"I know."

"Stay safe."

Someone spoke on the other end, and Qin Feng said, "Wait for me at the office."

He hung up, and Lin Fan looked at her phone before raising her head to look at Dong Hui. "The police are there."

Dong Hui still didn't believe it. "Can you come with me? Those children are very young. If something happens to them, how will their parents live? Please help me, will you? Those children are so pitiful."

Dong Hui was a good person, clearly, even as a ghost, he was still honest. He didn't show any signs of becoming a vengeful spirit. After his death, he still abided by the law.

Lin Fan was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you."

They didn't take Nanchang Road but instead walked along Xincheng Avenue, taking a detour through the small roads towards Ding Village. This area was secluded, and Dong Hui walked quickly. After a while, not seeing Lin Fan, he turned back. Lin Fan, panting, asked, "Why are you afraid if the police are there?"

"I'm afraid they'll run away. Those two children are very young, and their parents are very worried."

Lin Fan saw a stick in the corner and grabbed it, running after Dong Hui. Just as they reached the main street, a gunshot suddenly pierced the night sky. Lin Fan raised her head to identify the source of the sound. Two men, carrying machetes, were running towards them. It wasn't too late; there were still pedestrians on the street, and the police were also chasing after them.

One of the men grabbed a three or four-year-old child nearby. Lin Fan's mind went blank, and she ran over, aiming to hit the man's arm. The stick hit his shoulder instead. He turned around and swung the machete at her. Lin Fan dodged and managed to push the child into a nearby toy vendor's cart. The man, eyes red with rage, swung his machete again. Lin Fan, having no other choice, lifted the stick to block, but the machete split it in two.

The child cried loudly, and the stick in Lin Fan's hand was quickly reduced to a small piece. She had no way to retreat and leaned back, the blade passing close to her face. Taking advantage of the momentum, she grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it forcefully, and pulled him towards her, kneeing him in the abdomen. Due to her short stature, she ended up hitting his leg instead. The man dropped the knife, screaming in pain, and tried to hit Lin Fan. Someone rushed over, swiftly restraining the man and handcuffing him. Lin Fan looked up and met Qin Feng's piercing black eyes. She hesitated for a moment, and Qin Feng pushed the man behind him and ran off with his gun to chase the other suspect.

Lin Fan looked up at the sky silently, knowing Qin Feng would be angry. He had a bad temper, and she never understood what exactly made him angry. She couldn't see Dong Hui anymore; he must have left. Soon, Qin Feng came back, dragging another man. He put his gun away.

Glancing at Lin Fan, who quickly stepped forward, "Qin Feng?"

Qin Feng didn't respond and walked off briskly. Lin Fan, feeling guilty, followed him to the Fuping Hotel. Just as they reached the entrance, Qin Feng turned back, his black eyes piercing through her. "Who told you to come?"

Lin Fan bit her lip and looked around. "That person said he wasn't assured and insisted—"

Xiao Wang ran down the stairs holding a child. "Call an ambulance! The child is in danger."

Qin Feng rushed upstairs with a stern pace.

All five suspects were captured, and the two children were sent to the hospital for emergency care. Lin Fan followed upstairs as well. Since Qin Feng often took her to crime scenes, others were used to it, assuming she was an intern.

The room was a suite with the back window wide open. The two traffickers had jumped out and run away from there. The room had a foul smell. Lin Fan rubbed her nose and was about to touch the pills on the table when Qin Feng slapped her hand away. He put the medicine box into an evidence bag, checking for other evidence.

At 10:30, Qin Feng left with his team, and Lin Fan jogged behind.

Qin Feng got in the car, and Lin Fan quickly got in from the other side, obediently fastening her seatbelt.

Qin Feng turned back to look at her directly. Lin Fan bit her lip, glancing at him cautiously, and unexpectedly met his gaze. Qin Feng raised his voice, "You were quite brave just now. What are you afraid of now?"

Lin Fan looked up at him again. "I was waiting for you, but Uncle Dong Hui was very worried and wanted me to come and check. It just happened that way, and if the child had been taken as a hostage, it would have been troublesome."

Qin Feng's gaze deepened, and he snorted.

Lin Fan said, "I'm fine."

A knock on the car window sounded outside. Qin Feng glanced over and opened the door. Xiao Wang opened the back door and got in, saying, "Xiao Lin, when did you get here?"

Why do you always bring up the wrong topic? Lin Fan and Qin Feng both turned to look at him. Xiao Wang, puzzled, asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Feng looked away, started the car, and the atmosphere in the car grew silent.

Xiao Wang, more confused, said, "Why aren't you saying anything? What's wrong? This atmosphere feels strange. I feel very uneasy. Don't you feel it too?"

Lin Fan took out a candy from her backpack and handed it to Xiao Wang. "Have some candy." And please be quiet.

"Xiao Lin, why are you here?" Xiao Wang unwrapped the candy and crunched it loudly.

Lin Fan turned back and looked at him directly. "Brother Wang."

