Although Guan Xia and Pang Le were close friends, this was the first time she had stayed at Pang Le's place. Based on what Guan Xia knew about Pang Le, she had expected the interior to be meticulously decorated and cozy. To her surprise, it was rather plain, even bordering on minimalist.
"This doesn’t seem like you," Guan Xia remarked, leaning on her hiking stick as she slowly wandered around the living room. The sparse furniture—mostly black and white—made the space feel somewhat empty.
Pang Le placed her suitcase against the wall and sat on the sofa, rubbing her ankle. "It’s called contrast. More importantly, it makes it easier to fool Pang Qi."
Guan Xia immediately understood and moved to sit beside Pang Le. "Did he come to check up on you again?"
Pang Le snorted. "He’s so annoying. If I didn’t do this, he’d just nag me nonstop. I’ve been busy chasing a guy lately and don’t have time to argue with him."
The thought of Pang Qi—despite being younger—always looking like he carried the weight of the world amused Guan Xia. He acted more like an overprotective older brother than a younger sibling.
As Pang Le continued her grumbling, Guan Xia tuned it out as background noise and began unpacking her suitcase for the second time that day. She hadn’t planned on staying long, so she didn’t bring much and quickly arranged her things.
While Guan Xia busied herself, Pang Le trailed behind her like a shadow, following her from the living room to the bedroom, then to the bathroom.
"Oh, I almost forgot to ask—what about that murder case in your neighborhood?" Pang Le shifted her toiletries aside to make space for Guan Xia’s, curiosity lighting up her face. "You live right below the crime scene. How are you holding up? Scared?"
Guan Xia shot her a look. "If I weren’t scared, why would I be here?"
Pang Le patted Guan Xia’s head soothingly, quickly changing the subject before Guan Xia could snap at her. "I heard the victims were a woman and a child. Most murderers are the victims’ partners—have you ever seen the husband? What’s he like?"
Guan Xia shook her head, putting her things away before walking back to the living room. She pulled out her phone and showed Pang Le a chat log. "Some people in the neighborhood have run into him, but I haven’t. Though..." She paused, remembering the repairman.
Pang Le glanced at the screen. "Though what?"
"Though I don’t think he’s the killer," Guan Xia said.
Pang Le’s eyes widened. "Wait—what do you mean? Did you actually run into the murderer?"
Guan Xia hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I’m not completely sure, but last night when I got home, I saw someone in the hallway. The thing is... there was what looked like a bloodstain on his sleeve."
Even though she claimed uncertainty, since the system had flagged him as suspicious, Guan Xia was about 80% convinced he was the culprit—which was why she had fled so quickly.
Silently praying the police would catch him soon, Guan Xia suddenly found herself wrapped in a tight hug.
Pang Le held her close, gently patting her back like she was comforting a child. "Don’t be scared. You know I can fight. I’ll protect you."
Though taken aback by the sudden embrace, Guan Xia felt warmth bloom in her chest at Pang Le’s words. She couldn’t help but laugh. "Right, right. The mighty Pang Le can take on any ghost or demon. They wouldn’t stand a chance against you."
Pang Le pinched Guan Xia’s cheek before letting go, teasingly winking. "So for your own safety, you better stick to me 24/7. How about we take a bath together tonight?"
Guan Xia’s face darkened, and she shoved Pang Le away with a palm to the face.
Originally, Guan Xia had agreed with Pang Le that they’d stay in and order takeout, but then Pang Le got a call. After changing into a dress and touching up her makeup, she turned to Guan Xia excitedly. "How about I take you to my gym?"
Guan Xia sprawled lazily on the sofa and refused without hesitation. "My legs hurt. Not going. You go by yourself."
Pang Le leaned down, bringing her face close to Guan Xia’s, and drawled, "Aren’t you curious about the guy I’m into now? He’s a total hottie—the cold, restrained type. Might even give you inspiration for your new comic."
Guan Xia’s eyes instantly lit up. "I’m in."
After grabbing a quick bite near the neighborhood, Pang Le drove her flashy red sports car, speeding through the streets until they reached the large mall housing the gym.
