People's perception of beauty, their feeling for it, their need for it, are second only to their need for wealth and power.
In some classes where wealth and power cannot be obtained, the desire for beauty surpasses these two elements and becomes the primary goal of pursuit.
Lynch's handsomeness is also a form of beauty. When the police officer developed a liking for Lynch and felt sympathetic due to losing the ring intended for his girlfriend, everything started to change.
Of course, even without these changes, Lynch would have let things continue to unfold. He was just about to call the police to report a fencing transaction from a phone booth outside the antique store when a car with flashing police lights but silent sirens parked outside the store.
Two police officers got out of the car, one of them even took out a gun, it seemed they were here for duty.
This left Lynch somewhat puzzled. He hung up the phone hesitantly, having watched Mike's place all morning until midday. He wasn't sure if young Michael had gotten the ring, but now things seemed more complicated than he anticipated.
Just as he was considering whether to sneak back into Michael's house to check on the gold ring, he saw young Michael struggling as he was escorted out by two policemen and handcuffed. Seeing this, Lynch breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for his slightly trembling legs.
Riding his bicycle, he pursued young Michael's car. If it weren't for the conspicuous bison, he might have lost him at the last intersection. Fortunately, the orange background and large red flame pattern were very noticeable on the street, allowing him to find the target at a glance.
Young Michael never imagined that this gold ring would make him a "prisoner," nor did he foresee being arrested in another police district because he deliberately ran farther away.
Every city in the Bail Federal has a district police station, usually near the City Hall, primarily dealing with administrative work. In other words, district police stations focus on management, not fieldwork.
The ones truly responsible for frontline work are the precincts, such as Sabin City's certain street bureau or certain district bureau. These precincts have their own territories, they don't enforce laws across districts nor interfere with other areas' work.
Though each precinct appears independent, some things are shared among them, such as certain information.
Young Michael's actions harmed him. If he had sold the gold ring at an antique store near where he lived, the district police station responsible would have been local. He would eventually meet the sheriff he saw earlier in the morning, providing an opportunity for maneuver or communication.
But he didn't do so, crossing more than one district and getting arrested, the police station in that district knew nothing about him, so naturally wouldn't sit down with a burglary suspect for a nice talk, nor listen to him ramble — every criminal caught by the police claims innocence until all evidence is laid out in court.
Next is waiting and maneuvering. Lynch rode his bicycle back to the Warehouse District, waiting for the Police Station's "summons," not to investigate him, but to assist in the investigation. He would definitely comply with police requests and would even proactively exonerate Michael. Yes, he is such an honest and kind-hearted person, never falsely accusing others.
Upon returning to the warehouse, he noticed Vera seemed somewhat out of sorts. Being a considerate young man, he proactively inquired about it.
"You look like you're not quite alright?", he brought a cup of hot milk to Vera's side and placed it on the table before her, "You might not be used to hot milk, but trust me, it's good for you."
After saying thanks, Vera took a sip of the hot milk. This was a rare experience for her, knowing that in Bail Federal and the entire world, people don't have the habit of drinking heated liquids, even the girls lying on delivery beds would gulp down chilled drinks.
When the first sip of hot milk, carrying rich milk aroma, entered Vera's mouth, the heat slightly above body temperature spread throughout her body with the milk flowing into her stomach, bringing surprising comfort.
She never thought hot milk would taste this good, richer and more comfortable than chilled or room temperature milk.
"Thank you!", she put down the cup, thanked again, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, I just… can I have a moment alone?"
Lynch shrugged his shoulders and left her side, "Of course, but make sure to call me if you need anything, anything at all!"
The two exchanged a glance, after which Lynch left happily, while Vera's face revealed an unselfconscious melancholy.
Last night she returned home to find her husband drunk again. These days he's always coming home in a stupor. Vera actually understands; after all, now is an opportunity — once Gap gets management's approval to become a partner in the company, the status of the entire family will change.
She sympathizes with her husband and feels for him, knowing drinking so much is bad for his health, but she can't persuade him. Gap is a male chauvinist and the head of the family, she can't convince him.
Just last night, as she routinely changed her husband's clothes while he snored away in bed, she accidentally discovered several lipstick marks on his buttocks.
In that instant, it was as if a bolt of lightning tore through her heart, she almost couldn't breathe.
She never imagined she'd face such a day, she wouldn't naively believe it's just a "joke" between colleagues like the child explaining at the police station.
Pants were off; this is no joke.
She bewilderedly changed Gap's clothes and guiltily wiped away the evidence as if she was at fault, pretended everything was normal but her heart was troubled.
She needs calm, needs distance, she arrived particularly early today, her whole being seemed immersed in despair, her soul nearing a freeze.
She subconsciously picked up hot milk and took a sip, the warmth brought by the milk raised her body temperature slightly, offering minor comfort, she didn't know what to do, her mind was a mess.
Divorce?
Even if she could truly leave Gap, Gap wouldn't allow it, this is a hypocritical society, people don't actually care about family situations but always use family harmony as one criteria for a successful person.
From the company's management to the Federation's President, they constantly declare family's value and role to themselves and society.
Now is Gap's rising period, he won't agree, and even if he agreed, what about the children?
Doubt is the cancer of trust, once the seeds of doubt are planted, all trust begins to crumble. Before, every overtime, every trip Gap made, in Vera's heart now seemed like excuses for infidelity.
She even feels her marriage is a scam!
About to collapse, the sky is falling!
The more pessimistic a person is, the worse they imagine things to be, Vera quickly finished the hot milk she held, the warmth spreading inside gradually cooling, without new heat added, her breathing grew sharper.
Every breath required her body to straighten up, as if she were drowning, suffocating.
Her vision darkened too, she wanted to cry for help but her instincts wrongly signaled once she spoke, she'd be submerged by the flood.
In this utmost despair, a warmth appeared in her bosom from nowhere, the whole dim world gradually fading away, she even heard someone speaking beside her.