The Company

Chapter 58: Sea Mirage Clam

"Lin Xi, you're in charge of this case." The chief of Section Seven stepped out of his office and waved toward Lin Xi at her desk.

"Yes, sir!" The moment her name was called, Lin Xi immediately stood up and jogged over to receive the file folder.

"Good luck." The chief encouragingly patted Lin Xi's shoulder.

After the chief returned to his office, colleagues in the section swarmed around Lin Xi, eyeing the file folder in her hands. Lin Xi pulled out the documents inside, spread them out on the desk, and showed them to everyone.

"Oh, it's that museum antique theft case! It still hasn't been solved?" a colleague exclaimed in surprise. "I remember it's been two weeks already, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, it even trended on Weibo and was covered in the newspapers at the time."

"I remember too. Rumor has it a Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin was stolen. If it weren't for this case, I wouldn't even know what Kingfisher Feather Art is!"

The colleagues chattered incessantly, largely because cases assigned to Section Seven were all "hard nuts to crack." Aside from those out on field assignments, no one could resist their curiosity. Moreover, since Lin Xi would be partnered with someone for this case, it was natural for everyone to get the details.

On the surface, their unit was called Section Seven, but in reality, it was the Special Incidents Investigation Team.

Cases that other sections couldn't solve, or those involving paranormal activity or unexplained phenomena, were all dumped onto Section Seven. Of course, their section wasn't omnipotent either, but if even they couldn't crack a case, it would have to be shelved indefinitely.

In fact, just a year ago, Section Seven had been an unremarkable unit with an abysmally low case resolution rate.

This wasn't entirely their fault, as the cases handed to them grew increasingly difficult to solve. This situation took a dramatic turn after Lin Xi was assigned to Section Seven.

Of the cases Lin Xi handled, an average of six out of ten were solved. At first glance, that might not sound impressive, but one must remember these were all cases other sections had found insurmountable. Compared to the previous one or two out of ten, her success rate was staggering.

As a result, Lin Xi was jokingly called the section's lucky charm by her colleagues. She never had a fixed partner; instead, colleagues took turns partnering with her to ensure fairness.

After a year of this, everyone in the section had partnered with Lin Xi at least once. To be fair, Lin Xi was just an ordinary police academy graduate—she possessed the expected sharp insight, logical thinking, and physical agility, but even at her best, she was only at the police academy level, not exceptionally brilliant.

However, she had unbeatable luck!

She could effortlessly find key clues at crime scenes that others had overlooked despite multiple searches, or spot subtle traces, or even coincidentally catch suspects in unguarded moments.

Once or twice might be coincidence, but when it kept happening, it couldn't help but earn admiration. Perhaps she was just naturally cut out to be a detective, blessed with such opportunities.

Lin Xi's luck was something everyone in Section Seven acknowledged wholeheartedly. As long as Lin Xi took on a case, there was a sixty percent chance it would be solved! Hadn't they noticed that whenever Lin Xi wasn't out in the field, cases were assigned directly to her?Lin Xi had an outgoing and cheerful personality, with a charming appearance that looked especially impressive in her police uniform. Not only was she extremely popular in the Seventh Division, but she was also a widely admired police flower throughout the entire police station. Countless departments were secretly competing to transfer her over!

The documents in the file folder were quite detailed, but some matters still required on-site investigation.

This time, her partner was Fan Ze. Fan Ze carefully reviewed the materials, pulled up some reference files from the computer and transferred them to an iPad, then signaled to Lin Xi that they could leave.

Lin Xi took one last glance at the photo frame on her desk, picked up the files and her jacket, and left with Fan Ze.

"Hey, do you think Xiao Xi is single? Xiao Wang from the neighboring department asked me to find out! But last time I tried to set her up, she changed the subject!" Colleague A from the Seventh Division stood by the window, watching Lin Xi and Fan Ze walk toward the parking lot one after another.

"Xiao Xi's boyfriend... was her police academy classmate. That handsome guy in the photo frame on her desk, the one in the picture with her." Colleague B gestured toward Lin Xi's desk with a nod.

"Huh? Then why haven't we seen her bring him around? That's really not right!"

"That person... died in the line of duty right after joining the force."

"Ah..."

"It's said that case was particularly tricky, and it was later handed over to our Seventh Division. Xiao Xi requested to be transferred to the Seventh Division specifically to investigate that case."

"Really? And now? Any results?"

"Still unsolved..."

2.

Lin Xi drove while Fan Ze organized the downloaded reference materials in the passenger seat, occasionally mentioning key points about the case for discussion.

