"Zhou Duanyun... he went after that taxi."

Gao Yang sighed, "You were focused on Tang Xin at the time and probably didn't notice what was happening around you. As soon as that taxi drove off, Zhou Duanyun got into a car and told the driver to make a U-turn to chase it."

"I contacted him earlier. He said he didn't catch up and the taxi got away in the end. But the dashcam still recorded a lot of things. He plans to go directly to the police station and hand over the video from the dashcam to the police. With this, it will be much easier for the police to find the car."

Lin Xian didn't speak…

He really suspected Zhou Duanyun, almost directly confirming that he was definitely involved in the murder of Tang Xin.

But they handled it very cleverly.

Zhou Duanyun had no direct motive or action to murder Tang Xin. Even if the police investigate, they won't find any evidence.

Even if he told the police all his reasoning, all these guesses are too subjective and without any objective evidence to back them up, it's just empty talk.

What needs to be more cautious is…

If the murderer who killed Xu Yun and Tang Xin is indeed Xu Yun's mentor + Zhou Duanyun and his group…

Then they are likely the cat playing the "cat and mouse game" with him.

He, like Xu Yun and Tang Xin, are their targets, only a matter of time.

One thing is very puzzling…

Xu Yun and Tang Xin are both accomplished scientists in the field of scientific research, especially in the field of hibernation. The reason for killing them is understandable.

But he is neither a scientist, nor does he have anything in common with Xu Yun and Tang Xin. Why would he be their target too?

Where is the reason?

He used his knowledge of the future to help Xu Yun, but he didn't help Tang Xin. Is this debt ultimately going to be settled on his head?

But in any case…

Lin Xian thought of Tang Xin's smiling face, her shy expression, her bold straightforwardness and respect for him…

"Absolutely cannot let them go!"

…

The next day, at Chu Anqing's ward.

Lin Xian pushed open the door.

Sitting on the hospital bed, Chu Anqing looked up and smiled slightly, "Senior Lin Xian, you're here. I was just about to contact you."

Lin Xian placed the gifts on the bedside table, "It's okay, you just need to rest well. Is your body okay?"

Chu Anqing scratched her head embarrassedly, "No, no... I'm actually fine, I've just been prone to fainting at the sight of blood since I was a child... so I fainted at that time. My dad is too nervous and won't let me leave the hospital, and he did a bunch of tests. I'm really fine."

After saying that, the expression on Chu Anqing's face immediately dimmed, and she looked at Lin Xian, "Sister Tang Xin, she..."

She bit her lip, hesitant to speak.

Lin Xian shook his head, "They couldn't save her. She died on the spot in the car accident."

Chu Anqing sighed, "My dad said that the Donghai City Police Department is also fully investigating this matter. I heard that because there is a specific escape route and video of the hit-and-run vehicle... there are still many clues to be found."

Lin Xian remembered what Gao Yang said…

These videos from the dashcam are likely provided by Zhou Duanyun.

He thought that this car would also disappear without a trace like the one that killed Xu Yun, but... according to Chu Anqing, the police actually have a lot of clues this time.

This surprised Lin Xian, "What did your dad say? Can the police find the murderer?"

"My dad said that because Xu Yun's case has not yet made a breakthrough, the Donghai City police are also under great pressure and have thought of many ways..." Chu Anqing got off the bed, stood up and continued, "Especially this time with Sister Tang Xin's case, it is easy to associate it with Professor Xu Yun's case before."

"The Donghai City police are more anxious than anyone else. So, they invited a very powerful external staff member to assist."

"External staff?"

Lin Xian thought for a while, "Like a private detective? Or transferred from another province?"

"I don't know." Chu Anqing shook her head, "My dad didn't tell me that much. He said that this is still a secret that cannot be disclosed to the public. The Donghai City police are unwilling to let the outside world know about this."

"But my dad told me that this external staff member is very smart and quickly figured out the context of the case and formulated a corresponding investigation and search plan. It is estimated that the murderer will be brought to justice soon!"

"So amazing?"

Lin Xian scratched his head, feeling like he was listening to Detective Conan.

But since the news came from Chu Shanhe, it must be true. He has a very high position in Donghai City, both overtly and covertly, so he naturally has channels to know many things that others don't.

What's more…

This case almost involved his precious daughter, so he has to investigate it thoroughly to be at ease.

"Speaking of which, Senior Lin Xian, my dad is very grateful to you!"

Chu Anqing said with a smile, "He said that after these few days, he will thank you properly and repay you for saving my life."

