《Psychological Crime》


 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Prologue: Memories

    "He sank, he fell." You mocked him repeatedly, but you should know that he fell from a height higher than all of you. He went from extreme joy to sorrow, but his bright light follows closely behind your darkness. - Nietzsche


    How long have I been asleep?


    It''s meaningless to discuss that now. Reluctantly, I open my eyes and smell various suspicious scents in my nose. I take a sniff and identify the smells of Kangshifu braised beef noodles, green onions, KFC New Orleans grilled wings, cheap white wine, bean paste, and the smell of freshly removed shoes.


    Chinese trains are always like this, like a cafeteria that operates late into the night. If you''re unlucky and didn''t manage to get a sleeper ticket, but instead have to squeeze into a hard seat carriage, the food you buy from the cafeteria will taste like leftovers, whether you like it or not, whether you accept it or not, you have to swallow it. And the smell is like textured fog, thick, sticky, covering your eyes.


    I twist open a bottle of mineral water and drink more than half of it in one breath. Then I slowly take out my glasses from my pocket and put them on. The things in front of me become clear.


    In front of me is a middle-aged man with an expressionless face, wearing a thick coat, tightly gripping a black leather bag (his hands covered in wrinkles, rough), with a crack in his shoes. He looks out of the window absentmindedly. Next to him is a young girl, dressed plainly, with an average appearance, listening to an MP3 player with her eyes closed (a domestic product that has been used for a long time). On my left is an old woman who, like me, fell asleep on the table, with a trace of saliva flowing down her mouth, leaving a sparkling puddle on the table. I withdraw my gaze with disinterest and turn my head to look out the window.


    It''s a gloomy early spring day. The place the train just passed is a desolate land, with no hardworking farmers sowing in spring as one would imagine. Even the oxen are nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, a few low, short houses pass by, and you can see some children wearing thick winter coats playing in front of the doors. What are they playing? Children''s happiness is so simple. Perhaps just running in the dust is enough to make them happy.


    I grab a passing stewardess who is struggling through the crowd and ask, "When can I get a sleeper ticket?"


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    Wait, can''t you see how busy it is now? An impatient stewardess with a wide face says, "So annoying. The Spring Festival travel rush is over, and there are still so many people." She looks at the crowded people in the carriage, while those people are eagerly looking at the people sitting in the seats, hoping that someone among them will get off at the next stop. And my gaze falls on the two people diagonally in front of me.


    It''s a man and a woman. The woman is sitting by the window, and the man is sitting next to her, resting his head on the table. The woman is very young, like a college student, with an anxious expression on her face. She occasionally lightly pushes the man next to her, and every time he''s pushed away a bit, he stubbornly sticks back. I notice that the man''s shoulder is moving slightly.


    Heh heh. I chuckle softly.


    The girl blushes and hides inward, looking around. Perhaps some of the surrounding passengers have already noticed the man''s actions, but no one responds to the girl''s gaze. Everyone remains silent, as if keeping a tacit secret.


    The man''s actions become more and more intense, and tears start to well up in the girl''s eyes.


    I stand up and walk to the man''s side. Immediately, someone sits in my seat and lets out a relieved sigh.


    Hey, I pat the man''s shoulder and say, "Change seats." I point to my seat.


    The man looks up, his face in a disheveled state, "What?!"


    I say, "Change seats." I look calmly at him.


    The man''s expression quickly changes from disheveled to fierce, "Mind your own business!" En¡¤Jing^''s^Book¡¤Room w w w...EnJ i ng...c O m ...


    "Change seats," I look into his eyes and say.


    The man stares at me dumbfounded, while the people around also look at me. I smile at him.


    He awkwardly averts his gaze, "Where?"


    I point backward.


    He stands up, and I notice he is slightly taller than me, probably around 180 cm. I throw my bag on the table and sit down.


    The people around also start to move, as if they have all let out a sigh

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 1: The First Victim

    In 1999, Fang Mu was 21 years old and a third-year student at a normal university in City C.


    On a chilly autumn night, the weather had already turned cold. Fallen leaves were visible everywhere, and the wind blew fiercely from time to time. Students who had finished self-study and were returning to their dormitories walked with their necks tucked in, loudly chatting and laughing.


    Dormitory 2 was a male dormitory, and it was also the most dilapidated one in the university. It was said to have been built during the Anti-Japanese War by the Japanese, and the quality of Japanese things was always top-notch. For more than fifty years, this old building had stood silently on campus, still sturdy despite being a bit damp. And the dampness wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. Previous graduating students joked that this building would never catch fire, not even if someone intentionally set it ablaze. Although old, in the eyes of the male students living in the dormitory, it was an irreplaceable place. Why? Because whenever the school came to inspect hygiene, they would never bring the inspection team to this building. The male students were also happy about this. In this building, filled with trash, beer bottles, and mice, a group of carefree male students lived happily.


