Si Hang’s apartment was in Bai Jiang Apartments by the river. The complex was shaded with trees and had well-maintained landscaping. While it wasn’t as grand as the villa area, the high-end apartment had its unique charm.

The night view was a highlight, given its proximity to the river.

The car passed through the softly lit streets and entered the parking garage.

Zhuang Zi got out and retrieved her suitcase from the trunk, and they both took the elevator up.

In the confined space, the elevator ascended quietly.

Zhuang Zi still hadn’t fully recovered from the earlier awkwardness. Glancing at the reflective surface of the elevator, she saw Si Hang with his hands in his pockets, slightly tilting his chin up and staring at the floor number display.

He seemed quite at ease.

Police officers probably had strong mental resilience, she thought. Perhaps she should learn from him. It was just a joke, after all. With nothing to hide, there was no need to feel embarrassed.

Yet at this moment, standing in the elevator with him on their way to his home, Zhuang Zi found it somewhat unbelievable. Given their previous interactions, they weren’t quite familiar but not strangers either, and now he was willing to take her in.

As she pondered this, she realized that although he often appeared indifferent and aloof, speaking bluntly, he wasn’t entirely unkind.

With this thought, she glanced at him again.

The overhead light highlighted his well-defined features, with a trace of subtle arrogance in his expression. His deep and refined features were almost arrogantly handsome. His tall stature added a touch of color to the entire space.

The elevator suddenly dinged, reaching the seventeenth floor.

Startled, Zhuang Zi quickly withdrew her gaze and followed him out of the elevator.

At the door, Si Hang raised his hand to unlock the code lock, and the hallway light automatically turned on.

Upon entering, the first thing Zhuang Zi noticed was a full glass wall facing the entrance.

Massive curtains hung like waterfalls from the ceiling. Outside the window was a dazzling view of the river at night. The distant lights of countless homes sparkled like stars, adorning every corner of the city.

Walking into the living room, the crystal chandelier overhead glittered brilliantly, illuminating the spacious, modern, and stylishly decorated space.

Zhuang Zi glanced around. The apartment’s design was simple and grand, with a cool color scheme of mainly gray and white, much like his personality, she thought.

She had recently made a down payment on a house that would be ready next year and would need decorating.

Since her own taste leaned towards the minimalist, she found his apartment’s style quite appealing.

Turning around to ask him about his designer, she saw him approaching from the open kitchen, holding a bottle of mineral water. “Don’t go into the master bedroom. Feel free to use any other room.”

“…….” His words instantly brought her back to reality, wiping out any gratitude she had felt towards him. She swallowed back the words she was about to say.

Knowing she was a guest, she understood the need to be cautious and respectful, without his constant reminders.

Besides, what business would she have in his master bedroom?

Si Hang glanced at her and, seeing her somewhat ambiguous expression, handed her the bottle of water. “There are important analysis materials around the house. I’m busy and don’t have time to organize them. If things get mixed up, it will be troublesome to find them.”

Taking the water, Zhuang Zi’s expression softened. It made sense now. She regretted her earlier prejudice against him, realizing he was just being meticulously cautious about work.

He bent down to open the coffee table drawer and handed her a card. “This is the access card for the complex. But don’t go out alone. Call Xiao Zhao if you need to go out.”

After taking a sip of water, she accepted the card as he turned and walked away.

……

The apartment had a three-bedroom, two-living-room layout, with a small study.

To avoid his master bedroom, Zhuang Zi chose a guest room furthest from his.

After setting her luggage, she took a shower.

Twenty minutes later, as she came out of the bathroom and passed by the study, she paused and peeked in.

The study was small, with a full wall of bookshelves and a computer desk. The shelves were filled with books, mostly on criminal law.

Looking at the neatly organized books, she thought she might ask him if she could borrow some.

A detective’s selection of reference books would be highly professional, more informative than what she could find at the library.

Glancing at the master bedroom door, she decided it was too late to ask now and that she could wait until tomorrow.

……

In a new environment, Zhuang Zi had trouble sleeping.

She tossed and turned until the early hours before finally falling asleep.

The next morning, just at dawn.

The sky had a light blue tint, reflecting off the expansive, winding river running through the city.

Half-asleep, Zhuang Zi heard the door closing in the living room.

Lazily turning over in bed, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table, surprised to see it was only six o’clock. Did he go to work this early every day?

Putting down her phone, she lay in bed for another ten minutes before getting up. After washing up and making her bed, she walked into the living room.

The house was quiet, the morning light filtering through the windows.

The distant mountains were slowly embraced by a rising red sun, casting a gentle glow over every corner of the city. The tranquil river surface sparkled with a golden hue, like a grand backdrop.

Drawn by the view, Zhuang Zi stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, admiring the early morning river scene.

The apartment’s orientation was perfect, truly a prime location.

Feeling inspired, she took out her phone and snapped a few photos.

……

For breakfast, Zhuang Zi casually cooked a bowl of dumplings she had bought from the supermarket yesterday.

With Si Hang off to work, the house was quiet and empty.

She sat alone in the dining room, eating halfway when she suddenly thought of her sister, and a wave of sadness washed over her.

Her sister used to make dumplings and bring them to her, never letting her buy them from the supermarket. Comparing the two, she suddenly lost her appetite.

She missed that special taste.

After sitting in a daze for a while, she got up to clean the kitchen.

After breakfast, she went to her room, grabbed a few reference books, and settled on the carpet beside the coffee table to start taking notes.

The sun rose and set, the view of the river constantly changing, making the day pass quickly.

As the sun gradually hid behind the distant mountains across the river, the sky darkened, and the city lights began to illuminate.

Zhuang Zi looked up from her books, rubbing her aching shoulders.

She checked the time. It was past six. She wondered if Si Hang would be back for dinner.

She picked up her phone and sent him a message, but there was no reply for a long time.

Assuming he would eat at the station, she didn’t worry about it.

She ate a simple meal herself. Just as she was about to take a shower, her phone buzzed.

There were two messages from Si Hang. The first read: [Not coming back.]

The second: [Ate at the station.]

Zhuang Zi found it a bit amusing. He could have conveyed both messages in one, but he chose to send two.

Setting her phone aside, she headed to the bathroom.

Halfway through her shower, she heard the front door open.

She turned off the shower and heard him talking on the phone outside: “Send the data to my email first.”

A moment later, he asked, “Can Xiao Meng come back tomorrow?”

Finally, he said, “I’ll arrange it when I come in tomorrow.”

She turned the shower back on, finished quickly, and glanced into the living room, not seeing him. He was probably in his room.

She went to her bedroom, changed into her pajamas, dried her hair, and then went to the kitchen to wash some fruit.