"I didn't mean to, it was an accident. Will my apology make any difference?" The laughter filled the bus, with some urging, "Just stop talking, kids don't understand." The bus screeched to a halt halfway, and as it started to move back, she felt a sudden tug on her shoulder and was lifted up. Looking up, Lin Fan saw a teenager and quickly grabbed onto the nearby handrail. "Thank you."
"We've reached Yingcai Road, passengers getting off, please be careful."
The teenager swung his backpack onto his shoulder and quickly disappeared after getting off the bus, leaving Lin Fan holding onto the pole, looking at her reflection in the window, teeth clenched. Inside the carriage, the atmosphere remained lively, with a middle-aged woman and her pregnant daughter happily discussing what they had seen and heard that day. Lin Fan bit her lip tightly. She couldn't afford to cause trouble.
The next day, her knee was swollen, and she limped to the classroom, head down, heading straight to her seat, second to last row.
"Lin Fan?"
A male voice.
Lin Fan turned around, and a tall, skinny boy walked over, "Your test paper."
"Thank you."
Lin Fan took the test paper and walked back to her seat, unable to help but glance back, "What's your name?"
The boy turned his head and pointed to himself, "Me?"
Lin Fan nodded.
"Xu Zhou."
"Thank you for yesterday."
Xu Zhou paused for a moment, then nodded and turned away.
Lin Fan sat down at her desk and took out a book from her bag.
"Just arrived and already flirting with the class monitor, shameless."
Lin Fan looked up, "I'm not deaf, your voices are loud."
The three girls sitting diagonally in front of her sneered and moved apart, one of them being Lin Fan's desk mate.
Lin Fan hadn't paid attention to her classmates yesterday. If it weren't for Xu Zhou helping her on the bus last night, she wouldn't even know who he was.
Morning classes ended, Lin Fan packed up to go to the cafeteria. Her phone rang, it was Qin Feng. Lin Fan hesitated for a moment before answering, "Hello?"
"Do you have time at noon?"
Lin Fan glanced at her wristwatch, "Two hours."
"I'm outside your school."
"Okay."
Yesterday Qin Feng said he needed her help, but she didn't know what it was for.
Five minutes later, she arrived at the school gate. A black car was parked nearby, with a man's face visible through the half-open window.
He was smoking.
Lin Fan hurried over.
The sunlight was blocked in front of her, and Qin Feng turned around to see Lin Fan, stubbing out the cigarette.
"Get in."
Lin Fan glanced at Qin Feng for a moment, then went around and got into the passenger seat.
He shaved, looked at least ten years younger, with rugged features showing his handsome appearance.
Lin Fan buckled her seatbelt, "I only have two hours, I have classes in the afternoon."
"Mm."
The car sped along the highway, Lin Fan took out her test papers from her bag and, without thinking, grabbed the leftover bun she hadn't finished eating in the morning.
Qin Feng's gaze swept over, "I'll treat you to a meal soon."
"No need, what's the matter?" Lin Fan multitasked, focusing on her questions.
"I have a friend who was murdered, and the case has remained unsolved."
Lin Fan stopped writing, choking on the bun.
Ahead was a red light, and Qin Feng stepped on the brake, grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, and handed it to Lin Fan. His black eyes fell on her, "You can see souls, I want you to see if she's still around."
Lin Fan drank half the bottle of water and swallowed the bun, "I may not be able to see. My 'yin-yang eyes' aren't that effective."
Qin Feng withdrew his gaze.
The atmosphere in the car became silent and somewhat awkward. Lin Fan finished the remaining water in small sips.
She didn't particularly like this person; he had a strong temper and was difficult to get along with.
She resumed looking at the questions.
Half an hour later, the car entered a high-end residential area, and Qin Feng got out of the car.
Lin Fan quickly stuffed her test papers back into her bag, got out of the car, closed the door, and followed Qin Feng.
The garage was on the basement level, requiring them to take the elevator.
On the fifth floor, the elevator doors opened, and he stepped out, one unit per floor.
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Qin Feng took out his keys, opened the door, while Lin Fan observed her surroundings. The corridor was very clean.
Suddenly, a chill hit her, and Lin Fan couldn't help but shiver, "It's so cold."
