Joanne turned and ran into the medical examination team's office. A loud burst of laughter rang behind her and she flushed. She sat down and hid her face behind the computer screen, but saw her red face from the dark screen.

She had never thought that Brian would come and had not imagined that she would feel as if she was reborn after seeing Brian. She had forgotten all her fatigue.

Instead, she felt that it was a beautiful morning.

Shawn entered and saw Joanne staring at her reflection in the computer screen dazedly. There was joy in her sparkling eyes that was hard to hide.

He looked at her meaningfully and said, "You complained to him earlier."

"Eh?" Joanne did not understand what he was saying.

"We have always worked hard when there are big cases, and we have already worked hard for a year." Shawn said leisurely. "You have never complained to your brother. But when you saw him earlier, you said that you hadn't slept a wink last night sadly."

"..." It, it seemed like it.

"Do you want me to reenact the scene with Hannah and Captain Turner and show you how sad you looked earlier?" Shawn said eagerly.

"Lame." Joanne switched on the computer, but did not do anything else.

Why did she complain only to Brian?

Could it be that she felt in her heart that Brian was more dependable than Chris?

How was that possible? Disregarding Chris, he should not even be comparable to Shawn!

Joanne was feeling confused when she heard her colleagues cheer from behind the glass door. Breakfast from Moonlit Dine had arrived and filled more than half of the conference table.

"Okay" Captain Turner clapped his hands and gestured to everyone. "Come and eat while we have our meeting!"

Everyone sat down. Hannah sighed, "Moonlit Dine has never done delivery, one has to make reservations at least half a month before just to eat breakfast there. Otherwise, you won't be able to get a spot. He could get so many things delivered here in half an hour... that's incredible."

"Joanne, if I follow you in the future, would I have chances to get promoted?"

Joanne calmly picked up a sushi and placed it in vinegar. "The wounds on the six deceased showed that they were all tortured prior to their deaths. The murderer is either a pervert or he must hate the deceased and their families..."

Joanne turned the topic toward their work. Even Captain Turner would not dare to interrupt her when she got serious. Her colleagues could only stop teasing her and start working.

Joanne thought that they would be able to rest after working till two or three in the afternoon. However, they slowly discovered more and more clues and ascertained that the crime was committed by someone who knew the victims. The murderer was determined to be located within a very small area and as long as they followed the clues, they would be able to discover the murderer who had taken six lives that night.

She did not feel tired, and instead, her brain even got excited.

In the afternoon, together with testimony from witnesses and their deductions, they were sure of who the murderer was. The team moved out and quickly started the capture. Joanne and Shawn's work ended.

The bell tower by the Twinleaf River chimed five times. It was five o'clock. Joanne sighed deeply and switched off her computer and straightened up her messy desk. She suddenly heard someone calling from outside, "Joanne! Look who's here!"

Joanne looked out and saw the tall figure. He had taken off his suit jacket and his tie and looked more casual that this morning. The top button of his shirt had also been undone. This had not only not affected his handsome appearance, but it also showcased his good figure.

He was the most eye-catching and tasteful man wearing a white shirt Joanne had ever seen. The girls eyes shone as he walked past them.

Joanne was still in a daze when Brian arrived before her. "Can we leave?"

"...Yep!" Joanne only remembered to nod after some time.

Brian held her hand naturally and with familiarity. He led her out of the office and left the police station.

His car was parked in front of the station. Joanne sat at the passenger seat and only reacted when she saw Brian walking to the driver's seat. She asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Your chief said that you can knock off around this time."

"You know our chief?" Joanne asked with wide eyes.

Brian's eyebrows picked up, not denying it.

Joanne stared at him and continued asking. "So? You just happened to knock off and just happened to pass by the police station and just like what happened when I was blocked by those high-schoolers, you just happened to meet me when I knocked off?"

Her tone was weird and Brian glanced her to discover that the Little Monster was looking at him steadily. Her bright almond-shaped eyes had a hint of a smile in them as if she could sense everything. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Do you know something?"

"Guess!"

Joanne closed her eyes and leaned back leisurely, a hint of a smile on the corners of her lips.

It was not difficult to guess. Gavin had picked up the call from Chris. Gavin must have told Chris that he was in a meeting. If Chris had told Joanne that, then Joanne would have easily seen through his excuse of "just happening to knock off and meeting her coincidentally".

She knew everything, just like how she knew why he was here.

Brian turned to look at Joanne to discover that she had already fallen asleep. Her head was leaning against the car and she slept deeply, her expression exhausted.

He stopped the car at the side of the road and placed his jacket over her. Then, he pressed down on the accelerator and went on the highway and returned home.

