Xiao Yishun was taking a nap when the interrogation room door opened. He opened his eyes and saw a young man he didn’t recognize, not in uniform, and with an air that wasn’t quite like a police officer. Xiao Yishun adjusted his posture and waited for the other to speak.

But Ling Lie didn’t speak, just watched Xiao Yishun as if observing an animal. This gaze gradually made Xiao Yishun uncomfortable, and his relaxed posture stiffened into a formal one. After a few minutes, Xiao Yishun said, “And you are?”

The recorder next to him said, “A consultant from a higher-level unit.”

Xiao Yishun’s eyebrows shot up. “Here for the drug manufacturing den? This matter has certainly blown up.” As he spoke, he raised his hands, looking completely innocent. “But I truly have nothing to do with what Qian Bao did.”

Only then did Ling Lie speak. “I’m very curious, why is he listed as a manager in your company? His manager position seems to be a sinecure, doesn’t it? Giving him such a cushy job, allowing him to manufacture drugs on Fengchao Island, your relationship must be quite extraordinary.”

Xiao Yishun held up his index finger. “I must emphasize, I did not know he was manufacturing drugs on Fengchao Island. I have too many things to worry about every day. I don’t have the energy to inquire into what a manager is doing behind my back.”

Ling Lie nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation. “CEO Xiao, you still haven’t answered my previous question. What is your relationship with him? Why did you give him a position at ‘Gui Yong Tang’?”

Xiao Yishun sighed, a look of well-rehearsed regret on his face. “Qian Bao entered the workforce very early. He has done many different jobs within the funeral industry, and he’s from Feng City, so he understands the local funeral business structure very well. When I came back to start my own business and wanted a piece of the funeral industry pie, I happened to meet him, and we hit it off. Over the years, he has indeed helped me a lot, like developing the funeral culture tourism and investing on Fengchao Island—I’m referring to tourism investment—he was involved in the planning. I was once very grateful to him.”

“After taking over ‘Gui Yong Tang,’ I was constantly thinking about how to strengthen this chain brand on our Feng City turf. Not every large chain brand can succeed after entering a new market. ‘Gui Yong Tang’ initially had trouble adapting because Feng City’s funeral services are actually more developed than in other cities. I had to absorb those individual operators, but the initial team didn’t do a good job.”

“At that time, Qian Bao and I had grown somewhat distant, but when I approached him for advice, he immediately gave me an idea—why not use Fengchao Island’s tourism resources for advertising. He was familiar with Fengchao Island. After much consideration, I asked him to handle the promotion on the island and gave him the manager position. I never expected that Fengchao Island had long since become his den for illegal activities.”

Ling Lie said, “We found out that Qian Bao has a superior. Guess who this superior is?”

Xiao Yishun gave a bitter smile. “I know you think it’s me, but it’s really not. Otherwise, now that you police have busted Qian Bao’s den and he’s facing a heavy sentence, why hasn’t he ratted me out?”

Because he’s a loyal dog you raised.

Ling Lie didn’t voice his inner thoughts, but changed the subject. “I’ve been investigating another case recently, and as it happens, this case is also slightly related to you.”

Xiao Yishun raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, assuming an expression of someone eager to listen.

“There’s something I find rather strange. When you returned to Feng City and wanted a piece of the funeral industry, why did you look for Qian Bao, and not an old friend who knows the industry even better?”

Xiao Yishun was stunned at first. A second later, he seemed to recall a certain face, and a tiny crack appeared in his carefully crafted mask.

Ling Lie: “Shen Wei, the brother of your once-close friend, Tan Fabin.”

Xiao Yishun’s mouth opened, then he quickly averted his gaze. “Shen Wei…”

Ling Lie: “You wouldn’t say you’ve forgotten Tan Fabin and Shen Wei, would you? During the ‘Ten Thousand Ghosts Parade,’ there’s an electric paper effigy of Tan Fabin. I heard from the islanders that they worship Tan Fabin as the patriarch of the funeral arts. However, the effigy is very crude, even ugly and unsettling. They don’t truly respect the man who was murdered seventeen years ago; it’s more like someone wanted them to do so. After thinking it over, only an investor like you, in memory of a good friend, would use their influence to make Tan Fabin a patriarch.”

