Fu Li turned and ran upstairs, with Lin Fan quickly following. They reached the top floor almost simultaneously. Lin Fan burst through the door to the rooftop, only to be met with a machete swinging towards her. She raised her arm to block it. Instantly, her arm went numb as the blade narrowly missed her face. Someone yanked her by the collar, nearly causing her to fall. She turned to see Qin Feng pushing her behind him. He grabbed his police baton and smashed it against the machete, causing Fu Li to drop it. Before he could react, Qin Feng's fist struck his nose.

The attack was swift and fierce. Fu Li staggered back, clutching his nose, then turned and bolted in the other direction. Qin Feng drew his gun. "Stop!"

Fu Li didn't stop. He headed for the edge of the roof, and Qin Feng shot him in the leg. Fu Li hesitated briefly, then limped to the edge and jumped. The buildings were so close together that there was no gap. He landed on the roof of the adjacent four-story building. After a short pause, he dragged his bloody leg and continued running.

Qin Feng tossed the baton to Lin Fan, who had caught up. "Get downstairs," he shouted.

He leaped to the adjacent rooftop, chasing after Fu Li.

Lin Fan stood on the rooftop and called to Xiao Wang, "Brother Wang, he's on the other side!"

From her vantage point, she saw the direction Fu Li was running. He had just reached the first floor when Qin Feng tackled him to the ground and swiftly handcuffed him. He looked up at Lin Fan and signaled for her to come down.

Soon, more police officers arrived and took Fu Li into custody. Qin Feng waited for Lin Fan, checking her over thoroughly. His rough fingers brushed against her face, quickly withdrawing. "Are you hurt?"

Lin Fan shook her head. "I'm fine. You should get back to work."

"Take a taxi home. Be safe."

"Okay."

Qin Feng straightened up, covering his mouth as he coughed. After looking at Lin Fan for a moment, he said, "Maybe it’s better if you don’t join the police academy."

Lin Fan opened her mouth to ask why, but he turned and walked away before she could speak. As the car drove off, Lin Fan clenched her fists. The warmth from his touch still lingered, making her heart ache. She bit off a piece of dry skin from her lip.

The wind picked up, and it looked like rain.

She didn’t take a taxi but instead took a bus home. As expected, it started raining. Lin Fan sat at the back, watching raindrops streak across the window like tears.

Someone walked past and sat down, bringing a chill with them. Lin Fan turned to see Lin Ze leaning over the seat in front of her, his round eyes staring ahead. The bus, half-empty, played a cheerful pop song.

"Sister."

Lin Fan tried to smile, but her nose tingled. She reached out to touch Lin Ze’s hair. "Why haven’t you left yet?"

"I don’t know."

"Where’s your mom?"

"I can’t find her." Longing filled Lin Ze’s eyes as he pouted. "I’m scared. I don’t like being alone in this world."

Lin Fan rested her hand on his head, hoping it would comfort him. When Lin Ze was alive, their relationship was limited, with no sibling bond.

"No friends, no one to be with."

"I’ll burn you toy cars and video games."

Lin Ze buried his face in his chubby arms, his voice muffled. "I don’t want to be dead. I’m scared—I want to live."

Perhaps due to his contact with Lin Fan, his body was becoming more transparent, on the verge of disappearing. Lin Fan sighed, stroking his hair. "You’ll have companions."

"No, it’s just me," he said, his voice tinged with sobs.

Lin Fan didn’t know what to say.

"Sister, why did I have to die? What did I do wrong? Can I change?"

Lin Fan looked at his tear-filled eyes and then turned to gaze out the window, the rain incessant. "In your next life, be born into a harmonious family, free from money disputes and conspiracies. Grow up well and become a righteous person."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Lin Ze stared at her, still too young, too small.

The bus stopped and started, with people getting on and off. The rain outside seemed endless. Lin Ze’s voice was faint. "Sister, I have to go."

Lin Fan turned back, her thumb brushing away his tears. "Go, and be reborn into a good family."

Lin Ze suddenly hugged her, whispering in her ear, "Sister, he’s very scary. Stay away from him."

Lin Fan paused. "Qin Feng?"

"Yes." Lin Ze looked out the window, seeing someone. He had to leave; if he stayed, he would dissipate. "It was nice knowing you. I shouldn’t have bullied you."

In the next life, would you still want to be my sister?

"You have to go."

He heard a voice, stern and undeniable. He released Lin Fan. "Living is really good. The weapon is in the lake by our house. I’m free now..."

Lin Fan's hands were empty. She jolted awake, fully alert. The bus still played music, and her face was pressed against the seat. She rubbed her eyes. Had it been a dream? Did she see Lin Ze in her dream?

---

"The blood at the scene matches Fu Li’s," Qin Feng said, looking at the man before him. "What else do you have to say?"

Fu Li couldn’t deny it and finally spoke. "That bitch lied to me. She wanted to take all the money and run off with her lover abroad. Damn it, killing her was a mercy."

"You killed Liu Piaopiao on the first floor, then heard a noise upstairs and killed the child?"

