Lin Dong-Xue made a call to the station to request a police car since there were still a few officers on duty.

The living room appeared normal. To the right was the window where Mr. Ma had been interviewed by reporters earlier. Below it, there was a large tank of goldfish. Moving further in was the bedroom, from which a black cat darted out with a “meow,” startling everyone who had just entered.

“Don’t let it escape; it might have some traces on it,” Lin Dong-Xue warned.

Xu Xiao-Dong coaxed and then picked up the cat.

As they entered the bedroom, Lin Dong-Xue gasped in shock. The cameraman behind her almost dropped his equipment, shouting in alarm.

Mr. Ma was lying on the floor, his head covered in blood. Lin Dong-Xue knelt beside him to check for a pulse and respiration; finding neither, she then checked his pupils. “His pupils are dilated; he’s dead,” she declared.

There wasn’t much blood on the floor, just some splatter on the wall, and the surrounding area and the bed were surprisingly clean.

Quickly leaving the bedroom, Lin Dong-Xue searched the kitchen, bathroom, and even the coat closet to ensure no one else was hiding in the apartment. She was astounded, “How could this have been done? No one could have come through the window, the door was locked, and yet a murder occurred right under everyone’s noses.”

Cradling the cat, Xu Xiao-Dong asked, “Are you sure it was murder?”

“Definitely. Otherwise, who posted those photos on the microblog?”

“I bet it was some skillful netizen who couldn’t stand it anymore and took action,” Xu Xiao-Dong speculated.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

“But at least the cat survived…” Xu Xiao-Dong played with the cat, “What’s your name, huh?”

Shortly, the police car arrived at the scene, took photos for evidence, and then took the body away. The scene was temporarily sealed off to be examined more thoroughly by forensic officers the next day. However, the door lock was broken, and someone had to stay to guard the site.

Officer Luo Hai-Feng suggested, “This happened in our jurisdiction, I’ll stay to watch over the scene.”

“No need,” Lin Dong-Xue said. “You drove the police car, right? You need to return it. We’ll handle the scene… Oh, and those reporters haven’t left yet.”

Luo Hai-Feng replied, “Then thank you, and good luck dealing with the press.”

“Be careful with what you say.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

Lin Dong-Xue asked Xu Xiao-Dong to take the cat home for the night and bring it to the station the next day. Xu Xiao-Dong queried, “You’re going to stay here by yourself?”

“I’m used to pulling all-nighters!”

“I’ll stay with you,” he offered.

“No need, you go rest, and come back early tomorrow… I’ll call Chen Shi to keep me company.”

“Chen is coming? Okay, then I won’t be a third wheel.”

Xu Xiao-Dong drove his car close to the scene, suggesting Lin Dong-Xue stay in the car overnight for warmth. Then, he took the cat and left.

Lin Dong-Xue hesitated whether to call Chen Shi. She almost dialed his number several times but ultimately decided against it. As much as she wanted company, she thought it best to let him rest so he could help with the case fresh the next day.

Once everyone had left, Lin Dong-Xue sat in Xu Xiao-Dong’s car, playing on her phone and daydreaming until she couldn’t fight the sleep any longer at around two in the morning.

She reclined the seat to nap when suddenly a shadow tapped on the car window. Startled, she grabbed her phone for light and saw Chen Shi smiling back at her. Previously, she had always thought him too rugged, but the more she saw him, the more appealing she found his ruggedness.

Delighted, Lin Dong-Xue rolled down the window, and Chen Shi said, “Scoot over.”

“I just warmed up the seat, and you won’t sit in the passenger seat? Not very considerate.”

“How about sitting on my lap?”

“That works!”

Chen Shi squeezed in, and Lin Dong-Xue climbed onto his lap. They looked at each other warmly, and Chen Shi commented, “You’ve got something on your face.”

“Where? Where?”

“Looks like right here.”

Chen Shi leaned closer, their breath mingling, and naturally, they started kissing, progressing from a peck to a deep, intense kiss. Then Lin Dong-Xue woke up…

Realizing it was a dream, she covered her blushing face. Was that a spring dream?

It was a wonderful dream indeed. If only her sleeping spot had been more comfortable, she mightnot have woken so soon. Yet, if she hadn’t awakened, what might have happened next with the dream version of Chen Shi?

As she entertained these thoughts, chuckling to herself with cheeks still flushed, someone knocked on the car window again. Instinctively, she exclaimed, “Chen Shi?”

Through the glass, the figure outside didn’t hear her and said, “Officer Lin, it’s me!”

Shining her phone’s light, she recognized Luo Hai-Feng and rolled down the window, surprised, “Officer Luo, what are you doing here? It’s only four in the morning.”

“I couldn’t sleep well, so I came back to check on you… I thought you were with a colleague. Isn’t it risky for a woman to be alone here?”

“It’s fine…”

“Do you want to step out for a restroom break? There’s a 24-hour diner nearby.”

“That would be great if you could watch the scene for a moment!”

“Let’s go together; it’s not safe this late with potentially the perpetrator still around,” Luo Hai-Feng suggested as he tapped his waist, indicating his service weapon.

After taking care of necessities at the diner, Luo Hai-Feng, at the counter, bought some food and drinks. He suggested, “Eating something might help keep you alert.”

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable with accepting his generosity, Lin Dong-Xue insisted, “Let me pay you.”

“Don’t worry about it; it’s not much.”

She didn’t want to owe anything personal, so as Luo Hai-Feng prepared to pay via his phone, Lin Dong-Xue quickly handed over some cash to the cashier.

Back at the car, Luo Hai-Feng tried to make conversation, but Lin Dong-Xue was hardly responsive, finding the situation awkward and wishing she were alone instead.

Debating whether to call Chen Shi, she wrestled with the idea but decided against it, rationalizing that he needed rest to be sharp for tomorrow’s investigation.

Others might have left, but Lin Dong-Xue stayed, now sitting in Xu Xiao-Dong’s car, browsing her phone, and occasionally drifting into light sleep. Around dawn, she dreamt again of Chen Shi knocking on the window. In the dream, she complained, “Why are you only just now coming?”

“I came as soon as I got your message. Have you been here all night?”

“Yes, and I’m freezing!”

Half-awake in the car, Lin Dong-Xue found herself actually wrapped in Luo Hai-Feng’s jacket with her phone in hand. She had texted Chen Shi her location before dozing off.

Pinching herself, she felt the sharp pain confirming she wasn’t dreaming. This was real, not a dream! She quickly checked her phone; indeed, she had sent Chen Shi the message.

Outside, day was breaking. Known to anyone who’s pulled an all-nighter, the early hours can be the toughest, but as dawn approaches, exhaustion sets in.

Leaning back, Lin Dong-Xue closed her eyes for a moment and immediately slipped back into a dream. This time, Chen Shi was actually tapping on her car window. Opening it, she complained, “Why did it take you so long?”

“I got here as soon as I could. Didn’t you say you were freezing?”

“Yes, it’s so cold!” she murmured in the dream, feeling a mix of reality and fantasy, “I missed you!”

“What?!” Chen Shi seemed surprised in the dream.

Something felt off about this dream sequence…

Lin Dong-Xue suddenly realized she was actually covered with Luo Hai-Feng’s jacket in the car. Her phone showed an unanswered message to Chen Shi with the address. She pinched her face hard—it hurt distinctly. Oh no, this wasn’t a dream—it was reality.