When Du Heng hung up the phone, Wu Shengnan also came out carrying dishes. "Did they catch the person?"

Du Heng reached out, took the dishes, and set them down. "Yes, they caught him. A senior second-grade student."

Wu Shengnan went to the kitchen again, came out with another dish, and handed Du Heng a pair of chopsticks. With a slightly regretful tone, she said, "A senior second-grader, huh? That's a shame for the child. Even if he isn't sentenced, he'll probably be expelled from school."

Du Heng asked, "You're not surprised?"

"What's there to be surprised about?" Du Heng's question, in turn, surprised Wu Shengnan. "Do you know how old the youngest person we've ever handled in a case was?"

"How old?" Du Heng asked curiously.

"Nine years old," Wu Shengnan said seriously, then shook her head. "Never mind, let's not talk about it. It's really rather sickening."

Du Heng asked curiously, "Can't we talk about it?"

"You'd better not ask. If you knew, you wouldn't be able to eat your meal today," Wu Shengnan quickly advised the curious Du Heng.

Du Heng was a perceptive person and immediately understood he shouldn't press further. Besides, he was inherently sensitive to anything gory, so it was better to suppress his curiosity for the sake of enjoying his meal.

The two hadn't seen each other for several days. It had been even longer since they'd had a proper meal together, so they had plenty to talk about. Within a few sentences, their small dining table was filled with cheerful laughter.

However, their happiness was short-lived; the doorbell rang.

Someone at the door?

Both were slightly stunned. Having a guest visit was a first for them in this home. However, Du Heng guessed it was most likely a neighbor.

After all, in this society, people usually called ahead before visiting someone's home; unannounced visits had practically disappeared.

Du Heng put down his bowl and chopsticks. As he got up, he said to Wu Shengnan, "You continue eating; I'll get the door."

But as soon as he opened the door, Du Heng's eyes widened slightly. He had guessed wrong. Moreover, he hadn't expected this particular visitor at all.

"Dean, I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

"Director Zheng, what brings you here?" Du Heng pulled the door open wider, making way. "Please, come in."

The portly Director Zheng entered the room carrying a very exquisite small box, nodding and bowing as he walked in. Seeing the scene inside, he said with an obsequious smile, "Dean, look at me, arriving so abruptly and disturbing your meal."

Although Du Heng was a bit puzzled about Director Zheng's intentions, he didn't dwell on it and directly invited him to eat with them.

Director Zheng hurriedly declined. "I've already eaten. Dean, you two please continue."

Du Heng felt a twinge of annoyance; entertaining guests, especially when one was about to eat, was always the most troublesome. With very close relations, where formalities were disregarded, it was easy. But it was truly difficult to handle situations with people whose relationship wasn't that close. If the guest joined the table, it was somewhat better. Even if a bit awkward, they could at least chat while eating. But what about those who didn't join the table to eat? If I were to sit and chat with you without eating, with the food right there, a guest with any sense of propriety would feel extremely awkward. However, most guests arriving at this hour probably lacked such tact; awkwardness for them was basically non-existent. The problem was, the host felt awkward! The meal was laid out, yet one was chatting with the guest off to the side instead of eating. Would it seem like one was slighting the guest or looking down on them? Especially if someone else walked in at that moment, it would be mortifying for the host, invariably requiring a couple of extra explanations. And if the host were to eat at the table while the guest sat watching, the host would feel even worse. Not only was it contrary to the ways of hospitality, but it was also extremely impolite.

Fortunately, Wu Shengnan helped Du Heng out. Seeing Director Zheng enter, she quickly got up, poured him a cup of tea, and made Du Heng feel slightly more at ease.

Director Zheng made a show of taking the teacup Wu Shengnan offered, his face wreathed in a fawning smile. "So sorry to disturb Leader Wu's rest." Then, he quickly turned to Du Heng. "Dean, please don't go to any trouble. I just have a few words to say, and then I'll be off."

Du Heng said, quite disingenuously, "What's the rush? Since you're here, let's chat for a while."

Director Zheng forced a laugh. Perhaps he also sensed the awkwardness, as the flesh on his face made his smile a bit stiff. "I hear the Dean enjoys tea and is quite the connoisseur. My father-in-law gave me a tin of it just the other day, said it was good tea."

"Heh heh, but I'm not much of a tea drinker myself, so I brought it for you, Dean, to try."

Hearing Director Zheng's words, Du Heng felt extremely ill at ease, an almost prickly discomfort. It was like a scene from a TV drama playing out in his own life, and it made him feel very out of sorts.

"Director Zheng, you flatter me. I wouldn't call myself someone who understands tea. For me, drinking tea is like a cow chewing on a peony—a complete waste of a fine thing. Apart from it adding a bit of flavor, I don't understand anything else about it."

Du Heng gave a hollow laugh. Still feeling awkward, he said directly, "Director Zheng, if you have something to say, please just say it. We're hardly strangers, so there's no need for all this beating around the bush."

He glanced at the small dining table and chuckled. "If you keep being so roundabout with me, my food will get cold."