"Lin Xian, my condolences."

The day after returning to Donghai from Hangzhou, Zhou Dianyuns Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared downstairs at Company X. He came to Lin Xians office, sat on the sofa, and looked at Lin Xian:

"I know you must be very sad, but… no one wants things like this to happen. Tang Xins death pains me just as much."

"Actually, I wasn't planning to tell you, because I was afraid you'd feel even more guilty after hearing it… That night, Tang Xin had something she wanted to give you. I helped her prepare it for a long time, and it was in my car, which is why she had the accident."

Zhou Dianyunsighed and crossed his hands:

"If you really want to blame someone, I'm the one who's more responsible."

…

Lin Xian sat at his desk, his left hand propping up his cheek, his right hand twirling a pen, and said nothing.

Gao Yang had gone with Tang Xins younger brother to the Donghai Public Security Bureau to find out more about the situation.

For them, Tang Xins death was a huge deal, as if countless conspiracies surrounded her.

But on a larger scale, Tang Xin wasn't that special.

In this city, an average of 500 traffic accidents occur every day, with an average of four people dying and 30 people injured in those accidents.

And this is just the data from one city. Across the country, across the world… the number of people who die in traffic accidents every day on Earth is about 3,200.

Tang Xin was just an insignificant one.

Compared to Professor Xu Yuns death, her death was as light as a feather. Or rather, if it weren't for the somewhat similar circumstances to Professor Xu Yuns death, her death wouldn't even be considered a feather to the people of Donghai City.

No one cared who the other 3,199 people who died in traffic accidents on the day of Tang Xins death were, where they were, or what time they died.

The reply Gao Yang and Tang Xins brother received was—

The vehicle involved in the accident has not yet been found, and there is insufficient evidence. Please refer to the final police report.

Lin Xian and Zhou Dianyunalso had been questioned by the police, and both of them had answered truthfully.

It seemed like a simple case of a girl going to a car across the road to get a gift, and then accidentally dying in a traffic accident…

Of course.

That was assuming Xu Yun hadn't had an accident beforehand.

If there hadn't been the unsolved case of Xu Yun hanging over everything, Tang Xins death would have been simply defined as such.

But was Tang Xins case really related to Xu Yuns case?

The police weren't sure either, because, again…

There was no evidence.

Case handling is based on evidence. Without evidence, there can be no determination, unless the perpetrator confesses to the crime, in which case the confession can be used as evidence in the case.

Xu Yun died at 00:42:02, hit by a black Audi sedan, which fled the scene along with a taxi.

Tang Xin died at 00:42:41, hit by a taxi, with no other vehicle fleeing with the taxi.

If you had to say that these two things were related, that they were similar crimes, you could make a case for it.

But that was all forced and contrived. The police wouldn't recognize such unsubstantiated speculation.

So…

The key lies in…

Evidence!

These days, Lin Xian had also deliberately stood on the edge of the sidewalk at 00:42 many times, testing the waters on the edge of danger.

But it was all without incident, without any ripples.

If the Oriole hadn't reminded him that the "cat and mouse game" had begun, he would never have thought that he would be the target of those murderers.

He wasn't a scientist, nor did he study hibernation. Why would they target him?

But Lin Xian still believed what the Oriole had said, so it wasn't hard to deduce…

He was indeed being targeted by the murderers, but they didn't plan to kill him now. The reason was probably the same: lack of evidence.

Lin Xian stopped twirling his pen and looked up at Zhou Dianyunsitting on the sofa.

Perhaps…

The truth was just as he now suspected—

He couldn't find evidence that they killed Xu Yun and Tang Xin, and they couldn't find evidence that he and Xu Yun were accomplices!

And in this constant tug-of-war and probing… whoever was caught by the other side with evidence, whoever was caught with a handle, would lose this cat and mouse game!

So that's how it is.

Lin Xian finally understood what the Oriole meant by the cat and mouse game.

