Ling’ai gazed at the hand holding hers — the knuckles prominent, the fingers long and slender, quite beautiful.

In that moment, this hand led her forward with a force that seemed to pull at her, guiding her like a puppet to the edge of the well.

Zheng Yun scooped some clean water from an iron bucket nearby and rinsed the wound on Ling’ai’s hand repeatedly until all the tainted blood had been washed away. Only then did he take her hand and skillfully begin to bandage it.

Throughout the entire process, Ling’ai’s face remained flushed, her heart pounding wildly. She wanted to look at him yet felt too shy to do so directly, and could only steal glances at him from the corner of her eye.

His eyes were cast downward, making his nose appear even more defined. Out of concentration, his thin lips were pressed lightly into a line. Below the corner of his mouth was a mole — not particularly prominent, but very distinctive.

She had noticed it before. Now, because of their closeness, she could see it with exceptional clarity.

It was merely a small mole, yet in her eyes it somehow seemed vivid and endearing.

“All right, try not to get this wet for now.” Zheng Yun tore off the excess gauze and released her hand.

The warmth that had been in her hand suddenly vanished, and Ling’ai paused for a moment before quickly breaking into a smile. “Thank you.”

Because of her injured hand, the auntie would no longer let Ling’ai into the kitchen. Fortunately, the auntie moved quickly, and before long she had stir-fried several dishes and brought them out.

“It’s nothing fancy — just home cooking. Don’t be shy.” The auntie wiped her hands on her apron and warmly invited everyone to the table. “Eat while it’s hot.”

Ling’ai pulled the auntie down to sit beside her, and the auntie refilled her bowl of rice.

“Try this.” The auntie picked out a piece of fish and placed it in Ling’ai’s bowl.

Ling’ai thanked her, picked up the fish with her chopsticks, and put it in her mouth. The flesh was tender; even under the rich savory sauce, the natural freshness of the fish could still be tasted.

“It’s delicious.” Ling’ai nodded repeatedly. “Auntie, your cooking is truly wonderful.”

The auntie laughed heartily. “I didn’t have much prepared today. Next time you come, I’ll make my specialty dishes for you.”

With that, she placed a chopstick-full of fish in Zheng Yun’s bowl as well. “Auntie can see you two have been together for quite a while now — when are you getting married?”

“Cough, cough!”

Ling’ai nearly choked on her rice and couldn’t help but cough, her face turning crimson with embarrassment.

“Auntie, we — we’re not…”

“Look at you, still shy! What is there to be shy about? The two of you are perfectly matched — a talented young man and a beautiful young woman. When you get married, you must invite Auntie to drink a toast!”

Faced with the auntie’s enthusiasm, Ling’ai had no idea what to say and could only look pleadingly toward Zheng Yun.

Zheng Yun flashed a smile in the auntie’s direction but said neither yes nor no.

Ling’ai: “…”

Shouldn’t he have explained things?

But the way he looked when he smiled was truly lovely. She felt as though she were seeing him smile for the first time — even if it was only as fleeting as a flower that blooms for a single night.

After the meal, someone came to inform the director that Hu Cuihua had returned and was currently causing an uproar at her home.

“Director Zheng, this Hu Cuihua is a notorious shrew. Please don’t confront her head-on,” the director warned once more.

“Understood.” Zheng Yun had handled cases for so many years that he had seen every manner of criminal and family member. Hu Cuihua was just a shrew.

When they arrived at Cheng Qingsong’s home, they could hear a woman screaming and cursing from a distance.

“The man’s already dead — what is there to investigate?” This was followed by a string of foul language too coarse to bear.

Ling’ai frowned instinctively upon hearing it.

“It’s fine. Stay behind me.” Zheng Yun seemed to sense her reaction and turned to say these words to her.

Though it was nothing more than an ordinary word of caution, it made Ling’ai feel protected. She quietly shifted her steps and moved behind him.

At that moment, Hu Cuihua caught sight of the security director leading people inside. She immediately planted her fists on her hips and shouted, “Where is that bastard Cheng Qingsong? You took him away without my permission? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to dispose of that bastard?”

“Cheng Qingsong was the victim of a homicide. The Military Police has the authority to investigate this case.” Zheng Yun stepped forward, his sharp gaze meeting Hu Cuihua’s aggressive stare.

Hu Cuihua seemed momentarily startled, then narrowed her eyes to look Zheng Yun over. “Well now, who might this pretty-faced young man be?”

Zheng Yun produced his credentials. “Military Police Division on official business. Please cooperate with the investigation.”

“Cheng Qingsong drank poison and died — what is there to investigate? Does the Military Police Division have nothing better to do? There are murderers and arsonists running loose, yet you come here to concern yourselves with someone who drank poison and killed himself?”

“Where were you the night before last?” Zheng Yun ignored her taunts and asked directly.

“Why should I tell you?” Hu Cuihua let out a cold snort.

“You don’t have to answer here. I don’t mind bringing you to the Military Police Division for questioning.”

“Oh? Will the Military Police Division provide meals and lodging? If that’s the case, then take me along.” Hu Cuihua thrust her face — plastered with cheap cosmetics — toward Zheng Yun.

