Chapter One: Losing Control After Drinking

Ring, ring...

In the dimly lit room, the sudden jangle of a cell phone broke the silence.

A woman lying on the bed reached out instinctively, groping across the nightstand until her fingers closed around a phone. With practiced ease, she swiped to answer.

Shu Yan's voice was raspy as she spoke: “Hello, Forensic Center, Licheng Public Security Bureau—this is Shu Yan.”

It was an automatic response, born of habit.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then an urgent but gentle voice spoke.

“Yanyan, it's me. Did you delete my number?”

The authoritative timbre startled Shu Yan fully awake.

“Director Zhao, I’m sorry—I didn’t see who was calling.”

Zhao Jianguo replied, “I should apologize. I’m sorry to wake you so early on a weekend. We have a tricky case, and just our luck, your mentor’s out of town. Can you help out and come to the bureau?”

“Of course, Director. I’ll come as soon as I can,” Shu Yan replied.

“No rush. I’ll send the Trace Evidence team over first. Your team can come a bit later,” Zhao Jianguo said.

“All right, Director.”

Without another word, Zhao Jianguo hung up.

As Shu Yan lowered the phone, she suddenly realized she was in an unfamiliar place.

From the adjoining bathroom came the sound of running water.

She could tell it was the hiss of a showerhead.

Someone was bathing—

Last night’s memories came flooding back...

Yesterday was February 14th—a Friday—the day couples around the world delight in celebrating.

Shu Yan, now thirty and single since birth, usually treated such holidays as non-events.

But this year, her best friend Li Jiaojiao—also thirty and equally single—insisted she join her for a night out at a bar.

Yet barely had they arrived when Jiaojiao’s boss called her in for overtime at the city hospital’s forensic clinic.

Before leaving, Jiaojiao ordered a beautiful blue cocktail for Shu Yan as an apology.

Because of her line of work, Shu Yan seldom drank. But Jiaojiao had said, “It’s the weekend, another team’s on duty at the bureau—let yourself relax for once. And if you meet a handsome guy, indulge yourself.”

The bar owner, a former police officer, kept a clean clientele—no worries about diseases.

It was just a casual remark. Shu Yan hadn’t taken it seriously.

But fate has a way of surprising us.

That man had also come to the bar alone.

As he entered, his tall, commanding presence drew every eye in the room.

He wore his hair cropped short, his features were sharp, his expression resolute.

He exuded a healthy masculinity.

Most of all, his deep, dark eyes seemed to pull Shu Yan in like magnets—she found herself stealing glances.

After all, in her line of work, she saw more corpses than living men.

Over time, she felt she’d grown a little lifeless herself.

It was rare to meet someone so vibrantly alive.

She didn’t know if it was because she’d looked his way a few extra times, but eventually, the man walked over and sat beside her.

He ordered a blue cocktail, just like hers.

When the bartender handed him the drink, he raised it and toasted her like an old friend.

What happened next was like something out of a melodramatic novel.

After finishing their drinks, they left the bar together and checked into a nearby hotel.

Neither had much experience; he was awkward, she was uncertain.

Still, these things come naturally to most people—and Shu Yan, after all, was a seasoned forensic doctor.

With her guidance, he soon caught on.

What followed was a night of thunder and fire.

Her head ached…

Shu Yan pressed her fingers to her temples and glanced at the time on her phone.

It was seven in the morning.

She wondered why the man was up so early to shower.

Had the director’s call not woken her, she might have slept for a day and a night.

Now, her whole body ached, exhaustion from lack of sleep weighed heavy.

There was no time for goodbyes—she had to rush back to the bureau.

And honestly, a farewell seemed unnecessary—she and that man would likely never meet again.

She dressed quickly, checked her shoulder bag—wallet, phone, work ID, all accounted for—and made her exit.

Fortunately, it was Saturday and still early; the roads were clear.

Her taxi driver, eager to show off his skills, had her at the bureau in just ten minutes.

This was the new headquarters of the Public Security Bureau in the eastern district, relocated only last year.

Shu Yan scanned the QR code to pay her fare, hopped out, and hurried toward the Criminal Technology Institute in the east annex.

She’d already informed her team in the group chat during the ride over.

She was the first to arrive.

Seizing the quiet moment before her colleagues appeared, she took a quick shower in the locker room and changed into her uniform.

By the time she’d prepped the forensic field kit, the other three had arrived.

Shu Yan was team leader, holding the rank of deputy chief medical examiner.

Her partner, Gao Yi, was the chief forensic pathologist, twenty-seven years old.

The other two were interns—a young man and woman, both recent graduates from Licheng Medical University’s Forensic Science program.

The boy was Yang Guang, the girl Li Tao, nicknamed “Peach.”

As soon as Yang Guang saw Shu Yan, he jogged over to take the field kit from her hands, grinning with a sunny, hearty voice, “Morning, Yan-jie! I swear, you’re even prettier today.”

On a normal day, Gao Yi would tease Yang Guang for buttering up their mentor.

But today, he remarked, “He’s right, Yan-jie. You look radiant—skin glowing, positively luminous. Either you just finished a workout, or you just had a shower. Am I right?”

They say a guilty conscience betrays itself; Shu Yan certainly felt it now.

She had, after all, done quite a lot of “exercise” last night…

“You’re right, I just showered,” Shu Yan replied, skirting the events of the night and sticking to the truth of the moment.

Gao Yi clapped his hands. “See? I told you.”

Peach, trailing after Shu Yan, laughed, “Yan-jie, I almost thought you’d started dating someone.”

Gao Yi jumped in, “Peach, how could Yan-jie possibly be dating anyone?”

Peach protested, “Why not? Yan-jie’s the prettiest officer in our bureau—she’s got plenty of admirers. I think even Brother Xun likes her.”

Gao Yi explained, “It’s not that no one pursues Yan-jie, it’s that none of them are good enough for her. Especially Xun—he’s just a big, rough guy.”

Yang Guang chuckled, “Exactly. Yan-jie deserves someone truly outstanding—a man who knows how to cherish a woman.”

Peach shook her head and tutted, “Men like that are extinct these days.”

Gao Yi grinned at her, “Little one, are you complaining about men in general? Don’t forget, I’m a man too.”

Peach covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry, Gao Yi, I didn’t mean you. I meant men in general—no matter how perfect they seem on the outside, who knows what quirks they hide underneath.”

Gao Yi teased, “You say that as if you’ve dated a hundred men. Haven’t you only been in one relationship?”