Chapter 1 – The Beginning

“According to official news from the X City Public Security Bureau, on the afternoon of October 29th, around 6 PM, a man was found dead in an apartment building at Swan Bay Residential Area. The man had multiple stab wounds in his abdomen, and a steel nail was driven into the wall above his body, which was hanging on the wall. The exact cause of death requires further investigation.”

Xing Baichuan disembarked from the plane, exhausted after over twelve hours of flight. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his shirt was creased. Fatigue enveloped him entirely, yet he couldn’t rest because something more important awaited him.

As soon as he collected his luggage, Xing Baichuan looked up to see the airport television broadcasting this news. He stood rooted to the spot in front of the TV, watching the blurred images flash past.

Xing Baichuan recalled that the coat the man in the footage wore was the one he bought for him during the Spring Festival two years ago. At the time, the other party complained about its mature style, relegating it to the bottom of the wardrobe.

At this thought, he clenched his teeth hard, and his jawbone protruded visibly.

In the bustling airport, no one knew that the dead man on the TV was his younger brother, Xing Bolin, who came out five minutes after him when their mother gave birth, calling him ‘big brother’ for nearly thirty years.

The brothers had always been close, sharing everything down to a single piece of fruit. Xing Baichuan chose to study abroad while Xing Bolin remained in the country during university.

In Xing Baichuan’s heart, his brother was always the best student, the most sensible child, attending a prestigious university domestically. Regardless of grades, character, or appearance, he was top-notch.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, he stayed abroad to work, while his brother pursued postgraduate studies. Over the years, his career grew, becoming increasingly busy, leaving him with little opportunity to return home. After Xing Bolin graduated from his master’s program, he joined a well-known foreign company, starting with a high salary and promising prospects.

Their parents were very satisfied with both sons. A family of four living apart in three different places, the children were all busy, rarely returning home throughout the year.

Two years ago, Xing Baichuan took their parents to live abroad. After all, compared to here, the environment where he lived was generally more suitable for people. The two brothers planned to have their parents retire there.

When Xing Baichuan took his parents abroad, his brother already had a stable relationship, although none of the family had met the lover.

It’s worth noting that both brothers were gay. If there was anything that particularly troubled their parents, it was probably this.

Years ago, they both came out together, causing their mother to be hospitalized for half a month. That period was the toughest time in their lives. Xing Baichuan squatted outside the hospital smoking all day, while Xing Bolin dared not enter the ward, only peeking through the door to look at their mother.

They felt guilty, but this wasn’t something that could be changed simply by feeling remorseful.

Fortunately, later on, all the knots in their hearts were untied, and their parents gradually accepted the reality.

Last month, they each celebrated their 29th birthday. Approaching thirty, men were supposed to be mature.

They had planned to reunite with their brother and parents upon returning home, intending to finally meet Xing Bolin’s boyfriend, whom they had only heard of but never seen. However, due to company matters, the reunion was delayed.

On his birthday, they video-called Xing Bolin from abroad. At the time, Xing Bolin seemed just as he always did—sunny, talkative, and planning to buy a house next year. Xing Baichuan offered to help with the down payment, and they would pay off the loan together with his boyfriend.

Unexpectedly, just a month later, their next meeting was across the divide between life and death.

Xing Baichuan didn’t dare tell his parents about this. Recently, his father’s blood pressure had risen, and he slept poorly every night. He thought, if he could delay it for a while, he would. Besides, the cause of his brother’s death was still uncertain. Once he understood everything, it wouldn’t be too late to inform his parents.

His brother’s sudden death was a massive blow and hurt to everyone involved. Xing Baichuan was afraid to face his parents, unsure how to deliver such devastating news that could shatter them.

The news had already moved on to the next story, and Xing Baichuan continued walking out, his gaze following the man ahead of him.

Outside the airport, a man in a black trench coat waited for him. His face was pale, his eyes downcast, looking lost and disoriented.

Xing Baichuan pulled his luggage towards him, and the man seemed to be in a daze, unable to react until he was right in front of him.

“Hello, are you Li Jiangluo?” Xing Baichuan asked. The man jumped, his shoulders tensing, before finally lifting his eyes to look at him.

He noticed the man’s red, slightly swollen eyes, dark circles under them, and overall weary appearance, as if he hadn’t rested properly for a long time.

“You, hello,” Li Jiangluo nodded slightly, reaching out to take Xing Baichuan’s luggage.

“I can handle it myself.” Xing Baichuan pulled the suitcase back a bit and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s nothing.”

Li Jiangluo glanced at Xing Baichuan, wondering if he should politely smile. But in this situation, who could muster a smile?

He didn’t say much else, leading Xing Baichuan away.

Xing Baichuan walked behind, his eyes following the figure ahead.

The man appeared to be around 176 cm tall, somewhat thin. Whether he was naturally slender or had recently lost weight due to some event, the trench coat hung loosely on him, as if he had stolen someone else’s clothes.

Li Jiangluo was Xing Bolin’s boyfriend. They had been dating for almost three years. This was Xing Baichuan’s first encounter with the boyfriend his brother had praised so highly, and he found him somewhat lacking compared to his expectations.

Apparently, Li Jiangluo was Xing Bolin’s junior at school, two years his junior. They got to know each other through the same club, but their relationship wasn’t particularly close at the time; they merely exchanged nods when they met. After graduation, coincidentally, their companies were located nearby, allowing for more frequent interaction.

Thus, through regular contact, affection developed over time, and two outstanding young men fell in love. Except for their inability to marry, they were a perfect couple in every way.

But Xing Baichuan believed that everything had another side. What he saw and heard from others might not be the whole truth. Like a card game, the back of the card faced him, and he was told: “This card is a heart.”