    Before the lights went out at 11:30 p.m., Dormitory 2 was the liveliest. Everyone wore slippers, carried towels, and held basins as they shuttled between the public restroom and their dormitories. The corridor smelled of smoke and was filled with cheerful profanity that could be heard everywhere. Occasionally, someone would grab someone else''s crotch while they were washing their face, leading to loud laughter and curses.


    In Room 352, a boy was vigorously drying his hair with a towel. Suddenly, he brought the towel to his nose and sniffed it. "Damn, why does my towel smell like pickles?" Another boy in the room, who was eating instant noodles at the table, burst into laughter. "Haha, it seems like Lao Si used your towel to wipe his feet this afternoon," he swallowed a mouthful of noodles, "he had just finished playing soccer." The boy slapped the towel back into the basin, opened the door, and shouted towards the restroom, "Zhu Lao Si, are you a pig?" The room burst into laughter, and a few seconds later, a chubby guy with a toothbrush in his mouth rushed in. "Who is it?" The boy shook the towel in his hand without saying a word. The chubby guy smiled awkwardly, "Heh heh, Liu Di, sorry about that." The boy said, "Just sorry won''t fix it. I''ve already washed my hair white, and it smells like pickles." "Well, that''s perfect. Lao Er is eating instant noodles, so why don''t you rinse your towel in his bowl? That way, he''ll have pickles too." "You fat bastard!" The boy rushed towards him as if he was going to hit him. Zhu Lao Si laughed and dodged, "Don''t blame me, your towel looks just like mine." "Damn it, my towel is blue, yours used to be white!" The room burst into laughter again.


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    Liu Li scratched his head and brought his hand to his nose to sniff. "Damn it, let''s forget about it for now," he said, dismissing the issue. He threw off his slippers and climbed into bed. Some people in the room continued reading, while others continued listening to music, quietly waiting for the lights to go out. At that moment, the door was pushed open, and a small boy entered, holding a stainless steel food tray in his hand. He headed straight for the thermos flask placed under the window. He picked one up, shook it, empty. He picked up another one, still empty. "Damn, how lazy is your dormitory? There''s no hot water. Hurry up and get me two pots, no, make it two pots. I want to soak my feet after finishing my noodles!" Liu Li smiled and said to him, "I have hot water here." The small boy immediately came over, and Liu Li lifted the blanket. "It''s just not very hot, around 36.8 degrees. Do you want some?" The small boy quickly approached, and Liu Li lifted him up and pressed him onto the bed. "Inappropriate!" The small boy yelled exaggeratedly. Several other people in the room also rushed over to playfully wrestle with him. The small boy begged repeatedly, "Stop, or I''ll poop myself!" Liu Li hurriedly said, "Stop it, I have to sleep in this bed tonight." The others let go of the small boy, and he climbed up, saying, "Damn it, I can''t even finish my noodles. I have to go poop. Fang Mu, give me some toilet paper." Liu Li said, "Damn it, Zhou Jun, don''t you have any toilet paper?" He reached out and grabbed

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 2: Investigation

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 2: Investigation


    Chen Bin is a middle-aged man in his forties. He served in the military and was then directly assigned to the People''s Military Department of the Normal University after retirement. Later, he transferred to the Security Department and was promoted to director last year. Chen Bin has been working in the Security Department of the Normal University for over 10 years, but this is the first time he has encountered such a situation. After receiving the police bureau''s investigation of the scene, comforting the students, and reporting to the school leaders, he was very busy and stressed for the whole morning. Before he could catch his breath, he received a call from the Security Department, saying that the police had arrived. "Why did they just come now?" Chen Bin grumbled discontentedly and hurriedly rushed back to the Security Department.


    A man of similar age sat at the table, looking exhausted. The criminal investigator from the city bureau who arrived earlier was briefing him on the scene investigation. The man kept his eyes down and listened expressionlessly. When he saw Chen Bin enter, he raised his eyes and nodded slightly as a greeting.


    The first person to discover the body was Sun Qingdong, the leader of dormitory 351, a 21-year-old man from Henan. At around 1 am today, Sun Qingdong got up to go to the toilet. Half asleep, he seemed to see Zhou Jun, who had gone to the toilet around 11:30, squatting in the toilet. Sun Qingdong casually said, "You haven''t finished yet? Aren''t you afraid of prolapse?" and then went back to sleep in the dormitory. He slept soundly afterwards. At 5:30 in the morning, when Sun Qingdong got up for a jog and went to the toilet, he saw Zhou Jun still squatting in the toilet. Sun Qingdong was very surprised and walked up to pat Zhou Jun''s head, but he got no response. He pushed him again, and Zhou Jun, in a stiff squatting position, fell forward. Sun Qingdong was so scared that he sat on the ground and ran downstairs to inform the dormitory administrator, Sun Mei, using both his hands and feet. Sun Mei did not touch the body and directly called the police.


