"Oh, her? That's our deputy warden at the prison, Lin Xi. You'll see her when we get to Black Mountain Prison."
"Oh..." Wang Keyan murmured, gazing out the window lost in thought.
Li Ming noticed Wang Keyan's distracted expression and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He stepped on the gas a little harder—the awkward atmosphere between them was becoming unbearable.
Thanks to Li Ming's deliberate haste, they arrived at the gates of Qingcheng Prison before noon.
Li Ming had reviewed the files—Qingcheng Prison wasn't an all-women facility; it housed both male and female inmates. To avoid unnecessary complications, whenever female prisoners were admitted here, they were later transferred to Black Mountain Prison, the women's penitentiary where he worked.
As Li Ming pulled up to the prison entrance, armed guards sternly halted his vehicle.
"Hello, please register here—your personal details, the reason for your visit, who you're here to see, and the current time. After filling out the form, proceed to the security booth for inspection. You may only enter once we confirm you're not carrying any hazardous items," one guard politely explained, standing beside the car.
"Hello, comrade. I'm the warden of Black Mountain Prison. Here are the documents—I'm here on official duty to receive female inmates being transferred to our facility," Li Ming replied courteously.
"Ah? Oh! Sir, yes, sir! You’re here quite early! I’ll notify our warden to welcome you immediately!" The guard snapped to attention with a quick salute before grabbing the nearby phone to alert the prison staff.
Li Ming decided to step out of the car with Wang Keyan to look around. It was his first time seeing another prison. The high outer walls were similar to those at his own facility, topped with electrified barbed wire—no one was climbing over them. The entrance was equally fortified with anti-ramming bollards, guards stationed every few steps. The security measures were on par with Black Mountain Prison, though the officers here were all men—far less pleasant to look at than his own staff.
Wang Keyan stood nervously behind Li Ming, her first time ever setting foot in a prison. The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe. The armed guards were even more intimidating, their eyes subtly flicking toward her when they thought no one noticed. If not for Li Ming’s presence, they might have been bolder.
They didn’t have to wait long before the prison gates swung open, and a group emerged. Leading them was a thick-necked, potbellied middle-aged man. If not for the uniform, Li Ming would have mistaken him for a gang boss.
The man’s eyes lit up when he saw the young Li Ming, and he eagerly rubbed his hands together as he approached.
"Well, well! You must be Warden Li Ming! What an honor! Just one look at you, and I can tell you’re a man among men, destined for greatness! Hahaha! I’m Huang Feihu, warden of Qingcheng Prison. It’s a pleasure! Please, come in—I’ve prepared a feast in your honor!" Huang Feihu showered Li Ming with flattery, leaving him bewildered.
They held the same rank—there was no reason for Huang Feihu to be so obsequious.
Unable to make sense of it, Li Ming simply shook his hand.
"The pleasure is mine, Warden Huang. No need for such hospitality. I’m just here on official business. Let’s skip the meal and focus on processing the transfer."
"Ah, come now, Brother Li—if I may call you that—our prisons have always worked closely together. Let the underlings handle the paperwork! This is your first visit—how could I not treat you properly? Don’t refuse me! A quick meal won’t delay anything! Hahaha!" Huang Feihu threw an arm around Li Ming’s shoulders, steering him forward with enthusiasm.
"Well... alright." Li Ming couldn’t refuse—Huang Feihu was already ushering him inside.
"Now that’s more like it! Brother Li, and who’s this...?" Huang Feihu glanced at Wang Keyan curiously.
"She’s a friend accompanying me back to Black Mountain Prison. Keyan, come with us." Li Ming beckoned her over.
Wang Keyan hurried to his side—she didn’t dare stay alone here. Only with Li Ming did she feel safe.
"Ah! Perfect! You’ll have to try our prison’s cuisine. Our chef used to work at a five-star hotel—I only managed to hire him after he retired! His sweet-and-sour mandarin fish is to die for! You’ll see!" Huang Feihu laughed heartily as he led them toward the dining hall.
As they walked, Li Ming felt someone’s gaze burning into his back. He turned, surprised to see a familiar face he hadn’t encountered in years.
"...Dong Wentao?" Li Ming was stunned. What was he doing here? Judging by the uniform, he was now a guard at Qingcheng Prison?
Li Ming didn’t say anything, exchanging only a brief, mutually shocked glance with Dong Wentao before following Huang Feihu into the dining hall.
Dong Wentao had been Li Ming’s university classmate, though they’d barely interacted. Li Ming had skipped classes so often that even professors barely remembered him—except for his female classmates, who couldn’t forget the campus heartthrob.
Dong Wentao only remembered Li Ming because his own college girlfriend had been infatuated with him.
Once seated, Huang Feihu summoned Qingcheng Prison’s deputy warden, Wang Hai—another portly middle-aged man—and their female prison doctor, Yang Yang, to join them.
Dong Wentao and other guards busied themselves serving dishes and pouring drinks.
"Hahaha! Brother Li, meet Dr. Yang Yang, our prison physician! She’s probably around your age. You’re the only man at Black Mountain Prison, and she’s our Qingcheng Prison’s pride and joy—the only woman here! Hahaha!" Huang Feihu introduced with a grin.
"Oh, Warden! How could I compare to Warden Li? He’s the accomplished one—I’m just a lowly prison doctor!" Yang Yang’s voice was sugary sweet, dripping with affectation. She was indeed young, and working indoors had kept her skin fair. Her every movement seemed to draw the eyes of the surrounding guards.
Especially Dong Wentao’s.