The lyrics of this love song were quite bold, expressing the longing and passionate feelings between two people deeply in love.

Yan Qing felt a little awkward at first, but as she listened to Shi Ting’s magnetic voice blend with the melodious tune, that small awkwardness dissolved along with it.

His singing seemed to carry a certain magnetism — it drew people naturally into the mood. The moment he opened his mouth, a chorus of delighted exclamations rang through the room.

The two of them performed together seamlessly. As Xiao Bai put it, if you didn’t know any better, you’d have thought the original track was still playing.

When the song ended, everyone broke into applause. Hulu shook his tambourine so hard it sounded like thunder, as though he had completely transformed into a devoted fan.

Shi Ting handed the microphone to someone else, then gave Yan Qing a thumbs up. Yan Qing responded with a generous smile.

Old Fan had booked three hours when they arrived. Amid everyone’s revelry, those three hours flew by in what felt like no time at all. Though no one was ready to leave, tomorrow was not a weekend, and everyone had to return to their posts.

At the entrance of the karaoke establishment, Old Fan, somewhat unsteady from drink, said: “Get a car first to send Instructor Yan home. Hulu — you’re responsible for seeing your mentor back safely.”

Hulu, propping up Dapeng, bleary-eyed and swaying, gave his guarantee: “Detective Fan, rest easy — I’ll get my mentor home safe and sound.”

“I’ll take her,” Shi Ting said suddenly. “You’ve all had quite a bit. You probably couldn’t find the door in this state.”

“Captain Shi’s right.” Old Fan thought for a moment. “The only one here who hasn’t been drinking is the captain. Let the captain take her.”

Hulu squinted through one eye and nodded repeatedly: “Then we’ll leave mentor in the captain’s good hands. Sorry for the trouble, Captain Shi.”

Shi Ting said his goodbyes to the group, hailed a taxi, walked to the back door, and held it open for Yan Qing to get in first. Then he circled around to the other side and settled into the seat beside her.

Once they were in the car, Yan Qing gave the driver her address.

The streets at night were still alive with traffic, and the city’s own sleepless hours had barely begun.

“How are Fan Mingming’s grandparents?” Yan Qing thought about the case and still felt her mind in turmoil — having watched with her own eyes as a model student became a killer, the girl’s bright future now destroyed, and four people who loved her along with it.

“This kind of thing can’t be kept from them.” Shi Ting said. “Fan Mingming is a minor, so all the subsequent legal proceedings will involve her guardian. Her grandfather nearly collapsed when he heard the news — he still hasn’t steadied himself emotionally.”

“Indeed. To discover that the granddaughter you raised with your own hands was the one who orchestrated the death of your daughter — something like that, no matter whom it happened to, would be impossible to accept.”

The two of them talked as the car moved smoothly along. When they turned onto Taiping Road, the driver gradually slowed, then came to a complete stop.

“Looks like there’s been an accident up ahead,” the driver said. “Everything’s at a standstill.”

“How far is it from here to your home?” Shi Ting asked.

“Not far — about a kilometer.”

“Then let’s walk.”

Yan Qing took Shi Ting’s suggestion and got out of the car; the two of them set off on foot along the pedestrian path beside the road.

As they passed the site of the accident, they instinctively stepped closer to look. It was a three-vehicle rear-end collision — one driver had been drinking. Fortunately, only two drivers had sustained minor injuries, but the scene was a mess, blocking the entire road. Until the insurance company and traffic police arrived, the gridlock would likely last a while.

“People really are growing more reckless,” Yan Qing couldn’t help remarking. “The penalties for drunk driving are so severe, and yet people still gamble on getting away with it.”

Shi Ting said: “These people don’t value their own lives, let alone those of others. One moment of indulgence with a drink, and the accident it causes can destroy multiple families.”

As they talked, the two of them had, without noticing, already arrived at the residential complex where Yan Qing lived.

“It’s getting late — I’ll walk you in,” Shi Ting said. “It’s not safe for a woman on her own.”

“I’ve long gotten used to it,” Yan Qing said. “When there’s a case on, coming home at two or three in the morning is routine.”

“Next time you’re heading home this late, remember to have the driver pull up right below your building.”

Yan Qing looked at him and laughed. “You sound just like my aunt-by-marriage. I’m not a child — I know these basic safety precautions perfectly well.”

“Just in case you let your guard down,” Shi Ting said with a slight smile. “Come on.”

Shi Ting walked Yan Qing all the way to the base of her building’s entrance before stopping. “Go on up — get some rest.”

“You take care too. Taiping Road looks like it’ll be backed up for a while — tell the driver to avoid it.”

“I will.”

Yan Qing waved at him and headed upstairs. Once she was inside and had turned on the lights, she suddenly walked back to the window.

She peered down through the glass and saw Shi Ting standing in the open area below, looking up in her direction.

Yan Qing opened the window and waved at him, signaling that she had arrived home safely. Only then did Shi Ting nod, turn, and walk away.

Yan Qing watched until his figure disappeared, then closed the window.

She changed into her pajamas and went into the bathroom. These past few days had been consumed by the case — even showering had felt like a battle against the clock. Now, at last, there was time to properly soak and unwind, and she lost track of the hours without realizing it.