"No need, no need, you're too polite."

Lin Xian waved his hand and refused, "I just lent a helping hand, it's not a life-saving grace... Actually, I came to you today to find out about what happened when Tang Xin left the dressing room."

After a pause, Lin Xian continued, "Can you tell me, from the time you finished the curtain call to backstage, until Tang Xin left you, what happened?"

"Of course."

Chu Anqing nodded and said, "After coming down from the curtain call stage, we were always chatting together. We took off our makeup and changed clothes together... Then someone called Sister Tang Xin, and she hurriedly packed her things and went out."

"Who called and what did they say? Do you know?"

Chu Anqing shook her head, "I don't know about that. After she ran out, I realized that she forgot to take her phone, so I quickly packed my things and chased after her... Then you know what happened. At the entrance of the theater, I was about to chase after her to give her the phone, and then you pulled me back."

"Did the police take the phone?"

"It should be... I was in the hospital after I woke up. I don't know what happened during my coma."

I see…

Lin Xian originally planned to confirm it from the phone's call history or WeChat chat history.

It's not that he doesn't trust the Donghai police…

It's just that Lin Xian has his own plans.

However, based on the current guesses, it is not difficult to guess that the person who called Tang Xin at that time was Zhou Duanyun, definitely urging her to go to the theater entrance to pick up something.

"Okay, I understand."

Lin Xian stood up and prepared to leave, "Then you should rest well, I won't bother you."

"Senior Lin Xian..."

Chu Anqing walked over, grabbed his sleeve, and looked up at his eyes, "Thank you so much for saving me, otherwise I..."

Thinking of Tang Xin's tragic state, she was speechless and didn't know what to say next.

She knew that Tang Xin was Lin Xian's high school classmate.

At this time, Senior Lin Xian must be very sad, right?

She survived, but Tang Xin died…

If she hadn't appeared at that time, would Lin Xian have been able to save Tang Xin?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

"It's okay."

Lin Xian naturally saw Chu Anqing's guilt and comforted her, "Don't worry, everything will come to light."

…

Two days later, Tang Xin's parents came from Hangzhou to handle Tang Xin's funeral and took Tang Xin's ashes from the Donghai City Crematorium.

Tang Xin's parents were not old, in their middle age, and their family conditions seemed very good. But at this time, they seemed as if the sky had fallen. At first, they cried sadly, and then they became lethargic due to excessive grief, and there was no way to communicate normally.

Tang Xin's younger brother handled the formalities.

He was three years younger than Tang Xin and is still a college student, but with his sister gone, he became strong.

Lin Xian and Gao Yang met with the three members of the Tang family, said some words, which was equivalent to not saying anything.

People are dead, what's the point of saying anything?

A few days later…

Tang Xin's ashes were laid to rest, the noise of the funeral dissipated in the fields, and the unburnt paper money on the grave flew into the sky and the earth in the spring breeze.

Just a few days.

This smiling girl of flower-like age turned into a handful of earth and embarked on a gradually forgotten life.

Perhaps decades later, many classmates will forget this girl named Tang Xin.

Just like she did back then, coming and going in a hurry.

On the lonely field…

Lin Xian stepped on the newly sprouted crops, walking step by step towards the grave that was only half a meter higher than the ground.

That was one of the few visible graves in the entire field.

Under a series of policies to protect farmland, more and more graves will become flat, faded, turned into flat ground, planted with rice, and returned to the earth over time.

Lin Xian stepped through the mud and stood there in the blood-red afterglow of the setting sun.

For a long time.

He lowered his head, "Tang Xin..."

He said in a low voice, "Your research could have changed the world, changed the future, and made this world a better place."

"But the hateful thing is... there is a group of people in this world who don't seem to want the world to become better. They don't like science, and they don't like change, and treat all uncertainty as enemies."

"I don't know what their purpose is…"

Lin Xian looked up at the sun gradually disappearing into the earth, "But... even if they have thousands of reasons, I don't think they are right."

He bent down, placed the bouquet of flowers in his arms on the grave, and stood up, "Wait for me…"

"Wait for me to uproot them, and I will come to see you again."

He turned around.

The sun had completely disappeared into the horizon, leaving only blood-red clouds, confirming the traces of the sun's rise.

The spring breeze blew past.

Blowing up Lin Xian's clothes,

Blowing up the flattened shoots he stepped on,

Blowing up the newly green willow branches by the field,

Blowing up the bouquet of lilies in front of the grave…

Swaying like nodding.