"I saw you at the amusement park the day before yesterday, what were you chasing?"

"Human traffickers. They kidnapped another child. I wanted to stop them, but unfortunately, I'm already a ghost. I couldn't do anything, so I returned to the hospital to find my body. But I couldn't use that body for long. Before I caught up with them, I lost it."

"Do you have any clues? What car were they driving that day at the amusement park? What was the license plate number? What's the name of the traffickers' leader?"

"Sister, why are you talking to the air?" A voice called from behind. Lin Fan's face darkened. She turned around and saw a little girl standing not far away, curiously watching her. "Why are you talking to yourself?"

Lin Fan blinked and then smiled. "I'm practicing my speech."

The girl, about seven or eight years old, had her hair in a ponytail.

"Okay, you practice then. I'm leaving."

"Bye."

Lin Fan watched the little girl leave, looked around, and said, "Let's talk in the back."

There was a park near the neighborhood. Lin Fan found a bench in the shade of a tree and sat down. The man was still standing, staring blankly at the children playing not far away. "My child should be seven this year. He was four when he was taken."

"How did it happen?"

"He wanted fried chicken, so I went to buy it for him. He was gone in the blink of an eye." The man suddenly covered his face and started crying. "He's gone, and we can't find him no matter what!"

Seeing him like this, Lin Fan felt a pang of sadness. Losing a child and searching for three years must be so despairing. "The license plate number? What kind of car? What's the trafficker's name?"

The man wiped his tears and then said, "They called him 'Boss.' He's a man in his forties. That day at the amusement park, he was driving a silver van, that man was in it."

"What about the license plate number?"

"There wasn't one."

"The car that hit you didn't have a license plate either?"

"It did, but I didn't remember it. It was dark then."

Lin Fan's phone rang. She picked it up and answered it, her mind full of thoughts about the trafficking case without checking the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Where are you?"

Lin Fan was stunned for a few seconds and quickly brought the phone to her eyes to see the caller ID. "Qin Feng?"

"Yes."

Lin Fan looked around and casually said, "I'm at home, with Auntie."

Qin Feng: "I'm at home now."

Lin Fan: "..."

"Address?" Qin Feng's tone became very stern.

"In the park, behind the fountain." Lin Fan touched her nose, realizing her lie was exposed.

"Okay."

He hung up the phone. Lin Fan asked the man, "Do you have any other clues?"

"No, if I find any more clues in the future, can I come directly to you?"

Lin Fan nodded. "Yes, you can go to the old building on Zhongming Road. I'll find you there."

"I know that place." The man glanced at the park entrance and said, "Thank you. I'll leave now. The yang energy here is too strong, I can't stand it."

Qin Feng must have entered the park; the neighborhood and the park were very close. The man seemed to sense it and was eager to leave but still worried. He confirmed with Lin Fan repeatedly, "You will report this to the police, right?"

Lin Fan raised her hand. "I promise."

"Thank you." He bowed several times before leaving. Soon, Qin Feng arrived. He walked over quickly, lifted his chin, and squinted his dark eyes at Lin Fan. "Shopping? Are there stores in the park?"

Lin Fan felt embarrassed and walked towards him. "I saw Dong Hui. It was hard to explain to Auntie, so I made an excuse."

"A soul?"

Lin Fan nodded. Qin Feng's stubble had grown out, probably because he hurried back and didn't have time to shave.

He paused for a few seconds, pulled Lin Fan closer, and checked the wound on her neck. Her fair skin made the bruises from being strangled very conspicuous. Qin Feng's dark eyes deepened. He pressed on it, "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt." Lin Fan felt ticklish from his touch and shrank her neck. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Where else were you hurt?"

"I hit my head, but it's okay." Lin Fan smiled with her head tilted back, revealing her teeth. Seeing no one around, Qin Feng leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Lin Fan's face quickly turned red.

"The video footage was edited out, and the security guards don't know who did it."

"I suspect Ouyang Yu isn't human."

Qin Feng held Lin Fan's hand and started walking towards home. "There's no evidence for now."

"Indeed, my accusation of him attacking me is just my word against his."

"No blood on the dagger?"

"I'm also puzzled by that. How could there be no blood? I clearly injured him."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Then he should be wounded, right?" Qin Feng said. "You go back first. I'll go to the office."

Qin Feng let go of Lin Fan's hand and walked away quickly. Lin Fan ran a few steps to catch up. "Be careful. Do you want to take the dagger? I think he's afraid of it."

