Lan Meimei was leaning against the window, eyes tightly shut, seemingly fast asleep.

A beauty in her slumber was tempting enough, but what truly got me moving—and moving rather boldly—was that I had settled my head right onto her lap. That warm, yielding sensation, fragrant like musk, was almost enough to make my nose bleed with excitement.

I rested my head cautiously on that fortunate thigh, the blood within me surging like an untamed stallion, causing me to tremble slightly.

My heart wrestled with a dilemma: should I continue feigning ignorance and savor this tenderness, or should I slip away before I earned a severe beating? The discovery that followed, however, solidified my resolve to commit wholeheartedly to the former.

I stole a glance, admiring Lan Meimei’s sleeping face from this privileged angle, only to see her eyelashes subtly quiver!

She was only pretending to sleep!

This realization hit me like an atomic bomb detonating in my chest; my body vaporized, yet every resulting speck of ash remembered that moment of sheer joy. Soon, that joy reformed me back into human shape, and I immediately began to act. Feigning sleep, I let out a soft hum, subtly shifted my body, and let one arm slither like an eel around Lan Meimei’s waist, pulling her close as if embracing a perfect pillow. Shamelessly, I rubbed my face against that soft “fragrant cushion.”

Lan Meimei remained motionless, but I could feel the heat radiating off her, warm as the gentle breeze of spring, making my entire body tingle pleasantly.

But at that very moment, the world-destroying devil burst in.

Xiao Cuo yanked the door open with careless abandon, causing Lan Meimei, who had been leaning against the window, to tumble outwards. In this sudden "shock," I jerked my head up.

Xiao Cuo’s ambush left both Lan Meimei and me stunned, our minds blank, frozen in that intensely intimate posture.

"S-sorry to interrupt..." After a long, blank pause, Xiao Cuo managed to stammer out these words, then abruptly spun around and bolted, as if suddenly understanding everything.

Just as I thought about standing up to stop him and explain, I heard Xiao Cuo shouting while running: "Zhang Jiewei! Don't come over, stay hidden right there!"

Damn it!

I glanced over at Lan Meimei. Her face was already crimson, right down to her neck. The atmosphere in the car was awkward, yet thick with unspoken tension. Knowing when to retreat, I slid off Lan Meimei, opened the other door, and stepped outside to straighten my rumpled clothes.

But one turn later, another bombshell dropped!

I should have known Zhang Jiewei wouldn't obey Xiao Cuo’s order to stay hidden. There he stood, right by the opposite car door, staring directly at me. Although his expression remained stubbornly blank, who knew what scandalous thoughts were churning in his head right then? Lan Meimei was beet-red in the car, and I had just been adjusting my clothes... adjusting my clothes!

Zhang Jiewei just stared at me without a word. Even a fool could deduce he was certain Lan Meimei and I had just been... intimately involved in the car!

It wouldn't matter much for me; my reputation had already been ruined by that kid Gao Jianning. But Lan Meimei was different; she might still be an innocent maiden! To have her reputation smeared like this—even if it wasn't physically realized—she’d surely hate me!

"Ahem..." I tried to change the subject. "Have you two finished sorting out that business over there?"

Zhang Jiewei’s face was like a steel plate; he just nodded mechanically, clearly suppressing something significant.

However, feeling guilty as charged, I lacked the nerve to argue. I slid back into the car and said, "Let's head back then."

Zhang Jiewei remained silent, settling into his designated seat before quietly starting the engine and driving off. The moment the car moved, I turned to look at Lan Meimei, catching her just as she turned her head away from my side to the other.

Now I wasn't sure whether to be secretly pleased or worried. Lan Meimei hadn’t complained about my “behavior,” but I had definitely taken advantage of her, and quite substantially at that.

Just as the car pulled out of the underground parking lot, Zhang Jiewei stopped. I turned toward the window and shouted at Xiao Cuo, who was muttering to himself outside, "Hurry up and get in!"

