Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Him? Xiang Wan looked perplexed as she stared at Xuan Yue.

Xuan Yue staggered two steps forward with a desire to follow the stretcher but suddenly stopped and stared at Xiang Wan. Her pair of eyes were filled with horror. Gradually, her eyes seemed to have reddened.

That was a fear that would show when one panicked to the extreme.

She was terrified.

She was really, really frightened.

Xiang Wan had this conclusion while she scrutinized Xuan Yue’s reaction. That was why she quickly stepped forward and took her arm.

“Who is he?”

“He… He’s…”

Xuan Yue was incoherent. Her face was really pale like a sheet of paper, and she couldn’t say a complete sentence.

It seemed that she could not say that person’s name.

“It’s him…”

Is she referring to the victim?

Xiang Wan’s heart was filled with questions.

Prior to this, Xuan Yue had used a terrified tone when she messaged Xiang Wan privately.

However, those conversations were only via the internet.

When one messaged people on the internet, although Xiang Wan could feel Xuan Yue’s anxiety, the impact would not be as great as when she witnessed her face draining out of color right before her eyes. The look of horror on her face could give Xiang Wan goosebumps.

She suddenly felt that she had finally believed what Xuan Yue had been messaging her about.

Maybe, she had really felt the threat of death previously…

She tightened her grip on Xuan Yue’s arm and asked in a firm tone. “Who exactly is he?”

Xuan Yue’s knees looked as if it would give up soon. She leaned herself on Xiang Wan and suddenly slid down to the floor.

“It’s him. I saw the ring on his finger… It’s his hand…”

Xiang Wan quickly looked at the corpse. There was indeed a hand showing outside the stretcher.

There was also a finger that had a ring on it too.

However, as for the identity of the corpse, she seemed unwilling to tell.

Xiang Wan tilted her head to look at Xuan Yue. “Do you know that person?”

Xuan Yue leaned onto Xiang Wan. She could even hear the sounds of her teeth grinding.

“I’m not sure… if the victim is him… Xiang Gongzi, do you think I’m actually the target but he died in the end? I know that someone is after me…”

She started to speak incoherently.

The rest of the female authors also tried to console her, but her behavior also bewildered them.

By now, Xiang Wan could tell the seriousness of the problem.

From Xuan Yue’s reaction, it was evident that she knew the identity of the deceased.

For the police, it could be an important clue to crack the case…

Hence, without further ado, she nodded at Fang Yuanyuan and suggested that they wait outside first before holding Xuan Yue to walk toward the police.

“Let’s go to the police. Don’t be afraid.”

“No. I don’t want to…” Xuan Yue dared not go over, and she pulled Xiang Wan’s arm. “I… can’t take it. I’m scared, I’m really scared…”

Xuan Yue was mumbling and behaving abnormally.

Because of her scream, the police had their attention on them.

A police officer came from the cordoned area and walked to them.

“Do both of you know the identity of the deceased?”

Xiang Wan glanced at Xuan Yue. “Maybe, but I’m not sure.”

The police officer took another look at Xuan Yue. “Alright, both of you please come with me.”

…

The crowd did not disperse.

However, since the main hall of the cinema belonged to the cordoned area, it was silent.

The police officer brought both of them over to the detective-in-charge of this case.

“Captain Zeng, they said that they knew the deceased!”

The detective was bending himself to check something when they saw him. He got up and looked over his shoulder at that sentence.

He swept a piercing look at Xiang Wan and Xuan Yue, then he pointed to some stools beside him.

“Let’s sit down and talk.”

Xuan Yue was completely at a loss.

Xiang Wan looked at Xuan Yue and recounted what happened earlier.

She organized her words well and gave a very logical account which sounded professional. The detective with the last name Zeng, looked at Xiang Wan for at least 15 seconds before turning to Xuan Yue.

“Who is he? What’s his name?”

“I… I don’t know… I’m uncertain. I don’t know…” Xuan Yue mumbled, while totally at a loss.

Seeing her in such a state, Captain Zeng furrowed his eyebrows then looked toward Xiang Wan. “My last name is Zeng, from the Criminal Investigation Unit. These two detectives are comrades from my team. Your friend’s condition doesn’t seem to be good. Why don’t you accompany her to the Criminal Investigation Unit too and get a statement done?”

Xiang Wan did not raise any objection. “Sure.”

Xuan Yue seemed to be very much affected. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m scared… Detective comrade, someone is after my life…”

Captain Zeng glanced at her; she did not seem to have caused him discomfort.

When unexpected incidents overwhelmed someone, there could be all kinds of responses. He was used to seeing such reactions.