"No need. I'm leaving. Go back quickly."

"Okay." Qin Feng was wearing his police uniform, his posture upright, and his steps brisk. He quickly disappeared. Like a gust of wind, Lin Fan scratched her ear, feeling a bit frustrated.

She wandered around the nearby mall and bought a pair of panties. Even though her lie had been exposed by Qin Feng, Lin Fan insisted on completing the act. When she entered the house and saw Qin Feng's father, she greeted him quickly and hurried into her room, stuffing the item into her backpack.

"Where's Qin Feng?"

"He went to the office."

"Then let's eat without waiting for him, that child," Qin's mother muttered outside.

After dinner, Qin Feng still hadn't come back. Lin Fan had something to talk to him about, so she sat on the sofa, fighting off sleepiness while watching TV. By 10:30 PM, Qin Feng was still not back. Qin's mother got up, "Go to bed. You're staying here tonight. When he gets busy, he forgets everything."

Lin Fan responded with a hum, turned off the TV, and went to the room. After washing up, she lay in bed. By then, it was 11:10 PM, and there was still no sign of Qin Feng. Lin Fan fell asleep groggily, only to be awakened by Qin Feng's hand. His hand was calloused and touched her face. Without opening her eyes, Lin Fan grabbed his hand and then opened her eyes, "Brother Qin."

She was still groggy, her voice soft and tender.

"Yeah." Qin Feng sat beside her and turned on the light, studying Lin Fan's face. Lin Fan's face grew hot under his gaze, and she released his hand, pulling the blanket over herself. "What time is it?"

"12:30."

"Have you eaten?"

"No."

Lin Fan rubbed her eyes and got out of bed. "There's food in the kitchen. I'll cook you some noodles."

Qin Feng didn't stop her, looking at her intently and nodding, "Okay."

Qin's mother had prepared everything. Lin Fan cooked a bowl of noodles and brought it to Qin Feng. He didn't comment on the taste, just ate quietly. After finishing, he put down the chopsticks and drank some water, his dark eyes occasionally glancing at Lin Fan.

"Are you full?"

"Yes." Qin Feng's voice was deep and hoarse. Lin Fan didn't understand what he meant by that yes. She wanted to clean up the dishes, but Qin Feng had already picked them up and walked to the kitchen. "You go back to the room first."

It was already 1:00 AM. Lin Fan thought she could talk to him tomorrow. She went back to her room, closed the door, lay on the bed, and scrolled through Weibo on her phone before turning off the light.

Just as she was about to sleep, she heard the door being unlocked. Lin Fan was startled. The door opened, and the light turned on, revealing Qin Feng. She widened her eyes. Qin Feng closed the door and locked it. His hair was still wet from a shower, and he wore a bathrobe. Lin Fan didn't know where to look.

"You—cough, isn't there another room?"

Qin Feng walked over, turned on the bedside lamp, and turned off the main light. Lin Fan quickly moved to the other side, making space for him. Qin Feng looked at her face and smiled, his handsome brows raised.

He lifted the blanket and got into bed, leaning over her with one hand on the headboard, looking at her. "Didn't you have something to say?"

Lin Fan was speechless, nervously swallowing her saliva. "Qin Feng—"

Qin Feng lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then slowly moved down to her lips. He pulled back slightly, "Lin Fan."

Too close. His lips brushed against hers, his straight nose touching her. Lin Fan grabbed Qin Feng's bathrobe, "Brother Qin—"

"Call me by my name."

"Qin Feng."

Qin Feng covered her lips with his, kissing her passionately. Lin Fan was overwhelmed, gradually getting into the moment, her mind going blank. She tilted her head back, feeling a yearning.

Qin Feng lifted her hand and pressed it above her head, half-kneeling over her. "Little girl."

Lin Fan opened her eyes, seeing Qin Feng's deep, endless gaze.

"Brother Qin—"

"Do you trust me?"

Lin Fan's throat felt tight. After a while, she responded with a hum.

Qin Feng kissed her eyes, his rough fingers brushing her face. "I can't bear to—"

He rarely spoke sweet words and didn't know how to express his feelings. He couldn't bear to let Lin Fan go, couldn't bear for her to die so young. Keeping her by his side was the safest.

Lin Fan knew what he meant. She hugged Qin Feng's neck, pulling him closer. "Okay."

Qin Feng wasn't a meticulous person, but in this matter, he was very patient. Lin Fan curled up in his arms, and Qin Feng almost stopped midway, afraid she'd suffer.

