That day, when Fei Zuohua, Hou Qi’an, and Ansel arrived at the neighborhood where Profis lived, the area had already been cordoned off. Unauthorized personnel were strictly prohibited from entering.
Ansel flashed his police ID. The officer on duty nodded but still informed him that the matter was of great importance; if they weren't part of the official task force, it was best not to go inside and add to the chaos.
The three were unable to enter and had no choice but to wait outside the community until the early hours of the morning. The police gradually departed, leaving only a small squad to keep watch. Ansel inquired with his superiors about the situation and requested to join the investigation team, but he was rejected on the grounds that he was "still a rookie."
Ansel looked somewhat dejected. It was the first time he had summoned the courage to volunteer so boldly, only to have cold water thrown on his enthusiasm.
Fei Zuohua patted Ansel on the shoulder, knowing the feeling all too well. "Forget it. Take it slow."
Hou Qi’an got out of the car to buy two cups of coffee and a bottle of water for Ansel.
"Let's head back." Hou Qi’an watched as the community gradually returned to silence. At the very least, they hadn't seen any trace of Bai Shi in the vehicles that had left earlier. "Can we be certain Bai Shi lives here now?"
Fei Zuohua nodded, though he remained pessimistic. "But we can't get in. The police won't let us interfere."
Hou Qi’an turned to look at the dozing officer. "Ansel, you can't participate in the investigation, but can you find out the progress?"
Startled by his name, Ansel jerked upright. "I should be able to. I'll do my best to ask around."
Hou Qi’an looked at Fei Zuohua. "This is our only hope."
Fei Zuohua stared at the quiet streets within the community. "I hope the police catch Bai Shi."
***
However, the police remained unable to identify the killer. The latest development was that they had split into different opinions regarding the cause of death.
"Cardiac arrest?" Fei Zuohua asked, still chewing on a piece of fried chicken.
That day, Fei Zuohua, Shi Yuanchen, Hou Qi’an, Kong Ping, and a high-spirited Ansel—who had come to share the news he’d gathered—were squeezed into Shi Yuanchen’s room. They had ordered spicy fried chicken delivery. Five grown men were huddled around a small table, drinking beer and gnawing on chicken.
Hearing the news Ansel brought, Fei Zuohua found it strange.
Kong Ping reacted quickly. "If that's the case, then anyone could be the killer, as long as they went upstairs in the middle of the party, right?"
Ansel nodded.
Fei Zuohua tossed a chicken carcass into the trash. "Then they can't be sure it was Bai Shi at all."
Shi Yuanchen glanced at him. "It might not necessarily be Bai Shi."
Fei Zuohua didn't answer him, instead asking Ansel, "What other leads do they have now?"
Ansel had been reaching for a drumstick, but upon hearing Fei Zuohua’s question, he pulled his hand back.
"One is the murder weapon—the knife plunged into the victim's chest. The team is tracing its origin. It’s a common household knife, but they can lock down certain retailers through the batch number. There should be results soon."
Hou Qi’an asked, "What else?"
"There’s also the fingerprint screening in the room. Items surrounding the deceased were taken from the room at the time, and after the scene was sealed, items were intermittently taken for testing. For example, fingerprints on the documents on the table, cups, pens, the bookshelf, and so on. The fingerprint tracing is progressing smoothly. Fingerprints that could be accurately extracted were compared against people present at the scene. They’ve been questioning those people about their motives and timing for being in the room. So far, no suspicious points have been found." Ansel paused.
"What is it?" Shi Yuanchen asked.
"Some fingerprints yielded no match."
Kong Ping asked, "What do you mean, 'no match'?"
Fei Zuohua explained to him, "It means there are no samples in the local fingerprint database." He turned to Ansel. "Does that mean these people are from out of town?"
Ansel nodded, then shook his head. "You can't put it that way. Although some people on the guest list aren't locals, there were also service staff—all sorts of people. It’s a massive undertaking, so the tracing is primarily being done against known comparisons first."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone fell into silence, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts.
Just then, the door clicked, and Lu Mingyue pushed it open and walked in. His expression was stiff. Seeing the five of them as soon as he entered, he cursed under his breath, "Fuck..." Then he gave a bitter smile. "Wrong door again."
With that, he moved to close the door and leave.
Shi Yuanchen called out to him, "Mr. Lu, would you like some fried chicken?"
