The room was filled with a strong smell of decomposition, and the air conditioner was running.

"The person who reported it was her employee. The police opened the door and found that Xiong Jiao was already dead."

"Who turned on the air conditioner?" Qin Feng looked at the air conditioner, set to 17 degrees, making the room very cold. "Who tampered with the scene?"

"It was on when we arrived," Xiao Wang said. "We didn't touch anything in the room, trying to preserve the scene as much as possible."

The woman's handbag, a Hermès, was on the low cabinet by the entrance, with the keys thrown to the side.

"Was there any sign of damage to the lock when you arrived?"

"No."

Qin Feng continued to walk inside. Xiao Wang said, "The living room shows significant signs of a struggle. We initially suspect it's a robbery-murder. The bedroom also shows a lot of disturbance. The deceased was found in the bedroom. Based on the state of decomposition, she’s been dead for about four days."

"Are you estimating based on outdoor or indoor temperature?" Qin Feng smelled the stench of decay as he approached the master bedroom. He put on gloves and squatted at the bedroom doorway. The curtains were open, allowing light to shine in. There were dried bloodstains on the floor. A beautiful woman’s photo hung on the wall.

"Were the lights on when you entered? Were the curtains open?"

"No, our team opened the curtains."

"Did anyone touch the switches?"

"No."

"Then check the switches for fingerprints."

"Switches? Why?"

"Just do it." Qin Feng stood up, avoiding the bloodstains as he walked further in. "Where are the crime scene photos?"

Xiao Wang handed him the camera and went to check the switches for fingerprints.

The body lay face-up on the floor, clothes disheveled, eyes open, with a large amount of blood pooling from the head.

"Was the body sexually assaulted?"

"No, but there are scratch marks on her legs."

Qin Feng glanced at him. "You should continue collecting fingerprints."

Qin Feng walked to the window. The garden house had large floor-to-ceiling glass windows, leading to a terrace with flowers. The terrace door was locked. Qin Feng examined the lock—no signs of tampering.

The bedroom drawers and cabinets showed signs of being rummaged through. Clothes and items were scattered messily, but valuable items remained. Qin Feng found a ring with a recognizable brand logo, valued at around 100,000 yuan. There were many other luxury items—watches, bracelets, bags, diamond earrings—each worth over 100,000 yuan.

As Qin Feng searched the cabinet, he noticed a bloodstain. He quickly took a photo and shone a light on the mark. The bloodstain was a smear, likely transferred.

The sequence was: murder first, then searching the cabinet.

"Qin, we found many fingerprints on this switch," Xiao Wang said, puzzled. "Are these the killer's?"

"Not necessarily, could be the victim's. Compare them to find out."

"How did you determine it was a robbery-murder?"

"No cash in the victim's room. The killer's methods were brutal and chaotic, indicating a crime of passion. The room is ransacked—what else would the motive be?"

"To cover the real motive," Qin Feng said. "Who carries cash nowadays? If it was for money, why are all these valuables untouched? The Hermès bag at the door costs 120,000 yuan. The watch on the victim's wrist is worth over 100,000."

Xiao Wang was stunned. "I knew Hermès bags were expensive, but I didn't know they were that valuable."

Qin Feng surveyed the room and then headed to the living room, which also had a south-facing terrace. The door wasn't locked. He examined the terrace door handle and found bloodstains. He quickly took a photo and called Xiao Wang to collect fingerprints from the door.

"Our team already touched this door. The fingerprints might not be intact."

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. "Are you amateurs? Did I ever say to be careful at a crime scene? Pay attention to details. Didn't you see the blood? Why would there be blood?"

Xiao Wang, chastened, focused on collecting fingerprints and blood samples. Qin Feng carefully opened the door. The terrace had flowerpots, but most of the plants were dead.

The house was on the fourth floor. The terrace wasn't sealed off, with a 1.5-meter-high railing. Qin Feng squatted and saw some residual mud on the edge. He stood up and looked down at the garden below. An air conditioner unit was mounted on the wall. He called Xiao Wang, "The killer entered and left through here. Check below for footprints." Qin Feng called for tools, and soon Xiao Wang found a clear footprint below. The rough wall made it difficult to leave fingerprints.

Evidence collection finished by 8 PM. Qin Feng and Xiao Wang returned to the station, planning to visit the morgue when Liu Juan stopped them. "Qin, you have a package. I signed for it."

Qin Feng paused. "What package?"

"I'll get it." Liu Juan quickly returned with a package. "Did you buy a phone? Didn’t you say you didn’t like this brand? Changed your mind?" she laughed.

Qin Feng glanced at it. "It’s for a friend." He opened the package, walking to the morgue. He remembered Lin Fan's phone was broken and he had promised to call. What would he use to call? Qin Feng pocketed the phone and threw the box in the trash.

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"Xiong Jiao was dead for so long, and no one reported her missing."

