As soon as I returned to the office, Xiao Xuan hurried over: "Well? Did you manage to get anything out of him?"

"That guy is too cold-blooded. All we know for sure now is that Ou Jinglan's interpersonal relationships are disastrously poor. As for Gu Hengming, there are still many unresolved issues surrounding him that we need to dig into further," I replied, not just to Xiao Xuan, but announcing the results of our interrogation to everyone else in the office. "That man is more rancid than a stone in an outhouse latrine. Xiao Cuo, you're on surveillance duty for him these next few days. Keep a tight watch, and report anything unusual to me immediately!"

"Roger that!" After eating his fill, Xiao Cuo was clearly reinvigorated. As expected of Bao Qiang, his 'little strong' spirit was everywhere; the complaints of hardship and exhaustion he’d voiced earlier had vanished.

"Right, how’s the progress on contacting Li Yalian's aunt and uncle?" I turned and asked Xiao Xuan gently. Mentioning Li Yalian involuntarily brought that photograph and those eyes to mind, causing my nerves to instantly tense up, just as they had been when I was with Hong Yang and the others earlier. But then again, Hong Yang and his team hadn't been slow; they’d figured out the true identity of the second deceased so quickly.

"They were quite shocked to hear the news, and they don't believe the deceased is actually Li Yalian. Her uncle is on his way right now, preparing for a DNA test against those pieces of shredded flesh. He won't believe it unless he sees the results himself. Li Yalian’s aunt and uncle never had children, and they treated her like their own daughter all these years. Now, an elder must bury the young; the pain in their hearts must be no less than what Ou Jinglan’s parents are suffering." Hearing about Ou Jinglan’s parents caused Xiao Xuan’s eyes to mist over again, which made my heart ache too.

"Don't dwell on it. Doing our part to the best of our ability is all we can do," I instinctively reached out to smooth Xiao Xuan's hair to comfort her, momentarily forgetting that others were present.

"Ahem! Ahem!" Xiao Cuo coughed a couple of times, snapping me back to the reality of what I'd just done. A wave of self-consciousness washed over me, and I felt decidedly awkward. Xiao Xuan, naturally less thick-skinned than I, had already retreated to her desk, staring down the exceedingly lustful gazes of Xiao Cuo and Gao Jianning.

"I told you to get going, why are you just standing around dawdling?" I snapped at Xiao Cuo irritably. Xiao Cuo wisely grabbed his jacket and headed out, muttering as he went, "Brother Lei has Lan Mei Mei, Gao Jianning has his goddess, but poor Xiao Cuo and Zhang Jiewei are left out!"

Xiao Cuo's voice faded into the hallway, but the atmosphere in the office remained thick with awkwardness. I saw Zhang Jiewei quietly return to his seat, while Gao Jianning beamed mischievously at me, continuously giving me the 'go-ahead' signal.

"Look at that sleazy look on your face. If you've got the nerve, go and charm Feng Siyan back for me!" The mention of Feng Siyan piqued my curiosity, and to deflect the attention from myself, I walked closer to Gao Jianning and, mimicking Xiao Cuo’s gossipy tone, asked, "Feng Siyan is certainly a looker, though a bit cold. Say, how do you even know her? You usually keep quiet and don’t seem to make much trouble!"

"Well, that’s a secret that can’t be told... Ouch! Brother! Let go, let go..." The sound of Gao Jianning's pained cry became sweeter the longer I listened, and I simultaneously tightened my grip on his ear.

"Alright, alright, I’m not that impatient yet. A gentleman uses words, not fists!" Knowing Gao Jianning had yielded, I released his ear.

"We were just university classmates!" Gao Jianning grumbled, rubbing his precious ear.

"Come on, are you trying to pull my leg? Half the people in our bureau are university classmates. Give me the specifics!" Gao Jianning was trying to play coy with an elder like me; he was still too green.

"The specific is that we were in the same department! Back then, she was the famously icy beauty of our entire department. The line of guys who secretly admired her could stretch from the school's front gate to the back gate. But precisely because she was so cold, very few dared to confess their feelings. A few daredevils tried, but they were chased away by her roommate before they even got close to her," Gao Jianning looked blissfully nostalgic recalling his university days, forgetting his ear still throbbed. He was truly enjoying the monologue, feeling ecstatic by himself about a pursuit that hadn't even begun.

"So that means she probably doesn't even know your name!" I grinned maliciously, knowing Gao Jianning, based on my years of observation, wouldn't have had the guts to approach his goddess, especially one so chillingly cold.

