Thinking that Cao Xinxin had suddenly confessed to stealing his roommate’s belongings and laboratory supplies was, in itself, not very normal. Recalling his sheepish appearance when he was “escorted” by Xue Bin and Zeng Shu, one couldn’t help but wonder if he had been coerced by them.

Ling Lie called in the recorder and asked what was really going on with Cao Xinxin’s confession. At first, Xue Bin refused to speak. Zeng Shu, frightened by Cao Xinxin’s death, turned pale. After just a few words from Ling Lie, she confessed. Seeing that Zeng Shu had confessed, Xue Bin had no choice but to admit it as well—

They both felt guilty about Lu Feixiang’s withdrawal from school and wanted to offer “what they could” as compensation. They both came from wealthy families, so paying for Lu Feixiang to study medicine abroad was not a problem. But for them, reputation was also a very important part. To clear Lu Feixiang’s name, they had to find the person who stole the reagents.

Xue Bin easily figured that since someone had framed Lu Feixiang for stealing the reagents, then the person who had framed him for stealing daily necessities from the dormitory should be the same person. This narrowed down the scope of suspicion. A male dormitory only had a few people in one room. Although the possibility of “committing the crime” from another dormitory couldn’t be ruled out, repeated thefts could only be an inside job.

The poorest in the dorm was Lu Feixiang. Lu Feixiang was so conspicuously poor that people overlooked another person whose family was not well-off either—Cao Xinxin.

Xue Bin didn’t have much of a good impression of Cao Xinxin. He only remembered that after Zeng Shu said she liked Lu Feixiang, Cao Xinxin often came to flatter him, saying bad things about Lu Feixiang, like him stealing things. Thinking back now, his earliest impression of Lu Feixiang as a thief seemed to have come from Cao Xinxin.

Xue Bin also asked around in the class group chat who had seen Zeng Shu and Lu Feixiang holding hands, and learned that this person was also Cao Xinxin. He discussed it with Zeng Shu, and they felt it was very likely that Cao Xinxin was the one who had framed Lu Feixiang.

Cao Xinxin was now a graduate student and also worked at a community hospital. Xue Bin drove straight over and asked specifically for Cao Xinxin. When Cao Xinxin saw this wealthy old classmate, he was initially very happy and tried to flatter him as he had in school. Who knew that Xue Bin would greet him with a punch, knocking him senseless.

Many people were watching the commotion. Cao Xinxin covered his face and persuaded them to leave, then asked fearfully, “Xue, Brother Xue, have I offended you in some way?”

Zeng Shu also got out of the car at this point, looking at Cao Xinxin with anger. Cao Xinxin hadn’t expected these two to get together and was instantly at a loss. Thinking about the police coming to investigate Lu Feixiang’s case a while ago, a bad premonition suddenly arose.

Sure enough, Xue Bin said, “It was you who stole things, wasn’t it? And you were the one who started the rumor about Shushu and Lu Feixiang being together?”

Cao Xinxin’s legs went weak, and he slumped to the ground. “Brother Xue, Brother Xue, you’ve misunderstood. It wasn’t me!”

Xue Bin grabbed Cao Xinxin, threw him into the car, and drove all the way to the suburbs. On the way, he made several calls and gathered a number of people. Cao Xinxin had never seen such a scene and immediately started crying for his parents.

Xue Bin didn’t let him confess immediately. He insisted on taking him to a specific place before making him admit it.

The destination wasn’t some remote wilderness, just an abandoned warehouse. Cao Xinxin had seen one or two of the people Xue Bin had called; they were all buddies Xue Bin used to hang out with before he went abroad. They all knew about Xue Bin and Zeng Shu’s situation, and seeing them “back together” now, they all gave Xue Bin a knowing look.

But it wasn’t like that with Xue Bin and Zeng Shu. They hadn’t called people over to witness their reunion, but simply because they were afraid Cao Xinxin wouldn’t confess, so they gathered some people to scare him.

