Lin Xian silently watched Zheng Chenghe...

In truth, Lin Xian had always been conflicted about this robust and gentle man.

He still couldn't figure out Huang Que's purpose in deliberately leading him to the hospital back then.

Initially, he thought Huang Que was implying that Zheng Chenghe was the culprit who ran over Xu Yun and Tang Xin.

However, he later learned from Zheng Xiangyue that Zheng Chenghe had spent the entire New Year's Eve with her and even gave her a New Year's gift at 00:00 during the countdown.

He didn't have the ability to bilocate or teleport...

Therefore, physically speaking, Zheng Chenghe couldn't have been at both the hospital and the road where Xu Yun was killed simultaneously.

So, the culprit who ran over Xu Yun was definitely not him.

Thus, until just now, Lin Xian had already dismissed Zheng Chenghe as a suspect.

But...

What a coincidence.

Tonight, at this crucial "decisive battle" moment, Zheng Chenghe had specifically switched to the night shift.

It was difficult for Lin Xian not to suspect his true identity and motives.

Was it intentional?

Or a coincidence?

Lin Xian couldn't be sure.

But then again, regardless of whether Zheng Chenghe was the culprit or not, Lin Xian wouldn't alert him at this time.

His purpose in choosing to enter the game and deliberately take the bait was to lure out the three big fish: Ji Xinshui, Ji Lin, and Zhou Duanyun.

What was the point of arresting Zheng Chenghe now?

Someone as clever as Ji Lin would have already cleaned up everything afterward.

Even if they immediately caught Zheng Chenghe and found the so-called "evidence" on him, Ji Lin, Ji Xinshui, and Zhou Duanyun would probably get away scot-free.

Zheng Chenghe would surely take all the blame, and the clue he had been pursuing for so long would be cut off.

Moreover, Zheng Chenghe's sister was lying in the hospital. Whether he was the culprit or not, he couldn't escape. This debt could be settled later.

He absolutely couldn't interfere with his plan for tonight...

"Take care."

Lin Xian didn't say anything more.

He picked up his coat, brushed past Zheng Chenghe, patted him on the shoulder, and left the ward.

If possible...

He still hoped he wouldn't encounter Zheng Chenghe at the crime scene tonight.

He didn't dislike the siblings, and he even sympathized with them.

When Zheng Xiangyue talked about her brother, her eyes sparkled, and she regarded him as a true, unyielding hero.

If she knew that her brother was actually a murderer...

It might be a more devastating blow to her than congenital heart disease.

"I hope it's not you, Zheng Chenghe."

Lin Xian walked out of the hospital building, opened the door of his Ferrari Laferrari, sat inside, and drove away from Donghai University Affiliated Hospital.

This was a do-or-die battle.

Whether it was himself or Ji Lin, both of them would have to personally come down to the main stage after tonight's drama.

Yesterday, the members of the special task force had suggested borrowing some trusted colleagues from other departments to place around the other scientists as a precaution.

But Lin Xian had rejected them all with the excuse that it would be "easy to expose."

If there were too many targets being watched at the same time... how could Ji Lin firmly believe that he had taken the bait?

If he didn't take the bait, how would Ji Lin set the next target to be killed at 00:42 as himself?

Lin Xian believed that he was still difficult to kill at this point.

He had not only roughly figured out the other party's behavior logic and murder details but also directly locked onto several core members. Currently, his advantage was significantly greater than theirs.

"Now, neither of us can hide anymore."

Lin Xian turned on the turn signal.

The fiery red Ferrari Laferrari merged onto the elevated highway.

"Let's have a head-on fight."

...

Midnight.

The Xu Yun special task force office in the Donghai Public Security Bureau was empty. All the members had gone out to carry out their tasks.

"Team A is in position, hidden interception net deployed."

"Team B has entered the banquet hall, the target is within surveillance range."

Lin Xian stayed behind alone. The walkie-talkie transmitted the reports from the team members. He didn't have law enforcement power, so he didn't have any task today other than to stay here as a precaution.

This was exactly what he wanted.

The hands on the clock ticked...

Finally.

The hour, minute, and second hands converged at 12 o'clock.

April 13, 00:00

"It's time to go."

Lin Xian walked out of the office and got into the Ferrari Laferrari in the Public Security Bureau's parking lot.

Rumble...

The roaring Ferrari sped through the night.

Lin Xian gripped the steering wheel tightly, his target being the conference hall where Academician Lyon was located.

