In June of this year, Dan Jin, who had killed three people, suddenly went mad while awaiting trial in the detention center. He claimed he had killed not only three people but also Jaco. Police found blood traces at the location he mentioned, but DNA comparison results contradicted his statement. That day, he died after being sent to the hospital, and tests revealed “Snow Child” in his system.

It was precisely this hallucinogen that caused his madness and cardiopulmonary failure.

That was the first time “Snow Child” was discovered in Xiarong City.

But perhaps “Snow Child” had appeared even earlier!

Ji Chenjiao flipped through the autopsy report. “Why are there no records related to toxins?”

Xie Qing said, “The family was unwilling to have an autopsy performed. Plus, the facts were relatively clear at the time, basically ruling out homicide. Although we eventually persuaded the family to do an autopsy, it was a simple one. The local police station didn’t think about hallucinogens either.”

Ji Chenjiao gathered the documents. “I’m going to see the family.”

On the way, Ji Chenjiao made several calls to colleagues who had been close to Tang Qi.

Although more than half a year had passed, they still had lingering fears, and some had even changed careers because of it.

According to them, Tang Qi’s suicide caused quite a stir within a small circle. Many people online criticized the company’s inhumane management, and employee sentiment was very severe. To quickly quell public anger, the company paid a huge compensation to Tang Qi’s wife and promised to be responsible for the child until the end.

Currently, the child was staying in a relatively good hospital in the city. With no financial burden, Tang’s wife used the compensation money to open a courier station and started a new life.

Ji Chenjiao arrived at the courier station and showed his ID. Tang’s wife paused, her expression slightly evasive. “You… you’re here to investigate Tang Qi’s case again?”

Ji Chenjiao asked, “Did your husband really commit suicide?”

Tang’s wife rubbed her hands repeatedly on her apron. “Didn’t you say it was suicide? Why are you asking me again?”

Ji Chenjiao calmly scrutinized this woman who already had a few strands of white hair. Tang Qi’s death couldn’t possibly be a simple suicide. Even if everyone saw him jump from the platform himself, there must have been invisible hands cruelly pushing him.

Did his wife know?

Ji Chenjiao said, “There are new leads in this case now, so I want to ask about the situation at that time again.”

Tang’s wife glanced at him and quickly looked away. “I don’t understand how you investigate cases.”

“Then let’s just chat casually.” Ji Chenjiao walked around the courier station. “How did you and Tang Qi meet?”

Tang’s wife didn’t quite understand why he asked this. She hesitated for a moment. “We were sort of in the same industry. I used to work in education too. We had work interactions a few times and thought the other was decent, so we settled down to live together.”

Ji Chenjiao: “Settled?”

Tang’s wife smiled bitterly. “What else? Tang Qi and I are both ordinary people who came from small places to the city to strive. We didn’t have any grand dreams. Love and hate like in TV dramas have nothing to do with ordinary people like us.”

“Before Tang Qi’s accident, did you notice anything abnormal about him?”

Tang’s wife lowered her head and remained silent for half a minute. When she spoke again, there were tears in her eyes. “During that time, we were always arguing. I hated him for being useless, for not earning more money. He said he had no choice, he couldn’t breathe at the company, and it was the same at home. He said he might as well die.”

“So, did he express thoughts of suicide to you?”

Tang’s wife covered her face with both hands, tears streaming down. “I thought he was just speaking out of anger. I didn’t expect him to really leave us mother and son behind!”

Ji Chenjiao handed over the tissues on the table and waited a while. “If I tell you now that your husband might not have died from suicide, what do you think?”

Tang’s wife stopped sobbing and looked up blankly. “But…”

There was no element of disguise in her reaction; she was truly surprised by this.

Ji Chenjiao asked again, “Did any strange people look for him before the incident?”

Tang’s wife suddenly became agitated. “My husband was murdered?”

Ji Chenjiao sighed, lowering his eyes to look at his arm, which she had grabbed.

Tang’s wife realized she had lost her composure and quickly let go. “S-sorry. I didn’t know. At that time, because of money and the child, neither of us wanted to talk to the other. I don’t know who he was close to.”

Ji Chenjiao asked, “Do you recall when the talisman he carried with him appeared?”

Tang’s wife stared blankly for a long time, then started crying. “I don’t remember, I really don’t remember!”

Ji Chenjiao had to wait for her to calm down slightly. “Did your husband have contact with drugs before?”

