After nearly half an hour, we parked the car at a lot near a park. As we got out, a residential garden complex appeared before us—towering thirty-story apartment buildings with vivid murals covering their walls.
As soon as we reached the entrance of the complex, the security guard stopped us. Chief Stone flashed his police badge, and we were let in without issue.
However, the appearances of Mr. Blackmask and Vincent Swallow drew curious glances from passersby.
"By the way, when we head back, I'll buy you both some clothes."
Chief Stone led us to Building Three.
"Leah King's home is on the 19th floor. Let's go." Chief Stone pressed the intercom at the entrance, and after a long moment, a lazy voice answered.
"Who is it?"
"Oh, Miss Leah King? We're the police who contacted you yesterday. We'd like to talk to you."
"Wait, it's a bit inconvenient for me right now." Leah King's voice trembled, sounding unclear and slightly anxious.
"Miss Leah King, we're just here to ask a few questions. We'll be quick—it's a matter of life and death. Please open the door."
"Wait a moment," she said. So we stood outside the heavy glass doors of the building, waiting. After a long while, with a beep, the door opened and we went inside.
"So convenient, haha." Once inside the elevator, Vincent Swallow looked around excitedly. Both he and Mr. Blackmask seemed a bit out of place, but clearly found it all novel.
When we reached the 19th floor, Chief Stone led us to the door of apartment 30178, gave us a few meaningful glances, and then rang the doorbell.
After a long moment, the door creaked open. Chief Stone smiled broadly and showed his badge. The person who opened the door was Leah King's Manager.
"Please come in, officers."
Chief Stone stepped in first, and the four of us hurried in after him. The manager's expression changed instantly, immediately recognizing me and Rachel Lan.
"It's you?"
The entryway was a corridor about four or five meters long, with a room on each side—one looked like a bathroom, the other a storage room. The hallway was just over a meter wide.
"What's going on?" Leah King called out.
Rachel Lan closed the door behind us. The manager shot me and Rachel Lan a resentful look.
"It's all your fault, all of you! Our Leah has been through so much lately—it's all because of you..."
"Shut up," Rachel Lan said coldly, then smiled faintly and added in a soft voice.
"Hmph, isn't it true that Miss Leah King has always had a difficult personality?"
"Who is it, really?" There was the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor. Leah King appeared at the end of the hallway. When she saw me and Rachel Lan, her expression immediately changed.
"Hmph, it's you—and you! Just wait. I have nothing to say to you. Please leave my house right now or I'll call the police. Get out!"
Chief Stone quickly put on a conciliatory smile and stepped forward, while Leah King angrily took off her slippers, ready to throw them at us.
"Alright, both of you. Regarding everything my subordinates did before, I sincerely apologize."
Chief Stone quickly stepped between us with a friendly smile, but Leah King still wouldn't let up. I was starting to lose my patience. Rachel Lan moved closer, and it seemed like the only option was to tie Leah King up and take her back, then figure out what to do next. But just then, Chief Stone spoke calmly.
"We deeply regret the misfortune that has befallen you. As an apology, I have a way to help Miss Leah King recover a bit of her damaged reputation. It may not do much, but right now, you must be suffering, aren't you?"
As Chief Stone spoke, both Leah King and her manager stopped cursing. On our way here, we'd seen a lot of news vans and what looked like reporters near the parking lot. Their target was obvious: the current queen of gossip, Leah King.
Before coming here, I glanced at the news in the car. It wasn't just about this incident—many of Leah King's past scandals had been dug up. She'd dated her former manager but cheated on him with a male celebrity, and her private life was described as a complete mess.
She was often seen at private clubs and had been photographed entering hotels with different men. It seemed as if someone was deliberately trying to ruin Leah King, constantly exposing her past. She was no longer a sought-after A-list star, but rather a hot potato. Several of her movies and TV shows had been halted, and some companies had even taken her to court.
It was as if she'd fallen from heaven into hell. Looking at Leah King's pale lips and the lingering smell of smoke on her, her spirit seemed crushed—clearly, recent events had put her under immense pressure.
Suddenly, Leah King burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. We entered the spacious, brightly lit living room, which had floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The curtains were drawn tight, so the only light came from the lamps inside.