Fan Ze was Lin Xi's police academy classmate. Back then, he, along with her and her boyfriend Du Zichun, were all assigned to this police station. Having known each other for so long, they worked together with tacit understanding even without communication—sometimes just half a sentence was enough for the other to understand.

"According to the information, the thief's methods are sophisticated and meticulous, likely the work of a repeat offender," Lin Xi said with a frown.

"I checked recent cases from major museums worldwide—almost no similar situations," Fan Ze immediately grasped her implication. "Every case leaves traces, but this one is different."Tsk, if we can't solve this case, I bet there'll be a flood of high-quality counterfeit Kingfisher Feather Art hairpins secretly circulating, tricking the wealthy into buying them as genuine." Lin Xi tapped the steering wheel with her index finger, pondering. "But Kingfisher Feather Art is made from kingfisher feathers and isn't easy to replicate. Plus, its preservation time is shorter compared to gold, jade, or porcelain—only about a hundred years—so it's actually not that popular in the antique market."

"So the question is, why would a thief with such skills target only this Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin?"From the museum's submitted materials, this Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin doesn't have anything special, nor is it a relic of any famous person. It's just well-preserved with vibrant colors."

"Maybe... they just like it?" Fan Ze shrugged, making a small joke.

Lin Xi pursed her lips, finding the joke not funny at all.

Lin Xi and Fan Ze had already contacted the museum by phone before arriving.So as soon as they parked the police car, staff members came to escort them directly to the Curator's office.

The Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin had been stolen, yet the glass case preserving it showed no signs of damage, and the alarm hadn't been triggered. Therefore, the police suspected it was an inside job by museum staff. This was specially noted in the case file. The moment Lin Xi entered the museum, she became highly alert, viewing everyone with suspicion.

Lin Xi knew this kind of mindset wasn't ideal, but to identify suspects, police officers needed such awareness—even if the person in question was a relative or friend.

Originally, Lin Xi tended to see everyone as good and would instinctively make excuses for others. It had taken great effort back then to force herself to think this way during investigations.

But the person who had strictly taught her was no longer by her side.

After zoning out for just a second, Lin Xi pulled herself together. By then, she and Fan Ze had arrived at the Curator's office, where the Curator stood up to greet them.

This museum Curator had held his position for many years and frequently appeared on television for interviews. Even Lin Xi, who wasn't particularly interested in history, was quite familiar with him.

Perhaps because several rounds of police had already visited, the Curator wasn't very enthusiastic upon seeing them, clearly not holding much hope for the two young officers.

Wasting no time on small talk, Fan Ze began the routine questioning.

The Curator, having been interrogated multiple times, spoke listlessly, his answers largely matching what was recorded in the case file. Analyzing micro-expressions to detect lies was futile, as repeating the story so many times had altered those subtle cues.

After the questioning yielded no new leads, the two went to inspect the scene. Given the seemingly miraculous method of the theft, they found nothing new there either and eventually headed to the surveillance room.

The surveillance footage from the day the Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin went missing had already been reviewed repeatedly. But Lin Xi, wary of others' analyses influencing her judgment, rewatched the entire recording from start to finish.

Two cameras had been aimed at the display case containing the hairpin. The screen was split into two sections playing in fast-forward. As she watched, Lin Xi questioned the Curator beside her.

"Why did this woman stand here for so long? The one with the scar near her right eye. And this man with glasses, he also lingered for a while. Curator, do you know them?" Most visitors passed by quickly, so anyone staying too long stood out.

"That man is a surgeon from a nearby hospital. I've known him for years—he couldn't possibly be a suspect," the Curator stated confidently. Seriously! That Doctor had seen countless rare treasures at the Dumb Shop's Boss's place—how could he be interested in something from here?

"Then what about the person next to you, Curator? Who is she?" Lin Xi pointed at the screen again.

"That's the acting manager of an antique shop. I invited her over to check the feng shui," the Curator told the truth, unsurprised to see the dismissive expressions on the two young officers' faces.Lin Xi jotted down these individuals one by one in her notebook. These suspects, whom she could identify at a glance, had likely already been investigated by her previous colleagues, so there was no urgent need to question them again.

Although this was a criminal case, with the passage of time and the waning media attention, there had been no progress, and the Curator was clearly on the verge of giving up.

After all, many renowned museums throughout history had been targeted by thieves. Some culprits were caught, but many cases remained unsolved to this day—an unavoidable reality.

Lin Xi and Fan Ze discussed the matter and decided to start by reviewing the museum’s surveillance footage. They would examine not only the recordings from the day of the incident but also those from several days before and after.

Such crimes were difficult for a lone thief to pull off; at the very least, someone would have scouted the location repeatedly.

