Life was just so … strange.
Johnson had never thought that he would suddenly have a new child, a little boy, when he was about to retire.
He had thought that he would not have many feelings for the little boy. After all, he was too old to be a good father. He had seen too many complicated and cruel aspects of society, so he would not have too much "affection" for the little boy.
However, when he saw the baby holding his finger and looking at him, he was touched.
He was not a strong person, nor was he a boorish person. On the contrary, he would sometimes act a little … Well, maybe he was weak. In the past, the fellows in the bureau would secretly judge him like this. Not being strong enough meant that he was weak?
However, he had a very delicate side. At that moment, his inner emotions were ignited by a new life.
A flame that had disappeared from his life for decades was reignited. He went back and told his wife about what had happened. Now, he and his wife were living separately.
His wife and his other children still lived in Saibin. They had lived there for many years. Their life, work, relatives, and friends were all there. All the necessary contact with society was there. In addition to these things, they did not come with him.
Johnson, his wife, and the little boy were the only ones living in the capital.
Early in the morning, the sun pierced through the thick atmosphere and sprinkled the golden morning light on the ground. Johnson slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he did was to check on his child in the nursery.
Johnson couldn't help but smile when he saw the baby sleeping so soundly. He gently touched the baby's face with his rough fingers.
He didn't know how to describe that feeling. In the beginning, he couldn't feel anything at all. He was too old. Whether it was his flesh or his nerves, they had all aged. He was so old that he could barely feel what his fingers were touching.
But now, with the help of some strange power, he could feel that the little face, which was as soft as the clouds in the sky, was slightly dented under his touch.
"You are an angel!" he said.
He withdrew his hand, afraid that he would hurt the little boy. The love in his eyes overflowed.
His awakening also woke up the woman sleeping beside him. She stood at the door and looked at Johnson and the child in the crib. Her feelings were complicated and subtle, but overall, at least she and her eldest son could live like before.
You can't expect a young woman who has never had any social experience, nor any skill, to get a job, especially at a time like this.
It was difficult for them to do anything other than get a job and exchange their dignity for money to support themselves and their children.
Fortunately, Johnson was there.
Little Michael was transferred to a private school in the capital. Johnson was now a consultant researcher for the state tax bureau. Thanks to his connections, a good private school in the capital gave Little Michael a full scholarship and waived all his tuition fees.
That was what his psychiatrist said. Michael's new environment could help him rebuild his personality.
Speaking of psychiatrists, she had to thank her current male companion, Johnson. The combination of power and wealth was like a passport to everything in this world. Under the guidance of the new psychiatrist, Little Michael gradually became more cheerful again, except for the times when he would sit in front of her dressing mirror and daydream.
Perhaps it was Johnson's fingertips that made the baby wake up from his sleep, or perhaps it was the light reflecting from the clear sky outside the window that disturbed him, and he began to cry.
The woman immediately walked over and untied the belt on her nightgown without any hesitation, revealing her breakfast. She carefully picked up the baby and gave him food to comfort him.
A smile appeared on Johnson's face as he looked at the mother and son and felt the pulse of a "family" that had just given birth to a new life.
It would be even better if the doorbell didn't ring.
"I'll go see who's there..." He closed the door of the baby's room gently before leaving. He quickly went to the entrance and opened the door.
This was a middle-class community. The people living here were the middle class and government officials. The community's defense was very strong, and all the facilities were good. He was not worried that someone would cause trouble for him. Those thugs could not even enter the door.
However, the moment the door was opened, his expression froze slightly, and then slowly disappeared.
"It seems like I'm not very welcome."
The smile on Lynch's face was as bright as the sun. It was not so dazzling, but it was golden. "Mr. Johnson, you seem to be a little dissatisfied with my arrival?"
"Dissatisfied?"
"No, no, we're good friends. Remember? You said it before!"
Johnson took a deep breath and took two steps forward, standing right in the middle of the doorframe.
His action meant that he did not welcome Lynch in. "Shall we... take a walk?"
He suggested.
Lynch glanced into the house and looked away. There was a woman and a baby inside. He knew that.