"Who says? We were in the same group for our thesis project! If I hadn't played that crucial, decisive role in the middle, our group might not have even passed, let alone earned the admiration of the professors above!" Gao Jianning puffed out his chest, recounting his past glory.

"Then why didn't she spare you a single glance by the door just now, much less greet you?" I countered. It was already a good day if fifty percent of what this guy said was true.

Faced with my question, Gao Jianning's expression faltered slightly, his gaze dimming considerably. He sat back weakly and uttered, "That’s a secret. I can’t say."

Seeing Gao Jianning suddenly change like that made me worry a little. He was usually so carefree; for him to transform into someone else so abruptly was genuinely puzzling.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, my concern evident.

"N-nothing..." The moment Gao Jianning spoke, I knew he wasn't telling me the truth. He’s never been able to lie well since childhood; his eyes drift, and he stutters unconsciously when he does. Seeing him like this, he was almost certainly fabricating something. But I felt it was better not to press further. Strictly speaking, Gao Jianning wasn't entirely reliable, but he had some sense of propriety, knowing what to do and what not to do. When he felt it was time to tell me, he would naturally come forward. There was no need for me to rush this.

Just as I was thinking this, my phone suddenly rang.

"Handsome guy! Answer the phone! Handsome guy! Answer the phone!"

The cute, childish tone attracted everyone in the office, who then cast scornful looks my way. I quickly pulled out my phone and stepped out of the office, glancing at the screen as I walked. It was Director Jiang calling. Had something else happened already?

As soon as I was outside and closed the office door, I answered Director Jiang’s call. "Do you still want to keep your job, you brat! Taking this long to answer my call!" Director Jiang’s roar hit me the moment the line connected.

"Um... is there new information?" I was momentarily at a loss for how to explain the delay to Director Jiang. After all, explaining is obscuring, and obscuring implies dishonesty. It was better for me to skip the explanation and get straight to the point.

"That's what I should be asking you!" Director Jiang retorted crossly. I noticed his anger seemed completely uncooled.

While I was lost in thought, Director Jiang’s groan sounded again: "Listen to me carefully about this matter. For yesterday's two cases, the higher-ups have ordered us and Fu Zhen’s team to investigate simultaneously. Remember, this is competition, not cooperation! If they solve the cases before you do, just wait for your year-end bonus to be completely wiped out. Someone designated with a plus sign will report to you tomorrow—that’s someone I found to help you, so stop complaining to me. That’s settled! I don't care how you investigate or what methods you use, as long as you catch the killer, OK? And ultimately, you must be the ones to catch the killer!"

As soon as Director Jiang finished speaking, he hung up with a sharp snap.

"I never even said I’d agree to it!" I grumbled at the dead phone. Director Jiang left me absolutely no room for choice. It was just two cases; as long as they could be solved smoothly, why the need for such a complicated contest with others? Did Fu Zhen perhaps steal Director Jiang’s wife, causing him to hold such a grudge?

I let out a helpless chuckle and turned back. This newcomer that Director Jiang found—what kind of oddball would he be?

As I walked back in, I saw Xiao Xuan approaching with her jacket in hand.

"Where are you going? And why are you holding my coat?" I asked, noticing the jacket in her hand.

"I just contacted the teacher at Li Yalian's school. I think we should go take a look. As a student, she spent most of her time at school, so maybe we can figure out her situation before she disappeared there," Xiao Xuan said, handing me my jacket. It seemed she had already decided I would be accompanying her on this trip.

"Maybe we can find the truth about how the killer abducted her," I added, nodding. Taking the coat, Xiao Xuan and I prepared to leave.

We had only taken two steps when we heard another set of footsteps. I spun around sharply to see Zhang Jiewei also putting on his jacket and walking out.

"I heard what you said just now. I'll go with you," Zhang Jiewei said unhurriedly, his expression unchanged, like a deep, unfathomable pool without a ripple.

"That's fine; more hands make lighter work. Let's go," Although my planned evening alone with Xiao Xuan was canceled, we were going to investigate a case, not date. So, I didn't refuse Zhang Jiewei's help. Moreover, with him along, his unique perspective might yield findings different from ours.

