First Frost
The chilly autumn wind whipped through Lin Yi's hair as he hurried down the sidewalk, his mind racing with thoughts of vengeance. It had been two years since his mother's brutal murder, an unsolved case that haunted his every waking moment.
Lin Yi knew, deep down, that Edith's parents were somehow involved. The daughter of the wealthy Harrington family, Edith seemingly had it all - the perfect life, the perfect family. But Lin Yi suspected a dark secret lurked beneath the surface.
As he turned the corner, Lin Yi nearly collided with a tall, slender figure. "Edith," he breathed, his heart pounding. There she was, the object of his investigation, standing before him with a look of surprise on her delicate features.
"Lin Yi?" Edith said, her brow furrowed. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Are you alright?"
Lin Yi's mind raced as he searched her face for any hint of deception. "I'm fine," he said tersely, his eyes narrowing. "What are you doing out here all alone?"
Edith shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. "I was just on my way to the library," she replied. "Is something wrong?"
Lin Yi hesitated, torn between his desire for answers and his growing awareness of Edith's apparent innocence. There was a vulnerability in her eyes that gave him pause, a lightness to her demeanor that seemed at odds with the dark secrets he suspected her family kept.
"Nothing," he finally said, forcing himself to relax his tense posture. "I was just... lost in thought." He offered her a half-smile, his anger momentarily subdued by the unexpected encounter.
Edith's expression softened, and Lin Yi felt a flicker of something he hadn't experienced in a long time - a connection, a spark of understanding. Perhaps, in this chance meeting, he had found an unexpected ally in his quest for the truth.
As they parted ways, Lin Yi couldn't help but glance back at Edith's retreating figure, his resolve strengthened by the lingering doubt in his mind. He would uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
The walk home was a blur for Lin Yi, his mind consumed by the encounter. He replayed the moment in his head, searching for any signs that Edith was complicit in his mother's murder. But all he could see was a girl who seemed genuinely surprised and concerned by his intensity.
Arriving at his apartment, Lin Yi threw his backpack on the bed and collapsed into the worn armchair in the living room. His mother's smiling face stared back at him from a framed photograph on the mantel, a silent reminder of the life that had been taken from him.
With a shaky breath, Lin Yi reached for the well-worn notebook on the side table, flipping it open . He had spent countless hours pouring over police reports, scouring the internet for any shred of information that could lead him to his mother's killer.
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