Chapter 87: Luo Xiangdong's Past

Since he had already decided to accept the "public execution," a look of relief faintly appeared on his face, one so weary and desperate. He lifted his hand and gently patted the bench beside him, the gesture reminiscent of a man inviting an old friend to sit.

"Sit," he said, his voice calm and even. "There are some things I want to tell you now."

Liu Gang’s gaze drifted toward the bustling street not far away, his eyes hollow as he spoke. "I’m afraid… there are some things I just can’t say in front of those cameras."

Chen Yu was momentarily taken aback. Was this... an unexpected gain?

He muttered inwardly but took the offer without hesitation, sitting down next to Liu Gang and feigning an attitude of earnest attentiveness. After all, a criminal about to stand trial often harbors the deepest secrets.

"It’s about some trivial matters concerning my brother-in-law, Luo Xiangdong," Liu Gang’s voice was soft. "Would you like to know?"

Just the mention of that name made Chen Yu sit up at once. Of course he wanted to know! Luo Xiangdong’s case was the beginning of everything, the very heart of the mystery.

He pondered for a moment. Liu Gang’s position was indeed unique—both Luo Xiangdong’s brother-in-law and his closest colleague at the institute. With these two identities combined, he undoubtedly knew far more of the inside story than Captain Yan or Liu Hong.

Chen Yu nodded slightly, his expression betraying nothing. "Go on."

Yet suddenly, Liu Gang changed his tone, a strange look flickering in his eyes. He turned his head, staring right at Chen Yu. "Before I say anything, I want you to answer me one question."

"You’ve been visiting my sister’s house a lot recently, haven’t you? And I saw the live broadcast—you’re always defending her, even at the risk of offending other contestants and the production team…"

A wry smile tugged at Liu Gang’s lips. "You two…" he drew out the last syllable, the implication clear.

Chen Yu’s face flushed crimson. Three words flashed through his mind: Call me brother-in-law! No, wait! Call me… the Rogue!

If I openly play the rogue, what business is it of you, the little brother-in-law? Your brother-in-law’s grave has weeds growing taller than a man, and I’m not allowed to give your sister a warm home?

Though his mind was full of such irreverent thoughts, Chen Yu kept his composure, wearing an air of nonchalance. He offered a sheepish, inscrutable smile, neither confirming nor denying anything. Everything was left unsaid.

Liu Gang stared at him for a few seconds before sighing deeply. He understood instantly, but had no intention of exposing him.

"Having someone like you by her side… I can set my mind at ease," Liu Gang said with a note of relief. Leaning back on the bench, he gazed up at the ashen sky, the sluice gates of memory slowly opening.

"In truth, my debt to my sister began the moment I met Luo Xiangdong."

The words sent ripples through Chen Yu’s heart. What did he mean by that?

Liu Gang seemed quite pleased with the confusion on Chen Yu’s face. He continued in a tone heavy with reminiscence:

"Luo Xiangdong was a genius—talented, full of ideals. Back at the institute, he was the brightest star, his achievements so dazzling that ordinary people like me could only look up in awe."

"I admit, for a time, I truly admired him."

"Once, my sister brought me dinner at the institute late at night. She happened to catch sight of Luo Xiangdong discussing academic questions with colleagues in the corridor."

"Ah, that look in her eyes…" Liu Gang shook his head with a rueful smile, as if recalling a scene from yesterday. "Just like in all those clichéd stories—the hero easily wins the beauty’s heart. My sister fell for him at first sight."

Chen Yu nodded. It wasn’t surprising—a gentle, passionate woman like Liu Hong would naturally be drawn to a young and talented man like Luo Xiangdong.

"But…" Liu Gang abruptly shifted his tone again. "But do you know? The Luo Xiangdong my sister adored as a god… he wasn’t interested in women at all!"

"The one he truly pursued…"

Liu Gang swallowed with difficulty.

"…was me!"

"What?" This time, Chen Yu was genuinely stunned, but he recovered quickly, his mind flashing as he scrutinized the disheveled, haggard man before him. Despite Liu Gang’s unkempt beard and greasy hair, if one looked past the surface to his features—the high bridge of his nose, the deep-set eyes, and the face that bore a striking resemblance to Liu Hong—it was not hard to imagine that in his youth, Liu Gang must have been the kind of heartthrob who could make countless girls swoon.

A bold thought struck Chen Yu like lightning. Luo Xiangdong… was not straight!

Liu Gang finally spoke aloud the explosive secret he’d buried for over a decade. He watched Chen Yu closely, hoping for shock or disbelief.

But there was none. Chen Yu’s face was as calm as a deep, bottomless well, not the slightest ripple showing.

Liu Gang was truly surprised. He couldn’t help but ask, "Did you… already know?"

At that, Chen Yu rolled his eyes elegantly. Of course! If Luo Xiangdong were straight, then what would it make me, sleeping with your sister now? Some kind of pot-scrubbing fool? Where would be the roguish flair in that?

"Go on," Chen Yu said, not answering his question but showing great interest in the rest of the story. This sense of being led unsettled Liu Gang, but he could only continue.

