White Moonlight 11

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Wondering if he could make it home by daybreak, Ah Ren walked alone along the road to his hometown, guided only by the moonlight. He hadn’t even said goodbye to his cousin, and he had no idea where he had dropped his phone. The thought of Xiao Wen brought a sharp, agonizing pain to his heart; if he could just make it home alive and see his parents one last time, he would be content. After all, Ah Biao and Ah Yi had both succumbed to the plague, and he knew he was likely doomed as well.

Ah Ren gave a bitter, internal smile, reflecting on his former self—what a naive, utter fool he had been.

After walking for less than fifteen minutes, a cluster of graves suddenly appeared before him. Overcome with fear, he unconsciously quickened his pace. Finally, having skirted around the area, he caught sight of a van parked on the road. When Ah Ren saw the license plate, a sudden surge of excitement gripped him.

So, the President had driven all the way out here. Talk about finding something without even looking for it—the effort was hardly worth mentioning. Consumed by rage, Ah Ren rushed forward and yanked open the car door. The scene that followed left him stunned: the President was slumped over the steering wheel, his seat soaked in patches of blood. Ah Ren prodded him with his finger, and the man’s body slumped backward, his face visible. The sight was hauntingly similar to the state Ah Yi had been in before he died.

So, the President had caught the plague and died too. Serves him right! He deserved every bit of it! Ah Ren could not contain his fury, but it was pointless; the President was already dead. Still, unable to suppress his resentment, Ah Ren kicked the man in the side of the chest, spat violently on him, slammed the door shut, and walked away in a fit of anger...

Around noon that day, at the local police station, the elderly man who made coffins sat before an officer.

"Speak. What’s the matter?" the officer asked.

"Yes, Officer. I really do have a case to report. A body was found at the entrance of our village. Since I was the first one to find it, the village chief sent me to report it."

"What kind of body? Do you know who it is? Is he from your village?"

"I recognize him, yes, but he’s not from our village. He’s the President of the Steel Corporation in G City!"

"What did you say? The President? You recognize him?"

"I do. We have televisions in the countryside, too. I’ve often seen that steel tycoon talking on the news. I definitely recognize him!"

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"Listen, if you are lying, I have the authority to detain you for disturbing the public order. You’d better think carefully!"

"I’m absolutely certain. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself!"

The officer told the old man to wait and walked into an office.

About ten minutes later, the officer emerged, called over a few colleagues, and they all took the old man along in a police car to the village.

The village chief was already waiting by the van. Seeing the police arrive, he hurried to guide them toward the cemetery.

Following a forensic examination and identity verification, the police confirmed that the deceased was indeed the President of the Steel Corporation from G City.

After the officers reported to their superiors, the scene was immediately cordoned off, and no civilians were allowed near.

Seeing that the officers were busy, the old man approached the one who had taken his initial report.

"Officer, I have one more important item to hand over." He pulled a mobile phone from his pocket. "I picked this up right next to the car."

"Very well, thank you for your cooperation. You may go now!"

"Well, since I provided the information and the evidence, is there any reward or compensation? I’m the one who made the discovery, Officer!"

"Are you sure you picked it up next to the car?"

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"Yes, absolutely. How could a country person like me afford a phone like this? Right, Officer?"

"That’s enough. The case is still under investigation. Go home!"

The old man stood there, still hoping for some recognition for his report, but seeing that no one paid him any mind, he eventually left, dejected and unhappy.

After a meticulous investigation, the police extracted DNA from the thick phlegm found on the President’s body and compared it with the genetic profile of the phone’s owner, Ah Ren. As soon as the results were in, the police launched a manhunt. They set up checkpoints at his cousin’s house in G City, his old home in the countryside, and all nearby major traffic arteries, maintaining twenty-four-hour surveillance.

At that moment, Ah Ren had just reached the town bus station. As he entered the ticket hall, he heard the broadcast announcing his own arrest. He was bewildered—when had he become a murderer? He heard only one report before he immediately fled the station.

Since he usually kept his money in mobile apps, he had only twenty yuan in pocket change for emergencies. He had truly reached a dead end.

Hungry and exhausted, Ah Ren had no energy to ponder the absurdity of being labeled a murderer; he knew he was innocent! He stopped thinking about it, found a small hotel near the station, and planned to get some rest...

As the final cigarette burned out, Ah Ren sighed. With trembling hands, he struggled to open the bottle of pills...

An autopsy report later confirmed that Ah Ren had not been infected with the virus. Ah Yi’s body, left unclaimed, was taken by a medical university to be used as a cadaver for anatomy classes.

The case of the murdered President was closed. The perpetrator, having checked into a hotel, had committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills to escape justice...