Anyang was renowned as China's most ecologically charming city, and its educational sector was no less impressive. Among its institutions, Jia University—full name Anyang University—was one of the key comprehensive high-level universities sponsored by the province. Founded in 1947, it merged with Anyang Medical College, Anyang Institute of Technology, and Anyang Teachers' College in 1996. After years of development and operation, it rapidly ascended to become a key institution of higher learning. Every year, tens of thousands of eager students pass through its gates to study and then emerge into society.

Upon entering Jia University, a massive red structure stood prominently in the center of a pond. Its distinctive design exuded a bold, unrestrained grandeur that immediately made one long to be a part of this university.

"Xiao Xuan, who did you contact?" I asked while admiring the pleasant scenery of Jia University. It lacked the delicate grace of a southern pavilion, instead showcasing the grand, imposing air characteristic of the North—a feeling that only those who lived on the vast Sanjiang Plain could truly comprehend.

"The counselor for Li Yalian’s college, responsible for Li Yalian’s major and year," Xiao Xuan replied, scrolling through her phone contacts. "I remember her name was Huang something... Yes, Huang Yang. I’ll call her now." Xiao Xuan then moved aside to make the call.

I turned to look at Zhang Jiewei and saw him surveying the university with an intense, scrutinizing gaze, his vigilance even extending to the dark, empty windows of the teaching buildings. Although he had been silent and almost invisible on the journey here, he currently seemed more like an active police officer on a mission than Xiao Xuan or me.

"She told us to meet her at the college's administration building," Xiao Xuan came back and reported to Zhang Jiewei and me after finishing her call.

"Can you find the way?" I couldn't help but ask, looking at Xiao Xuan's bright, confident expression.

"Of course! A good friend of mine studied here, and I used to visit once or twice a month. Compared to back then, they’ve only added a building or two now." Xiao Xuan glanced at another, older teaching building next to a structure that looked newly completed, then pointed to the older one. "Her office is over there."

I followed the direction Xiao Xuan pointed. That building was older but was still being used as an administrative office. I suddenly realized that the Telecommunications Engineering Department, where Li Yalian studied, must not be highly regarded at this university; otherwise, with so many new buildings, they wouldn't have assigned their administrative offices to such an old building that looked somewhat ominous at first glance.

The reason the building looked ominous was that, looking in from the outside, all the windows across the entire structure were dark, like bottomless pits. Even if a pair of eyes were watching us from the edge of a window, we would remain oblivious.

Since Xiao Xuan mentioned going into that building, Zhang Jiewei’s gaze had not left those black, empty windows. I didn't know how he kept pace with us, but it felt as if those dark windows were constantly drawing him forward, even drawing me, as if they might suck our very souls in and imprison them within.

College administrative buildings are always short on foot traffic, especially the corridors. From one end of the long hallway, looking forward, only a small window offered a sliver of light. Perhaps because fewer people passed through, the hallway lights weren't on. The doors on both sides were locked tight; our destination was at the very end of the corridor, a less-than-ideal location. As we walked, I involuntarily checked the nameplates on the doors on either side: Electronic Technology Lab, Signal and System Lab. Although they were all labs, not a single person was inside. Looking through the small transparent window on the door, it was pitch black. Only upon closer inspection could I see one or two rows of neatly arranged experimental equipment, the curtains drawn tightly shut. No wonder it looked so dark from the outside. Even with my abilities, I could only make out the arrangement of the equipment.

The footsteps of the three of us—varied in pace and urgency—echoed loudly in the empty hallway, sounding jarringly out of place. Occasionally, we saw one or two people emerge from rooms, but as they passed us, they regarded us with the same strange look, as if they knew we were just unwelcome visitors.

Old photographs were hung on the walls lining the corridor—nothing more than group shots of the college's former researchers and elderly professors. Most colleges choose these black, white, and gray old photos to highlight their long history; it seems to be an unspoken tradition in academia.

But now, this tradition felt deeply unsettling. The pairs of eyes hanging on the wall stared at us woodenly. No matter how fast or slow we walked, we couldn't escape their gaze, like an unending curse. Thankfully, just as my spirit was about to be pulled into that terrifying abyss, the light at the end of the corridor restored my senses, and I leaned against the window frame, desperately breathing the outside air.

Sunlight did not penetrate here, as if it didn't belong to this world. I held my hand out towards the window; the dividing line between sunlight and shadow was stark, clearly partitioning my arm into two distinct areas. One black, one white, never to merge.

A light knock sounded near my ear. I turned as if jolted by electricity to find Xiao Xuan tapping on the office door. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Knock, knock, knock." It sounded too much like...