Houses and Upper, Middle and Lower Classes

Before leaving, the patient who had given up treatment picked up a cake from the coffee shop under the doctor's watchful eye. It was a lychee cream white chocolate cake, guaranteed to leave no other taste in the mouth except for sweetness.

“Judging from what she said, she doesn’t seem to have a very good relationship with the union members.” Back in the car, Cheng Xiangwu fastened her seatbelt as she spoke.

The person in the driver's seat was writing something down. After hearing what she said, he smiled and replied, "Those who can only close their eyes and hold hands after their belief system, object, sect, and even worship method need to be unified are called believers." Xiao Fu put away his notebook. "Heretics are terrible, even if they are atheists. So the reason why Miss Ye Luan is ostracized is the same. Her belief was liberated by cats."

"...But her sister didn't." Cheng Xiangwu thought of Ye Shu. She had never met this person, but she knew that she must look exactly like her twin sister. According to Lin Che'an, perhaps the two of them were once truly inseparable, but Ye Luan is now not only very separate, but also planning to move away.

“Let’s congratulate Miss Ye on her independence,” Xiao Fu said with a smile, starting the car.

The engine started, and at the same time, Cheng Xiangwu's cell phone vibrated in her pocket. There was a message. She took it out and looked at it. The sender was an unfamiliar person.

"Hello Ms. Cheng! This is Lin Che'an. I got your number from Officer Xie." She briefly explained her source of information. "The conversation just now ended abruptly, but I don't think that's the end of the story, Ms. Cheng. Let's talk some more!" As she spoke, she even sent a handshake emoji that came with the system.

Just as Cheng Xiangwu was about to pretend she hadn't seen it, she noticed another message from the other end: "Please don't give up on treatment. I saw that I've read your message. If you have time, please talk to me more."

"...What should we do?" Cheng Xiangwu held her phone nervously and asked Xiao Fu, "How do I turn off 'read' status?"

"You're asking me?" The driver freed one hand, pulled out his phone, and tossed it over. "Look it up online yourself."

On the doctor's recommendation, the two made an extra stop on their way to their destination: Lin Che'an's childhood home. It was a colorful stone-walled apartment that was considered a good living environment thirty years ago, but now the red tiles on the roof are broken and leaky, so it must be windy and rainy inside when the weather is bad.

“I leaked the interview questions to those law enforcement officers beforehand, hoping they would still have them all ready when we got back,” Xiao Fu said, looking for a parking spot on the cracked, overgrown road.

"Are they planning to arrest Lin Che'an?" Cheng Xiang asked, her voice broken by the bumpy ride.

"We'll arrest them once we have evidence," Xiao Fu said.

Such vague wording is not reassuring. Cheng Xiangwu looked at the new message on her phone and chose to put it away first. Most scam calls are ignored after a few tries and then abandoned. This person is probably the same.

The apartment building was neither renovated nor demolished; it was simply left standing in a semi-abandoned area where no one lived and no one cared. In Cheng Xiangwu's opinion, this place was comparable to the abandoned gas station in terms of its return to nature, but because of the more garbage that was hidden away, this apartment building had an added sense of nostalgia and humanistic atmosphere compared to the former.

Passing through abandoned tires and an old, broken-windowed four-seater car whose connection to them was unknown, stepping over scrap metal that no one was willing to collect due to its remote location, and climbing the potentially collapsing stairs to the second floor, the two finally got a glimpse of Lin Che'an's old home.

The lock was practically useless; Cheng Xiangwu didn't even bother to push it. The wind from the two of them walking to the door pushed the wooden planks inward a bit. What wafted out was the smell of dust and rotting wood. It wasn't unpleasant, and might even suit the tastes of some enthusiasts, but it was undoubtedly of no health benefit whatsoever. If you inhaled too much, your lungs would be left behind in the old era along with the house.

The house is still on the door with a "For Sale" sign, and the phone number is blurry. Nobody wants it, and neither does its interior.

There were broken stones in front of the door, and even more inside. As the hinges of the door roared, the pointer of Xiao Fu's mineral detector dial spun along with the withered leaves. It spun endlessly as if it were caught in a vortex, contradicting its own choices and thoughts. Its senses pointed in one direction, but its body turned in another on its own. If it were a person, its neck would have been broken by now.

The two-bedroom apartment, lacking any trace of human presence, was repurposed as a furniture storage room. Thirty years ago, people lived here; tables, chairs, enamel mugs, wooden cabinets, floral-patterned glasses frames are still there. They could still be used if the broken, rotten, or chipped parts were repaired, but no one wanted to use them anymore.

“The decorative items in this room have a very high content of special metals. At this density, you don’t even need to speak; a sigh would be enough to elicit a reaction.” Little F took out his notebook, walked around observing, wrote something down, and gave this diagnosis.

The long-term effect is that they resonate with the heartbeats that the dead once experienced, and then one day when someone knocks on something, the people in this house will start to dream.

“But Lin Che’an is still alive,” Cheng Xiangwu said.

