“Give me the video.”

Before anyone could reach any conclusion, Rong’s father spoke up, asking for the video recording to be handed over to him.

Xie Dong was confused. “Chief, this video is important—are you sure we don’t need to study it further?”

“No need. Hand over the video along with the master file. None of you are to keep private copies, and none of you are to discuss this among yourselves. This case ends here.” Rong’s father announced this directly.

Xie Dong’s expression darkened. “Chief, although we all know that Officer Rong is your daughter—”

“You’re investigating in the wrong direction.” Before Xie Dong could finish, Rong’s father cut him off.

A look of confusion crossed Xie Dong’s face. “Chief, I don’t understand what you mean. Officer Rong mentioned Thomas in the video—that’s exactly the lead we’ve been looking for!”

Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that Rong Qian was too badly injured and needed to rest, Xie Dong would have wanted to ask her directly, face to face.

“I told you, you’re investigating in the wrong direction. What Officer Rong said in the video has no direct connection to the Thomas case you’re currently investigating.” Rong’s father put on a strictly professional manner, separating his roles as father and chief—and when he turned stern, his presence carried real weight.

His gaze swept over everyone before settling on Xie Dong, who was in charge of this case. “You’re to keep investigating the Thomas matter. As for Officer Rong, none of you are permitted to ask her what she meant by what she said in the video—unless—”

Rong’s father drew out the pause, letting everyone’s curiosity build, before finally saying, “Unless she comes to you for help on her own. Only then will you assist her. Understood?”

With the chief having spoken, who would dare say they didn’t understand? So they had no choice but to act as if nothing had been discovered tonight, and they each went off to attend to their own duties.

When Rong’s father left, he even took Qi Lei’s entire police body camera with him.

He tucked it carefully into his pocket, keeping it safe. Walking out of the police station entrance, Rong’s father muttered quietly to himself, “Ah well, this is as much as I can help with…”

Rong Qian had originally worried that once she arrived at the station the next day, she’d be hauled in for questioning. But as it turned out, nothing happened at all.

Instead, everyone, having learned of what she’d gone through the night before, came over to express their concern—only to find her face looking spotless and clean, leaving them wondering whether she’d been hurt at all.

Fortunately, Rong Qian explained it was an internal injury, and everyone responded with concern, urging her to rest more and not push herself too hard.

Zhang Hao was the most worried of all. Wherever Rong Qian went, he followed, as if deeply afraid she might collapse with no one there to catch her.

Rong Qian had already tried her best to act weak. That morning when she woke up, she found that even the bruises had completely faded. Thinking about it, it really was remarkable—she had originally thought that after returning, she’d have to suffer through the injuries and recovery process all over again.

The first thing Rong Qian did upon arriving at the station was ask Chen Jia to help her look into a person named Shen Fengran.

Chen Jia said she’d need some time, and Rong Qian didn’t rush her—it was actually a good opportunity for her to go visit Shen Shuhuai’s place and ask whether he knew any leads.

When Shen Shuhuai heard Rong Qian say the name Shen Fengran, he paused for a moment.

Pausing in the middle of watering the flowers, Shen Shuhuai said to Rong Qian, “In my memory, Shen Fengran has always been at odds with my cousin.”

“Shen Fengran has always been at odds with Shen Yi?”

This came as quite a surprise to Rong Qian. Hadn’t Shen Fengran greatly admired Shen Yi?

Shen Shuhuai thought for a moment and said, “If I had to describe it, it’s like black and white, righteous and wicked—and Shen Fengran is on the side of the dark forces.”

Thinking about Shen Fengran’s conduct, Rong Qian didn’t even need to wonder what he might do in the future.

“So is Shen Fengran still alive now?” Rong Qian got straight to the point.

But Shen Shuhuai shook his head, indicating he didn’t know. “I’m not sure either. Over the years, I haven’t heard any news about him at all.”

“Now that’s strange.” Rong Qian had the feeling that the answer was right in front of her, yet she just couldn’t grasp it.

Shen Shuhuai watered the flowers every day, and stray cats occasionally wandered into the garden. He would bring out some cat food to feed these poor little creatures.

While Rong Qian was speaking, a cat came wandering over.

Noticing it was a white cat, Rong Qian froze for a moment. For one dazed instant, she thought she was still back at Shen Yi’s place and hadn’t returned yet.

Looking closely, with the garden and the cat, it really did look quite similar.

Seeing that the kitten wasn’t afraid of her at all, Rong Qian crouched down and stroked its chin. At that moment, something suddenly occurred to her, and realization dawned. “So that’s how it is!”

“Hm? What is it?” Shen Shuhuai asked curiously.

Rong Qian shook her head with a smile. “Nothing—I just discovered a certain truth, that’s all.”

She had realized that the white cat Shen Yi had been holding in that very first photo—it was the very same one she had picked up…

“Miss Rong, would you like to go upstairs and take a look?”

Shen Shuhuai suddenly extended this invitation to her.

Rong Qian paused. Go upstairs and look? She remembered Shen Shuhuai mentioning that he was looking after the house for someone, and that this mansion belonged to Shen Yi.

And so, Rong Qian was led upstairs by Shen Shuhuai. The second floor had many rooms, but it wasn’t complicated—the overall layout was simple, as if whoever designed this house had known that the person living here disliked complexity. Every aspect of the décor felt comfortable and pleasant to look at.

Shen Shuhuai led Rong Qian straight up to the third floor. The moment she stepped onto the staircase, Rong Qian felt a pang of emotion.

The third floor… had only two rooms, just like during the time she’d stayed at Shen Yi’s house. Both room doors looked identical.

Shen Shuhuai pointed at one of the rooms and said to her, “This room belongs to my cousin. It’s already locked, and I don’t even know where the key is.”

“You don’t have the key?” Rong Qian was quite surprised.

Shen Shuhuai laughed wryly. “That’s right. I can go anywhere in this house, top to bottom—except for this room of my cousin’s. I’ve never once been inside.”

“Can’t you just pick the lock?” Rong Qian’s idea was simple and direct.

But Shen Shuhuai just laughed and shook his head. “That won’t do.”

Rong Qian, on the other hand, was itching to try. If she were the one living here, with a locked room she couldn’t enter, she would have picked the lock ages ago!

“Miss Rong, we’re here.”

Shen Shuhuai brought her to a stop in front of the other room. He said to her, “I never used to know who my cousin had left this room for, but after this stretch of time, I think this room must be the one my cousin left for you.”

“You’re that certain?”

Rong Qian looked at the door, feeling inexplicably tense. She had no idea what might be waiting for her inside.

Shen Shuhuai gave a mysterious smile. “Wouldn’t you know once you go in and see for yourself?”