Chapter Five: The Arrival of Officer An Feng

The birthday slipped quietly by, the two of them falling asleep together. Both were tipsy, and even in their dreams, they murmured words of care for one another.

At dawn, Qianyin returned to the place she belonged. Mo Lan rose early as well, already immersed in her work. As they parted ways, both knew that they could never again share a night like the last—drinking together, chatting, laughing with abandon.

Liu Fei arrived especially early. The office was empty except for Mo Lan and him; no one else came at such an hour. The vast, quiet space seemed almost excessively tranquil.

“Did you enjoy your birthday yesterday?” Liu Fei had prepared breakfast for Mo Lan first thing in the morning, setting it on her desk as he awaited her. The smile on his face was gentle, the very picture of warmth—a gentleman in the eyes of others.

“It was fine, thank you for asking. There’s no need to prepare breakfast for me. I’ve just been busy lately, though I usually have the habit of eating in the morning. Let’s keep personal matters aside during work hours,” Mo Lan replied with her usual aloofness, offering only a mild refusal to the breakfast before her.

Liu Fei’s expression dimmed, but Mo Lan had no energy to spare for his feelings. He stood awkwardly by, waiting for instructions. He had stayed up late last night investigating these matters, and now he was up early again—his eyes shadowed and weary.

Mo Lan checked yesterday’s surveillance footage on her computer, frowning deeply. That car had come prepared. None of the cameras on several routes had caught its final destination.

She reviewed the footage repeatedly, but found no clues. Was it the lingering effects of last night’s drinking—her mind still muddled? Mo Lan rubbed her forehead gently and kept watching, though her eyes felt strained. Truly, when one is unwell, everything seems to lack energy.

She wondered if she should talk to Qianyin about it. But if she did, Qianyin might kill her. The old man had been hurt so cruelly—it was impossible that Qianyin was involved. Qianyin was always honest and straightforward, openly challenging opponents, and before any kill, she signed a pact of life and death. Even if the police took on these cases, they could never fully apprehend her.

Besides, Qianyin was among the top assassins. Ordinary officers could never catch her. She often undertook covert assignments, sometimes at night, wearing a mask and black clothes—stealing, killing, all commonplace for her.

“Are these the only routes available for review? Can’t we access any others?” Mo Lan finally turned to Liu Fei, glancing at him for the first time. She noticed how tired he looked, the dark circles under his eyes pronounced. Had he gotten up so early just to make her breakfast?

“There are only so many routes the car could have taken, and we haven’t been able to identify its license plate. However, someone testified that the car drove straight onto the main road by the river—the one north of West Road, leading towards Shanhe River. That’s all we can search for now.” Flushed from being looked at, Liu Fei answered sincerely, head bowed.

Mo Lan turned back to another case involving Qianyin. She realized those people truly deserved their fate—they were murderers, thieves, and worse. But who had hired Qianyin to eliminate them?

She pondered seriously, her fingers tapping restlessly on the desk. Liu Fei stood stiffly beside her, silent, as other colleagues gradually arrived.

“Morning.”

They greeted one another briefly and resumed their own tasks.

“Any updates from the medical examiner?” Mo Lan decided to focus on the old man's case first. She had no desire to pursue Qianyin, nor to take action herself. Surely the police force was not reliant on her alone.

“We have the injury report, but since he was struck by a car, the only way forward is to find the vehicle—no fingerprints left behind. A similar hit-and-run happened years ago. We're fast-tracking the investigation to determine if it’s the same case. And another matter—Officer An Feng plans to get involved.” Another officer stepped forward to report, his eyes filled with anticipation as he spoke.

“The same case?” Mo Lan murmured, then realized the latter news was more significant.

She knew An Feng was a renowned figure, always upright and efficient. He had apprehended the Four Southern Thieves himself. If he was taking charge, Mo Lan welcomed it.

Moreover, Mo Lan had never encountered such a formidable investigator—how would he handle the case, how swift and decisive would he be? She hoped to witness it firsthand.

If they ever became adversaries, who would prevail? Mo Lan contemplated this earnestly. She was still a newcomer—it would be difficult to match him.

It was a rare opportunity to learn from such an expert; she intended to seize it.

Liu Fei, however, felt uneasy. The teammates who had voiced their opinions about Mo Lan yesterday seemed to hold some special meaning in their eyes, especially upon hearing An Feng’s name; they were not surprised and remained composed.

Mo Lan, distracted by other matters, noticed nothing amiss. The station was short-staffed lately, so it made sense for higher-ups to bring in reinforcements. Besides, An Feng had not previously worked in this area.

Other colleagues, hearing An Feng’s name, had stars in their eyes, clearly admiring him. Understandably so—when a legend appears in your midst, excitement follows.

“That’s wonderful,” Mo Lan replied, genuinely enthusiastic. Having help to close the case was ideal. She could finally relax and turn her mind to other matters.

“But… but he wants you to assist him.” The reporting officer looked troubled as he spoke. With both of them commanding teams, it would mean a loss of status.

Even if they investigated together, Mo Lan’s rank would seem a step below his. The officer cared for his captain, having worked alongside her for years and admired her deeply.

Yet the other team members showed little reaction. After yesterday’s events, their expressions were subdued.

Hearing this, Liu Fei’s heart skipped a beat. It seemed the captain was in trouble. He blamed himself for being unable to protect her. Head down, gripping the file, he appeared lost in thought to the others—but only Liu Fei knew how unwilling he felt.