The day after the autopsy results came out, the criminal profile was completed, and a suspect, a worker surnamed Wang, was quickly identified. He was from the same hometown as the murdered couple and had come to Haijing to work together. He had a decent relationship with the male victim, often drinking together. Wang was lazy and idle, loved to gamble, and had accumulated over a hundred thousand yuan in gambling debt. It’s speculated that his motive was being refused a loan, combined with jealousy after discovering that the couple had the money to buy a house. So, when the couple had just moved into their new home, he ruthlessly killed them. Tragically, this couple had worked hard for ten years to finally have a home in Haijing, only to meet a fatal end because of it.
On the night of the crime, Wang disappeared without a trace. There were no records of him at train stations, high-speed rail stations, airports, or other checkpoints, and he didn’t seek refuge with any relatives. The police strongly suspected that he was still in Haijing and immediately deployed a large team to conduct a search in the designated areas.
Lin Heyu didn’t get home until eleven o’clock. After running around all day, his uniform had been soaked with sweat and dried again, and he could smell the sweat that had seeped into his pores. He quickly took a shower, but after coming out, he found himself wide awake. He went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and saw that the food had been touched, carefully sealed again with plastic wrap. It seemed Yi Shi had obediently stayed home and eaten his meals on time.
How long is his vacation? It seems pretty nice to have him stay here for a while.
Lin Heyu subconsciously raised his right hand and touched his lips, suddenly realizing that his action was like that of a love-struck girl. His shoulders trembled as he shivered at the thought and quickly pulled out a stack of scanned documents from his bag, trying to find something to do in the living room.
While he was deep in thought, Lin Heyu keenly sensed a pair of eyes staring at him. He looked up and saw a head peeking out from the hallway, its dark eyes staring at him.
“Not asleep yet?”
“Mm,” Yi Shi said softly. “I couldn’t sleep because you weren’t back.”
This… he’s really working hard at turning me gay. Saying something so cute with such a serious expression—was that intentional or just clueless innocence?
“Why aren’t you coming over?” Lin Heyu patted the sofa.
Yi Shi had been afraid of disturbing his work, thinking Lin Heyu needed a quiet space to analyze the case. After all, Yi Shi himself liked being alone when thinking through cases and would sometimes leave group meetings to find a quiet spot to smoke a cigarette. Naturally, he assumed Lin Heyu would need the same environment.
Since Lin Heyu had invited him, Yi Shi walked over and noticed his hair was still dripping wet. He took a towel and gently covered it, rubbing to absorb the moisture.
At the same time, his eyes fell on the A4 papers scattered on the table. Lin Heyu was pondering over the suspect’s friends’ statements, while Yi Shi was browsing through the crime scene and suspect’s residence photos.
“Is the suspect superstitious?”
“Why do you ask?” Lin Heyu looked at Yi Shi, as all investigation results so far showed no indication that Wang was involved in feudal superstitions or religious practices. There was also no related evidence at the crime scene.
Yi Shi pointed at the photo of the living room’s main entrance. “That small niche looks like a shrine, and isn’t that a Buddha statue covered by a white cloth?”
“Yes, it’s the Bodhisattva. The victims were devout believers and had the habit of offering incense.”
“If they were devout, they would have been especially careful when moving house. Whether it’s a Bodhisattva or Buddha statue, it would’ve been wrapped in red cloth to avoid desecration. The small incense burner has unburned incense, meaning the red cloth was already removed, and they had offered incense. The white cloth was clearly put on afterward. He was scared that the Bodhisattva would witness his actions.” Yi Shi scanned another report and sneered. “There are no fingerprints. He didn’t even dare to cover it himself; he forced the female victim to block the Bodhisattva’s eyes.”
Lin Heyu frowned. At the time of the crime, the scene was chaotic, with many unpacked woven bags and some furniture still covered in dust cloths. It was natural for everyone to assume that the Buddha statue had been covered to prevent dust. No one had expected there to be such a deeper meaning.
“And in the suspect’s own house, all four bed legs are propped up on red bricks, likely to ward off evil. In the West, there’s also a belief that scattering red brick dust at the entrance can stop demons from entering.”
