Chapter Summaries

Pei Qingyu woke from a distressing memory of being shot and learned that his injury had left him with heart disease. As he prepared to leave the hospital with Xun Yin, his colleagues welcomed his return to the Special Cases Unit.

• Pei Qingyu relived the moment he was shot in the chest and heard Xun Yin comforting him as he drifted back to sleep.
• Wang Yu arrived at the Special Cases Unit and learned that Xun Yin had gone to collect Pei Qingyu from the hospital.
• Song Ranran, Su Xiaochen, and Lin Shichu discussed Pei Qingyu’s return and worried about his lasting heart problems.
• A doctor told Pei Qingyu that his heart had suffered severe damage and that complications would remain.
• Pei Qingyu reassured the worried Xun Yin and asked the doctor to continue explaining his condition.

After learning that his heart condition made returning to forensic work dangerous, Pei Qingyu insisted on trying and joined the Special Case Team at a shooting case. At the scene, he identified the likely time of death and rebuffed an arrogant would-be forensic examiner, while Xun Yin watched over him.

• The doctor warned Pei Qingyu to rest and avoid strain, but Pei Qingyu said he had to try returning to work.
• Pei Qingyu assigned the team to investigate Lin Zhou's shooting and told them to meet him and Xun Yin at Company C.
• Xun Yin took care of Pei Qingyu on the way to the crime scene and reminded him to follow the doctor's orders.
• At Company C, Su Xiaochen challenged a forensic examiner sent by the deputy director who wanted to take over the examination.
• Pei Qingyu estimated Lin Zhou's time of death as between four and five in the morning, explaining how cold weather affected the corneas and lividity.
• Pei Qingyu dismissed the newcomer's inadequate skills, then leaned on Xun Yin when he staggered from fatigue.

Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin investigated Lin Zhou’s apparent gunshot death and found water hidden behind a curtain, but Pei Qingyu’s heart condition worsened at the scene. Xun Yin gave him medication and took him back to the hospital, while the murder investigation remained unresolved.

• Su Xiaochen assessed Lin Zhou’s chest wound as a gunshot with the bullet still inside, and Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin noted that the sealed, undamaged windows made the shot’s trajectory puzzling.
• Pei Qingyu became dizzy while searching the room and found a small piece of ice and water hidden behind a thick curtain.
• Pei Qingyu explained that the curtain could have absorbed water and asked Su Xiaochen to question the floor cleaner about the building’s layout.
• Pei Qingyu’s heart condition flared as he struggled to breathe, and he collapsed against Xun Yin, saying his heart hurt.
• Xun Yin gave Pei Qingyu medication and helped him breathe, then carried him away and told Lin Shichu he was taking him back to the hospital.

Pei Qingyu explained that central air conditioning may have caused water to appear at the scene, while the Special Case Team investigated the victim’s life and the water evidence. The test revealed sodium chloride in the water, and Xun Yin left to investigate near Lin Zhou’s home as Pei Qingyu read the report.

• Pei Qingyu persuaded Xun Yin not to take him to the hospital and pointed out the central air conditioning as a possible source of the water.
• Song Ranran reported that Lin Zhou had few social connections, and Xun Yin sent the team to investigate the restaurants he frequented.
• Xun Yin found Pei Qingyu waiting outside the autopsy room and reassured him that the team still needed his guidance.
• The trace evidence results showed that the water contained sodium chloride, and Xun Yin suggested the killer had tried to disguise salt water as air-conditioner condensation.
• Xun Yin left to investigate near Lin Zhou’s home while Pei Qingyu stayed behind to read the report.

Xun Yin discovered that Pei Qingyu was hiding serious dizziness and weakness, but agreed to let him join the fieldwork in exchange for a hospital visit afterward. As they investigated Lin Zhou’s death and habits, they found clues suggesting a carefully planned shooting and a regular Wednesday restaurant routine.

• Su Xiaochen revealed that Pei Qingyu had collapsed in the autopsy room, and Xun Yin caught him when he became dizzy again.
• Pei Qingyu persuaded Xun Yin to let him come on fieldwork, agreeing to go to the hospital afterward.
• On the way to Lin Zhou’s apartment, Pei Qingyu explained that the autopsy found a fatal gunshot wound but no bullet, and that the wound showed no signs of being altered.
• Song Ranran and the others learned that Lin Zhou regularly ate alone at small restaurants, usually on Wednesdays, but had stopped visiting for three months before returning.

Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin investigated Lin Zhou’s shabby home and discovered signs of a break-in and finances that suggested he had needed money to stay alive. Pei Qingyu questioned Lin Zhou’s neighbor, Shi Qian, and began to suspect the restaurant owner was a chef.