He had originally simply thought that this was a game of you catch me, I hide, and that he was very passive, only able to hide carefully to avoid being discovered.

But now it seemed that it wasn't like that!

The cat and mouse haven't been determined yet. This is a game against each other and against time. Although his current situation is very passive, but…

Lin Xian looked at the row of Rhine cats of various shapes on his desk…

If the mouse is clever, it may be able to turn the tables and become the cat!

Seeing that Lin Xian hadn't spoken for a long time.

Zhou Dianyungot up, smoothed the wrinkles on his suit, and looked at Lin Xian:

"Lin Xian, the gift Tang Xin prepared for you is still in my car. Do you still want it? If you do, I'll have the driver give it to you…"

"No need." Lin Xian shook his head:

"Help me throw it away."

The current Lin Xian didn't trust Zhou Dianyun. Who knew if the so-called gift Zhou Dianyunwas offering was real or fake?

What's more, even if it was real, what was the use?

Tang Xin was already dead, and he was very sure that she had been killed, and that this old classmate in front of him was very likely involved in the planning.

What was the use of this bloody gift?

"Ah?"

Zhou Dianyunwas very surprised and looked at Lin Xian with wide eyes:

"Are you really… sure you don't want it?"

"I watched Tang Xin die in front of me with my own eyes. How can I have the face to take her gift?" Lin Xian leaned back and rested on his office chair, smiling lightly as he looked at Zhou Dianyun:

"I really hope that one day in the future, when I go to sweep Tang Xins grave, I can give her a gift."

"You may not understand Lin Xian…"

Zhou Dianyunshook his head and smiled:

"Now Hangzhou is promoting civilized memorial services, and they don't allow burning paper money anymore."

"Is that so."

Lin Xian replied indifferently:

"Then burn something else."

"…"

Zhou Dianyunwas speechless.

Was the point paper money?

The point was burning!

…

Zhou Dianyunleft after a while.

Lin Xian pulled down the blinds and watched Zhou Dianyundeparting in the parking lot through the gaps.

This person…

What exactly is he busy with?

What exactly is he doing?

Every classmate,

Including Lin Xian himself, had previously thought of him as a successful person, but how did he succeed, and where did his success lie?

Lin Xian was very surprised to find that once he examined Zhou Dianyunclosely, he realized that he didn't understand him at all.

Whether it was his inferior and lonely high school days, or his current success, he knew nothing about him.

Lin Xian didn't believe in inherent evil.

If Zhou Dianyunhad really transformed from a child of a poor family into a murderer, then there must have been some turning point.

And this turning point…

Might be the key to finding all the answers!

Ding dong.

Not a few minutes after seeing Zhou Dianyundepart, his WeChat rang.

Lin Xian picked up his phone and saw that it was a message from Chu Anqing—

"Senior Lin Xian, do you have time tomorrow at noon? My dad said he'd like to invite you to our house for a meal, he said he wants to have a few drinks with you. My mom has cooked a lot of delicious dishes and is preparing to treat you well!"

Chu Shanhe actually invited him to his house for dinner?

This was a bit

unexpected.

In modern society, with restaurants so convenient, there are only two situations in which people invite others to their homes for dinner:

1. They think eating out is too expensive, so they choose to cook at home to save money.

2. They are very close to each other, or they value the other person very much, so they choose to cook at home to entertain guests.

Obviously.

Chu Shanhe definitely wasn't doing this to save money.

After thinking about it, Lin Xian replied to Chu Anqing:

"Okay, I have time tomorrow."

Chu Shanhes position in Donghai City is unmatched.

He even knew about the Donghai police secretly hiring an "outside personnel."

Since Chu Shanhe intended to thank him and felt that he owed him a favor, there was no need for him to decline. It was better to accept it and inquire about some useful information from him.

Perhaps, at some point in the future…

Chu Shanhe would be able to provide him with extraordinary help in Donghai.