Lin Fan pondered over the matter at the restaurant. After Qin Feng finished ordering, he poured her some water. Only then did Lin Fan look up. "So, was it really an accident or was he murdered?"
Back then, Lin Fan had just come to Jiangcheng from the countryside, knowing nothing. When someone died, that was the end of it. She sold a jade pendant to pay for her father's funeral. After following Qin Feng on a few city cases, she realized that many things were far more complicated than they seemed.
"I'll investigate," Qin Feng said.
Lin Fan stared at Qin Feng's face, her gaze lingering. Qin Feng had recently shaved, his features sharp and handsome. Lin Fan was lost in thought, recalling the gentleness with which he had kissed her forehead.
Qin Feng's mouth slowly curved into a smile as he gazed into her eyes for about a minute. The server arrived with the hot pot base, snapping Lin Fan out of her daze, her face instantly flushing red.
She hurriedly took a sip of water to hide her embarrassment.
After the server left, Qin Feng extended his hand. "Hmm?"
Lin Fan, puzzled, put down her teacup. "What?"
"You've been staring for so long. Want to touch?"
Lin Fan understood his meaning, her face growing even hotter as she saw his teasing smile. She lowered her head, trying to bury her face in her cup, refusing to look at him again.
"Once the Liu Piaopiao case is over, I'll take you to meet someone," Qin Feng said.
"Who?"
Lin Fan finished her water but didn't put down the cup, hiding half her face. Only her big eyes peeked over it. Qin Feng reached out, taking the cup from her, his pinky brushing her face. "If you're drinking, just drink. Don't do that."
Lin Fan murmured in agreement. Qin Feng found her endearing and lightly tapped her nose. Lin Fan instantly sat up straight, staring at him with a flushed face. "You—"
"Hmm?"
Lin Fan struggled to find words, finally standing up and leaning over the table to get back at him. Qin Feng dodged sideways. Lin Fan, regaining her composure, grabbed the teapot to pour water into his cup.
Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh, turning his head to the side.
Lin Fan's rare burst of courage quickly faded as Qin Feng avoided her.
"You mentioned meeting someone. Who?"
"A friend of my father's who knows some mystical arts."
"Oh."
Lin Fan wasn't very interested in this, seeming lost in thought. Qin Feng sat up straight, looking at her. "Are you unhappy?"
"If I'm a wandering soul residing in this body, will I be taken away?" Lin Fan's long eyelashes fluttered. "Brother Qin, you know my situation."
Qin Feng's smile faded as he nodded. "I know, but you are you. You are not some wandering soul."
Lin Fan pursed her lips, remaining silent. She felt Qin Feng didn't understand.
The server brought their food, and Qin Feng paused the conversation. Once they were alone again, Qin Feng's dark eyes focused on Lin Fan. "Your safety comes first. I won't gamble with your life."
"Thank you."
"Thank me for what?"
Lin Fan didn't reply. She started putting food into the pot. "Don't you eat chili?"
"You shouldn't," Qin Feng said. "With a wound on your back, be careful."
He had ordered clear broth. Lin Fan didn't argue, slowly adding ingredients. "Are you going home tonight?"
"No." Qin Feng thought of something. "You are not to go to Zhongming Road again."
Lin Fan nodded, then asked, "Where will you stay tonight? Do you have another place?"
"Yes," Qin Feng answered vaguely.
After dinner, Qin Feng drove Lin Fan to her apartment complex. After parking, Lin Fan got out with her bag and closed the car door. Qin Feng watched her. She took a few steps, then turned back. "Qin Feng."
Qin Feng unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out, smiling at her. "Come here."
Lin Fan ran over, looking up. "Brother Qin."
Qin Feng straightened her coat's collar and ruffled her hair before pulling her into a hug. "I won't let you die. No matter what you are, as long as I'm alive, you won't die."
Lin Fan froze. When Qin Feng started to let go, she clung to him, burying her face in his chest.
"Qin Feng—" Her voice was low. After her grandmother died, she was an orphan, believing no one would care for her. Until she met Qin Feng. She sniffled.
Qin Feng placed his palm on the back of her head, kissing her hair. "Don't cry."