"If it hurts, tell me. You can stop it."

Lin Fan didn't speak, not knowing where to put her hands. His hoarse voice was in her ear, coaxing her, "Don't be nervous, relax, don't be afraid."

How could Lin Fan not be afraid? She was terrified.

"Qin Feng—"

Qin Feng's fingers grazed her skin, his warm, damp kisses trailing downward. "Don't be afraid."

Qin Feng wasn't particularly experienced either; he suppressed his breathing, afraid of scaring Lin Fan. He was exploring everything tentatively. He slowly pressed down half a finger, and Lin Fan whimpered. He immediately stopped.

"Kid?"

Lin Fan raised her hand to cover her face, her body trembling slightly. "Don't touch—" She trusted Qin Feng completely; she didn't understand any of this.

When he finally entered her body, Lin Fan whimpered and turned her face away. Qin Feng lowered his head and kissed her, gradually easing his way in. He kissed away Lin Fan's tears, his hand caressing her face. After a moment, he asked, "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah."

Qin Feng waited a while before moving again. He didn't know the limits of a woman's endurance.

At first, Lin Fan was not comfortable at all. She didn't understand why men and women did this; it was both shameful and painful.

The two novices fumbled around in bed for a long time. Qin Feng pulled the blanket over them and kissed her fiercely before daring to move more significantly. She let out soft, kitten-like cries.

Qin Feng panted, paused to kiss her face, and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

The sensation was too strange. Lin Fan clung to his arm, her grip hurting him. "Hmm?"

He went too deep, and Lin Fan's body trembled, her mind going blank. When she regained her senses, Qin Feng was kissing her. Lin Fan tilted her head back, "Brother Qin—"

Qin Feng's breath was heavy above her. Lin Fan's blood was boiling until he finished. Qin Feng withdrew and lay down, holding Lin Fan in his arms, kissing her forehead.

Lin Fan lay there, eyes closed, panting. The air was silent, and he closed his eyes too. Brief peace ensued until Lin Fan suddenly convulsed. Qin Feng was stunned for a few seconds before sitting up and quickly putting on his clothes. Lin Fan curled up, groaning in pain, "I feel awful."

Qin Feng touched her forehead, which was burning hot.

He hurriedly found Lin Fan's clothes, picked up a dress from the floor, and dressed her. Lin Fan trembled in his arms, her teeth chattering, "I'm cold—"

Her lips had turned pale. Qin Feng held her tightly, pulled the blanket over them, and reached for his phone to make a call. No one answered. He held Lin Fan tighter. "I'll take you to the hospital."

The call finally connected. Qin Feng tried to contain his emotions. "Sir, are you sure Lin Fan won't die like this?"

"I'm not sure."

Qin Feng almost wanted to smash his phone, his voice dropping. "This is a human life! Don't joke about it."

"How is she now?"

"She's both cold and hot, in a bad state."

"Take off the soul-stabilizing talisman, burn it to ashes, and make her drink it. Hurry."

The call ended, and Qin Feng felt an intense urge to kill. Rarely did he have such violent thoughts. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He dropped the phone and tried to untie the red string around Lin Fan's neck. Unable to untie it, he yanked it off forcefully. He tucked Lin Fan into the blanket, kissed her forehead. "Stay put, I'll be right back."

As he boiled water, he lit a cigarette, realizing his hands were shaking. Rubbing his hands hard on his clothes to steady himself, he burned the talisman to ashes and threw them into the water.

After preparing the concoction, Qin Feng looked at the dark water, unsure how to make Lin Fan drink it. It looked and smelled terrible. Returning to the room, he saw Lin Fan shivering under the blanket. Qin Feng picked her up, and she started to heat up again.

"Lin Fan?"

Lin Fan had lost consciousness, clinging to Qin Feng’s waist. He pulled her away. "Drink something."

Lin Fan kept her mouth tightly shut, ignoring him. Qin Feng had no choice but to drink the talisman water himself and feed it to Lin Fan through his mouth. The talisman water tasted awful, like burnt ash. He managed to get half a bowl into her.

Before meeting Lin Fan, he never imagined he would believe in such superstitions. Lin Fan stopped convulsing, seemingly unconscious and then fell asleep.

Qin Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead, his hand shaking as he checked her breathing. Warm breath fell on his hand, and he sighed in relief. Her fever had subsided, but he still wasn't sure if she was out of danger.