Lu Mingyue didn't step further inside. He stood at the door and shook his head. He didn't look well, though he had been like that lately.
Ansel had never met Lu Mingyue. From his angle, Lu Mingyue was holding the door, partially obscuring himself. Ansel had to lift himself up to look over, but he still couldn't see much. Lu Mingyue seemed disinterested; he pulled the door slightly, stepping back as if he didn't want to communicate with the others. He gave a casual greeting and left. Immediately afterward, the sound of a door opening and closing came from next door.
Ansel turned his head, deeply curious. "Who was that?"
"One of Bai Shi's former subordinates," Shi Yuanchen told him. "Now... he has nowhere else to go."
Fei Zuohua had remained silent; he hadn't even moved when Lu Mingyue entered.
He gripped the beer can in his hand, squeezed it, finished it in one gulp, and then interrupted the conversation between Ansel and the others.
He stared at Ansel. "If I could give you a set of fingerprints, could you compare them against the unmatched prints from the scene?"
Everyone was stunned. Shi Yuanchen realized what he meant. "You have Bai Shi's fingerprints?"
Fei Zuohua nodded. "I think the bureau should have them."
Hou Qi’an frowned. "Will your superiors agree?"
Fei Zuohua didn't speak, but his gaze grew increasingly determined.
"What else can we do?" He crushed the beer can and threw it into the trash. "How much longer are we going to be stuck?"
Sensing the atmosphere had suddenly become very heavy, Ansel cleared his throat and interjected, "I think it should be possible."
Fei Zuohua stood up quickly. "Good. Then I'll contact the bureau." He turned to Shi Yuanchen. "Professor Shi, I'll need your help."
Shi Yuanchen nodded and stood up with him. They walked toward the bedroom to find a private space to make the call.
Kong Ping turned to Hou Qi’an. "Is there a chance?"
Hou Qi’an nodded. "Maybe this is it."
Ansel, acting as if it were none of his business, finally put the fried chicken into his mouth.
***
Communicating with the bureau took a considerable amount of time. On the surface, there was no way Fei Zuohua could pull Bai Shi's fingerprints; the Bai family's lawyers would tear him apart. He could only take an unofficial route.
He and Shi Yuanchen exhausted every favor they could, calling in debts from the living and the dead alike, until they finally secured a permit. It wasn't even sent to him directly by the police station; the station sent it to the Bai Huichen Laboratory, and the laboratory sent it over. If the Bai family ever came looking for them, they could claim that Bai Huichen had failed to maintain information security.
This was Shi Yuanchen’s idea, and Fei Zuohua was deeply grateful for it.
By the time they submitted the fingerprint coefficient data, the police had already found the source of the knife. Although there were no fingerprints on the blade, the knife had been purchased by Vanessa, the adopted daughter of Mayor Profis. The shop still had the surveillance footage and the inventory records.
As soon as Ansel received the data, he asked, "Is this still necessary? It’s probably her."
Fei Zuohua had never even heard the name Vanessa. He frowned and waved a hand. "Didn't you say there were no fingerprints? It’s impossible to convict her just because she bought the weapon. The weapon could have been in the room already and was simply used by the killer."
Ansel thought about it and agreed. "That's possible."
Fei Zuohua continued, "So your police force won't stop the search based on that alone. Stop guessing; you're still too green."
Ansel’s face immediately crumpled into a look of grievance. Fei Zuohua realized he’d been too blunt. "Of course, you'll get better with time." He looked at Ansel again. "So, I'm counting on you for the fingerprint comparison."
Ansel nodded.
When he returned from the police station, Shi Yuanchen was in the kitchen trying to stew some soup. The scent of chicken broth wafted through the air. Lu Mingyue was slumped on the sofa in a daze, Kong Ping was playing video games, and Hou Qi’an was smoking by the window.
Fei Zuohua checked his watch; it was six in the evening.
He walked over and kicked Lu Mingyue’s outstretched leg. Lu Mingyue looked up at him, pulled his foot back, and made room for him.
Fei Zuohua sat down beside him. "What, you didn't go out to play the field today?"
Lu Mingyue tilted his head to look at him. They were very close; his head was almost touching Fei Zuohua’s shoulder. "No. I'm hungry." He pointed at Shi Yuanchen’s back. "He’s actually a pretty good cook."
Fei Zuohua smiled. Lu Mingyue stared at him. "Speaking of which, you were like this back when you were at my bar. It was a miracle if you smiled once a month."
