“Based on the identity registered by the rental house landlady, the identities of several deceased have basically been confirmed. One of them was a hostess at a bar.” When the trace examiner saw the local police station chief and Liu Jingbo arrive, he nodded to them and reported the situation. Looking up at the sky that was about to darken, he said, “But it feels like this rain is going to start. There’s not much left to investigate at the scene. Once the funeral home’s vehicle hauls away the bodies and they finish photographing with the scale rulers, we can wrap up and go back.”

“Alright.” Liu Jingbo wore a safety helmet and was still holding a spotlight examination lamp. He casually shone it around. The crime scene investigation vehicle had already driven away. Several police cars parked at the intersection flashed their lights. Old Qin had an idle look, leaning to one side smoking.

Walking over, Liu Jingbo asked, “So, how are the identification results? Another case of people playing themselves to death? Is it related to that group from Hongshan?”

“Can’t draw conclusions yet.”

“Ah, really, lately whenever something happens, things happen in succession.”

Old Qin smiled. “Don’t be so nervous. We’ll talk about it when we get back.”

“Where’s Chun’er?”

Old Qin lifted his chin. “There.”

The nearby area wasn’t very far from the commercial district. The alley where the incident occurred was very wide, making crowd dispersal difficult, especially prone to causing disturbances.

A woman suddenly rushed out from the crowd. She must have just received notification—a family member of one of the deceased. She first saw what Xu Xingchun was wearing and, without regard, pulled at his clothes anxiously. “Doctor, doctor, how is my daughter? Can she still be saved?”

Fu Xueli was startled by this suddenly appearing person. Xu Xingchun’s hand braced to the side, gently blocking the anxious woman. His clothes were pulled askew, but he wasn’t impatient. He just called over someone nearby to take her to identify the body.

Liu Jingbo’s voice suddenly rang out from behind. “Hey, hey, cooperate a bit. Don’t take photos with your phone to post on Weibo.”

Fu Xueli turned around.

At the same time, Liu Jingbo was also sizing her up.

Fortunately it was dark. He could only see long hair, jeans, a beige trench coat, and brown short high-heeled calfskin shoes. Getting closer, he noticed she had a pair of diamond earrings, a very fashionable outfit, completely out of place with the dirty and chaotic scene.

Liu Jingbo squinted, turned to face Xu Xingchun, and coughed dryly. “Is this sister-in-law? What’s she doing here?”

Xu Xingchun took off his mask, neither confirming nor denying Liu Jingbo’s question. He gave Fu Xueli the car keys. “Go left fifty meters. My car is parked next to the convenience store. Get in and wait for me first.”

After Fu Xueli left, Liu Jingbo couldn’t help but want to ask something. Xu Xingchun glanced at him. “Don’t be so gossipy. I have things to do, leaving first. Leave the rest to Old Qin.”

“What? What’s the rush? Sending sister-in-law back?”

“The special task force issued a joint investigation order. There’s a drug trafficking case on my hands that’s quite complex, not resolved yet.”

Although Xu Xingchun had been transferred to be the captain of the anti-narcotics squad in the criminal police brigade, he was still doing forensic work. There was a lot of additional work, a pile of review identifications not done. Liu Jingbo knew this, made a joke, and didn’t try to keep him any longer.

Xu Xingchun walked through a path automatically cleared by the onlooking crowd. Although dressed low-key, his appearance and temperament were still hard to conceal, very eye-catching. He bathed in the admiring gazes of many young girls.

Fu Xueli remained sitting properly throughout, occasionally glancing at the scenery passing by the window, then looking at Xu Xingchun who was driving.

The light ahead was red, the car driving very slowly. Bored, she tapped the car roof. After holding back for a long time, she couldn’t help but sit up and ask quietly, “Are you still angry with me?”

After asking, she called his name again. “Xu Xingchun, say something.”

He finally glanced at her sideways. “Be more careful when crossing the street in the future.”

“I know! I’ll remember, don’t repeat it.”

As if looking for something to say, Fu Xueli nudged his arm with her elbow. “Are you still going somewhere to work tonight? Can I go with you? I’m free today.”

Taking advantage of the red light still having dozens of seconds, she mischievously pulled at his hand gripping the gear shift. “Please?”

Xu Xingchun indulged her pulling. Squeeze once, then let go.

Seeing he had no reaction, her face soured a bit. “Not okay?”

Xu Xingchun looked at her little expression, smiled, couldn’t help coughing a bit. “I have a meeting tonight. Where do you need to go? I’ll take you there.”

“You’re not catching a cold again, are you… Wear more layers.” Knowing he couldn’t accompany her tonight, her mood was a bit low. Feeling melancholy, Fu Xueli muttered an address.

It was his home.

In the evening at Xu Xingchun’s house, Fu Xueli was alone and watched all her past variety shows. Purely looking for something to do.

Later she got sleepy. Looking at the time, it was already past eleven at night. She didn’t know when Xu Xingchun would come back.

She tossed aside the iPad, hugged a pillow, and drowsily fell asleep.

When she woke up again, the indoor lamp light was soft.

Xu Xingchun was sleeping beside her at some unknown time. He lay outside the covers fully clothed, his arm covering his forehead to block the light, his eyelashes closed. He looked extremely exhausted.

Fu Xueli made no sound. Her hand propped up her head as she lay on her side, watching him for a while. Her heart overflowed with various concerns and longing, and unnamed feelings.

Suddenly a mischievous thought rose in her mind. She carefully picked up the phone placed to one side, opened the camera to secretly take a photo, but forgot to set the phone to silent. The sound was a bit loud and accidentally woke him up.

She simply threw down the phone and pounced on him to hug him. Cupping Xu Xingchun’s face, she gave him a loud kiss on the lips, her nose tip warm.

Before he could turn his head, Xu Xingchun was hugged around the neck and kissed on the lips.

Lying on top of him, Fu Xueli turned her head to the side, eyes fixed on Xu Xingchun, speaking softly by his ear. “You’re awake?”

“What do you think?” His voice was a bit hoarse.

She still lay there, her whole person sticking to him. Pinching one side of Xu Xingchun’s cheek, watching the dimple she loved deepen, she couldn’t help but touch the slightly pursed lips again.

Having just woken up, he rarely had a somewhat unfamiliar, fresh, cute feeling.

Probably because Fu Xueli’s gaze was too blatant, Xu Xingchun looked at her for a few seconds, also smiled, sighed, and raised his hand to pat her head.

“Xu Xingchun.” She called his name in a breathy voice.

“What?”

“Call my name.”

“Fu Xueli.”

“Mm.”

“What’s wrong?”

Fu Xueli silently mouthed the words, “I love you.”