"That's debatable for now, but I guess even if she saw it with her own eyes, she still wouldn't believe it, so there's nothing God can do about it," Little F replied casually as he paced around the room. "So-called atheists."

The things on the ground, like trash; the things on the table, like weapons; the things in the cabinet, like treasures; and the dust—all were commodities this family had once used for trade, all were mediums. They had been quietly sitting in their places, but when Little F spoke, they vibrated as if awakened, then quickly faded away.

"So her heart problem is because she's been in this environment for a long time and it's affected her." Cheng Xiangwu thought for a moment, "So her heart problem is because she's been in this environment for a long time and it's affected her."

Smashing, arguing, daily life – this space was once filled with noise.

“That’s it. The reason the union members can use that technology is because their HR person is a prefrontal cortex injury patient who has nothing but a sense of responsibility, and a semi-automatic missionary machine that has been spiritually polluted.” Little F sighed and slammed his notebook shut. “Let’s go. Since we’re not involved in any of these things—responsibility, cardiovascular health, mental health, religion—it’s none of our business to deal with people like that.”

The two walked outside.

Killing Lin Che'an would be difficult, and it certainly wouldn't eradicate the trouble caused by the union, but, "Don't forget the mayor's office's request," Cheng Xiangwu reminded him.

"...You want to hand her over?" Little F turned around and asked, her expression and tone unchanged.

“Yes, she can see and has a way to contact us, so controlling her is also a way to control that existence.” Cheng Xiangwu thought about the other party’s extreme behavior and then said, “However, if something happens to her, the people in the union will definitely react. Let’s wait for Han Lingfeng and the others to finish their operation first.”

Little Fu chuckled for no apparent reason, but didn't say anything.

The dusty stone space, silent and devoid of conversation, bid farewell to the two, and along with the neglected tables and chairs, was once again shut out by the wind-swept wooden door.

The apartment corridor leads outwards, where the green mountains and blue sky create a beautiful scene. Occasionally, a residential area appears amidst the woods, serving as a green dividing line. Cheng Xiangwu, lacking Lin Che'an's good eyesight, naturally cannot discern which section belongs to the Bai family's courtyard.

Fortunately, they had an address.

“If you’re planning to get rid of her, it’s best to be direct rather than hoping she gradually loses interest in you,” Xiao Fu said after getting into the car.

"Didn't I already say that?" Cheng Xiangwu asked, puzzled.

"Let's put ourselves in her shoes. Since Miss Lin Che'an doesn't regard those UFOs as a belief, why would she reveal your information so that those believers would hunt you down?" Xiao Fu asked instead. "As a side note, Miss Diana didn't receive this treatment."

"...Because those people begged her?" Cheng Xiangwu said thoughtfully.

“No, no one asked her to reveal ‘Cheng Xiangwu’s whereabouts’ at first. In fact, I can tell you directly that those union members didn’t recognize your face.” Xiao Fu said, laughing prematurely as if he found his answer funny, but at least he kept his eyes forward.

"Do I have to beg you to tell me the answer?" Cheng Xiangwu said.

"Can't you think about it yourself?" Little F said, dissatisfied, then laughed, "But telling you this part isn't out of the question."

Her gaze, reflected in the rearview mirror, settled on Cheng Xiangwu's face, accompanied by a mocking smile. "If you put yourself in her shoes, you'll understand. It's curiosity."

"Curious about how I'll die?" Cheng Xiangwu immediately felt that Lin Che'an was a bit wicked.

“I’m curious about the circumstances under which you would ask her for help,” Xiao Fu corrected, with an expression that suggested he was enjoying watching a spectacle. “And this curiosity goes back thirteen years. This self-proclaimed dedicated adolescent psychologist, who aspires to a doctorate, witnessed her colleague give you an incorrect diagnosis, yet you showed no reaction. Objective pity mixed with subjective curiosity, laced with your self-defined moral bottom line, the so-called magnanimity.”

"Is that really what she thinks?" Cheng Xiangwu had no idea that it was because of this.

“Yes,” Little Franz said with a smile. “Thirteen years ago, right after she graduated from university, people started calling her ‘Doctor.’ Later, to avoid any appearance of impropriety, they changed it to ‘PhD.’ I bet she wasn’t used to being called that.”

Cheng Xiangwu wasn't questioning this aspect. She felt she couldn't possibly dwell on something for thirteen years. Thinking about what Lin Che'an had said, she asked seriously, "Would it be feasible for me to ask her to turn herself in?"

"What's the charge?" Little Fran asked curiously. "Arson?"

"If Xu Lidong could be arrested, why can't she?" Cheng Xiangwu asked.

“Because her problems won’t be seen.” Little F said, emphasizing, “What is called the physical form is called the instrument. If you want to pin a crime on someone, you’d better find evidence to prove the crime.”

"...I hope Xie Wuchang and the others can be more efficient." Cheng Xiangwu truly thought so.

"Should we call and cheer them on?" Xiao Fu kindly suggested. "I can help you think of a cheering message."

Cheng Xiangwu refused. She took out her phone, glanced at the new message Lin Che'an had sent, thought for a moment, and then blacklisted the number.

