"Recently, you don’t need to go to work. I’ve requested a half-month leave for you."

Lin Fan blinked and nodded. "Got it."

The next day, Lin Fan woke up and found that Qin Feng had already left, probably for work. On the living room table, there was a stack of money with a note on top, written in bold characters: "For food."

Lin Fan smiled, folded the note carefully, and put it in her pocket. After washing up, she planned to go out and buy groceries. When she turned around, she was startled by a pale face and took two steps back, wide-eyed. "How did you follow me here?"

The sunlight outside was harsh, and the woman stood in the shadow. "The person by your side has a strong presence."

Qin Feng? Most ghosts feared Qin Feng, even the little black ghost that appeared out of nowhere was afraid of him. Lin Fan looked at her. She had gotten used to it and didn't find it scary anymore. Clearing her throat, she asked, "How did you die?"

"I don't remember," she said. "But I have something very important. My fiancé is coming back today, and I need to pick him up." Her beautiful eyes were sorrowful as she looked at Lin Fan. "I can't find him. I've been waiting at the airport for a long time, but he never showed up."

"What date is 'today' for you?" Lin Fan suspected she had the wrong date.

"The twenty-first."

"It's already the twenty-ninth now," Lin Fan said. "I saw you at the airport a week ago. Are you sure you didn't get the date wrong? What's your fiancé's name?"

"Today is the twenty-ninth?"

Lin Fan nodded. "Yes, is he at B City Airport or Jiangcheng Airport?"

She widened her eyes, her face turning even paler as she quickly stepped back. "Impossible! How can it be the twenty-ninth?"

"What's your name?" Lin Fan put her hands in her pockets, feeling a bit hungry and stretching her neck. "I have a friend who's a police officer. Maybe he can help find out how you died."

She held her head, looking pained. "How can it be the twenty-ninth? Where did he go?"

Lin Fan just stared at her, having no idea either.

After a long time, she spoke again. "His name is Han Xu."

Lin Fan continued, "What's your name?"

"I'm Xiong Jiao." The woman released her hands, her eyes vacant, then looked up. "Miss, can you help me contact him?"

"What's his phone number?" Lin Fan took out her phone. "I'll call him for you."

"I can't remember."

Lin Fan said, "I'll ask the police for you."

"Thank you."

Her tone was kind, with no signs of becoming a vengeful spirit, which made Lin Fan feel more favorable towards her. "I'm going out now. Where will you stay? The sun outside is harsh; it might not be good for you."

"I'll stay in the hallway."

Lin Fan changed her plans, shouldered her bag, and went out. She had breakfast at the entrance, then took a bus to find Qin Feng. Half an hour later, she arrived at the Criminal Police Unit. Inside, she ran into Xiao Wang, who smiled at her. "Hey, kiddo."

Lin Fan turned back. "Have you seen Brother Qin?"

"Captain Qin? He went out to investigate a case."

"Can I wait for him in his office?"

"Sure, I'll take you there."

"No, no." Lin Fan waved her hands quickly. "I know the way."

---

Xiong Jiao, from B City, aged thirty-one. Her mother passed away early, and her father lived in the countryside with her brother, rarely contacting Xiong Jiao. Two years ago, Xiong Jiao came to Jiangcheng and opened a bar on Changping Street, which was doing well. She was known as a beautiful boss in that area, indeed very attractive. However, she had a cold personality and no close friends in Jiangcheng. According to her bar employees, her personal life seemed messy.

"Rich businessmen often came to see her, all driving luxury cars," said Xiao Wei, the bartender, clicking his tongue. "Our boss is very beautiful. It's normal for wealthy men to come after her. I heard she initially started with 'that' business, made money, and then opened this bar."

Qin Feng frowned, then relaxed, asking, "What kind of business?"

"Prostitution, reportedly connected with high-ranking officials in B City."

"How do you know that?"

"People at the bar talk about it. Otherwise, how could a young woman like her make so much money? What right does she have to earn so much?"

Some people are destined to live at the bottom of society. Qin Feng twirled his pen. "Did she have a boyfriend?"

"Seems like she did, someone abroad. We've never met him, just occasionally heard the boss mention him."

"What's his name?"

"I don't know."

"When did you notice Xiong Jiao was missing?"

"Around the twenty-first, but she often disappeared for several days, so we didn’t pay much attention. It wasn't until you police came asking that we realized she was dead. What will happen to the bar? Will it stay open?"

"When was the last time she left the bar?"

"On the night of the twentieth."

"Is there surveillance footage?"

"Yes."

The timeline matched with the surveillance footage from the residential area. Because it was a nightclub, by the time she left the bar, it was already the early hours of the twenty-first. She drove away from the bar at 2 AM and reached her residential complex at 3 AM. Surveillance captured her entering her apartment. Her time of death was determined to be in the early morning of the twenty-first. The killer must have been hiding in the complex, waiting for her to enter before committing the act.

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There are two conditions: first, the person must be familiar with Xiong Jiao’s schedule. They might not be personally close to her, but they must know her well. Second, they must have access to Ruilei Garden. Entry into Ruilei Garden requires a keycard, so outsiders cannot easily enter.

"Who are the people Xiong Jiao interacted with most frequently? Can you recall?"