Cao Xinxin was not brave. Seeing that he was about to get beaten, he immediately confessed with snot and tears. Because his family was poor, he had gotten a bad idea when he discovered there were two rich kids in his dorm during his freshman year. Xue Bin and another rich kid never locked their cabinets or drawers. Their shoes were all limited editions, and their watches were luxury items. He didn’t dare to touch these particularly expensive things, but he was very bold about taking daily necessities from time to time.

After taking a lot, he became afraid of being discovered one day, so he thought of framing Lu Feixiang. Lu Feixiang was even poorer than him, often making do with a vegetable dish and a plate of plain rice for a meal. In the eyes of others, Lu Feixiang was more likely to steal.

He began to spread rumors, not by name, but after hearing them, everyone would basically think of Lu Feixiang. However, Xue Bin and the others seemed indifferent. If something was lost, it was lost; they would just buy another one.

Cao Xinxin breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the suspicion didn’t fall on him, he was fearless.

Later, Xue Bin got into a big fight with Lu Feixiang over Zeng Shu and threatened to have Lu Feixiang kicked out of the medical school. At that time, Cao Xinxin needed a sum of money and got the idea of stealing laboratory supplies. He didn’t think much of it at the time he stole them. It was only after he sold them that he realized how serious the matter was. If it was found out to be him, he would surely be expelled.

He thought, since he had framed Lu Feixiang many times already, one more time wouldn’t make a difference. And this time, it was as if heaven was helping him. Xue Bin was using his connections in the student union to get Lu Feixiang expelled, but he had no legitimate reason. No matter how much he pressured the school, it was useless. If Lu Feixiang had stolen the reagents, wouldn’t that be a legitimate reason?

Cao Xinxin was overjoyed and used the same old trick, spreading rumors that Lu Feixiang had stolen the reagents. Xue Bin seized on this and reported it to the school again. At first, Lu Feixiang denied it. Later, for some reason, after being persuaded by the school, he voluntarily withdrew.

That year, Cao Xinxin took Lu Feixiang’s place in receiving the scholarship and also replaced Lu Feixiang for an internship at the Third Hospital, becoming the biggest winner. It was just a pity that he was not competent enough. After the first round of internship, he was sent back by the Third Hospital.

Xue Bin was furious when he heard this and kicked Cao Xinxin on the spot. Cao Xinxin cried and admitted his mistake, begging Xue Bin to let him off. Zeng Shu said coldly, “What’s the use of admitting your mistake to us? The one you harmed was Lu Feixiang. You must apologize to him in person!”

And so, the scene of the three of them stopping Lu Feixiang at the city bureau came to be.

Xue Bin and Zeng Shu’s original plan was that after obtaining Lu Feixiang’s forgiveness, they would take Cao Xinxin back to school, clarify the truth, revoke Cao Xinxin’s degree certificate, expel him, and reinstate Lu Feixiang’s student status.

Lu Feixiang’s attitude was a bucket of cold water poured over them. After leaving the city bureau, Zeng Shu was in a very bad mood and said she wanted to go back and think things over first, and would contact Xue Bin to discuss the next step once she had figured it out. Xue Bin was even more frustrated. He found Cao Xinxin to be an eyesore and kicked him into the car.

Xue Bin had been pampered since he was a child and had hardly ever been wronged. This time, he wanted to clear Lu Feixiang’s name but was told he was being self-indulgent. And he couldn’t even take his anger out on Lu Feixiang. He knew that he and Zeng Shu had wronged Lu Feixiang.

But a bellyful of anger had to find someone to bear it, and Cao Xinxin became that person. Xue Bin floored the accelerator and sped along the coastal highway. He drank in the afternoon and drank again at night. He had a high tolerance and didn’t get drunk even after drinking a lot. On the contrary, he had more energy. He pinned Cao Xinxin down and beat him viciously.

Later, a friend came and stopped him. Otherwise, he would have killed him.