By the time she changed and returned to her bed, she reached for her phone — and found several unread messages. There was one from Old Fan, and one from Hulu, both asking whether she’d made it home. But at the very end of the list, there was a profile picture of a black hawk, with a username that was just a single letter: T.

Only then did Yan Qing remember that Shi Ting had added her on WeChat some time ago, though the two of them had only ever connected as contacts and had never actually sent messages to each other.

She tapped on that profile picture, and saw that his message was equally brief: Home yet.

Those few words were ordinary enough, but as Yan Qing read them alongside Hulu’s and Old Fan’s messages, something about his felt different — though she couldn’t quite put into words what that something was.

Out of politeness, Yan Qing sent back a reply: Getting ready to sleep. Good night.

She expected no response, but as soon as her message went through, his reply came bouncing back immediately: My water heater broke.

Yan Qing couldn’t help curving her lips into a smile, and quickly typed back: What are you going to do about that?

“Tough it out.”

Imagining Shi Ting in a moment of helplessness, Yan Qing typed again: Do you live alone?

“Yeah. Since university I’ve lived alone — it suits me.”

“Are your parents in S City too?”

“They are. Not far from me. What about you — do you live alone?”

“I only moved out recently. Before, I was living with my uncle and his wife. Last year, a friend in real estate told me prices were going to rise and I should buy a place quickly. I listened to her and bought the apartment I’m in now. Turns out she was right — prices have been climbing all year. If I’d waited another year, I probably couldn’t have even scraped together a down payment.”

“Your friend has sharp instincts. As it happens, I’m thinking about changing apartments too. When you get a chance, let her give me some recommendations as well.”

Back and forth they went, one message after another, and before they knew it, over an hour had passed.

“It’s very late — get some sleep,” Shi Ting said, taking the initiative to wrap up the conversation. “Commissioner Liu said if there’s no case tomorrow, we can come in after noon.”

“Then… good night.”

“Good night.”

Yan Qing sent one more emoji, then finally set down her phone.

She lay in bed with no particular urge to sleep. Shi Ting was a man of few words, yet chatting with him was strangely pleasant.

She thought of what he’d said earlier about the broken water heater, and smiled quietly to herself.

The next afternoon, Yan Qing arrived at the precinct. Half an hour later, Hulu made his sluggish appearance.

“Were you drinking until you blacked out?” Yan Qing organized the identification tags at the refrigeration cabinet.

Hulu rubbed his temples, looking utterly wretched. “Ugh, don’t even ask. I’d promised to take my mom to buy a discounted foot bath unit, but I slept all the way until noon. My mom called and I didn’t even hear it. The sale was only until eleven.”

“And then your mom came after you?”

“My mom hauled me out of bed by the ear. To avoid getting beaten, I ended up giving her five hundred yuan to make peace.”

Yan Qing burst out laughing. “How much was the foot bath?”

“199.”

“You really came out of that one badly.”

Hulu let out a yawn, then suddenly leaned in toward Yan Qing. “Mentor, did Captain Shi send you home last night?”

“Didn’t you say you blacked out? How do you still remember that?”

“Mentor, don’t you think Captain Shi has ulterior motives where you’re concerned?”

Yan Qing continued organizing the tags, not bothering to engage.

“I’m serious, mentor.” Hulu moved around to face her. “Based on my years of experience as a smooth-talking charmer, Captain Shi is absolutely interested in you.”

“How can you tell?” Yan Qing gave a dismissive snort.

“First: Captain Shi didn’t drink last night. Old Fan told me the captain’s alcohol tolerance is legendary — he’s never been seen drunk at a victory dinner. With that kind of tolerance, why didn’t he drink last night?”

“Because he was worried about a case coming in?”

“An excuse. There are so many people on call in the unit — if a case comes in, it’s not like there’s no one to handle it. Besides, a bit of drink wears off by the next morning; how would it affect anything?” Hulu said with full confidence. “Mentor, think about it — everyone else was drinking, and only he wasn’t. When it came time to send you home, he could step in as a matter of course and claim the task for himself — creating a chance to be alone with you.”

Yan Qing blinked and looked at him without speaking, as if waiting for him to continue.

“This move of the captain’s was two birds with one stone: not only could he escort the fair lady home, but he also got your address — convenient for making frequent appearances in the future.”

Yan Qing: “……”

“Mentor, trust me — if I’m even half wrong, you can stuff me into the refrigeration cabinet.”

“That’s nonsense,” Yan Qing said, unconvinced. “Captain Shi was just being a collegial good sport. There’s no need to read so many layers into it.”

“Mentor, you’re a genius in front of corpses, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you are truly too naive. That big bad wolf Captain Shi has absolutely set his sights on you.”

Yan Qing: “…A big bad wolf?”

*Knock knock!*

A knock came at the door. Yan Qing tilted her chin toward the entrance: “Someone’s here — stop that nonsense, or I really will put you in the refrigeration cabinet.”

Hulu stuck his tongue out and headed toward the door, calling out cheerfully: “Coming, coming!”

—