Tang’s wife exclaimed, “Impossible! We are honest people!”

“We suspect he used hallucinogens before his death,” Ji Chenjiao said. “He had severe mental problems.”

Tang’s wife was too shocked to speak. “B-but…”

“I heard that you were the one who consistently blocked the autopsy?”

“Who would want their loved one to be cut open! You’re lying! You want to slander me and Tang Qi! He was a good man; he couldn’t have taken drugs!”

On the way back to the city bureau, passing a McDonald’s, Ji Chenjiao thought of the message Ling Lie had asked Xiao Yuan to convey. He bought two combo meals and four boxes of nuggets.

He still couldn’t see Ling Lie. The last time they met, they even had a fight. If he had known…

When handing the food to Internal Affairs, Ji Chenjiao sighed.

Ling Lie was actually quite comfortable in the interrogation room, sleeping straight as a board. Suddenly smelling a familiar scent, he opened his eyes and sat up just as the door opened and the McDonald’s bag was placed in front of him.

Ling Lie quickly unwrapped the packaging, finished the burger and chicken wings, and then opened the box of nuggets.

“Eh?” He picked up one of the nuggets and looked at it against the light.

It was a heart-shaped nugget.

Four nuggets in total, all heart-shaped.

In the Major Crimes Unit office, Ji Chenjiao put the rest on the table. Shen Qi ran over to mooch food. After eating for a long time, he said, “Brother, were you bullied by McDonald’s? Why aren’t there any heart-shaped nuggets?”

Ji Chenjiao coughed. “Doesn’t matter. Don’t they all taste the same?”

Shen Qi thought about it and agreed, continuing to eat.

Ji Chenjiao put together the investigation records of the three “Feng Shui Fish” victims—Tang Qi, Yong Huihao, and Luo Manchai—trying to find their intrinsic connection.

On the surface, they were scapegoats chosen by “Floating Light” for Yu Qianming based on superstitious factors. Yong and Luo were killed by Sha Man’s hitmen, while Tang Qi committed suicide. But the analysis from “charlatans” like Tu Wang and A-Dan, as well as academic experts, indicated that Yong, Luo, and Yu Qianming had no so-called Feng Shui connection at all.

This was a serial murder case cloaked in superstition. The motive was known only to “Grey Peacock” Bo Lingxue, who manipulated everything.

Yan Xi’s face appeared in Ji Chenjiao’s mind again, and he suddenly felt a severe headache.

Luo Manchai’s death might be separable from “Floating Light’s” conspiracy. Fu Chixun bought her life from “Floating Light.” Since “Floating Light” had deep cooperation with Zhui Ting and happened to have a “Feng Shui Fish” quota on hand, selling Fu Chixun a favor wasn’t impossible.

But was it possible that “Floating Light” also had reasons why Luo Manchai had to die?

Did these three people hold secrets “Floating Light” couldn’t allow to be leaked?

“A female star, a market stall owner, a study abroad agency employee…” Ji Chenjiao threw down his pen, finding it truly difficult to find a connection between them.

The night was deep. Ji Chenjiao was the last to leave the Major Crimes Unit. His home was pitch black and very quiet. He stood somewhat helplessly in the living room.

Ever since Ling Lie noisily squeezed into his life, this home hadn’t been quiet. Now suddenly left alone, the loneliness felt like a cold autumn wind, drilling mercilessly into his bones.

He stayed at home for a while, finding he couldn’t stay at all. There were too many things piled up in his heart; it hurt as soon as he quieted down.

He hurriedly packed up, stuffed Ling Lie’s clothes into a bag, and returned to the city bureau.

The Internal Affairs officer saw the bag. “What’s this?”

“Just a few clothes,” Ji Chenjiao said. “Nothing else hidden inside. If you don’t believe me, open it and check.”

Ling Lie had fallen asleep, eating McDonald’s in his dream, when he suddenly heard the door open. The officer put down the bag and left. He opened it while cursing under his breath, rummaged for a while, and the corners of his lips curled up. He took out a shirt and shook it out.

“Xia Chengshi, why did you sneak your own shirt in here?”

After daybreak, the city bureau’s investigations proceeded respectively. Xie Qing wasn’t seen all day; it was said he was with Xiao Yuan, dealing with Internal Affairs.