Lin Heyu was a little surprised. “How do you know all this? Do you like studying folklore?”
“No… I just heard about it before.” Yi Shi lowered his eyelids, hiding the flicker in his eyes. During those years wandering the streets, moving from place to place, he often went to villages where people were hosting funerals or weddings to get free food, and that’s where he picked up all sorts of strange customs.
With this analysis, Wang was likely terrified of divine retribution after the murders and, under the influence of his superstitious beliefs, would be seeking some sort of protection… A light bulb went off in Lin Heyu’s head as he grabbed his coat. “You go ahead and sleep. I’m heading out for a bit.”
Yi Shi nodded. “Be safe.”
As soon as Lin Heyu stepped outside, he started making one call after another. Yuan Maoqiu, who had just fallen asleep, was groggily dragged out of bed for another round of work and was extremely annoyed. “If you had told me earlier there was a nighttime operation, I wouldn’t have gone to sleep! It’s torture getting woken up right after dozing off!”
“Stop whining. Catch the guy, and you’ll get a full day to sleep.”
Yuan Maoqiu perked up immediately, hurriedly putting on his clothes. “You know where he is?”
“More or less. No time to gather up, we’ll split up. I’ll send you some coordinates, and you, Xiao Zhou, and Xiao Bei will head there.”
“Got it! I’m on my way!”
…
At five in the morning, just before dawn, Lin Heyu’s house was quiet and still, with only one guest sleeping soundly in the study.
The study door was gently opened, and footsteps quietly approached the sofa bed. A tall figure sat down cautiously at the bedside, silently admiring the man whose face was half-buried in a pillow.
He reached out, his fingertips brushing softly against a warm cheek, sliding down along the contours. The faint tickling sensation pulled Yi Shi out of his dreams. His eyes were still unfocused, and in the darkness, he could only see a vague silhouette.
“Thank you,” the figure said.
Yi Shi rubbed his eyes and was about to speak, but his face was suddenly held in place, and something warm pressed against his lips.
“You—” His words were cut off by the kiss.
The other party was much more decisive than him. He pinched his chin slightly, causing his jaw to open, and his tongue slipped between his lips, stirring inside. The familiar scent filled his nostrils.
“…Hmm… hmm there…” Yi Shi couldn’t even speak clearly, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to catch his breath from the heated kiss. “Lin… Lin Heyu…”
“We caught him. Your suggestion was spot on.” Lin Heyu pulled back slightly, cupping his face and kissing the corner of his lips, speaking softly, “We found him in a Christian church. By the time I came back, the interrogation was mostly done.”
Around three in the morning, they found the suspect Wang in a Christian church within the search area. He was huddled in a cabinet beneath a statue of Jesus, holding a crucifix. Yuan Maoqiu snapped his fingers and said, “Lao Lin, you’re amazing! How did you figure it out?”
Lin Heyu smiled, “Bodhisattva bless.”
Wang’s face turned pale. He was taken to the detention center and confessed to all his crimes, sobbing as he revealed everything.
Hearing that the culprit had been caught, Yi Shi let out a sigh of relief. “Aren’t you going to sleep yet? What time is it…?”
Before he could finish, Lin Heyu swallowed his words with another kiss. In the darkness, his lips were once again claimed.
It was as if he wanted to make up for the passive encounter in the old ancestral hall. Yi Shi hooked his arms around Lin Heyu’s neck, responding much more actively this time. Lin Heyu’s hand, which had been caressing him, slid from his wrist to his forearm, then to his elbow, touching the rough scars. He didn’t pull away, his fingers carefully tracing each twisted line of flesh, feeling a faint ache in his heart.
The pain of the past couldn’t be undone, but some things could only be compensated for in the future—if he could stay by his side.
Heavy breathing filled the room with an air of intimacy. Yi Shi cradled Lin Heyu’s face, his voice slightly hoarse, “Is this my reward?”
Lin Heyu hesitated, feeling a bit helpless. “Of course not. It’s because I want to.”
Yi Shi chuckled, his nose brushing against Lin Heyu’s chin. “You really never had a girlfriend before?”
