Chapter 22: The Forensic Phantom

Dr. Qiao: A Man With No Allegiances

Dr. Elias Qiao didn't believe in curses.

But he did believe in patterns.

And something about the Liangs' collapses felt different.

The Zhangs' incidents had been quick, precise, and eerily consistent. But here? There were discrepancies.

He adjusted the cuff of his jacket as he walked through the factory, blending in as if he belonged. It wasn't difficult. People rarely questioned a man who looked like he knew where he was going.

No need for badges. No need for permission.

Just observation.

The air here carried a strange weight—not in a way anyone would notice immediately. But he noticed.

He stepped deeper into the corridors, passing through machinery that still hummed faintly with power, though the workers weren't operating them now.

His fingers tapped against his side as he studied the layout.

Something about where the workers collapsed wasn't random.

It was forming a pattern.

...

A Fortuitous Encounter

"That's not a place you want to stand," a voice cut through his thoughts.

Dr. Qiao turned, raising a brow as Zhao Rui walked toward him, clipboard in hand.

Sharp eyes. Too sharp.

For a split second, he assumed she was just another employee.

Maybe an HR rep, or someone from factory operations. The kind of person who was used to handling people, keeping things orderly.

She was also pretty.

Not in a delicate way, but in the kind of way that made men underestimate her.

She had presence—the kind that filled the space effortlessly, like she belonged wherever she chose to stand.

"Why's that?" he asked smoothly, stepping to the side.

"Because," Zhao Rui flipped a page, glancing up at him, "the last person who stood there collapsed three days ago."

Dr. Qiao didn't let his expression shift, but internally, he adjusted his first impression.

Not just pretty. Sharp. And she wasn't just here to take notes—she was reading between the lines.

Which meant she might be more of a problem than he expected.

"And you are?" she asked, scanning him like he was another anomaly in her report.

He smirked slightly. "Elias Qiao. Independent consultant."

She frowned, clearly skeptical. Independent consultant? That was vague enough to mean anything.

"For?"

"For those who don't like unanswered questions," he replied lightly.

Her frown deepened. Good. She was quick.

"What have you found?" he asked before she could press further.

Zhao Rui hesitated, then exhaled. "You first."

Dr. Qiao chuckled. "Fair enough."

...

The Liang Anomalies

He pulled out a small notepad—nothing digital. Too easy to track.

"Compared to the Zhangs," he began, "the Liang incidents are… messier."

Zhao Rui's eyes sharpened.

Not because of what he said.

But because he had slipped.

The Zhangs?

Not another factory. Not other similar incidents.

The Zhangs.

Her mind filed that away. A normal person wouldn't have access to that information.

But she didn't call him out on it.

Not yet.

Instead, she let him talk.

He continued:

• "Your collapsed workers? Different symptoms. Zhang workers blacked out instantly. Liang workers had brief awareness of something before collapsing."

• "One worker remembers hearing a faint humming before they lost consciousness."

• "Your collapses occur in a rough pattern. But I don't have enough data to confirm what it is yet."

• "And then there's the air pressure. Something about it shifts in the collapse zones—too subtle to be dangerous, but enough to be unusual."

He snapped the notebook shut. "Now your turn."

Zhao Rui studied him carefully.

Not bad-looking for a guy older than her.

Maybe mid-to-late 30s? He carried himself too neatly to be just another factory investigator, too relaxed to be someone under corporate pressure.

And for all his knowledge, he wasn't as smart as he thought.

If she wanted to play him, she could.

She turned a page on her clipboard, tapping a specific report.

"Some of the collapsed workers," she said slowly, "claimed they felt like they weren't alone right before it happened."

Dr. Qiao was already intrigued by her, but now?

Now, he was actually impressed.

Most people focused on the physical symptoms.

But she was listening to the nuances.

He exhaled softly. A rare thing, indeed.

...

Banter & A Veiled Threat

Zhao Rui shut her clipboard, crossing her arms.

"So," she said, tilting her head slightly. "That everything? Or should I call security now? If you don't mind?"

Dr. Qiao chuckled, slow and measured. "You could."

She didn't blink. "I know."

He took a step back, raising his hands in mock surrender. "No need. I'll see myself out."

"Good," she replied smoothly, "because I'd hate for this to be the highlight of your day."

Damn.

Dr. Qiao found himself genuinely amused.

As he turned to leave, he glanced over his shoulder. "Nice meeting you, Ms. Zhao. Let's not do this again too soon."

She smiled too politely. "We'll see."

And just like that, a game neither of them admitted to playing had begun.