The building marked as Bai Mansion on the map was completed in the late 1980s, with the interior decoration taking even longer. The overall structure is three stories high, built against the mountain. Due to several expansions, the mansion is large and has blurred boundaries, but it seems to look down on the high-density layout of modern times. There is no second floor in the building, except for the beacon tower in the corner that stands outside the black tile and stone walls.

They drove up the mountain along a smooth stone road, parked their car outside the courtyard alongside several others of similar status, whose worth was more than ten times higher. The two got out of the car, and in front of them, on a gate about ten meters high, under the shelter from the wind, the words "Bai Mansion" were written in gold on a black background.

The cell phone signal dropped to two bars.

One of the double doors was open to welcome guests. A waiter pushing a cart stepped forward, stopped, and bowed slightly to greet the two.

"Good afternoon." She greeted them with a polite smile. "You must be tired from your long journey. I guess you two must be Ms. Cheng Xiangwu and Ms. Xiao Fu. Miss Yunxian informed us in advance that you two would be visiting her. Thank you for the gifts you brought."

As she spoke, she began to tidy up the odds and ends in the trunk and put them onto the cart.

“Thank you for your help,” Xiao Fu said. “Besides, we also came to discuss matters related to Ms. Bai Langtao’s 60th birthday banquet. Did Miss Bai Yuntian mention this to you?”

"Ah..." The waiter paused, turned around, but didn't stop what he was doing. "I'm sorry, I don't know much about business-related information, but the head of the family is indeed at the manor right now. Please allow us to communicate later."

With that, she turned the fully loaded cart around and led the way, saying, "Please follow me, both of you."

Stepping across the threshold, the first thing you see is a mural carved from gray-black rock. Lacking color, the sharp, undulating lines make it hard to tell whether it depicts mountains or the sea, and the edges are almost sharp enough to cut the fingers of anyone who touches it.

"Please allow me to briefly introduce the Bai residence to you both." The waiter turned his head slightly and said softly, "This residence is designed according to the Song Dynasty courtyard concept. It was modified by Master Dong Yilin, a friend of the head of the family and an architect, based on the terrain and living needs, and combined with modern comfort and convenience."

As she spoke, she didn't stop, pushing the cart through the front hall, which was decorated with various bottles and jars, and into the courtyard on the first floor.

Upon hearing the name, Cheng Xiangwu was taken aback, not expecting that this Master Dong was actually doing something.

"The so-called 'accommodation' is just that the wall and floor materials here are similar to those at the Du family's breeding farm," Xiao Fu said, looking at the path made of irregularly pieced-together stones.

"You have excellent taste!" the waiter exclaimed. "Master Dong Yilin's teacher was the designer of all the buildings in the Du family. The same building materials and processes were used on both sides. However, due to drainage considerations, the Bai Mansion was not designed as a flat building."

The courtyard pond is surrounded by covered walkways. Beneath the lush green pines and shrubs and the winding wooden bridge, a few red, yellow, and white fish swim in the murky green water. The wooden pavilion in the center of the bridge is empty, but Cheng Xiangwu can sense movement and glances from inside the carved windows of the walkways.

"This floor is our staff's dormitory and various functional rooms, while the second floor is the formal living and reception area."

The attendant led the way up the corridor. The second-floor courtyard of the mansion was even greener, but it still couldn't compare to the view of the mountains that stretched out when looking back at the mansion. Several large rocks and tall trees grew among the lush moss, their branches and leaves spreading like clouds over their gnarled trunks. In the dappled light, the Taihu stones next to the stone lanterns looked even more wrinkled.

"Those are pomegranate trees that were planted when the architectural plans were finalized," the waiter explained, pointing to the tall tree.

The corridors on both sides of this floor are no longer there. Instead, there are several pavilions with the view of the corridors hidden by bamboo groves. Each pavilion is marked with the words "music, chess, calligraphy, painting, incense, and flowers". However, now the six pavilions are deserted. Only a tea table in the corner has the sound of discussion.

"Tell them to clear out that advertising space for Fang Chan. We can start preparing for the product pre-launch for next quarter." A young man interrupted the atmosphere in the courtyard with a rather vulgar topic. He spoke quickly and his voice was somewhat impatient. "After this event is over, let her go back. I've already spoken to President Cai. Yes, she will of course attend the event. I'll have them talk to each other in person then."

“…That’s Mr. Yun Jian,” the waiter whispered. “And Madam Fu Xiao is here too. You two may meet them later.”

The bamboo grove paused in her speech, then turned around.

"...We'll talk again later. Tell the marketing department to pay more attention. See you later." After the business conversation ended, Bai Yunjian walked out from behind the bamboo forest. When he saw the three of them, especially Cheng Xiangwu and Xiao Fu, his already impatient expression darkened even further.

"Mr. Yun Jian." The waiter stopped and nodded in greeting. Since the person leading the way had stopped, the two people following behind naturally couldn't move either.

"...Who are these two?" Bai Yunjian asked, glancing disdainfully at the cart full of candy. "I don't remember having any guests coming over today."