With thin clothing, Lin Fan's tears soaked through to his skin. He could feel her anxiety. An eighteen-year-old girl, suddenly learning she might be at the end of her life. How did it feel knowing the past eighteen years weren't truly hers?
His deep voice, thick and soothing in the summer breeze, was mesmerizing.
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"I'm here."
"Qin Feng," her voice hoarse.
"Hmm?"
Lin Fan's grip was tight enough to bruise. Suddenly, she leaned back and, before he knew it, briefly kissed him. The scent of youth filled his senses as Lin Fan grabbed her bag and ran. She nearly tripped at the gate, prompting Qin Feng to shout after her, but she had already disappeared.
Qin Feng lowered his leg and leaned against the car door, looking up at the sky. After a while, he touched his lips. Lin Fan had drunk honey grapefruit tea; her lips still tasted sweet.
Shaking his head with a smile that he couldn't suppress, Qin Feng's expression grew colder as he remembered Ouyang Yu's words.
Who was he really? What were his intentions towards Lin Fan?
His phone rang. Seeing it was from the bureau, Qin Feng got into the car and answered. Xiao Wang's voice came through, "Captain Qin, we found a bloody fingerprint on the stair railing."
"I'll be right there."
The bloody fingerprint was on the inner side of the railing, which was dark red. It had been missed during the first sweep. A female team member discovered it by accident when she fell on the stairs.
When Qin Feng arrived, they were conducting another thorough search. The bloody fingerprint was found at the corner between the first and second floors, likely left by the culprit wiping blood off their hand. The second search yielded no new clues, but one fingerprint was enough to reveal a lot.
After comparing the fingerprints, they ruled out Shen Tong. There were no matches in the fingerprint database.
"Fu Li left Jiangcheng on the 4th and went to K City."
In this era, surveillance is everywhere, and almost everything requires an ID card. Finding someone isn't difficult; it just takes time. Qin Feng reviewed the evidence again. The figure on the surveillance footage looked a lot like Fu Li.
"Search Fu Li's residence in Jiangcheng."
________
Lin Fan looked at the little rascal in front of her. He realized he couldn't scare her, so he stopped holding his head and playing around—it was tiring, after all. He sat on the sofa and commanded Lin Fan, "Do you know how to use the remote, country bumpkin?"
Lin Fan glanced at him. Recently, she'd learned a few tricks from Qin Feng on how to scare people. She squinted at him, gave a cold smile, threw the remote aside, and went back to her room without saying a word. Lin Ze, after a moment of being dumbfounded, called out, "Sister Lin?"
Lin Fan ignored him and went back to her room to wash her face and brush her teeth, intending to sleep. The little rascal followed her in, squatting at the door with a pitiful look. "I was wrong."
"Get out."
"I really was wrong."
Lin Fan finished washing her face, sat on the edge of the bed, and picked up her phone to text Qin Feng. She stared at the screen for a long time, not knowing what to write. Lin Ze came to the bedside. "What are you texting?"
Lin Fan covered her phone screen and turned away.
"Are you dating someone?"
Is Qin Feng her boyfriend? Based on her limited understanding of relationships, he should be—after all, they had kissed. Qin Feng was hers now. Lin Fan pondered over her phone, wondering if Qin Feng had accepted the idea of having a young girlfriend. He must have, right?
"I know who killed me. I don't know his name, but I can feel him."
Lin Fan looked at him with a face full of disbelief.
"Really, you don't believe me? I know where the murder weapon is."
Lin Fan kicked off her slippers and got into bed, covering herself with the quilt. The little ghost also slipped in. "Sister, why don't you take me back to that dark building? I want to see if my mom is there."
"You can go by yourself. I'm not going." Lin Fan had promised Qin Feng she wouldn't go to the haunted building.
"I'm scared."
Lin Fan almost burst out laughing. "You're a ghost, what are you afraid of? People?"
Lin Ze huddled in the corner of the bed, pouting silently.
"You're my sister."
Lin Fan thought for a moment. "Maybe not. Now, get out."
"I really know where the murder weapon is."
"Where?"
"I'll take you."
"What's the address?"
"I'll take you. I don't know the exact address."
Lin Fan thought he just wanted to go out and play. She snorted and lifted a corner of the quilt to get some air. The little ghost floated to the head of the bed and sighed. "I'll help you find the weapon. You help me turn on the TV, okay? Let's make a deal."
