By the break of dawn, You Mingxu and her team had already screened everyone around Xie Huifang—her colleagues, neighbors, friends in Xiangcheng, fellow townsfolk, and classmates.
Overall, the impression of Xie Huifang was consistent among those who knew her: strong-willed, hardworking, and family-oriented. She wasn’t particularly kind-hearted, but she was far from a bad person—just an ordinary individual with a bit of a fiery temper. Because of her personality, she had clashed with one or two colleagues at work, but these were merely verbal disputes, nothing serious. Moreover, both individuals had solid alibis for the time of the incident.
Additionally, although her family wasn’t wealthy, with her job and her husband’s income from running a shop in another city, their financial situation was quite stable. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to support their two children while also taking in her sister’s son long-term. There were no apparent financial disputes on Xie Huifang’s side. She followed a strict routine, leaving early and returning late, shuttling between work and home, with no signs of any emotional entanglements.
In other words, as things stood, there seemed to be no one with a clear motive for revenge against Xie Huifang.
You Mingxu leaned one hand on the office windowsill, gazing out at the hazy morning light as she lit a cigarette. She smoked quietly for a while before turning and walking to her desk. Picking up a pen, she drew a heavy circle around the words “Husband: Zeng Qiang.”
Just then, Fan Jia approached and said, “Sister You, there’s a development: Xie Huifang’s nephew, Li Biran, didn’t return to school the night before the incident. Because he frequently skipped classes and had been repeatedly warned without improvement, the school didn’t make much of it. It wasn’t until Xu Mengshan went to pick him up last night that they realized he was missing. Xu Mengshan took a few people and searched all the internet cafes and classmates’ homes Li Biran usually frequented, but found no trace of him!”
You Mingxu frowned slightly, and she and Fan Jia simultaneously turned to look at the photos of all individuals related to the case posted on the wall. Previously, no one had paid much attention to this nephew—a 15-year-old boy, tall, slender, with delicate features, a somewhat reserved gaze, a faint smile on his face, and quite handsome.
Fan Jia said, “So now we’re uncertain whether Li Biran was also at home when the incident occurred! However, it’s been confirmed that the size 39 bloody footprint at the scene does not belong to him. Additionally, it’s unclear whether he was taken by the perpetrator or… if he was also harmed. Captain Ding just issued a strict order: we must find this boy immediately!”
With that command, almost all detectives set aside their current tasks to focus entirely on locating the missing teenager. Fan Jia even imagined a dramatic, twisted scenario, whispering mysteriously to You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan, “What if… Xie Huifang had no enemies, her family is dead, and only this good-looking boy is missing. Could it be that the perpetrator was targeting him…?”
Who could say? You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan remained noncommittal. But undoubtedly, every officer felt a growing tension. With each passing minute, the boy’s life could be in increasing danger.
The police first reviewed all surveillance footage from Li Biran’s usual haunts and even mobilized a large force to conduct door-to-door searches. Yet, hours later, they still had no leads.By noon the day after the crime, You Mingxu had gone over 30 hours without sleep. Having driven and walked to numerous locations, she could feel a throbbing pain in her temples and was completely drained. Ding Xiongwei, likely aware of how intensely his team had been pushing themselves, waved his hand and ordered everyone to take turns resting in shifts—two hours per person.
Xu Mengshan and Fan Jia didn't even bother eating before collapsing into the police car and falling fast asleep. You Mingxu's head was pounding fiercely. She turned off her car's engine and was about to lean back when a pair of eyes suddenly 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 if just for a little while.
You Mingxu froze for a moment, then smiled self-deprecatingly and sat up straight, restarting the car.
Fortunately, home wasn't far. By the time she parked downstairs, only half an hour had passed. She still had an hour and a half left. Too exhausted to move, she sent a text to Yin Feng: "I'm downstairs. Come down so I can see you for a moment before I leave."
At that time, Yin Feng was at home, bored out of his mind reading what were supposedly "crime cases he used to love studying." Though reluctant to admit it, he thought that the more he resembled his former self, the more useful he might become to You Mingxu.
Before he knew it, he had become completely absorbed in the material. When his phone rang, he picked it up, glanced at the screen, immediately tossed the book aside, and rushed downstairs.
He was still wearing a casual T-shirt and shorts, with flip-flops slapping against his feet as he ran to the police car. Chen Feng, concerned, followed close behind.
Both stood in silence.
Through the car window, You Mingxu's sleeping face looked exhausted and uncharacteristically fragile. Her head was tilted against the seat, her mouth slightly open, her chest rising and falling gently. Her usually clean and tidy long hair was now messy and clung to her face. Yet Yin Feng still found her beautiful.
He suddenly recalled the sensation of holding her on the stairs the night before. At the time, he hadn't paid it much mind, but now, as he reminisced about her body, he felt a faint tremor deep within.
Chen Feng clicked his tongue and said, "Grassroots detectives like her have it tough. Looks like she hasn't been eating or sleeping properly. Should I have someone prepare some food for her? You can bring it to her later."
Yin Feng replied, "Why aren't you going already?"
You Mingxu's mind was hazy, but something nagged at her heart. In an instant, she jolted awake.
Opening her eyes, she saw the bright daylight outside the car window and vaguely recognized her home's surroundings. After a moment's thought, she remembered why she was there.
Turning her head, she was startled.
Yin Feng had somehow slipped into the passenger seat without her noticing. She had no idea what whims had struck him today—he was hunched slightly, seemingly lost in thought. When he noticed she was awake, he smiled at her, an especially sweet smile.
You Mingxu glanced at the intact car locks, unsure whether she had locked the car before falling asleep or if he had picked the locks again. After all, this renowned writer had always been eccentric and unorthodox—not only had he once driven off to confront a serial killer himself, but he was also a skilled lock-picker who carried restraint zip ties, a favorite tool among criminals.
The thought made You Mingxu chuckle. She was about to speak to him when she felt her throat dry and uncomfortable. Without a word, she pushed the door open and got out. There was a shop nearby with a water faucet at the corner of its wall. She crouched down, splashed water on her face, rinsed her mouth, and only turned back when she was sure there was no unpleasant odor.Yin Feng also got out of the car and stood there watching her. He thought she was like a cat, so particular about cleanliness. She had only slept for a short while, yet she had to rinse her mouth and wash her face. Was she afraid he would smell any odor? Somehow, this thought made Yin Feng feel a sweet warmth in his heart.
When You Mingxu turned her head, she saw the young man smiling brightly under the midday sun. It seemed that every day, he was this carefree and happy—as long as she didn’t abandon him.
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