The volume, completely opposite to that of the waiter, startled several birds outside the pavilion.

"These two are Miss Yunxian's guests," the waiter responded, introducing them. "This is Ms. Chengxiangwu, and this is Ms. Xiaofu; they are also—"

Before she could finish speaking, Bai Yunjian scoffed upon hearing the first half of her sentence, "So it was someone my little sister found."

The waiter cautiously glanced back at the two of them.

Speaking of which, Cheng Xiangwu recalled that, according to Bai Yunxian, the most likely person among the remaining candidates to issue the assassination commission was Bai Yunjian. He had money and a motive, and judging from the current situation, he showed no respect for his mother's birthday banquet.

"My little sister may not have the energy to entertain you right now. If she has neglected you in any way, I, as her older brother, would like to apologize to you both in advance." Bai Yunjian said this, but everyone could tell that he would never apologize. "It is also kind of you to come all this way and bring her these things. Cake? It's not that I'm being picky, but she is not young anymore, and it's not good for her to eat so many sweets."

No one wanted to respond to what he said, and the courtyard fell silent again. The wind rustled through the branches of the pomegranate tree, striking the black tiles.

"...Why isn't it moving?" Cheng Xiangwu asked in confusion. "Does it want to eat Xiaobai's food?"

“You could say that,” Little F said dismissively. “Please continue leading the way.”

"Ah, okay!" The waiter nodded quickly. "Excuse me, Mr. Yun, we'll have to go now."

The three of them ignored Bai Yunjian and his expression and continued forward.

Passing through the moon gate into the front porch of the main building on the second floor, the west side is the guest rooms, the east side is the owner's side room, and the central area is used for receiving guests and entertainment. Bai Nianyun's portrait is hung high in the bright and clean ancient painting exhibition hall, and everyone who passes by has the opportunity to admire him and the landscape paintings and calligraphy that are worthy of being compared with him.

After passing through several doorways along the wooden corridor, the waiter stopped the cart outside one of the doors and gently knocked on the door knocker. "Please rest here with Miss Yunxian for a while. We will bring you a reply later."

"What's the third floor for?" Little F asked, pointing out of the corridor.

Looking up from the second floor, you can see the dark building that is almost hidden in the mountains and forests. The third floor does not include any landscaping and is quite small compared to the other two floors.

“The third floor of the mansion used to be a shrine for worship, but it is no longer in use.” The waiter said, opening the door. “I don’t know the specific reason.”

Inside, the interior is decorated in a modern style that is completely different from the exterior. A waiter handed slippers to the door, went in first, parked the cart next to the refrigerator in the living room, made tea, and took cups and saucers from the cabinet.

Through a glass door, outside the exquisitely carved wooden pavilion, several clusters of roses were blooming in the garden.

The sound of wheels turning echoed through the corridor that extended into the house.

"Thank you for your help," Bai Yunxian said to the waiter in a deep voice. She was not wearing glasses, and was sitting in her wheelchair with a silk scarf covering her legs, and her lower legs and feet were wrapped in bandages.

"No, that's not true." The waiter shook his head, placed the tea on the table, and turned to leave the room.

The door closed, and Cheng Xiangwu looked at the wheelchair, hesitant to speak.

"Sit down." Bai Yunxian gestured with her chin toward the sofa in the reception area.

The tea in the cup is a deep reddish-brown; it's Tieguanyin.

“We have other meetings scheduled later, so let’s get straight to the point.” Xiao Fu looked at Bai Yunxian, took out his notebook and said, “First of all, thank you for your efforts. It’s safe to say that without your contribution, the relevant information would have been buried forever.”

“I understand.” Bai Yunxian nodded. “No one but me can do this. In that case, the value of this clue is incomparable to other information. I hope you can provide me with a satisfactory answer in exchange.”

“Since you already have a specific target of suspicion, then I won’t do anything else—” Little Fu didn’t finish his sentence.

"My targeted suspicions?" Bai Yunxian frowned. "Where do you get this idea?"

“Your brain,” Little Franz said calmly. “I won’t give any more explanations, but I can give you time to express your attitude and thoughts.”

Bai Yunxian frowned and looked at Cheng Xiangwu, "What is she saying?"

“Just take it literally,” Cheng Xiangwu said. “We’ll do the same when we go to see your mother later.”

This person never hides her special characteristics, nor does she explain them, and even if it causes trouble, she never changes her attitude. Just like her choice of words and her love of performance, she attracts attention like an actor on stage. Cheng Xiangwu, of course, doesn't know why Xiao Fu is so special, but she doesn't care that much.

After a moment's thought, Bai Yunxian put on her glasses and said, "Okay, let's continue."

"Let's talk about the progress of the investigation first. So far, we have reached a preliminary conclusion regarding the situation in Senhu City up to thirteen years ago that is relevant to the present situation." Xiao Fu began to describe the progress of the investigation so far, of course, only the part that she cared about.

About a month ago, a tragedy occurred at Senhu No. 2 Middle School. The cause was that Ye Shu, a member of the union, installed a special device using nails as a medium on the top floor of the school building. On the day of the spring outing, the device was activated to affect the humans in the area, causing about 130 first-year students to fall into a specific collective dream and be captured by unidentified flying objects.