Fei Zuohua shifted slightly away. "That has nothing to do with you."
Lu Mingyue turned away, leaned against the back of the chair, and slid down further, stretching his legs out even more. "Why bother? Living such an exhausting life..."
Fei Zuohua had no desire to share in his melancholy. He stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Hearing the movement, Shi Yuanchen turned to look at him. "How is it?"
"Waiting for notice," Fei Zuohua said. "The results should be out soon."
Shi Yuanchen chuckled. "I was talking about the soup. How does it smell?"
Fei Zuohua smiled sheepishly, walked over, and took a sniff. "Not bad. Much better than mine."
"You should try cooking too, occasionally."
"Sure, but I definitely won't be as good as you. Speaking of which, you're quite good at finding joy in hardship. You still have the heart to cook every day at a time like this."
Shi Yuanchen turned off the heat. "Haste makes waste. Just like this soup..."
Fei Zuohua’s phone vibrated. Shi Yuanchen stopped talking and looked at him.
"Yeah, how is it?"
Shi Yuanchen guessed it was Ansel.
Something was said on the other end. Immediately, Shi Yuanchen saw Fei Zuohua freeze in place. The color drained from his face as he stared intently at Shi Yuanchen. His lips trembled, and he couldn't say a word. On the other end of the line, Ansel was still asking if he could hear him, but Fei Zuohua didn't react.
Shi Yuanchen had a premonition, but hearing it from Fei Zuohua’s mouth still gave him a sense of finally hitting the ground—as if, after an endless fall, he had finally reached the bottom.
He said, "The comparison was successful. Bai Shi's fingerprints match the ones on the cup."
"The cup?" Shi Yuanchen repeated.
"Yes. On the table at the crime scene, there were two cups. One belonged to the deceased, and the other to Bai Shi." Because of the excitement, Fei Zuohua felt his mouth go dry and swallowed hard. "As long as we prove the murder weapon was originally in the room, Bai Shi is the prime suspect. And... more importantly, he hasn't escaped yet. He’s right here."
Shi Yuanchen turned his head and found that everyone in the room had gathered around. Lu Mingyue was also leaning against the wall, looking somewhat dazed.
No one knew who let out the first long sigh of relief, but the room suddenly fell into a heavy silence. Kong Ping sat on the floor against the wall, Hou Qi’an remained frozen in place, and Lu Mingyue lowered his head, lost in thought. Fei Zuohua paced back and forth in the living room.
Shi Yuanchen turned back to serve the chicken soup.
A moment later, Fei Zuohua rushed back.
"Next."
Everyone stood up quickly to listen to him.
"Ansel said that with this result, they will go look for Bai Shi again. In his statement, Bai Shi never mentioned going up to the second floor. Since Bai Shi won't be able to explain this, I conclude," Fei Zuohua looked at them, "that Bai Shi is about to flee."
The atmosphere in the room became visibly heavy.
"So we need to split up." He scanned the room. "First, regarding where Bai Shi might flee—I don't know if you remember the man Hou Qi’an and I chased in the car, the one we believe is Bai Shi's accomplice."
The others nodded.
"Ansel noted an address back then. I think it’s very likely Bai Shi will show up there, even if it’s not his final destination, or if that man has some connection to him. We haven't gone there before to avoid alerting the enemy, but now is the time."
"So, I’m going there." Fei Zuohua paused. "That’s the place where we’re most likely to encounter him."
Hou Qi’an immediately suggested, "I'll go with you."
Fei Zuohua shook his head.
"I'll take someone more familiar with that world." He looked at Lu Mingyue. "It’s time for you to be useful."
Lu Mingyue gave a bitter smile.
"Professor Shi, please go to the police station, get the report, and explain our actions to the police. I’m worried Ansel won't be able to explain it clearly. If they need cooperation later, you stay with them."
Shi Yuanchen nodded.
Hou Qi’an and Kong Ping both stepped forward.
"The two of you go to that community. If the lockdown is lifted, go back to the place where we stayed that day. Bai Shi shouldn't be far from there." He looked at Hou Qi’an, who nodded in understanding.
"Also," Fei Zuohua hesitated, "it’s unclear if Bai Shi will still have Pei Cangyu with him. After all, this is a huge mess, and Bai Shi is in a precarious position. You go there first and see if you can find out about any new residents. If Professor Shi and the others head over later, you’ll be there to coordinate."