But it could have been a spade or a diamond, he wouldn’t know.

Of course, he still hoped for his brother’s happiness. However, now, it was all in vain since his brother was no longer alive.

Li Jiangluo led Xing Baichuan to wait in line for a taxi. The autumn wind carried a chill, unceremoniously colliding with their bodies and faces. Li Jiangluo rubbed his nose, somewhat embarrassed, saying, “I’m truly sorry. I’m not in good shape, so I didn’t dare to drive here.”

“You made the right choice.” Xing Baichuan looked at him and suggested, “Let’s go straight to the police station.”

Li Jiangluo nodded, saying, “Alright.”

The two proceeded without further conversation. Under different circumstances, they might have chatted freely, given that according to Xing Bolin, they shared similar interests.

However, the person who connected them was gone—the most important person to both of them. No one would have the heart to chat idly.

From the airport to the police station, they spent forty-five minutes.

Upon arrival, Li Jiangluo paid the fare. By the time he exited the vehicle, Xing Baichuan had already retrieved his suitcase and was waiting for him.

They exchanged glances, nodding to each other. Li Jiangluo led him inside.

The officer in charge of the case was present. Seeing Li Jiangluo, he paused, glanced at the man who followed, then beckoned Li Jiangluo to come closer.

“Officer Xu, this is Bolin’s older brother.” Li Jiangluo introduced them, his voice still hoarse. “Mr. Xing, this is Officer Xu, who’s handling Bolin’s case.”

“Hello, my name is Xu Zhao.” Officer Xu extended his hand, introducing himself courteously.

Xing Baichuan sized up the officer in front of him, estimating him to be around thirty years old. Dressed neatly in his police uniform, a stubble of facial hair adorned his chin. He shook hands with Xu Zhao and asked, “Officer Xu, could you please provide me with a detailed account of my brother’s situation?”

Xu Zhao tidied up the items on his desk, taking them in hand, and then invited Xing Baichuan and Li Jiangluo to follow him into the inner office.

The arrangement of the office was simple. Inside, there was a table, a swivel chair behind it, and a file cabinet covering an entire wall. On the left was a black two-seater sofa, and against the wall near the door, a row of chairs was placed.

Xu Zhao sat on the swivel chair, setting aside the items in his hand. Li Jiangluo silently moved two chairs to the front of the table, gesturing for Xing Baichuan to sit first.

“The forensic examination results haven’t come out yet, but I can give you a general overview of the situation.” Xu Zhao lit a cigarette, pushing the photos spread on the table toward Xing Baichuan.

Li Jiangluo glanced at them, frowned, and turned his face away.

Xu Zhao noticed his movement, casting a heavy look at him before turning back to Xing Baichuan. “There were two causes of death. One was excessive blood loss due to abdominal stab wounds, and the other was strangulation by a rope.”

“Who’s the suspect? Why did they harm my brother?” This was the question Xing Baichuan had been eager to ask.

“At present, we’re not sure whether it was murder or suicide. We need to wait for the forensic report.” Xu Zhao glanced at Li Jiangluo again, cigarette in mouth, and said irresponsibly, “Judging from my experience, it seems like a suicide.”

“No way.” Li Jiangluo turned around, cold-faced, “Bolin wouldn’t commit suicide. There’s no reason for him to do so.”

Xu Zhao shrugged, remaining silent, his eyes fixed on Li Jiangluo.

Xing Baichuan stared at the photos, trembling in shock. His brother, leaning against the wall, had a rope tightly wrapped around his neck, and a knife stuck in his abdomen. Xing Baichuan recognized the knife; its handle bore the inscription he had commissioned someone to carve. It was a gift he had given his brother upon his university graduation, never imagining that years later, the knife would pierce his own body.

Xing Baichuan felt as though he had been pushed into the ocean without knowing how to swim. He sank bit by bit, losing the air that sustained his life.

He gasped for breath, clenching his fists tightly.

Xu Zhao put the photos away, stuffing them back into the file bag. With his cigarette almost finished, he said, “I have some questions I need to discuss with Mr. Xing alone.”

Li Jiangluo listened and, without waiting for him to continue, stood up and said to Xing Baichuan, “I’ll wait for you outside.”

Still immersed in the grief of his brother’s brutal death, Xing Baichuan didn’t respond to Li Jiangluo.

Li Jiangluo looked at him, then at Xu Zhao, leaving the room under the man’s gaze.

“Mr. Xing, do you think your brother might have committed suicide?”

The sky was overcast, as if a heavy rainstorm could break out at any moment.

Wrapped in his trench coat, Li Jiangluo led Xing Baichuan out of the police station in silence. Both were weighed down by their thoughts.

Since Xing Bolin’s passing, they had been eager to learn the cause of his death.

If it was suicide, why?

If it was murder, who could it be?

Due to the autopsy, Xing Baichuan couldn’t see his brother’s body with his own eyes. Perhaps it was better this way; he couldn’t accept the reality that Xing Bolin was dead.

“Mr. Xing, I’ve booked a hotel for you. Let’s head there now.” Li Jiangluo had arranged everything meticulously, albeit with a forced effort to maintain composure.

Xing Baichuan nodded, telling him, “Just call me Big Brother, like Bolin. Would it be convenient for us to chat later?”

Li Jiangluo hesitated, then replied, “Okay.”

They left in a taxi, and Xu Zhao watched the two from the window of his office until the car disappeared from sight. Then, he lit another cigarette.

Smoke billowed, clouding his vision.

A knock sounded at the door, and he turned to look.

“Captain, the autopsy report for Xing Bolin has arrived.”

Xu Zhao extinguished his cigarette and left the office.