The Curator stayed with them for a while but, seeing their determination to conduct a thorough investigation, eventually stepped back and set aside an office for the two of them, each equipped with a computer to review the surveillance footage.

They had arrived at the museum in the afternoon to take on the case, and by the time they finished reviewing the footage, the museum had already closed for the day.

"Did you find anything?" Fan Ze rubbed his eyes and asked without much expectation.

"Nothing," Lin Xi sighed, tilting her head and pressing her fingers against her sore neck. Just then, her phone screen lit up with a new email notification. She swiped to open it, and her face immediately brightened with joy. She even grew restless, instinctively moving toward the door. Fortunately, as soon as she stood up, she remembered they were still in the middle of the investigation and managed to suppress her impulse.

"What happened?" Fan Ze asked curiously. Since Du Zichun’s incident, Lin Xi had rarely shown genuine happiness, so he was truly intrigued by what news could bring such delight to her face.

"You know I’ve been investigating Zichun’s case all along, right?" Lin Xi said, a little embarrassed. Fan Ze had accompanied her in the investigation for over half a year, but with no results, he had eventually advised her to give up. Though she agreed verbally, she had continued investigating in secret.

"You actually..." Fan Ze’s expression turned complicated, a mix of anger and urgency. "You know how dangerous that case is! How could you continue investigating alone without telling me?!"

"Sorry, sorry," Lin Xi clasped her hands together apologetically, though her expression didn’t seem particularly remorseful.

"I give up on you," Fan Ze snorted lightly, crossing his arms. "So, any progress now?"

"A friend from the forensics team sent me a message. Their team recently acquired a new American instrument that can supposedly restore damaged SIM cards. The report we submitted earlier has finally been approved." Lin Xi licked her dry lips and continued with a smile, "I still have the fragments of Zichun’s phone found at the scene. I can send them for examination tomorrow. Although the chances are slim, it might recover some photos and information."

"Xixi, you’ve really been through a lot," Fan Ze sighed, his gaze filled with complex emotions. Though not the domineering type, he was gentle and refined, his eyes brimming with sincere affection that was impossible to ignore.Lin Xi felt somewhat uncomfortable. She was aware that Fan Ze had feelings for her, but since she had a boyfriend before, Fan Ze had maintained a platonic friendship with everyone. After Du Zichun's incident, Fan Ze had been wholeheartedly helping out, and Lin Xi could somewhat understand his hints, but she couldn't respond and could only try to keep her distance. However, they worked in the same department, so no matter how much she distanced herself, they had to see each other every day.

"Xiao Xi, it's been so long since Zichun passed away... you should... you should move on." Fan Ze's words were filled with pity.

Lin Xi immediately retorted firmly, "He didn't die; he's just missing."

Fan Ze was left speechless, unsure how to comfort her, and could only sigh silently before changing the subject. After an awkward half-hour together, he excused himself, saying it was time for lunch, and got up to go buy boxed meals.

Their office was part of the museum's administrative area, connected to the security room, so it was perfectly fine to work through the night. Lin Xi stared blankly at the computer screen for a while, patted her cheeks to perk up, set aside thoughts of Du Zichun for the moment, gathered her thoughts, and after eating the boxed meal, threw herself back into work.

First, she fast-forwarded through the surveillance footage from the week surrounding the incident, mainly checking for any sign of the three previous suspects. The answer was no.

After thinking for a moment, she began reviewing the footage again, this time at a slower fast-forward speed, primarily to identify if anyone had repeatedly visited the Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin during those few short days.

There were indeed such individuals, and she recorded them all, but after checking the footage from other cameras at the corresponding times, these people seemed to be just visiting the museum to pass the time, with a low level of suspicion.

Staring at the computer screen for so long had made her eyes feel sore. Lin Xi stretched and only then noticed a bottle of eye drops had appeared on her right side at some point.

Wasn't this bottle of eye drops in her purse? Had Fan Ze taken it out and placed it here? When had that guy become so considerate?

Muttering to herself internally, Lin Xi unscrewed the cap and began applying the eye drops.

A cool, minty sensation spread through her eyes, instantly clearing the fatigue from her mind. Lin Xi blinked, and as her vision readjusted, she noticed that the computer screen was repeatedly playing a specific surveillance segment. It advanced three seconds, then rewound three seconds, playing the same scene over and over.

And Lin Xi hadn't touched any keys on the keyboard.

Yet Lin Xi perked up, knowing that the lucky moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived!

Indeed, at some point, supernatural events had started happening around her frequently. For example, during investigations, criminals would trip and fall right in front of her, or clues would be placed directly in the most obvious spot in her line of sight. That's why her case resolution rate was so high.

