“Yesterday, my sister asked me to go to her place after 9 PM, saying there was something she needed my help with.”
“Did she say what it was?”
“No, she said it was a chance to make a fortune. She explained it all, but she didn’t understand it herself, and I sure didn’t get it.” He scratched his head.
“And then?”
“Then I went to her place. I saw blood all over the floor, and my sister was lying there, not moving.” Li Cunhou said, “I instinctively picked up that knife, then suddenly realized that if I touched it, I’d look like the killer. So I got scared, dropped the knife, and ran out.”
“That much blood, and you didn’t step in any of it?” Bai Zhu found it unreasonable. He checked Li Cunhou’s shoes—size 39, fitting perfectly.
It didn’t match the shoe size Peng Xiaoxiao had deduced for the killer.
“Why would I step in the blood? I didn’t get close to look.”
“So you didn’t even check if your sister was alive or dead, if there was any chance to save her?”
“That much blood? She was definitely dead. Do I need to say it?” Li Cunhou said, “That nosy woman across the way might have seen me then. But I really didn’t kill her. I had no reason to.”
“Then how did the cash in Li Cuicai’s house disappear?” Fang Si Ting said. “The team searching your place will be back soon. You better tell the truth.”
Li Cunhou hemmed and hawed. “I saw my sister was gone, and the money at home would end up with her husband anyway. It wouldn’t hurt to take some.”
“So, the mess in Li Cuicai’s house—you did that?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“Were the doors open or locked when you went to your sister’s place?”
“Locked… open.” Li Cunhou said firmly. “Open, with a gap.”
“And when you left? Did you close the door?”
Li Cunhou thought carefully, then mumbled, “Who remembers? I was scared shitless at the time.”
“Got it.” Fang Si Ting stood up. “You’re not going anywhere for now—burglary.”
“Just for stealing?” Li Cunhou’s face lit up. “Okay, okay. I’ll cooperate fully.”
Fang Si Ting called Vice Squad Officers to take him away. Bai Zhu said to Fang Si Ting, “There were traces at both crime scenes. I thought at least one was his doing, but turns out neither was. This guy’s got some real luck.”
“Not necessarily.” Fang Si Ting said coldly.
“What do you mean?”
“Full of lies.”
“Huh?”
Fang Si Ting analyzed, “Li Cunhou said he picked up the knife, but according to the bloodstain analysis at the scene, the murder weapon showed no signs of being dropped a second time.
“Blood sprayed from the throat, covering the floor. It couldn’t have dried by after 9 PM. He claims he picked up the knife but left no footprints at the murder scene. Impossible.
“He said he was too scared to remember if the door was open or locked, but he had time to rummage through the house. Leaving footprints but then finding bleach to clean the floor? His mental state doesn’t add up.”
Bai Zhu listened, stunned. Finally, he cursed. “We got played! Wasted effort again.”
“Not necessarily.” Fang Si Ting said. “He’s definitely connected to the Lu Jin case. To clear himself, he lied about going to Li Cuicai’s place to plant evidence here. That way, he couldn’t have been at Sovereign Cloud Realm at 8 PM.”
The two locations were at least two hours apart by the fastest route.
“So he’s the killer who murdered Lu Jin.” Bai Zhu said. “Don’t we have that spit evidence? Why not just nab him?”
Fang Si Ting glanced at the silent person nearby.
“Inspector Fang.” Xu Nuo stepped forward. “You still don’t believe my deduction.”
“I need factual evidence.” Fang Si Ting turned coldly and walked out of the interrogation room.
“What if I have factual evidence?” Xu Nuo chased after him.
Fang Si Ting saw the persistence in his eyes and suddenly asked, “Which team were you with before?”
Xu Nuo immediately snapped his heels together, stood at attention, and saluted. “Captain Xu Nuo of the Fox Hunt Commando Team Third Squad, stationed in XX District, XX City, reporting!”
Fang Si Ting didn’t dodge. He called out to Xu An, who was peeking from the office. “Pull his personal file from childhood onward.”
He said, “If you’re good at trace evidence and want to switch teams, I can apply for you to go to Deputy Tang…”
“I want to be by your side, as your partner.”
Fang Si Ting saw the unwavering admiration in his eyes—touching in its intensity.
As their gazes met, a faint unnatural flush appeared on his face. He bit his lip, hesitating.
Bai Zhu watched, dumbfounded.
Fang Si Ting coughed lightly into his fist and turned impassively. Everyone on the 13th floor—working or not—was craning their necks to watch.
When he looked over, heads ducked, phone calls resumed, and the idle ones clicked their mice, suddenly busy again.
“Bai Zhu, take him to get dinner first.”
Bai Zhu acknowledged and strode out.
Xu Nuo cutely twisted his waist, taking small quick steps, bouncing with joy behind him. Sensing the stares, he straightened up, deliberately striding out with big steps, swinging the files in his hand.
Same hand and foot.
Fang Si Ting shook his head in exasperation and entered the office.
++
Late at night, looking from outside, only one window on the United Building’s 13th floor was lit.
In the dead of night, Fang Si Ting reorganized the files for both cases.
He rubbed his nose bridge and picked up the thermos beside him, only to find it empty.