Zheng Yun stepped aside in disgust. “Very well. In that case, please come with me to the Military Police Division.”

“I will do no such thing! Just because you want me to go, I should go? Who do you think you are?”

Faced with Hu Cuihua’s impervious stubbornness, the security director stood nearby fretting helplessly.

Zheng Yun said, “Hu Cuihua, based on the forensic examination of the body, your husband Cheng Qingsong died of mechanical asphyxiation, not pesticide poisoning. The manner of his death was homicide. As his wife, who was also heard arguing with him on the night in question, you are the primary suspect. We are bringing you in not as a witness, but as a suspect.”

Hu Cuihua’s expression changed. “What do you mean? Are you saying I killed him?”

“Given the current circumstances, you are the primary suspect.”

“Fine, fine! You bullying dogs — I’ll fight you all today!” Hu Cuihua glanced around and spotted a shovel nearby. She grabbed it and swung it at Zheng Yun with reckless abandon.

“Zheng Yun, watch out!” Ling’ai called out urgently.

Hu Cuihua was powerfully built, with great strength. The blow she delivered with the shovel came with tremendous force.

Zheng Yun quickly dodged to the side and avoided it.

Hu Cuihua was relentless, swinging the shovel and striking at anyone within reach, all while screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Ling’ai.” Zheng Yun pulled Ling’ai behind him with one arm. “Go outside.”

Ling’ai nodded and quickly retreated through the doorway.

“Whoever dares come near me, I’ll beat them to death!” Hu Cuihua lived up to her reputation as a shrew, swinging the shovel with savage ferocity. For a moment, no one could get close.

As Ling’ai worried about Zheng Yun, her gaze swept casually to the side and she spotted a familiar figure peeking over the top of the courtyard wall.

She called out, “Wang Laoliu.”

Those three syllables reached Hu Cuihua’s ears, and she instinctively looked back. Seizing that moment of distraction, Zheng Yun charged forward in a single stride, snatched the shovel from Hu Cuihua’s hands, grabbed her shoulder with his other hand, and pinned her face-down on the ground.

The security director snapped out of his daze and hurried over to help.

Meanwhile, Ling’ai noticed that Wang Laoliu, after poking his head over the wall, had immediately ducked back down, his expression clearly guilty.

She quickly circled around the courtyard wall and found Wang Laoliu pressing himself against the wall, just dropping down from it.

All the villagers who had come to watch were gathered at the front gate, yet he had climbed to the top of the wall to peer in furtively. This behavior aroused a degree of suspicion in Ling’ai.

Inside the courtyard, Zheng Yun had already restrained Hu Cuihua in handcuffs. Hu Cuihua was still cursing at him viciously, while he paid her no mind.

“Zheng Yun.” Ling’ai hurried inside. “I saw Wang Laoliu acting suspiciously on top of the wall outside.”

Zheng Yun secured Hu Cuihua to an iron railing and walked out through the front gate.

Wang Laoliu had barely dropped down from the wall when he found Zheng Yun blocking his path. He froze for a moment, then gave a guileless smile. “Officer, what’s the matter? You startled me, appearing so suddenly.”

Zheng Yun looked at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Watching the excitement.”

“You need to act so furtively just to watch?” Zheng Yun’s gaze was like a searchlight piercing into the man’s heart, making him flinch involuntarily.

“I — I was just having a look.”

Zheng Yun stepped forward and suddenly seized Wang Laoliu’s hand. He turned the palm over and rubbed some pigment from it. Although the pigment had long since dried, the blue hue was unmistakable.

“Officer, what are you doing? Ow, ow, ow!” Wang Laoliu yelped in pain.

“On the night Cheng Qingsong was killed, where were you?” Zheng Yun’s voice was low and pressing. “Tell the truth.”

“I — I was at home.”

“Is there anyone who can verify that?”

“I was alone at home. Who would there be to verify it?” Wang Laoliu’s eyes darted about. “Officer, you don’t suspect me, do you? I’m a law-abiding villager, and Cheng Qingsong and I were the closest of friends.”

“Then what is your relationship with Hu Cuihua?” Zheng Yun fixed him with a steady gaze. “Why, when someone called out your name just now, did Hu Cuihua react the way she did?”

“How — how would I know?” Wang Laoliu’s eyes shifted evasively.

“Come with me.” Without further argument, Zheng Yun took Wang Laoliu by the arm and led him into Cheng Qingsong’s courtyard.

Strangely, the moment Wang Laoliu stepped inside, Hu Cuihua — who had been hurling abuse without pause — suddenly fell silent. Though she struggled to conceal it, Zheng Yun still caught the glances she kept casting toward Wang Laoliu.

Zheng Yun had already formed a bold hypothesis in his mind, but he kept his expression calm and said nothing.

“Officer, I really have nothing to do with this. Can I go now?” Wang Laoliu smiled ingenuously.

“What’s the rush?” Zheng Yun glanced at him. “Whether you have anything to do with it — that depends on what Cheng Qingsong has to say.”

Wang Laoliu gave a startled jump. “Cheng Qingsong is dead — what could he possibly have to say?”

“A person may die, but even a corpse can speak.”

A chill ran through everyone present at those words.

—