Money could solve a lot of problems in the Federation, including finding out secrets that others did not know about.
He did not intend to force Johnson. After nodding, the two of them strolled along the road in the community.
"Good morning, gentlemen..."
A lady walked over and her gaze paused on Lynch's face for a moment before she greeted him. The two men responded in kind.
A half-grown boy who was delivering newspapers on a bicycle had a happy smile on his face. An old man who was mowing the lawn on the side of the road fought to hold the lawn mower and scolded the dog who wanted to fight the lawn mower as if it was a monster. Not far away, a middle-aged homeowner was chatting with his neighbor while watering the flowers that were about to bloom in the yard.
Everything was bathed in the sunlight. This place seemed to be the most beautiful place in the world. There were no worries, no worries, and everyone was polite and generous...
Lynch retracted his attention from his surroundings. He looked at the end of the street in the distance and walked forward aimlessly. "Did you know that Fox was arrested by the state tax bureau yesterday?"
Johnson, who was about to land on the ground, suddenly paused. He was one step behind Lin Qi. He followed Lin Qi and denied, "I rarely go to the tax bureau. I don't have any specific work to do. Usually, we only go when someone calls us and asks us to go."
"Other than that, I only go there when I get paid. So, I don't know what you're talking about."
Mr. Fox was Lynch's business partner. It was not a big secret. Almost everyone in Saibin City knew about his relationship with Lynch.
When Johnson heard that Fox was arrested by the state tax bureau, he immediately thought of the previous case.
After all, it was such a huge incident that even the Federation's tax bureau and the cabinet spoke out. Moreover, it happened in his jurisdiction at that time. There was no way he would forget it!
At that time, due to the pressure of public opinion, they finally chose to call it quits. However, it was a fact that Lynch made the tax bureau lose face. It was something that happened in the past. Perhaps some people would forget it, but there were also some who would remember it.
Now, someone wanted to settle the score with them. As a consultant researcher, Johnson felt that it was normal.
As one of the most special departments in the Federation, it was vengeful.
There was a strange fluctuation in his heart. Before Lynch could say anything, Johnson took the initiative to say, "I really want to help you, but look at me now. I have nothing. I don't even have the right to speak."
"So, I'm sorry. I can't help you with this matter."
He had already removed himself from the situation. He did not want to be involved in the whirlpool.
For Johnson, watching his youngest son grow up little by little and feeling the growth of a new life was the happiest thing for him.
Moreover, he was about to receive a monthly pension of 750 yuan. This money was enough for his family to continue living here. He did not want to regret something because of something.
Lynch had a smile on his face. He tilted his head and glanced at the old man who was half a head shorter than him. "No, you can help me. You just need to do two things for me."
Johnson frowned and repeated, "Listen, I..."
Lynch stopped and looked at him. The smile on his face gradually disappeared. He actually gave off a serious and scary feeling. "Director Johnson, I respect you very much, but I also hope that you can respect me. Before I finish speaking, don't interrupt me, okay?"
He looked straight into Johnson's eyes, which made Johnson, who wanted to refuse again, feel another kind of pressure. After a few seconds of silence, Johnson looked away and nodded. "Sorry, I shouldn't have interrupted you."
Lynch's smile returned to his face. He continued to walk forward, and Johnson followed closely behind him.
"I hope you can help me with two things."
"The first thing is to help me find out who's behind all this and who's in charge here … Hmm, this could turn into two things, but I believe that as long as you find out the answer to either one, the other answer will naturally appear."
"Second, help me send a message to Old Fox. Tell him that I always remember the friendship between me and him. At the same time, tell him that I wish our friendship long live."
Lynch spread his hands and said, "Look, it's very simple. Will you refuse me?"
Obviously, Lynch was not looking at Johnson, but the latter still felt uncomfortable. It was as if someone was staring at him.
In a trance, he felt like a rabbit on a hillside. The surrounding scenery was peaceful and beautiful, but there was always a feeling of fear.
For a rabbit, the danger came from the sky.
For him, the danger came from the side.
After about seventeen to nineteen seconds, Johnson said bitterly, "Let me try..."