Qin Feng turned back at her words, "Cold?"
Lin Fan nodded, then rubbed her nose and peeked into the house, "What's that smell?"
"Come in."
Qin Feng walked in and tossed the keys on the foyer table, his movements skilled.
Was this his house?
Lin Fan stepped inside, the strange smell even stronger, and she covered her nose.
"Is it a smell of blood?"
The house was large, beautifully decorated, but cold, chilling to the bone.
"Not the smell of blood."
The living room had huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the rooms tidy and neat, with pictures on the wall, presumably of the homeowner. A very beautiful girl. Lin Fan walked over, and at the end was a picture of Qin Feng and her leaning against each other.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"My sister." Qin Feng pushed open a door, "This way is the bedroom, also the first crime scene."
As the bedroom door opened, the smell rushed out, making Lin Fan cover her nose.
"What's wrong?" Qin Feng turned back, somewhat nervous, "Is there something? What did you see?"
Lin Fan shook her head, "Didn't see anything, just a strong smell."
"A smell?" Qin Feng frowned deeply. "You can smell it?"
"Stinky." Lin Fan took a deep breath on the other side of the house before briskly walking to the bedroom. The main color of the room was white, very clean. But the smell of blood and stench was evident. Lin Fan circled the room and stopped in front of the closet.
"Reaching out for the cabinet, Qin Feng's expression changed. He hurried over to intercept Lin Fan's hand, handing her gloves.
He looked at Lin Fan, his gaze deep, 'What have you found?'
'The main source of the smell is here.'
Qin Feng stared at Lin Fan, 'You smelled it?'
Lin Fan nodded, putting on the gloves, 'What's wrong?'
Her gaze was clear, unlike deceit.
'Nothing, go ahead.' Qin Feng walked to the door, impatiently took out a cigarette box, bit a cigarette, and lit it with a tilt of his head. He deeply inhaled the smoke, nicotine calming his emotions slightly.
Qin Yu had been gutted, his body lying next to the cabinet.
He took a drag from the cigarette, grinding his teeth, before finally relaxing his fist after a while.
The clothes were rummaged through, and with the police searching for evidence, anything was possible. The source of the smell was here. Lin Fan glanced back at Qin Feng, his posture straight as a rod.
Continuing to search the cabinet, the stench grew stronger. Removing a scarf, something fell to the ground with a clatter.
Lin Fan bent down to pick it up, revealing it to be a talisman, with red characters peeking out, glaringly obvious.
'Officer Qin.'
'What?'
Lin Fan opened the talisman, black powder scattering, and she quickly closed it again. 'There's something here, a talisman. Is it your sister's?'
This was the source of the foul smell, revealing something even more repugnant.
The item was taken away, and Qin Feng squatted in front of her, wanting to open it. Lin Fan asked, 'Do you have a bag?'
'What for?'
'To pour out the ashes, I want to see the characters on the talisman.'
Qin Feng glanced at her, stood up, and quickly went to the living room, taking out a clean piece of paper from the drawer and opening the talisman.
The paper was yellow, with a strong smell of blood. Lin Fan picked it up, almost gagging from the scent. She put down the paper, turning to Qin Feng with deep, questioning eyes, 'What is this? Do you understand?'
'Don't know.' Lin Fan shook her head, 'But I've seen someone draw it before. There's a witch in our village who can draw exorcism talismans.'
'Exorcism talisman?'
'This one is more malicious than an exorcism talisman, probably drawn with animal blood, hence the smell of blood. That's why I asked if it's your sister's. No one would place such a malicious thing in a room.' Lin Fan paused, 'It takes great hatred to place something like this, like condemning someone to eternal damnation.' Lin Fan looked over the paper, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall. 'The black ashes inside smell unusually foul.'
Qin Feng's face darkened, looking extremely grim. 'This isn't hers.'
Lin Fan returned the item, 'Then it's a crucial piece of evidence.'
Qin Feng put the talisman along with the black ashes into a bag, standing up. 'Is there anything else in this room?'
Lin Fan looked around, 'It's clean, nothing else.'
'I'll drive you back.'
As the car left the basement, sunlight fell upon them. The coldness dissipated, and Lin Fan rubbed her neck. 'Do you believe in ghosts in this world?'
