The moment the last iron door in the corridor slammed shut, Han Ding's feeling was a little unfamiliar, he couldn't remember how many times he had come to the detention center to meet Long Xiaoyu, but this time his mood was completely different. As before, Long Xiaoyu sat in the dimly lit conversation room early, watching Han Ding walk in through the door on the opposite side with a blank expression.

Perhaps because the verdict has been handed down, the supervision of the police is more relaxed than in the past, and the policeman who brought Han Ding here did not even follow up the room, and only Han Ding and Long Xiaoyu sat opposite each other in the large conversation room. The air was shining in the form of a mist under the slanting sun of a small window overhead, and the foggy sunlight projected between the two of them, spreading into a hazy barrier.

Han Ding raised his eyes and stared at Long Xiaoyu, he wanted to see what changes had changed on that delicate face. On the way to the detention center, he has tried to use his life experience to imagine that this face may change a little. The mood after the verdict was definitely different. There must be a difference between a feeling of hope and a feeling of utter despair, and the feeling of being able to count the days of one's life is certainly different!

But Long Xiaoyu is no different.

His face was still calm, still the same as when he first met Han Ding, with a little restraint and even shyness, still sitting on the other side of the table silently waiting for Han Ding to ask him.

Han Ding asked, "Has the verdict been served?" ”

Long Xiaoyu nodded.

Han Ding asked, "Do you want to appeal?" ”

Long Xiaoyu didn't answer, nor did he nod.

This was Han Ding's main task this time, he took out the appeal letter that had been prepared from his leather bag and handed it to Long Xiaoyu. He said: "This is the appeal I wrote for you, you can look at it, we must send the appeal request within 10 days after the first instance judgment, otherwise it will be considered a waiver of the appeal." There is an important principle in our law, called 'no increase in sentence on appeal', not to mention, the first-instance judgment is already the maximum sentence, so you don't have to worry about it. An appeal can at least buy you some time and delay your life. And, in case...... If the appeal is successful and the verdict is changed in the second instance, even if the sentence is commuted to a suspended death sentence, your life will be saved. In any case, life is the most precious, and we should try to cherish it and keep it as much as possible, you say? ”

It was indeed a cruel thing to persuade the preciousness of life in front of Long Xiaoyu, so that Han Ding's words were slow and unnatural. The reason why he said two "what ifs" in a row was because even he didn't believe that a miracle would happen in the second trial. The most obvious value of entering the second trial is what he has already said: it is the delay of life.

Long Xiaoyu didn't look at the appeal that had been pushed in front of him, nor did he answer Han Ding's question, his eyes were lowered, he didn't know what he was looking at, he suddenly asked a question that Han Ding hadn't thought of:

"Does Jingjing know the result of the verdict?"

Han Ding thought for a moment and replied truthfully: "I know." ”

Long Xiaoyu didn't speak for a long time, nor did he look up, and only after a long time did he ask again: "Then ...... she is now?" Do you believe that I killed Siping now? Does she believe I'm a murderer? ”

Han Ding didn't know how to answer, so he simply asked, "You still think that you didn't kill anyone, right?" ”

Long Xiaoyu didn't look up, nor did he make a sound.

Han Ding continued: "That bloodstain identification has proved that the murderer is none other than you, this is the judgment of science against you, are you still not satisfied?" You still hope that Luo Jingjing, like you, doesn't believe in that scientific appraisal, right? ”

Long Xiaoyu raised his head, there were some tears in his eyes, but these tears did not arouse Han Ding's compassion as in the past. He looked at Long Xiaoyu coldly, he wanted to use this disdainful expression to listen to how he answered, how to explain.

Long Xiaoyu didn't defend himself as Han Ding expected, he took a deep breath and said, "It doesn't matter if I kill or not, I just don't want Jingjing to be stimulated anymore, I don't want to make her sad anymore." As much as I would love to make a good impression in her mind, I would love to keep that impression I had in her mind in the past, ......"