He took the cup out to refill with hot water. Passing the Forensics Team’s lab area, he saw faint light through the frosted glass.
A thought struck him, and he turned toward the door. An unexpected figure appeared before him.
Xu Nuo gauged the distance and angle. His wheat-colored face moved, and he spat onto the plastic sheet on the floor.
He compared the plastic sheet to a photo, took a picture, peeled off the sheet, tossed it in the trash, and laid down a new one.
This time, he changed the angle and distance, then spat again.
“What are you doing?”
A voice suddenly sounded at the door. Xu Nuo yelped in surprise and stumbled, tripping over the trash bin nearby.
A hand firmly grabbed his arm, steadying him from behind.
“Fang… Fang…”
Fang Si Ting helped him stand straight and released his hand—no extra movements.
“What are you doing?”
Xu Nuo scratched his head sheepishly. “You said I needed factual evidence during the day. I searched online but found nothing, so I borrowed the Forensics Team’s lab to test it here.”
He fumbled on the nearby table. “Weird, I was just looking at it…”
“You don’t need to…”
“Ah, found it.” Xu Nuo scratched his head, dazed and embarrassed. “It was in my pocket. Forgot. Look.”
A flicker of impatience crossed Fang Si Ting’s eyes, but he took the photo.
“I tried hundreds of times. No matter if close or far, any angle, any force—it’s impossible for a person to spit like that.” Xu Nuo picked up a clipboard from the table and said earnestly.
Fang Si Ting countered in a cold tone, “So?”
“So, the killer collected it from somewhere else and deliberately left it at the scene,” Xu Nuo said, blinking his bright eyes. “To frame Li Cunhou.”
The impatience in Fang Si Ting’s eyes deepened. “Did your team catch their suspect?”
The network tech and forensics teams were small. Each person analyzed multiple guests’ trajectories. Peng Xiaoxiao even handled criminal profiles for everyone alone. The Action Team had more people, often several per guest.
Hearing this, Xu Nuo stammered guiltily. “N-not yet, but…”
“Catch your assigned guest first. This case isn’t yours.”
The excitement in Xu Nuo’s eyes dimmed. His lips, lightly glossed, parted reluctantly before pouting. “Oh.”
Fang Si Ting realized his tone was harsh and softened it. “It’s late. Get off work. We’ll talk about the rest tomorrow.”
“Mm.” Xu Nuo lowered his head and hauled the trash from the bin.
His fitted T-shirt rode up, revealing a stretch of taut, wheat-colored waist—muscular, without an ounce of fat.
Like an African wildcat cub.
Fang Si Ting withdrew his gaze, savoring the moment. He detected a sniffle in that nasal sound.
His heart inexplicably felt stuffy.
Back in the office, the more he thought, the more unsettled he became.
Was this guy too prone to crying?
His former colleagues and subordinates, men or women, were all tough as nails—unyielding, impervious. Even fresh grads didn’t cry at the drop of a hat.
He hadn’t even said much. Why that reaction?
Too fragile.
Nothing like Fox Hunt Commando Team material.
He sipped his tea, clearing stray thoughts, and dove back into work.
Suddenly, a soft knock sounded at the door—hesitant, as if afraid to disturb someone deep in thought.
Fang Si Ting checked his watch: 1 AM.
He opened the door to see Xu Nuo hesitating, about to leave.
His eyes were indeed red and moist.
“I saw your light still on…”
“Why haven’t you gone home?”
“Our guy’s tough to catch. I was reviewing clues, and time got away.” Xu Nuo grimaced, then remembered and offered one of the coffees in his hand.
“Ground it myself. Hope it’s okay.” He smiled shyly.
Fang Si Ting took a sip. The roasted coffee beans’ aroma was perfect—bitter with fruit and milk notes, a slight acidity. Excellent layers.
“Thanks.” He took another sip and was about to close the door when he added, “Show me your case.”
Xu Nuo’s face visibly brightened. He nodded eagerly and rushed to his desk to gather files.
In the dark, the faint glow from his computer screen played across his face—subtle yet refined makeup on distinctly masculine angles, blurring gender lines in the dim light.
Wildness with a unique gentleness.
Xu Nuo soon returned with the folder, giving a restrained smile.
This guy always seemed flustered, endearingly clumsy and innocent.
“Were you crying earlier?” he asked casually.
“Mm.” Xu Nuo nodded his lowered head, embarrassed.
Fang Si Ting shifted awkwardly, switching his weight to the other foot.
“As a vice squad officer, how can you be so soft?” he lectured sternly.
“In front of others, I’m not like this.” Xu Nuo met his gaze bravely. “I just want your approval and praise so badly. I finally found a lead, spoke up to get your attention… to get closer to you.”
“But it feels like you hate me.”
“Did I accidentally…” He noticed his pinky sticking out while holding the folder and hurriedly hid his hand behind his back.
Done for. Exposed.
“I’m usually very manly, really.”
Fang Si Ting glanced at his other hand. Nails clean, but a trace of colored polish lingered in the cuticles.
“Come in.” He softened his tone.
Xu Nuo’s eyes lit up. He trotted in happily and sat across the desk.
