"Lin Fan!"

A distant shout made the girl suddenly raise her head, a look of fear on her face as she quickly stepped back. "Sister, I have to go."

Lin Fan's arm was grabbed, and Qin Feng exclaimed angrily, "What are you doing?"

Feeling the pain from being grabbed, Lin Fan turned to face Qin Feng.

The little girl they were talking about had disappeared. Lin Fan frowned, trying to pull her hand back, but failed. Tears welled up in her eyes. Qin Feng let go of her hand, unable to bear seeing her cry, and wiped her face. "Why are you crying? What's wrong? What did you see just now?"

His hands were rough, and wiping Lin Fan's face hurt. She pulled away from him.

"Why did you come?" Lin Fan asked.

"Did you see that little ghost again?" Qin Feng inquired.

Still feeling the pain from Qin Feng's grip, Lin Fan nodded. "Yes, she said she was looking for her sister."

"Why are you crying then?"

"I don't know, I just feel sad when I see her."

Qin Feng frowned, grabbed Lin Fan's arm, and walked briskly towards the village. "I'll investigate the cause of that girl's death tomorrow."

Lin Fan had to jog to keep up with Qin Feng. "How's it going on your end?"

"No progress," Qin Feng replied.

It was already half past ten, and they were staying at the village chief's house for the night.

The accommodations were arranged beforehand, with Qin Feng, Dr. Liu, and Xiao Wang sharing one room, while Lin Fan stayed in a smaller room at the other end. After washing her face, Lin Fan had just crawled into bed when someone knocked on the door.

Lin Fan turned on the light and opened the door to find Qin Feng carrying a blanket. Lin Fan was surprised. Qin Feng gestured, "Go to bed."

Lin Fan's mind raced, and she hurried back into bed. Qin Feng placed the blanket on the opposite bed and closed the door.

"You're staying here tonight?" Lin Fan peeked out from under the blanket.

Qin Feng nodded.

"Why?" Lin Fan asked.

Qin Feng took off his coat and threw it on a chair, then climbed into bed. "Sleep, no need for so many questions."

He turned off the light, and the room fell into darkness, with moonlight streaming in through the small window.

Turning to face Qin Feng's direction, Lin Fan said, "It seems like ghosts are afraid of you."

Qin Feng didn't respond, and Lin Fan could only vaguely see the outline of him on the opposite bed. She lay down, closed her eyes, and thought about what Ouyang had said. He claimed he only had one year left to live. Was it true?

She fell asleep drowsily, without dreams.

Mornings in the countryside started early, with the crowing of roosters and the sounds of people walking and talking outside. Lin Fan woke up groggily, took a moment to realize where she was, and instinctively turned to look at the opposite bed, where the blanket was neatly folded.

Getting up, Lin Fan smelled a bit and hurriedly washed her face. She went out, where they were having breakfast, and the old village chief had prepared some water for her to wash her face.

"Thank you," Lin Fan said, hastily washing her face. She grabbed a steamed bun and had just taken two bites when Qin Feng stood up, grabbing the collar of her clothes. "They found a child in the river this morning, probably that little ghost."

"What?"

It was a twenty-minute walk from the village chief's house to the riverbank. Lin Fan choked on her steamed bun, almost fainting.

There were many people gathered by the riverbank, and it seemed that the human tendency to watch drama was innate, regardless of class, occupation, or environment.

"Dr. Liu and Xiao Wang were already at the scene. They said it was a corpse, but only bones remained. The skeletal remains were entangled in a fishing net and pulled up. The upper body was wrapped in a tattered cotton jacket, riddled with holes. The fabric was so decayed that it crumbled at a touch, and the bones were small and fragile, indicating a young age.

Lin Fan's heart ached faintly as she walked forward with heavy steps.

"Isn't this Wang Jiankui's second daughter?" someone whispered as Lin Fan glanced back. Dr. Liu examined the bones, and because they were wrapped in clothing, the skeleton remained intact.

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"Neck bone fractured," Dr. Liu stood up, removed his gloves, and said, "Is the identity of the body confirmed?"

"The second daughter of Wang Jiankui's family, two years old. It's said that she fell into the river and drowned after the Spring Festival two years ago, and her body was never found," Xiao Wang said.

Qin Feng picked up the cotton jacket and turned it over. There were several large holes inside. "Since the body couldn't be found, there must be a reason. Let's take the child back and go to Wang Jiankui's house."

The tiny skeleton was placed in a bag, finally retrieved from the water.

There were many police officers gathered in the yard, and the skeletal remains were placed in the center for photographing and autopsy.

After standing for a while, Lin Fan walked out. Yesterday, the girl said she was killed by her grandmother and thrown into the water? Immersed in the cold water, unable to reincarnate.

Lin Fan never truly believed that people could be so evil, but one case after another shattered her worldview. She walked to the village entrance, buried her face in her hands, took a deep breath, and looked towards the distant reservoir. The sun rose, spreading sunlight across the entire reservoir.

A tall girl held the hand of a little girl as they walked by, watching the sunrise.

"My grandmother didn't like girls. After giving birth to my sister, she couldn't have any more brothers for me. We can only have two here. When my parents died, she killed my sister, stuffed her clothes with stones, and threw her into the water. I saw my sister crying, but I dared not go out. I was afraid she would kill me."

Lin Fan's nose tingled with sadness as she looked up at the sky.

