Shen Chen dropped back into his swivel chair, flicked the mouse with effortless flair, and said, “Take a look at this.”

The entire projection screen filled with photos of Sang Ning.

In the center was a livestream.

Clearly, this “Sang Ning” was streaming right now.

The cosplay-like outfits, that identical face—Sang Ning’s scalp prickled at the sight.

She rubbed her eyes. After carefully studying the tiny differences around the eyes and corners of the mouth, she let out a breath.

“It’s AI-generated.”

“Huh?” Xiao Zhang’s jaw dropped. “That’s really not you, Dr. Sang?”

“I’m standing right here. Why don’t you go livestream me yourself? What, do I have a clone?”

Sang Ning had been holding back a fire in her chest, and Xiao Zhang had walked straight into the line of fire.

First she’d been followed. Then偷拍ed. Then her underwear had been stolen. And now every last humiliating detail was being dragged into the open.

“Xiao Zhang, that’s your fault,” Shen Chen said, acting like they were old friends. “How could you suspect our Dr. Sang?”

He was just about to sling an arm around Sang Ning’s shoulders when Gu Yezhou stopped him with a single look.

Shen Chen withdrew his hand awkwardly and laughed it off.

“Even though it’s AI-generated, whoever made it copied her face. There are still tiny differences, but unless a professional is looking, an ordinary person would be fooled at a glance.

See? Shi Li is the perfect example. He saved this person as ‘Goddess,’ thinking it was Dr. Sang. But in the end, surprise—the other person is a real big, cute ‘girl.’”

Sang Ning asked, “If he thought that person was me, and he knew perfectly well I lived next door, why keep chatting with the fake online?”

Shen Chen shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe social anxiety. Brave enough to flirt online, too scared to flirt with you in person.”

Sang Ning’s fists tightened again.

“Enough with the jokes,” Gu Yezhou said coldly, sweeping his gaze across the room. “What if this happened to one of you? What if someone used your face to scam your parents? How would you feel?”

The officers who had still been smiling instantly straightened, their expressions solemn.

“Exactly,” Shen Chen sighed. “This happened to Dr. Sang, and she’s a woman. If she didn’t have a strong mentality, imagine what this could do to an ordinary young woman.

I don’t even dare think about it. Xiao Zhang, if this happened to your daughter, wouldn’t she be traumatized? What could the outcome be?”

Xiao Zhang’s daughter was only five.

He didn’t dare imagine it.

Being followed. Photographed in secret…

A shudder ran through him. His face hardened.

“I’ll go bring this Sensen in right now. Dr. Sang, don’t worry. We’ll get you justice.”

He strode out of the office.

Only after leaving did Xiao Zhang suddenly wonder—

How did this new technician know he had a daughter?

Had he secretly investigated his own colleagues too?

Sang Ning lowered her eyes in thought.

Then warmth settled over her shoulder.

She blinked.

Gu Yezhou said, “This is the person who had the closest contact with Shi Li recently. In Shi Li’s contacts, there’s no record of any communication with Li Xiaoqiang.

In other words, the photos were likely handed directly to Shi Li on a portable hard drive. We’re just waiting for Old Chen’s test results now. Li Xiaoqiang is highly suspicious.”

He didn’t know what kind of relationship Sang Ning had with Li Xiaoqiang, but things had reached this point. She could only face it.

He hoped she would pull herself together.

No one could easily accept that someone around them might be a murderer.

“That’s what I think too,” Sang Ning said lightly. “But whether Li Xiaoqiang is the killer or not isn’t what I care about. What about his father? Has Professor Li been notified?”

Her expression was so relaxed it was impossible to tell what she had been thinking just moments ago.

Gu Yezhou assumed she was putting on a brave face.

How could he know that Sang Ning was simply heartless in this regard?

To her, these people were all just passing through.

“He’s been notified.”

No sooner had Gu Yezhou spoken than hurried footsteps sounded outside.

The door opened, revealing the director standing there with a stern face, thermos in hand.

The moment he saw Gu Yezhou, a smile appeared.

“Seeing you in person is even better than hearing about you. I didn’t expect you to be this young, Little Gu. Not bad, not bad. Your generation really is full of talent.”

First came the flattery.

Sang Ning was already bracing herself for the usual “solve the case within a deadline” speech.

“But Little Gu, this case has had a terrible impact. I also heard Dr. Sang lives next door. Someone could be killed right beside a police officer—what are the people supposed to think?”

The director patted Gu Yezhou meaningfully on the shoulder.

Only, he was a good bit shorter than Gu Yezhou. When he raised his hand to pat him, it looked like he was patting a wall.

The sight was so ridiculous Sang Ning had to suppress a laugh.

But Shen Chen, the new arrival, couldn’t hold it in.

He burst out laughing. “Director, you’re hilarious. Our boss solves cases fast, no question. Don’t worry, we’ve already identified suspects and found the murder weapon. Even without you saying it, I believe we’ll solve this within forty-eight hours!”

Without a doubt, Shen Chen had said every word the director had been planning to say.

The director’s face shifted between green and red. He wanted to scold the brat, but he knew Shen Chen’s background.

Frustrating.

He swallowed the words back and could only turn to Sang Ning, who had no backing.

“Dr. Sang, we’ll have to trouble you with the victim’s family.”

Sang Ning pressed her lips together, about to explain, but Gu Yezhou spoke first.

“The victim has no family or relatives. In this case, Dr. Sang is also a victim. I’ll include all of that in the closing report for you.”

The director nodded. “Fine.”

The three of them watched him leave.

Shen Chen let out a breath, then looked at Gu Yezhou with an ingratiating smile.

“Boss, I checked everything you asked me to check. Can I get my own office now?”

Gu Yezhou snorted. “A private office? Go ask the director. Why ask me?”

Hearing the commotion downstairs, Gu Yezhou didn’t need to guess.

Li Xiaoqiang’s parents had arrived.

Before Shen Chen could complain, he left first, sparing himself the noise.

Li Xiaoqiang’s father, Professor Li, wore dark-framed glasses and was signing a form with a pen.

At the same time, Old Chen came out with a test report. Seeing Gu Yezhou, he immediately shoved it into his hands.

“Li Xiaoqiang probably isn’t going anywhere. I can’t do this anymore—my stomach hurts. I’m leaving.”

Sang Ning followed downstairs and spotted Professor Li at once.

“When can I take my son home?” Professor Li asked sternly.

His cloudy eyes had already landed on Sang Ning.

Just as the officer was about to speak, Gu Yezhou cut in.

“Your son probably isn’t going anywhere.”

“And who are you?” Professor Li ignored him and walked straight up to Sang Ning, his face dark. “Sang Ning, is this how you treat my son? If you two can’t be together, then end things cleanly. You know better than anyone what kind of person he is. How could he possibly be involved in a murder case?”

Sang Ning glanced around.

Mrs. Li hadn’t come.

If that old witch had shown up, who knew what kind of scene she’d cause at the station.