The moment they stepped inside, the receptionist hurried over and whispered, "Lele, Lawyer Shi just finished warming up. He’s in the equipment area now."
Pang Le nodded and turned to Guan Xia. "I’m going to change. You can look around, but don’t leave the gym. If you need anything, call me, and I’ll go with you."
Guan Xia gave a solemn promise. After exchanging a few more hushed words with the receptionist, Pang Le sauntered off with effortless grace.
Guan Xia knew Pang Le’s taste well—her collector’s streak meant every man she pursued was exceptionally good-looking, each in a distinct way. The last one Guan Xia had met twice was a bar singer with a gentle smile and adorable dimples. That relationship had lasted only six months. She wondered how long this new one would hold.
Growing more curious, Guan Xia slowly made her way deeper into the gym, leaning on her hiking stick, and settled in a corner to observe.
It was a Saturday, so the gym was fairly crowded, but Guan Xia spotted the target immediately.
Even with her expectations, she was momentarily stunned. No wonder Pang Le had taken such an interest and invested so much time—this man was undeniably handsome.
Unlike the last one, this guy had sharp, striking features—the kind of face that radiated righteousness. To use an internet meme, he was so upright it was almost intimidating, the type who could remain composed even with a beauty in his arms and might even ask if she needed help.
Beyond his looks, he was tall and well-built, with muscles that weren’t overly pronounced but had clean, defined lines—the classic "looks lean in clothes, but is solid underneath."
What stood out most was his expression. Normally, people straining during workouts would grimace or grit their teeth, but Lawyer Shi’s face remained perfectly controlled, indifferent as if the muscle fatigue didn’t affect him at all.
After discreetly watching for a while, Guan Xia sighed inwardly. He really did fit the "cold and restrained" archetype. She just hoped he’d keep Pang Le’s interest longer once he fell for her. As much as she enjoyed looking at attractive men, it was exhausting having to memorize new names and faces every few months. Half the time, she’d just gotten past the awkward phase of fearing she’d call someone by the wrong name, only for Pang Le to move on to someone else. If not for how genuinely good Pang Le was to her, Guan Xia might’ve demoted her to the "casual friends" category.
Glancing at the figure disappearing through the doorway, Xu Nian—wearing gloves and shoe covers—continued meticulously gathering evidence.
By sunset, the crime scene investigation finally concluded. The two bodies had been taken for autopsy. Xu Nian removed his gloves, rubbing his temples as he watched Qi Bai stride in. "What’s the result?"
Qi Bai responded quickly, "We couldn't find a match for that sketch in the household registration database. Initial assessment suggests it was likely disguised. We’ve obtained all surveillance footage from the past six months in the residential complex, but a third of the cameras were too damaged to be useful. Brother Jiang and the team are reviewing what’s available, while Little Zhuang and I, along with a few auxiliary officers, have interviewed every resident in the building unit and nearby shop owners. Aside from the sketch provided by Unit 501, there are no other leads so far."
Xu Nian’s frown deepened as he turned to examine the bloodstains left by the victim on the living room floor. His voice was low and grim. "The scene didn’t yield much either. The dagger in the victim’s chest only had their own fingerprints—no one else’s. According to Forensic Doctor He’s preliminary autopsy, there was no sign of external force. The victim stabbed themselves in the chest. Based on the posture at the time of death, the perpetrator was likely sitting on the sofa, holding the second victim hostage."
Qi Bai followed Xu Nian’s gaze to the sofa. "This aligns with the modus operandi of Case 612 and Case 119. But why? Liu Jiahui was an ordinary single parent—neither struggling nor particularly happy—completely unlike the victims in those two cases. Why did the killer target her? What made them shift their selection criteria?"
Lost in thought, Qi Bai fell silent. Xu Nian stepped outside and pulled out his phone. "Director Ren, we’ve finished the on-site investigation. It meets the criteria for case consolidation. The killer left no traces again, but I have a new lead. I just need more manpower—you’ll have to assign me additional officers."
