“So, you called only me here?” Luo Tianchen asked, his expression calm as he settled onto a wooden bench against the wall.
The room was neither large nor small. Luo Tianchen found himself seated by the door, a massive pot of cymbidium orchid positioned beside him.
Glass-fronted bookshelves lined both sides of the room, their countless volumes exuding a faint, pleasant scent of ink. Directly opposite, by the window, stood a solid wood desk.
On its surface, only a computer and several thick stacks of documents were visible. A man in a police uniform sat there, propping his head with one hand while the other incessantly flipped through reports.
He appeared to be in his early to mid-forties, his face noticeably haggard and utterly devoid of enthusiasm. His expression seemed to silently declare, ‘My boss screams at me, my wife finds me useless, my son is bullied, my daughter runs wild—I wish I could just die.’
He was the very picture of a middle-aged failure, yet the insignia pinned to his shoulder unmistakably identified him as the Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau.
This man was none other than Luo Tianchen’s Uncle, Wang Hongwen, the current Deputy Director of Xingjiang City’s Public Security Bureau.
Having joined the police force, he had quickly showcased exceptional talent, solving innumerable cases and earning the industry’s revered titles of “Detective King” and “Police Savior.”
This particular case, however, was unusual, given its specific timing, unique location, and the victim’s distinct identity. Consequently, even a man accustomed to the comfort of his office found himself compelled to take personal charge.
“There was no other way,” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle sighed. “Everyone at your school is a difficult character. Interrogating them on-site would have been trouble enough, but bringing them all here for statements? Spare me the headache.”
“Fortunately, you were among the eyewitnesses, so I only brought you in.”
“So, you’re picking the softest persimmon, then?” Luo Tianchen nodded, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
“While that might be the truth, why does it sound so… offensive?”
“Or is it ‘righteousness above all,’ even family?”
“Absolutely not!” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle exclaimed, a frustrated sigh escaping him. “Just stop talking, kid, alright? I’m begging you!”
He took another fortifying gulp of coffee. “In any case, the testimonies from the other witnesses are consistent: the five of you, members of the student council, organized a celebratory banquet before the college entrance exam.”
“Yet, upon your arrival at the venue, you discovered the girl’s corpse. Is that an accurate summary?”
Luo Tianchen remained silent.
“Then the crucial question arises,” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle continued. “According to your President’s statement, she and Secretary Ye Dieyu were preparing for the banquet until past eleven last night before heading home.”
“Before leaving, she ensured all doors and windows were securely closed, and the sole key remained in her possession. Furthermore, there were no signs of forced entry on the door. So, how did that girl manage to get inside?”
Silence was his only reply.
“The deceased has been identified as Yao Xinchang, seventeen years old. Our preliminary assessment points to a homicide.”
“Her father serves as a director at Hengyu Group, and her mother is a homemaker. She has an older brother, five years her senior, currently pursuing graduate studies in America. The police are in the process of contacting her family.”
“Due to strict directives from both the school and higher authorities, all information regarding this case has been completely sealed. Only the five of you know of its existence, which prevents us from gathering any further evidence from other students.”
“Therefore, I’d like to hear your impressions of her. Feel free to discuss anything—her personality, her academic performance, anything at all.”
Again, only silence.
“There’s no need for silence here!” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle pressed, his patience wearing thin. “Don’t play mind games with me; just tell me what you know!”
“She… she confessed to me yesterday.”
“Pfft!” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle immediately spluttered, spraying a mouthful of coffee directly onto his monitor.
Realizing his undignified reaction, he hastily produced a handkerchief, wiping both his mouth and the desk. “Wh-what did you just say?”
“Yesterday evening, she confessed her feelings to me behind that old building. From this, we can deduce that she was not yet deceased at that time.”
“When we discovered her body, there were no drag marks of blood on the ground, indicating she was likely murdered at the scene itself. The killer then used the celebratory banner prepared by the President to wrap her body and suspend it.”
“This gruesome display seemed to deliberately mimic the image of Jesus crucified, though I’m uncertain of the specific intent behind it. Furthermore, there’s…”
“Hold on a moment,” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle interjected, cutting him off. “Is this really the time to be discussing the specifics of the case?”
“Are you saying she was your girlfriend?”
