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"In other words, you need to avoid strenuous exercise and emotional fluctuations as much as possible, avoid sudden shocks, and not overtax yourself mentally."

The doctor took a deep breath and continued, "Even so, various factors could still cause sudden breathing difficulties, fainting, an irregular heartbeat, and so on. All you can do is rest quietly."

Pei Qingyu nodded without saying anything, then simply looked up and asked a question. "Can I still work as a forensic examiner?"

"That would be almost impossible." The doctor sighed. He knew the man before him was the captain of the Special Case Team as well as the head of the municipal bureau's forensic unit, and was highly skilled. "Your body may not be able to withstand the demands of the Special Case Team's work."

"But almost impossible still means it's possible, doesn't it?" Pei Qingyu smiled and gently pressed his chest. "Back then, nobody thought I'd survive either, did they?"

"Captain."

Xun Yin shook his head beside him. Pei Qingyu sighed with a smile, squeezed his fingertips, and turned back. "Thank you, Doctor. But whether I can manage it or not, I have to try first."

Municipal Public Security Bureau.

"The victim, Lin Zhou, thirty years old, a company programmer, was found dead at his workplace at six this morning..."

"Another programmer dropping dead?"

"Are you pig-brained? Would a sudden death from overwork be sent to the Special Case Team?" Song Ranran, who was leafing through the case file, snatched the fried dough stick out of his hand and smacked Wang Yu on the head with it. "He was shot," she said slowly.

Su Xiaochen's fingers curled slightly around the case file he was reading, and Wang Yu fell silent too. For a moment, no one in the office spoke; the only sound was everyone rapidly flipping through the files.

The phone suddenly rang. Wang Yu jolted and answered it, only to hear Pei Qingyu's familiar, casual voice on the other end. "Long time no see, Xiao Yu."

"Captain!"

"Don't shout. You're making my heart hurt."

Pei Qingyu pressed his slightly uncomfortable heart and continued, "The crime scene is at Company C on Central Avenue. I've sent the address to the group chat. Have Song Ranran look into Lin Zhou's social connections. You and Brother Lin should leave for the scene now. Oh, right, tell Xiaochen to bring the forensic kit. A-Xun and I will go straight there from the hospital."

"Got it. Also, Captain..." Wang Yu was so excited to hear Pei Qingyu's voice that he was about to say more, but a cold voice replaced it on the other end. "Any other important questions?"

Wang Yu choked, then said hesitantly, "Ah, not really. I just wanted to ask..."

"If it's not important, shut up."

With that, Xun Yin hung up without waiting for a response. He put the phone back in his pocket and drew Pei Qingyu, who was beside him with his eyes closed, quietly catching his breath, into his arms without saying anything more. Pei Qingyu gave him an amused look. "You've become quite authoritative while I've been away, Vice Captain."

"...The doctor told you not to overtax yourself mentally or physically." Rather than answer him, Xun Yin replied sulkily, "You need to follow the doctor's orders."

"All right, all right. Even if I don't follow the doctor's orders, I'll definitely listen to you, okay?" Pei Qingyu coaxed him as though soothing a child, only for Xun Yin to straighten up immediately and give a serious nod.

"Okay."

Thirteenth floor, Company C.

"Lin Zhou worked overtime from the day before yesterday into the early hours of yesterday morning. According to the cleaner, she checked before leaving, and there was no one else on this floor besides Lin Zhou."

Xun Yin helped Pei Qingyu put on his shoe covers. In his current poor health, Pei Qingyu got carsick, so Xun Yin had not let him read the case file in the car, instead reading it himself and recounting it to him.

"The cleaner left around one in the morning. The surveillance footage at the entrance confirmed that, but the footage from this floor was overwritten."

"What unfortunate timing. Have Song Ranran try recovering it later." Though Pei Qingyu said this, he paid it little mind. The Special Case Team's cases were always difficult. If surveillance footage really could solve everything, this case would never have reached them.

As they talked, the two reached the doorway of the room where the crime had occurred, only to find Su Xiaochen blocking the entrance with the toolkit in his arms, seemingly locked in a tense standoff with someone.

"Why aren't you going in?"

"Teacher!" Su Xiaochen turned and saw Pei Qingyu, his eyes lighting up. "This man insists he's the new forensic examiner and wants to go inside. I wouldn't let him, so we've been stuck here."

"The Special Case Team has never had a regular forensic examiner. The deputy director sent me to help you." Though he spoke of helping, the newcomer looked arrogant, clearly intending to usurp someone else's place. "I only just learned you were being discharged today, Captain Pei. You've only just recovered from serious injuries, and you aren't familiar with this case. Let me handle it."

"Why should you handle it? You're not even on the Special Case Team!" Su Xiaochen was furious. Before he could continue, Pei Qingyu spoke beside him with interest. "How do you know I'm not familiar with this case?"

"The victim, Lin Zhou, thirty years old. The approximate time of death was-" As Pei Qingyu walked inside, he studied the body a short distance away for a moment. "Between four and five in the morning."

"How can you be sure without taking his rectal temperature?" Half skeptical, the newcomer also glanced at the body, then suddenly scoffed. "Even a wild guess needs some groundwork. His corneas are clear. Several hours after death, the corneas-"

"Should start clouding over. I know."

Pei Qingyu nodded in agreement, then coughed for a while. Xun Yin stepped forward to shield him from the draft. When Pei Qingyu finally managed to stop coughing, he said hoarsely, "But you haven't considered the temperature. According to the forecast, today's snow started in the early hours. Low temperatures slow corneal clouding. If you need more evidence... when they examined him just now, the lividity disappeared under pressure, but now-"

Pei Qingyu lifted Lin Zhou's clothes: the lividity had reappeared.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to join the Special Case Team, but your inadequate skills are your own fault."

Pei Qingyu tilted his head, signaling Su Xiaochen to continue examining the body. Tired from standing, he staggered slightly. Xun Yin stepped forward just in time, letting him lean into his arms.

The kid was getting more protective of me as he grew up.

Pei Qingyu was three years older than Xun Yin and had looked after him like a child ever since he joined the team. Now, feeling Xun Yin's protectiveness toward him, he felt no discomfort at all.