“No.”
That doesn’t seem right. Is this what unexperience looks like? Yi Shi gently licked his lips.
As daylight gradually brightened, the glow crept through the curtains, dispelling the darkness. Their faces became clearer, and the intimate contact between their bodies was fully exposed.
Yi Shi glanced at the ray of light sneaking in, then looked at Lin Heyu. With his usual calm and serious expression, he said something teasing: “I kind of want to keep going.”
Keep going? Lin Heyu suddenly tensed up, his hands unconsciously tightening around Yi Shi’s arms.
“But unfortunately, I have to go back.”
Today was already October 15th.
———
Lin Heyu hadn’t slept in over 24 hours. Yi Shi urged him to rest for a while, saying that as long as he bought a long-distance bus ticket for him, he could return to Nanyi without any trouble.
However, Lin Heyu refused, insisting on driving Yi Shi back himself, and taking the opportunity to visit the landlord to finalize the deal for Lin Zhizhi’s house.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Yi Shi touched his eyes. He had spent the entire night chasing down a criminal, and now he was going to drive for several hours. Even a body made of steel shouldn’t be abused like this.
“I’m fine. Pulling all-nighters for work is normal, and sometimes I just catch naps when I can,” Lin Heyu said as he made himself a cup of tea to stay awake. “I’ve already handed over the case to Yuan Maoqiu. Going to Nanyi won’t be a problem.”
Since he insisted, Yi Shi didn’t refuse again. He also wanted to spend more time with Lin Heyu, not knowing when they would meet again or if he would still remember the rapid progress of their relationship.
After breakfast, they got ready to leave. Yi Shi, who had arrived empty-handed, naturally didn’t have anything to take back. He wore the same moss-green jacket and casual pants, a simple outfit, yet his handsomeness was striking.
Lin Heyu covered his mouth and averted his gaze to hide his astonishment. When they first met, he didn’t feel these strange emotions toward Yi Shi. But after just a week of being together, he had to admit that he was drawn to Yi Shi and had begun to get used to his presence.
Yi Shi sat in the passenger seat, and Lin Heyu drove toward the highway, taking him back to Nanyi. Lin Heyu had thought Yi Shi was returning to work and even asked if he wanted to head straight to the city bureau to end his leave. Yi Shi smiled, “I’m going to Time Flies cafe. I miss their coffee.”
“Alright,” Lin Heyu said, “So when will you come back after your vacation ends?”
He asked naturally, as if they were a long-distance couple accustomed to bringing each other home for short stays. But in reality, they had only been together for a brief week.
“Do you want me to come back?”
“Yes, I do.” Lin Heyu answered frankly. “I’d like to see you often.”
Yi Shi felt a surge of happiness. This proved that his attraction to Lin Heyu had nothing to do with time, but was purely the result of a magnetic pull between them, creating a chemical reaction whenever they got close.
The five-hour drive flew by. They even took a short break at a service station. As they entered Nanyi, the sun was shining from the west, casting a golden hue over the distant river.
“The Linjia village is also along this river,” Lin Heyu said.
“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. I fell in and climbed out, and then I met you,” Yi Shi said, resting his head on his hand and glancing at Lin Heyu. “Don’t you have any memories of that? We met when we were kids, in Linjia Village.”
Lin Heyu thought for a while as they drove. Ten minutes later, he stopped at a red light. “I really don’t remember. How old were you? Was it before you were adopted?”
Yi Shi didn’t answer, just smiled. If he told him he had met him in this form back when he was a teenager, Lin Heyu probably wouldn’t believe it.
With time still on their side, Yi Shi directed them down a different route, taking an extra half-hour detour past the Nanyi Machinery Factory.
As they arrived, Lin Heyu turned off the engine, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, and glanced at the factory’s gate. “Is this where the explosion happened?”
“Yeah, it was rebuilt later. This is the old factory, and there’s also a new one,” Yi Shi said, resting his hand on his right arm. “The machinery factory is a terrifying place. I got burned here, and the person who took care of me had an accident here too.”