He had already studied the terrain there.

Whether coming out from the main entrance or the side entrance, the only way for a vehicle to pass was through a T-junction.

Therefore...

He only needed to park the car there and wait for the murderers' self-directed performance.

Lin Xian didn't care about Academician Lyon's life or death.

He wasn't a good person to begin with, and he was even in league with Ji Lin and the others. There was no need to save him at all.

On the contrary, Academician Lyon's death might even bring some value to the investigation's progress.

Of course.

The greatest value was still on the driver who ran over Academician Lyon.

In the previous two cases of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, the hit-and-run drivers had always been able to escape unscathed and disappear without a trace.

Lin Xian didn't know what tricks these drivers were playing to be so elusive.

Therefore, this time, he didn't feel comfortable entrusting the task of pursuing the hit-and-run vehicle to others.

"I've never lost when it comes to racing."

Lin Xian closed his eyes, feeling the vibration of the idling engine.

This time, he was personally pursuing the hit-and-run vehicle... He couldn't let the culprit escape again, right?

Otherwise, his decade of driving experience in this dream would really be for nothing.

He raised his wrist and looked at the time.

00:40

At the side entrance of the conference hall, three to five men came out, laughing and joking. Lin Xian could see them clearly in the rearview mirror.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they waved goodbye to each other. Three of them walked back into the conference hall, obviously seeing the guests off; while the remaining two also parted ways at the entrance. One went to the parking lot, and the other... glanced at his watch, lit a cigarette, and slowly walked towards the crosswalk on the road.

That build...

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, looking at the rearview mirror.

Although he couldn't see clearly, the image of a fat-headed, big-eared bald man was roughly Academician Lyon.

He raised his wrist again.

00:41

Academician Lyon walked very slowly, as if deliberately slowing down, moving his body while puffing smoke, and finally stepped onto the crosswalk.

He lowered his head and carefully took a few steps.

Then, as if completing a task, he stretched his arms, lazily stretching with a cigarette between his fingers—

Boom!

Suddenly!

A taxi without headlights suddenly appeared from the other end of the night! It directly struck the pot-bellied Academician Lyon on the crosswalk and sent him flying!

The speed of the taxi was extremely fast! Absurdly fast!

Without any hesitation or deceleration, the taxi rushed straight towards the intersection!

Thud.

Academician Lyon's fractured corpse crashed heavily onto the ground, bleeding profusely.

At the same time, the taxi without headlights brushed past the Ferrari Laferrari.

Having been prepared, Lin Xian stared intently at the passing taxi driver through the open car window.

His long-term practice in the dream had honed his dynamic vision to be extremely strong.

Even though the two cars only crossed for a moment.

But Lin Xian had clearly seen the driver's appearance—

Mask, sunglasses, hat!

The exact same attire as the taxi driver who murdered Xu Yun back then!

Whoosh!

The taxi stirred up foul-smelling exhaust fumes and dust, speeding away into the night.

Boom!

The Ferrari Laferrari instantly burned tires and launched!

The automatic headlights turned on!

Illuminating the speeding taxi ahead, chasing after it!

Lin Xian slammed the accelerator to the floor, the unruly Ferrari sliding in a strange curve, rapidly approaching the taxi!

Taxi vs. Ferrari...

Are you sure you can escape?

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The blue taxi and the red Ferrari sped along the roads of Donghai's suburbs...

The two cars completely disregarded any traffic regulations, ignoring traffic lights, and zigzagged back and forth on the road at dawn.

The Ferrari behind was biting the taxi very hard, almost sticking tightly to the rear of the car, but never overtaking, as if waiting for an opportunity...

Lin Xian skillfully maneuvered the car, closely following the taxi in front.

With the vast difference in performance between the two cars, catching up to the taxi was not difficult at all.

So, it goes without saying...

Zhou Duanyun's so-called "losing track halfway" last time was purely self-directed.

At this late hour, there were basically no cars on the road. How could he not catch up to a taxi?

Lin Xian never believed that these hit-and-run vehicles would disappear into thin air. They must have played tricks at some point, somewhere, and hidden themselves.

That's why he wasn't in a hurry to catch up to the taxi.

Anyway, he wouldn't lose track... He wanted to see how Ji Lin and the others would make these vehicles disappear into thin air!

...

Sakura Country, Kagawa Prefecture, within a Japanese-style building.