Han Ding was stunned for a long time, he didn't believe that a person who was dying would care so much about his impression in the hearts of others, and would care so much about whether the good impression he left in the heart of a girl in the past could be maintained after his death. Han Ding was stunned for a long time before he said coldly: "Okay, then your only chance is here!" He stood up, leaned forward, pointed to the appeal on the table, and said, "Then you must appeal!" Use an appeal to prove that you are innocent and wrongly convicted. I advise you to appeal not for me, you appeal to me in any way, I help you fight this lawsuit at your own expense, you know, I am at my own expense. ”

Long Xiaoyu suddenly interrupted Han Ding's words: "I thank you, Lawyer Han, I thank you for your kindness, but I won't appeal." I know it's useless to appeal, and since it's useless, let's let this matter be over sooner. Actually, I know that the more I live, the more uncomfortable Jingjing will be. If she still has feelings for me, she will always be in her heart if this matter is not over, which is not good for her, so let this matter be over as soon as possible. ”

Han Ding had nothing to answer, and he sat back on the stool in a daze.

He looked at Long Xiaoyu silently, and to be honest, he was a little moved in his heart.

He had to admit that Long Xiaoyu was really in love with Luo Jingjing. If he was replaced, he wouldn't dare to say that he could choose to die early in order to get rid of Luo Jingjing's concern and relieve her inner torment like him? He didn't dare to say.

On the way out of the detention center and back to the workers' new village, Han Ding thought about it again and again, he thought that he had to hide Long Xiaoyu's words no matter what. He could tell Luo Jingjing that the reason why Long Xiaoyu refused to appeal was that the case was already ironclad, and he had no illusions about appealing. Han Ding thought, if Luo Jingjing knew that Long Xiaoyu only wanted to die quickly because she didn't want her to suffer more, would she be able to bear it in her heart? Not to mention the infatuated and bitter Luo Jingjing, this is a sharp knife for any young girl.

Luo Jingjing has not eaten or slept for a whole day and night. There was no makeup on his face at all, his expression was withered, and his complexion was like a disease, but in Han Ding's eyes, he was still beautiful. Together with Cheng Yao, under the dim yellow lamp, she quietly listened to Han Ding's narration. Han Ding told them that Long Xiaoyu was in good spirits, in normal mood, and mentally prepared for the verdict, so he was not surprised. Han Ding's words obviously played a comforting role for Luo Jingjing, and her expression was about to cry anymore, and the feeling on her face was much calmer. Han Ding thought, she is really a child! He further explained: "I asked the police in the detention center, and they said that he had been well fed in the past few days, and that during his detention, the police inside had not troubled him. You may also know that I know Yao Dawei, so I take good care of him. ”

Cheng Yao cooperated with Han Ding's comfort to Luo Jingjing, and couldn't stop nodding. None of them expected Luo Jingjing to suddenly ask:

"Did he ask me? Did he ask me today? ”

Han Ding was stunned for a moment, and then replied hastily: "Oh, I asked." He, he said he didn't want you ...... I don't want you to feel sorry for him. ”

"Is that all there is to me, is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Han Ding was silent for a long time, his thoughts struggled repeatedly, and at the moment when he didn't know how to do it, he suddenly felt that he was too cruel. He looked at Luo Jingjing's pure face, looking at the look of anticipation on his face, he really couldn't bear to be greedy for Long Xiaoyu's words to Luo Jingjing. He couldn't deny that Long Xiaoyu was the lover she once loved with all her heart, they should have a real goodbye to each other, and when they broke up forever, Luo Jingjing had the right to know Long Xiaoyu's final confession.

Han Ding opened his throat and said slowly, "He...... He doesn't want you to be disappointed in him, and he doesn't want you to believe that he kills. He wants him to be as ...... image in your heart as he was in the past."

Long Xiaoyu's words really called Luo Jingjing's tears down, and even Cheng Yao's eyes turned red, she went up and hugged her tightly, warming her with a tender touch. Luo Jingjing covered her face with her hands, her whole body trembled, and she sobbed and said, "He should know that I believe in him, and I believe that he will not kill." He is in my heart the same as he used to be. They must have made a mistake, he should have appealed, why didn't he appeal......"

Han Ding simply didn't have anything to hide, and he continued: "He thinks it's useless to appeal, he doesn't want to drag it out any longer, and he doesn't want you to worry about him anymore." ”

Luo Jingjing couldn't cry: "Then why don't you appeal for him...... You are his lawyer and you should appeal for him! ”

Han Ding's voice became tougher: "I persuaded him to appeal, but he didn't appeal himself." It is his right, not mine, not to appeal. But one thing I have to tell you is that he appealed, and I can't come up with new evidence to overturn the testimonial. The appraisal was later reviewed by the bloodstain experts of the Provincial Public Security Department, and the conclusion remained unchanged, and I have no ability to overturn it. ”

Luo Jingjing was still crying, and her crying brought out her despair: "Then it should also be appealed, at least let him live a few more days, let him live a few more days in this world, with us......"