“Collective dreams are impossible without a brain-based external interface,” Bai Yunxian said, frowning.

“We’ve experienced it firsthand,” Cheng Xiangwu said, raising his hand.

Six months ago, some people believed that Bai Yuntian might have died. At the same time, Bai Langtao began to frequently travel to and from the mining area and started to contact union members.

"...What is the evidence of contact?" Bai Yunxian asked in a deep voice.

"The candles in Miss Gu Wanqiu's office came from Ms. Bai Langtao. Making those candles requires a special variety of datura. We found that the raw materials were cultivated by union members, and we also found evidence of their dealings," Xiao Fu said, showing an evidence bag containing dried leaves. "Thanks to this morning's investigation, we can now confirm that in addition to attracting UFOs, it also indirectly produces various effects on the human brain. The effects need to be verified."

"What kind of drug?" Bai Yunxian asked. "Excuse me for being frank, but this sounds like it's completely illegal."

“Non-addictive hallucinogenic drugs are naturally illegal in terms of their effects,” Little Franz chuckled. “However, the law does not currently recognize their existence.”

Going back further, from thirteen to thirty years ago, the Bai family trapped the unidentified flying object in the mining area using unknown methods, and tamed its feeding habits and range by regularly feeding it corpses. Thirteen years ago, the mining rights contract in the mining area ended, and some disputes arose in the mining area.

"...In fact, the content of the dispute is also a part that must be clarified in my opinion, but we can't find relevant witnesses or evidence at the moment, so we have no clue what to do and can only put it aside for now," Xiao Fu said in a deep voice.

"I hope those policemen have made some progress today." Cheng Xiangwu had never looked forward to the police's work so much.

"It's best not to have too high expectations," Bai Yunxian said dismissively.

At the same time, a fire broke out at the Five Fragrance Pavilion, attracting an unidentified flying object (UFO) that burned it. The UFO was later taken away by members of the labor union, who regarded it as a religious object and used it to hunt for offerings.

“…So that fire back then was…” Bai Yunxian fell silent.

"It was probably my mom who ordered it," Cheng Xiangwu said uncertainly. "The exact cause is unknown, but my dad did die from that thing."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yunxian lowered her head and said nothing.

“The flame that was lit back then has obviously been used by many parties to this day,” Xiao Fu said. “After all, based on your testimony, no one but Ms. Cheng Song could light that fire, or rather, it was ineffective. And we have smelled that candle smell in at least three places.”

Fire is indeed a universal energy source.

Then came the mysterious events of thirty years ago. What happened remains unknown, except for the earthquake. But the results were clear: Bai Guanhai died, a new UFO was born, Senhu Lake dried up, the Du family members jumped into the lake one after another, five cats developed an increased appetite after eating fish, the Bai family came uninvited to take whale blubber, and wax was researched and put into use.

“Right now, apart from Ms. Bai Langtao, no one can provide us with any clues about this part. Do you have anything to add or refute on this point?” Xiao Fu asked.

“…I’m not sure.” Bai Yunxian lowered her eyes and pressed her hand to her forehead. “But my sister was too young back then, and she probably wouldn’t have cooperated with you guys in this question-and-answer game.”

"As far as I know, she should be at the company right now," said Xiao Fu.

"That's how it should be." Bai Yunxian nodded.

“Yesterday too,” said Little F.

“…That’s how it should be.” Bai Yunxian closed her eyes, then looked up and asked, “Aside from the meeting, what evidence do you have that you suspect she’s dead?”

“A photo taken by a concerned reporter and some exclusive news.” Xiao Fu tapped his pen as he spoke. “The suspicious point is Ms. Bai Langtao’s attitude. If the photo only represents an ordinary scandal, then she wouldn’t have needed to ask Ms. Gu Wanqiu to take care of this reporter.”

“So it’s not empirical evidence.” Bai Yunxian nodded. “I don’t pay attention to death information, but I know that proving someone is alive is much simpler than proving they are dead.”

“And you know that the certificate you saw is highly credible,” Little F said with a laugh.

"...There's another part to the rumors from thirty years ago." Bai Yunxian sighed and changed the subject, "People who were beheaded occasionally reappear in the ancestral hall on the third floor. What are your thoughts on that?"

“It’s feasible,” Little F nodded. “While it’s not a miracle like the dead coming back to life, it’s still possible to just show up and beat you up, though of course it’s different from being alive.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Yunxian first glared at Cheng Xiangwu in bewilderment, then asked, "...What is the criterion for judgment?"

“Motive and ability.” Little Fu flipped through his notebook. “Specifically, it’s the point about ‘actively interfering with common sense again,’ which is also what I’m puzzled about. If the speculation is correct, Miss Bai Yuntian’s act of ‘teaching you a lesson’ clearly contradicts our previous investigation results. Perhaps we’ve missed something, or perhaps…”

"Let me see that notebook." Bai Yunxian reached out her hand.