Startled by my shout, the jittery Xiao Cuo stopped his self-talk and sulkily climbed into the car, taking the front passenger seat.

As the car started again, I felt I needed to say something to ease the tension, or perhaps clarify what had just happened.

"Actually, just now..." I began, but before I could finish, Xiao Cuo slowly turned his head around from between the two front seats, staring at me mournfully, his expression so sickly sweet it was as if I had been embracing him moments before.

"Brother Lei, don't say it..." The damned Xiao Cuo interrupted me, then shot a resentful glance at Lan Meimei before continuing, "I understand everything..."

"Understand what the hell you understand!" I smacked him lightly on the head. Xiao Cuo quickly clutched his skull and retreated to his seat, looking pathetic.

I glanced at Lan Meimei again. Through the reflection on the window, I could see her face was flushed and burning hot, so hot I knew the temperature would be off the charts without even touching her.

I sighed internally, wisely shutting my mouth to avoid making things worse. Let them think whatever they wanted. After all, I was a grown man; having thoughts about Lan Meimei was normal. A little physical exploration was hardly inexcusable. If I wanted to prove to the world that I felt absolutely nothing for the stunning, beautiful police officer beside me, then I would truly be sick.

Having justified myself, I couldn't help but recall Lan Meimei’s tacit acceptance of my repeated “invasions.” It seemed clear she didn't reject me deep down. Should I seize the opportunity and strike decisively? It seemed next time, I should go all out and capture her; striking while the iron is hot is the only way to win the beauty!

Beauty. Thinking of her sent a rush of blood through me, and the hazy, fleeting image from my dream suddenly surfaced in my mind: the familiar fragrance, scattering petals, the strangely seductive smile in the final moment, and those repulsive insects swarming toward me, inescapable.

Human dreams are reflections of reality, some close, some distant, some past, some future... Amidst these complexities, humanity speculates, as it has for millennia—from the interpretations of the Duke of Zhou to modern medical dream analysis—but none can truly unveil its mysterious veil. It’s like the most ancient life form, deeply rooted in humanity through the planet's evolution, quietly emerging through your nose, eyes, and ears when the night is deepest, carrying you to the space between reality and illusion, leaving you to choose. At that moment, our subconscious awakens, acting like a small figure choosing between substance and shadow.

I wanted to know how the vision of the beauty, the rich perfume, the falling petals, and the disgusting centipedes could appear in my dreams. Were they near or far, past or future?

Sometimes, I’d rather dream of bloody corpses than see those things, because they make me feel strange, filled with an unknown dread.

Suddenly, I wondered if this was a reflection of a hidden truth—a wondrous combination of elements in this world. If I could unlock its mystery, perhaps I would see the true face of reality.

It seemed Ouyang Min’s sudden death had presented a new hurdle, but it had also revealed a new avenue for breaking the case open.

"Wait until we get back to the station. Just drop me off on Fei Li Street," I instructed Zhang Jiewei. He understood without needing a detailed explanation and nodded his assent.

"Brother Lei, you’re not going to find Ouyang Min’s wife again, are you?" Xiao Cuo asked playfully from the front.

"Right, I almost forgot about that." Suddenly remembering Mu Anmian, it seemed nobody in Qitaihe City had officially informed her of Ouyang Min’s death yet. I turned to Lan Meimei and said, "Jinxuan, you get off at Fei Li Street too. Personally deliver the news of Ouyang Min's death to Mu Anmian, and closely observe her every move, especially her reaction."

As I said this, I caught Xiao Cuo's face contorting into that expression I had ‘embraced’ him with. I instantly smacked the top of his head, cursing, "Are you asking for a beating, kid!"

"Is there anything strange about Mu Anmian?" Lan Meimei looked confused, having had little contact with her.

"Well... you can't be sure. Just watch her carefully then; there will always be something slightly off." Based on my previous discovery, I was already certain of Mu Anmian’s expected reaction upon hearing the news; I just needed someone else there to confirm it for me.