Qin Feng's gaze fell on the road ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. After a while, he spoke, 'My sister also had the ability to see ghosts.'
Lin Fan turned to look at him, Qin Feng's voice low, 'I never doubted you.'
Twenty minutes later, Qin Feng parked the car.
Lin Fan was about to get out, but Qin Feng gestured for her to sit back, 'Wait five minutes.'
'Is there something wrong?'"
"He closed the car door and strode towards the roadside. Lin Fan glanced at her watch; it was already past one. Probably no time for lunch. Should she just buy a bun from the roadside?
Soon Qin Feng returned, swinging the car door open. Cold wind rushed in, and Lin Fan looked up as he handed her a bag with the scent of wheat.
"Owe you a lunch."
"Huh?"
"If you have time, I'll treat you. You won't make it for your class lunch. Just manage with this; there's milk inside."
He opened the car window, letting the wind in, while Lin Fan held the warm bread bag, "Thank you."
The car stopped at the school gate, and Lin Fan, with her backpack, was about to leave.
Qin Feng noticed the dirt on her clothes, "Wait." He pulled out his wallet, took out all the cash, and handed it to Lin Fan, "Thanks for today."
Lin Fan stared at him for a few seconds, then lifted the bread bag, "Didn't you just give me bread? It's a fee for service."
She jumped out of the car and walked away quickly, soon disappearing from sight.
Qin Feng's gaze darkened, his eyebrows twitched slightly as he put the money back into his wallet. Leaning back in his seat, he lit a cigarette and took out the talisman, examining it carefully.
The phone rang, and Qin Feng put away the talisman before answering.
"Captain Qin, a female body was found at Xiliu River."
"I'll be right there."
---
In the afternoon, there was an exam. Lin Fan returned to the classroom and buried herself in her books.
Tests big and small, with the countdown to the college entrance examination written on the blackboard, kept her busy.
After the evening self-study session, Lin Fan was the last to leave the classroom. She was thinking about the photos she had seen today. Qin Feng's sister? Was she killed in revenge?
It was cold outside. Lin Fan put on her down jacket and hat, quickly making her way to the bus stop.
The bus was late today, making Lin Fan impatient and uneasy. Standing beside her was someone she knew, and instinctively, Lin Fan moved aside, catching a glimpse of a familiar face.
"Xuzhou?"
Xuzhou saw her too, nodded, but didn't say much. He wore a black thin down jacket and carried a backpack over his shoulder.
Lin Fan looked back and saw another classmate. They exchanged whispers, casting glances her way. Lin Fan held back her words, grateful when the bus arrived soon after.
Lin Fan chose a seat at the back, and Xuzhou sat on the other side of the same row, maintaining a distance between them.
Feeling tired, Lin Fan leaned against the window to sleep. Suddenly, her arm was bumped, and she opened her eyes to see Xuzhou slipping a piece of paper into her backpack. Curious, she took out the paper and saw the words, "The college entrance examination is approaching. Study hard. Don't mind the rumors. I can be your friend."
Lin Fan turned to look at him, smiling. She mouthed, "Thank you."
Xuzhou's ears seemed to turn red as he turned his head to look out the window.
Xuzhou got off the bus two stops earlier than Lin Fan, who closed her eyes and continued sleeping.
The bus abruptly stopped, and Lin Fan bumped into her chest, wincing in pain. Rubbing her chest and looking up, she saw a woman standing straight on the road ahead, illuminated by the headlights.
"Why isn't the driver moving?" someone in the front asked. "Why stop here?"
"Can't move. There's a problem with the bus. I'll check it out."
The driver got off, letting in the cold wind.
Lin Fan bit her lip, clutching her backpack, standing in front of the woman. The woman slowly lifted her head, her pale face looking particularly terrifying under the glare of the headlights.
There were a few students inside the bus, all restless and murmuring.
"Why isn't it fixed yet? Don't know when we'll get home."
Lin Fan locked eyes with the woman, even though she was far away, Lin Fan could see her face clearly.
The middle-aged woman who pushed her down that day, but now, she probably wasn't human anymore.
Her wet hair dripped water onto the ground.
The engine started, and the driver got back on, "All good now."
The bus passed through the woman's body.