"I can think of a few."

By the time they left the bar, it was already half-past eleven. Qin Feng compiled a list of possible suspects. "Check what these people were doing on the night of the twentieth and early morning of the twenty-first. See if any of them could access Ruilei Garden."

"Got it." Xiao Wang took the list and halfway out, turned back. "Captain Qin, Xiao Lin is waiting for you in the office."

"Lin Fan?"

"Yes, she probably has something to discuss with you."

"I got it." Qin Feng initially planned to investigate further at the residential complex but, upon hearing this, told Xiao Wang, "Who else is free right now?"

"Sun Wei and Liu Juan."

"Get them to check the security guards at Ruilei Garden."

"Okay."

Qin Feng got in his car, changed direction, and headed for the police station. He handed the documents to his colleague responsible for files and then opened his office door to find Lin Fan sitting at the desk, working on a paper with her back to the door.

"Lin Fan?"

Lin Fan quickly put down her pen and turned around. Seeing it was Qin Feng, she tucked her paper back into her bag. "I found out the identity of that woman."

"What’s her name? How did she die?"

"Xiong Jiao. She doesn’t seem very concerned about her own death," Lin Fan said. "It looks like she’s waiting for someone, which is why she hasn’t moved on."

Qin Feng paused, looking up. "Xiong Jiao?"

Lin Fan nodded. "That’s the name."

Qin Feng couldn’t help but laugh, raising his eyebrows. "The case I’m investigating is Xiong Jiao’s. Have you had lunch yet? Let’s go out to eat first."

Lin Fan’s eyes widened. "That phone call yesterday?"

Qin Feng nodded.

"Then the time of death isn’t four or five days ago. She died on the twenty-first."

"I know." Qin Feng grabbed Lin Fan by the collar. "Come on, let’s go eat, and I’ll explain over lunch."

Lin Fan winced from the pain, and Qin Feng immediately let go, remembering her injury. "You okay?"

Lin Fan shook her head. Qin Feng unbuttoned one of her buttons. "You should go for a follow-up exam."

"Tomorrow."

"Don’t delay. Has the wound scabbed over?"

"Yes." Lin Fan started to grab her bag, but Qin Feng said, "Leave the bag here. We’ll get it after lunch."

"Alright."

Lin Fan took her phone and wallet and put them in her pocket. Qin Feng walked ahead with a serious expression, and Lin Fan followed, asking, "How did she die?"

"Blunt force trauma to the skull."

"That’s brutal!" Lin Fan exclaimed.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Anything’s fine."

Qin Feng found a nearby health food restaurant, ordered, and poured two glasses of water, handing one to Lin Fan. "What is she waiting for?"

"Her fiancé, Han Xu," Lin Fan said. "She said her fiancé was supposed to arrive at the airport on the twenty-first, which is why she’s been lingering there. She must have mixed up the dates."

"Any written characters? Any photos, ID numbers, phone numbers, anything?"

"I only know the name, Han with the character for 'sunrise' (旭)."

Qin Feng chuckled at her explanation, taking a sip of water. "Do you know where he was flying from? Any idea about the flight?"

"No."

"Alright, let’s eat first."

Halfway through their meal, the police station called to inform Qin Feng that Xiong Jiao’s family had arrived.

"I understand. I’ll be back soon."

"What’s up?" Lin Fan quickly swallowed her rice. "Work?"

"Yes, Xiong Jiao’s family is here."

Lin Fan quickly finished her soup. "Can I come with you to see?"

"Sure."

After lunch, they returned to the station. The visitor was Xiong Jiao’s brother, who looked nothing like her. He was short and stout, and upon seeing Qin Feng, immediately asked for a cigarette, showing little sign of grief.

"I’m Xiong Zhiwei, Xiong Jiao’s brother. How did she die? Is her money still there?"

He lit a cigarette right there and then, puffing away.

"Let’s talk somewhere else."

Qin Feng led him into the interrogation room and gestured for him to sit.

Lin Fan didn’t enter. Instead, she was taken to the adjacent room by Medical Examiner Liu.

"How was your relationship with Xiong Jiao?"

"We’re siblings. That’s about it. Did she own a bar? Where is it? Has it been sold?"

"Do you know if Xiong Jiao had any enemies?"

"I have no idea."

"Did you know she had a fiancé?"

"Didn’t he die? How could she have a fiancé now? She was just fooling around, not caring about reputation." Xiong Zhiwei said, "When can I take her body for cremation?"

"Dead? What was his name?" Qin Feng changed his posture, staring at him, his gaze unchanging.

Lin Fan felt Qin Feng’s whole demeanor shift, becoming colder and sharper.

"His surname was Han, I think." Xiong Zhiwei said. "He died in a car accident, three years ago, around this time of year."

Qin Feng frowned. "Do you know about his family?"

"I just know he was from B City, stayed abroad for a few years, and was considered a high achiever. He died in a car accident right after returning home. Xiong Jiao went crazy for a long time."

"Did she date anyone else after that?"

"Probably not. Can I go to her apartment? My dad wants me to bring her stuff back."

"No, the case isn’t closed yet."

Xiong Zhiwei was angry but seemed to fear the police. He held back his anger. "Can I handle the bar then? When will you solve the case?"