“I really just hit him! I definitely didn’t kill him!” Xue Bin was very agitated, but his argument lacked persuasiveness. “I left him after I beat him. My buddy sent me home. I never saw him again!”

Ling Lie asked, “Which buddy?”

“Wang Yingzhuo, a senior from my upper year.”

Xue Bin gave his contact information. Ling Lie immediately had the detachment go verify it.

“When did you leave after hitting him?”

“Ten o’clock? I was back at the hotel by midnight. Really, I’m not lying. You can check the surveillance at the hotel!”

Ling Lie left the interrogation room and saw Ji Chenjiao waving at him. Before returning to the city bureau, Ji Chenjiao had gone to the hotel where Xue Bin was staying to retrieve the surveillance footage. He saw that Xue Bin had returned to the hotel at 11:40 PM and had not gone out again. This did not match the time of death determined by the medical examiner.

At this time, Wang Yingzhuo, the friend Xue Bin had mentioned, also rushed to the city bureau. He was a young man dressed in designer clothes, with very refined manners. He was clearly from Xue Bin’s circle of rich kids, but he was gentler than Xue Bin.

Wang Yingzhuo said that when Xue Bin called him during the day, he had felt that something was wrong, but he had something to do at the time and couldn’t get to Xue Bin immediately. When he found Xue Bin at the seaside at night and saw him beating Cao Xinxin, he quickly pulled Xue Bin away and sent him back to the hotel.

“Xue Bin has a bad temper, but I’ve known him since college. He wouldn’t do something like murder. I beg you two to give Xue Bin justice.”

After dropping off Xue Bin, Wang Yingzhuo also stayed at the hotel. Like Xue Bin, it was impossible for him to have gone back to kill Cao Xinxin. After giving his statement, Ling Lie let him go.

Ling Lie watched his back as he left, not moving.

“The killer probably isn’t Xue Bin, but he used Xue Bin,” Ji Chenjiao said, glancing at the interrogation room. “You want to follow this case?”

Ling Lie shook his head. “I want a vacation.”

“…”

“Don’t tell me you want to follow it?”

Ji Chenjiao snorted. “I thought you didn’t understand social etiquette, so I came to remind you.”

Ling Lie grinned cheekily. “Temporary workers shouldn’t joke with their leaders.”

The detachment was very busy. The two of them said hello to Huang Yi and went back. This case belonged to the Fengshi police. Although the special operations team had the authority to investigate cases nationwide, it wasn’t without rules and regulations, and they couldn’t just do as they pleased.

Ling Lie had reopened the Fengan County case with the approval of the special operations team, and his incidental investigation into the Mu Dianpei case was also to assist the city bureau. Now, although the Cao Xinxin case was slightly related to the previous cases, it should be investigated by the Fengshi police. It would be inappropriate for Ling Lie to interfere further.

Besides, Ling Lie was still looking forward to his vacation.

After being delayed at the city bureau for a few hours, it was already early morning when they returned to the hotel. Ling Lie, like an excited child, couldn’t sleep. He carefully packed his swimsuit, even putting it in a special storage bag.

Ji Chenjiao was annoyed watching him. “What about mine?” He had washed the swimsuits for Ling Lie. Ling Lie packed his own but didn’t bother to help him with his?

Ling Lie squatted by his luggage bag and looked up. “You have to do your own things.”

Ji Chenjiao really wanted to take Ling Lie’s swimsuit out, throw it in the basin, and retort with “You have to do your own things,” but he decided against it. It wasn’t worth bickering over petty things.

But with Ling Lie packing with the lights on, Ji Chenjiao couldn’t sleep either. He initially thought it was because Ling Lie was making too much noise and the light was on, but in reality, Ling Lie wasn’t making any sound at all, and only a small light in the entryway was on.

He couldn’t sleep because of himself.

He had no right to laugh at Ling Lie, because he himself seemed to be excited about the upcoming vacation.