“Don’t be afraid. There are a lot of police officers around. What’s there to worry about?”

After that, he waved his hand. “Let’s go.”

There was confusion in Xuan Yue’s eyes. She looked at the police before looking at Xiang Wan. She had not recovered from her frightened state.

“… I’m not sure, I’m uncertain if it’s really him…”

Captain Zeng replied thereafter “That’s why we need you to identify the corpse.”

Xuan Yue shook her head. “No, I’m scared…”

Xiang Wan patted her shoulder. “I’ll accompany you.”

Xuan Yue looked downwards, and her body was still trembling.

Xiang Wan could feel that she had been trembling and put an assuring arm around her shoulders.

“The more you fear something, the more you have to face it. The police are now taking charge of this matter. If you do not want to go, won’t you be afraid forever?”

“… Alright.”

Xuan Yue finally agreed.

However, she looked like a string puppet who had lost its soul. She could only walk with Xiang Wan’s help.

When they got out of the cinema, Fang Yuanyuan and the other three female authors were still waiting outside.

Xiang Wan told Fang Yuanyuan about what happened; she then left with Captain Zeng and another detective.

When they got on the police car, Xuan Yue looked scared stiff and did not dare to say a word.

On the other hand, Xiang Wan sent a message to Bai Muchuan to let him know what happened over at her end.

“You go ahead. I’ll come over later.” Bai Muchuan added, “Wait for me to fetch you.”

“Okay…”

Xuan Yue sat beside Xiang Wan. Her body was stiff and she was nervous.

Xiang Wan patted her shoulder and consoled her. “It’s just a trip to the Criminal Investigation Unit. There’s no need to be afraid…”

Xuan Yue quivered and looked at Xiang Wan. “Why are you not afraid?”

Xiang Wan did not know what to say. “…”

Why did she have to be afraid?

They looked at each other for a while.

Xuan Yue asked, “Do you think it’s really him?”

Xiang Wan was once again at a loss of words. “…”

Right from the beginning, she didn’t know who was Xuan Yue referring to.

“Hu Bandao!”

Xiang Wan’s eyes contracted slightly.

Hu Bandao?

The deceased was Hu Bandao?

Xuan Yue gritted her teeth while she had seemingly thought over something. She looked at Xiang Wan in the eye but they lowered her head nervously in the next instant. Her fingers were clasped together while she spoke with her soft-spoken voice. “… Recently, I’m… on good terms with him. It worried me that all of you might say that Du Landuo had just died and… so I didn’t tell anyone… But Hu Bandao’s ring, I recognized it. His hand, that’s his hand…”

‘So you’re trying to make it sound like a coincidence?’ thought Xiang Wan.

Xiang Wan asked seriously, “Are you sure it’s him?”

“I’m sure,” replied Xuan Yue, “but I’m scared. Xiang Gongzi, am I going to identify the corpse? I don’t dare to look…”

Xiang Wan did not know what to say.

Hu Bandao was the boy who was on good terms with her…

They had both been so close. Even if he was now a corpse, there was no reason for her to be so scared, right?

Xiang Wan looked at her. “Let’s listen to the police later.”

“Orh,” said Xuan Yue weakly. She leaned against the seat as if she had lost all energy.

“… I didn’t mean to keep that from you.”

“It doesn’t matter, it’s not important.” Xiang Wan glanced at her and said as a matter-of-factly. “I don’t mind at all.”

She did not care no matter who Hu Bandao was in a relationship with, or rather, a better thing to say was that it did not matter to her who Xuan Yue was in a relationship with. When she saw both of them together, it was simply because Du Landuo had just died and it just didn’t feel right. The other thing was that the woman whom Hu Bandao was with when he cheated Du Landuo. Xiang Wan suspected that it was Xuan Yue…

“I’m curious…” Xiang Wan tried to sound casual. “How long have you two been together?”

Xuan Yue bit her lower lip; she was still as tense as ever and didn’t give a reply.

Xiang Wan continued to speak, “The police will ask about this.”

It was fine if she did not want to come clean with Xiang Wan. If the one who died was Hu Bandao, as his girlfriend, they would thoroughly investigate and question Xuan Yue. Everything regarding Hu Bandao had to be accounted for properly. When did they start their relationship and at what stage were they currently in; she would not be able to avoid these questions.

Xiang Wan had worked together with detectives long enough to know about all these.

Xuan Yue was a little taken aback to hear that.

Then she replied awkwardly, “Actually, it’s just a few days…”

Xiang Wan furrowed her eyebrows. “A few days? How many days is that?”

