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In Starbucks, Gu Xiaolan once again watched Chen Fang leave in solitude. Alongside the usual resentment he felt, there was an inexplicable excitement bubbling within him. This excitement stemmed from the fact that he was about to commit murder for the first time.
He intended to kill for Chen Fang. The intended victim was Chen Fang's current husband, Wan Jiu Xiang.
The depth of his love for Chen Fang fueled his desire to kill. This love had once plunged him into despair. His infatuation with Chen Fang began in college, blossoming during his youthful years and continuing to this day. Strangely enough, he had hidden this intense affection deep within himself for a long time.
He understood that Chen Fang came from a strict family that did not allow early relationships. That was fine; he could wait until they graduated from university. It was on the night of their graduation party, a night filled with the bittersweet emotions of parting, that he finally confessed his feelings to Chen Fang.
As expected, she was taken aback. But what surprised Gu Xiaolan even more was her revelation that she already had a boyfriend and that they would be walking down the aisle after graduation. Gu Xiaolan felt as if the ground had shifted beneath him; it wasn't that he shouldn't have confessed, but rather that he had confessed too late.
Unwilling to accept this outcome, he initially thought it was an excuse. How could it be? He had never seen this so-called boyfriend, let alone witnessed any romantic moments typical among college couples. He had paid attention to the letters exchanged among the girls in class and had never seen anyone write to her.
Chen Fang's expression was complex as she shyly explained that this person had been introduced by her family long ago and came from a wealthy background. The implication was clear: someone like Gu Xiaolan, with an ordinary upbringing, could not compete with him. This realization left Gu Xiaolan feeling even more dazed; it turned out that it wasn't her parents who forbade her from dating early on, but rather that she had already set her sights on a wealthy heir. That night, he drowned his sorrows in twelve bottles of beer.
A full year later, after escaping to another city, he finally managed to pull himself together with the encouragement of friends and became a businessman. The shattering of love and faith matured him into a cold-hearted individual; aside from making money, he had no other interests. Unexpectedly, he became a moderately successful businessman, yet his emotional life remained barren. Due to business needs, he returned to the city that had once broken his heart—Chengdu.
A chance class reunion brought him face-to-face with Chen Fang again. Now a married woman, she appeared melancholic; many classmates knew the reason behind her sorrow—the tumultuous marriage she found herself in. A couple who had never exchanged a single love letter during their college romance clearly needed no further explanation regarding their relationship.
Their interactions gradually increased, even traveling together with old classmates. Fortunately, their private meetings remained a secret; Gu Xiaolan knew how much Chen Fang valued her reputation. What made him feel both frustrated and elated was that during each trip, Chen Fang rarely received calls from Wan Jiu Xiang. Their marital relationship had become so distant—it was his opportunity.
However, he was dissatisfied with their relationship being neither friendship nor romance. There were moments when Chen Fang looked at him as if wanting to say something but hesitated instead. It was evident that she was content with Gu Xiaolan's affection yet reluctant to let go; there was even a hint of desire to take a step further. But everything remained in limbo. Her upbringing was strict, and she always obeyed her parents' wishes. As long as her husband did not propose divorce, she would not dare to leave him. Moreover, Wan Jiu Xiang came from a prosperous family and they had signed a prenuptial agreement—if they divorced, she would end up with nothing.
Unless... Wan Jiu Xiang died unexpectedly, then all problems would be resolved effortlessly.
A plan to kill that would not jeopardize his career and could allow him to be with Chen Fang began to take shape in his mind.
...
The scene was a complete mess. Vice Captain of the Criminal Police Team Yu Jiushun maneuvered his bulky body, trying to move around the cramped living room, but he quickly realized it was futile. His subordinates were scattered throughout the room, collecting samples and investigating, making it as crowded as a marketplace. Soon, Yu Jiushun was drenched in sweat.
The victim was a female college student named Wu Qingqing, who had been renting the place. Based on the examination of the body, she had died around 9 PM that evening. There was a distinct strangulation mark on her neck, but no other fingerprints were found around, suggesting she had likely been killed by an assailant wearing gloves.
Her body lay on the living room floor, and it was around 10 PM when her roommate, An Yun Ni, returned from karaoke with friends and discovered the scene, immediately calling the police. The room remained in the same state as when Wu Qingqing died; it appeared she had fought fiercely with her attacker before succumbing. The coffee table, sofa, dining table, and computer desk were all overturned, and leftover food from the dining table was scattered across the floor.
The computer case had been smashed beyond repair, not to mention the LCD monitor. A burnt smell wafted from the case, where components had short-circuited due to being soaked in food juices from the floor; many appeared to be destroyed.
However, none of the valuables in the room seemed to be missing. An Yun Ni's camera was still in her bedroom. In the other bedroom—the one occupied by Wu Qingqing—her handbag remained untouched, with its contents intact.
Yu Jiushun felt certain this was not a case of robbery gone wrong.
It was time for a change in appearance. Zhuo Jianxuan suddenly realized his hair had grown quite long; although this fact had been apparent for some time. He was an investigator at Mu Ma Commercial Investigation Agency—commonly known as a private detective—but people's first impression of him remained that of a "down-and-out artistic youth," thanks to his thick long hair and overly casual attire.
In truth, being seen as an artistic youth was somewhat flattering. If his hair were any more disheveled or wild, people might even associate him with today's "post-90s" generation. Only the crow's feet occasionally appearing at the corners of his eyes hinted at his age.
This disheveled appearance was unintentional. He always felt he didn't have enough time to groom himself; he needed to dive into his thoughts and focus on detective work to make a living—gathering evidence of infidelity for wealthy clients or even searching for missing pets. Sometimes he was filled with passion, unsure whether it stemmed from a strong sense of duty or complete resignation.
His former classmate, Yu Jiushun, had long since become the Vice Captain of the Criminal Police Team. Meanwhile, Zhuo Jianxuan, who had assisted Yu Jiushun in solving numerous difficult cases, was continuously referred to—whether out of resentment or mockery—as the "Pet Detective."
This time, just when Zhuo Jianxuan felt it was rare for him to consider getting a haircut, he was summoned by the plump Yu Jiushun under the pretext of "urgent business."
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