Han Ding shook his head and said, "Jingjing, he wants to end it early, because he doesn't want you to be so sad anymore." And it's sad that he's alive like this, isn't he sad? The end is also a relief for him, and we should respect his choice. ”

Luo Jingjing just shook her head, she probably wanted to say something, but her words choked in her chest, and she couldn't say a word. Cheng Yao motioned to Han Ding to stop talking, and then helped Luo Jingjing into the bedroom. Han Ding sat alone in the living room, feeling very uncomfortable. A girl he loves loves someone else like this, and he feels very uncomfortable.

He sat alone in the living room for a long time. He didn't know when Cheng Yao came out. She stood behind him and said, "Han Ding, Jingjing wants to go and see Long Xiaoyu and want to meet him again, do you have a way?" ”

Han Ding looked back at her and said, "I can't help it." ”

Cheng Yao didn't speak again, lowered her head and sighed. Han Ding was silent for a long time, and then whispered, "Let me think about it." ”

The next day was Sunday, at 8 o'clock in the morning, Han Ding and Luo Jingjing went out together, and the two took a taxi from the workers' new village directly to the detention center of the pre-trial department of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

When the police in the detention center saw that Han Ding had brought a woman today, they asked strangely, "Yo, why are there two people today?" ”

Han Ding remained silent and introduced to the police: "This is my colleague, surnamed Luo, called Luo Jingjing." ”

The police looked at Luo Jingjing curiously: "Also from Beijing?" Your lawyers in Beijing are all like movie stars. ”

Han Ding smiled and said, "It's tall, right." It just so happened that she was handling other cases in Pingling, so I brought her to help today. ”

The policeman said: "Didn't that kid not appeal, what else do you have to do?" ”

Han Ding said: "Last time he said that he wanted to leave a will for his family, and we will do it." ”

The police said: "It seems that his parents are long gone, and they have no home for a long time, who will the will be left to?" ”

Han Ding said: "Who knows, he still has relatives." ”

The policeman said, "Oh. ”

The policeman seemed to be deliberately interrogating, and like chatting casually, asking casually, and at the same time helped them open a certificate to enter the prison. Then I found another younger policeman and took them in. Luo Jingjing had never seen this formation, and listening to the questions and answers of Han Ding and the policeman, her face turned pale with nervousness. Seeing that the police issued a permit and let him go, the lines on his face relaxed slightly. Han Ding glanced at her, motioned her to order casually, motioned her to follow, and she followed inside, followed Han Ding around a few corners, entered an unknown number of doors, and finally walked to the conversation room.

They went in and found the other side of the table empty. Long Xiaoyu hasn't been bet yet. Luo Jingjing saw Han Ding sit down, so she also sat down, because she was nervous and restrained, so she sat too close to Han Ding too regularly. Han Ding pushed her: "Sit over there, so earthy." Then she smiled and relaxed her nerves with a smile. Luo Jingjing hurriedly moved her position and sat farther away, but fortunately, the policeman who accompanied them in went out to take Long Xiaoyu through a door opposite them, and didn't pay much attention to Luo Jingjing's embarrassment.

Five minutes later, Long Xiaoyu was brought, wearing prison clothes, shaved board, as soon as he saw Luo Jingjing sitting in front of him, he was so surprised that he was like in a dream, and he opened his mouth and was about to say something when Han Ding interrupted him first: "Long Xiaoyu, did you eat well this morning?" Come, let me introduce you to lawyer Luo, my colleague. Let's look for you today, didn't you say that you want to leave some words for your family or friends, and we will help you write them down, okay? ”

After Han Ding finished speaking, he motioned for Luo Jingjing to take out a pen and paper from her purse to make a record. Then he said to Long Xiaoyu, who was still standing in a daze, "You sit down, sit down and say." ”

The policeman who brought Long Xiaoyu in also patted him on the shoulder behind Long Xiaoyu, and said very businesslikely, "Sit down." Then the shackles on Long Xiaoyu's feet were attached to the bench as usual, and after locking them, the police went around to the other end of the long table and sat down to observe.

Long Xiaoyu sat down in a daze, his eyes hesitated for a moment before he lifted it up and landed on Luo Jingjing. When he looked at Luo Jingjing, he probably didn't hear what Han Ding said again.

