Desperate people, accept the seed of my soul!

A hint of regret flashed in Wang Shiwei's eyes, but more than that, there was a sense of relief that she had expected.

If Li Rui were the kind of person who could be easily swayed by the sake of his future, he wouldn't be the Li Rui who captivated her back then.

"Alright, I respect your choice." Wang Shiwei smiled. "But the doors of the Special Investigation Bureau are always open to you."

Li Rui didn't want to dwell on the topic, so he glanced at his watch and said, "It's getting late, I have to rush back. I still need to prepare the materials for my business trip this afternoon."

"Business trip?" Wang Shiwei keenly caught the key phrase and casually asked, "A new assignment?"

"Yes, it's a request for assistance from Guangyang City." Li Rui didn't think much of it and simply said, "There's an electrician named Liu Zhen who killed someone in Guangyang using modified electrical equipment. His methods were very professional. He's a resident of Chenxi City, and Captain Liao put me in charge of investigating this case."

"Killed by electrical equipment? That sounds pretty professional." Wang Shiwei wiped her mouth with a tissue as she asked casually, "Any distinguishing features? I can keep an eye out for you at the Special Investigation Bureau."

"His distinguishing features are that he used to be a senior electrician, he's withdrawn, and vengeful." Li Rui stood up, put on his police cap, and said, "Alright, that's all for now, I have to go. This meal's on me, I'll treat you to something better next time."

"No need, I've already paid." Wang Shiwei smiled and pointed to the bar. "Be careful, Li Rui."

Thanks.

Li Rui waved, pushed open the door, and strode into the dazzling afternoon sunlight.

Wang Shiwei sat in her seat, watching through the glass window as that tall, upright figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

Only after Li Rui completely disappeared around the street corner did the smile on her face gradually fade, turning cold and profound.

"Liu Zhen...killed by electricity..."

She repeated the name to herself, then took out her phone and typed the keywords into her notes app.

As an assistant consultant for the Special Investigations Bureau, her job is to collect all first-hand intelligence that may be related to "special abilities," which is also a task assigned to her by her family.

After all, at this critical juncture where "abnormalities" are occurring frequently, who can guarantee that an electrician who can use electricity to precisely kill people is really just an ordinary criminal?

------

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains and fell on Li Rui's desk.

Li Rui picked up the letter of assistance regarding the "Liu Zhen case" and put it into a file folder.

The rough edge of the kraft paper bag gently brushed against his fingertips, bringing a slight gritty sensation.

The sensation made him momentarily lose focus.

He suddenly remembered that this morning, in front of the dressing mirror in the entryway, Su Xiao's fair and soft hands had gently brushed against the side of his neck in the same way.

Her fingertips were slightly warm, and the flame brooch she had given her on their wedding anniversary shimmered warmly in the morning light.

Li Rui subconsciously touched his collar, where the warmth of his wife's fingertips still lingered.

He shook his head, a helpless yet happy smile appearing on his lips, forcibly pulling himself out of this inexplicably tender thought, and continued to bury himself in organizing the materials he would need for tomorrow's business trip.

……

Just over ten minutes' drive from the kindergarten lies an abandoned area on the edge of a city awaiting demolition.

This place used to be a simple amusement area, but now it's just overgrown with weeds and littered with broken bricks and tiles.

A badly corroded children's swing stands alone on the wasteland, with one of the chains broken and hanging in mid-air.

The other side was relatively intact, swaying empty in the sultry afternoon breeze that carried the smell of dust.

"Crunch—crunch—"

It sounded like a rusty throat emitting meaningless groans.

The camera pans and cuts to the empty, abandoned house not far away.

A bright beam of light shone through the broken air vent high up, and countless tiny dust particles danced wildly within it, like a silent carnival.

A man's hand, long and slender yet with a sickly pallor, slowly reaches into the frame.

His fingers deftly parted the collar of a light apricot-colored knitted cardigan and grasped the flame-shaped ruby ​​brooch pinned to it.

"despair."

With a very soft, crisp click, the latch popped open.

The hand tossed the brooch aside as if it were a worthless piece of trash.

The brooch, which was treasured and worn every day, traced a dark red arc in the air before falling onto the dirty ground.

It rolled a few times and finally stopped at the edge of a small puddle of red liquid.

The ruby's brilliant glimmer was instantly swallowed up by the reflection in the murky liquid, becoming dull and lifeless.

……

In the police station office, Xiao Wang, a colleague who was also on the business trip, leaned over and said with a smile, "Brother Rui, what time are we leaving tomorrow? Want to grab breakfast at the cafeteria before we go?"

As Li Rui tied a thin string around the file folder, he replied, "No, I have to eat at home."

"Oh, your sister-in-law made you a loving breakfast again?" Xiao Wang teased.

Li Rui didn't reply, he just smiled.

He remembered the noodles Su Xiao cooked, which always included two soft-boiled eggs for him, with crispy edges and runny yolks.

That flavor is something even a chef at a five-star hotel can't replicate.

He glanced at his watch; he still had two hours left before he could get off work.

Strange, I don't know why, but I miss her more than usual today, more than I usually do.

The thought was like a kitten gently scratching at his heart, making him wish he could finish his work instantly and rush home.

……

Inside the abandoned house, the beams of light remained bright, yet they exuded a chilling aura.

A brightly colored children's picture book, "Fireman Sam," lies on an old workbench.

The smiling firefighter on the cover is saluting the void.

The pale hand reappeared and grasped a corner of the picture book.

"Sizzle—"

The tearing sound echoed through the empty house, even drowning out the creaking sound of the swing outside the window.

A page depicting a firefighting scene was torn off. Instead of drifting far away, it landed on the table like a butterfly with broken wings.

There was a dilapidated table lamp with its light bulb nowhere to be found, like a blind eye, coldly watching all of this.

In a shadowy corner not far from the worktable, a tiny figure huddled behind a chair.

That was four-year-old Duoduo.

She was wearing a pretty little dress, but it was now covered in dust.

She hugged her knees tightly, buried her face in her arms, and trembled violently all over, but dared not make a sound.

Her shadow was stretched extremely long and thin by the beam of light, as if she would be completely swallowed into darkness if the light were to shift even slightly.

……

Li Rui stood up, took his thermos, and walked to the water dispenser.

Hot water was poured into the cup, and white steam rose up, blurring his view of the window.