In the dead of night, the entire city seemed swallowed by darkness. The lights at the police station remained lit, casting a dim yellow glow. Lu Chenzhou sat at his desk, his expression grave. Ever since the threat of the "Abyss" organization had grown more severe, both he and Su Wanqing had been deeply entangled in the situation. Every investigation was fraught with danger and uncertainty. And tonight, the mission was even more burdensome.
A bizarre murder case had once again dragged them into the shadows of the past. The crime scene was a luxurious villa, and the victim a well-known entrepreneur. The case was complex, seemingly hiding the influence of a powerful force behind it. At first, the investigation appeared unrelated to "Abyss," until Su Wanqing discovered some unusual details during her inspection of the scene.
As she and Lu Chenzhou discussed the case, a sudden attack disrupted their plans. While processing the evidence, Su Wanqing was ambushed by an unidentified assailant. She was struck hard on the head and lost consciousness.
In a world of complete darkness, Su Wanqing felt herself floating endlessly. Disjointed voices echoed in her mind. She began to recall blurry fragments—childhood years spent relying on her mother, and details she thought long forgotten: her mother's smile, the warm lights of their home, the laughter of neighbors downstairs, and the vague shadow of a strange man—dim, yet drenched in ominous tones.
"Wanqing, Wanqing!" A familiar voice shattered the silence.
She opened her eyes to find herself lying in a hospital bed, her head wrapped in gauze. Before her was Lu Chenzhou's face, worried yet trying to remain composed.
"You're finally awake," he said, his voice low and warm, eyes filled with deep concern.
Su Wanqing blinked, her brows knitting slightly. "Where… am I? What happened?"
"You were injured," Lu Chenzhou gently took her hand, his tone soft but full of worry. "A head injury. You've been unconscious for several days. How do you feel now?"
She nodded. Though her head still ached faintly, she could sense herself slowly recovering. She tried to recall what happened before she passed out, but a sudden dizziness hit her as a flood of memories surged forward.
"I..." Her voice was hoarse. "I remembered a lot of things. Things I had already forgotten."
Lu Chenzhou saw the look on her face and knew she was embarking on a journey through her buried memories. He gently squeezed her hand and said quietly, "You don't have to force yourself, Wanqing. We can take it slow if you need to."
But a determined gleam flashed in her eyes. Her lips moved slightly. "No, I think… it's time. My past—especially my mother's death—seems connected to these cases. I have to face it."
Lu Chenzhou's heart ached with an indescribable sorrow. He knew that Su Wanqing had carried a heavy burden since childhood. Her mother's tragic death had left a scar on her soul. He didn't want to see her haunted by the shadows of the past again, but he also understood that she had to confront it herself to truly let go.
"I understand," he said softly. "Whatever you decide, I'll be by your side."
A few days later, Su Wanqing was discharged from the hospital. Though her head injury hadn't fully healed, her spirit had returned. She was eager to uncover the truth about her mother and the massacre of her family. Her instincts told her that the current case might be the key.
Together, she and Lu Chenzhou returned to her family's old residence—a house once filled with warmth, now weathered with age. Su Wanqing stood at the front gate for a long time without stepping forward, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. Fragments of memory intertwined with the present, and the tragedy that had changed her life seemed to resurface vividly.
"Are you ready?" Lu Chenzhou looked at her, his gaze gentle.
"I'm ready." Su Wanqing finally spoke, stepping into her former home.
The interior still retained its old layout, though the air was heavy with the scent of time. She gently touched the photos on the wall—images of her childhood, of precious moments with her mother. In those days, her smile had been bright, her eyes full of hope for the future. But all of that ended abruptly with her mother's death. The shadow of the past, like an invisible blade, pierced her heart deeply.
"Wanqing," Lu Chenzhou said softly by her side, "you don't have to push yourself. We have time. You can take it slow."
But a glimmer of resolve lit up in her eyes. She whispered, "I have to find out the truth. My mother's death… it's connected to 'Abyss'. I know now—'Abyss' didn't just appear in my life recently. Back then, I was just a child, and their hand was already reaching into my family."
Her voice trembled, and the pain in her heart surged once more. Her mother's death, the destruction of her family—she had never been able to let go. But now, after all these years, she finally understood that everything might be tied to the "Abyss" organization.
"I'll help you uncover the truth," Lu Chenzhou said firmly, his eyes filled with determination. "No matter the outcome, we'll face it together."
Su Wanqing nodded, her gaze deep and unwavering. "I need to know. Only then can I truly let go of the past."
In the days that followed, Su Wanqing delved deeper into investigating her mother's case. She combed through old files and even tracked down the officers who had worked on the case. As clues slowly surfaced, she was shocked to discover that the mastermind behind her mother's death was part of the "Abyss" organization.
"Abyss" had infiltrated her life years ago. Their goal wasn't merely wealth or power—it was something deeper. Their existence had altered the course of her life long before she knew it.
Now, she and Lu Chenzhou stood united, ready to uncover the truth behind the conspiracy. Though the road ahead remained dangerous, Su Wanqing had made her decision—to face it all without running away.