Zhuang Zi looked at them with a serious expression. “Recently, some strange things have been happening at home. I installed surveillance cameras in the living room. A quick check should reveal the truth.”

“What strange things?”

Seeing that Zhuang Zi was struggling to speak, Jiang Zhihao answered for her, “Things inexplicably appearing in places they shouldn’t be. The strangest instance was a flowerpot in the living room mysteriously moving to the balcony. The community checked the surveillance, and no thief had entered the house. We thought it might be her doing things in a daze and then forgetting about it.”

The two officers exchanged a quick glance and asked, “Are you sure it’s not something you did yourself?”

Zhuang Zi thought for a moment and shook her head. “The surveillance should have recorded everything.”

After a brief pause, Xie Kui said, “Alright. When would be a good time for us to check your surveillance? If there’s evidence of a break-in, we’ll open a case for investigation as soon as possible. However, once you’re feeling better, you’ll need to come to the station to file a detailed report.”

Zhuang Zi, feeling extremely anxious, was eager to get to the bottom of this. “My brother-in-law can take you to my house now. I’ll go to the station to file the report as soon as I finish my IV.”

“That works.”

…

By the time she finished her IV, it was already past 6 p.m.

On the way to the police station, Zhuang Zi pondered deeply.

Thinking about everything that had happened the previous night, she felt increasingly uneasy.

It was terrifying upon closer reflection!

If she had died quietly at home last night, it would have been deemed either a failed suicide attempt or an accidental death, just like her sister.

Although she had no evidence, she was becoming more certain that there was something suspicious about her sister’s car accident.

Who would want her dead for no reason? And who was responsible for her sister’s death?

…

At 7 p.m., the police station in Beiyan District, Yicheng City, was brightly lit.

The on-duty officer led her to the Criminal Investigation Department office. Xie Kui was not there; he was likely still at her house checking the surveillance footage.

The officer told her to come back at 8 a.m. the next day. Since it was the end of the workday, Xie Kui might not return to the station.

Zhuang Zi, still recovering and having just been exposed to the cold wind outside, felt a dry, painful sensation extending from her lungs to her throat, causing her to cough violently. The cough triggered pain in her temples, making her head feel dizzy and swollen. She weakly grasped the sofa beside her for support.

The caregiver who had accompanied her looked worried at her pale face. “Are you alright?”

Zhuang Zi waved her hand to indicate she was fine.

Still concerned, the caregiver turned to the police officer. “She’s still in the hospital. Could she stay here for a bit to drink some hot water before leaving?”

Seeing her genuinely unwell appearance, the officer nodded in agreement.

The caregiver helped her sit on the sofa and went to the water dispenser to get her some hot water.

In the vast, empty office, the sound of water gurgling from the dispenser echoed clearly.

The Criminal Investigation Department had only this one large office, with more than a dozen desks. Apart from the innermost meeting room and the captain’s private office, everyone in the department worked in this large office during the day.

At this moment, the private office door was closed, but the meeting room lights were on, and a few figures could be seen moving inside.

From her angle, she could see a man’s back directly opposite her.

He leaned casually against the edge of a desk, smoking silently while someone spoke to him. He turned slightly to tap the ash off his cigarette, the bright light outlining the firm contours of his profile.

Zhuang Zi’s gaze lingered on that smooth silhouette for a few seconds, as if trying to recognize something.

Before she could come to any conclusion, the caregiver brought her the water.

She carefully took it, and the warm water soothed her throat, making her feel much better.

At that moment, the meeting room door was fully opened from the inside.

A group of people walked out.

Instinctively, Zhuang Zi looked up.

Leading the group was a man in a black leather jacket with a stand-up collar. His straight posture filled out the jacket perfectly. With his hands in his pockets, his tall and lean frame stood out among the crowd, looking both efficient and stylish.

When she saw his face clearly, she was slightly taken aback.

“Captain Si,” a police officer beside him asked, “What if we still can’t reach the kid’s father?”

Captain Si…

She had heard this title in her dazed state when she was carried out of the bedroom that morning.

As the man walked toward her, he seemed to sense someone watching him. He looked up, and his sharp, cold eyes met hers.

Zhuang Zi did not avoid his gaze.

But after only a second, his indifferent eyes moved past her, and he continued discussing work with his subordinates.

“Try to contact other relatives,” he said.

As he passed by, he walked straight out of the large office and disappeared down the hallway without looking back.

Unable to help herself, Zhuang Zi watched his retreating figure and suddenly remembered an incident from two years ago.

The Beiyan District Police Station in Yicheng Province—it wasn’t really a coincidence.

It was understandable that he didn’t remember her, but—

She hadn’t forgotten his name.

Si Hang.