After their confessions were rejected, they regretted it for the rest of their lives.

hang up the phone.

Zuoqiu Hangyu slipped the medicine into her mouth through her pink lips.

Unable to bear the restlessness in her heart, her delicate toes curled tightly under her slippers, and she pressed her slender hand against her somewhat dazed head.

The girl felt that although she seemed normal, she was actually on the verge of going insane.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been experiencing these unwanted hallucinations again and again.

The deep crack in my heart,

Contrary to what the doctor said, it didn't heal gradually over time; instead, it kept getting bigger.

It can even become an insurmountable chasm.

There aren't even any photos of the actual nights I passed by on my phone.

Some were just photos taken during the evidence collection process...

In the photo, Lu Ye is wearing a black trench coat and standing in a messy room, searching for something.

Warm memories, contrasted with the cold and bleak reality, left Zuoqiu Hangyu somewhat disoriented.

The day this photo was taken may have been the day she began to fall for this guy.

Fresh out of university, and still learning as a lawyer's assistant, he learns of a horrific murder case from his father.

She visited the victim's family privately and learned that the victim was an elderly man who often helped left-behind children.

The children left behind in the neighborhood affectionately call him "Grandpa."

The heinous crime of a suspect breaking into a home to rob and then murdering an elderly person living alone has left Zuoqiu Hangyu extremely angry.

During her visit, the girl encountered the detective again, just like she always did.

By then, the two had become quite familiar with each other and were even able to banter with one another.

"I heard even the police are stumped by this case? Seriously, shouldn't a rookie like you be saving your energy on the front lines?"

Zuoqiu Hangyu retorted, "Then I'm still better than a third-rate detective like you, right?"

But the guy laughed: "The key evidence in the previous cases was personally handed over to the lawyers at the law firm by me. One of your assistants was probably there too, right?"

"..."

The girl's obvious disdain for her words ignited her competitive spirit. Perhaps wanting to find the evidence herself and then slap that guy's smug smile, she decided to go to the crime scene.

However, given that access to the site is not possible during the day...

So, with a sense of justice in mind, she crossed the cordon at night and went to the crime scene alone.

Because the target location was an old residential area with outdated infrastructure, there was not even an elevator, and the corridors were narrow and dark with exposed red bricks.

In addition, due to the murder, many residents have temporarily moved out of the building.

The atmosphere at night was more eerie than Zuoqiu Hangyu had imagined.

Despite her initial enthusiasm, the fear that arose when she was alone gradually shattered her daytime enthusiasm.

In a daze, she seemed to hear some faint footsteps, but perhaps it was just her imagination.

She pulled back the police cordon alone; the faint, lingering smell of blood in the room made the young woman frown slightly.

The mess and signs of struggle make you feel like you're in a horror movie.

The thought of giving up also crossed my mind.

Her slender fingers felt somewhat weak, and she mechanically snapped a few photos as if to appease herself.

Panting heavily, her beautiful eyes darted around anxiously. How could she possibly search for clues seriously and attentively in this environment?

Forget it, I'll ask my dad during the day and see if he can let me go in with the police...

Thinking this, Zuoqiu Hangyu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly turned around in the dark room.

But unexpectedly, in the dim light of his phone, he didn't see a door leading out, but rather a figure closely following behind him.

It was a gaunt, middle-aged man with sharp, narrow eyes that stared at her with a murky, fierce look, like a vengeful ghost coming to claim her life in this atmosphere.

The perpetrator may return to the scene after the incident for various reasons, such as destroying evidence or due to a twisted mentality.

The knowledge I had learned before flashed through my mind instantly.

Zuoqiu Hangyu's body visibly stiffened, but she didn't freeze in place. Her right hand immediately reached into her pocket for the stun gun she had prepared for self-defense.

But the girl's delicate body appeared exceptionally small next to the other's tall stature, especially since the other was already pouncing on her.

"Clatter!"

A sharp pain shot through Zuoqiu Hangyu's right arm as he was struck by the opponent's fist. He dropped his phone and the stun gun he had just pulled out to the ground.

The girl herself was thrown backward by the force and fell to the ground. When she looked up again, she could vaguely see a knife gleaming coldly.

At that moment, the primal fear of death overwhelmed her, rendering her unable to even scream.

"We're doomed..."

Just as Zuoqiu Hangyu closed his eyes, looking particularly pitiful and helpless, and held his still-raised left arm in front of him,

The expected pain of being stabbed by the blade did not occur; instead, there was a crisp "thud!" sound.

There was also the sound of a man turning around frantically.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"Thump!"

Another blunt sound, followed by the thud of a body lying on the ground.

Zuoqiu Hangyu opened his eyes and saw Lu Ye holding an old man's cane.

The other person was bathed in light, and their face, which gave one an immense sense of security, could be vaguely seen.

Standing in front of her, it was like a guardian stone, standing there firmly.

The man twirled the old man's old cane, then set it aside.

"Are you alright?"

Lu Ye's gentle and warm voice calmed the girl's heart, which was pounding wildly with fright.

But soon the girl's heart began to beat faster because of him.

Zuoqiu Hangyu was lifted up by Lu Ye, who held him under his armpits like a kitten.

"How did a little girl like you come to this place..."

"...I...want to look for clues..."

"Remember to invite me next time."

Zuoqiu Hangyu lowered his head, clutching his injured right arm, like a bird with a broken wing, leaning on Lu Ye's shoulder for support.

Feeling the warmth emanating from the other person, she felt as if her heart was pounding so hard she could hardly breathe.

like...

She had studied psychology and understood what the suspension bridge effect was.

But things are different now.

Although she had never experienced liking someone before, when this feeling actually arose, Zuoqiu Hangyu was not as clueless as those naive high school students who felt it was inexplicable.

"...Um..."

Zuoqiu Hangyu nodded, his heart pounding.

To relieve the pain, she staggered away from Mr. Ye, picked up the stun gun from the ground, and stunned the perpetrator lying below.

Leaving Mr. Ye's side too quickly

"Fortunately... we shouldn't need to investigate any leads."

The girl looked up and gave "Mr. Night" a smile that would warm anyone's heart.

"Lu Ye, it's a promise from now on. If we ever need to investigate any cases, let's go together..."

.......

However, in reality, Lu Ye did not actually do what they agreed on and investigate the clues together.

The final case was investigated by Lu Ye alone.

Zuoqiu Hangyu knew that he did not want to risk being retaliated against afterward.

Even though they later found threatening letters from unknown locations in his mailing records,

At that time, you had to pretend to be indifferent.

What a foolish hero...