Feeling Yi Shi’s psychological scars, Lin Heyu reached out to stroke his hair. “It’s all in the past. Don’t think too much about it; what’s happened cannot be undone. If you keep remembering, you’ll just create a heavy psychological burden for yourself.”
“What if it could be undone?” Yi Shi held his hand, looking at him earnestly. “I brought you to the machinery factory today because I hope that one day in the future, you won’t have to come back here.”
Lin Heyu looked again at the machinery factory. It was located in a remote area, and the mountain behind it wasn’t a well-known tourist spot. If it weren’t for a case, he probably wouldn’t have come back here.
As the sun set, Yi Shi stood in front of Shiguang Renran, touching the doorknob but pulling back. Lin Heyu pushed the door open. “Weren’t you going to have coffee? Come in.”
Yi Shi followed behind, hesitating. He worried that pushing open the door would lead him to another world, making it impossible for him to say goodbye to Lin Heyu properly.
“Welcome to Time flies coffee shop! Please find a seat, and you can scan the QR code on the table to order.”
From the setup of the store, it was still in Lin Heyu’s world. The clock on the wall showed it was almost five o’clock. In the opposite world, he was probably finishing his morning run and preparing to go to work.
This time, they sat on the first floor, near a mirror covered with sticky notes. Yi Shi stirred his coffee with a spoon, occasionally glancing out the glass window, looking distracted.
“What are you looking for?”
“Nothing much, just trying to resolve some questions,” Yi Shi carefully chose his words. “In my memory, that day’s recollection was interrupted, and it happened in this coffee shop, so I wanted to see what really happened.”
“…?” Lin Heyu looked puzzled. “Aren’t you with me now?”
“It’s another me, you forgot I told you I was involved in the case at the machinery factory, right? That was another version of me.”
As an atheist, Lin Heyu couldn’t quite grasp this bizarre logic for the time being. However, Yi Shi didn’t seem to be joking. Lin Heyu even suspected it might be an illusion caused by excessive stress, and he thought about whether he should contact some reliable psychologists for Yi Shi.
“You often have nightmares; you should pay more attention to that and learn to self-regulate,” Lin Heyu said, pulling a key from his pocket and handing it over. “This is the key to my place. If you have time during your break… you can just come over directly.”
Seeing the key, Yi Shi instantly understood where the one Yu Xue had come from. He could also be sure that besides the Lin Heyu with blank memories, he could have the chance to meet the Lin Heyu with complete memories.
“Okay.” Yi Shi accepted the key, letting out a slow sigh. “I’ve had a great time these past few days. I didn’t realize you were right beside me all along; I should have found and gotten to know you sooner. It’s a pity that memories aren’t reciprocal; the next time I see you, I might still not recognize you. I just hope you can remember me a little longer.”
His words made Lin Heyu feel uneasy as he held Yi Shi’s cool hand. “Where are you really going this time? How can I contact you?”
“No need to contact me; we can’t have a normal relationship. Well… If we meet again, you might need to reach out to me first.”
Lin Heyu fell silent, suddenly feeling a strange sense of helplessness and sadness. He murmured, “So we can only be this kind of friend?”
This phrase felt familiar to Yi Shi. He smiled. “If I could untangle fate, I wouldn’t want to just be your friend.”
He inadvertently looked up and found that familiar figure outside the glass door. Their eyes met through the large glass window, both filled with surprise and shock.
It was another version of himself, Yi Shi from October 15th.
Even the experienced staff in the coffee shop had never encountered such a strange event. Yi Shi was astonished. Why could they meet? In this special crossover point, could even paradoxes be ignored?
The Yi Shi outside frowned and immediately pushed the door open. The Yi Shi inside suddenly stood up, watching as his figure disappeared in an instant, leaving only the sound of the wind chimes ringing and the swaying glass door. The chatting staff looked over curiously but saw no customers entering or exiting.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Heyu stood up too. “What are you looking at?”
“…Nothing. I think I understand the reason for the memory interruption that day.” Yi Shi’s gaze softened. “Can you promise me not to come back to Nanyi after today?”
“Don’t ask why. Just stay in Haijing.”