"What about you? Why aren't you going yourself? Who are you meeting there if not her?" Lan Meimei was acting like a curious child now, her relentless questioning matching Xiao Cuo’s.

"I have much more important business to attend to, of course!" I declared with an air of mystery.

I wasn't foolish. Women's eyes and noses could perceive things that men never could.

Recalling my last visit to Mu Anmian, Lan Meimei’s inexplicable fit of temper was clearly triggered by my frequent presence there, accidentally tipping over her jealousy jar. I absolutely must not repeat that mistake.

Lan Meimei gave me a look of disdain, but I could see her gaze was filled with doubt.

Before long, Lan Meimei and I got out of the car in front of Ouyang Min's villa. I watched her walk inside before heading toward my actual destination.

Although it was high noon, the climate in Anyin City didn't feel like midday heat; for me, it felt quite cool. Under the refreshing sunlight, I strolled to that flower shop. The half-ajar door suggested the owner might be resting.

I’m known for my thick skin, so I certainly wasn't worried about disturbing a quiet rest with my sudden appearance.

To my surprise, however, as I stepped inside, I was greeted by that same sweet female voice.

"Hello, what can I get for you?"

"I need a bouquet of Jacaranda blossoms..." I said casually, though I couldn't miss the strange look in the woman’s eyes.

"I'm terribly sorry, but those flowers are not for sale to the public." A peculiar flicker in her eyes vanished quickly, replaced by an expression of apology.

"Not for sale? But I think I smelled the same scent at my friend's place! I checked several florists, and it seems only the backyard of your shop has those flowers. I assumed they bought them from you too!" I spoke with a smile, taking another look around the shop.

"Heh heh, perhaps you mistook the fragrance, sir?" The woman’s smile remained sweet.

"Is that so?" I rummaged in my pocket and presented a photograph to her. "Then did you mistake this picture too?"

Her eyes locked onto the photo in my hand; her brow furrowed, and a look of embarrassment crossed her face, yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty. A woman beautiful to the bone like her, whose every joy and sorrow could make a man fall, made it no wonder Ouyang Min kept such a mistress while having a delicate wife like Mu Anmian at home.

"This... sir, you..." The woman stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Just then, my phone buzzed.

I had texted Gao Jianning while in the car to check up on this woman; the results were here. It seemed that fellow did possess a shred of police competence after all.

Reading the text, I saw a photo: a woman leaning against a man, looking blissfully happy. This woman was Qi Wan, and the man in her arms was Ouyang Min!

"Miss Qi Wan, the person Ouyang Min is embracing in this photo should be you, correct? And the Jacaranda blossoms you’re holding look quite lovely!" My tone hardened slightly, yet I maintained a gentlemanly courtesy.

"How do you have this picture?" Qi Wan didn't answer my question directly, but her query clearly revealed her inner panic.

"I am an officer with the Special Investigation Unit of the Anyin City Public Security Bureau. Mr. Ouyang Min died mysteriously in Qitaihe City yesterday. I require your cooperation with our investigation." Every time I said those words, a strange feeling washed over me—whether to mourn the deceased or to feel sadness for my own cold indifference in delivering the news.

"Dead?" The woman named Qi Wan looked utterly shocked, leaning backward. Fortunately, I was quick enough to catch her, preventing her from falling.

"Yes," I nodded, helping Qi Wan to a nearby chair.

"How did he die?" Qi Wan’s eyes filled with sorrow.

"Murder." Although Ouyang Min’s cause of death hadn't been fully confirmed, I gave her that answer, wanting to gauge her reaction.

"How is that possible?" Hearing those two words, Qi Wan became even more agitated.

"So, to solve the case quickly and clear the deceased's name, I need your assistance with the investigation." Qi Wan's pitiful appearance was indeed heart-wrenching. If not for this case, I doubt I would be this detached toward her.

"Tell me what you need me to do, and I will assist you to the best of my ability," Qi Wan said weakly, her face pale.