This kind of questioning was a bit unofficial, but her imperative tone would make it easy for her, who was in a frightened and passive state, to tell the truth, and they could also reduce the probability of lying.

Xuan Yue hesitated a little. “We got together when Hu Bandao came to the Capital.”

Xiang Wan raised an eyebrow since she still didn’t get the exact time they got together.

Xuan Yue took a deep breath and seemed to have recovered from the earlier panic.

“Didn’t I tell you that after Du Landuo died, it affected me a lot, and I started feeling terrified… I was on tenterhooks for the next two days and nothing felt right no matter what I do. That day, I chatted with Hu Bandao and he also felt the same. When we talked to each other, I have a feeling that I found my soulmate…”

Soulmate, huh?

Xiang Wan responded, “So you actually knew him since way back?”

Xuan Yue replied thereafter, “We were not that familiar, but we are in the same chat group with a bunch of authors. That was when I mentioned Du Landuo, and we added each other as friends in WeChat. Consequently… you know it.”

What a strange “you know it.”

Xiang Wan raised both eyebrows as a sign that she really didn’t get it.

“Both of us messaged each other to talk about how her death had affected us, and I feel that we can get along very well. Coincidentally, he was also in the Capital and we met up with each other. Both of us feel that… we’re suitable for each other and so, we got together.”

“Aye!”

Xiang Wan puffed a sigh.

She patted her hand as consolation.

Seriously, there were no loopholes in Xuan Yue’s words.

They had a pleasant experience chatting on WeChat and met up. When they were both happy with what they saw, they got together,

There were many such instances in real life too.

Many people treated their relationships in this manner.

The only thing different for Xuan Yue was that her boyfriend had come fast, but he had also left in such a sudden manner.

He died at the cinema just a store away from their kebab eatery…

The reason why he was being attacked now became a mystery.

…

Although Xuan Yue was unwilling, the police still brought both of them to identify the corpse.

Xiang Wan was certainly bolder now.

After Xuan Yue’s relentless pleadings, Xiang Wan agreed to accompany her to look at the corpse.

Hence, she saw a really gory scene that was difficult to put into words.

Hu Bandao’s face was badly gnawed. He had mottled grazes and wounds all over. His skin was pale and there were two obvious gruesome holes on his neck as if fresh blood was already drained out of his body. Both of his eyes were still wide open in a state of shock. The whole face looked as if it was twisted. One could imagine the horrifying state he had gone through just prior to his death…

There was also a pungent smell of blood in the air. Xiang Wan couldn’t believe that she was happily indulging in the kebab when the homicide took place.

“Uurgh! Uurrggh—”

Xuan Yue couldn’t control anymore. She quickly vomited at the trash bin.

Xiang Wan’s stomach was churning badly too.

However, she could still contain her feelings and handed Xuan Yue some tissue paper.

Her behavior was a stark contrast against Xuan Yue, and that attracted Captain Zeng’s attention.

“You’re quite gutsy, aren’t you?”

Eh? Xiang Wan turned to confirm that he was talking to her. She smiled and felt awkward to admit that she almost threw up too, so she nodded her head seriously instead.

“It’s because I’ve met this person twice, so I’m not that scared.”

“You’ve met him twice…” Captain Zeng pondered over her words and looked at Xuan Yue who had threw up till her face was ashen. “But his girlfriend threw up till like this though? So, you’re the more gutsy one. What kind of job are you doing?”

“…”

Xiang Wan did not know that she was really special in others’ eyes.

However, when she thought about it, she really was much calmer than Xuan Yue when they faced the corpse together; she was a little embarrassed about it.

“So should I show some more fear?”

“…” Captain Zeng looked serious. “What kind of job are you doing?”

He repeated.

Of course, Xiang Wan would not tell them that she had worked in the Criminal Investigation Unit before.

“Web novelist…”

“Oh?” Captain Zeng seemed to have doubts while he gave her a scrutinizing glance and smiled as if her answer did not convince her.

“You don’t look like one.”

“I’m saying the truth,” said Xiang Wan, “I write murder mysteries, so I’m more familiar with such stuff.”

This explanation was reasonable. Captain Zeng nodded his head.

“Alright, bring your friend along. We need to do some questioning.”

“… Sure.”

They considered the incident that day as an unlucky event for Xiang Wan.

It was just a nice gathering for a meal, yet she ended up in the Criminal Investigation Unit and did another statement.

She was too familiar with the protocol of the detectives now.

“I need to call my boyfriend first…”

Xiang Wan’s instincts told her that this homicide case was not simple.

However, before she could call him, Bai Muchuan had already arrived into the room and appeared before her.