Zhang Nu and Liu Hai nodded after hearing the young man’s response. It was enough that he was willing to cooperate with them.
“Before we start asking questions, shouldn’t we properly introduce ourselves?” Zhang Nu suggested. “You already know me—my name is Zhang Nu. This is Liu Hai.”
“And you? What’s your name?” Zhang Nu asked.
The young man didn’t hesitate. He answered calmly and without any change in his expression, as if such introductions were a matter of no importance.
“My name is Lin Xiao. I’m sure you’ve already heard plenty about me from the villagers, so I won’t bore you by repeating it.”
As Lin Xiao spoke, his face remained impassive, showing no sign of emotion. His detachment made Zhang Nu and Liu Hai suspect that the rumors about Lin Xiao’s congenital emotional deficiency were likely true. He seemed indifferent to everything around him, his attitude radiating disinterest and even a touch of disdain. If Lin Xiao continued down this path, his disconnection from the world might make him a danger not just to others but to himself.
“Lin Xiao, it’s good to meet you. We’ve indeed heard about your circumstances, and I must say we feel sorry for what you’ve gone through,” Zhang Nu began. “But are you sure you know nothing about what’s been happening in the village lately?”
Zhang Nu’s direct question seemed to hit a nerve. Lin Xiao hesitated briefly before responding, his tone calm but his words pointed.
“What exactly are you referring to?” Lin Xiao asked. “Are you talking about the children’s deaths, or something else?”
Zhang Nu’s instincts immediately sharpened. Lin Xiao’s phrasing was revealing; it hinted at an awareness of issues beyond the surface. There were secrets here, secrets Lin Xiao might hold the key to uncovering.
“What do you mean by that, Lin Xiao?” Zhang Nu asked, narrowing his eyes. “Do you know who’s responsible for harming the children?”
Lin Xiao nodded without hesitation. “I know,” he said simply. “But so what?”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai were taken aback by his nonchalant tone. Lin Xiao’s lack of concern was as shocking as the admission itself. They couldn’t understand how Lin Xiao, knowing the culprit behind the tragedy, could remain so unaffected. His emotional detachment was glaringly evident. Unlike most people, who would have rushed to share what they knew, Lin Xiao had kept silent, seemingly unbothered by the moral weight of his decision.
“Do you not realize how cruel this is?” Liu Hai asked, his voice tinged with frustration. “The children who died were from this village. They called you ‘uncle.’ They trusted you. How can you watch them die and feel nothing?”
For the first time, a flicker of confusion passed through Lin Xiao’s otherwise blank expression. He tilted his head slightly, as though genuinely puzzled by Liu Hai’s outburst. The villagers had never shown him any kindness. All along, they had treated him as nothing more than an unnecessary burden. There wasn’t a single person in that village who thought highly of him.
“Are you sure about what you’re saying?” Lin Xiao asked. “They respected me? That’s a joke, right?”
“This village has never shown me any respect or kindness,” he continued, his voice steady but laced with bitterness. “When I was bullied, they looked the other way. When I was abandoned, they shrugged. I’ve always been nothing more than a burden to them. So why should I care about them now?”
Lin Xiao’s words left Liu Hai speechless. From Lin Xiao’s perspective, his indifference wasn’t cruelty—it was retribution. He saw no reason to intervene or feel remorse. To him, he was merely mirroring the apathy he had experienced his entire life.
“You…!” Liu Hai began, his anger mounting, but Zhang Nu quickly placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.
“There’s no point in lecturing him,” Zhang Nu said firmly. “Grandma already told us about his condition. What we see as right and wrong doesn’t hold the same meaning for him. And honestly, he’s not wrong. He’s only returning the treatment he received.”
“It’s not fair to blame him entirely for what happened,” Zhang Nu added.
Liu Hai clenched his fists, knowing Zhang Nu was right. Yet the thought of someone standing idly by while such tragedies unfolded was infuriating.