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"Wang, huh? Sounds like Little Toad." Xiao Wang laughed. "The candy's good, thanks."

"Are the two children alright?"

"They should be fine."

Lin Fan withdrew her gaze and stole a glance at Qin Feng. His face was ashen, looking very unapproachable. "That's good. Catching those people means Uncle Dong Hui didn't die in vain. I wonder where his child is, and if they can still be found."

"His child went missing three years ago. The chances of finding them are slim; all the leads have dried up," Xiao Wang said. "There's a website called Baobei Huijia (Baby Come Home). You can check it out if you have time. Many people who lost their children are searching for a lifetime."

Lin Fan sighed, "Human traffickers are really bad."

Xiao Wang thought Lin Fan's comment was a bit naive, but it was indeed true. "They're terrible, each and every one of them. Losing a child basically ruins a family."

The car fell silent. Lin Fan turned to look out the window. Dong Hui went to that place to intercept human traffickers—did he prepare for his own death? With a murder case, at least there would be more attention than a trafficking case. He must have been desperate, unable to find his child.

When they arrived at the office, Qin Feng got out of the car and headed straight for the task force. Lin Fan called out, "Should I go home now?"

Qin Feng turned back, "Wait for me in the car for half an hour. I'll be right out."

Lin Fan looked around; she had no room to refuse as Qin Feng had already disappeared. She sat in the car, playing on her phone for a while. Suddenly, someone sat next to her. Lin Fan turned around and saw Dong Hui's face.

She was startled but quickly adjusted to his bloody, disfigured appearance—the way he looked when he died.

"Why haven't you left yet?"

"My child hasn't been found." Dong Hui looked into the distance, his gaze profound. "I don't know where my child is. Maybe they've been given a lot of sleeping pills too."

"Maybe he's in a loving family, with adoptive parents who care for him."

Dong Hui buried his face in his hands, suddenly sobbing. "I really miss him! Will I never see him again, even in death? I just want to see him—"

Lin Fan didn't know how to comfort him and watched him cry silently.

After a long time, Dong Hui raised his head and looked at Lin Fan. "Anyway, thank you for your help. They caught the traffickers."

"That was the police's work; I didn't do anything."

"Thank you. You'll be rewarded." Dong Hui's body became transparent, his eyes distant. "I have to go. I probably won't see my child again. If you ever find him, please tell him that his father has been looking for him and loves him very much—I miss him."

Dong Hui disappeared, and Lin Fan felt a pang of sadness. She turned her head to the other side, looking into the boundless darkness. The narrow, painful darkness of this world was suffocating. Dong Hui shouldn't have died, but he lost his life because of others' crimes.

Footsteps approached. Lin Fan wiped her eyes and collected herself. The car door opened, and Qin Feng got in, starting the engine. "I'll take you home."

Lin Fan looked at him, and Qin Feng glanced at her, noticing her red eyes. He frowned, unbuckled his seatbelt, and reached over to touch her head. "Why are you crying?" He slid his hand down, wiping her face. "I was just worried about you getting hurt, so I was a bit anxious earlier. Don't cry, I didn't scold you."

Since he misunderstood, Lin Fan didn't explain. She tried to pull away, but Qin Feng grabbed her and kissed her forehead. His hands were rough, and it hurt a bit. But the kiss on the forehead was fine, Lin Fan thought—until Qin Feng pressed his lips to hers, making her eyes widen.

Qin Feng quickly let go and pinched her cheek. "No crying."

Lin Fan nodded, and Qin Feng buckled his seatbelt again, backing the car out. "I'll sign you up for a Sanda class. Your basic skills are lacking; you'll get into trouble sooner or later."

Lin Fan nodded again.

"Don't be stubborn. Your skills are really not good."

"I'm not being stubborn."

Qin Feng saw her childlike demeanor and didn't say more. Lin Fan was actually capable in a fight, but against extremely dangerous people, she was at a disadvantage. Her impulsive nature would lead her into trouble eventually.

"What did you eat tonight?"

"Fried rice."

After driving for twenty minutes, Qin Feng parked by the roadside and got out. "Let's get something to eat."

Lin Fan followed him out. Qin Feng pulled her close, rubbing her forehead and lowering his voice. "Did you get hurt earlier?"

Lin Fan shook her head, uncomfortable with being so close to Qin Feng in public.

Qin Feng let go but held her hand, leading her into a 24-hour diner. He had her sit by the window while he went to order.

Lin Fan took out her phone and snapped a picture of Qin Feng's back, intending to show it off on social media. He had long legs and a slim waist, looking great in his uniform.

Her feed showed a post from a paranormal blogger about a ghost sighting on Zhongming Road, with claims of hearing crying at midnight. The accompanying picture of a bloody face startled Lin Fan, making her nearly jump.

Qin Feng came over and sat down, pulling out a chair. Lin Fan quickly looked up, relieved to see him. Qin Feng, observing her, folded his arms and leaned back, his black eyes intense. "What were you looking at? You got so scared?"