"You seem to have taken quite a hit this time!" Hua Qingyi wanted to console him, but Xiao Lin brushed his hand aside. Being betrayed by his own father was not a pleasant experience. "I looked into it, and the person who killed Fatty Wang is 'Black Crow'." He thought this wording might be more gentle; for someone with a strong sense of pride, comforting words only added salt to the wound.

"I know." As he watched the City Police Department building get closer, Xiao Lin adjusted his hair in the mirror. "Let's go meet our future enemy."

"I've been waiting for you to say that."

"I can't imagine you as someone who would just sit there quietly and wait." Xiao Lin jumped out of the car and swaggered into the City Police Department.

Wu Shuang was buried among a crowd of people, the unexpected meeting filling her with mixed emotions she couldn't articulate. Hua Qingyi blocked Xiao Lin's way; he had a bad impression of this officer, thanks to their first encounter. Similarly, Wu Shuang had not changed her opinion of the man who looked like a woman—he was still as annoying as ever.

"Hello, I'm the agent handling Xiao Lin's case." Hua Qingyi cleared his throat. "I believe you have already received the relevant notice."

"Please follow me." The relevant documents had arrived yesterday, and though she intended to wait for them early in the morning, she was called away as soon as she entered to handle another case. She thought she had missed the meeting. Wu Shuang glanced at the person behind Hua Qingyi, feeling a sense of joy.

The process was simple; no need for the person to be physically present. Just a formality to complete. Wu Shuang wanted to get some clarity from Xiao Lin, but she was called away. The morning's case was only halfway done, and the recording of statements was only partially complete, so she hadn't had a chance to speak with Xiao Lin. "Wait for me," she managed to say as she was pulled away.

"Charming, huh!" Hua Qingyi nudged Xiao Lin. The way that woman looked at Xiao Lin was different.

"Now that we're here, let's not miss the opportunity." Xiao Lin pretended not to hear Hua Qingyi's words. In the basement, it was easy to spot the pathologist in a white coat, always with his back to others. Such a person was either overly confident or entirely lacking in awareness.

"Mu Rongyun!" Xiao Lin stood behind him, directly calling his name.

"Oh!" With his hands on his tools, Mu Rongyun turned around calmly. He pushed up the glasses on his nose, glancing over at Hua Qingyi. "Should I congratulate you?"

"Just stopping by to say hello." Xiao Lin took a step forward and leaned beside Mu Rongyun. "This is your final warning: don't mess with the people around me."

"Ah! So it seems you've met Angel." Mu Rongyun feigned understanding. "According to her reports, your little woman seems to get along well with our Angel. They might even become best friends."

"Trying to provoke me?" Xiao Lin stepped back, completely ignoring Mu Rongyun's attempt at provocation.

"Provocation only works on impulsive people. I know it won't work on you." Mu Rongyun rubbed his hands, accidentally getting a bit of blood on them. "Of course, warnings don't work on me either. I'm curious to see how you protect that woman."

"You..." Hua Qingyi grabbed Xiao Lin's shoulder, shaking his head. "This is a police station," he reminded Xiao Lin.

"Heh heh heh, honestly, your composure still doesn't compare to your old man's." Mu Rongyun seemed disappointed that Xiao Lin was held back, as if he really hoped to be beaten up. "Ah, I speculate you might not have time to deal with your woman in the coming days? Here's a kind reminder: while you still have time, make sure to spend it with her. Hide her away; if you miss the chance, I can't guarantee you'll have time to think about her later."

In the seemingly truthful yet deceptive words, Xiao Lin detected a signal. "My woman doesn't need your concern."

The tension in the air was palpable as Hua Qingyi pulled Xiao Lin away. A man, once involved in matters of his woman, becomes aggressive. This wasn't good, especially in front of this kind of person. "Hello, I'm Hua Qingyi. Now that we've formally introduced ourselves, future meetings will be clearer."

"Mu Rongyun." He shook the outstretched, delicate hand. "Famous playboy of the Hua family, a butterfly among women."

Hua Qingyi was quite receptive to Mu Rongyun's description; he'd heard things like this many times. "Didn't expect my romantic history was within your scope of investigation."

The contrast between Hua Qingyi's demeanor and Xiao Lin's made him stand out to Mu Rongyun. Perhaps before today, he hadn't paid much attention to this person, but from now on, he would also add this playboy to his list. "It's necessary, as the future heir of the Hua family, I'd better understand you. Otherwise, if I offend the Hua family unwittingly, I'd be digging my own grave."

"You're too modest." The polite exchange allowed Xiao Lin some time to compose himself and extricate his hand from Hua Qingyi's grip.

