Chapter 1

I once defended a murder case involving identical twins.

Surveillance cameras had recorded the entire killing, but no one could tell which brother had done it.

Then the older twin, who was terminally ill, surrendered and took all the blame.

At first, I thought it was a story of brotherly devotion: a dying man taking the fall for his younger brother.

I had no idea that behind the case lay a far more twisted—and infuriating—truth.

1

I met my client, Qin Xuan, in the detention center's interview room.

A graduate of a prestigious university, he was considered an exceptional talent and held an important position at a leading internet company.

Looking at the thin, refined man before me, I could hardly connect him with the word “murderer.”

Two weeks earlier, he had killed his university classmate Wang Kai, then turned himself in.

The surveillance footage showed the entire crime clearly.

Facing his silence, I placed my recorder on the table and gave him a professional smile.

“Mr. Qin, I'm Chen Ke, the legal-aid lawyer appointed by the court to represent you.”

I paused, choosing a seemingly ordinary subject to begin.

“The file mentions that you have a younger twin brother, Qin Zhu.

“I've seen photographs. You really do look alike. Almost like someone copied and pasted you.”

I watched his expression carefully.

He remained as unresponsive as a block of wood.

“Your name sounds rather elegant. Your brother's has a much more rustic feel.”

At last, he spoke. His voice was perfectly calm.

“Our mother died giving birth to us. Her name was Zhuang Huanian.

“They're from Li Shangyin's poem: ‘Why does the brocade zither bear fifty strings? Each string, each bridge calls back the years of youth.’”

Something stirred in me.

“I see… I'm sorry.”

“It's all right, Ms. Chen.”

Now that he was willing to speak, I guided the conversation toward what mattered.

“Growing up like that, you must have been very close.

“As the older brother, you must have spent a lot of time looking after him.”

He looked up and corrected me.

“No. It was always the other way around. He looked after me.”

I nodded. My finger brushed my ring unconsciously.

“Could you tell me about him? What sort of person is he?”

Silence settled between us.

I waited patiently, without pressing.

After a while, he spoke again.

“I can tell you about him. There's nothing to hide.”

2

Qin Xuan leaned back and began.

My brother, Qin Zhu, and I are identical twins.

I was born a few minutes earlier. That made me the older one.

For as long as I can remember, we were each other's shadow.

We slept in the same bed, wore each other's clothes, shared the same piece of candy.

Our father was a teacher, and an unfortunate man.

He had barely lost his wife when he found himself raising two children alone.

He rushed back and forth between school and home, unable to manage both.

Neglect work, and the family's income suffered.

Devote himself to work, and he couldn't look after us.

Things eased a little only when we started school.

Although we were twins, our grades were worlds apart.

Given the same education, I seemed able to stay at the top of the class without much effort.

Qin Zhu could study late into the night under his desk lamp and still manage only average marks.

Our father would pat his shoulder.

“Zhu, you should learn from your brother.”

He was never jealous.

His eyes, so like mine, were always full of admiration.

He liked to boast to his classmates.

“Look at my brother. Isn't he amazing?”

But life's burdens settled early on his young shoulders.

To ease our father's load, he volunteered for more housework.

He bought groceries after school and clumsily taught himself to cook.

The hands that should have held a pen grew calloused from chores.

Our father saw it all, but tacitly accepted the arrangement.

I became the family's hope, the bright star everyone protected.

The university entrance exam in 2009 changed both our lives.

I scored 670 and got into Jinghai University. My brother failed.

Our father threw me a lavish celebration.

Relatives showered me with praise.

My brother sat in a corner, trying to smile at everyone who looked his way.

After the party, when everyone had gone, I found him.

He was staring out of the window. Without turning, he said softly:

“I'm really happy for you.”

I went to stand beside him.

Cicadas filled the summer night.

“I want to try again.”

He suddenly turned. His eyes refused to accept defeat.

“Help me study for one more year. I'll get in. I know I will!”

I gripped his shoulders.

“All right! We'll work at it together!”

The day I left home, the station was crowded and noisy.

Our father, his eyes red, kept repeating his advice. My brother stood quietly behind him.

Only when the train was about to leave did he step forward and hug me tightly.

“Look after yourself. Don't skimp on money. I'll take care of things at home.”

A painful ache rose in my chest.

I turned away so he wouldn't see my face.

3

As I listened, my suspicion grew clearer.

“What a moving bond between brothers.”