• Lin Shichu and Song Ranran reported that Lin Zhou visited restaurants on different days, and Lin Shichu received his financial records.
• At Lin Zhou’s home, Xun Yin found that Lin Zhou’s restaurant spending exceeded what his salary could support, while Pei Qingyu spotted a fingerprint on the glass and concluded someone had broken in.
• Pei Qingyu noticed grease on Lin Zhou’s stove despite the dusty kitchen, then encountered his neighbor Shi Qian, who introduced himself as the owner of the restaurant Lin Zhou frequented.
• Shi Qian told Pei Qingyu that he had little contact with Lin Zhou and had not heard anyone enter the apartment, then lit a cigarette after learning Lin Zhou was dead.
• As smoke triggered Pei Qingyu’s coughing and heart palpitations, he observed a grease-stained chef’s uniform beneath Shi Qian’s jacket and asked if he was a chef.

Shi Qian trapped Pei Qingyu in a burning kitchen, where Pei discovered a hollow space in the wall before losing consciousness. Xun Yin rescued him and took him to safety, while agreeing to stay behind and investigate the wall as Pei Qingyu instructed.

• Pei Qingyu confronted Shi Qian, who revealed his intent by igniting cooking oil and locking Pei inside the kitchen.
• Pei struggled to breathe through the smoke and heart pain, then found a hollow spot in the kitchen wall before collapsing.
• Xun Yin rushed into the burning kitchen and carried Pei Qingyu outside.
• Xun Yin gave Pei his medicine, and Pei regained enough consciousness to tell him about the hollow wall.
• Pei ordered Xun Yin to stay with Brother Lin and investigate, and Xun Yin reluctantly agreed.

Pei Qingyu survived a severe asthma attack caused by smoke inhalation and learned that Shi Qian had been arrested for drug trafficking, while investigators suspected Lin Zhou’s death had another motive. As Xun Yin returned to the hospital, the special case unit turned its attention to Lin Zhou’s company and security footage.

• Pei Qingyu’s breathing failed after he inhaled smoke, and doctors resuscitated him when he went into shock.
• Xun Yin told Pei Qingyu that fingerprints and DNA linked Shi Qian to the cigarette butt, and police had arrested him after he set fire to his restaurant.
• Pei Qingyu deduced that Lin Zhou had used drugs and that the restaurant had likely served as a drug-trading point; Xun Yin said Shi Qian denied killing Lin Zhou and claimed he had followed instructions.
• Xun Yin told Pei Qingyu that investigators suspected a larger organization was involved, while Song Ranran continued investigating.
• At the special case unit, Xun Yin and Lin Shichu discussed checking Lin Zhou’s company entrance footage and questioning its person in charge.
• After receiving a call from the hospital, Xun Yin assigned Song Ranran and Wang Yu to follow up with the company and left to check on Pei Qingyu.

While Pei Qingyu recovered in the hospital, Song Ranran found a location tracker hidden in Lin Zhou’s files that had begun moving toward Lin Zhou’s company. Pei Qingyu tried to use the lead to leave, but dizziness and chest pain left him unable to stand without help.

• Song Ranran investigated why Lin Zhou had worked overtime the night he was killed and discovered a hidden location tracker in his files.
• Song Ranran reported that the tracker had previously stayed at Shi Qian’s restaurant but was now moving toward Lin Zhou’s company, and Pei Qingyu learned it had been created about six months earlier.
• Pei Qingyu used Song Ranran’s lead to argue that he needed to leave the hospital, despite Song Xuanmo’s warning that his heart and lung function were weak.
• Song Xuanmo checked Pei Qingyu’s dizziness and asked him to stand; Pei Qingyu tried, groaned, and collapsed forward into Xun Yin’s arms.

Pei Qingyu received an injection despite his worsening condition, then returned with Xun Yin to investigate Lin Zhou’s workstation. They discovered evidence of a carefully staged alibi and waited for the person tracking them to arrive.

• Song Xuanmo explained that Pei Qingyu’s blood pressure was dangerously low and refused to let him leave the hospital without treatment.
• Pei Qingyu texted his brother before Song Xuanmo injected him with medication, which caused his fingers to tremble.
• Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin concluded that Lin Zhou had been prevented from obtaining drugs directly and that the moving tracker might lead them to the people involved.
• Lin Shichu reported that surveillance showed the cleaner was the only person to leave after the snowfall, while the person who reported the crime was the only one to enter the next morning.
• Xun Yin found a nearly invisible transparent thread, and Song Ranran warned that the tracker was moving upstairs.
• As the elevator hummed nearby, Xun Yin pulled Pei Qingyu behind him and they waited for someone to arrive.

Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin ambushed two men searching the thirteenth floor and explained how a thin cord had been used in Lin Zhou’s murder. When one captive revealed the gun was still nearby and it fired, Pei Qingyu tackled Xun Yin and was left with a gash from the shot.

• Xun Yin and Pei Qingyu hid as two men searched the thirteenth floor for something concealed at the murder scene.
• Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin fought the intruders, tied both men up, and used the air conditioner and a cord to trap one of them.
• Pei Qingyu explained how the murderer had used a saltwater-soaked cord to pull a lightweight trigger and create an alibi.
• Xun Yin demanded the gun that killed Lin Zhou, and one captive claimed it was still there.
• A gun fired in the darkness, and Pei Qingyu tackled Xun Yin; he later said the bullet had only torn a gash.

Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin pursued the knife-wielding man, while Pei Qingyu struggled with his worsening wound and arranged backup. The tracker led them to the river where Pei Qingyu had fallen six months earlier, and Pei Qingyu got out to continue the pursuit.

• Pei Qingyu called Wang Yu and ordered him, Song Ranran, and Su Xiaochen to bring support and medical supplies.
• Xun Yin chased a masked man through the dark stairwell, but the man attacked with a knife before Pei Qingyu shot it from his hand.
• Pei Qingyu told Xun Yin the suspect still carried Lin Zhou's tracker, and Lin Shichu arrived with news that its destination was the place Pei Qingyu had fallen into the river six months earlier.
• Song Ranran reported the suspect's route among the shipping containers by the river, and Xun Yin drove them north of the channel.
• Pei Qingyu unbuckled despite his wound, checked his weapon, and got out of the car.

Pei Qingyu confronted Zhuo Wumian in the shipping containers while struggling with pain and a trauma-induced anxiety attack. He deduced that Zhuo Wumian had used an ice bullet fired from a concealed toy gun, then attacked and called for Xun Yin.

• Pei Qingyu sent Xun Yin away to circle behind him and track his location while he drew out their attacker.
• After Xun Yin left, Pei Qingyu suffered an anxiety attack near the water but continued through the containers.
• Zhuo Wumian ambushed Pei Qingyu, dislocated his hand, and introduced himself.
• Pei Qingyu concluded that Zhuo Wumian had used a melting ice bullet and a low-powered concealed gun to kill Lin Zhou.
• Pei Qingyu kicked Zhuo Wumian back, flipped up his knife, threw it behind him, and called for A-Xun.

Xun Yin and Pei Qingyu confronted Zhuo Wumian at the shipping containers, where Zhuo exposed Pei’s worsening condition and began revealing Lin Zhou’s deal. After escaping a sniper’s shot by falling into the river, Zhuo trapped Xun Yin beneath the bridge at gunpoint.

• Xun Yin shot Zhuo Wumian in the knee and held him at gunpoint, but Zhuo drew his own weapon and threatened Pei Qingyu.
• Zhuo revealed that Lin Zhou traded new technology for a monthly drug supply after Zhuo’s ring cut off their transactions.
• Pei Qingyu, weakened and disoriented, agreed to let Zhuo cut his wrist before realizing what he had said; Zhuo then shot at Xun Yin, grazing his arm.
• Pei Qingyu refused to kill Zhuo or let him escape, while Zhuo claimed they were alike and described the unusual bullets in his weapon.
• Pei Qingyu warned Wang Yu as Zhuo fell from the bridge to evade the sniper’s shot, and Xun Yin pursued him beneath the bridge.
• Zhuo aimed his gun at Xun Yin beneath the bridge and fired when Xun Yin shifted, forcing him to take cover.

The Special Case Team handled the aftermath of Zhuo Wumian’s attack while Pei Qingyu remained absent. Xun Yin investigated Zhuo Wumian’s identity, but the DNA collected from his gun grip produced no database match.

• The team transferred Shi Qian to the Narcotics Team for drug trafficking and continued searching for the missing Zhuo Wumian.
• Xun Yin combined the new case with the case in which Pei Qingyu had been injured six months earlier.
• Song Ranran reported that Zhuo Wumian’s DNA had no match in the database and wondered how he had escaped earlier investigations.
• Lin Shichu suggested asking the Narcotics Team about Zhuo Wumian.

Xun Yin learned that Pei Qingyu had woken after surgery and hurried to the hospital, where Pei Qingyu was glad to see him. Pei Qingyu then revealed that he had secretly taken a drug again, and Song Xuanmo began realizing how he had been tricked.

