Chapter 34

The three testimonies matched up completely, and the case was finally closed.0When Ye Zeling learned that the killer of Ye Zeming was Lin Lan, she was first shocked, then fell into a state of frenzy: "I knew it, I didn't kill my brother. Thank goodness, I didn't kill my brother..."0

Liu Jiale, on the other hand, was utterly shocked when he found out. He could hardly believe that Lin Lan would kill someone.0 S~eaʀᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

In his heart, Lin Lan was like an angel, always accommodating Ye Zeming and the others, and always comforting him when he was oppressed. How could such a kind person kill someone?0

He was desperate to see Lin Lan while in detention, almost suicidal in his attempts.0

Although Lin Lan was wearing a yellow prison uniform, her expression was calm, and she still exuded an aura of tranquility.0

Liu Jiale grabbed Lin Lan's hand and said urgently, "Sister Lin Lan, the police made a mistake, right? They got it wrong. The one who killed that scumbag Ye Zeming was clearly Ye Zeling. Why are you taking the blame for her?"0

"Jiale, they didn't make a mistake. I killed Ye Zeming."0

"...Why?"0

"Jiale, although your actions obstructed the police investigation, you probably won't be sentenced to more than a few years. After you get out of prison, stay away from Ye Zeling, don't love her anymore. You should plan for your own life now. Don't be like me, who lost everything for love and betrayed my own beliefs in the end."0

Liu Jiale's eyes were somewhat bewildered. "I... I don't know if I can do that."0

"You must do it. Don't love someone who doesn't love themselves!" Lin Lan's gaze was determined. "It's too late for me, but you still have a chance."0

Liu Jiale was in tears.0

"Jiale, don't come to see me anymore. I'll be fine in here."0

Lin Lan was a person with her own beliefs. Even in prison, she could still live out the rest of her days calmly.0

After work, Fang Rui didn't plan to go home with Mu Mian. They had been together a lot lately, even commuting together, which could easily lead to misunderstandings. He didn't want rumors to affect their purely professional relationship.0

But when he saw Mu Mian standing at the entrance, quietly waiting for a ride, Fang Rui hesitated.0

As he was hesitating, a car stopped beside Mu Mian.0

"Dr. Mu, need a ride?"0

It was Lin Sen speaking. He had driven by the City Police Bureau, originally intending to ask Fang Rui out for dinner, but changed his mind when he saw Mu Mian.0

Mu Mian quickly analyzed the situation in her head: Lin Sen's car was well-maintained and looked very safe, and Lin Sen was an emotionally stable person who probably wouldn't get road rage—it should be quite safe to ride with him.0

More importantly, Mu Mian wanted to get home quickly to prepare a birthday surprise for her sister.0

"Thank you," Mu Mian said as she got into the back seat.0

Fang Rui watched Lin Sen's car leave, feeling perplexed. Since when had that selfish and cold guy become so kind-hearted? Could it be that Lin Sen was trying an indirect approach, using Mu Mian to get closer to her sister?0

Love really does make people blind! Fang Rui couldn't help but sigh.0

Zhang, seeing Fang Rui staring wistfully as Lin Sen's car drove away, also sighed, "Consultant Lin is quite a catch too. I wonder if Dr. Mu might develop feelings for him instead?"0

Fang Rui gave him a withering look. "Don't you have work to do?"0

If it weren't for Zhang constantly whispering in his ear, would he have been affected by those rumors? And now the culprit had the audacity to appear before him.0

"Consultant Lin also has a smart brain. I wonder if Dr. Mu might be interested in his body too?" Chen Xue chimed in out of nowhere, playing off Zhang's comment.0

Fang Rui retorted, "You're overthinking it. Consultant Lin can't read minds, so Dr. Mu wouldn't find his brain worth researching. Mu Mian wouldn't be interested in Lin Sen's love-addled brain!"0

"...No wonder you're not worried!" Chen Xue muttered under her breath.0

"Yeah, we were so worried for you just now."0

"You two..." Fang Rui suddenly scrutinized them both.0

Chen Xue and Zhang felt uneasy under his gaze.0

Zhang's voice trembled, "Boss, what's wrong?"0

"You two have been acting strange lately, always sticking together. You're not dating, are you?"0

"Boss, don't spread rumors! Chen Xue and I are just friends, nothing more."0

"Oh."0

Chen Xue also hurried to clarify: "Captain Fang, Zhang and I are just bros!" They just liked to ship couples together, that's all.0

At this moment, Wang passed by and, seeing Zhang and Chen Xue both blushing furiously, asked in confusion, "Captain Fang, what's wrong with these two? How come Zhang, with his thick skin, is blushing?"0

"Don't know, maybe they're dating!" Fang Rui dropped this bomb and walked away without looking back, leaving the three of them shocked.0

