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Pei Qingyu's features were delicate without being imposing. Perhaps because forensic doctors spent less time in the field, his skin was very fair. The sudden change in position had left his face even paler, diminishing that delicacy and lending him a hint of sharpness instead.

Xun Yin looked at Pei Qingyu, who was leaning against him with his eyes closed, and felt an inexplicable sadness-since when had his captain become so weak he could barely stand?

"What exactly... is wrong with Captain?"

"His blood pressure is too low, and his heart isn't getting enough blood, so he's dizzy and having trouble breathing." Song Xuanmo stepped forward and gently massaged Pei Qingyu's carotid artery. "His pulse is 110 beats a minute, and his blood pressure is down to 80 over 50."

"Give me that medication, and I can leave the hospital right now." Pei Qingyu opened his eyes a little and gave a soft laugh, his face pale. "It only needs to last one night. I'll be fine."

"And then an ambulance will bring you back to the hospital in the middle of the night." Song Xuanmo refused to budge. He tried another approach, persuading him gently. "Qingyu, if I don't look after you, your eldest brother will come after me."

"My brother could never bear to give you trouble. You two are

childhood sweethearts

." Pei Qingyu watched Song Xuanmo's ears turn red with satisfaction, then spoke almost pleadingly. "Brother Song, please. Just don't let my brother find out."

Listening beside them, Xun Yin was somewhat lost. He knew Song Xuanmo and Pei Qingyu's eldest brother had grown up together, but he had no idea what their cryptic exchange about that medication meant. Seeing even the normally gentle Song Xuanmo refuse to give Pei Qingyu the injection, he realized there had to be something wrong with it.

"If there's a problem with the medication, don't take it. I'll investigate on my own." Xun Yin abruptly stood up.

"Come back." Pei Qingyu saw Xun Yin freeze without turning around and sighed inwardly, softening his voice. "Listen to your captain. I don't have the strength to hold on to you."

Xun Yin silently sat back down. Pei Qingyu turned his head just as Song Xuanmo handed him his phone. "Fine. I won't tell him."

Delight lit Pei Qingyu's face, only for Song Xuanmo to continue gently, "But you have to tell him yourself."

"Done." Pei Qingyu picked up his phone and waved it. "My brother didn't answer, so I texted him. Go ahead with the injection."

Song Xuanmo gave the phone a suspicious look but found nothing amiss. He sighed, took a small syringe from the emergency cart beside him, and injected all the liquid inside.

"You're weak right now. I'm not sure how long the medication will last, or how severe the reaction will be afterward." Song Xuanmo said quietly, "I hope... nothing happens."

"I'll be fine." The injection seemed very uncomfortable. Pei Qingyu closed his eyes and panted for a while before forcing a smile. "See you tomorrow."

The thirteenth floor of Company C.

"Are you cold?"

"Hm?"

Pei Qingyu turned his head, looking a little bewildered. Xun Yin pointed at his fingertips. "They're shaking."

"It's nothing. A side effect of the medication." Pei Qingyu spoke casually, but tucked his fingertips back into his sleeves as he searched carefully around Lin Zhou's workstation. Xun Yin also gathered his thoughts and slowly worked through the case.

"Lin Zhou was suspected of drug use. Almost all his monthly salary went toward that enormous expense, but it still wasn't enough. Based on what Song Ranran just found, he probably wanted to bypass Shi Qian and get the drugs directly, but he was discovered."

"Yes. Those three months Shi Qian said Lin Zhou disappeared for half a year ago were probably when they found the tracker and took him away. So even after they let him come back, Lin Zhou never dared make another move, and the tracker stayed with Shi Qian."

Pei Qingyu turned and leaned against the desk, looking around. "Now the tracker's moving, which means they still haven't found it. We can take advantage of that and wait for them to come to us."

A phone suddenly vibrated on the darkened floor, and Xun Yin immediately took his out.

Ever since Pei Qingyu's injury, Xun Yin had kept his phone on vibrate. Even so, sudden sounds sometimes still caused Pei Qingyu discomfort in his heart.

With everything silent around them, Xun Yin instinctively glanced at Pei Qingyu first, only to find his expression unchanged. Xun Yin frowned, took out his phone, and answered.

"Xun, I just went through all the surveillance footage from outside Lin Zhou's company that day. The cleaner was the last person to leave the building in the early hours. It snowed heavily that night, covering the footprints from the evening. The footage shows that the cleaner's footprints were the only ones leading out afterward, and the person who reported the crime left the only footprints going in that morning."

Lin Shichu sounded indignant as he continued, "The killer was trying to create... a perfect alibi."

"Mm." Something seemed to be drifting beside the curtains. Xun Yin paused, then walked slowly over and crouched down.

-It was a transparent thread.

Something suddenly dawned on him, and he looked at Pei Qingyu, who stood nearby with the hint of a smile. Seeing this, Pei Qingyu slowly walked over to him, gently tugged the thread, and examined it closely.

"Xun, you and Captain be careful. The tracker seems to be moving upstairs," Song Ranran called from behind Lin Shichu on the other end of the line.

"Got it." Xun Yin pulled Pei Qingyu, who was trying to walk farther away, back to his side. Pei Qingyu gave him an innocent look. Xun Yin paused. Song Ranran was still giving him warnings over the phone, and he said helplessly, "I know. Your captain is right here waiting for them."

"'Your captain'? Why aren't you calling me 'my captain' anymore?" Pei Qingyu asked with a soft laugh after the call ended.

"Didn't you just call Dr. Song 'Brother Song'?" Xun Yin replied quietly. He examined the thread. It was very tough, and almost impossible to see in the dark without looking closely.

Pei Qingyu faltered. "That's what I called him when I was little. I haven't called him that in ages..." Seeing Xun Yin turn his head with a calm expression, he instinctively changed the subject. "Have you figured out how the murder was done?"

"I know how the alibi was created, but I don't know where the bullet went." Xun Yin frowned.

"Mm." Pei Qingyu nodded lightly. "Someone will give us the answer in a moment."

A faint hum from the elevator came from the corridor. Xun Yin pulled Pei Qingyu behind him. Pei Qingyu glanced at his watch and quietly let out a breath.