“…That’s not possible.” Little Flène narrowed her eyes and said with dissatisfaction, “You can consult me ​​as needed.”

"I can dig up my own ancestral graves to get clues, so what's wrong with you sharing your clues with me?" Bai Yunxian didn't retract her hand.

“The weights on both sides are not equal,” Little Ferdinand said solemnly. “It’s impossible, don’t even think about it.”

Bai Yunxian stared at Xiao Fu for a while.

"What is enshrined on the third floor of your esteemed residence?" Little Fu asked.

“We don’t offer anything anymore,” Bai Yunxian said.

"What about before?" Little F asked.

“…It’s a local belief called ‘Lake Fairy,’ a local deity whose information can’t be found outside of Senhu Lake, and I don’t know it either,” Baiyunxian said. “The time when the shrine closed is unknown, but I think it’s related to the rumors.”

So the Bai family once worshipped the Immortal of the Lake. This connects with some of what Du Qingyu said. "Do you know why your family stopped believing in this later?" Cheng Xiangwu asked.

“…I don’t know.” Bai Yunxian shook her head. “You should ask my mother.”

"So what is your basis for suspecting that the Senhu No. 2 Middle School case is related to Bai Langtao?" Xiao Fu asked. "Besides the part about Miss Gu Wanqiu, she hasn't had any contact with your mother for half a year."

“…When I learned about the No. 2 Middle School incident, the school building had already started to be demolished, but I also saw photos of it from other places.” Bai Yunxian closed her eyes and remained silent for a while before opening them again and saying, “The green paint on that barbed wire is essentially an extremely flammable chemical substance. The composition is not important. What is important is that it was used to enclose and protect the ecosystem at the mining site, and it was specially ordered by that man surnamed Dong.”

“…So—” Little F frowned.

“Yes.” Bai Yunxian nodded. “Mining affairs are handled solely by my mother, and only she has the authority to provide those materials.”

Little Fu lowered his head and started writing and drawing in his notebook, and the living room fell silent for a moment.

"That kind of fire can attract, harm, and trap that entity because of a phenomenon similar to pheromone navigation," Bai Yunxian said thoughtfully.

“That thing isn’t a living organism. Although the current investigation results do suggest that it does have sensor-like organs, I think the focus isn’t on the flames, but on the composition of that wax,” Little F said without looking up.

“According to the investigation results, the wax was invented by Aunt Cheng. We didn’t have that candle in our family more than 30 years ago. Why did it only kill our family members?” Bai Yunxian disagreed. “Given the active and passive interference with optics, I think the flame is the key. The wax is just a tool to assist in the discipline and existence of the flame.”

“The effect of flame as a medium is quite limited, and based on the clues we have so far, I don’t think the flame is anything special. Compared to the heat itself, the effect of heat is mainly the wick effect. Ms. Cheng Song may have special technology to make the combustion cycle more stable,” Xiao Fu retorted.

“No, I dare say that any organ with an information processing center will react to heat waves. Some SAE diagnostic cases illustrate the significant impact of temperature on sensor-like organs. As for the pheromone navigation phenomenon, it’s just a metaphor. Even the most advanced models need to be manually broken out of their loops to guide their direction, not to mention the individuals you’re talking about sound rather stupid.” Bai Yunxian didn’t accept it.

"In this respect, cases of brain diseases can barely be considered related to what we are talking about. Moreover, we can now basically confirm that the existence of such a thing is due to high temperatures and that it has acquired the ability to move. How could an artificial heat wave possibly have any effect on it?" Xiao Fu frowned and tapped the notebook in his hand. "The burning material itself is the breakthrough and innovation point, not to mention that there are already three examples that have not yet been systematically studied."

"...Are you here to solve the problem or to take this opportunity to explore and collect new materials?" Bai Yunxian finished speaking and then chuckled, "Of course it's the latter. You're not a local, you've never seen that kind of flame, so of course you can say such things."

"It's an honor for that UFO to be targeted by me," Little Fu said indifferently. "As for the general term 'flame,' I don't think there are any types on this planet that are beyond my understanding. The material is my choice and also a pain point for you humans. I will solve this pain point, and that's enough."

"You've solved a pain point, but what are we solving? People who will raise new pain points in the future? Not to mention, I don't think your approach is a 'solution' at all," Bai Yunxian said dismissively. "As for the materials, how do you know we haven't researched them? Some people have developed them, and some people are still using them. Do you really think this is some kind of old yeast from a family-secret bread recipe?"

“…Miss Bai Yunxian, forgive my bluntness, but you are merely trying to maintain the dignity and face of your family and your brain. This is a complete waste of time. I recommend you accept my advice and focus your attention on meaningful things,” Xiao Fu said coldly, tapping his pen impatiently.

"How many times do you think I've heard this from my team members? The only reason you're correcting my direction is that you think everything else besides that one entity is worthless." Bai Yunxian wasn't impressed and sped up her speech, enunciating each word like a gunshot. "You can read whatever's in my head. I'm not asking you to write a review. After you read it, reflect on whether your direction is flawed. Historical experience is only for reference; different cases require different research methods. I'm saying this so you can understand it more clearly."