At first, Lin Xi had been a bit uneasy about it, but over time, she grew accustomed to it.

Maybe she was just heaven's favored lucky one!

It's just that she never won the lottery... Clearly, the heavens wanted her to focus on solving cases and being a champion of justice...

Lin Xi pursed her lips and was about to call Fan Ze over to look at the screen, but the sound caught in her throat, unuttered.

Because in the center of the repeatedly playing footage on the screen, the person had just turned their head around.It was a face she knew well.

One she could see just by tilting her head.

It felt like sinking into the abyssal depths of the ocean, struggling for a long time before finally resurfacing and regaining long-lost senses. Lin Xi forced her eyes open, the fluorescent light on the ceiling so blinding that it took her a while to regain her senses.

What had happened to her? Lin Xi clutched her head and thought. Right, hadn't she been watching the surveillance footage earlier? How did she end up lying on the floor, asleep?

Even the simplest reasoning told her something was wrong. Lin Xi quickly sat up and found herself still in the museum's office. Not far from her, on the floor, was a large pool of blood.

Shocked, Lin Xi stood up. Though she felt weak, there was no pain—it definitely wasn't her blood. Aside from her, the only other person in the office was Fan Ze. Had Fan Ze been injured?

The bloodstain had already dried, and the clock on the wall showed it was past nine o'clock. Lin Xi remembered it should have been around seven in the evening when she lost consciousness—a gap of over two hours.

But that wasn't entirely accurate. Lin Xi felt her stomach empty, as if she hadn't eaten dinner. The museum's office was completely enclosed, with no windows, so there was no way to tell if it was nine in the morning the next day.

Her phone was gone, her purse was missing, and the computer had been shut off. Lin Xi quickly scanned the office, her gaze fixing on one spot, startling her into taking several steps back.

For no other reason than the fact that a person was standing silently in that corner.

To be precise, it was a Specter, or something like a ghost.

Everything in Lin Xi's field of vision was clear, but the Specter alone was blurry, its features indistinguishable. She could only vaguely make out that it was a man wearing a police uniform.

She had to admit it. Seeing a Specter without any mental preparation sent chills down her spine, and she nearly screamed.

As if sensing Lin Xi's gaze, the Specter began walking toward her.

Lin Xi's shock lasted only a moment. She immediately deduced that Fan Ze might have been killed, and for some reason, his spirit had lingered here, visible to her.

Perhaps because supernatural events often occurred around her, Lin Xi's tolerance for such things had greatly improved. In an instant, she calmed down and said to the Specter, "Fan Ze, don't worry, I will avenge you."

The Specter stopped in its tracks upon hearing her words.

Lin Xi concluded that it could hear her. Suppressing the grief and sorrow in her heart, she fired off a series of questions: "Fan Ze, who killed you? Since you're still here, can you give me some clues? How did this happen? Wasn't it all because of a Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin? And why was I spared? To make me a suspect? Or was someone planning to target us all along? Is it because we're still investigating Zichun's case?"

The Specter took a few more steps forward, attempting to reach out to her, but it seemed as if it was afraid of something.

Lin Xi used to be terrified of ghost stories, jumping at every little sound, but now she felt no fear at all. She took the initiative and reached out to grasp the Specter's hand.

She caught nothing, but perhaps it was an illusion—she felt a chill in her palm, as if she had touched it.Her chaotic heart suddenly calmed down. Lin Xi took a deep breath, released the other's hand, and walked to the table intending to call the police. Her eyes never left the Specter before her as she pondered how to report the situation.

She reached out but grasped nothing but air.

Lin Xi froze for a moment, thinking she had misjudged the distance, and stretched out her hand again.

This time she had turned her head, so she watched wide-eyed as her hand passed straight through the telephone and the table without feeling any physical contact.

She stared at her own hand in disbelief, her eyes round with shock.

At that moment, the office door was pushed open from outside, revealing several police officers.

"Right here! None of us have touched the crime scene!"

The stream of people filing in didn't even glance at Lin Xi standing in the center of the office.

Lin Xi felt as if struck by lightning, her entire body plunging into an ice cellar.

Had she... already died?

Become a Specter?

Her mind was in complete chaos, remaining blank for a long time.

Countless thoughts flashed through Lin Xi's mind in an instant.

She thought of her parents - white-haired elders seeing off their black-haired child - could they withstand such a blow? She thought of her life, having only spanned over twenty years, with so many places in this world left unseen. She thought of all the things she wanted to do but never got the chance to accomplish.

She thought of how she still hadn't found Du Zichun.