"I don't need you to do anything; I just need you to answer a few questions truthfully." I said with deliberate seriousness. My attitude toward cases and related personnel is always this strict.

"Alright."

"You were Ouyang Min's mistress, is that correct?" This was a question whose answer I already knew.

"Yes."

"And what is your relationship with Wang Dong and Tao Jiahao?"

Hearing this, Qi Wan didn't speak; she simply looked up at me, her eyes wide—such innocent and clear eyes that they made me doubt the veracity of the information Gao Jianning had provided.

"They were also lovers?" I pressed further.

Qi Wan shook her head, her eyes wide with terror. "No! They forced me; I didn't want to..."

"How did they force you?" Qi Wan's answer was quite unexpected.

"If I refused to be with them, they threatened to make my relationship with Mr. Ouyang public, saying it would greatly affect Mr. Ouyang's career," she recounted, sounding deeply wronged.

"That’s it?" I found it somewhat unbelievable. I could only think she was either too naive or too foolish, though another possibility lingered, but it was too early to consider.

According to her story, the three victims now presented a division: Ouyang Min was a good man who doted on women, while Wang Dong and Tao Jiahao were despicable scoundrels. The question then arose: If the bad men deserved their fate, why did the good man die? Conversely, if the good man was framed by villains, why did the villainous men also die?

I looked at Qi Wan, perplexed, only to hear her continue, "Yes, Mr. Ouyang was very kind to me; he helped me a lot. I didn't want to cause him trouble."

Saying this, Qi Wan's tears began to stream down uncontrollably. Her rain-drenched beauty was so captivating that I felt an urge to pull her into an embrace.

Viciously crushing this instinct, I said coldly, "But I must tell you this: Wang Dong, Tao Jiahao, and Ouyang Min have all died in almost the exact same manner. I need to know what this has to do with you, as you are the crucial link between these three men."

"Wang Dong and Tao Jiahao are dead too?" Qi Wan plunged back into shock; her expression didn't look faked.

"Yes."

"You think their deaths are related to me?" Qi Wan seemed to suddenly understand.

"Yes," I replied without reservation. It was my duty. If I needed to play the kindly gentleman with a suspect, I could hand in my badge right now and start selling sweet potatoes.

"In that case, you should arrest me. Mr. Ouyang is dead, and I have no reason to stay here." As Qi Wan spoke, tears began to shimmer in her eyes again.

Ultimately, I couldn't withstand a woman's tears, especially those of a beautiful and seemingly simple woman. Moreover, there was no concrete evidence yet. So, I stood up and said, "Please accept my condolences. I’ll come back to speak with you when you have composed yourself. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave for now."

"Aren't you going to arrest me?" Qi Wan seemed quite surprised by my sudden departure; it appeared she truly thought I had come specifically to take her in, and her innocence struck me yet again.

"Until I find evidence proving you are the murderer, I will not arrest you. I will not allow criminals to roam free, nor will I let the innocent suffer injustice. Right now, you only share a certain connection with these three cases..."

Qi Wan looked at me with innocent eyes. I grit my teeth and added, "If one day I discover you have lied to me, I will personally send you to prison."

For some reason, saying that last sentence sent a faint pang of pain through me—a natural aversion to seeing beauty destroyed, even if it were a blood-stained rose.

After delivering that warning, I didn't look into Qi Wan’s eyes again and walked straight out of the flower shop. At that moment, my gaze paused, maintaining a level line of sight.

Across the road, a man in a black trench coat stood there, his collar turned up, hiding his face outside my line of sight. But his eyes were visible, staring at me fiercely—a look of hatred, perhaps, or a warning.

That fool! Didn't he know I was a detective? Did he think if the words 'Crime' or 'Suspicious' weren't written on his face, I wouldn't notice?

I prepared to move toward him, but just then, a bus drove past, obscuring his figure. When the bus passed, the silhouette had vanished without a trace.