By dawn’s first light, You Mingxu and her team had already screened everyone in Xie Huifang’s circle—colleagues, neighbors, her friends, fellow townspeople, and classmates in Xiangcheng.
Overall, everyone’s view of Xie Huifang was consistent: strong-willed, hardworking, family-oriented. Not particularly kind, but not a bad person—just an ordinary woman with a fiery temperament. Her personality had led to conflicts with one or two colleagues, but these were merely verbal disputes, nothing serious. Besides, both of those people had solid alibis at the time of the crime.
Furthermore, while not wealthy, with her job and her husband’s income from his store in another city, they were financially comfortable. Otherwise, they couldn’t have supported not only their two children but also her sister’s son who lived with them long-term. Xie Huifang had no financial disputes. Between her early mornings and late nights, rushing between work and home, there were no signs of any romantic entanglements either.
In other words, currently, no one in Xie Huifang’s circle showed clear motives for revenge.
You Mingxu rested one hand on the office windowsill, gazing at the misty morning light while smoking a cigarette. After a quiet moment, she turned to her desk and drew a heavy circle around the words “Husband: Zeng Qiang.”
Just then, Fan Jia approached, saying, “Sister Yu, there’s a situation: Xie Huifang’s nephew, Li Biran, didn’t return to school the night before the incident. Because he often skipped classes and ignored warnings, the school didn’t think much of it. When Xu Mengshan went to pick him up last night, he was nowhere to be found! Xu Mengshan took several people to search all the internet cafes and classmates’ homes Li Biran usually frequents, but found nothing!”
You Mingxu’s brows furrowed slightly as she and Fan Jia simultaneously looked at the wall covered with photos of everyone connected to the case. They hadn’t paid much attention to this nephew before—a 15-year-old boy, tall and slim, with delicate features, a somewhat shy gaze, and a slight smile on his handsome face.
Fan Jia continued, “So now we’re not sure if Li Biran was also at home during the incident! The size 39 bloody footprint at the scene doesn’t belong to him. We don’t know if the killer took him or if… he was also murdered. Captain Ding just gave strict orders—we must find this boy immediately!”
With one command, almost all criminal investigators dropped their current tasks to focus on finding the missing teenager. Fan Jia even conjured up a disturbing theory, mysteriously telling You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan: “Think about it—Xie Huifang had no enemies, her family members are dead, and only this good-looking boy is missing. Could the killer have been targeting him…?”
Who knew? Yu and Xu remained noncommittal. But undoubtedly, every officer felt their nerves tighten. Because with each passing minute, that young boy’s life could be getting more dangerous.
The police first checked all surveillance footage in Li Biran’s usual haunts, even organizing large-scale door-to-door searches. But several hours passed with no results.
By nearly noon the day after the crime, You Mingxu had gone over 30 hours without sleep, driving or walking to numerous locations. Her temples were throbbing, and she felt completely drained. Ding Xiongwei, probably aware of how hard his team was pushing themselves, waved his hand and ordered everyone to rest in shifts, two hours per person!
Xu Mengshan, Fan Jia, and others didn’t even bother eating, just collapsed in their police cars to sleep. You Mingxu’s head was pounding too. She turned off her car’s engine, about to lean back when a pair of eyes flashed through her mind.
A pair of pitiful yet hopeful eyes. He had said: “Mingxu, you must come back to see me every day, even just for a moment.”
You Mingxu paused, smiled self-mockingly, sat up straight, and started the car again.
Fortunately, home wasn’t far, and it only took half an hour to drive there. She still had an hour and a half left. Too tired to move, she texted Yin Feng: “I’m downstairs, coming down for a quick look and then leaving.”
At that moment, Yin Feng was at home, very very boredly reading some “criminal cases he supposedly loved before.” Though he didn’t want to admit it, the more he resembled his former self, the more useful he might be to You Mingxu.
Without realizing it, he became deeply absorbed in reading. When his phone rang, he grabbed it, immediately tossed the book aside, and ran downstairs.
He was wearing casual home clothes—a T-shirt and shorts, with sandals that went “flip-flop” as he ran to the police car. Chen Feng, worried, followed behind.
Both stood in silence.
Through the car window, You Mingxu’s sleeping face looked exhausted, showing a rare vulnerability. Her head was tilted against the seat, mouth slightly open, chest rising and falling gently. Her usually immaculate long hair now clung messily to her face. Yet Yin Feng still found her beautiful.
He suddenly remembered the feeling of holding her on the stairs last night. He hadn’t paid attention then, but now, looking at her body and recalling that moment, he felt something deep inside him tremble.
Chen Feng clicked his tongue and said, “These front-line criminal investigators have it tough, looks like she hasn’t eaten or slept properly again. Why don’t I have someone prepare some food for her, and you can give it to her later?”
Yin Feng: “Why aren’t you going yet?”
You Mingxu’s mind was foggy, but something kept nagging at her consciousness. At some point, she startled awake.
Opening her eyes, she saw the bright daylight outside her window, vaguely recognizing her building’s entrance. She thought for a moment, remembering why she was there.
Turning her head, she got a shock.
Yin Feng had somehow already settled into the passenger seat, and who knew what madness had struck him today, but he sat slightly hunched, seemingly lost in thought. Seeing her awake, he smiled at her, an especially sweet smile.
You Mingxu glanced at the intact car lock, not remembering if she had locked the car before falling asleep, or if this guy had picked the lock again. After all, this famous author had always seemed peculiarly eccentric and unprofessional, not only driving off to find serial killers but also being a lockpicking expert who carried zip ties—the kind criminals particularly favored for restraining people.
Thinking of this, You Mingxu couldn’t help but smile. Just as she was about to speak to him, she noticed how dry and stuffy her throat felt. She wordlessly got out of the car. There was a shop nearby with a water tap in the corner; she crouched down to wash her face and rinse her mouth. Only after making sure there was no bad breath did she turn around.
Yin Feng had also gotten out of the car and stood watching her. He thought she was like a cat, so fond of cleanliness. Even after just a short nap, she had to rinse her mouth and wash her face. Was she worried he’d smell something unpleasant? Somehow, this thought made Yin Feng’s heart feel sweet.
When You Mingxu turned around, she saw the young man in the noon sunlight, smiling with pure joy. It seemed that every day, he was this carefree, this happy—as long as she didn’t abandon him.