The metal object was wrapped in a layer of plastic film, which, aside from dust, also had some white bird droppings stuck to it.

“What is this?” Yan Qing hurried over as well.

Shi Ting peeled away the thick layers of plastic film while speculating, “It’s very likely a USB drive.”

“A USB drive?” Yan Qing’s heart suddenly leaped into her throat. “When I saw the swallows outside, it was as if some images flashed into my mind — a person, who carried a chair out onto the balcony just like you did, and then placed something into the bird’s nest.”

“That must be your memory. Your parents put this object into the bird’s nest, and you happened to see it at the time.”

Shi Ting removed the outer packaging, and the metal object now resting in his palm was indeed a USB drive.

“Too much time has passed — I don’t know if it still works.” Shi Ting noticed that the USB drive had already rusted over. Twenty years was more than enough time for it to lose its function.

“Do you think my parents were killed because of this USB drive?” Yan Qing speculated. “The killer wanted to get hold of it, so they struck at my parents.”

“That’s highly likely,” Shi Ting said. “The first thing we need to determine is whether this USB drive still holds any usable value.”

He swept his gaze around the room before them. “Have a look around — perhaps you can remember a few more things.”

“Alright.”

Yan Qing had barely turned around when Shi Ting’s concerned voice came from behind her: “If it becomes too painful, we can come back another time — don’t force yourself.”

“It’s fine.” Yan Qing took a deep breath.

The two of them entered the south-facing bedroom, which still retained the exact state it had been in at the time of the incident. All the drawers had been pulled open, and various articles of clothing had been flung everywhere, now covered entirely in a layer of dust.

“Based on the photographs in the case file, it’s clear that this place was thoroughly searched,” Shi Ting said. “Someone must have been looking for something. The killer was searching for it. You were hiding in the drawer at the foot of the bed at the time… it should be this one.”

Shi Ting had only seen photographs from the case file. Now, standing at the foot of the bed, he couldn’t make out any drawer there either.

He crouched down and tried pushing with his hand, then pulling with force, but the foot of the bed remained completely unchanged.

“Is there really a drawer here?”

Just as he was muttering to himself, Yan Qing suddenly pressed a wall lamp at the head of the bed. There was a thud, and a drawer shot out from the foot of the bed.

From the outside, there was absolutely no indication that a large drawer was concealed there — it fit seamlessly with the entire bed frame, a testament to the extraordinary precision of its original craftsmanship.

Yan Qing was startled by her own action. Finding the wall lamp and pressing it — that entire sequence of movements had bypassed conscious thought entirely; it was pure instinct.

Once the drawer sprang open, the space inside wasn’t particularly large, but it was more than enough to hide a child who had been only six years old at the time.

“It seems the investigators at the time didn’t find this drawer either,” Shi Ting said. “Twenty years ago, forensic investigation techniques were still quite primitive, so the examination of the scene wasn’t nearly as thorough. The case was later shelved for various reasons, and over all these years, almost no one has paid it any attention.”

Yan Qing understood. The reason no one had looked into this case was partly because of the victims’ identities — everyone believed they had committed unforgivable crimes and deserved their fate.

It was only now, after orders came down from above to re-examine cold cases, that this case file had been retrieved from its long-sealed archive.

“You should have been hidden in this drawer at the time.” Shi Ting examined the inside of the drawer and found that it held a great deal of documents, along with some bankbooks, jewelry, and similar items.

“There’s a switch inside.” Yan Qing suddenly crouched down and felt around on the inner side of the drawer. She must have pressed something, because a faint glow of light appeared inside — though after so many years, it had grown very dim.

“I remember that a person hiding inside could open the drawer by pressing this switch.” Yan Qing rubbed her temples, which had begun to ache. “I think I even played hide-and-seek inside it once.”

Vague flashes began to surface in her mind again, but they were all black and white — the figures in them had only silhouettes, no faces.

“What’s wrong — is your head hurting again?” Shi Ting’s concerned voice came from beside her.

“It’s nothing.” Yan Qing shook her head. “It’s been twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve come here. Some of these objects may have triggered memories buried deep inside me. I think I should be able to recall a few more useful things.”

“Then let’s not try anymore today. Let’s go eat first.”

The two of them left what had once been Yan Qing’s home. Yan Qing couldn’t help but stop and look back.

This was the place where she had lived for six years. And yet almost all her memories of it had vanished.

What had happened back then must have been a tremendous shock for a child, and so she had selectively sealed away those memories.

“What would you like to eat?” Shi Ting asked in the car.

“Nothing too greasy.”

“There’s a small noodle shop nearby — shall we try it?”

“Sure.” Yan Qing agreed without hesitation.