Was primary school spring trip syndrome contagious!

Ling Lie finally finished packing and sat on the edge of the bed. “Xiao Ji, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“…”

“You look like a primary schooler, all excited and unable to sleep.”

“Shut up!” Ji Chenjiao threw a pillow at him. Ling Lie deftly dodged it, rolled a couple of times on the quilt, and suddenly said, “What a coincidence, I can’t sleep either.”

Ji Chenjiao sneered.

Ling Lie shot up. “How about we analyze the case?”

Ji Chenjiao’s inner thought: That’s exactly what I wanted.

But what Ji Chenjiao said was: “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get involved in this case?”

Ling Lie: “A little analysis won’t hurt anyone. Can you sleep?”

“…” Thanks, no, I can’t.

“Xue Bin himself doesn’t have an alibi, but he could have hired someone,” Ling Lie said. “This person’s life has been too smooth. He’s hot-tempered and unstable. It’s not impossible that he wanted Cao Xinxin dead in a fit of rage.”

Ji Chenjiao: “Whether he hired a killer or not, Huang Yi and the others will find out with a little investigation. I think the possibility is very low. If he really wanted to kill Cao Xinxin, he could have just had someone else do it. Why would he show up himself and leave injuries on Cao Xinxin’s face?”

“Verifying the specific situation is the Fengshi police’s job. We’re just talking about possibilities and motives,” Ling Lie said, half his body hanging off the bed, looking at Ji Chenjiao upside down. “Xue Bin’s motive is very sufficient. Unless you can find another reason why he had to die.”

Ji Chenjiao raised an eyebrow. “Are you testing me?”

Ling Lie: “Hee hee hee—”

Ji Chenjiao was left without any temper by his laughter. “Then we have to start with Cao Xinxin’s social relationships. When I came into contact with Cao Xinxin last time, I did learn a bit about his situation. His hometown is on Fengchao Island. He makes a living during the summer tourist season, being a wild tour guide, making some props, and so on. These things don’t actually earn much money. There’s a middle school on the island, but the education level is average. He did very well in middle school, otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten into medical school. But once he got to university, his level wasn’t enough.”

If you didn’t count his character, Cao Xinxin was a student with very ordinary qualifications. He took Lu Feixiang’s place to intern at the Third Hospital. During that time, he didn’t make any major mistakes, but he couldn’t keep up with the awareness, skills, and even the physical fitness required of an excellent doctor. He was ranked at the bottom and was unceremoniously sent back.

But he was very good at pleasing those with higher status than him. In class and in the dorm, he acted as Xue Bin’s lackey. In the student union and clubs, he got close to the upperclassmen who were cadres. His current job at the community hospital was arranged by a senior.

Although he couldn’t get into a big hospital, the work at the community hospital seemed to suit him well, and his graduate studies schedule allowed for it. He was good at dealing with uncles and aunts, and they liked to go to him for medicine for their minor ailments. Last year, he even won the annual excellence medal.

“So he doesn’t have any other place where he could have offended people?” Ling Lie was tired of being upside down. He jumped up and squatted on the edge of the bed.

Ji Chenjiao couldn’t help but complain, “Why are you like a monkey?”

Ling Lie got into character, stood up, and beat his chest with both hands.

Ji Chenjiao: “…That’s a gorilla.”

“Whatever, it’s all the same,” Ling Lie said, completely unbothered. “Assuming Cao Xinxin didn’t die because of Xue Bin, his work and life are so monotonous. If someone hated him, it would most likely be among his classmates or colleagues. Jealousy? A conflict with a patient? These are the easiest to investigate. Maybe Huang Yi will have solved the case while we’re still on vacation.”

Ji Chenjiao nodded. “That would be for the best.”

Ling Lie saw him frown. “Xiao Ji, you seem to have other thoughts?”

Ji Chenjiao did have a guess just now, but it was very vague, and he hadn’t completely sorted out this line of thought yet.