Xiao Yishun sighed. “The consultant from the higher-level unit indeed has formidable powers of observation. That’s right, it was I who arranged for Tan Fabin to be worshiped as a patriarch. Why? Is this year’s effigy very ugly? I’ve been too busy this year and haven’t had a chance to go to the island to see it. When I’m free, I’ll go to the island…”

At this point, Xiao Yishun gave a bitter smile. “Forget it. With such a major incident on the island, the ‘Ten Thousand Ghosts Parade’ probably can’t be held anymore, right?”

Ling Lie didn’t answer, saying, “Since your relationship with Tan Fabin was so good, why didn’t you ask Shen Wei for help? As the ‘patriarch’s’ brother, Shen Wei’s abilities should be stronger than Qian Bao’s, no?”

“Well…” Xiao Yishun paused. “I actually did look for Shen Wei, but it’s not what you think. I didn’t think he could help me with anything. I was only about twenty when I went south to start my business, and Shen Wei was still a child. Tan Fabin and I were like brothers, but my interactions with Shen Wei were very limited. I sought him out because after Tan Fabin passed away, his life was very difficult. I wanted to give him a stable and easy job.”

Ling Lie: “He refused?”

“Yes, he said he didn’t want to have anything to do with the funeral industry for the rest of his life.” Xiao Yishun said, “It’s understandable, after all, Tan Fabin died in his workshop. Consultant, you just mentioned you were investigating another case. Is it Tan Fabin’s case?”

Ling Lie smiled. “That’s right. I saw your name in the case file from back then.”

Xiao Yishun recalled for a moment. “After Tan Fabin was murdered, I came back to see him off for the last time. People in the county who knew us knew we used to be good brothers, so when the police were investigating his social circle, they also took my statement.”

Ling Lie asked, “I heard you two had a falling out?”

Xiao Yishun looked at the tabletop and was silent for a while. “A difference in philosophy.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“I wanted to do business with him, but he refused to start a business with me. Fine, then I would invest in the ghost and funeral arts he loved. But what I didn’t expect was that he said I was desecrating the culture. To be honest, even now, I don’t understand his stubbornness. Didn’t he also make money from the funeral business? How did making money with me become desecration?”

Ling Lie: “And you parted ways after that?”

“Yes, I never saw him again before he was murdered. It was also because of my lack of understanding of him during those years that I couldn’t provide any useful leads for the police investigation. The only use of my trip back was to help Shen Wei handle his funeral arrangements.”

“Even though you had such a major falling out, you were still willing to go back and see him.”

“Alas, the man is gone. I have a wide network, but very few real friends. He was one of them. I actually regret our falling out. If I had stayed by his side, he wouldn’t have met with such a thing. That effigy on Fengchao Island is purely for my own selfish reasons. Not many people remember him anymore. I want him to remain in this world a little longer.”

Ling Lie: “Shen Wei has been hunting for the killer all these years.”

“I know. People like him are rare these days. I admit I couldn’t do it. If he wants to come to my company in the future, I will definitely look after him for Tan Fabin’s sake.”

This didn’t feel like an interrogation. When Ling Lie stood up to leave, Xiao Yishun was even a bit surprised. “Is it over already?”

“I said I was here for another case.” Ling Lie smiled. “Of course, if you want to chat more with me, I don’t mind.”

Xiao Yishun looked a bit awkward. “The interrogation room really isn’t a good place to chat. I’ll invite the consultant for tea another day.”

Ji Chenjiao waited for Ling Lie in the monitoring room and also made a trip to the forensic center. The drugs, narcotics, and semi-finished products brought back from the underground lair by the special operations team were being tested.

To be precise, the drugs couldn’t really be considered counterfeit. They did have therapeutic or suppressive effects on certain diseases, but the lack of regulation made their origin illegitimate. Some drugs had not undergone long-term clinical trials and had significant side effects. People like Cao Xinxin sold these drugs with major side effects at low prices to hospice care hospitals, effectively both earning money from patients and using them as test subjects, an extremely vile practice.

Other drugs were actually health supplements. This was the main source of profit for the lair’s criminal network. They had no therapeutic effects, not even health benefits. Some had excessive side effects, but through high-end packaging and advertising, they took advantage of the information lag and trust of ordinary elderly people to make a fortune. A box of “candy pills” with a cost of less than ten yuan could be sold for over a thousand, and there were many buyers.