Regarding Tang Qi, since his body had long been cremated, it was impossible to determine if his mental instability was related to “Snow Child.” Ji Chenjiao applied for a home search but found nothing. Tang’s wife also couldn’t recall Tang Qi having contact with any strange people no matter how hard she tried.

These three cases might never be fully investigated to the end; they foreshadowed “Floating Light’s” more terrifying movements.

Regarding the Yu Group, it had been ascertained that the Yu Group provided convenience for “Floating Light” in money laundering and smuggling. The overseas projects Sha Man was responsible for had many financial issues, and she personally raised mercenaries abroad, bringing them into the country illegally.

Yu Qianming’s condition worsened during the investigation, and he again requested to see Ji Chenjiao.

After deliberation, Ji Chenjiao went.

Yu Qianming didn’t hide the joy of victory this time, calling him softly, “Little Ge, come here, let me take a good look at you.”

Little Ge, Yu Ge.

This was the name he always couldn’t hear clearly in his dreams. Hearing it from Yu Qianming’s mouth, he only felt disgusted.

“Why did you send Yu Qin to Country L back then?” Ji Chenjiao asked. “You all knew that wasn’t a place where an underage girl could live safely.”

Yu Qianming looked into Ji Chenjiao’s eyes for a long time, as if seeing his sister’s appearance when she was young. “Haven’t you already guessed the answer?”

Ji Chenjiao said, “Because of your jealousy.”

Yu Qianming laughed dryly and hoarsely, the laughter turning into coughs. “Correct. I hoped she would be ruined there. But not only did she return, she also attempted to snatch the Yu Group from my hands.”

“You knew long ago that the one who returned wasn’t Yu Qin.”

“No, I didn’t know.”

Ji Chenjiao didn’t believe it.

“Child, I have no need to lie to you anymore. For a long time, I was led by the nose by Yu Qin. Until last year, I only started to suspect her identity. By then, I knew I didn’t have much time left. I wanted to create living space for my faction after my death, so I wanted to use ‘Floating Light’ to eliminate her.”

After saying this, Yu Qianming seemed to have little breath left. He closed his eyes. Although he wasn’t visibly old, more than half his body was already buried in the yellow earth.

Ji Chenjiao asked, “Back then… after Sha Man brought me back, why did I disappear?”

Yu Qianming opened his eyes tremblingly. “You would become a calamity for the Yu family.”

Ji Chenjiao: “What?”

“Yu Qin refused to say who your father really was. Besides me, many others from the Yu family went to Country L to investigate. With such a big operation, nothing was found.” Yu Qianming said, “Do you know what that means?”

Ji Chenjiao thought of a vague answer.

Yu Qianming: “Your biological father was very likely an extraordinary person.”

Ji Chenjiao felt his heart constrict. As a child, he often felt evil blood flowing in his veins.

Did that come from his biological father?

“You don’t remember, do you?” Yu Qianming gestured with his hand. “When you were only this big, you weren’t like a normal child. You didn’t cry or fuss, nor did you smile, as if you had an emotional disorder. None of us knew what kind of monster you would grow up to be.”

Ji Chenjiao clenched his fists. “So you threw me away?”

“I didn’t know you were still alive.” Yu Qianming smiled coldly. “At that time, we hoped you would die. But obviously, the hired people were very unprofessional and actually let you survive.”

Ji Chenjiao took a deep breath to calm himself. It all connected. Yu Qianming’s testimony, combined with what Sha Man said to Ling Lie before her death, explained why he was abandoned, lost his memories before the orphanage, and why Yu Qianming later took in a child to play the role of Yu Ge.

The only remaining questions were: Why did the hitmen hired by the Yu family fail in dealing with a child? Who was his biological father?

But Yu Qianming couldn’t give him answers to these.

Perhaps because his end was near, Yu Qianming had let go of the rights and wrongs of this life. He looked at Ji Chenjiao, his eyes full of gratification and reluctance to part.

“You are ultimately our family’s bloodline. I am very happy to see you one last time.”

Ji Chenjiao looked down at this shrewd, dying man who had committed countless evils, unable to generate a shred of empathy or sympathy.

But Yu Qianming’s last words reminded him of something. Who was his father?

More than that, if what Sha Man told Ling Lie was the truth, that Yu Qin left voluntarily back then, is Yu Qin still alive now?

Has this couple ever returned to the country? Stirred up any storms?