Han Ding said calmly: "Long Xiaoyu, you say, who do you want to leave a message to?" ”

Long Xiaoyu's eyes only looked at Luo Jingjing, and he didn't answer Han Ding's question.

Han Ding raised his voice, he wanted to draw his attention: "Long Xiaoyu, do you want to leave a will?" Do you want to say something last to someone? ”

Long Xiaoyu's eyes were still frozen on Luo Jingjing's face, but he opened his mouth, and he said dumbly: "I want it." ”

Han Ding continued to ask loudly: "Who are you going to say to, is there anyone else in your family?" ”

Long Xiaoyu withdrew his gaze and moved to Han Ding, his voice trembled a little, and he said, "My parents are long gone, and I have no relatives in my hometown. I only have one friend, and she is also my sister, and only her, is ...... It's my family! I...... I would like to say a few words to her. ”

The air in the room was almost frozen, and Han Ding was afraid of death, he was afraid that Luo Jingjing would not be able to hold back the whimper in his heart. Although she had been resolutely guaranteeing that she could control her feelings and resolutely promise not to show her face from last night to this morning, Han Ding was still worried that she would suddenly cry out loud.

Han Ding let his voice show a transactional flatness as much as possible, he wanted to use the flatness in his tone to reduce Luo Jingjing's sadness and dilute the increasingly concentrated sadness in the air.

He said, "Okay, you name it." ”

Long Xiaoyu lowered his head and didn't speak immediately, Han Ding thought that he needed to think about it, this was his last word after all. But when Long Xiaoyu raised his head again, his eyes were full of tears, he lowered his head in fact just to control his emotions, he wanted to keep his voice steady.

"Dear little sister, I'm leaving, I really want to hug you before I go. But it's impossible, you just sit in front of me today, and I can't hold you. I'm a death row inmate, don't let me freak you, don't let me make you dirty, you're the most beautiful, kindest, and cleanest girl in the world! Ever since I left you, I've been thinking about you every day, and the thing I'm most afraid of is that you've forgotten me. Later, I quietly came back from the south and went to look for you in your courtyard, but by then you were gone. I couldn't find a job for a long time, and I often didn't even have ten dollars on me, but when I think of you, that you may not have forgotten me, and that one day we may be able to meet again, I am very happy and confident. I always thought that poverty could make a person have no pursuit except food, clothing and earning money, but since I met you, I have found that food, clothing and money are not important, and it is happy to be with you without money. I always thought about us cooking, playing on the computer, chatting and going to the store together, and I always thought that maybe I would be able to live that life...... But now, the only thing I have to tell you is to ask you to forget me quickly, forever! I'm going to forget about you too. As long as I can forget you, I will no longer have any worries about this world, and I will go with peace of mind. You just let me go in peace, I don't want to go so painfully......"

Long Xiaoyu's voice became more and more out of tune, and the more he spoke, the more it seemed to be a hoarse cry, with excited gasps, and when he said this, it stopped even more abruptly. For a few seconds, the room was so quiet that there was not a single sound. Han Ding's chest was pounding, and he didn't dare to look sideways at Luo Jingjing beside him.

He could feel Luo Jingjing motionless beside him, like a lifeless puppet, not even breathing! Han Ding swallowed back the heart that jumped to his throat desperately, cleared his throat, and continued to ask:

"Are you done?"

Long Xiaoyu replied in a low voice: "It's over." After a pause, he added, "I wish her happiness." ”

The policemen who were listening to the hearing may have seen a lot of this kind of scene of life and death, and when they saw that they no longer spoke, they interjected indifferently: "Are you finished talking, do you have anything else to say?" No, so be it. ”

The police took the lead in standing up and went over to loosen the ties on Long Xiaoyu's feet. Long Xiaoyu immediately stood up, left the long table, and walked towards the door opposite Han Ding with shackles, and at the moment when the police opened the door and he was about to step out, Han Ding didn't expect that Luo Jingjing suddenly stood up and shouted:

"Long Xiaoyu!"

Han Ding was shocked, his hairs stood on end, and his heart was so nervous that it almost popped out of his mouth. Before he came out, he made an appointment with Luo Jingjing for three chapters, and said that she couldn't speak today, and she couldn't say a word! But at this time, no one had time to stop Luo Jingjing's explosive voice, she had already stood up and burst out with a sentence:

"Long Xiaoyu, do you have anything else to leave for your little sister?" Long Xiaoyu stood at the door and looked back at Luo Jingjing, his face was so dark that his eyebrows were blurred under the strong contrast of the sunlight outside the door.