That was why even a worker at the bottom of the production chain like Xu Ling could have a room dedicated to storing money.

Some psychoactive substances were also being tested. Ji Chenjiao specifically asked about the components that had already been identified. They were common hallucinogens on the market. In some small county towns with poor public security, in bars and nightclubs, there were always people secretly selling these things.

Ji Chenjiao returned to the temporary office with the report, his mind preoccupied.

He and Ling Lie had discussed the possibility of the hallucinogen being “Xue Tong.” Wei Liang had died from “Xue Tong” in Feng City, and it just so happened that this year, the lair had received an order for hallucinogens, for overseas supply. It was known that “Xue Tong” itself was a psychoactive drug born abroad, rampant in some northern countries, with a small amount smuggled into their country. Were the criminals not satisfied with smuggling and had started production within the country?

But the test results overturned this hypothesis. What Qian Bao was producing were just the most common psychoactive drugs. However, Ji Chenjiao was still very concerned about the “overseas supply” claim. Perhaps it was because the samples hadn’t been fully tested yet?

Ling Lie returned and also looked at the test report. Ji Chenjiao noticed the gauze on his arm was a bit damp. In this weather, rushing from the island back to the city, and not resting upon returning to the bureau, sweat had already soaked the gauze.

“Come here.” Ji Chenjiao took out the iodine he had just bought and tore open the cotton swab packaging with a rustle.

“Hmm?” Ling Lie put down the report, saw the collection of bottles and jars on Ji Chenjiao’s desk, and chuckled. “No need, no need.”

Ji Chenjiao’s face darkened. “It’s almost 40°C. If you sweat and don’t clean it, do you want to get an infection?”

Ling Lie pressed on the gauze. Tsk, it hurt a little. He walked over to Ji Chenjiao’s seat, sat down, and offered his arm.

Ji Chenjiao bent over, carefully lifting the gauze with tweezers. The scar didn’t look as red and swollen as it did right after the stitches, but on this pale arm, it was still very ugly. The stitches pulled the skin together, creating a painful visual impact.

Before Ji Chenjiao could say anything, Ling Lie glanced at it and quickly looked away in disgust. “Oh man, that’s so ugly, it hurts my eyes!”

Ji Chenjiao thought: Hurts your eyes? It’s alright, I just think it looks painful.

Ji Chenjiao applied the medicine more meticulously than the doctor. The doctor did this every day; it was an assembly line operation. But Ji Chenjiao was different. He was like a craftsman engaged in intensive cultivation, not letting a single movement be careless.

So the time for cleaning and changing the gauze was stretched longer and longer. Ling Lie couldn’t sit still. “Captain Ji, are you not done yet? My arm is getting sore!”

Ji Chenjiao threw away the iodine-soaked cotton swab, looked at it, and felt the coverage of the iodine was too wide. Iodine was brownish-yellow, and he wanted to wash off the excess color. So he dabbed it with alcohol and wiped it away bit by bit.

Ling Lie completely lost his patience. “Captain Ji, are you playing house?”

Ji Chenjiao: “…No good deed goes unpunished.”

Ling Lie burst out laughing. “No one is as meticulous as you. Quick, quick, put on the gauze.”

They were indeed at the final step. Ji Chenjiao cut a piece of gauze of the right size and shape, carefully fixed it over the wound, and pressed the tape down several times to ensure it was secure. “Is being meticulous not good? Who else would be this meticulous with you?”

After saying it, Ji Chenjiao felt something was off about his words, but he didn’t think much of it and turned to tidy up the desk.

Ling Lie was quiet for a moment, then suddenly poked the tape, as if the pressure of Ji Chenjiao’s fingers was still there. “Yeah, why are you so meticulous with me?”

Ji Chenjiao’s hand, which was tidying up, paused.

Ling Lie: “Could it be that you like me?”

Clang—the metal tray holding the gauze and cotton swabs fell to the floor. Ji Chenjiao and Ling Lie both hurried to pick it up. Their fingers touched. Ling Lie didn’t move. Ji Chenjiao quickly pulled his hand back.

Ling Lie: “Xiao Ji…”

Ji Chenjiao picked up the tray and walked quickly to the sink to wash it.

The tap water in summer was also hot on his hands. Ji Chenjiao dazedly washed the tray, only then thinking—Why did I walk away just now?

Ling Lie’s words echoed in his mind: Could it be that you like me?

