Ouyang Yu slapped Lin Fan, sending her crashing into the wall, unconscious. Ouyang Yu pressed his palm to his wound, but the bleeding didn't stop. His eyes darkened as he walked towards Lin Fan. She had slipped out of his control, which was not good; he needed to take her away. Last time, he was injured by that old Taoist priest and, unable to maintain the barrier, he had recklessly followed her here.

Just as he was about to touch Lin Fan, the elevator doors opened, and a woman screamed. Ouyang Yu reached to grab Lin Fan but was thwarted by a flash of white light as the short sword flew towards him. He rolled away just in time, dodging to the elevator door, where he knocked out the woman who was about to call for help.

The sword fell next to Lin Fan, absorbing the blood on the blade and emitting a chilling aura. Ouyang Yu’s expression changed dramatically. He quickly pulled the woman out of the elevator, put on a mask, and pressed the button to go downstairs.

Lin Fan woke up to the piercing sound of an ambulance and the sound of crying beside her. She struggled to open her eyes and saw a familiar face. After a few moments of confusion, she realized, "Auntie?"

"Fan Fan, you're awake?"

Lin Fan tried to move, but Qin’s mother quickly held her down. "Don't move yet."

The bed was shaking underneath her, and Lin Fan’s vision finally cleared. "Why am I in an ambulance?"

"You were attacked."

Lin Fan recalled what happened before she passed out, her head throbbing painfully. "When did you get there?"

"After lunch," Qin’s mother said. "I saw you lying on the ground, and there was blood underneath you." She hesitated for a moment, frowning in confusion. "I blacked out for a moment, and when I came to, the blood was gone."

"Did you see a short sword?" Lin Fan thought of the crucial evidence.

"Yes, it's in my bag." Qin’s mother quickly opened her bag and took out the sword, holding it carefully. "This thing is too dangerous. I'll keep it for you."

Why was Ouyang Yu afraid of this sword?

While Lin Fan was getting checked out at the hospital, Qin Feng called. Qin’s mother answered the phone outside. She had a strange pain in her neck and head and found bruises on her arm. "Qin Feng."

"I sent a colleague over. How's Lin Fan?"

"She probably has a concussion. I did see blood, but when I looked again, it was gone. How did Fan Fan get the sword?"

"I gave it to her," Qin Feng said after a brief silence. "You didn't see anyone?"

"No, I'm feeling dizzy now."

"Get yourself checked too, to make sure you weren't drugged. Lin Fan should stay with you until I get back."

"Is this revenge from one of your enemies? Your job is dangerous enough without dragging family into it. It's a good thing I arrived when I did, or who knows what could have happened to Fan Fan."

"I know. Later, give her the sword."

"Isn't it dangerous for her to have it?"

"Yes, give it to her."

"Alright."

After her checkup, Lin Fan was diagnosed with a mild concussion. It wasn't serious, so she was prescribed medication and could go home. Qin’s mother took Lin Fan out of the hospital, and one of Qin Feng's colleagues came to ask about the situation and then drove them home.

Ouyang Yu's case was too bizarre, and Lin Fan didn't dare to say much. Sitting in the car, she moved her neck and arms. What exactly did Ouyang Yu want? Today, he seemed to want to take her away. Where to? For what? To kill her?

Why didn't he kill her after she passed out? Was it because Qin’s mother arrived?

Too many questions made Lin Fan's head feel like it was about to explode. Feeling nauseous, she leaned her head against the front seat and closed her eyes. Qin’s mother gently patted her back. "Does your head hurt?"

Lin Fan didn't want her to worry and shook her head. "No."

"Do you want to lie down for a bit?"

"I'm fine."

As soon as they got home, Qin Feng called. Lin Fan sat down on the sofa and answered. "Brother Qin."

"How are you feeling? Better?"

"Much better. Did you find out?"

"My mom called me," Qin Feng said. "What happened?"

Lin Fan went to the balcony, closed the door, and recounted the events. "He might not be human, but the short sword can hurt him. I still don’t understand what he wants from me."

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Qin Feng was silent for a moment. Lin Fan continued, "The blood on the sword and the ground disappeared. I thought I could use it as evidence against Ouyang Yu."

"Are you sure there was blood?"

"I stabbed him," Lin Fan said. "I'm sure."

"Keep the short sword with you," Qin Feng said. "I'll handle the rest when I get back."

"Okay."

Lin Fan hung up the phone and turned to see Qin Feng's mother. She felt a wave of embarrassment, wondering if she had overheard and would think badly of her for lying and putting on a façade.

"Auntie?"

"Fan Fan, come drink some water. You've hurt your head, so try not to be on the phone too much."

Feeling ashamed, Lin Fan walked over and sat down. "Thank you, Auntie."

Qin’s mother opened her bag and handed the short sword to Lin Fan. "You should keep this with you. Be careful not to hurt yourself."

"Alright, thank you."

Qin’s mother looked at Lin Fan, hesitant to speak. After a while, she finally asked, "What school do you want to apply to?"

"The Jiangcheng Police University is pretty good," Lin Fan replied, holding her cup. She really liked Qin Feng’s family; they were very kind and gentle people. "I want it to be my first choice."

"A police officer?" Qin’s mother asked, her blood pressure rising slightly as she forced a smile. "Why? We already have one police officer in the family. Qin Feng is a police officer."

"Auntie," Lin Fan looked into Qin’s mother’s eyes, knowing she must have heard everything earlier. "I can see things that others can't. I've seen many souls who died unjustly. They're very pitiful, unable to find peace or reincarnate."

Qin’s mother was stunned, finding it hard to believe.

