The police continued their intensive search for Chen Zhaoci in every possible location, but so far without success.

After an all-night interrogation session, You Mingxu sat in her office, staring at the ceiling expressionlessly, holding the confession records.

Yin Feng was exhausted too, sprawled on the adjacent desk, his deep clear eyes half-closed as he watched her.

“If what they’re saying is true, then Liu Yisha’s case was indeed an accident, connected to this group’s string of economic and sexual crimes. But it has nothing to do with last year’s Zhao Feier case,” You Mingxu said.

Yin Feng’s voice was lazy: “All their testimonies align in detail and match their motives. They’re telling the truth. Don’t forget, when the case happened last year, they were all abroad, and none of their fingerprints matched those on the box, including Chen Zhaoci’s.”

You Mingxu stared at him: “So you’re saying someone else tortured and killed Zhao Feier. It’s a case within a case.”

Yin Feng blinked: “Yes, I’d already profiled the perpetrator’s psychology. I just didn’t expect the second case would be a copycat.” His gaze grew distant, lost in thought.

You Mingxu reached over and flicked his forehead, saying: “You think you’re so clever. You said I couldn’t investigate cases with wild theories, but didn’t we just uncover the cancer that is Fen Jin Bao Company? Also, didn’t you say your people were investigating based on the profile? How’s that going?”

Yin Feng said: “I estimate we’re getting close.”

You Mingxu asked: “Where did you get your people from?”

Yin Feng replied: “I have many subordinates—Chen Feng, the cook, the driver, the gardener, the housekeepers… Though I still need to verify if they’re capable.”

Only then did You Mingxu realize that “his people” were household staff…

Was he playing house like a child? She couldn’t be bothered to ask more and returned to reviewing the confessions.

Yin Feng pondered the cases for a while. If this series of cases was like a ball of yarn tangled by cats, then catching Fen Jin Bao Company was like untangling one major knot. But what remained was still a mess of threads.

However, he wasn’t worried. If You Mingxu and her team’s approach was like carefully unwinding the yarn ball loop by loop, then criminal psychology was like taking scissors and cutting through the tangled threads, exposing the truth within.

Thinking this, he felt somewhat smug, remaining sprawled on the desk, doing nothing but watching You Mingxu.

You Mingxu had been deeply focused on her work, but after a while, she began feeling uncomfortable. Looking up, she met his puppy-like wet eyes staring at her. She brushed her hair; he watched. She lowered her head to flip through documents; he kept watching.

Damn… was he a high school student?

You Mingxu said irritably: “What are you looking at?”

He remained silent, turning to lie in a different direction, finally not looking at her.

You Mingxu felt uneasy as if she had bullied this puppy. So she grabbed his collar, making him turn back. Yin Feng was already smiling, while You Mingxu maintained her stern expression because this guy had become increasingly difficult to handle lately. The moment she let her guard down, he’d cross the line.

Although Fen Jin Bao Company’s crimes and Liu Yisha’s death had been solved, uncovering a major case, You Mingxu didn’t feel the slightest relief. Instead, darker clouds seemed to gather.

Because Fan Jia was still missing.

And Zhao Feier’s case was back to square one.

You Mingxu didn’t know when Yin Feng had fallen asleep. He must have been exhausted these days; while talking with her, he had started dozing off until she finally waved her hand, telling him to lie down. So he did.

He didn’t know how long he’d slept, but when he opened his eyes, it was dark outside. The small office was empty except for them. You Mingxu was motionless, face down on the desk opposite him.

Yin Feng went outside, washed his face at the tap, and returned to find You Mingxu hadn’t moved. He glanced outside, quietly closed the door, and locked it.

You Mingxu was sleeping with her head sideways on her arms, her usually thin face showing a hint of softness from the pressure. Yin Feng watched her for a moment and smiled. The room had no air conditioning, and he felt cold in just his shirt. He took his suit jacket from the chair back, sat beside You Mingxu, and gently draped it over her.

Seeing his oversized suit jacket covering her gave him an inexplicable satisfaction. He’d never liked wearing suits and dress shirts, but following You Mingxu’s requirements, he’d worn them these past days and grown accustomed to them. They’d even started looking good. Mainly because she… probably liked them.

Lost in thought, he propped his chin on his hand, watching her. You Mingxu seemed uncomfortable in her sleep, furrowing her brow and shifting her neck as if seeking a better position but finding no peace.

Yin Feng felt a twinge of heartache. After some consideration, he carefully moved closer, slowly lifted her neck, slid his arm underneath, and gently lowered her head.

Just as he finished, You Mingxu opened her eyes, immediately seeing the white shirt sleeve. Yin Feng sat very close, their eyes meeting.

Through the thin fabric beneath her cheek, she felt his soft, warm arm. His suit jacket covered her body.

He said: “Keep sleeping. Just treat it as a pillow.”

She didn’t move, remaining still on his arm, and said: “Why are you always so foolish?”

He lowered his head with a smile and said: “How is doing what you want to do foolish?”

You Mingxu, for some inexplicable reason, as if defiant towards someone, said: “Whatever you want.” She turned her face away, continuing to rest on his arm, not knowing what else to say, just not looking at him.

After a while, she felt his body slowly drawing closer, pressing against her from behind. His breath ghosted over her neck, his head seemingly resting against hers. His other arm wrapped around from behind, gently holding her waist.

Like this, he embraced her completely from behind, silently nestling together.

You Mingxu remained motionless and silent.

He softly said: “Ah Xu, I won’t get too close, I won’t cross the line. Wherever you say the line is, that’s where Yingjun will stay. Okay?”

You Mingxu suddenly felt a surge of bittersweet emotion, not knowing how to respond. She couldn’t bring herself to push him away and get up. She just couldn’t do it.

Seeing her silent response, he understood her tacit acceptance. His heart filled with a slightly bitter joy, and though he dared not be too forward, his arms unconsciously tightened, holding her closer in his embrace.

Until You Mingxu’s phone rang, and she immediately left his arms, turning her back to him as she answered. It was Han Feng calling.

“We might have found the secret tunnel the killer used to transport Fan Jia out!”