Ice skates forward, regardless of east or west.

1

Four o'clock in the morning.

The city was still asleep, and the streetlights outside the window looked like sleepy eyes.

Ling Wuwen stood in Gu Xidong's apartment.

This is a top-floor duplex in a high-end residential area in the city center. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the bustling city at night. The interior decoration is minimalist yet luxurious, complete with genuine leather sofas, imported carpets, and priceless works of art.

But this is not a home.

This is just a fancy empty shell used to deceive people.

Ling Wuwen stood in the center of the living room, looking around.

She didn't touch the expensive decorations, didn't flip through the decorative books, and didn't even look at the super king-size double bed that could sleep ten people.

Her gaze bypassed everything and landed on the stainless steel trash can in the corner of the kitchen.

She took a pair of off-white latex gloves out of her bag and put them on with a "snap".

His movements were swift and efficient, like that of a seasoned forensic pathologist about to begin an autopsy.

She walked up to the trash can, and without hesitation, reached in and dumped all the trash inside, one by one, onto the gleaming marble floor.

2

"Splash—"

An empty whiskey bottle rolled out.

Next came three greasy takeout containers, smelling of leftover food from the previous day.

Several tissues crumpled into a ball.

There was also a crushed energy drink can.

These are all evidence of Gu Xidong's "degeneration".

Ling Wuwen expressionlessly fiddled with the trash with his fingers, his eyes scanning every detail like a scanner.

Her finger finally rested on a crumpled piece of paper at the bottom, stained with an unidentified brown liquid.

She carefully picked up the crumpled paper with two fingers.

Place it on your knees and unfold it little by little.

It was a torn piece of paper.

It was torn into very small pieces, as if someone was drunk or in a state of extreme panic and tore it up and threw it away carelessly.

It was stained with dark wine, and the edges were jagged.

Even so, the printed text on it is still clearly legible.

Ling Wuwen's pupils suddenly contracted.

She took out a powerful flashlight from her pocket, turned it on, and shone the beam vertically onto the tattered paper.

The writing on the paper is clearly visible under strong light.

3

That was a receipt.

A receipt from "Lingyun Sporting Goods Store".

The list above contains a detailed list of the items to be purchased:

* Ice skate heel pads × 2

* High-density cut-resistant neck brace × 1

* Professional-grade ice skate cleaning oil × 1

Ling Wuwen's gaze was fixed on the upper right corner of the receipt.

There, a clear date was printed.

2022 11 Month 16 Day.

Her breath caught in her throat.

2022 11 Month 16 Day.

That was three years ago, the day before the "black swan event" occurred.

That was the peak of Gu Xidong's career, but also the eve of his fall from grace.

She remembers that day.

That day was the day before the national team departed for the host country of the World Championships.

That day, Gu Xidong trained in the training hall until the early hours of the morning, and his condition was astonishingly good.

That day, he also posted a photo of himself making a peace sign at the camera on social media, with the caption: "Tomorrow, for the championship."

Everything seemed so normal.

So full of hope.

but……

Ling Wuwen's fingers gently traced the date on the receipt.

She looked at the items on the list.

Ice skate heel pad.

Gu Xidong's ice skates are custom-made and one of a kind in the world.

His ice skates don't need pads on the heels.

High-density cut-resistant neck protector.

That's equipment only short track speed skaters are equipped with.

Figure skating emphasizes the fluidity and beauty of movements; no one would ever go on the ice wearing a bulky neck brace.

These two things were completely useless to Gu Xidong, and even contrary to his professional habits.

Why did he buy it?

Moreover, it was the day before that crucial, sensitive, and disastrous day?

4

Ling Wuwen's brain began to work at lightning speed.

She connected this receipt with all the details of that night three years ago.

The official conclusion of the "Black Swan event" is: Gu Xidong was under too much psychological pressure during the free skate program, which caused his movements to become distorted. When he was doing the iconic "quadruple jump-triple jump combination", he accidentally fell, lost control of his skates, and cut his partner's carotid artery.

His partner died on the spot from excessive blood loss.

Gu Xidong was therefore banned from competition and will be prohibited from participating in any professional competitions for life.

The whole incident appears to be a tragic accident.

But at this moment, the appearance of this receipt is like a key, unlocking a completely new and chilling perspective.

What if that wasn't an accident?

If it was a meticulously planned...

murder?

Ling Wuwen's fingertips turned slightly white from the force he exerted.

She suddenly remembered that at the accident scene, as a family member of "Ling Wufeng", she had once caught a glimpse of Gu Xidong's ice skates from afar.

The heels of those ice skates did seem... to be a little higher than usual.

At the time, everyone thought it was a problem with the angle of the lights, or an illusion caused by wear on the skates.

Looking back now...

If someone had secretly placed something under the heel of his skates, causing a barely perceptible shift in his center of gravity...

Therefore, that fall was not an accident.

That ice skate slashing at his partner's neck wasn't out of control.

Instead, it was a single, precise, and fatal attack...

5

Ling Wuwen suddenly stood up.

She took the receipt and walked to the French windows.

The city outside the window remains asleep.

But in her heart, a storm was brewing.

She always believed that Gu Xidong was the murderer.

She was the culprit who killed her brother (herself).

She returned for revenge.

It was so that he could also experience what it's like to fall from heaven to hell.

but……

This receipt, however, tells her a completely different truth.

Gu Xidong may also be a victim.

He might have been set up by someone.

That "black swan" was not only the mastermind behind the death of her "brother," but also the real culprit who framed Gu Xidong.

So, here's the question.

If Gu Xidong is a victim, then why would he buy these strange things?

What is it for?

Or……

What had he already sensed at that time?

He bought these things to protect himself?

Ling Wuwen gripped the receipt tightly in his hand.

Her gaze fell on the bottom of the phone.

There, a line of small words was printed, almost completely covered by wine stains.

She leaned closer, squinted, and could barely make out the contents of the text:

"...The items have been placed in the designated locker as requested..."

This sentence is not part of the printed content of the receipt.

This is handwritten.

It is Gu Xidong's handwriting.

However, the handwriting was very messy, as if it was written in a state of extreme tension and haste.

"Designated locker?"

What kind of locker?

National team lockers?

Is it the same locker from that sporting goods store?

Ling Wuwen's eyes became unfathomable.

She suddenly realized that she had always thought she was the one playing the game.

Little did she know that she and Gu Xidong were merely two pieces on a chessboard.

Meanwhile, the real "black swan" is hiding in the shadows, coldly watching them, feeling smug about the tragedy they have woven for them.

She had to go to that sporting goods store.

She must find the "designated locker".

She needed to know what Gu Xidong had bought and what he had put in the house that night three years ago.

She turned around, ready to leave.

Just then, her phone, which was on the table, vibrated.

It's information about "Falcon".

There is only one photo.

The photo shows Gu Xidong's face, covered in blood and filled with terror, which was widely circulated by the media three years ago on the night of the "black swan event."

Below the photo, there was a line of text:

"Don't forget, he's also part of the 'Black Swan' operation. The deeper you investigate, the faster you'll die."

Ling Wuwen looked at the message, but there was no fear in his eyes.

There is only one kind of madness, colder than ice, and utterly resolute.

She replied:

"Let's see if I go mad first, or if they die first."