Three years later, St. John’s Cathedral:
A Sunday Service was drawing to a close, the cathedral echoing with the clear and melodious hymns of the choir. Amidst the crowd stood an elderly man leaning on a cane, his eyes slightly closed, softly singing along with the music.
After the service ended, the congregation departed their seats and left the hall one by one. The old man waited for the crowd to disperse before slowly making his way out with his cane. A young man rose from his seat and followed behind him, saying respectfully, “Hello, Mr. Guo.”
The old man halted his steps and turned to look at him. “Hello there. And you are?”
“Pardon the intrusion. My name is He Chu San, the Managing Director of Bing Xian Financial Company. I would like to request a moment of your time.”
“Let us speak outside,” the old man said.
Outside the cathedral, the green trees provided dense shade, and the paths were quiet and secluded. Located in Central, one could look up and see the nearby skyscrapers piercing the sky. Amidst the bustling city, there existed such a tranquil place of prayer.
The two walked one after the other under the shade of the trees. He Chu San assisted Elder Guo as he sat down on a long bench. Elder Guo spoke first, “You have come to find me regarding the matter of Xia Liu Yi, haven’t you?”
“How did you know?”
“I heard that Mr. He has sought out nearly every Justice of the Peace in all of Hong Kong these past few years. By my calculations, it should be my turn now.”
Author’s Note: The Justice of the Peace system originated in Britain. Justices of the Peace are members of the public appointed by the government to maintain community peace, prevent illegal punishment, and handle simple legal procedures. They may petition the Governor of Hong Kong for a pardon or sentence reduction based on a prisoner’s significant performance.
He Chu San explained urgently, “Xia Liu Yi took the initiative to surrender back then and performed the primary service in the case against Xie Ying Jie. He has also behaved well in prison in recent years…” Elder Guo, however, shook his head with a smile. “There is no need to say more; I have reviewed the case of Xia Liu Yi in great detail. Given the crimes he committed in the past, his sentencing measure is reasonable. You must know this in your heart as well—why go to such lengths?”
He Chu San continued to persuade him without relenting, “Elder Guo, you are a man of faith. Christ teaches us to achieve atonement through repentance. Xia Liu Yi has confessed his crimes without reservation and possesses a deep desire for repentance and goodness. Why can he not be granted an opportunity to reform early?”
Elder Guo gently patted the back of the hand He Chu San had placed on his knee, signaling for him to relax—while speaking these words, He Chu San had been gripping his knee in agitation and tension, the veins bulging on the back of his hand.
“Are you a believer?” the old man asked kindly.
He Chu San answered honestly, “No.”
“Do you have any other faith?”
“My father is a student of Buddhism, and he would speak to me of Buddhist principles since I was a child.”
“Then you should go and sit in your temples often. Xia Liu Yi has already found his inner peace; what about you?”
…
He Chu San sat in the passenger seat. Kevin, who was driving, turned to look at his expression and guessed that he had been rejected once again. He felt deeply sorry for him. “Brother Chu San, it’s alright. We can find another one.”
He Chu San looked down and caressed the diamond ring on his ring finger. “Thank you, Kevin.”
“It’s nothing. Where would you like to go next?”
“To Stanley Prison.”
Hearing this answer, Kevin sighed inwardly. But knowing he would not listen to persuasion, Kevin started the car anyway.
After a long journey, the car stopped outside the prison gates. He Chu San got out alone. Kevin stayed in the car, watching as he hurried inside.
The brick phone at his waist rang. Kevin picked up the call, and the voice of a young man came from the other end.
“Mhm, I’m with Brother Chu San,” Kevin replied.
“Mhm, I’m coming home for dinner tonight. Are you not on shift tonight? Then I want to eat the pineapple rice you make.”
“Sure, let’s book movie tickets for around eight o’clock.”
He chatted idly with the other person for a while until he caught sight of He Chu San walking out of the prison. “Gotta go, Brother Chu San is coming out. See you tonight.”
Kevin put down his phone and was about to start the car. However, he saw He Chu San suddenly sit down by a utility pole on the roadside. Dressed in a formal suit, he sat right there on the ground, raising both arms to block the sunlight spilling over his face. Kevin hurriedly pushed open the car door and ran out, intending to help He Chu San up, but He Chu San refused, “Don’t… no need… thank you, let me stay alone for a while…”
Kevin let out a low sigh and retreated a few steps toward the car, keeping watch from a distance. He could not help but cast a sorrowful gaze toward the high prison walls.
On the other side of those walls was the yard where prisoners had their exercise period. Limping Sha, the former boss of the Sha Family Gang, sat by the newly renovated basketball court rubbing his legs. He saw Xia Liu Yi slowly walking back from the direction of the visitation room.
Limping Sha fished out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. As Xia Liu Yi sat down, he blew a large cloud of smoke into his face. “You miserable bastard! It’s been three years, and you still refuse to see him?”
Amidst the smoke, Xia Liu Yi hung his head with a bleak expression, rubbing the jade Buddha on his chest. “He is a man of steadfast will; if there is even a glimmer of hope, he will continue. I cannot give him that hope.”
“Sigh!” Even Limping Sha couldn’t stand to watch this anymore! “Just treat him as your wife—can’t he just wait for you for another decade or so out there? My wife and kids are still waiting for me to get out!”
Xia Liu Yi shook his head. “He is only twenty-eight years old this year with a bright future ahead of him. These are his best years of youth; why waste them on a sinner like me? He deserves a better life.”
“I think you’ve got a sickness in your head!” Limping Sha would not listen to his twisted logic and slapped his thigh with a final declaration.
In the middle of the night, Xia Liu Yi lay on the cold, hard iron bunk bed, listening to the rising and falling snores from the lower bunk and the surrounding area. He reached his hand under his pillow and gently pulled out several thin birthday cards. In the darkness, he caressed those elegant and upright characters as if he were stroking He Chu San’s cheek. He felt He Chu San’s deep longing, and even a trace of sorrowful resentment.
Back then, he had fully assisted the police in arresting Xie Ying Jie and Qiao Chun An, and had confessed to all the crimes of the Xiao Qi Hall. taking everything upon his own shoulders. The condition was that the other members of Xiao Qi Hall would no longer be pursued. Naturally, the Xiao Qi Hall headquarters would be dissolved, vanishing from the underworld forever. For these past three years, apart from the birthday cards every June 1st, he had refused all visits from He Chu San, would not take his calls, and even returned the sent mail entirely unopened. This was all so that He Chu San would completely lose heart and begin a new life.
Tears silently soaked the pillow. He did not wish to be so heartless and cruel. If he could use his own hands to embrace and warm He Chu San during every cold night, how could he ever bear to let go?
If only they could have met in their youth, rewriting all of fate—clean and innocent, safe and sound, remaining together for a lifetime, never to be parted.
Futile Devices Scans 
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