Kong Ping agreed.
Fei Zuohua immediately turned to Lu Mingyue. "Let's go. Let's rent a car."
Lu Mingyue stood up lazily. "I'll go."
Fei Zuohua nodded. "Fine."
Hou Qi’an watched Lu Mingyue walk out and crossed his arms. "You're not following him?"
Fei Zuohua shook his head. He walked into the bedroom, and when he came out, he had a gun in his hand.
The remaining three were all startled. Fei Zuohua brandished it slightly. "It’s Ansel’s. I swiped it." He checked the bullets. "Since I'm acting with Lu Mingyue, it’s better to be cautious."
Shi Yuanchen said, "It’s best not to let him know. Don't provoke him; he’s not an ordinary person, after all."
Fei Zuohua nodded. "I understand." He pulled out his phone. "I'll call Ansel now and have him come pick you up?"
"Okay."
Hou Qi’an and Kong Ping also grabbed their bags, put on their coats, and headed out.
While waiting for the elevator, Kong Ping even started whistling.
"Happy?" Hou Qi’an asked, leaning against the elevator wall.
Kong Ping patted Hou Qi’an’s shoulder lightheartedly. "The next time I come here, I'm going to actually be a tourist. I’ve lost over ten pounds this time."
The elevator stopped. Hou Qi’an glanced back at him as they walked toward the parking lot. "I really can't tell."
Kong Ping stepped up and threw an arm around his shoulder; they were about the same height. "Monkey, I’ve been meaning to ask since we met—do you have a girlfriend?"
Hou Qi’an ignored the arm around his neck, unlocked the car, and rolled his eyes. "No. Are you going to introduce me to someone?"
"Sure! Do you prefer someone from the arts or the sciences?"
"Is that how you categorize them?"
This was the first car they had rented, and Hou Qi’an was comfortable driving it. Even though Kong Ping hadn't eaten, he was in high spirits. He opened the car window, letting the wind rush in, and kept switching songs.
Suddenly, the car jolted.
"What happened?" Kong Ping was startled.
"Nothing." Hou Qi’an slowed down and changed lanes. "Out of gas. Need to fill up."
Kong Ping breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back. "Don't you check before you leave? Who drove last?"
"I don't know." Hou Qi’an peered outside, trying to find a gas station.
The car was almost coasting by the time they finally spotted a small gas station.
"This'll do."
Hou Qi’an drove in, rolled down the window, and gestured to a worker in a uniform. The man went to the back to open the fuel tank.
Waiting was boring. Kong Ping looked past Hou Qi’an into the station. "Do you want some water?"
Hou Qi’an was looking at his phone and didn't look up. "No, go ahead."
Kong Ping got out of the car.
Hou Qi’an was looking at his phone because he noticed a missed call. He dialed back, and after a moment, a voice answered.
"Tyrio? It’s been a long time since I heard from you."
The voice on the other end was crackling with static, so Hou Qi’an said, "Wait a second, let me move."
He pushed the door open and got out. He noticed the worker who had been fueling the car was gone, but the nozzle was still inserted. Hou Qi’an was in a hurry to talk, so he didn't have time to look for the man. He fumbled with the pump, pulled the nozzle out, and walked a bit further away to a spot where he could still see his car.
Finally, the voice on the other end became clear.
Tyrio was laughing heartily. "Yeah, I've been too busy lately. How are things on your end?"
"Great, we’ve made progress."
"That’s fantastic. Is that kid Ansel being helpful? Not causing any trouble, I hope?"
Hou Qi’an smiled. "Of course. He’s been a huge help. He’s young, but very reliable."
"Hahaha." Tyrio sounded very happy. "I was his instructor for so long; I guess the training didn't go to waste. You guys are getting along well, right? He’s a bit of a fool, but he’s loyal."
"Yeah, I think so too." He suddenly remembered. "I'll send you a photo of us. You haven't seen him in a long time, have you?"
Tyrio sounded surprised and delighted. "Over six months. It’s too far and I'm too busy. Are you busy right now? I hear car noises."
"Ah, I'm outside."
"Oh, oh. Then get back to it. Let's talk again when we have the chance." He added, "I wish you all the best."
Hou Qi’an laughed. "Thanks."
He hung up the phone. Seeing that Kong Ping hadn't come out yet and no one was near the car, he decided to wait a moment and sent the picture to Tyrio.