Ling Lie: “Tell me?”

Ji Chenjiao: “What was your first reaction when you learned of Cao Xinxin’s murder?”

Ling Lie said without thinking, “No way? What a coincidence?”

“Right, it’s this ‘coincidence’,” Ji Chenjiao said, standing up as if that would help him think more clearly. “The ‘coincidence’ is in the timing. Cao Xinxin was just brought to the city bureau because of Lu Feixiang’s case, how did he die right after? His death might not be related to Lu Feixiang or Xue Bin, but simply to his coming to the city bureau?”

Ling Lie sat cross-legged and also became serious. “And if the killer wasn’t Xue Bin, then he was using Xue Bin. The timing was perfect. Xue Bin took Cao Xinxin to the seaside, beat him up, and when Cao Xinxin was alone, the killer came to reap the harvest.”

Ji Chenjiao nodded. “For the killer to be able to do this, it’s very likely they’re not an ordinary person. In that case, their motive is unlikely to be a conflict arising from Cao Xinxin’s daily work. His patients, colleagues, and classmates probably don’t have this capability.”

Ling Lie: “So you suspect that there might be some dark secret behind Cao Xinxin, some illegal activity? When Cao Xinxin was suddenly targeted by the police, certain people panicked?”

Ji Chenjiao nodded. “But we’re not participating in the investigation, and we don’t have any more clues. Everything is just speculation.”

Ling Lie: “Perfect.”

“Huh?”

“We’re going to Fengchao Island tomorrow morning anyway. It’s a perfect opportunity to explore Cao Xinxin’s upbringing.”

Ji Chenjiao looked at Ling Lie’s eager appearance and couldn’t help but find it amusing. Who was it that said they wanted a vacation? Who was it that said they wouldn’t interfere in the case?

It was already 3 AM. The ferry was at 9 AM, and they had to be at the pier by 8:30 at the latest. It would take at least half an hour to get there from the hotel. They still had to get up and wash up, leaving only four hours to sleep.

Ji Chenjiao was getting sleepy. “I’m turning off the lights?”

At this time, Ling Lie still didn’t forget to be passive-aggressive with him, chattering, “Oh my, it’s already three o’clock. Xiao Ji, you’ve been on spring trips before, what are you so excited about?”

“…”

After turning off the lights, Ling Lie buried his head and went to sleep. Ji Chenjiao looked at him a few times and found that he really did fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. Meanwhile, he himself, due to the brainstorming, had overly active brain cells and only fell asleep near dawn.

When Ling Lie woke him up, Ji Chenjiao really wanted to push him away and say he wasn’t going. But when he opened his eyes, in his field of vision, Ling Lie was wearing a white shirt he had bought at some point, looking as fresh as if he had just stepped out of a university campus.

Ji Chenjiao’s sleepiness vanished, and only one thought flew around in his mind: this person looks really good in a white shirt.

It was the busiest time of the year for Fengshi and Fengchao Island. There were a ton of tourists. To avoid traffic jams, the two set off at a little after seven. They were stuck in traffic for about half an hour on the way, and by the time they reached the pier, it was already packed with people dragging luggage of all sizes to Fengchao Island.

The package ticket Huang Yi gave them included the ferry ticket, and it was for a first-class cabin on the second floor. It was said that you could enjoy the sea view against the sea breeze, with a wide field of vision. The waiting area for boarding was too crowded, with people pushing and shoving each other in line. Ji Chenjiao hated this kind of situation. If he were here alone, he would have given up immediately.

But then a familiar back of a head flashed before his eyes. Ling Lie, in his spotless white shirt, fearlessly braving the sweat of others, was forging a path ahead. He would even turn back to call out to Ji Chenjiao, “Follow me! Don’t get lost!”

A lady in the line with two children roared the same thing. Ji Chenjiao was speechless and silently followed behind Ling Lie. Ling Lie had a strong sense of parental duty, turning back from time to time to look for him. Only when he saw that he hadn’t gotten lost would he turn back with peace of mind.