The ONE77 sped on the road, unleashing its power. Brian glanced at Joanne who was on the passenger seat occasionally, a faint smile climbing up his lips.

The car had never seemed to drive so smoothly under his hands.

At their door, Brian could not rouse Joanne no matter what. She seemed to be like a little animal who had entered hibernation, losing all consciousness, and would not awake until spring.

Brian watched as she curled up in his jacket tightly and could not help but feel his heart softened. He suddenly felt that she was his person and could not bear to interrupt her deep sleep. He opened the passenger door and carried Joanne down.

However, he had not expected that Iris had arrived and was sitting in the living room.

When she saw Brian carrying Joanne back, she was extremely anxious. She hurried up and asked, "What's wrong with Joanne?"

"She's alright." Brian placated his mother, "She's just fallen asleep."

"She must have worked overtime last night. Poor thing." Iris's eyes were filled with pity. "Take her back to sleep in the room quickly."

Brian carried Joanne upstairs. He subconsciously wanted to send her back to her room, but was aware that Iris was following behind him. He had no choice but to carry Joanne back to his room.

Iris helped Brian settle Joanne. Joanne seemed to be very familiar with the place. She wriggled into the blankets, turned over and hugged Brian's pillow the moment she laid down. Iris was not suspicious at all, and would naturally not notice that there was not a single thing in the room that belonged to Joanne. She only thought of not disturbing Joanne's sleep and pulled Brian down with her.

Brian only asked then, "Mom, what are you doing here?"

Simon had mentioned that Brian and Joanne's relationship had improved recently. Iris was skeptical, so she had come unannounced to check up on them. The scene she had seen earlier had made her believe what Simon said completely.

Of course, Iris would not say all that. She took a sip of tea and said, "I came to tell you guys something. But since Joanne is asleep, let's talk about it tomorrow." She turned to look at Simon and said, "Have someone prepare a room. I shall not go home tonight."

Simon went to prepare the room personally. Brian thought of Joanne who was in his room and frowned. "Mum, I'll go and take a look at Joanne."

He was afraid that Joanne would wake up suddenly and charge downstairs and ask him for an explanation. Everything would be over then. Not to mention that Iris would find out that they had been acting all this while, Iris might not be able to take such a blow.

"Hold on." Iris smiled and looked at her son. "First answer my question. Did you especially go to pick up Joanne?"

"Yes." Even if he did not Brian could only admit it now.

Iris smiled brilliantly, "Why would you think of picking her up? It's not like she did not drive to work."

Brian knew that he could not hide it from his mother and could only tell the truth. "She did not sleep at all last night, I was worried about her driving."

"I know now. Go upstairs." Iris took a sip of tea and smiled with satisfaction.

Brian returned to his room. Joanne had kicked the blankets away but had not awakened. She hugged his pillow and slept deeply.

She would not know even if she was being sold.

He helped to cover her up with blankets and sat on the sofa not far away from the bed. He looked at Joanne who was sleeping deeply and fell into deep thoughts.

Since she had long known that he had rushed down especially when she had been surrounded, then why had she not asked?

Or could it be that... she had been a smart arse and thought of an answer herself?

Brian sat there until the sky turned dark and Joanne kicked the blankets off several times. However, she showed no signs of waking up. Iris came to knock on the door and asked Brian to go down for dinner. He said, "Joanne still has not awakened."

Iris peeked in at Joanne and smiled. "You don't know about this, she's probably going to sleep until tomorrow morning."

Ever since Joanne's mother passed away, Iris had stayed in contact with Joanne. Joanne would occasionally tell her about her work, so she knew a little about Joanne's habits.

Brian knew almost all the details of Joanne's life except for how much she loved to sleep.

She was going to sleep until tomorrow morning?

He anticipated her reaction when she woke up and discovered herself in his bed.

Iris turned around to discover Brian smiling. It was a thoughtful and anticipatory smile. Brian's father had also smiled like this while looking at her.

She held Brian's hand and said, "I have never known why you refused to meet Joanne for so many years. But I know that it is not because you hate her."

Brian's steps paused. "Mum, there are some things that I cannot tell you now."

"I know." Iris naturally knew that Brian was hiding things from her. But she trusted her son unconditionally. "Tell me when you can. But promise me that for me, and for Joanne, that you won't do anything silly because of your father's death. I've already lost your father. I cannot lose you too. Also, you have Joanne now."

"I know my limits." Brian said. "Mum, you can rest assured."

Iris clutched Brian's hand tightly, but nodded in the end, and then released his hand slowly.

She vaguely knew that perhaps that was the reason why Brian had refused to meet Joanne.

But she also knew that if Brian really wanted to do that, nothing could stop him.