“No, I rejected her.”
“Was it because you already had a girlfriend?”
“No, I’ve always been single.”
“Then why on earth did you refuse?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle practically roared. “A beautiful girl like that, having a momentary lapse of judgment and confessing to you, and you didn’t even seize the chance? I’m telling you, people like you are destined to be alone!”
His face was a picture of exasperated disappointment, as if he were ‘hating iron for not becoming steel.’
“What if I had accepted?” Luo Tianchen retorted, his voice chillingly cold. “Would she still be alive?”
“Er…” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle found himself momentarily speechless.
“You should know about my circumstances.”
“No, that wasn’t your fault…” He knew the truth, of course. It was precisely because he knew that he found himself at a loss for words.
“No, that’s incorrect. Everything—every single thing—is my fault. If it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have died. Whether it was last time or this time, it’s all my doing!” Luo Tianchen declared, his gaze fixed intently on his uncle’s eyes.
“Because I am a cursed individual.”
‘It was I who killed them.’
“Alright, alright, let’s put a pin in this topic for now!” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle quickly interjected, sensing his nephew’s emotions were on the verge of unraveling.
“In any case, the most immediate priority is to swiftly apprehend the true culprit—I mean, the person who physically took her life. Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve already formed some deductions, haven’t you?”
“Why are you asking me?” Luo Tianchen countered. “You are ‘Detective King,’ after all.”
“Others may not know, but surely you’re aware of my true capabilities?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle offered a wry, bitter smile.
“The orders from above are extremely rigid this time: we have only three days. We must apprehend the culprit and close the case before it escalates and causes further damage.”
“And how is that my concern?” Luo Tianchen challenged. “Since three years ago, I severed all ties with the police. I made a conscious decision to escape my past, which is precisely why I came to this city.”
“I’m striving to be an ordinary high school student, to live a simple, unremarkable life like any other person. The person you see before you is merely a regular student, sitting here as a witness, not the ‘Luo Tianchen’ of old.”
“Hey, hey, hey, why are you still talking like that at a critical moment like this?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle pleaded, a hint of desperation in his voice. “Can you truly bear to see your own uncle get fired?”
“If it were possible, I’d genuinely be curious to witness it.”
“Damn it all! Do you have any conscience left, kid?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle exclaimed in exasperation. “Who do you think went to all that trouble to get you into that school, huh?!”
“Alright, fine, if not for my sake, then at least for that poor deceased girl, you have to help, don’t you? She confessed to you, after all—she was practically half your girlfriend, wasn’t she?”
“If she dies so inexplicably, and the culprit isn’t apprehended, how can she ever rest in peace? Isn’t that right?” His uncle appealed, blending both emotion and logic.
“Haven’t I made myself perfectly clear?” Luo Tianchen stated, completely unmoved by his uncle’s pleas. “In just one more month, I’ll graduate like any normal high school student and finally live an ordinary life.”
“Are you trying to make all my efforts go to waste?”
“Alright, alright, let’s set aside both me and that girl for a moment. What about your friends in the student council?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle pressed. “Can you truly be certain the killer will stop here and not strike again?”
“If it’s you, you must understand that killing is an addiction. Once someone grows accustomed to treating life as mere dust, they descend into something monstrous, beyond any hope of salvation.”
“Even you aren’t fully aware of your President’s secret activities. So why would the killer deliberately choose your banquet location as the murder site? Can you honestly say they harbor no intentions against the student council?”
Upon hearing the words “student council,” even Luo Tianchen, who had maintained an impassive expression throughout, felt a distinct tremor of unease. While it ought to have been a mere coincidence, his uncle had undeniably pinpointed the very source of his deepest anxieties.
‘Only Ye Siya. I absolutely cannot allow her to be harmed because of this.’
After a moment of heavy silence, Luo Tianchen spoke slowly. “Alright, I agree to help you. However, you are absolutely forbidden from revealing my identity.”
“Even to the media, I am to be referred to only as some sort of ‘external aid,’ understood? If you violate this condition, you will bear the full consequences yourself.”
As he finished speaking, Luo Tianchen’s gaze fixed on his uncle, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity.
“Oh, oh, oh, no problem at all, absolutely no problem!” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle exclaimed, nodding jubilantly at the confirmation of his help.