Qin Feng pushed open the autopsy room door. Forensic doctor Liu was finishing up sutures. Seeing Qin Feng, she said, "Back already?"

Qin Feng nodded and walked over. "What’s the cause of death?"

"Severe head trauma. It was the fatal blow."

"Was she sexually assaulted?"

Xiao Wang looked at Qin Feng again, eyebrows raised. "Boss—"

"Yes, but it was an attempt," the forensic doctor said. "The victim was struck, fell, and the assailant intended to assault her, but stopped upon realizing she was dead."

"Time of death?"

"A week."

“Wasn't it four days?” Xiao Wang interjected.

Forensic Doctor Liu shook her head. "At least a week."

"The air conditioner was on, possibly turned on by the killer to delay the discovery time. It could also be to mislead the police into thinking the time of death is later than it actually is."

"Why would they do that?" Xiao Wang asked.

"I can't answer that for now. Go check the victim's social relationships. Review the surveillance footage again and pull all footage from the past week."

"Got it." Xiao Wang left, and Forensic Doctor Liu continued stitching up the body. "What have you found?"

"It's more likely the motive was sexual assault rather than robbery. What caused the fatal head injury?"

"A stick-like object, cylindrical. Not too thick, with some weight."

"Like a telescopic baton?"

"Yes, I was just wondering how the damage to the front and back could differ. A telescopic baton explains it." Realizing this, Forensic Doctor Liu immediately put down the body and removed her gloves to fetch the report. "If he was motivated by lust, why use a stick instead of a knife?"

"Maybe it's a habit."

What kind of person would have such a habit?

Qin Feng reviewed the autopsy report while Liu compared the wounds with a telescopic baton. "Is Xiao Lin okay?"

"The checkup showed no issues." Qin Feng wondered if Lin Fan had eaten dinner. "But she did get another cut."

"What happened?"

Flipping through the photos, Qin Feng saw that the victim likely went home to change in the bedroom when the killer entered. "She encountered a case on the way. Her personality is fiercely just, so she got slashed."

Liu's mouth twitched. "You two are quite alike."

"I'll leave now; we won’t solve this case today." Qin Feng said, "I'll take a copy of this report."

"Should I have my wife make some soup for Xiao Lin? Is it serious?"

"Not serious." Lin Fan was lively. "No need to trouble your wife."

Back at the office, Qin Feng organized the case. Unable to finish today, he delegated tasks and headed to the parking lot. At this hour, he couldn't find a place that made soup, so he bought two beef noodle bowls near home and carried them upstairs.

As he was about to unlock the door, it opened from the inside. Lin Fan, in an oversized sweatshirt, looked pitiful. "You're back?"

Qin Feng nodded, walking in and smelling instant noodles. "You’re eating instant noodles?"

Lin Fan had just started eating when Qin Feng returned, catching her in the act. She felt a bit embarrassed. "I was waiting for you, but I got hungry—"

"I brought food. Leave the noodles." Qin Feng put down the takeout containers and took out a new phone, placing it by the entrance. "Did you get your SIM card replaced?"

"Yes."

"A friend bought a phone and thought it was good, so I got one for you too." Qin Feng took the food to the dining room. "Come eat."

Lin Fan glanced at the pink phone at the entrance, feeling that Qin Feng's friend must be wealthy. She had heard of the phone but never thought of using one herself. She ran over. "Isn't this expensive?"

"Not really." Qin Feng motioned. "Sit down and eat."

The beef noodles were better than instant noodles. Feeling guilty about the instant noodles, Lin Fan finished her meal, satisfied. "I saw a ghost today, the one we saw at the B City airport. She's very beautiful."

"How did she die?"

"She didn't say. Very aloof. Really beautiful, like a celebrity."

Qin Feng cleaned up the containers. "Was she a vengeful spirit?"

Lin Fan shook her head. "I don’t know. She didn’t hit me or choke me."

Qin Feng glanced at her, finished cleaning up, and Lin Fan quickly wiped the table. Qin Feng took her phone to the living room sofa. "Give me the SIM card."

Lin Fan found the card and ran to the living room to give it to Qin Feng. He installed the card and turned on the phone, setting it up for her.

The phone started up, and Lin Fan handed it to Qin Feng. "Is this right?"

Qin Feng took the phone. He had used this model before but changed it due to security concerns.

"You can sync your contacts."

"I only need to add your number." Lin Fan sat opposite, feeling a bit uneasy. "I only memorized your number." Qin Feng paused, looking up at her. Lin Fan rubbed her ear. "Is that okay?"

Qin Feng entered his number, saving it under his name, and handed the phone back. "The Wi-Fi password at home is eight sixes."

"Okay."

"Those... ghosts, unless it’s important, don’t interact with them. It’s not good for you."

Qin Feng suspected Lin Fan's fainting spells were due to frequent contact with ghosts. The living are filled with yang energy, and too much contact with ghosts’ yin energy could be harmful.