"Huh?"

Xu Ying’s eyes widened, there wasn’t a murderer among these people?

Ji Xuehui nudged Xu Ying’s shoulder: "So? Have you figured out who it is?"

Xu Ying frowned and shook her head.

Ji Xuehui looked at the person in charge: "Is everyone really here?"

The person in charge scratched his head and recalled: "Our company has another person who fits the description, named Zhao Yicheng, but he’s on a business trip."

"He’s a senior of Lin Qing’s from the same university, but the two don’t usually have contact, as you know Lin Qing’s personality..."

"I remember this person. I even specifically investigated his and Lin Qing’s relationship the day before yesterday. Colleagues all reported they were merely acquaintances," Ji Xuehui recalled. "The entire Rhodiola rosea pharmaceutical research team that Zhao Yicheng is part of went on an exchange and study trip and have an alibi."

"The victim, Lin Qing, died during that time he was on a business trip."

Upon hearing "alibi," Xu Ying immediately thought of when they rescued Qiao Yuxi, who also had an alibi for her ex-fiancé.

Ji Xuehui glanced at the freezing water tank Xu Ying was holding and thought it might be safer to let the witness fish identify: "Do you have a clear photo of Zhao Yicheng?"

"There’s a work photo." The person in charge pulled up a work photo of Zhao Yicheng taken when he joined the company.

Xu Ying held up the freezing water tank and leaned closer to the computer screen: "Little fish, little fish, is this him?"

The High Mountain White Stripes Fish blew bubbles, trying to widen its eyes at the photo on the screen: [I don’t seem sure either...]

[Looks like but doesn’t look like... do you humans sometimes look different from the photos?]

Xu Ying asserted: "Yes, there’s often a difference between camera images and what the naked eye sees."

"When is Zhao Yicheng coming back from his trip?"

The person in charge checked the employee’s schedule: "He will arrive in Yisha City tonight and will come to the company tomorrow morning."

"Then we’ll have to wait until tomorrow." Xu Ying suddenly thought of another way to verify: "Officer Ji, did you bring the evidence key that the otter brought up?"

"Yes, it’s in the document bag I’m holding." Ji Xuehui immediately understood the implication of Xu Ying’s question and turned to the person in charge: "Could you please take us to Zhao Yicheng’s office or laboratory now?"

"Please follow me." The person in charge led the two to Zhao Yicheng’s laboratory.

Because the entire project team was on a business trip, no one was in the lab now, and the door was closed and locked.

Ji Xuehui put on gloves and took the silver key from a transparent evidence bag, inserting it into the lock hole of the door.

She gently turned the key, and to everyone’s surprise, something happened!

Only a "click" was heard, and the laboratory’s lock was opened by the key found at the bottom of Ice Lake.

Xu Ying and Ji Xuehui exchanged glances, both reading the shock in each other’s eyes.

"So, this key that fell into Ice Lake, could it be Zhao Yicheng’s?"

The more Xu Ying thought about it, the more surprised she was: "Could Lin Qing’s mysterious boyfriend be Zhao Yicheng?"

"When Zhao Yicheng returns, we can take his fingerprints and compare them with the other unknown fingerprint on the key to find out the result."

Ji Xuehui focused: "I’ll first check if Zhao Yicheng really went on a business trip." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

After a trip to Lin Qing’s company, with a significant discovery, Xu Ying returned to the Snow Mountain Rescue Station with anticipation.

Returning to the Snow Mountain Rescue Station was already dinner time, and the station had built a special small kitchen. Xu Ying took ingredients from the fridge and simply made a clear broth beef noodle dish.

Sitting by the dining table with the steaming beef noodles, Xu Ying dialed Qi Xiao’s video call.

These days, without the five little ear fox cubs in sight, Xu Ying could only ask Qi Xiao, who had descended after recording the show, to accompany those clingy little guys.

The screen of the video call wobbled slightly, as Qi Xiao’s signal wasn’t very good, and the image occasionally stuttered, yet it couldn’t hide the five fluffy little ear foxes jumping energetically around him.

Their pointed ears twitching, the charming fox eyes drew close to the camera, their paws clinging to Qi Xiao’s collar and shoulders, scrambling to get in front of the screen.

[Sister, sister!] Fox Si Bao climbed on top of Qi Xiao’s head, tail proudly raised, [When are you coming back?]

A whole chubby Fox Si Bao lay on Qi Xiao’s head, resembling a thick and fluffy fox ear hat.

[Yeah, yeah!] Fox Sansan clung to his arm, little nose almost touching the camera, [Brother Qi Xiao said if you don’t come back soon, he’s going to be annoyed to death by us!]

Xu Ying laughed and translated Sansan’s words to Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao helplessly supported the slipping Fox Sansan from his arm with a smile on his lips: "I didn’t say that, Sansan is taking advantage of my inability to understand Fox Language to spread lies."

Xu Ying couldn’t help but laugh at the lively and familiar scene on the screen: "Very soon, after three more sunrises, I’ll be back!"

[How long is three sunrises?] The youngest, Fox Xiao Wu, tilted his head, ears twitching.

"It’s..." Xu Ying blinked, "When the moon rises three times, then sets three times, and then—"

[Then sister will be home!] Fox Erniu answered, bouncing excitedly on Qi Xiao’s shoulder. Fox Erniu bounced so vigorously, like a miniature calf, that he almost made him lose his grip on the phone.

Qi Xiao chuckled: "They are all counting."

Xu Ying propped her chin, her fingertips lightly tapping the fluffy little head on the screen: "Don’t worry, I’ll be back on time this time—"

Thinking of assistant Qin Fuli’s report, saying the five fox cubs have been quite good these days and have even started learning to hunt from the adult ear foxes, she smiled brightly: "This time on my business trip, everyone did such a great job, I’ll bring you a reward back!"

Five pairs of round eyes instantly brightened.

Qi Xiao looked up at her, his voice low and soft: "And what about me?"

Xu Ying’s fingertip lightly tapped on the screen, her crescent-shaped eyebrows arching: "You?"

"What do you want?"

Qi Xiao didn’t answer, just raised his hand to press the climbing Fox Xiao Wu on his shoulder, gently scratching behind its ear, his eyes smiling, his tone softening: "Nothing else, you just coming back is enough."

"Don’t keep the five cubs waiting too long, they really miss you."

Fox Xiao Wu tilted its head at this: [It’s obvious we really miss the director sister! Why does Brother Qi Xiao have to repeat it?]

Fox Sansan raised a paw to answer: [I understand, I understand, Brother Qi Xiao’s undertone is: I miss you too!]

[Wow, why doesn’t Brother Qi Xiao say it directly? Is he shy?] Fox Si Bao wagged its tail, [Just like how I’m too embarrassed to ask for my favorite food?]