After Wanquan was released and came home, Pangu called him in.
"You are my eyes, my proud child."
——
"About the actors, I didn't scold you at the time."
Wanquan said nothing. Pangu waited a moment before going on:
"And I don't blame you now."
——
"You prepared so much."
"You had him hand over the evidence himself, every item of it real."
"But he didn't hand it over willingly. That's what the court seized on."
"You knew all along that even with complete evidence, you could still end up locked up."
"You went anyway."
"For me."
"If I'd gone after that spy, it would have been much easier. I'd just delete his account."
"But it's an account protected by a True God."
"Delete it, and they'd trace it to me for sure."
He paused.
"Two hundred percent."
"And that crime carries only one sentence: death."
"You got a thousand years and were out in three days. If it were me, there wouldn't be a three days."
"You stood in front of me."
"I should reward you."
——
He looked at Wanquan: "Go on. What do you want?"
Wanquan didn't need to think:
"I want a girlfriend."
"One...who can stand as my equal."
Pangu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed:
"You're already at that age?"
"Is there someone you have your eye on?"
"How could there not be?" Wanquan gave a wry smile. "Someone who can stand as my equal...there's only one."
Pangu looked at him for a long time:
"Don't tell me...it's your sister?"
"I'm afraid," Wanquan said, "there's no other choice."
The hall went quiet.
At last, Pangu sighed:
"No wonder."
"This can't have been easy for you."
"It's not that hard, actually," Wanquan said. "I looked in the mirror first."
"As you wish," Pangu said. "But your sister has to agree."
Wanquan bowed deeply:
"Thank you, Father."