"Go back and tell Mu Rongyun that the Xiao Family is ready to receive him at any time." Xiao Lin noticed a trace of unnatural expression on Mu Rongyun's face when he mentioned the name Mu Rongyun, a habitual twitch. A glint appeared in his eyes. "Additionally, please convey a message to Xiao Mu. He has only one chance to return to the Xiao Family before I find Hong Lian, otherwise, he will be treated as a traitor to the Xiao Family."

"A traitor?"

"That's right, I will issue a notice as the heir of the Xiao Family." Such strength; for the first time, Mu Rongyun witnessed Xiao Lin speaking with the authority of the Xiao Family, this innate dominance made him lower his eyes involuntarily.

With the desired effect achieved after such a posture, Xiao Lin naturally stopped there. Too much pressure would only backfire.

Wu Shuang searched around but couldn't hear any sound from Xiao Lin. She just wanted to try her luck in the basement. However, as she descended the stairs, she paused. She didn't intend to eavesdrop, but it was too late by the time she realized what she was doing. Xiao Lin and Hua Qingyi were coming up the stairs as she was about to leave, and unexpectedly, she was met by their gazes.

It was no longer a matter of awkwardness but a dilemma of knowing neither how to advance nor retreat, and following closely, Mu Rongyun appeared within her field of vision.

Xiao Lin ignored Wu Shuang, even seeming to consider her transparent as he walked past her, with Hua Qingyi following closely. "Officer Wu, is there something you need from me?" Mu Rongyun habitually adjusted the glasses on his nose; he was unsure of how long this woman had been here, and seeing Xiao Lin's indifference, he couldn't gauge the situation.

"I'm here to pick up the report on the victim from this morning's car accident."

"Oh, I just had visitors, it's not quite ready yet."

"I'll come back later." Wu Shuang said this, then went upstairs, her avoidance causing a cold smile to flash on Mu Rongyun's lips.

"Brother, that woman..." Hua Qingyi wanted to confirm, but Xiao Lin stopped him. Just then, several colleagues approached, saluted Xiao Lin with a standard military salute, and proceeded upstairs. "What is Dragon Soul doing here?"

"No idea." Xiao Lin followed them. Dragon Soul's involvement in criminal cases is unlikely unless... Just as he expected, when he stepped upstairs, a group of people quickly emerged from the hallway, followed by Lin Zhifang, whose hands were covered with a coat, and his face was pale as if he might faint at any moment. Hua Qingyi glanced at Xiao Lin, who also shook his head, uncertain of the situation.

As soon as Lin Zhifang saw Xiao Lin, he tried to approach but was stopped by Dragon Soul's men. "What's going on?" Xiao Lin stepped forward to ask, but the other party just saluted and took Lin Zhifang away. Familiar with such procedures, Xiao Lin didn't take offense to the apparent disrespect. "Let's go."

Lin Zhifang was taken away just like that, leaving the police department bewildered. As Xiao Lin passed by Mu Rongyun, he uttered two words, watching the shape of his mouth and the provocative curve at the corner of his mouth, his hands clenched into fists in his pockets.

Xiao Lin's indication was 'Hong Lian,' suggesting his next target, a provocation aimed at Mu Rongyun, not at him. Was this implying that he was nothing more than a substitute, rendering him entirely unnoticed and outside the scope of his vision? Mu Rongyun unconsciously bit his lip, unable to control the trembling of his shoulders, filled with anger and disdain.

"Dr. Mu, are you okay?" Wu Shuang hurried after Xiao Lin's departing figure but was one step too late; he was already speeding away in Hua Qingyi's car. Disappointed, she turned to find Mu Rongyun still trembling. "Are you sick? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"I'm fine!" Coldly pushing away Wu Shuang's helping hand. "Officer Wu, don't stand outside other people's doors eavesdropping carelessly, lest you set yourself on fire."

Though Mu Rongyun's voice was light, it struck heavily in Wu Shuang's heart. Watching the familiar back, Wu Shuang was at a loss about how to return to the office. Mu Rongyun's warning carried a weighty threat, and she poured herself a cup of coffee, forcing herself to calm down, but it was easier said than done.

Picking up her phone, she considered calling Xiao Lin but hesitated and put it back on the desk, then grabbed her bag and headed out.

"Officer Wu, where are you going?" An assistant, just out of the interrogation room, called out to Wu Shuang. "The suspect just provided a clue, are you leaving now?"

"He confessed?" Wu Shuang hesitated but put down her bag, opened the assistant-prepared statement, and briefly skimmed through it.

"A new suspect was identified. The information just relayed from the Traffic Bureau confirmed the irregularity of this traffic accident, so we suspect there's an underlying issue behind this case."

"The Northern District?" This is a relatively remote area of Yanjing, where most people either can't afford a house or have just moved to Yanjing and choose to live there due to low rent and poor public safety, a place even traffic police are unwilling to go. "Hurry up, let's go take a look." (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote for it with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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