On the morning of February 14th, the streets of Yunzhou City had not yet fully awakened. The air was still thick with the lingering scent from flower shops and the winter mist. Most people were still immersed in the gentle atmosphere of the holiday, unaware that a series of murders had quietly taken place in the night.
"Three cases occurred on the same night: Xingyue Park in the city center, Zhongta Square, and Linjiang Alley," the duty officer reported grimly in the Criminal Investigation Bureau's meeting room. "There are six victims, all couples, and identical evidence was left at each scene—one red rose and a love letter filled with poetry."
Lu Chenzhou leaned against the table, flipping through the first set of photos. The bodies were arranged in an eerie manner, as though deliberately positioned to embrace each other. The love letters were yellowed, and one line written in neat penmanship stood out—"Your sweetness is my eternal curse."
Meanwhile, Su Wanqing was conducting the preliminary autopsy in the forensic lab. She wore latex gloves and furrowed her brow as she examined the wounds on each body."Each victim has multiple fatal stab wounds, concentrated around the heart," she said. "The killer seems to be familiar with human anatomy." She held up an X-ray. "More importantly, the knife wounds are consistent in depth and alignment, with almost no signs of struggle—indicating the use of a sedative."
Her findings were relayed back to the investigation team, and Lu Chenzhou's expression grew even more serious."Prepared sedatives, a sharp blade carried on-site, precise control of the victims, paired with the love letters and roses..." He muttered. "This doesn't look like a spur-of-the-moment crime. It feels more like a—planned, ritualistic act."
Valentine's Day had turned into a day of death. Once the news leaked, public outrage spread like wildfire. Citizens were filled with fear, and the higher-ups in the police force were enraged, issuing a directive to solve the case in a limited time. The investigation team was immediately put on high alert.
Hours later, the technical department reported an important discovery. Traces of DNA were found on the love letter, and after comparison, it was linked to a man named Lin Xiao. Three years ago, Lin Xiao was arrested for assault. After being diagnosed with mild delusional disorder, he was sent to a mental health institution for mandatory treatment. He was discharged last autumn, and his whereabouts were now unknown.
Lu Chenzhou retrieved Lin Xiao's records and discovered that he had once experienced a failed relationship. His girlfriend had married someone else shortly after breaking up with him. In his medical records, he had repeatedly mentioned phrases like "Love is poison" and "Happiness is an insult to failures."
"He's become consumed with jealousy toward couples' happiness, and it has transformed into a form of vengeance against society," Su Wanqing remarked as she reviewed the report, her voice cold.
At the same time, the poetry in the love letters caught her attention—it was a line from a rare poetry collection that had been out of print for 20 years. The poem referenced "blood-red roses" and "kisses of sorrow," with a deeply twisted romanticism.
"He's not just killing people," Su Wanqing concluded. "He's creating a ritual, a 'judgment on love.' Every couple is a victim of his imagined war against 'false happiness.'"
That evening, the police pinpointed Lin Xiao's hideout in an abandoned art gallery in the old district—it was the same place where he had attended art classes as a teenager. Inside, the walls were covered in black-and-red paint, and broken images of couples were drawn. The floor was littered with torn pages from love letters and dried roses.
As the SWAT team surrounded the building, Lin Xiao coldly lit gasoline inside, attempting to "commit suicide" along with his artwork. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished by the fire brigade, and Lu Chenzhou personally entered the burning building to subdue him.
On the way to the hospital, Lin Xiao remained lucid. He looked at Su Wanqing and suddenly asked in a low voice, "You... will you also hold hands with him, walking happily down the street on holidays?"
Su Wanqing's brow twitched, but she did not respond.
Lin Xiao gave a bitter smile. "Then I'm sorry, I... don't believe in love."
The case was temporarily closed, but the holiday spirit had already been tainted with blood. The media widely reported on the "Valentine's Day Massacre," and public pressure kept the police on edge.
That evening, Lu Chenzhou took a break from his duties, bringing two cups of hot drinks as he walked into a small courtyard behind the forensic building. Su Wanqing stood under the bare branches of a winter tree, silently watching the last rays of the setting sun.
"You know," she said softly as she accepted the coffee, "is it really possible for love to hold so much hatred?"
Lu Chenzhou remained silent for a moment, observing the faint weariness and contemplation in her eyes.
"Because it's something to be envied, it makes people become obsessed," he said after a pause. "But I believe that real love makes people steadfast, not twisted."
Su Wanqing smiled lightly, as if his words had soothed her heart. They stood side by side under the dim light, not speaking further, as the wind whispered past the old brick walls.
They both knew that the next battle was only drawing closer. And the shadow of "Dark Abyss" was slowly expanding at the edge of the city.