Suddenly, Lin Xi snapped back to awareness.

The Specters around her kept circling, trying to touch her with their hands, wanting to comfort her.

But how could anyone easily accept the fact that they were already dead?

"Fan Ze, how long can we remain in this world?" According to all folk legends, spirits could only stay in the mortal world for a limited time. Lin Xi quickly scanned her surroundings but didn't see any beings resembling Ox-Head and Horse-Face or Black and White Impermanence.

The Specter beside her stopped moving, clearly unable to answer her question either.

Lin Xi let out a bitter laugh and mocked herself, "How foolish of me. How would you know? We're both freshly made novice ghosts."

The police officers in the room were working quietly. They were from the Fourth Division, the best unit in their police station. Lin Xi watched as they examined the entrance door, conducted grid-pattern searches for evidence, used luminol reagent to detect wiped bloodstains, placed markers for the evidence chain, employed monochromatic light sources to search for footprints, analyzed bloodstain patterns, while forensic specialists collected blood samples, took fingerprints, and photographed the scene...

She had performed these procedures many times herself, never imagining she would witness others investigating her own murder scene.

As she watched, she suddenly felt something was wrong, as if something was missing.

Strange - if both she and Fan Ze had been killed, why wasn't there any marked area indicating where the bodies had been?

But then Lin Xi understood. Perhaps this wasn't the murder scene, just the crime scene. Maybe the perpetrator had knocked them unconscious and moved them elsewhere to kill them.

Yet neither she nor Fan Ze had offended anyone.

And why choose the museum as the crime location? Wouldn't it have been easier to commit the crime while they were returning home after reviewing the surveillance footage?

After all, the museum's surveillance and security were much tighter than ordinary residences.

Or perhaps the perpetrator had no choice but to deal with them at that time.

Was it related to the broken SIM card? Because of the case Du Zichun had been investigating years ago? Maybe someone from the forensics team had leaked information...

As for whether they were killed because of the stolen Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin, Lin Xi thought that seemed too exaggerated. If that were the case, wouldn't several of the previously investigating officers have been killed by now? Besides, they hadn't discovered anything yet!

But had they really found nothing?

Lin Xi vaguely felt that she had seen something important at the end, but she couldn't recall what it was.The Specter beside her drew closer, as if wanting to say something to Lin Xi, but no sound came out.

Lin Xi didn’t care whether the other party could hear her or not. Pointing at the pool of blood and bloodstains on the floor, she analyzed, "Fan Ze, this should be your blood, right? But the area of the blood pool is slightly large, possibly covering earlier traces. Judging by the amount of blood, it must have been when you were still alive. Yet there are no signs of dragging or bloody footprints—could the perpetrator have cleaned the scene?"

When Lin Xi was nervous, she had a habit of talking excessively. But now, the only one who might hear her was a motionless Specter. She reasoned with herself, then refuted her own conclusions, wrestling back and forth for so long that even the fourth division officers collecting evidence had withdrawn.

Almost all the evidence in the office had been taken away—even the computers and chairs were gone. Standing in the empty office, Lin Xi felt a wave of hollow fear.

What was one supposed to do after death?

Or rather, what could she still do?

Lost in confusion, she suddenly noticed the office door being opened.

It was the museum Curator.

Leaning on his cane, he stood at the doorway for a long while, then raised an old-fashioned film camera and pressed the shutter, capturing the completely empty office.

Lin Xi was stunned, her vision whitening from the flash. It took a moment for her sight to return.

Strange—how could a ghost still be blinded by a camera flash?

But what was even stranger was the Curator.

Who would take photos of a crime scene for no reason?

The Curator didn’t enter the room. He seemed to check the remaining film in his camera, then left, leaning on his cane.

Lin Xi hesitated for a moment, but her intense curiosity overpowered everything else. She immediately stepped forward to follow.

As she walked out of the office, she felt relieved that she could still move freely and wasn’t confined to a specific location like the Earthbound spirits described in novels.

Behind her, the Specter in a police uniform also followed. As if sensing her intention, it quickened its pace and walked half a meter ahead of her, to her left.

This was a protective formation, guarding the side of her heart.

Lin Xi was momentarily dazed, then smiled bitterly.

When Du Zichun was still around, he had always liked to protect her this way while walking, whether during official duties or while accompanying her shopping. After Du Zichun was gone, Fan Ze often imitated his way of caring for her. But no matter how he tried, her heart ached with sorrow.

Even if he could replicate it perfectly, what did it matter? They were entirely different people!

Lin Xi’s heart was a turmoil of emotions. She had kept her distance from Fan Ze afterward, fearing he might misunderstand. She never expected they would both end up in such a state.