The next time Ling Lie was about to turn, Ji Chenjiao ruthlessly pressed his face to the side. “I’m still here, not lost.”

Ling Lie said cheerfully, “Good. You know how to save me some worry.”

“…”

Finally on the boat, Ling Lie headed straight for the deck. The deck on the second floor was supposed to be accessible only to first-class passengers. Ji Chenjiao thought it wouldn’t be so crowded, but reality was always so uncivilized. The passengers all rushed to the deck in a swarm. The ship’s security personnel had a “we’re helpless, but we’re used to it” expression.

The whistle blew, and the cruise ship slowly pulled out of the port. People cheered happily amidst the blue sea and sky. Ling Lie was one of the more enthusiastic cheerers.

Ji Chenjiao initially felt it was too crowded, the jostling of shoulders too uncomfortable. But emotional contagion is a strange thing. Being in the midst of it, his aversion to the crowd didn’t seem so strong anymore. Moreover, he had to watch Ling Lie, lest the guy get too excited and fall into the sea.

Half an hour after the ship set sail, the passengers’ excitement subsided a bit. Some returned to their cabins, and the deck was no longer crowded. Ji Chenjiao and Ling Lie stood together by the railing, their eyes meeting a vast expanse of blue.

“I want to drink juice,” Ling Lie said. “What do you want? I’ll go get it.”

Ji Chenjiao said, “Get what you like.” Anyway, Ling Lie was the type who wanted to try everything. With two hands, he couldn’t carry a third cup, so he’d let Ling Lie choose. He could drink anything.

Ling Lie went off on his mission.

After waiting for a while, Ji Chenjiao caught a glimpse of a white shirt in his peripheral vision. He thought Ling Lie was back, but it turned out to be another young man in a white shirt.

This season, especially for a trip out to sea, very few people wore white shirts. It wasn’t as convenient as a T-shirt, and it didn’t look good when you sweated.

Just as Ji Chenjiao was about to turn away, he suddenly heard the young man say to someone who might or might not have been his companion, “There’s a secret on Fengchao Island. I’m here to explore it.”

Ji Chenjiao couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. A secret? Are all of you white-shirt-wearers so full of exploratory spirit?

But speaking of which, he was also very interested in Fengchao Island. In the common perception, the sea and islands meant romance, blue skies and white clouds, love—very high-quality tourism resources. Almost all coastal cities and islands used romance to brand themselves, building resort hotels, Western-style churches, and developing a seafood economy.

Fengchao Island, however, was an anomaly. It developed funeral and ghost and deity culture, which was equivalent to giving up the unique advantage of being an island. Although Fengchao Island’s annual “Ten Thousand Ghosts Parade the Island” event did well, attracting tourists due to its unique character, ghost and deity culture was subject to great restrictions and supervision, making it much more difficult to develop than ordinary seaside tourism.

The Fengshi police were also on high alert, afraid that the island would use ghosts, deities, and funerals to promote feudal superstition, so they investigated it very strictly.

Ling Lie returned with juice, a cup of watermelon juice and a cup of coconut juice. He followed Ji Chenjiao’s gaze and also saw the young man in the white shirt. The young man seemed to sense their gaze and turned around.

Ling Lie took a sip of both cups, then stuck a straw in the coconut juice and respectfully handed it to Ji Chenjiao. “New straw!”

Ji Chenjiao knew he would take a sip, but he didn’t mind.

The young man, however, walked over without any reservation. “Hi, I noticed you two just now. Are you here on the island for your honeymoon?”

“Pfft—” Ling Lie sprayed out a mouthful of watermelon juice.

Ji Chenjiao was lucky he dodged quickly, otherwise his clothes would have been ruined. But at this moment, he didn’t have time to think about clothes. The young man’s words were too sensational. What did he mean, here on the island for a honeymoon? Him and Ling Lie, on a honeymoon?