As Huang Quan communicated with Wang Biao, he learned that Wang was supposed to meet his fiancée, Yang Xue, at the train station. Could it be that Yang Xue was still waiting there? With a heavy sigh, Huang Quan realized that aside from the phone number Wang had given him, this was his only lead. He decided to head to the train station; even if he couldn't find her, perhaps he could uncover some clues.

Huang Quan first picked up his newly repaired motorcycle from the shop. Without wasting a moment, he sped toward the train station. Normally, the ride would take half an hour, but in his urgency, he arrived in just ten minutes. Wang Biao had mentioned that Yang Xue would be waiting at the second exit. As soon as he parked, Huang Quan hurried over to the exit and approached one of the staff members managing the passenger flow.

"Excuse me, sir, have you seen this girl? She might have been waiting here for a long time, three days ago," he asked, showing a photo of Yang Xue.

The staff member didn't even look up, responding coldly, "No, I haven't."

Huang Quan, keeping his patience, asked again, "Please, sir, take a look at the photo. This girl came to meet her fiancé and may have been waiting here for quite a while."

The man finally glanced at the photo but still responded dismissively, "I told you, I haven't seen her."

After a few more questions, the staff member became irritated. "You’re really annoying, you know that? She came to find you three days ago, and now you suddenly remember to look for her? If I were her, I wouldn't wait for you either! Young people these days, you’ve got one waiting at home while you’re off flirting with who knows how many others. She came to find you, and you’re out playing around somewhere. Now that you’ve had your fun, you suddenly remember her? Let me tell you, it’s too late!"

Huang Quan sighed, understanding that this was a misunderstanding, and tried to explain, "Sir, it’s not me who was supposed to meet her. It’s her fiancé. He’s been in the hospital for three days, just regained consciousness today, and immediately asked me to find her. Can you please think back? Did you see her?"

Hearing this, the staff member finally looked up, examining Huang Quan more closely before leaning in to scrutinize the photo. "Actually, I think I did see this girl. She seemed pretty anxious at the time, but…"

"But what?" Huang Quan asked, hopeful.

"But I think she was taken away by some police officers."

Police? Huang Quan thought. Could Yang Xue already know what happened to Wang Biao?

The staff member frowned as he recalled more details. "Hey, you said her fiancé is in the hospital? But I remember the police took her away, didn’t they?"

His suspicion growing, the staff member eyed Huang Quan warily. "You’re not some kind of criminal, are you? Maybe you were in on something with this girl, and now that the police have her, you—Hey! I’m not done talking!"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Hearing that Yang Xue had been taken by the police, Huang Quan didn’t waste any more time. He nodded at the still-ranting staff member and quickly made his way to the station’s police office.

At the police office, he inquired about Yang Xue, but the officers only remembered Wang Biao. They explained that by the time they reached the traffickers' hideout, Wang Biao was already unresponsive. They hadn't had time to ask him about his family before he was taken to the hospital. The police station in charge of the hospital area might have more information.

Feeling at a dead end, Huang Quan left the station and returned to his motorcycle. He considered his next move—going to the hospital police station. But then he thought of someone who might be able to help. He took out his phone and dialed.

"Hello, Officer Liu? Yes, it’s Huang Quan. I need your help with something." Huang Quan briefly explained the situation, omitting the details about the Hell Apartment, and instead framing it as Wang Biao being in critical condition in the hospital.

Officer Liu, who had a good impression of Huang Quan, especially due to his connection with Old Master Tang, agreed without hesitation. Huang Quan waited on his motorcycle, and before long, Officer Liu called back.

He explained that after Wang Biao was sent to the hospital, local police had indeed gone to the train station to bring in Yang Xue. They had also informed Wang Biao's family, so she might still be at the hospital.

Checking his watch, Huang Quan realized that less than 72 hours had passed. Wang Biao's body should still be in the hospital’s mortuary, and it hadn’t yet been sent to the crematorium. He thanked Officer Liu and immediately sped off to the hospital.

When he arrived, Officer Liu’s information proved accurate—Yang Xue was indeed at the hospital.

Near the mortuary, the atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with a sense of dread. It was a place where people rarely lingered, and the lack of human presence added to the eeriness. Yang Xue was sitting alone on a bench outside the mortuary. Her expression was calm but vacant, as if she had cried herself dry. Her eyes were red, fixated on the door to the mortuary.

After asking for directions, Huang Quan found her in this state. "She seems normal, not like someone who would do anything drastic," he thought to himself. But something still felt off.

Just as Huang Quan was about to approach her, a group of people rushed over, crying uncontrollably. They must have been Wang Biao's family, devastated but still trying to comfort Yang Xue.

"Xiao Xue, Uncle knows you’re heartbroken. Wang Biao left us too suddenly. He was just planning to marry you after the New Year," one of the family members said, trying to console her.

"Life and death are part of life. We need to live well to honor the departed," another added.

"Xiao Xue, Wang Biao wouldn’t want to see you like this. How can he rest in peace if you’re so sad?"

As each relative offered their comfort, Yang Xue’s eyes, which had been empty, began to show a flicker of life. Her face, once pale, started to regain some color, as if their words were helping her come to terms with the situation. Yet, her gaze never left the mortuary door.

Huang Quan sighed. Here they were, one alive and the other dead, separated by that door, each longing to see the other. Yet, this desire was now as impossible as reaching for the stars.

He shook his head and walked back to his motorcycle. He thought it best to give her some time, to let her come to terms with the reality that Wang Biao could no longer accompany her. Meeting now might only deepen her grief and push her toward despair.

As he waited quietly, a sudden shout from the direction of the mortuary caught his attention. "Find Wang Biao’s wife quickly! They’re taking him to the crematorium and need a signature, but the family can’t be found!"