Distractedly following the Curator, Lin Xi only snapped back to attention when she saw him enter an office, open a cabinet door on the wall, and reveal another room hidden inside!

There really was something suspicious! Lin Xi’s spirits lifted, and her mind raced with speculations about an inside job. But when she followed him in, she found it was merely a darkroom for developing film.

Film cameras used rolls coated with light-sensitive materials like silver bromide to capture images. After shooting, the film had to be developed before it could produce an image on photographic paper.

This type of film camera was invented over two hundred years ago, but in the new century, its life had come to an end.Digital cameras have replaced the old film cameras, and Kodak stopped producing film as early as 2009. Photo labs that developed film have similarly become history.

Nowadays, such darkrooms only exist in movies and TV dramas, or in the homes of hardcore film photography enthusiasts.

Unexpectedly, the museum Curator was one of them. Though it's probably hard to buy film still within its expiration date now? This Curator certainly has the enthusiasm.

Lin Xi looked at the various equipment in the darkroom, along with bottles and containers of all sizes. While she didn't know much about them, she recognized these as developing solutions like three-color developers, fixers, and other chemicals used for developing photos that are difficult to obtain nowadays.

When the door closed, the darkroom became completely dark. The Curator turned on the red safelight and put on gloves. He was clearly an old hand at developing photos, moving with extreme proficiency under the dim light. Lin Xi watched for a while before growing bored, as no matter how she looked at it, the Curator was just routinely developing photos, though the developing solutions he used seemed rather miscellaneous. Just looking at the various labels suggested they were special solutions with some history.

This Curator was obviously a seasoned film camera enthusiast. His earlier photography in front of the office was probably just because he had half a frame left on the film and couldn't bear to waste it.

Lin Xi's family had used such film cameras when she was young. Though they were rated for 36 exposures, if you wound the film carefully, you could usually squeeze out one more shot or even half.

Another dead-end clue.

But Lin Xi didn't know where to go next for the moment, so she could only stand in a daze in the darkroom, unconsciously listening to the rustling, clinking, and pouring liquid sounds... Huh? Why were there three people breathing in the darkroom?

Lin Xi's senses were extremely sharp - this had been her advantage when applying to police academy.

She believed she hadn't misheard, and the darkroom was so small you could see everything at a glance. To avoid bumping into the Curator, she and the Specter had to squeeze together, their bodies pressed against each other.

When she realized this, she felt extremely uncomfortable, yet there was nothing she could do about it.

There was no one else in the darkroom, so the breathing must be coming from the two of them?

But if they were already dead, why would they still be breathing?

Lin Xi couldn't figure it out, and there was no one she could ask.

Time passed slowly. After developing the photos, the Curator clipped them one by one with small clips onto a string to air dry naturally. Having completed this, he removed his gloves, picked up the cane placed nearby, and limped out.

For some reason, Lin Xi didn't follow him out but remained standing in the darkroom without moving a step.

It was as if a voice deep inside was telling her not to leave.

Lin Xi lifted her head, looking at the photos hanging in the darkroom. As time passed, the images on the photographic paper became increasingly clear. Most of these photos showed antiques the Curator had photographed. Under the special red safelight of the darkroom, the old film displayed a texture that digital cameras couldn't match, and the antiques captured on film carried a weathered sense of historical significance.

There were also several landscape shots, likely taken casually by the Curator, all particularly atmospheric.Lin Xi was utterly bored. She flipped through the photos one by one until her gaze settled beneath the final picture.

Nearly half of this photograph was overexposed, likely because the film had reached its end. Yet the empty office space remained discernible.

What shocked Lin Xi, however, were two figures captured in the image.

In the center stood her own vacant-eyed self, rooted in a pool of blood. Beside her, a handsome face she hadn’t seen in ages watched her with sorrowful concern.

How could this be? Hadn’t Zichun gone missing? Why would he appear in this photo? Why was he beside her?

A surge of bitterness choked her nose, blurring her vision. Instinctively, Lin Xi reached to take down the photo—it must be her eyes playing tricks.

Only when her fingers brushed the image did she belatedly realize: Hadn’t she already died? How could she still touch this photograph?

Behind her, a pair of arms finally broke their restraint, pulling her tightly into an embrace.

"Xiao Xi, I’ve always been by your side."

Lin Xi’s tears finally fell.

6.

Lin Xi felt she was dreaming.

When she’d inexplicably died, she hadn’t thought it was a dream. But seeing Du Zichun now made her certain this was one.

Because she’d already dreamed this countless times.

Each awakening brought only more excruciating pain.