Ji Lin hung up the phone, silent.

Zhou Duanyun also didn't speak, watching Ji Lin with great interest, as if waiting to see a joke.

Finally.

Ji Lin exhaled a long breath, got up from the sitting cushion, and looked at the ukiyo-e hanging on the wall.

"A red Ferrari is chasing Gluttony."

Zhou Duanyun chuckled.

"A Laferrari, right? That's Lin Xian's car, his female boss's car. Can we conclude now? If he didn't foresee this accident in advance, why would he be waiting there alone beforehand?"

"That's the problem."

Ji Lin said softly.

"Why did he come alone? That's clearly not a rational act."

"Why do you care so much!"

Zhou Duanyun paced around the room, the tatami mats creaking under his feet.

"Since it's been proven that he has the ability to foresee the future and disrupt history, then just kill him! Detonate the bomb in the taxi and blow up Gluttony and Lin Xian together!"

"No way."

Ji Lin shook his head.

"Lin Xian must die at 00:42, it must be a car accident. That's what Pride repeatedly emphasized."

"Are you guys stupid? Or are you treating Lin Xian as a fool!"

Zhou Duanyun frowned.

"He's so familiar with our murder tactics, he's even started ambushing us in advance! Do you think he'll give you a chance to kill him at 00:42?"

Ji Lin chuckled and looked at Zhou Duanyun.

"Do you dare to disobey Pride's words?"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"Then you do it." Ji Lin handed Zhou Duanyun the phone on the table.

"Dial this number, and the bomb under Gluttony's car will explode. Given the distance between Lin Xian and Gluttony's car now, they'll definitely be blown up together. Here, take it."

He handed the phone towards Zhou Duanyun again.

However...

Zhou Duanyun just frowned, gritted his teeth, but didn't take the phone.

"Ji Lin..."

He said viciously.

"You're really Ji Xinshui's good dog!"

"What about you?"

Ji Lin looked at Zhou Duanyun.

"What about you, Zhou Duanyun? What are you?"

He chuckled and averted his gaze.

"In my opinion, you don't even have the qualifications to be jealous of Lin Xian. Although Lin Xian is the person we want to kill, that doesn't stop me from admiring him. And you, Zhou Duanyun? You disguise yourself so pretentiously, just to hide the fact that you're a con artist and a loser."

Bang!

Zhou Duanyun kicked over the tea table.

"That's not who I am now!"

"Who you are now?" Ji Lin scoffed.

"The fact that you're still alive now is just Pride's mercy. Without Pride... you're nothing."

"You can stand here and vent your twisted childhood psychology, biting the hand that feeds you, all because Pride took pity on you back then."

...

The air fell silent.

The spilled tea seeped under the tatami mats, leaving dark stains.

Only Zhou Duanyun's breathing was extremely jarring in this silent environment, like a broken blower.

"Don't look down on people, Ji Lin."

Zhou Duanyun's eyes were sharp, and he pointed his index finger at Ji Lin.

"I'm not worse than you, I've never been worse than you!"

"You guys are just lucky, born into a family that's at least normal, at least able to provide food and clothing, at least complete! You can live such happy and smooth lives, that's because you're lucky! Born into a family that has the ability to make you happy! None of this is from your own hard work!"

"From the time you were young, you didn't have to worry about food and clothing, your parents supported you in everything you did, and they were willing to spend money on you. You can write, that's because someone bought you books to read since you were young! Lin Xian is popular because his family, his clothes, his parents have the ability to give him the confidence to make friends! To treat his friends to snacks! To have money to buy birthday gifts for his classmates!"

"You think you got all this on your own? Bullshit! It's just that you're luckier than me! It's just that you had a better upbringing than me!"

Ji Lin snorted and dismissed it.

"At least you still have a mother, my parents are both dead."

"Who adopted you, Ji Lin?"

Zhou Duanyun laughed.

"It was fucking Pride! It was the fabulously wealthy Ji Xinshui who adopted you! If my mom had adopted you since you were young, it would have been peanuts, peanuts, peanuts every day, wearing clothes with holes and tattered sneakers, not even daring to go to physical education class, with the whole class laughing at you... You wouldn't be able to write anything!"

"So, you have no right to look down on me, Ji Lin."

Zhou Duanyun violently pulled open the sliding door, turned back, narrowed his eyes, and stared at Ji Lin.

"Put you in my life, and you might not have done as well as I have."