Heavy Hearts and the Police Conclusion

After returning to the apartment from the police station, Li Lin and Ye Xiao were unusually quiet. Although the police had started to take the bizarre murder case seriously, they were clearly reluctant to acknowledge or fully accept the supernatural elements. In their eyes, everything still seemed explainable—just a matter of finding enough evidence.

Li Lin poured two glasses of water and handed one to Ye Xiao. They sat on the couch, the tension in the air almost tangible. Ye Xiao took the glass, staring at her reflection in the water, her mind still replaying the scenes from the previous night.

"Do you think they believe what we told them?" Ye Xiao asked softly, her brows furrowed.

Li Lin shook his head and sighed, "Honestly, I don't know. They're probably going to try and find a rational explanation. In the end, they'll say that man died from some kind of accident or murder, but there's no way they'll admit that the ghost we saw is real."

Ye Xiao was silent for a moment, her voice tinged with bitterness, "But we know it's real. That thing took the man's life. Yet the police… they only believe in things they can explain."

Li Lin nodded, feeling a growing sense of helplessness. He knew this wasn't a simple case, and even if the police refused to accept it, they still had to face this eerie reality. No matter what conclusion the authorities came to, their lives had already been irrevocably changed.

"We can't just wait around," Li Lin said firmly. "The police may be investigating, but we can't just let it go. That ghost is still out there, and things are far from over."

Ye Xiao squeezed Li Lin's hand, anxiety flickering in her eyes but also a spark of determination. "You're right. We can't just sit by and do nothing. But what should we do next?"

Li Lin thought for a moment, gently patting her hand. "Let's wait for the police to give us their conclusions first. See if they uncover anything. Then… we'll decide what to do next."

As time passed, the investigation gradually unfolded. Days went by as the police gathered more evidence, but they still couldn't explain the unnatural way the man had died. Li Lin and Ye Xiao's lives seemed to fall into a stifling loop. They waited anxiously every day, occasionally reviewing their own notes and clues, hoping they had missed something.

Still, the police conclusion took longer than expected. In the meantime, the weight of the unknown hung over them, making it difficult to sleep. Every time they closed their eyes, images of the ghost and the strangled man flashed before them, replaying endlessly.

One afternoon, Li Lin was poring over the old diary they had found, while Ye Xiao absentmindedly scrolled through the news, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the window as if searching for answers. Suddenly, Li Lin's phone rang.

"Hello?" Li Lin answered, and the familiar voice of the police officer came through the line.

"Mr. Li, this is the officer in charge of your case. We've made some progress and have drawn a conclusion. We'd like to discuss it with you."

"Okay, we'll come over right away."

After Li Lin informed Ye Xiao, they hurried to the police station. In the office, the officer in charge was waiting, a thick file of documents spread across his desk.

"We've analyzed the physical evidence from the scene in detail," the officer began bluntly. "This includes the strangulation marks on the victim and the environment around the house. However, we didn't find any direct evidence that would suggest anything supernatural."

Li Lin furrowed his brow, sensing where this was going. "So, what's your conclusion?"

The officer sighed, clearly perplexed by the case himself. "According to the autopsy, the victim was indeed strangled to death. But based on the shape of the marks, we suspect that it was caused by some sort of tool or rope, not by bare hands."

"A tool? But we saw—" Ye Xiao interrupted, unable to hold back her frustration.

The officer raised his hand to calm her. "I understand that your testimony differs from the evidence. However, from a scientific standpoint, we can only rely on the facts at hand. While the strangulation marks are unusual, we found no evidence to suggest the involvement of ghosts or supernatural forces."

Li Lin exchanged a glance with Ye Xiao, a sinking feeling settling in. The police were unable to explain what had happened, but they were forced to offer a "reasonable" explanation.

"So you're saying there's nothing supernatural about this case?" Li Lin asked, trying to confirm their stance.

"We're not ruling out any possibilities completely," the officer responded cautiously, "but as of now, we have no direct evidence to support the presence of anything supernatural. We'll continue to investigate based on the facts."

Ye Xiao pressed her lips together, clearly dissatisfied but also resigned. "And the body? What will happen with it?"

"The body has already been handed over to the family. We're still following up with interviews and leads related to the victim's past activities to see if we can uncover any connections."

Li Lin lowered his head, deep in thought. The officer's words left him feeling powerless. Despite witnessing the ghost firsthand, their testimony was being dismissed in the face of the police's need for logic and science. The authorities could only operate within the realm of the explainable, while Li Lin knew that something far more dangerous lurked in the shadows.

"We'll continue to investigate," the officer added, "and if we find anything new, we'll notify you immediately."

After leaving the station, Li Lin and Ye Xiao walked slowly down the street. The sun was beginning to set, and the people around them were going about their daily lives, unaware of the turmoil in their hearts.

"The police clearly aren't going to help us find the real truth," Ye Xiao said quietly, her voice heavy with disappointment.

Li Lin nodded, his gaze firm with determination. "If they can't explain it, then we'll have to find the answers ourselves. No matter the cost, I'm not going to let this go."

Ye Xiao tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes reflecting the same resolve. "I'll be with you. No matter how dangerous it gets, we'll uncover the mystery together."

They stood on the street, watching as the distant sky darkened into night. Though the police had reached their conclusion, Li Lin and Ye Xiao knew that their journey to find the truth was far from over. The real nightmare still awaited them, hidden in the shadows.