• Song Ranran and Wang Yu worried about Pei Qingyu's prolonged unconsciousness, and Xun Yin promised to ask him about returning to work once he woke.
• Xun Yin went to the narcotics unit, then received Song Xuanmo's call saying Pei Qingyu had woken and was asking for him.
• Xun Yin arrived at the hospital and found Pei Qingyan eating apples while Song Xuanmo reminded him that Pei Qingyu could only have liquids.
• Pei Qingyu welcomed Xun Yin and asked Pei Qingyan to leave, then accused him of having Song Xuanmo give him the drug again.
• Song Xuanmo questioned how Pei Qingyu had sent a message without being caught, then realized the contact label had fooled him.

After Pei Qingyu was sedated and fell asleep, Xun Yin told Pei Qingyan that a suspected drug trafficker named Zhuo Wumian was behind the attack that had injured him six months earlier. Half a month after Pei Qingyu was discharged, Xun Yin and the others moved his belongings so he could recuperate at Xun Yin’s home.

• Pei Qingyu revealed that he had sent a message to A-Xun, knowing Song Xuanmo and Pei Qingyan would check the wrong contact name.
• Song Xuanmo secretly gave Pei Qingyu sleeping medication, then supported him as he drifted back to sleep.
• In the hallway, Xun Yin told Pei Qingyan that Zhuo Wumian was a suspected large-scale drug trafficker whose name was missing from the database and who had caused Pei Qingyan’s injury six months earlier.
• Pei Qingyan agreed to help investigate Zhuo Wumian and said no one would be allowed to hurt the people he wanted to protect.
• Half a month later, Xun Yin and the others helped move Pei Qingyu’s belongings to Xun Yin’s home so Pei Qingyu could recuperate there.
• Xun Yin asked whether Pei Qingyu had brought the other living thing from his home, and Pei Qingyu had not yet answered.

After Pei Qingyu returned to work before recovering, the Special Case Team investigated a home where blood seeped from a broken window. A poisoned, disoriented woman attacked Pei Qingyu, leaving him injured and dizzy as Xun Yin secured her and went to search the rest of the home.

• Pei Qingyu insisted on joining the investigation despite his dizziness, and Xun Yin wrapped a scarf around him before the team left.
• Lin Shichu reported that a family of four lived at the house, including an adopted child, and neighbors had heard strange noises there for days.
• Wang Yu opened the door, and a strong smell of blood greeted Pei Qingyu and the team.
• A disoriented woman charged Pei Qingyu, slammed him into the wall, and left him with sharp abdominal pain.
• Xun Yin restrained the woman and handcuffed her to a radiator after Pei Qingyu warned Lin Shichu not to shoot.
• Pei Qingyu suspected the woman had been poisoned, concealed how badly he felt, and asked Xun Yin to search the other rooms.

Pei Qingyu and the others investigated a blood-soaked apartment where three people had died and a young woman showed signs of severe poisoning and aggression. After Pei Qingyu collapsed at the scene, Xun Yin suspected mercury poisoning and later cared for him at home.

• Pei Qingyu examined the surviving young woman and suspected she had inflicted her own cuts while suffering impaired consciousness and possible neuropathic pain.
• Xun Yin, Lin Shichu, Wang Yu, and Su Xiaochen confirmed four people had been at the apartment, found three bodies, and noted that all had numerous cuts and scratches.
• Pei Qingyu estimated that the kitchen victim had died about four hours earlier, then experienced blurred vision and severe stomach pain while investigating with Xun Yin.
• Pei Qingyu collapsed after opening the bathroom door, and Xun Yin ordered the bathroom sealed and ventilated because the victims might have had mercury poisoning.
• Pei Qingyu later woke at Xun Yin's home, where Xun Yin brought him milk.

Pei Qingyu examined the three bodies despite his mercury exposure, fever, and heart pain, and discovered that the boy had also been given a sedative. After Su Xiaochen brought the autopsy reports to Xun Yin, a blackout left him warning that Pei Qingyu was still in the autopsy room and could not walk.

• Song Ranran told Xun Yin that one pair of victims were the homeowners, whose adopted daughter was Song Sheng and whose younger daughter was Song Xiao.
• Pei Qingyu went to the bureau despite being ill, and he and Su Xiaochen found that all three bodies showed mercury poisoning and fatal head injuries.
• Pei Qingyu found an excessive amount of sedative in the boy's system and said investigators needed to determine whether he had gone to Song Sheng's home voluntarily or had been drugged beforehand.
• Pei Qingyu's heart pain left him too weak to move, so he sent Su Xiaochen to deliver the reports to Xun Yin and ask him to come.
• When the office lights went out, Su Xiaochen told Xun Yin that Pei Qingyu was still in the autopsy room and could not walk.