1
The young man was tall and lean, with a buzz cut and a loose plaid shirt. He stood outside the villa, craning his neck to scan the row of windows. Qin Guan recognized him—this was Li Yang, Qi Min's public boyfriend. Over the past month, Li Yang had visited the law firm several times, always draping his arm possessively around Qi Min's shoulders. But Qin Guan knew it wasn't possessiveness—it was insecurity.
Li Yang had dropped out of a third-rate college and now drifted between odd jobs, barely scraping by. His rent was even paid by Qi Min. The last time Qin Guan saw him, Li Yang was covered in grease at a auto repair shop. The only thing matching Qi Min was his decent looks.
Why is he here now?
Qi Min was meticulous. She'd never disclose their rendezvous to Li Yang. Yet here he was, at the villa's entrance on this sunrise morning—the morning after the disaster.
Li Yang scanned the windows, then dialed his phone. Instantly, Qi Min's phone on the nightstand rang with the familiar tune: "What a shame, I've lost you at last—"
He was here for Qi Min.
2
The ringtone wasn't loud, but to Qin Guan, it blared like a siren. Trembling, he grabbed the phone, silenced it, and stared at the screen: the word "Hubby" glared back, alongside a photo of Qi Min and Li Yang kissing.
Ignoring the call bought only temporary relief. Qin Guan splashed cold water on his face in the bathroom. The room was booked under Qi Min's ID. Li Yang could easily check the front desk or knock. If Qin Guan refused to open the door, it would escalate. Li Yang might call the police, exposing the affair—and Xu Ruyi would find out.
"Goddamn it, why me?" Qin Guan cursed.
He needed a plan. Dressing hastily, he decided: Hide Qi Min.
3
He shoved clothes onto her corpse, stuffed her into the wardrobe, and threw in her shoes, phone, bag, suitcase, toiletries—everything tied to her. As he flipped a cup near the kettle, someone knocked.
Qin Guan checked the mirror, mussed his hair, stripped to shorts and a tank top, and feigned grogginess. "Who is it? So early…"
Li Yang barged in, eyes darting. He charged forward, clearly here to catch them in the act.
Qin Guan seized his arm and flung him against the door. "What the hell? Who are you?"
"I'm here for Qi Min!" Li Yang shouted, face pale. "Qi Min! I know you're hiding!"
4
"You're delusional!" Qin Guan roared, veins bulging. "This is my room, booked by Qi Min! I have a family, a career—accuse me again, and I'll sue you for slander!"
Li Yang faltered. Qin Guan dragged him inside. "Look! Search every corner! Where's Qi Min?"
He yanked Li Yang through the bedroom, bathroom, and balcony, then shoved him out. "Satisfied? Get lost!"
5
Li Yang retreated downstairs. Qin Guan slumped against the door, drenched in sweat. Peering through the curtains, he saw Li Yang still calling Qi Min.
Two minutes later, a hotel employee arrived on an e-bike. Li Yang questioned him, then slumped dejectedly. After lingering, he trudged to his beat-up Buick and drove off.
Qin Guan exhaled—but it wasn't over. He needed to dispose of the body.
6
Thankfully, Qi Min's suitcase was large enough. Qin Guan crammed her inside, tossed in clothes, locked it, showered, and wheeled the suitcase out. He told housekeeping, "Don't clean my room," and headed downstairs.
Then he spotted Li Yang's Buick returning. Panicking, Qin Guan ducked into the elevator and pressed "3"—the leisure floor with a waterslide and empty at this hour. He hid the suitcase behind a water tank, rushed back to his room, and stuffed Qi Min's belongings into bags.
7
Li Yang pounded on the door again. "She bought grapes! The vendor recognized her!" He barged in, holding the half-eaten bunch from the nightstand. "We're engaged! You're a damn predator!"
Li Yang swung a fist. Qin Guan dodged, shoved him to the floor, and hissed, "Grapes aren't exclusive to her! I bought these!"
As Li Yang cursed, housekeeping peered in. Qin Guan softened his tone. "Call or text her. She might be asleep or with friends. Don't make a scene."
8
Li Yang's phone dinged. His face lit up. "She replied! She was drunk and passed out…" He apologized awkwardly and left, texting cheerfully.
Qin Guan collapsed on the bed, drained. The message was a delayed text he'd sent from Qi Min's iPhone 11. He debated tossing the phone but kept it.
Once Li Yang's car vanished, Qin Guan sneaked to the third floor.
Under the morning sun, his blood turned to ice.
The suitcase and bags behind the water tank were gone.