Lin Fan closed her eyes, her voice getting lower and lower. She was extremely tired. "Give it up. You've already offended me. I won't turn on the TV for you." She put her phone under her pillow, feeling suddenly exhausted. "I need to sleep."
"Hey?" Lin Ze called out to her, but Lin Fan didn't respond, as if she were dead.
Lin Ze grew scared, shouting and calling, but no one responded. No one could see him in this world. He was a ghost and couldn't pick up the phone. After a long time, he quieted down, crouching in the corner, watching Lin Fan silently.
He hoped she wouldn't die.
Lin Fan slept for a whole day and night. When she opened her eyes, it was still dark. She grabbed her phone to check the time—it was only nine in the evening. Rubbing her head, she felt like she'd slept a long time. How was it only nine? Just as she was about to go back to sleep, she realized that it had been nine when she came back with Qin Feng. After arguing with the little ghost, she had slept at least until ten. She quickly grabbed her phone again.
The sound of the door opening came from outside. Lin Fan was still groggy when the bedroom door opened, and Qin Feng, dressed in his police uniform, walked in. He rubbed his temples and yawned.
"You're finally awake?"
If she hadn't woken up soon, he would have taken her to the hospital. It was frightening how she had just passed out like that.
Lin Fan rubbed her head. "Did I sleep for a whole day and night again? What's the date today?" She quickly grabbed her phone and frowned at the date. "How could this be?"
Her stomach growled in protest, making her feel embarrassed.
Qin Feng touched her forehead. She wasn't feverish and seemed fine. Since that cold incident, her body temperature had been quite normal.
"What happened? What did you do after you came back?"
Lin Fan thought back. "Nothing much. Just came back and chatted with Lin Ze for a bit before sleeping."
"Lin Ze?" Qin Feng frowned, pulling away from her. "He showed up here?"
"Yeah."
Lin Fan was feeling dizzy from hunger. "Have you had dinner? I'll cook something."
"Just lie down. I'll order takeout." Qin Feng said as he walked out. "My dad called this afternoon, saying you didn't go to work today and your phone was off. What do you want to eat? How about a chicken soup set?"
"Anything is fine." Lin Fan put on her slippers and left the room, tying up her hair. There was no sign of Lin Ze. Qin Feng, after placing the order, put down his phone and walked toward the bedroom. "I'm going to take a shower. If you need anything, call me."
Lin Fan nodded. "Okay."
She watched him walk to the bedroom door. When Qin Feng suddenly turned back, she was caught off guard, staring blankly. Qin Feng's gaze traveled down her face. He tilted his chin. "Your clothes—wear them properly."
After closing the bedroom door, Lin Fan looked down and realized she was disheveled. She quickly hugged herself and ran into the bedroom. She hadn't changed clothes before sleeping, wearing a vest under her long-sleeve jacket. The jacket's zipper had come undone, exposing a lot of skin.
Lin Fan decided to change into a hoodie. She went out to brush her teeth and wash her face, looking at her puffy eyes in the mirror. She sighed, wondering how much longer she had to live.
The sound of the door opening came from outside. Lin Fan quickly finished washing her face and went out. Qin Feng, wearing sweatpants and a tank top, walked out, drying his hair. "Money is in the drawer by the entrance. If you need to buy clothes or snacks, take it from there."
Lin Fan's eyes were glued to him as she walked into the living room. "I don't really need anything."
Qin Feng glanced at her, seeming hesitant. He was still warm from his shower. Lin Fan kept her distance. "What's wrong?"
Qin Feng sighed. "Nothing."
What kind of girl over eighteen still wore a little vest? Given Lin Fan's experiences, it was understandable she didn't know much.
It wasn't his place to discuss such matters. Buying her clothes himself would definitely come off as inappropriate.
There was a knock at the door. Qin Feng went to get the takeout.
"Come eat."
Lin Fan went to the kitchen to get utensils. Qin Feng said, "Tomorrow, you're coming with me to meet that friend. I've got you two days off."
Lin Fan hesitated while picking up a spoon, noticing Lin Ze huddled in the kitchen corner. He was trembling, his face pale, no longer the cocky kid he usually was. "Sister, the person outside is terrifying. Save me—"