She hardly dared look back, terrified this might be another self-deceiving fantasy.

Yet strangely, the warmth radiating from the embrace behind her soothed her unsettled heart.

Lin Xi had no time to analyze why her senses had returned. After a silent moment, she tentatively asked, "...Zichun?"

"Mm, it’s me." Du Zichun’s uniquely magnetic voice murmured softly by her ear.

"All this past year... you’ve been beside me?"

"Mm, it was me."

"Was it you helping me solve cases? Protecting me?"

"Mm, it was me."

Lin Xi closed her eyes, feeling like a complete fool. Du Zichun had lingered around her for so long, yet she’d noticed nothing!

As they composed themselves, Du Zichun began recounting his experience.

Over a year ago, while investigating a case, he’d been ambushed and fell into a coma. When he awoke, he was in this Specter state.

Initially, like Lin Xi, he believed he’d died, leaving only his soul behind. He never found his own body and knew he’d been declared a missing person.

He expected to soon dissipate into the air, but months passed while he remained in this form.

He frequently visited his parents and Lin Xi—accompanying her on cases by day, returning home to his parents by night. This routine persisted, with no one detecting anything unusual.

He discovered that by concentrating with strong intent, he could touch lightweight objects. Combined with his effectively invisible perspective, he became exceptionally adept at investigations, secretly assisting Lin Xi with cases.

He wanted to protect her, even in death.

Lin Xi wept uncontrollably.

Du Zichun wiped her tears away, knowing ordinary comfort wouldn’t work for someone of her temperament. With one sentence, he made her cease crying.

"I’ve discovered who harmed us."Lin Xi immediately perked up. Du Zichun had been secretly watching over her and must have seen who did it. After a moment's thought, her memories from before losing consciousness returned, and she sighed, "It should be Fan Ze."

Du Zichun nodded. "Although we don't know his motive, our situation doesn't seem as bad as we imagined."

Lin Xi was taken aback.

The Curator returned to his office in a foul mood after being questioned all afternoon.

How was he supposed to know where that female police officer had disappeared to? Or how that male officer got injured? Why were they interrogating him like a suspect?

But with accidents happening one after another at the museum, was there something wrong?

Tsk, he had just asked that young fellow Lu Zigang to check the feng shui. Young people really couldn't be relied upon. Should he try his luck at the Dumb Shop again? Maybe the Boss would be there today?

However, with all this attention on him, if he went straight to the Dumb Shop after work, he'd definitely be tailed by the police! Wouldn't that just cause trouble for the Boss?

While the Curator was hesitating and wrestling with his thoughts, he noticed a photograph on his desk.

Strange, he had properly hung all the photos he developed today in the darkroom. He didn't remember taking any out.

Picking up the photo, the Curator adjusted his reading glasses and took a closer look. His face immediately changed.

This photo! He remembered clearly that when he took it, it was an empty office! The pool of blood on the floor was still there!

Now the Curator knew something was wrong. Many films and TV shows had depicted how film cameras could capture ghosts. And this photo had somehow left the darkroom - it couldn't have grown legs and walked out by itself, could it?

Goosebumps covering his entire body, the Curator no longer cared whether he might get the Dumb Shop investigated by the police. He immediately drove to the commercial street.

Bursting through the door with his cane, the Curator was delighted to find the Boss there today. He quickly placed the photo on the counter and explained the whole story from beginning to end.

The Boss glanced at the overexposed photo, his interest slightly piqued. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "These two people must have been sprayed with Mirage Gas by a Sea Mirage Clam."

"Ah? Mirage Gas? The same 'mirage' as in mirage?" the Curator asked, confused.

"Yes. Small ones are called clams, large ones are called mirages. Both are shellfish, types of mussels. The Mirage Clam is essentially a larger mussel. It's said that the Mirage Gas they exhale creates illusions, forming mirages over the sea." The Boss closed the book in his hands and explained calmly.

"That's just legend, isn't it? Aren't mirages natural phenomena caused by light refraction?" The Curator was half-convinced, half-doubting.

"But ancient texts actually have two interpretations of 'mirage'," the Boss said, glancing at the Curator. He wasn't going to discuss science with him - if science could explain everything, why would he have come here for help? "One is the Mirage Clam, and the other is the Mirage Dragon. Strangely enough, both creatures have the same ability - the Mirage Gas they exhale creates illusions."

"Are you saying these two creatures are actually the same?" The Curator understood immediately this time.

