The group fell silent, exchanging awkward glances while sipping their drinks.

Finally, Yin Feng stepped in to ease the tension, patting her head and saying, “Alright, let’s do as the boss lady says. You can all play with it later though.”

You Mingxu: “…”

Everyone burst out laughing, with Guanjun even adding sarcastically, “Teacher Yin always treats us the best.”

You Mingxu again: “…”

The dinner devolved into chaos – nonsensical chatter and laughter filled the air. By the end, Tu Ya, Chen Feng, and Guanjun were all drunk and passed out. Yin Feng, having just been discharged from the hospital, was kept under You Mingxu’s watchful eye and wasn’t allowed to drink much. He in turn kept her from drinking too much – after all, who would keep him company if she got drunk? Little Yan couldn’t drink much either. In the end, the three who remained sober had to help the three unconscious ones back to their rooms.

After returning to the bedroom and showering, You Mingxu changed into her sleepwear and sat on the bed browsing her phone. Soon after, Yin Feng emerged from his shower, crawled onto the bed, took away her phone, tossed it aside, and gazed down at her.

You Mingxu looked back at him with bright eyes.

He waited.

After a few seconds, she smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him down. They embraced and lay under the covers together, even their toes touching gently.

He asked in a low voice, “Are you happy about moving in? Do you like them?”

She replied, “Yes, I’m happy. I like them.”

“Why do you like them?”

She kissed his nose bridge and said, “Because they’re people just like you.”

Her answer made him fall silent for a few seconds. Then, nestled together in the warm darkness under the covers, he softly said, “I hope you’ll always be this happy being with me, and continue to love everything that’s part of my life. No one has ever truly liked it before.”

You Mingxu felt a twinge in her heart, thinking how obsessive he could be. She kissed his forehead but said, “Well, that depends on how you behave in the future. This is only day one.”

The next morning, You Mingxu was awakened by a phone call.

As she reached for her phone, Yin Feng also stirred, still groggy, and tried to pull her into his embrace. You Mingxu couldn’t reach her phone, so she kicked him away.

The call was from Ding Xiongwei.

Sitting in the messy bed, You Mingxu answered her superior’s call with an especially formal tone, feeling slightly awkward: “Chief.”

Ding Xiongwei said, “Why did it take so long to answer? Guansha Police Station discovered a body, likely part of a serial case. Get your team there immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

After hanging up, You Mingxu turned to look at Yin Feng, who was now sitting up, hand on his stomach and looking displeased – where she had kicked him. You Mingxu smiled, hugged his neck, and gave him two quick kisses. His hands wandered across her back, feeling her genuine softness, and his brow finally relaxed.

Having pacified him, You Mingxu jumped out of bed quickly dressed, and freshened up. By the time she was ready, Yin Feng had also gotten up. They looked at each other, and she smiled first, followed by him.

“I’m leaving.”

“Let Tu Ya drive you,” he said. “Come back soon.”

Even sitting in Tu Ya’s car heading to the crime scene, You Mingxu felt a warmth and sweetness in her heart, an indescribable joy. It was completely different from before when rushing to crime scenes would fill her with cold solemnity.

Tu Ya left after dropping her off.

It was already past 10 AM. The crime scene was in an ordinary residential building, the kind you’d see anywhere in the city. The building wasn’t street-facing, situated in a quiet area surrounded by narrow paths.

When You Mingxu arrived downstairs, Xu Mengshan had just arrived as well. A crowd had already gathered, buzzing with discussion, and police tape had been put up.

The body was discovered in an apartment on the fifth floor.

Basic information had been sent to their phones while they were en route.

The victim was named Luo Ting, 21 years old, single, and working as a massage therapist at a bathhouse. She shared the apartment with a female friend. Over the weekend, her friend had gone back to her hometown, leaving her alone.

Luo Ting had finished work at 2 AM Friday and taken a night bus home. Throughout Saturday, her coworkers at the bathhouse couldn’t reach her. Until this morning, when her roommate returned and discovered the body, and then called the police.

As You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan reached the door, a district criminal investigator came to greet them. After exchanging greetings, and seeing Xu Mengshan examining the door, the investigator said, “The lock is intact, no signs of forced entry.”

Xu Mengshan and You Mingxu nodded and followed him into the living room.

It was a standard two-bedroom apartment. At first glance, the living room was clean and tidy, with nothing out of place, and no visible marks on the floor.

The investigator explained, “This is how we found it, no signs of struggle. Initial examination showed no suspect footprints, bloodstains, or fingerprints. If not for the body, it would seem like no one else had been here.”

You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan exchanged glances – this would be a difficult case.

You Mingxu asked, “You suspect it’s part of a series?” That’s why it was reported to the Lushan Branch.

The investigator’s brow furrowed: “Yes. Ten days ago, another body was found in a different complex. We’re still investigating, no leads yet. The condition of both bodies… identical, must be the same perpetrator. You’ll see what I mean.”

You Mingxu’s expression darkened. Such certainty from the investigator meant the body must be particularly distinctive.

The three entered one of the bedrooms.

At first glance, like the living room, this bedroom showed no obvious signs of disturbance, clean and orderly.

Except for the person lying in the middle of the bed.

When You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan saw the body, they both fell silent.

Luo Ting was a slender, average-height girl with delicate features. She lay straight on the bed, arms at her sides. Her long hair wasn’t disheveled.

Yellow tape covered her mouth, with deep ligature marks around her neck. She wore a shirt that had been unbuttoned, exposing her body. Her skirt was pulled up to her waist, underwear down at her ankles. Additionally, there were clear binding marks on her wrists and ankles.

There was a lot of blood on her body.

You Mingxu could barely stand to look, turning to gaze out the window.

Such a flower-like young woman, dying so brutally. How could her parents and loved ones bear this?

It took several deep breaths to suppress the congested feeling in her heart.

Xu Mengshan, knowledgeable in forensics, silently examined the body thoroughly before saying, “Cause of death appears to be asphyxiation, judging from the marks on the neck, the weapon was a rope. Time of death over 24 hours ago.” He paused before adding, “Additionally, both breasts were cut off, and the genital area suffered severe sharp force trauma.”

You Mingxu started, hardly believing her ears, and said, “Are you sure?”

Xu Mengshan: “I’m not blind.”

You Mingxu immediately moved closer to examine carefully, confirming what Xu Mengshan had said. A fierce chill suddenly rose in her heart, and she thought of those yellowed old photographs.