Luo Tianchen couldn’t help but wonder if his uncle had genuinely registered the weight of his threat. ‘Seriously, how can someone like this even become the Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau? The world is truly going to the dogs…’
‘Oh, wait. I suppose I did help him get that position.’
“Don’t celebrate too soon,” Luo Tianchen warned, pouring a bucket of cold water on his uncle’s enthusiasm. “I currently have no concrete leads either.”
“From my personal observations, she always conducted herself with great caution at school. Her grades were average, and she possessed a timid disposition, appearing amicable—or perhaps, simply afraid—towards everyone.”
“Nevertheless, she was generally well-liked by nearly everyone. To describe her in a single word, she was essentially our school’s ‘mascot.'”
“But someone murdered the mascot?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle mused, finding the idea somewhat incredible. “Yet, based on the evidence we currently possess, the highest probability points to an inside job by someone within the school.”
“It would be virtually impossible for an outsider to infiltrate a school so thoroughly equipped with alarm systems.”
“What about the autopsy results?” Luo Tianchen inquired, his tone perfectly natural. His uncle immediately provided the answer.
“A total of twenty-seven non-fatal lacerations and one fatal wound were discovered on the deceased,” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle explained. “We can deduce that all these injuries were inflicted while the victim was still alive.”
“The single fatal wound was located in the abdomen, where the killer had cut open her stomach and thoroughly disarranged her internal organs. The motive behind this particular act remains unclear, but it strongly suggests the perpetrator suffers from a psychological disorder.”
“Incidentally, the victim’s clothing was found intact in a corner, and there were no signs of sexual assault on her body, indicating that the crime was not sexually motivated. Furthermore, traces of a sedative were found within her system, and there were no indications of a struggle.”
“This suggests she was killed while in a state of sleep. However, according to the latest intelligence, the victim had clearly returned home that day and had not left afterward.”
“So, how exactly did the killer manage to drug her, and then specifically transport her to the school to commit the murder?”
“So she didn’t die a painful death,” Luo Tianchen murmured softly. For him, at this moment, that was perhaps the greatest solace.
“Ahem, let’s return to discussing the case,” his uncle quickly interjected. “Do you have any other insights?”
“None. My deductions largely align with yours. It seems you’ve made significant progress over the years.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, nothing at all,” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle demurred, a blush of excitement creeping onto his face. He resembled a primary school student praised by his teacher.
To witness a police director, well over forty, showing such profound respect to a high school student would undoubtedly cause any ordinary person’s jaw to drop in astonishment.
“Be serious,” Luo Tianchen reminded him, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “You’re a Deputy Director now.”
“Oh, right, right, just a habit.” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle realized his impropriety, cleared his throat, and quickly resumed his previous serious demeanor. “That’s essentially all the information we have.”
“This afternoon, I’ll dispatch some officers to Chairman Yao’s residence to gather evidence. Do you intend to accompany them?”
“There’s no need. I’ll go myself, as a fellow student.”
“Ah, I completely forgot you’re still a student!” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle slapped his forehead. “That’s even better; you might be able to uncover more information that way.”
“Well then, I should head back,” Luo Tianchen stated, glancing down at his watch, which read ’11:03.’ “I’ve been here long enough. I still need to grab lunch soon.”
“What? You’re not staying?” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle urged. “I remember you complaining about the police station’s food. The very first thing I did after becoming Deputy Director was to improve the staff’s meals.”
“Now, the cafeteria’s food is on par with any five-star hotel, truly! Are you sure you don’t want to stay and eat before you go?”
“No need. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation if others saw us being so close,” Luo Tianchen replied, standing up and stretching to loosen his stiff muscles. “Besides, I’ve already made plans to eat with someone else.”
“Oh, oh, in that case, I won’t keep you,” Luo Tianchen’s Uncle said, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “Hurry back; they might be getting impatient.”
Luo Tianchen felt a flicker of confusion, but he was too drained to argue further. The effect of his morning coffee had completely worn off, and all he wanted was to return to school for lunch, then nap soundly in his classroom.
However, just as he reached for the doorknob, the door swung open on its own.
The Golden-haired Girl stood at the threshold.
“From this moment forward, I’ll be taking over this case.”