After a while, Leah King finally calmed down, with her manager constantly comforting her. On the fiberglass table, a large ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts, and a strange smell lingered in the air.
Chief Stone looked at Leah King seriously, his expression grave, then spoke.
"Miss Leah King, it's best if you stop taking those pills. If you keep it up, you'll be in real trouble."
Instantly, Leah King and her manager looked over in a panic.
"W-what are you talking about, officer? What pills?"
"Heh, never mind. We're just here to resolve a single issue today."
Chief Stone spoke slowly, lighting a cigarette. Rachel Lan seemed to notice something and started laughing, earning a fierce glare from Leah King.
"You'd better be careful. I suspect you have illegal drugs here, and I'm afraid..."
"You're lying! I'll sue you for slander!" Leah King shouted, eyes wide. But Rachel Lan continued.
"If we search for those illegal drugs now, you two could end up in jail for years. Possession of illegal substances is a serious crime."
As soon as Rachel Lan finished speaking, Leah King and her manager looked terrified and unnatural. I glanced at Leah King, worried—her complexion was terrible.
"Enough, Rachel. We're not here to argue today," Chief Stone said, and Rachel Lan fell silent.
"Officer, please ask your questions. We'll tell you everything we know." Leah King's manager came over, bowing and nodding, and offered a pack of good cigarettes. Chief Stone didn't refuse, taking the pack and pocketing it.
"Here's the situation, Miss Leah King. We have a proposal. It might not do much for your damaged reputation, but it could help turn things around."
The manager hurriedly chimed in with more flattery.
"Go ahead, officer," the manager said.
"Here's the thing—have you heard about it? Last time, Miss Leah King held a concert at Longxi Plaza. Because the organizers weren't prepared, a stampede happened, and many people died. There's even a rumor that the place is haunted, and the dead come out every night to wait for Leah King's concert."
"You mean... you want our Leah to go back and hold another concert—for the ghosts?"
The manager was sharp and immediately caught on.
"Hmph, I've had enough of all this ghost nonsense. Last time I went there for a show, I got seriously ill afterward."
"It's a good idea, Leah. Just bear with it this once. After the concert, I'll write you an apology letter. If you put on a good show, I'm sure your fans will forgive you. This could work."
As the manager spoke, he quickly took out a notebook and started scribbling, then hurriedly pulled out his phone.
"So, officer, what exactly are you here to investigate?"
Leah King asked, and Chief Stone chuckled, then casually asked a few made-up questions. Leah King and her manager didn't suspect a thing.
"But officer, we've heard that place really is haunted, haven't we?"
The manager glanced suspiciously at Chief Stone.
"Don't worry, leave it to us police. We'll keep Miss Leah King safe. And honestly, those stories are just rumors, aren't they? You've been on so many late-night paranormal shows—have you ever actually seen a ghost?"
"No, it's all just hype from the production crew."
The manager was visibly relieved, then went into a room to make a phone call.
"By the way, Miss Leah King, you have a devoted fan who wants your autograph. It's the person who stopped us from arguing on the plane last time."
I thought of Basil Bertram. It seemed Leah King had no memory of what happened before, but thinking of that father and daughter made me feel a pang of sadness.
"Oh, bring him that night. I'll give him an autograph."
Once everything was settled, we left Leah King's home. Outside, I looked back with worry.
"Is she really taking pills?"
Chief Stone nodded.
"I've seen plenty of addicts—there's no mistake. Back in my police days, I saw it all. But she probably just started, maybe because she couldn't handle the pressure these past few days. There's nothing we can do. Qingyuan, you'd better let Basil Bertram know."
I nodded, planning to tell Basil Bertram about his daughter's problem when I got back.
After heading downstairs, we returned to the car. Rachel Lan was silent, watching me.
"What's wrong?"
"Qingyuan, please don't do anything dangerous, okay? Promise me? I'm heading back soon."
I smiled and nodded, ignoring everyone else in the car. I put my arm around Rachel Lan, and she quietly leaned against my chest.
"Don't worry, Rachel, I'll keep an eye on Qingyuan."