The atmosphere in the Major Crimes Unit was different from usual; Ji Chenjiao felt it as soon as he arrived. Shen Qi rushed downstairs, almost crashing into Ji Chenjiao.

“What are you running for?” Ji Chenjiao stopped him.

“Brother!” Shen Qi said excitedly, “My brother is out! I’m going to buy him an iced cola!”

Hearing this, Ji Chenjiao immediately ran upstairs. While still in the hallway, he heard Ling Lie’s voice.

bursting into the office, he saw Ling Lie wearing an oversized shirt with sleeves rolled up high, scolding Internal Affairs for being inhumane to Liang Wenxian and Xi Wan.

Liang Wenxian saw Ji Chenjiao first and lifted his chin toward Ling Lie. Ling Lie turned around, his eyes meeting Ji Chenjiao’s.

“Lin…”

Ji Chenjiao just opened his mouth, not even getting a full word out, when Ling Lie jerked his head away fiercely, turning his back to him.

Ji Chenjiao froze at the doorway, neither entering nor staying out. Ling Lie clearly saw him just now but refused to acknowledge him; he was definitely still angry. But what was with the clothes Ling Lie was wearing?

That was his shirt. Why was it on Ling Lie?

Ji Chenjiao frowned and thought for a moment. When packing clothes that day, he had also grabbed a few of his own and threw them on the bed, intending to change later. It seemed he grabbed the wrong ones in the process and stuffed his own shirt in as well.

He hadn’t noticed, but it was impossible for Ling Lie to just grab it and wear it in confusion. Ling Lie clearly knew that was his shirt…

Ji Chenjiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He couldn’t figure out Ling Lie’s thoughts for a moment. Ling Lie was angry that he fought, yet wore his shirt right in front of him. What was he trying to do?

A circle of people still surrounded Ling Lie. Liang Wenxian was the first to sense something was off between the two and smiled to dismiss everyone. “Alright, alright, get back to work. Xiao Ling still has matters to report to Captain Ji.”

Suddenly named, Ji Chenjiao subconsciously straightened his back. Ling Lie looked over again, greeting him politely, “Ah, Captain Ji is here.”

Just then, Shen Qi rushed back holding the iced cola, knocking Ji Chenjiao into a stagger. “Brother, Brother, come drink iced cola!”

Ling Lie’s attitude toward Shen Qi was obviously more intimate than toward Ji Chenjiao. Grinning, he took it, even putting his arm around Shen Qi’s shoulder. “Thanks, Brother Qi.”

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

Ling Lie had just been released from restrictions, so there were still procedures to go through. Ji Chenjiao didn’t see him all afternoon. At quitting time, Liang Wenxian suggested a team dinner to celebrate Ji Chenjiao and Ling Lie clearing their suspicions.

Ji Chenjiao had already placed an order on a grocery platform, planning to go back and cook with Ling Lie to clear up the misunderstandings and conflicts from this period. But it was hard to refuse everyone’s goodwill, so he silently canceled the order, thinking they could talk tonight instead.

Shen Qi and An Xun were arguing about whether to eat hot pot or BBQ. Xi Wan pressed down on both their heads. “You two don’t count today. Boss, Mr. Ling, whatever you want to eat, we’ll go eat that.”

Ji Chenjiao never had special preferences for food. He looked at Ling Lie. “You decide.”

Ling Lie didn’t look back. Shen Qi heckled, “Brother, I want hot pot!”

Ling Lie said, “Sure, let’s have hot pot then. How about the one on Xiawan Road?”

Everyone agreed unanimously.

Xiawan Road was just one stop away from the city bureau. There was a very famous old hot pot restaurant there, with convenient parking and transportation nearby.

Although it was close, driving was still faster than walking. Everyone went to find cars to ride in. Liang Wenxian said, “Xiao Ling is definitely riding in Captain Ji’s car, right?”

Ji Chenjiao held his keys, waiting for Ling Lie’s answer.

But Ling Lie said, “You guys go ahead and order. I want to drink bubble tea from the intersection.”

The intersection was between the city bureau and Xiawan Road. You couldn’t park there, so it was best to walk over to buy it.

Ji Chenjiao frowned slightly but said nothing. “Who’s riding in my car?”

“Me, me!” There were plenty of people.

Xi Wan said, “Oh, I want bubble tea too.”

Ling Lie smiled. “No problem. Whoever else wants some, my treat.”