Shi Ting brought Yan Qing to an alley. At the far end of the alley was an unassuming noodle shop. The signboard had been there so long that the paint had flaked off, and only the words Rujiā Noodle Shop could be faintly made out.

A simple, light bowl of noodles — no extra toppings, yet possessing a distinctive flavor all its own.

The two of them ate their meal in quiet contentment at that small noodle shop.

“I need to head back to the station — let me take you home first.”

Yan Qing shook her head. “I’ll go with you. I want to see this case solved as soon as possible.”

“Alright.” Shi Ting fully understood Yan Qing’s feelings. He was silent for a moment. “Whatever the outcome, it won’t change the fact that you are an excellent forensic examiner.”

Although her parents’ situation would have an impact on her career prospects, he believed that after so much time had passed, she had perhaps come to terms with it. She didn’t seem like the type of person who would become fixated on something and refuse to let go.

He knew she would understand what he meant. He wanted to tell her: you are exceptional — no one else’s stain will ever dim your light.

Hearing this, Yan Qing felt an involuntary jolt in her heart.

She hadn’t known Shi Ting for long, yet he seemed to be the person who understood her best. When she was with him, some things didn’t need to be said aloud — he already knew.

After the two of them arrived at the station, Shi Ting handed the USB drive to Jian Zhigang in the technical department.

Just as Shi Ting had anticipated, the USB drive, having weathered twenty years, could no longer be opened when plugged into a computer.

“Restoring the data inside will require a specialist in computers,” Jian Zhigang said. “As it happens, I have a friend who excels at this sort of thing — I can ask him to come and help.”

“Then I’ll trouble you to get the data extracted as soon as possible.”

“Captain Shi, please don’t mention it — this is my duty.”

Just as they were leaving Jian Zhigang’s area, they ran into Hulu.

“Captain Shi, Mentor.” Hulu grinned. “Did the two of you go see a movie?”

“How did you know?” Yan Qing shot him a look.

Hulu just smiled.

“I’m going to bring the car around — wait for me outside.” Shi Ting said.

Once Shi Ting had gone, Hulu leaned in close. “Mentor, Captain Shi asked me what kind of movies you like to watch.”

“He asked you?”

Hulu raised an eyebrow. “That’s right.”

Yan Qing was momentarily speechless.

“Mentor, Captain Shi’s intentions are written all over his face — you’re the only one who hasn’t noticed.” Hulu blinked. “Mentor, what do you think of Captain Shi?”

Yan Qing: “…”

“Mentor, I’m not just flattering Captain Shi, but in terms of capability and looks, even if you flipped through ten generations of everyone in our station, you’d find no one to match him.”

Yan Qing couldn’t help rolling her eyes, though she had to admit one thing — Shi Ting’s looks were genuinely worthy of being recorded in the history books of the Pujiang Branch Station, and his abilities were equally outstanding, without question.

“Mentor, won’t you consider it?”

Yan Qing made as if to swat him. Hulu immediately dodged, laughed, and said, “Mentor, the fact that you’re not denying it shows you have feelings for Captain Shi too — otherwise, why would you have agreed to go to the movies with him? You’ve never once been to the movies with me, your own student. I’m genuinely hurt.”

“Hurt? External or internal injury? Want me to take a look?”

“No, no, please — you normally deal with dead people. I’d still like to go on living.” Hulu made a face. “Mentor, Captain Shi is waiting outside to take you home. Hurry up.”

Yan Qing got into Shi Ting’s car, her face still feeling somewhat warm.

“Hot?” Shi Ting reached to turn on the air conditioning.

“No, no.” Yan Qing felt a little flustered. The truth was, she had just been thinking about what Hulu said — and about how she and Shi Ting had indeed grown quite close lately.

Hulu said that Shi Ting’s intentions were obvious. And yet she felt not the slightest aversion to it. On the contrary, when she was with him, she felt at ease — as though, long, long ago, they had been the closest of confidants.

Shi Ting dropped Yan Qing off at the entrance to her building. “I still need to go back to the station. If Zhigang has any news, I’ll call you.”

“Alright.” Yan Qing smiled. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Yan Qing stood by the roadside and watched Shi Ting’s car drive away before she turned around.

Just as she stepped through the entrance of her building, a dark shadow suddenly flashed out from the side. The figure moved with practiced ease, positioning themselves behind Yan Qing.

Yan Qing caught a glimpse of the person behind her in the glass door. Just as she began to turn around, the figure had already reached out and clamped a hand over her mouth. On the handkerchief, she caught a familiar scent — ether.

Her heart sank with alarm. She barely had time to reach for her phone before she lost consciousness.