Volume One, Chapter 10: She Is My Whole World

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Bai Chen recalled the events that had transpired. The Jin Jingyang case was never meant to be his responsibility. Due to the intense public outcry over the disappearance, higher authorities passed the case around until it landed in his hands. He had just celebrated his 26th birthday the day before taking on the investigation.

Yet, armed with extraordinary judgment and insight, Bai Chen keenly discerned subtle clues in the case. The university had been tight-lipped about Jin Jingyang’s whereabouts, deliberately destroyed surveillance footage, and concealed key evidence.

As the lead investigator, Bai Chen had the authority to question the university directly, but his superiors blocked him, citing the need to control public opinion.

If they wouldn’t cooperate, he would rely on his own efforts.

Bai Chen pored over case files day and night. He uncovered previous disappearance cases linked to Fanlou University and, accompanied by the fifth squad, interviewed students on campus to trace Jin Jingyang’s movements before he vanished.

His persistence paid off when an anonymous letter surfaced, revealing that Jin Jingyang had frequently experienced physical discomfort before his disappearance. Yet, the university’s representatives, led by Shen Liang, not only neglected to seek medical attention for him but also forced him to attend competitions and promotional events.

With such testimony, all that remained was solid evidence.

However, requests to restore the surveillance footage were repeatedly rejected on absurd grounds.

“Team Leader Bai, don’t meddle in this.”

Under mounting pressure from above, Bai Chen felt the heavy weight of reality pressing down on him for the first time.

Then Tang Hui appeared and shattered the stalemate. She marched straight into Bai Chen’s office, confessed to writing the anonymous letter, and handed him a USB drive.

“It contains the original surveillance files from Fanlou University over the past three months. The university’s methods are crude—they only overlaid some information. Removing the interference shouldn’t be difficult for you.”

“How did you get these?” Bai Chen asked cautiously.

“Mr. Xu has sponsored Fanlou University generously. In his eyes, Jin Jingyang was a shining star—now he’s gone missing. As CEO of Mo Lin Group, can you imagine how anxious he must be?”

“Xu Yin…” Bai Chen uttered the name of Tang Hui’s adoptive father without hesitation. He had long heard of this shrewd businessman who wielded influence across various industries—a formidable figure straddling both legitimate and shadowy realms.

“But as a sponsor, he must have been involved in many activities. Logically, he should have noticed Jin Jingyang’s odd behavior earlier. Why so late?”

“I’m only here to provide evidence. I cannot say more.” With that, Tang Hui turned and left.

Bai Chen sensed that this girl harbored many untold secrets—perhaps she was much like her adoptive father.

So when Zhao Anmin informed him that Tang Hui was the prime suspect, Bai Chen’s heart skipped a beat.

Yet he resolutely gathered all available resources and immediately detained Tang Hui.

Ran Yi instinctively rushed forward, attempting to stop Bai Chen.

He had never questioned why he always cared so deeply about matters involving Tang Hui. Was it merely the hazy emotions of youth?

Why did she choose to accompany me?

This was a question Ran Yi pondered for a long time without an answer.

He still remembered that early morning in his freshman year when his alarm didn’t ring, and his roommate didn’t wake him. Groggy, he glanced at the clock—less than five minutes until class. With no time to prepare, he grabbed his books and dashed to the classroom.

The room was packed. His darting eyes searched for a seat until he finally spotted one next to a girl. She wore a lively jellyfish-like hairstyle, with delicate, sweet features and a unique, refreshing fragrance. Her expressive eyes seemed almost to speak, radiating the pure charm of a first love from a dream.

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Timidly, Ran Yi approached, but before he could speak, the girl shifted her seat.

“No one’s sitting here. Come on, sit down.”

“Th-thank you.”

“For what? I’m Tang Hui. We’re classmates.”

Tang Hui—though she had just enrolled less than a week ago, Ran Yi had already heard her name more than once. With her breathtaking beauty and status as a business heiress, she was an unattainable idol for many. Ran Yi, considering his own standing, never imagined he’d get to speak with her. Yet—

“Since we’re classmates, let’s exchange contact info.”

“Oh… okay…” Ran Yi nervously pulled out his phone.

What was the school beauty up to? Why suddenly ask for my contact? Could it be… no, impossible. I didn’t even wash my face this morning—why would she be interested?

Just as he pondered this, Tang Hui sent him her first message:

“Don’t leave after class.”

Huh?

Suddenly, Ran Yi realized something. He glanced back, sensing many male students’ gazes fixed on him.

Right… Tang Hui was the campus queen, coveted by many but never approached. Could it be she was already taken, and this seat was reserved for someone special?

His heart raced with anxiety.

Tang Hui told him not to leave after class—was she going to scold him?

When class finally ended, Ran Yi anxiously remained seated. Other students gradually left, but Tang Hui stayed put.

“Wait a moment, until everyone’s gone.”

Oh no, oh no, oh no. Ran Yi imagined a gang leader bursting in with a stick and a bunch of henchmen to beat him up.

After the last student left and silence settled, Tang Hui suddenly stood and pulled a huge hiking bag from the classroom’s far corner.

Ah… could it be full of tools? Was she going to punish me herself?

Tang Hui said, “Watch outside the window downstairs for anyone.”

“No… no one. What’s going on?” Ran Yi was baffled.

Ignoring him, Tang Hui pulled out an ice claw for mountaineering, leapt onto the desk, and secured it to the window frame.

“Keep an eye on it. Don’t let it slip.”

Ran Yi watched in confusion as Tang Hui tied a rappelling rope to herself, then in a flash, jumped out the window.

“Hey! This is the fifth floor!”

By the time Ran Yi recovered, Tang Hui had already reached the ground.

Beep beep—his phone chimed with a message.

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“Come on, you try it too. It’s thrilling!”

“This…” Ran Yi instinctively resisted the absurd idea, but somehow Tang Hui’s words held a strange allure, compelling him to comply.

As he descended through the air, he felt his soul nearly abandon him, silently praying a thousand times that no one would see.

“How was it? Fun, right?” Tang Hui laughed.

“You kept me here just for this?” Ran Yi’s legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the desk, breathless.

“What else? Simulating mountain climbing in the classroom is boring.” Tang Hui packed up her gear.

“Those bookworms can’t handle this. You’re the only one willing to play with me.”

Ran Yi couldn’t understand it—this reckless behavior seemed so out of character for someone like Tang Hui.

“Then why not actually go hiking?” he muttered.

“Good idea! There’s a train to nearby Qiushan. Let’s go now!”

“Now? Are you crazy? We still have classes later, and hiking trips need thorough planning—it’s not just a spur-of-the-moment thing…”

“But I want to go.”

Tang Hui leaned in; Ran Yi’s evasive gaze met her clear, speaking eyes, and he wavered.

“Maybe later…”

“I’m free anytime.”

“Well, I need to get leave tomorrow…”

“I want to go right now!”

Those eloquent eyes were so clear. When Ran Yi looked up, they were already at the foot of Qiushan Mountain.

Though he couldn’t ask why Tang Hui did these things, he gradually grew accustomed to her eccentric ideas and actions.

“Ran Yi, how was the song I just sang over the campus broadcast?”

“Ran Yi, I stole the answers for the midterm. We definitely won’t be at the bottom this time.”

“Xiao Yi, from now on, the library is our secret base. Any important matters must be discussed there!”

He accepted these things because Tang Hui never treated him as invisible. She was the only person in this classroom, this school, who cared about him.

She was Ran Yi’s whole world, the bright moonlight in his heart. Ran Yi refused to believe that his moonlight could be a murderer.

He would not allow his world to collapse.