Zhang said, "We're not dating."0

Chen Xue added, "We're just friends."0

Wang, who was passing by, chuckled, "Oh... I see, I understand!"0

Within minutes, the gossip about Chen Xue and Zhang's romance spread throughout the entire City Police Bureau.0

Zhang and Chen Xue were on the verge of tears. This was definitely Fang Rui's revenge on them!0

Shen Xiyin was returning home after work when she happened to see Mu Mian getting out of Lin Sen's car.0

She was a bit surprised. In Mu Mian's observation diary, Lin Sen's name had only appeared once. Mu Mian and Lin Sen weren't close.0

"Sister."0

"Lin Sen, thank you for bringing my sister home."0

Lin Sen didn't respond to Shen Xiyin, but he didn't leave either. He just looked at her.0

Mu Mian, completely oblivious to the undercurrents between them, looked at Shen Xiyin, then at Lin Sen, and curiously asked, "Consultant Lin, Sister, are you communicating through mind reading?"0

"..."0

"But I can't read minds, so I don't know what you're talking about. I'll be very bored standing here. Can you communicate verbally? I promise I'll keep it a secret. I won't tell Fang Rui what you talked about."0

Shen Xiyin said to Mu Mian, "Mian, can you go home first?"0

"Okay. But Sister, come home soon, okay?" Mu Mian wasn't interested in their secret.0

After Mu Mian left, Shen Xiyin said to Lin Sen, "Lin Sen, we can be friends, can't we?"0

Lin Sen ignored her. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one.0

"I don't need friends."0

Shen Xiyin sighed. She knew Lin Sen was a stubborn person, but wasn't she also obsessive in her own way? Once she had decided to break up back then, she wouldn't start over with Lin Sen.0

Lin Sen took a drag on his cigarette, his tone softening a bit, "You came back to the country to investigate the truth about your parents' car accident, didn't you?"0

Shen Xiyin's mother was a renowned neurosurgeon, and her father was a senior researcher at a pharmaceutical company. They died in a car accident. The police found that the car involved in the accident had been tampered with, but they never caught the culprit.0

Lin Sen had participated in the investigation of this case at the time. They had identified a suspect, but that person had immigrated back to their home country.0

Shen Xiyin's smile gradually faded, and she struggled to control her emotions, "Please don't tell Mu Mian about this. I can handle my parents' matter on my own."0

"Shen Xiyin, I can help you! I'll take care of Mu Mian with you, I'll help you investigate the truth about your parents' accident. Can we get back together?"0

"Lin Sen, we can't."0

When Shen Xiyin returned home, she found the house pitch dark. Just as she was puzzled, Mu Mian came out of the room holding a cake.0

"Sister, happy birthday!"0

Shen Xiyin was surprised and touched. This was the first time Mu Mian had taken the initiative to celebrate her birthday.0

"I originally ordered a very pretty cake with lots of beautiful flowers on it, but the bakery owner was arrested. Guess who discovered she was the murderer?"0

"You."0

"Yes, but Fang Rui also guessed she was the killer." Mu Mian remembered Lin Sen and asked, "Fang Rui said Consultant Lin likes you very much. Do you like him?"0

"Once upon a time, very much."0

"Will you marry him then?"0

"No," Shen Xiyin said, "I won't marry anyone."0

"Then Consultant Lin is so pitiful. He likes you, but you won't marry him. He'll be all alone and very lonely."0

"He'll fall in love with another girl in the future," Shen Xiyin sighed. "I'm not getting married, why don't you think I'm pitiful?"0

"Sister, you have me. I'll always be with you."0

Shen Xiyin smiled.0

Mu Mian turned on the small speaker, which played the birthday song. "Sister, hurry and blow out the candles to make a wish," she said.0

Shen Xiyin made her wish and blew out the candles.0

"This is my gift for you," Mu Mian handed Shen Xiyin an exquisite gift box, urging, "Open it quickly and take a look."0

"It's beautiful. I love it," Shen Xiyin said as she opened it. Inside the box was an hourglass, simple in design, with soft white sand inside transparent glass.0

"After Mom and Dad passed away, you've been so busy all the time. I feel like you're very tired. So I'm giving you an hourglass. Chen Xue said it can represent time. Sister, I wish you to have time!"0

Shen Xiyin hadn't cried when their parents died, but at this moment, she suddenly found it hard to control her emotions.0

It turned out that Mu Mian could sense her feelings. It's just that before, Mu Mian hadn't learned how to express it.0

Mu Mian stretched out her arms and said to Shen Xiyin, "Sister, I can allow you to hug me now."0

"Mu Mian, thank you!"0

"You're welcome."0

Mu Mian was very happy. She felt that she had finally done something that made her sister happy.0

She decided that when Fang Rui's birthday came, she would also give him a cake and an hourglass. That way, Fang Rui would surely be so moved that he'd immediately agree to donate his body to her.1