Then he pocketed his phone and started walking toward the car. After a few steps, the phone rang again.
Hou Qi’an took it out and saw it was Tyrio. Was he calling to marvel at how fast the photo had been sent?
He answered the call.
Tyrio’s voice was rapid and grave.
"Listen, I don't know how to tell you this. But that isn't Ansel."
Hou Qi’an didn't react for a moment. "...What?"
Tyrio repeated, "That isn't Ansel. I don't know who that is."
It was as if Hou Qi’an had been doused with ice water. He stood frozen for a long time, unable to move. He could only hear the voice from the phone, but a bizarre terror surged in his heart. He watched Kong Ping walk toward the car with the water he’d bought. Beneath the car, a pool of fuel had gathered, leaking out from the tank...
Hou Qi’an snapped to his senses. He waved his arms and screamed at Kong Ping, "Apple! Don't go there!! Run!!!"
Kong Ping stopped and turned to look at him. "Huh?"
Hou Qi’an ran toward him just as a massive explosion of fire roared into the sky.
***
Ansel was reversing into a parking space; he had come to pick up Shi Yuanchen. Their investigation had made good progress, and Ansel, who had been busy helping out, was in a good mood.
He whistled, twirling his keychain around his finger, and walked toward the lobby with a light step.
Before he could leave the parking garage, someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.
The easily startled Ansel jumped, stumbling a few steps toward the wall. He turned around to see a tall man, about his own height but slightly thinner.
Lu Mingyue smiled, holding a can of coffee, and handed it to him. "Have some coffee, Officer."
Ansel looked at him warily. "Can I help you with something, sir?"
Lu Mingyue insistently held out the coffee. "Have a can of coffee."
Ansel shook his head. "I don't drink coffee. Ever since I was little, I—"
Lu Mingyue rolled his eyes impatiently, pulled the tab himself, and muttered to himself, "Damn it, I knew it wouldn't work. He insisted that some coffee would be enough, but in the end, I still have to get my hands dirty..."
Ansel watched this strange man, alarm bells ringing in his head. He asked cautiously, "Are you alright?"
Lu Mingyue downed the coffee in a few gulps, tossed the can on the ground, and smiled at Ansel.
"Zhou Linyuan, don't hit me later."
With that, he threw a punch straight at Ansel’s face. Before Ansel could react, he was beaten so badly by Lu Mingyue that he had no strength to fight back. He crouched on the ground, watching Lu Mingyue’s fists and kicks fall like rain, forced to raise his arms in a desperate attempt to block.
He had no idea what was happening.
But the sensation of pain gradually began to blur.
Lu Mingyue was enjoying himself; it had been a long time since he’d beaten someone like this.
He aimed a punch at the nose, but his wrist was caught.
He watched as the man across from him slowly raised a pair of ruthless eyes. Lu Mingyue tried to pull back, but his wrist was held tight. He could only offer a placating smile.
"We agreed you wouldn't hit me. You're the one who wouldn't drink the coffee."
Zhou Linyuan stared at him for a moment before flinging his hand away. Lu Mingyue stumbled back.
Zhou Linyuan felt around his person, pulled out a handkerchief, glanced at it, clicked his tongue in distaste, and wiped his face.
Lu Mingyue walked over and smiled. "Bai Shi says it’s time to start."
Zhou Linyuan glared at him and turned to leave.
Lu Mingyue followed him and grabbed him. "But there’s been a change of plans."
Just as Lu Mingyue finished speaking to Zhou Linyuan, Fei Zuohua’s impatient voice echoed from the parking garage behind them: "Lu Mingyue, are you done yet?"
Lu Mingyue and Zhou Linyuan split up, heading in different directions.
Lu Mingyue walked over with a grin. "Done, done. After you, Princess."
Fei Zuohua rolled his eyes, having no desire to acknowledge him.
***
**Glossary**
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 周临渊 | Zhou Linyuan | The real identity of the person impersonating Ansel. |
| 泰里奥 | Tyrio | Ansel's former instructor. |
| 白灰尘 | Bai Huichen | Likely a name or entity associated with a laboratory. |
| 凡妮莎 | Vanessa | Mayor Profis's adopted daughter. |
| 苹果 | Apple | Kong Ping's nickname. |
| 大小姐 | Princess | Literally "Missy" or "Young Mistress"; used mockingly by Lu Mingyue for Fei Zuohua. |