"Yes." Fu Li leaned back in his seat. "A kid’s neck is so tender. One cut and it’s off. The blood sprayed far. It was quite a sight. If only Liu Piaopiao could’ve seen her son die, but unfortunately, I killed her first."

Qin Feng relaxed his clenched fist. "Where’s the weapon?"

"Find it yourself."

Qin Feng left the interrogation room, his phone ringing. Seeing it was Lin Fan, he answered. "Lin Fan."

"I know where the weapon is."

The weapon was found at ten o’clock that night, retrieved from an artificial lake. The knife had no handle, which explained why Fu Li had cut his own hand during the attack, leaving evidence.

At one in the morning, Lin Fan was exhausted, eating instant noodles ravenously. Qin Feng handed her a package of meatballs, his meal also instant noodles.

After finishing, Lin Fan, barely able to keep her eyes open, said, "Lin Ze is gone. I didn’t see Liu Piaopiao; she’s probably gone too."

"Yes."

Liu Piaopiao hadn’t been truthful with Lin Fan. She had always loved Shen Tong, but he had no money. She married Lin Fan’s father for money, using it to support Shen Tong’s studies after his family faced hardships. Later, she and Fu Li conned Lin Chengwei out of his money, driving him to his death. Everything Lin Chengwei had went to Liu Piaopiao. Because the scam was linked to Fu Li’s company and Liu Piaopiao had a prominent lawyer, Shen Tong, they framed Fu Li, who lost all the money back to Liu Piaopiao. Lin Chengwei’s death made Liu Piaopiao the primary heir.

The money returned to Liu Piaopiao, leaving Fu Li with nothing and a legal mess. Liu Piaopiao wanted both money and revenge.

No one involved was innocent.

Lin Fan set down her fork and looked at Qin Feng. "I’m going to sleep."

Qin Feng also set down his fork, packing up the containers. "Go to bed early."

Lin Fan's eyes darted around as she bit her lip. Qin Feng, noticing her hesitation, raised an eyebrow in confusion, "What's wrong?"

The dim light cast a glow on Qin Feng's head, highlighting his handsome features in the backlight. Lin Fan hesitated, then asked, "Am I not good enough?"

Qin Feng was taken aback by the question, but seeing her bright eyes, his heart softened. He wiped his hands clean, walked over, and lightly touched her cheek, leaning on the dining table to study her. After a long pause, he replied in a hoarse voice, "You're good."

That "good" was loaded with meaning.

Lin Fan's heart raced as she clung to the back of the chair, her mouth slightly open. "Huh?"

His gaze was dark and deep like the ocean.

"What?"

His voice was rich and deep, and he loomed over her like a mountain, blocking out most of the light.

Lin Fan was at a loss for words. Qin Feng leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Lin Fan's grip weakened, and she nearly fell, but Qin Feng caught her by the waist and lifted her chin with his other hand, deepening the kiss.

Lin Fan was stunned as Qin Feng's tongue parted her lips. She had no idea kissing could be like this. She remained in a daze until Qin Feng pulled away. Her lips were red and moist, slightly parted. Qin Feng wiped the corner of her mouth, his hand resting on the back of the chair.

Staring at her, Lin Fan had turned into a puppet. After a long while, she finally spoke, "You—you used your tongue—that's not right—"

Qin Feng was momentarily taken aback, then straightened up, his thick eyebrows almost flying off his face.

Once a smile reached his eyes, it was impossible to hold back. He laughed heartily, ruffling Lin Fan's hair, "Kid, go to bed."

Lin Fan's face turned crimson. She watched him return to his room, still dazed, and wiped her lips. Her legs were too weak to stand. For a long time, she buried her face in the back of the chair. Her fingers trembled as she pressed her lips together, thinking Qin Feng was so unhygienic.

It wasn't until after she had taken a shower and was lying in bed that she remembered she hadn't asked her question. She wanted to know what was wrong with her and why he didn't want her to join the police academy. What did Qin Feng mean by "good"? And did he misunderstand her intentions with the kiss?

Lying in the dark, Lin Fan opened her eyes and clutched her chest, wondering what Qin Feng was thinking.

The next morning, Lin Fan was awakened by Qin Feng knocking on her door. She mumbled a response, reaching for her phone to check the time. She was startled to see it was already half-past nine.

She quickly changed clothes and went out to wash up. Qin Feng was already dressed, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans. Clean-shaven, he looked refreshingly handsome.

As Lin Fan brushed her teeth and washed her face, she couldn't help but steal glances at Qin Feng.

"Do I look good?" Qin Feng asked, coming out of the kitchen with two bowls. "Drink some soy milk."

"Where did you get it?"

"It fell from the sky," Qin Feng said, setting down the bowls and going back for the rest of the breakfast.

Lin Fan smelled the aroma and pulled out a chair to sit. Qin Feng came back with some buns. "Do you want sugar?"

Lin Fan shook her head, "No."

Qin Feng said, "I have the day off today. I'm taking you to meet someone. You can't trust Ouyang Yu's words. No matter the outcome, it's better than being completely in the dark."

Lin Fan, holding a bun, froze and quickly looked up at Qin Feng.