The next day, as soon as You Mingxu arrived at the police station, she pulled out the case files for the Gu Tiancheng case and the teenage exchange murder case, examining them carefully. She even dug out previously deemed unimportant testimonies, details, and related personnel information, reviewing everything again.

She read straight through until noon.

Xu Mengshan was walking out of the office alone when You Mingxu called out, “Mengshan, wait.” She got up to catch up with him, and they walked toward the cafeteria together.

Xu Mengshan had completely returned to his old self – refined and handsome when not smiling, and like a mischievous male fox when he did. Seeing her normal demeanor, he hooked an arm around his partner’s shoulder and asked, “Where’s your little lamb? I heard someone bragging in front of Captain Ding yesterday, saying now that he’s your boyfriend, the whole bureau needs to give him face. How come he hasn’t come bouncing in like usual to have lunch with you? Hey, Xu…”

You Mingxu thought to herself, trust him to bring up exactly what she didn’t want to discuss. She shook off his hand and said, “Get lost.”

Xu Mengshan: “Did you two fight?”

You Mingxu hadn’t planned to tell anyone, but she felt stifled. Though Xu Mengshan often ran his mouth, he was a true brother. So she smiled slightly and said, “He’s recovered his memories and mental faculties.”

Xu Mengshan froze for a moment, stopping his teasing.

As they reached the cafeteria entrance, his expression grew serious. He was the one who had investigated and told You Mingxu about what kind of person Yin Feng used to be.

“What does that mean? He’s planning to pretend none of it happened?” Xu Mengshan said, “Is he capable of being such an inhuman bastard, just dropping you like that?”

You Mingxu instantly flared up, saying, “Who’s dropping who? Get your facts straight. Didn’t you also know he used to be a scumbag player? If he hasn’t changed, fine, we’ll go our separate ways. It’s not like I can’t live without him.”

Xu Mengshan studied her expression: “Then what’s the situation?”

You Mingxu finally showed signs of dejection: “Damn it, his brain is messed up. After recovering his mental faculties, he’s forgotten everything that happened recently. He doesn’t even remember me.”

Xu Mengshan: “Holy shit…”

You Mingxu gave a bitter laugh and walked to the hotpot counter, ordering two whole pounds of meat. While helpfully carrying her meat, Xu Mengshan said, “Listen, how can something be that bizarre? Could he be faking it?”

You Mingxu froze, then firmly said, “Impossible.”

Xu Mengshan watched her silently.

You Mingxu set down her food and sat at a table, saying quietly, “If he remembered, he absolutely wouldn’t look at me the way he does now. He wouldn’t.”

Xu Mengshan sighed: “Boss, so what are you planning to do?”

You Mingxu didn’t respond.

—

What You Mingxu hated most in life was women troubled by love. Chen Feng said she was proud and arrogant, and he wasn’t wrong. She was beautiful, skilled, well-liked, and surpassed many male detectives in the precinct at both fighting and investigating. Whatever men could do, she could do herself. So why should she settle for anyone? If it worked, fine; if not, leave – whether it was her boyfriend from the police academy or that ill-fated relationship with Luo Yu later, once she realized someone wasn’t what she wanted, she left immediately, making clean breaks without any hesitation.

But Yin Feng hadn’t failed to meet her expectations.

During all these past days, he had been very, very good. He had accompanied her day and night, and though he was such a simple person, he had brought her unprecedented sweetness, bitterness, struggle, joy, and soul-deep emotion. In that slaughterhouse, watching him rush toward her, You Mingxu knew at that moment she could never be without him again. After they confessed their feelings, followed by nights of physical and spiritual entanglement and pleasure, she had prepared herself to spend a long life with You Yingjun.

But now?

He rested his hand on the blanket, tapping it rhythmically. Scrutinizing her, guarding against her. He would smile slightly, meaningfully. His eyes were as dark and impenetrable as the night. He said: Go back first, I’ll make proper arrangements for you.

“Snap—” Back in her office after lunch, You Mingxu came to her senses and realized she had broken the pencil in her hand. It matched her mood perfectly – angry, yet helpless. And absurdly heartbroken.

However, You Mingxu often behaved like a man, handling her emotions like a man would, rather than continuing to wallow in grief. She lit a cigarette, smoking with an expressionless face, then picked up the thick case files and buried herself in them, pushing aside all troubling thoughts.

“Looks like they’re transferring someone to our team,” Xu Mengshan suddenly said in a low voice. “A guy, and quite impressive – a decorated detective who’s received a first-class merit.”

You Mingxu paused, thinking of those who had faced death and earned such weighty honors.

They both unconsciously looked at the empty desk nearby.

After a while, You Mingxu smiled and said, “She would have been happy about that. A decorated detective sitting in her old spot.”

Xu Mengshan was quiet for a moment, then smiled gently and said, “Yes. Her merit citation should be coming through soon too. She always wanted to earn one, and finally got her wish.” His voice grew hoarse in the last few words. You Mingxu patted his shoulder, her gaze somehow landing on the police emblem on the opposite wall, its weighty color and sharp angles able to quiet the entire world in one’s heart. This feeling was something only police officers like them could understand.

“Found any leads?” Xu Mengshan looked at the files in her hands.

“Not yet.”

Xu Mengshan said skeptically: “The exchange murder case of Li Biran and Liu Ruyu has solid evidence – the murder weapons, fingerprints, surveillance footage, all confirmed. They both confessed too. If you’re saying they’re not the real killers, I don’t believe it. Two selfish kids taking the fall for someone else and keeping it perfectly hidden? That’s impossible.”

You Mingxu showed a thoughtful expression: “I agree, they were the ones who did it. Gu Tiancheng’s exact words were also: ‘You think it’s as simple as an exchange murder? There might be hidden circumstances, circumstances that even the two kids aren’t aware of.’ When investigating the case before, Yin Feng once suggested a possibility…”

She paused.

Xu Mengshan pretended not to notice.

You Mingxu continued: “…he said teenagers are the easiest to manipulate. There might be a ‘godfather’ figure behind the scenes, guiding them to commit crimes. If this hypothesis is correct, who would the godfather be? Someone who hasn’t appeared yet, or someone who has appeared but we didn’t notice?”

Xu Mengshan’s brows also furrowed – this was getting mysterious, but didn’t mysterious cases need mysterious people to solve them?

“Then should we…” he tentatively suggested.

You Mingxu said coldly: “We’ll investigate ourselves. You think I can’t solve cases without that idiot?”

—

The day passed just like that.

There wasn’t anything urgent, and even Xu Mengshan left work on time, saying he was going to practice shooting. But You Mingxu stayed until the lights came on and everyone else had left the office before finally dragging herself away.

She had gone too long without eating again. Nursing her uncomfortable stomach, she decided to go home and make some noodles.