a good thing, but your personality is too straightforward. You can't tolerate even a speck of dust in your eyes. This is a fatal flaw. You need to learn to be more flexible, like, in this regard, you should learn more from Shen Lang."
"Look, Tang Zixuan has harmed countless innocent girls, but every time you arrest him, he gets away with it due to insufficient evidence."
"But Shen Lang exposed Tang Zixuan for harboring Nalan Wushuang, a wanted criminal on the Heavenly Ranking, and he was sentenced to death in one fell swoop."
"Sometimes, if one path doesn't work, we can try another. The path itself doesn't matter, but the result is what counts."
"The famous general Deng Ai from the Three Kingdoms period, he chose to sneak through Yinping and directly attack Shu Han. Would anyone say he was wrong?"
At these words, Gu Qinghan was stunned for a moment, unsure how to respond.
At this moment, Shen Lang smiled at Gu Qinghan and said, "Old Song's words are correct, but sister, you don't need to worry about it, nor do you need to learn to be flexible. You just need to be yourself. As for those things you are unwilling to do, let your brother handle them from now on."
"Okay—"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Gu Qinghan's smile bloomed like a flower.