Xiaotao then sent me her address. Within minutes, I was dressed and ready to go. Dali, who was sitting on his bed and playing with his phone, asked me, “Dude, it’s so late now and you’re still going out?”

“Xiaotao discovered some clues about the case. I have to go check it out.”

“Will you come back tonight? Want me to leave the door unlocked for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll probably be pulling an all-nighter.”

“Want me to go with you?”

“No, not this time.”

When I thought about it, this exchange between me and Dali really did sound like I was speaking with my wife. Xiaotao wasn’t completely wrong after all. The thought of that made me blush again.

In order to look convincing, I brought my bag with me and hailed a taxi outside the college gate. After about half an hour, I reached Xiaotao’s apartment complex and I suddenly felt nervous. This...