"Exactly. The Mirage Clam has always been dissatisfied with its small size and envies the sea Dragons. So it takes the form of a Dragon and calls itself the Mirage Dragon. Therefore, the term 'Sea Mirage Clam' implies jealousy and the desire to replace others." The Boss pointed at the photo. "If this Sea Mirage Clam falls into someone's hands, that feeling of jealousy will be infinitely amplified until it becomes unbearable. These two people are probably victims of this.""Is there any way to save them?" the Curator pressed anxiously. Since the incident occurred at the museum under his management, he couldn't just stand by idly.

"These two aren't actually dead. Although the Sea Mirage Clam is an evil entity, it doesn't take lives. They merely inhaled the Mirage Gas and became trapped in illusions, creating a disconnect from the real world."

"Ah, I hear the words but don't understand the meaning." The Curator looked completely bewildered.

Lu Zigang, standing nearby, seemed to grasp it and interjected, "It's essentially a dimensional displacement. Like a mirage over the ocean that might show scenery from kilometers away or from years past. These two exist in a different space-time from ours, which is why others can't see them. Only the special imaging materials in film cameras can capture their forms."

"Eh? So they've become invisible?" The Curator suddenly had an epiphany. "That Kingfisher Feather Art hairpin also disappeared suddenly - could this be another case involving the Sea Mirage Clam?"

The Boss didn't answer this question, instead casually asking, "Are you two here with the Curator? If you're present, please give us a sign."

The photograph on the counter spun in a circle without any wind.

Witnessing this, the Curator felt chills down his spine. He suspiciously glanced around and quietly took two steps back, putting distance between himself and the counter.

The Boss tilted his chin toward Lu Zigang, who understood the signal and went to search for something in the inner room.

"The method to counter the Sea Mirage Clam is quite simple - just being exposed to the Mirage Gas again will reverse the effects. Coincidentally, we have one Sea Mirage Clam left in the shop." The Boss lifted his eyes, speaking calmly to a particular spot in the air. "Don't worry, no payment is required. Just remember to look out for this shop if we ever need assistance in the future."

The Boss spoke casually, clearly just being polite. The Curator twitched his mustache, wanting to make a sarcastic remark but lacking the courage, so he swallowed his words.

Before long, Lu Zigang reappeared holding a Brocade Box. Inside lay a palm-sized Sea Mirage Clam, its shell shimmering with rainbow colors. Though beautiful, it carried an inexplicably eerie feeling.

Lin Xi had been holding Du Zichun's hand all along. Although the young man in the Crimson Dragon-embroidered clothing made it sound simple, who knew what might actually happen? She instinctively closed her eyes.

Moments later, what she heard was Du Zichun speaking to someone else.

"Bro, can I borrow your phone?"

Lin Xi opened her eyes just in time to see Du Zichun take the young shop assistant's phone with one hand and dial a number. While waiting for the connection, he turned his head and gave her a roguish grin.

Lin Xi's eyes immediately welled up with tears. This time she was truly seeing Du Zichun, not just a blurry specter.

While explaining his identity to his colleague on the phone, Du Zichun affectionately stroked Lin Xi's cheek. Heaven knew how many times he had done this over the past year, though Lin Xi had never been aware of it.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Lin Xi didn't hear what Du Zichun was saying at all. She gazed greedily at Du Zichun's face and, imitating him, reached out to confirm his physical presence.

The Curator rolled his eyes, completely speechless at the young couple's public display of affection.Du Zichun suddenly changed his expression, hurriedly confirmed a couple of things, then hung up the phone and returned it to Lu Zigang.

"What happened?" Lin Xi promptly asked.

Du Zichun hadn’t intended to speak of it here, but having personally witnessed the antique shop’s wonders, he respectfully inquired of the Boss, “Sir, the culprit who harmed us initially stabbed himself to divert suspicion, but the forensic examiner detected anomalies in the blood evidence. Later, however, he vanished during the incarceration process.”

Lin Xi drew a sharp breath, now able to deduce Fan Ze’s mindset.

He had likely been only vaguely aware of the Sea Mirage Clam’s uses before—at most daring to employ it on inanimate objects or intended targets, never risking the Mirage Gas on himself. Now exposed, he was probably desperate enough to disregard caution.

This essentially rendered him invisible—how could they possibly capture him?

The Boss, however, seemed unperturbed and chuckled lightly, “It’s of little consequence. No matter the illusions, the Sea Mirage Clam remains merely a shell—it cannot transform into a true Dragon.”

Du Zichun pondered these words repeatedly, the worry in his brow gradually giving way to resolve.

Indeed, he had endured the most arduous of times—what did he have to fear henceforth?

He tightened his grip on Lin Xi’s hand. He had obtained the most precious treasure of his life and would never let go.

(End of Chapter)