"I want to help them."

"The one who attacked you—wasn’t human either?"

Lin Fan shook her head. "I don’t know. Maybe not. I didn't tell you earlier because I was afraid it would scare you."

"It's nothing, really. The world is vast, and many things can't be explained by science." Qin’s mother finished the water on the table and sighed. "Qin Feng's sister also had the ability to see ghosts. She could see a lot of strange things. That was one of the reasons Qin Feng joined the police force. He told me the same thing you did."

Qin Yu? A flash of insight crossed Lin Fan's mind but quickly disappeared before she could grasp it. "Qin Yu?"

"Yes, you know her?" Qin’s mother’s eyes dimmed when she mentioned Qin Yu. "She was murdered."

"I know. Three more people died afterward, in the same way."

Qin’s mother was shocked. "Three more victims?"

Lin Fan nodded, rubbing her temples. "I don't know who the killer is or what their motive is. Qin Feng and I both think that if we catch the killer, there won't be any more victims."

Qin’s mother patted Lin Fan's head. "Is the person who hurt you related to this killer?"

"I don't know, maybe," Lin Fan looked up, her dark eyes filled with confusion. "If I find out, I'll let you know."

Qin’s mother was silent for a while before she said, "No matter what, I want both of you to be safe. You're not a police officer yet. If you have any leads, give them to Qin Feng to investigate. Your task is to take good care of your health."

Lin Fan bit her lip. Qin’s mother was genuinely kind, which made Lin Fan smile. "Okay."

The next morning, Lin Fan was woken up by a call from Qin Feng. Groggily, she picked up her phone. "Hello?"

"They found the body."

Lin Fan froze for a few seconds. "Who?"

"Dong Hui, the body that went missing from the morgue."

Lin Fan sprang up, fully awake. "They found the body?"

"Yes," Qin Feng said. "It was found at the station, slightly decomposed."

Lin Fan walked to the window and opened the curtains. The sun was shining brightly, and her headache had lessened. "That person seemed to be looking for his son. He said his soul couldn't catch the human traffickers, so he used his body. Brother Wang told me his son was kidnapped by traffickers three years ago. Maybe his obsession was too strong. Any news on the traffickers?"

"No. Stay out of this matter," Qin Feng paused before continuing, "I'll be home by tomorrow morning at the latest. Don't wander around. Ouyang Yu is still a threat."

The thought of seeing Qin Feng soon made Lin Fan smile. "Okay."

Qin Feng’s voice was low. "Get up now."

Feeling cheerful, Lin Fan squatted by the glass window and wrote Qin Feng’s name on it. "Okay."

"All you say is okay," Qin Feng chuckled softly.

"I’ll wait for you to come home." Lin Fan quickly hung up the phone after saying that. She hugged her phone and squatted by the window, covering her pounding heart. She suddenly remembered the night Qin Feng held her in his arms, kissing her gently, his warmth and the scent of him filling the air.

Hearing voices outside, Lin Fan rubbed her face and quickly changed clothes before leaving her bedroom.

Following Qin Feng's instructions, Lin Fan stayed at home. In the morning, she practiced yoga with Qin's mother, and in the afternoon, the two of them experimented with making desserts. Lin Fan knew how to cook simple home-cooked meals but was completely inexperienced with baking.

Halfway through their baking, Qin’s mother realized they were out of cream. "Watch the oven and take the cake out when it's done. I'll go to the supermarket to buy some cream."

"I'll go," Lin Fan volunteered quickly. "Isn't there still a batch of cookies to bake? I don't know how to do that." She quickly took off her apron. "I remember there's a supermarket at the entrance, not far away. I'll be back soon. I can run fast."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, you wait at home," Lin Fan waved her hand. "I'm not weak. I know some martial arts."

Qin's mother smiled. Lin Fan was so childlike. Thinking for a moment, she said, "Then I'll go with you. We can bake the cookies when we get back."

The two of them left the house. The sun was setting, and children were playing and chasing each other in the yard. Lin Fan was about to look away when she suddenly froze. In the shadows not far away, a man was watching the children.

"Fan Fan? What are you looking at?"

The man turned around, half of his face covered in bloody wounds. Lin Fan looked away. "Nothing."

They bought cream and fruits. By the time they returned home, the sun had completely set. Lin Fan glanced in that direction again; the man was still standing there, staring at something. Lin Fan pressed her lips together. He seemed quite pitiful.

They went upstairs and put the groceries away. Qin’s mother went into the kitchen. "What do you want to eat tonight? How about shrimp?"

"Anything is fine," Lin Fan said, drinking half a glass of water. "Auntie, I need to go downstairs for a bit. I'll be right back."

"What are you going downstairs for?"

Lin Fan rubbed her ear, looking a bit shy. "To buy some things. I didn't bring anything with me when I came over yesterday."

Qin’s mother looked at her and assumed she wanted to buy personal items. She laughed. "Alright, go ahead, but come back soon. The cake will be ready shortly."

"Okay."

Lin Fan changed her shoes and went downstairs, heading straight for that corner. The man was still there, looking a bit confused when he saw her. Lin Fan asked, "Have you found your son?"

The man shook his head, then said, "I’ve seen you before."

"We saw each other on the subway yesterday," Lin Fan noted his appearance. "How did you end up in the car accident?"

"They were stealing children. I chased them, and they ran me over with their car." The man's expression was calm, his face numb. "I've been searching for three years. I finally tracked down these traffickers and got killed. Miss, can you help me? I can't control that body anymore and had to abandon it. Now only you can see me. Can you report those traffickers to the police?"