Luo Jingjing asked again: "Do you have it?" ”

What kind of expression was on Long Xiaoyu's backlit face, Han Ding couldn't see clearly, he only saw him and Luo Jingjing's gaze facing each other, motionless for a long time, before he replied dumbly:

"Nope."

He said these two words unclearly, and then turned around and went out, but Luo Jingjing stopped him again.

"Long Xiaoyu, didn't you say that there is a string of heirloom pearl bracelets to leave to your relatives? Are you going to leave it to your little sister? ”

Long Xiaoyu stood at the door, stood still for a while, still shook his head, and then said a short "no".

Luo Jingjing's voice was a little out of tune, at least Han Ding could hear it: "Why?" She gasped and asked, "Don't you have no other relatives?" Why don't you leave it to your little sister? ”

Long Xiaoyu's voice was also a little out of tune, and that voice made Han Ding hear what a man's crying was: "Because, because I want her to forget about me...... I'm just a dream she had in the past, and in reality, I don't have a person like me, I don't ...... at all It didn't appear at all! ”

Long Xiaoyu turned his head, he barely waited for the last sentence to be finished before he turned his head and walked out the door, he obviously didn't want Luo Jingjing to see his tears bursting out, but Han Ding could still hear the choked voice that he tried his best to hide from his unfinished words.

The door on the opposite side finally closed, and Long Xiaoyu followed the policeman away. Luo Jingjing didn't move, she stood like a demon, listening to the sound of chains mopping the floor outside the door, and gradually drifted away, no more. Han Ding also stood up, and at this time he found that Luo Jingjing's face was already full of tears.

He didn't accuse her, but he reminded in a low voice, "Jingjing, don't cry here!" ”

Luo Jingjing wiped her tears, turned around and ran out of the lowly lit conversation room. With a heavy heart, Han Ding accepted the messy piece of paper she had left on the table and left the room.

When he walked out of the prison area with Luo Jingjing, the policeman on duty at the door looked at them with a suspicious face. Although Han Ding walked behind Luo Jingjing, he could guess how suspicious the look on her face should be. He greeted the policeman with a smile and a smile, covered the past with a casual expression, and then chased after Luo Jingjing closely, and escaped from the gate of the detention center together with a bit of rat-like confusion.

On the way home, sitting in the cramped back seat of the taxi, Luo Jingjing tilted her head back, her eyes were closed, and tears still flowed uncontrollably. Han Ding wanted to hug her, and guessed that she might not want anyone to touch her at this moment, so he just sat silently and didn't say anything.

As soon as she returned to the workers' new village, Luo Jingjing walked into the bedroom, closed the door and never came out again. Han Ding was preparing lunch in the kitchen, and while waiting for the pot, he walked outside the bedroom several times to hold his breath and listen, but he couldn't hear the slightest sound inside. At noon, Cheng Yao came back from the unit and saw Han Ding putting food on the table, so he asked how the situation was in the detention center in the morning. Han Ding looked at Nunu in the bedroom and motioned for Cheng Yao to go in to comfort and comfort, and Cheng Yao nodded and went in. A minute later, Luo Jingjing's sharp and deafening cry finally came from the bedroom. The cry made Han Ding let go of his heart that had been hanging for a long time. He thought, just cry out.

All afternoon, all night, all night, Han Ding and Cheng Yao were by her side. When the next morning came, Luo Jingjing finally dried her tears and finally spoke, she agreed to Cheng Yao's proposal to go back to Beijing with Han Ding. "Forget Long Xiaoyu, your home is now in Beijing." Cheng Yao said, "In a few days, when I miss you, I will go to Beijing to see you, just like you live with me now, and live in your house." ”

Han Ding was grateful to Cheng Yao for her warm hospitality for so many days, and even more grateful to her for reminding Luo Jingjing of her destiny and future when everything was about to end.

That afternoon, Han Ding and Luo Jingjing sat side by side on a passenger train from Pingling to Beijing, and when the train started slowly, they waved goodbye to Cheng Yao on the platform. The train was moving forward, Cheng Yao couldn't see it, and Pingling couldn't see it, but Luo Jingjing was still looking out the window. Han Ding slowly hugged her body, and at the same time said softly in his heart:

"Let me love you, little Jingjing."