Absurd. Would he like a cat that jumped up and down, more monkey-like than a monkey, more dog-like than a dog?

But Ling Lie asking that question made him inexplicably angry. He ran the water for a long time but couldn’t explain what he was angry about.

Halfway back to the office, the scorching sun retreated into the shadow of the building. He stood in the shade and seemed to have found a clue.

He was angry at Ling Lie for using “Could it be that.”

Could it be that you like me?

Was this something to be so surprised about?

Ling Lie was no longer in the office, having slipped away somewhere. Ji Chenjiao wasn’t in a hurry to find him. He took the last ice cream bar from his mini-fridge and ate it to cool the heat in his heart.

To be dissatisfied with “Could it be that” meant that liking Ling Lie was a matter of course, something that shouldn’t even be questioned?

Did he like a wildcat that was more monkey-like than a monkey, more dog-like than a dog? Maybe it wasn’t “like,” but Ling Lie occupied too special a place for him. He had come to Feng City for Ling Lie. Xie Qing had given him a long vacation, and he had accompanied Ling Lie in Feng City, investigating one case after another.

When Ling Lie had told his past story in the car that day, he felt that Ling Lie was seeking support and protection from him, and he was willing to provide that support and protection.

A while ago, Ling Lie had gone crazy and kissed his forehead.

Today, Ling Lie said, Could it be that you like me.

Good, very good. You know my secrets better than I do.

Xiao Yishun’s detention time was passing by minute by minute, but the evidence still hadn’t appeared. All the businesses under his name were compliant and legal. His own whereabouts had no suspicious points. Qian Bao calmly shouldered the responsibility. Ling Lie and Ji Chenjiao took turns interrogating him, but couldn’t break him.

A person who had no fear of the death penalty, and had even anticipated this outcome, was the toughest nut to crack.

When the forty-eight hours were up, the city bureau had no choice but to release him. Xiao Yishun, unlike many suspects, did not show a triumphant, “you can’t touch me” expression. He was very humble and even said that if the police needed to investigate him again in the future, he would show up promptly.

Huang Yi was furious. “We’re just letting him go like that?”

The deputy chief sighed. “I’m helpless too.”

Ji Chenjiao remembered a case they investigated when he first met Ling Lie—twelve years ago, a girl named Tang Hongting was murdered. The police knew the killer was among a group of thugs, but without evidence, they could only watch the killer remain at large.

This time was similar and yet not. Temporarily setting Xiao Yishun free was the only way for the police to have a chance to obtain further evidence.

Ling Lie said, “Xiao Yishun will definitely be very cautious after he gets back, but if the last batch of orders on Fengchao Island was really for overseas supply, he should try to contact the other party.”

Huang Yi: “This is our chance?”

“That’s right. First, have people follow and monitor him overtly, then gradually withdraw to give him the illusion that the police are no longer monitoring him. But the team members secretly monitoring him must keep up.” Ling Lie said, “Let’s see what he does.”

Huang Yi immediately arranged for his team members. He was already downstairs but rushed back up to say, “That Weng Keqiu’s condition is stable now. We originally wanted him to be treated here until he was discharged, but Huangming City wants to take him back sooner. He might be leaving in a few days. Why don’t you two go see him?”

Weng Keqiu had quite a fateful connection with the Feng City police and Ling Lie. Of course, Ling Lie had to visit Weng Keqiu, and he wanted to drag Ji Chenjiao along.

Weng Keqiu was in the Third Hospital. On their way, they made a special detour to look at “Old Shen’s Boxed Lunch.” The doors were tightly shut.

Visiting a patient required bringing some sort of gift. Ling Lie wasn’t in the mood for that. Ji Chenjiao parked the car on a street near the Third Hospital that was lined with fruit and flower shops. The Third Hospital was one of the largest in Feng City. There were many patients and many visitors. Fruits and flowers were the most common gifts. The vendors set up shop here, and although the prices were high, customers were still endless.

Ling Lie picked up a fruit basket. It only contained ordinary fruits like apples, cherry tomatoes, bananas, and grapes, but it was packaged nicely and cost a surprising two hundred yuan.

“Whoa, they could have just robbed you directly, but they still give you a fruit basket. How generous!”

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

The two browsed for a while. Ji Chenjiao saw a flower shop next door. Actually, giving flowers wasn’t a bad idea. Although you couldn’t eat them, they were pleasant to look at.