“Your so-called value is nothing but yourself—” Little F narrowed his eyes, about to retort.

"Knock knock." A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. It was two knocks, neither too loud nor too soft, and it was the waiter.

"Please come in," Bai Yunxian said, adjusting her glasses and turning her head to the side.

After the door opened, the waiter cautiously began, "...The head of the household said the guest may go see her..."

"...Consider yourself lucky," Little F scoffed, standing up.

"Consider yourself lucky." Bai Yunxian emphasized the pronunciation of "you." "Since you have difficulty walking, I won't see you off."

Cheng Xiangwu also stood up, finally able to leave this topic from which she couldn't escape.

“…Um,” the waiter said again, looking quite troubled, “the master said he only wishes to meet with Ms. Cheng Xiangwu, so…”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiangwu looked at Xiao Fu in surprise. Xiao Fu turned to look at Bai Yunxian, who sneered and waved her hand, saying, "Don't think about it. She just doesn't like meeting outsiders."

"...Looks like your luck isn't that good either." Xiao Fu smiled and sat down again, looking at Cheng Xiangwu. "Then I wish you good luck. I have some medical-related topics to discuss with this person."

"I'm available anytime." Bai Yunxian adjusted her posture.

“…I’m leaving.” Cheng Xiang nodded and followed the waiter out the door.

The waiter breathed a sigh of relief, closed the door, and led the way, then turned back and whispered, "I'm so sorry..."

Cheng Xiangwu didn't know why this person was apologizing, she just shook her head and said, "It's okay." As she spoke, she took out her phone to check the time, and also found that there was no signal in the yard, so she would have to go to the parking lot to make a call.

After passing through the east corridor back to the main hall, the waiter did not stop there, but continued to lead Cheng Xiangwu from the side to the west bamboo forest corridor, and walked up about half a step. At a dimly lit lantern, they suddenly turned left, and after three steps, they found themselves on a black stone path pieced together. Without a guide, no one would have thought that this was a way to walk.

Less than a minute after walking along the stone slabs, the waiter stopped and stepped aside, saying, "The master is already waiting in the courtyard. Please come in; I will wait for you here."

“No need, I remember the way.” Cheng Xiangwu shook his head.

"...Okay, please watch your step." The waiter nodded and turned to leave.

Cheng Xiangwu continued along the remaining path. The bamboo forest became narrower and narrower, almost swallowing the stone slabs underfoot. But after a bend, the path suddenly opened up, leaving only green mountains and blue sky, and a stone courtyard ahead.

The open-air terrace is not surrounded by walls or wire mesh, but only by low trees and muddy ground. Gray and white gravel forms a river in the courtyard, and the stones and piles of stones of different styles stand there naturally as if they grew out of the ground, each with its own function and characteristics. Some look like people, some like animals, and some are incomprehensible. There is no greenery in the courtyard.

On one of the relatively flat stone slabs, a figure was perched. Cheng Xiangwu approached it and saw that it was a grayish-yellow stone shaped like a monkey. But as she got closer, another figure suddenly emerged from behind the stone monkey. This time, it was indeed a person.

"Come here." She smiled familiarly, raised her hand, and waved slowly, her voice slightly low and nasal.

The person sitting with one leg propped up next to the stone monkey, seemingly chatting with it, is Bai Langtao, the head of the Bai family. She is a middle-aged woman who looks like a lynx, with gray curly hair and fine lines etched on her face. Her gaze is piercing, and her smile, whether intentional or not, is large and lacks any sense of friendliness. Her arms, beneath her loose robes, have not lost much muscle due to age, and some veins bulge out when she exerts herself.

“…Hello.” Cheng Xiangwu greeted her as he walked up to her. There were no stools or tables in the courtyard; it was like an open-air warehouse for storing stones.

"Come, sit down." Bai Langtao didn't put on airs as an elder and slowly patted the surface of the stone slab to his right. "If you want a cushion, go ask that person outside."

But Cheng Xiangwu had already let that person leave. She didn't say anything and sat down as instructed. With a stone monkey, an old man, a young boy, and a crowd of onlookers, the courtyard remained quite quiet.

"You've grown so tall in the blink of an eye." Bai Langtao turned his head and greeted him in the same manner as an elder would when meeting a younger generation.

"Have you seen me before?" Cheng Xiangwu didn't remember ever seeing me before.

“You forgot?” Bai Langtao shook his head. “That’s normal, there’s not much to see in old people.”

Cheng Xiangwu didn't think so, but she really didn't remember, so she could only say, "Okay."

"You're speechless now?" Bai Langtao raised her voice slightly, and Cheng Xiangwu couldn't tell if she was smiling from that expression. "I thought you had a lot of questions to ask, too bad."

She looked at the distant mountains, her brows furrowed, but her eyes remained fixed on the person beside her.

“…I do have one.” Cheng Xiangwu looked up and asked, “Can you tell me the purpose of your birthday party?”