"Luo Xiangdong entered the institute a year before me. He was already a star during his university days—exceptional, admired by all. I never imagined a nobody like me would end up working alongside such a figure."

"Wait!" Chen Yu’s investigative instincts kicked in. "You said Luo Xiangdong was already outstanding in college?"

"Of course," Liu Gang replied, as if it were obvious. "I was his junior; we were in the same department, so I know his story well."

"When did he start to stand out?"

This question made Liu Gang pause. "How… how did you know?" He looked at Chen Yu with a touch of fear now. Just how many secrets did this young man know?

"From what I heard from upperclassmen, Luo Xiangdong was pretty much a nobody his freshman year—average grades, not involved in activities, just an ordinary guy. But in his sophomore year, it was as if something clicked. He changed completely!"

"Clubs, essay competitions, speeches, academic contests—he was everywhere, always coming out on top, a dark horse out of nowhere!"

Chen Yu’s eyes shone even brighter. Ordinary in his first year, suddenly transformed in his second? That didn’t add up. How could someone’s talent and character change so dramatically over a single summer? There had to be an untold reason behind it.

"So did you know him in college?" Chen Yu pressed on.

"No, no," Liu Gang shook his head quickly. "I knew him, but he didn’t know me. He was a big shot then, practically a celebrity—how could he notice a nobody like me?"

"Hmm…" Chen Yu murmured thoughtfully. He felt as if he’d seized the thread of a crucial clue, but it remained elusive, buried under years of dust.

"Go on," Chen Yu urged, frowning.

"Well… it’s a bit embarrassing," Liu Gang admitted, his face darkening with shame and regret.

"After joining the institute, I became colleagues with Luo Xiangdong, so we interacted more. Gradually… he started saying strange things to me, and especially liked inviting me for drinks after work."

"What strange things?" Chen Yu asked, though he already guessed.

"Just… really mushy stuff," Liu Gang said, visibly uncomfortable. "Coming from a man, it gave me chills. Only later did I realize his orientation… might be off."

"But I’m a straight man! How could I accept that kind of… affection from him?"

"While I was at my wit’s end, my sister, Liu Hong, appeared. She fell for him at first sight!"

Liu Gang closed his eyes in pain.

"Back then, I was too young, too selfish. To get rid of Luo Xiangdong’s pursuit, I did the first truly despicable thing in my life…"

"You pushed your sister toward Luo Xiangdong as a shield, to escape him yourself, didn’t you?" Chen Yu’s voice turned cold, cutting straight to the heart.

"Yes," Liu Gang replied with a bitter laugh, as if mocking his younger self. "My selfishness, my sin, began to take root from that moment."

"I remember it clearly—the first time I arranged for them to meet, the atmosphere was painfully awkward. I had to do all the talking."

"But to my utter surprise, after that awkward meeting, Luo Xiangdong… agreed! He agreed to date my sister!"

"This…" Chen Yu felt something was off but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. For a man who liked men to marry a woman just for appearances made sense. But why choose his crush’s own sister? Wasn’t that just inviting trouble?

"If his orientation was an issue, why did he date and even marry your sister?" Chen Yu put the main doubt right on the table.

"I… I don’t know," Liu Gang said, shaking his head in confusion. "Maybe like I said, he needed a wife to quiet the gossip and hide his real secret. Or maybe he really was moved by my sister’s beauty and gentleness—maybe he was actually bisexual?"

"After he started dating and then married your sister, did he ever pursue you again?"

Liu Gang’s expression changed, staring at Chen Yu in surprise. He had only intended to share some gossip, to satisfy the curiosity of this “new brother-in-law,” but Chen Yu’s questioning was more incisive than a detective’s.

"No… not anymore," Liu Gang replied after some thought. "Once he was with my sister, he basically stopped with the weird behavior and the mushy words."

"Except…" He seemed to remember something. "When they went out—shopping, movies, dinner—they always liked to invite me along. The three of us together, you know? It made me feel… very uncomfortable!"

"I see!"

With those words, the fog in Chen Yu’s mind lifted in an instant. He slapped his thigh and leapt to his feet.

The sudden movement startled Liu Gang out of his reverie.

But Chen Yu paid him no mind, too excited as he paced, his eyes bright as countless fragments of clues whirled, collided, and reassembled in his mind.

So that was it! That was the truth!

He finally understood what he had seen when using the “Retrospect” skill in Luo Xiangdong’s bedroom at Liu Hong’s home. He had seen Luo Xiangdong, before his death, standing at the bedside, staring motionless at the wall.

On that wall was the mark of a photo frame, identical in size to the one burned in the locked room.

Chen Yu had deduced that the burned photo must have hung there once. He’d always assumed Luo Xiangdong was gazing obsessively at his wedding photo with Liu Hong, overcome by love for her.

But now he saw how wrong he’d been!

Luo Xiangdong hadn’t been staring at Liu Hong at all.

He had been staring at Liu Gang.

The siblings looked so much alike that Luo Xiangdong had long since replaced Liu Hong with Liu Gang in his heart.

A husband, standing in his own bedroom, staring day after day at his wife’s photo—what kind of obsession was that?

It wasn’t obsession with his wife at all.

It was longing and despair for the one he truly loved but could never have.