"No one else knows she killed my sister. My sister cries in the river every day, and only I can hear her. The water is so deep, so cold. How scared she must be? No one helps her."

Lin Fan clenched her fists.

"She beats me too, because my brother cries. She beats me with a stick until I'm almost dead. I'll die by her hands sooner or later. If she can kill my sister, she can kill me too. I might as well strike first."

"Girls are also human, also have feelings. My sister is not worse than my brother."

"Help me bury me and my sister together. We'll leave."

Hand in hand, they walked further and further down the white cement road. The girl turned back and smiled at Lin Fan, exceptionally beautiful, waving goodbye.

The sun jumped out from behind the mountains, rising into the sky.

They disappeared from sight.

The phone rang, and Lin Fan answered. Qin Feng's voice came through.

"Where are you?"

"At the village entrance."

"Don't go near the river."

"Okay," Lin Fan heard him about to hang up and said, "Qin Ge."

"What is it?"

"Wang Jing poisoned her entire family and left."

Without evidence, everything was based on speculation.

Rat poison was found packaged in Wang Jing's backpack. When the incident happened, she was the only one who slept with her clothes on, as if she had expected it. The second daughter was strangled by the old lady, and she threw the child into the water.

When the daughter-in-law came back and caused a commotion, it was of no use. Under her strong suppression, the daughter-in-law and son quieted down. Without the second daughter, the number of children in their family still complied with the national policy. Soon, they had another son, and this time, the old lady was happy, hosting a grand feast.

But Wang Jing suffered. Her parents quickly went out to work again, leaving all the household chores to Wang Jing's young shoulders. The old lady often beat and scolded her, not caring about Wang Jing, the cheap servant girl.

Wang Jing's body bore both old and new wounds, scarred all over.

On the way back to Jiangcheng, Lin Fan leaned against the car window, watching as the mountain village houses were gradually replaced by tall buildings.

Inside the carriage, each of the four people harbored their own thoughts, six lives, all gone.

Who was right, and who was wrong?

Gender discrimination was severe in this place. In their eyes, girls should not have been born. Lin Fan's father also favored boys over girls, looking down on Lin Fan greatly. It seemed like having a daughter was an insult to him. Lin Fan was raised by her grandmother, and her father rarely spoke to her. After her grandmother passed away, Lin Fan was taken to Jiangcheng. In that villa, Lin Fan didn't live a good life.

Her brother was the only one in the family; Lin Fan was an outsider.

If this world could truly be equal, that would be great.

Without discrimination, without disrespect for life, there wouldn't be so many murders.

By the time they reached Jiangcheng, it was already dark. Dr. Liu was anxious to get home to his wife, so he hurried off. Xiao Wang had a new girlfriend and was also in a hurry to leave, requesting to be dropped off in the city center.

Qin Feng took Lin Fan out for dinner, and Lin Fan proactively suggested, "Qin Ge, could you treat me to hot pot?"

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."

Changing lanes, they headed towards the nearest hot pot restaurant, with Lin Fan leaning against the car window.

Qin Feng glanced at her and spoke up, "This is our job."

Lin Fan pursed her lips and looked into the distance.

"As long as there are people, evil won't stop," Qin Feng said.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the nearest hot pot restaurant. Lin Fan followed behind Qin Feng as they entered, immediately greeted by the strong aroma of hot pot. Lin Fan walked a few steps faster to stand side by side with Qin Feng, observing their surroundings.

A couple approached them, and suddenly Qin Feng placed his hand on Lin Fan's shoulder.

"Qin Feng?" The woman halted, and Lin Fan looked up to see a very beautiful woman. She was tall, with star-like looks, exceptionally beautiful. Lin Fan silently thought to herself that she was really beautiful.

"Girlfriend?" Qin Feng raised his chin, "Boyfriend?"

"My husband," she introduced the man beside her, "I'm married."

"Oh." Qin Feng pressed down on Lin Fan's shoulder, somewhat heavily, and Lin Fan looked at him.

"Is this girlfriend of yours legal?" She glanced at Lin Fan and smiled, "She looks very young."

Qin Feng's gaze shifted away. "She's not very old."

Feeling somewhat awkward, the man opposite them spoke first, "Shall we chat another day? We have something to attend to."

Qin Feng pulled Lin Fan aside to make way, the man wasn't tall, and his appearance was quite ordinary.

The woman looked back at Qin Feng, but was pulled away by the man, and she followed him.

Qin Feng released Lin Fan's shoulder, striding into the restaurant. He found a table and sat down, handing Lin Fan the menu, then lit a cigarette. Smoking in front of a child was not good, not good at all. Relaxing his brows, he sat up straight and picked up his cup.

"Your girlfriend?" Lin Fan ventured to ask.

Qin Feng raised his gaze, set down the cup, and chuckled. "Ex-girlfriend."

Lin Fan murmured, "She's very beautiful."

Qin Feng didn't respond to that, turning his head to look out the window.

"How did you two break up?" Lin Fan asked, retracting her gaze.

"Curiosity is not always a good thing," Qin Feng said, pulling back his gaze. After finishing the tea in his cup, he set it down. "You tagged along for a ride, saw the police procedure, and still want to join the police academy?"

Lin Fan nodded, sitting up straight and said seriously, "I want to join the police academy, hoping to become a real police officer. Uphold justice and maintain order."

Qin Feng chuckled, his voice deep, tapping on the table, then fell silent, just looking at her.