“Then I’ll head back first. What about Captain Gu?”

Sang Ning suddenly remembered her suitcase was still in Gu Yezhou’s trunk. Returning to Ping’an Apartments was impossible now.

But if Gu Yezhou didn’t leave, she couldn’t get into his place on her own either.

It was past three in the morning when the two got into the car. Even then, Lin Zehui could still be seen crouching by the entrance, shivering violently.

The wounds on his body hadn’t even been treated.

“What about him? It doesn’t look good for him to keep waiting outside the station.” Sang Ning sat trembling in the car, asking between shivers.

Gu Yezhou turned on the heater and glanced toward the entrance, displeased. “He’ll leave on his own when the sun comes up. Unless you want to take him home?”

Sang Ning shook her head. “I’ll say something to him.”

As the car rolled toward the station entrance, Sang Ning called out, “What are you still doing here? Go home.”

The moment Lin Zehui heard her voice, delight spread across his face. Trembling, he hurried over and gazed at her with deep affection.

“Ningning, I knew it. You wouldn’t be that heartless. You still care about me, don’t you?”

Sang Ning sneered. “Who cares about you? Lin Zehui, take a good look around. This is the police station. What exactly are you trying to do? Your brother just bailed you out. Are you trying to get yourself locked up again?”

Lin Zehui seemed not to understand a word. He persisted, “Ningning, let’s not break up. I won’t see Xiaoyue anymore. She’s just like a little sister to me. There’s really nothing between us.”

“Nothing between you?” Sang Ning said coldly. “And yet you ended up in the same bed? What kind of brotherly love goes that deep?”

To make him give up completely, Sang Ning simply removed Lin Zehui from her blacklist, opened their chat, and tapped the photo at the top.

“Your dear little sister Xiaoyue sent me this bed photo herself. What, you never did anything? This picture just appeared out of thin air?”

Lin Zehui stared at the photo.

It was from last night—when he’d gotten drunk and mistaken Xiaoyue for Sang Ning.

“No, that’s not it. I was just drunk last night. It’s not what you think, Ningning. Give me one more chance.”

Sang Ning turned away in disgust. “Let’s go. If he wants to wait, let him.”

Gu Yezhou didn’t even spare Lin Zehui a glance. He stepped on the gas and drove out of the station.

Behind them, Lin Zehui was left choking on exhaust fumes as he begged bitterly for another chance.

His eyes reddened. He clenched his fists, memorized the car’s license plate, and made a call.

·

“The suitcase is pretty heavy. I can carry it myself.”

When the car pulled into the underground garage, Sang Ning finally let out a breath of relief.

Luckily, Lin Zehui hadn’t followed them.

More importantly, he couldn’t be allowed to find out they lived right across from the police station.

“It’s fine. It’s not heavy.”

Gu Yezhou lifted the suitcase with one hand.

Sang Ning’s suitcase had no wheels and could only be carried by hand. She hadn’t bought it on purpose—it had been a prize from a competition years ago.

Somehow, she’d kept using it all this time.

She sighed inwardly. “Right. You can lift a one-eighty man with one hand. This suitcase is nothing to you…”

Gu Yezhou said nothing and walked ahead in silence.

Sang Ning assumed he was thinking about the case, so she didn’t say anything either.

Early the next morning, when Sang Ning woke up, Gu Yezhou was already gone.

At some point, a washing machine and dryer had been installed on the balcony. Maybe he’d set them up first thing in the morning?

A sticky note was pasted on the door:

*There are soup dumplings and soy milk in the kitchen.*

Sang Ning chuckled. “He’s actually pretty thoughtful.”

After washing up, she saw it was still early and thought she might as well head to the station. Maybe she could help.

So she took the dumplings and soy milk with her, eating as she walked.

By the time she reached a traffic light, she had just finished breakfast.

When she arrived at the station, the entire criminal investigation team was already present. Several officers had received orders and were preparing to head out.

At a glance, she noticed an unfamiliar figure.

A man? Or a woman?

The person had slightly curled chestnut hair, a little tousled, and features so delicate that Sang Ning couldn’t immediately tell. Red lips, white teeth—almost too pretty.

Perhaps she was standing too conspicuously at the doorway, because Gu Yezhou opened the door.

“Come in.”

“It’s fine, I was just passing by. I won’t—”

Before Sang Ning could refuse, a large hand pulled her straight inside.

Gu Yezhou’s deep, magnetic voice sounded above her head.

“This case occurred next door to Dr. Sang’s home. In addition, the suspects are acquainted with her. I believe that with Dr. Sang’s assistance, we’ll be able to solve this case quickly.”

Just like that, the moment she stepped in, Gu Yezhou placed her on a pedestal.

“Dr. Sang, over here! Come sit.”

The androgynous-looking person waved enthusiastically at her.

Now she understood.

A man.

“At present, two suspects are highly questionable. One is the young master of the Lin Group—Lin Zehui. The other is Li Xiaoqiang, son of Professor Li from the medical school. Last night, both appeared at Ping’an Apartments. Li Xiaoqiang even entered the crime scene directly and attempted to open the wardrobe to retrieve clothing. I stopped him.”

Holding a red marker, Gu Yezhou circled Li Xiaoqiang’s name on the whiteboard.

So far, everything Gu Yezhou described was what he and Sang Ning had experienced the night before.

Sang Ning walked toward the man who had waved at her.

He had thoughtfully prepared a chair, his expression eager.

“Hello, Dr. Sang. I’ve heard about you for ages. Didn’t expect you to be here so early today.”

Sang Ning gave a small nod in greeting.

Now that she was closer, she realized his features were almost feminine.

Over the years, she had seen all kinds of people, but sometimes she still couldn’t understand how a man’s lips could look as though they’d been painted with lipstick.

Fair skin. Deep-set eyes. A faint mixed-race look.

Mixed-race…

The thought struck her, and suddenly Sang Ning realized who he resembled.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

Before she could ask, he introduced himself.

“I’m Shen Chen, part of Captain Gu’s team. I arrived in Yancheng in the second half of last night. Is there anything good to eat around here? Any recommendations?”

Shen Chen.

The so-called genius hacker?

The one the police had chased for an entire year—until he got bored and willingly let himself be arrested?

“When did you get out?” Sang Ning slowly straightened, studying him with new interest.

The corner of Shen Chen’s mouth twitched.

“That’s a little rude, Dr. Sang. Who asks a coworker when he got out the moment they meet?”

“Then when were you recruited?” Sang Ning rephrased.

Was there a difference?

Either way, the meaning was the same:

*You were a criminal. How are you now sitting here as my colleague?*

Shen Chen’s whole face fell. He nudged her arm with his elbow.

“Got any dumplings left? I’m hungry.”

Sang Ning shook her head, thinking:

*Not only is he good with tech, he’s got a good nose too.*

“Shen Chen, pull up what you found.”

Gu Yezhou’s voice was even and calm.

From the corner of his eye, his gaze kept drifting toward Sang Ning and Shen Chen.

Those two were sitting far too close together.