"What's wrong with an elderly person celebrating a big birthday by inviting friends and family to join in the festivities?" Bai Langtao asked, glancing at a twisted stone sculpture in front of her and smiling.

That reason is indeed correct, but it ignores the background factors. "Senhu City is very dangerous recently," Cheng Xiangwu said. "You should know that, right? Your friends are all very precious."

"Hahaha!" Bai Langtao laughed upon hearing this, and then said matter-of-factly, "If you want to be my friend, you can't be too weak."

As she spoke, she patted the stone monkey beside her as if seeking confirmation, and the stone, of course, remained sturdy without a word.

“…Alright.” Cheng Xiangwu had nothing more to say about this person’s attitude, and then said, “I also have some things from the past that I want to ask you.”

"About Xiao Song?" Bai Langtao asked. "With you here, it's not appropriate to call her Xiao Cheng anymore, hmph."

Cheng Xiangwu really wasn't good at dealing with this kind of person. They were old and seemed easy to talk to, but once they opened their mouths, she didn't know how to start a conversation and couldn't figure out what they were thinking.

“I heard you two are quite close,” she said.

“Of course, speaking of which, your parents met because of our family.” Bai Langtao said with a smile, the lines on her face etched with her wide smile. “But they probably wouldn’t have a good look at our family, thankfully they won’t be able to see them now.”

How was Cheng Xiangwu supposed to answer that?

“You must find it strange,” Bai Langtao said slowly, “'Why did this person insist on making me the cook?' Has that thought kept you up at night?”

"It's not that bad," Cheng Xiangwu said. "But can you tell me the answer?"

“What if you say ‘no’?” Bai Langtao turned his head and brought his eyes closer to Cheng Xiangwu’s. They were eyes that had not become cloudy with age; they were dark and yellowish with narrow pupils. Everyone who was looked at by her felt as if they were being observed.

"...Then why did you call me here?" Cheng Xiangwu took a step back, puzzled. "Do you really have some allergen you want me to remember?"

"Hahaha!" Bai Langtao laughed heartily. "I can't tell you about this fatal flaw, lest you overthink it. But the reason for inviting you is quite simple."

She looked at the distant mountains and forests and said, "It was Cheng Song's request. The words 'Let Cheng Xiang light the fire' were from thirteen years ago, her will. We are old friends, and if we don't listen to this, she might get up again and set the Bai family's house on fire."

Thirteen years ago, before Cheng Song died, he made a phone call that specified a request for help thirteen years later.

"Why?" Cheng Xiangwu understood, but didn't comprehend, "Why would she..."

"Who can understand what she's thinking?" Bai Langtao sighed, then looked at Cheng Xiangwu and said with a smile, "I was afraid you wouldn't come, so I invited you in the name of the company. Xiao Cheng, you're such a busy person."

"Did she say anything else?" Cheng Xiang asked five times, and saw that the person had an expression that said, "I've been waiting for this for a long time."

“Before we start telling the stories of the older generation, why don’t you try to guess what Cheng Song did at the beginning?” Bai Langtao thoughtfully suggested. “Guess as boldly as you can. After all, you should know now that she is a smart and resourceful person.”

Cheng Xiangwu thought for a moment and said, "A scientist?"

“Let’s be more pragmatic.” Bai Langtao lowered his eyes and shook his head.

"A chef?" Cheng Xiangwu guessed.

"That's not a good answer," Bai Langtao snorted.

"...A perfumer." Cheng Xiangwu racked her brains to guess.

"Alright, alright, I won't make you guess anymore." Bai Langtao's lips widened slightly. "She used to be a forensic pathologist."

Thirty-three years ago, Cheng Song came to Senhu City as a forensic doctor. Without a systematic division into pathology and clinical medicine, she could take a look at anything that was lying down.

“…I see.” Cheng Xiang nodded. “She has quite a wide range of professions.”

"It's all about handling corpses, do you think you can say that?" Bai Langtao chuckled slowly twice. "She was hired by our family, but we didn't hire her for her forensic knowledge in the first place."

"What else could it be?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.

“Her experience in handling cases,” Bai Langtao said.

Thirty-three years ago, strange things began to happen in the Bai family compound. People died one after another from mysterious causes, including the then-head of the family, Bai Nianyun. The local police couldn't solve the case, so the two main leaders of the Bai family gathered their forces and called on people from all walks of life to come to Senhu City to solve the mystery. They were willing to be any kind of deity who could solve the problem.

With such high incentives, there are always those willing to try. Combined with the booming mining industry at the time, all sorts of people started flocking to Mori Lake City. Believers in gods and Buddhas, people with strange beliefs, snake charmers, monkey trainers, bird toy enthusiasts, people who claimed to be able to communicate with aliens, people who thought they were messengers of nature, people from the East, the West, and the sea.

In short, a whole bunch of liars and those who thought they weren't liars flocked to the Bai family's door. Half of them were scared away by the sight of the dead, half of the remaining half were scared away by the crime scene, half of the remaining half were scared away by the Bai family's methods, and the remaining half were the useless ones.

Among those who weren't scared away and were somewhat useful, Cheng Song was the youngest.