Ling Lie: “Let’s just buy fruit then.”

Ji Chenjiao: “Why?”

Ling Lie: “Since we’re spending money anyway, at least you can eat the fruit!”

Ji Chenjiao was amused by his simple consumer philosophy. Fine, a fruit basket it was.

Leaving the fruit shop, Ling Lie suddenly stopped at the entrance of the flower shop, looking at the gorgeous and delicate flowers inside.

Ji Chenjiao: “Buy a bouquet of flowers too? That’s fine.”

But Ling Lie shook his head. “Not now.”

What’s ‘not now’? Ji Chenjiao didn’t understand, but Ling Lie pushed him towards the inpatient department.

Weng Keqiu’s hospital room was lively. Several police officers from Huangming City had come, including that fatherly captain, Tai Lu. But Ling Lie also saw an unexpected figure, Yin Xi.

Ji Chenjiao and Tai Lu exchanged pleasantries, inviting each other to visit their cities. Yin Xi walked up to Ling Lie and explained in a low voice, “All these years, only Officer Weng and I were searching for the truth. I wanted to come and see him.”

As she spoke, Yin Xi looked back at Weng Keqiu lying on the hospital bed. “I used to be full of resentment towards society and didn’t trust the police, but Officer Weng changed my mind. Just thinking that there’s a police officer who has no connection to Yang Xiao at all, who didn’t give up just like me, and almost lost his life, I feel that life still has light, and living this life is still very worthwhile.”

Ling Lie nodded. “It’s good that you’ve come to terms with it. What are your plans for the future?”

“I can’t go back to Huangming for now. I need to assist with the investigation here.” Yin Xi said, “I just made a promise with Officer Weng. When we go back, I’ll take him to visit Yang Xiao’s grave. I’ll continue to be a model. When the police announce that the case is solved, I should also say goodbye to the past and start a new life.”

When Weng Keqiu saw Ling Lie arrive, he quickly sat up. Ling Lie handed him the fruit basket. His eyes were a little red, and he was emotional. “Consultant Ling, if it weren’t for you this time, I wouldn’t have made it out.”

Ling Lie: “I should thank you too. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy to control Qian Bao.”

Weng Keqiu was just an ordinary criminal police officer. The scene in the underground lair was a memory that would last a lifetime for him. Tai Lu also came to thank Ling Lie, almost in tears. Ling Lie was actually a bit intimidated by such scenes, but thankfully, Ji Chenjiao was very good at handling them. The two stayed for half an hour before leaving. At the door, Ling Lie used sign language to say to Weng Keqiu—Until we meet again.

Weng Keqiu returned the same gesture.

As they made the gestures, Ji Chenjiao waited by the side. This was a ritual others couldn’t understand. Ji Chenjiao felt it was Ling Lie’s unique form of gentleness. In this kind of social occasion, Ling Lie was uncomfortable and couldn’t say nice, touching words. But Ling Lie’s genuine care was never absent. This gesture was more sincere than all the pleasantries of the past half hour. Silence was more eloquent than words.

Leaving the Third Hospital, Ji Chenjiao thought they were heading back, but Ling Lie said, “Hold on, let’s go check that out.”

He pointed towards the alley with the fruit and flower shops. Ji Chenjiao was puzzled. Didn’t he complain it was expensive? What was there to see?

Ling Lie walked to the flower shop he had stopped at before, sniffing and looking at the flowers. The shop owner quickly ran over. “For a patient of what age? What kind of flowers do they like? Let me give you some recommendations.”

Ling Lie’s gaze fell on the roses. For a flower shop like this near a hospital, roses were actually rare. Customers preferred to buy flowers that wished for good health. Ling Lie said, “I want that one.”

Ji Chenjiao: “?”

The owner smiled. “Is it for your girlfriend?”

Ling Lie: “Just one.”

The owner’s smile instantly vanished. Roses could indeed be sold by the stem, but reasonably speaking, flower shops near hospitals rarely sold single roses. However, the owner still wrapped it up for Ling Lie.

Ling Lie was wearing a white shirt again today. Holding the rose with both hands, along with the gauze on his arm, he had a beautiful, fragile quality. Ji Chenjiao’s Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed. When Ling Lie walked over, he subconsciously said, “What did you buy that for?”