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    After listening to the man''s account, there was silence in the room for a while. Chen Bin cleared his throat and spoke, "We, as the school, feel extremely saddened by this unfortunate incident. We feel that our campus security work is not sufficient. The school president has instructed us to actively cooperate with the police department and solve the case as soon as possible." A cadre from the Security Department next to him hurriedly introduced, "This is our director, Chen Bin." Chen Bin nodded reservedly. The man looked at Chen Bin but still didn''t say anything. The 110 police

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 3: Am I the Murderer?

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 3: Am I the Murderer?


    When Xing Zhisen walked into the office in the morning, the autopsy report and the scene investigation report were already placed on the desk.


    The deceased was named Zhou Jun, a 21-year-old man from Guangxi, a third-year law student at the Normal University. The cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, occurring between 11:30 pm and 12:30 am the next day. Based on the ligature mark around the neck measuring 8mm in width and the residual fibers on the skin, it was determined that the murder weapon was likely a hemp rope. The victim was likely squatting in the toilet when someone suddenly strangled him from behind. A few skin tissues of the victim were left on the cement wall between the first and second squat positions, matching the abrasion on the back of the victim''s neck, indicating that the victim had struggled to stand up but due to his small stature (1.65 meters) and the height of the cement wall (1.48 meters), he ultimately couldn''t escape the fate of being strangled to death. After the murderer strangled the victim, he bent the victim''s knees and leaned his back against the cement wall, making it appear as if he was still squatting, until he was discovered in the morning.


    No valuable fingerprints could be extracted from the victim''s sport pants. A vague shoe print was found on the second squat position, but it had no evidentiary value. Additionally, it was found that 11 people had entered the toilet from 11:30 pm until the body was discovered in the morning, and the scene was basically destroyed.


    Ding Shucheng from the Criminal Police Unit reported on the investigation and visits conducted yesterday. The incident took place in the left-side bathroom of the second dormitory building for male students at the Normal University. The building had four floors, with a total of 221 rooms, including 210 dormitories, 8 bathrooms, 1 library (located on the first floor), 1 storage room (located on the second floor), and 1 duty room (located on the first floor). There were a total of 1,311 male students from the departments of Mathematics, Foreign Languages, Physics, Law, and Arts. On the night of the incident, there were 83 non-residents, including 17 students renting off-campus accommodation (all of whom were cleared and had no alibi for the time of the crime. Ding Shucheng mentioned that all 17 of them were indisputably engaged in sexual activities with their girlfriends at the time of the incident). One person (Wu Han, a third-year law student residing in Room 352) was on duty in the duty room. According to the duty officer Sun Mei, Wu Han chatted with her in the duty room from 11 pm until 3 am, and then he went to the inner rest room to sleep and didn''t come out again. Sun Mei stayed in the duty room, knitting and listening to the radio until 5 am. At exactly 5 am, Sun Mei opened the dormitory door. Around 5:30 am, Sun Qingdong rushed down and reported that someone had died on the third floor. 22 people were watching videos all night at an off-campus video hall, and it was confirmed that they had no alibi. Another 20 students, who lived with their families in the city, went home to watch the early morning European Champions League match between Hertha Berlin and AC Milan. (Hertha Berlin won 1-0 against AC Milan. Ding Shucheng said, "I watched that game too. Based on the investigation, the descriptions of the match by these 20 students were basically accurate, and according to other evidence, it can be confirmed that they had no alibi for the time of the crime.") In addition, 23 other non-residents were still under investigation.


    Xing Zhisen looked at Ding Shucheng, who appeared exhausted, and said, "You''ve worked hard."


    Ding Shucheng smiled and continued his report.


    From the scene of the incident, it was not only the unverified individuals who were suspected of the crime, but also the possibility of outsiders being involved in the crime couldn''t be ruled out. The Normal University was located in a bustling area of the city, with a complex flow of people. The university''s walls were only 1.9 meters high, easily scalable by an adult, and the outside of the second building faced a major street in the city, across from the botanical garden. Considering the age of the building, although the ground floor''s main door was tightly locked, the windows were in a dilapidated state. The ground floor windows were fitted with iron bars, but on either side of the main entrance, there were bicycle sheds, making it entirely possible to climb onto the second-floor window ledge from the shed and enter the building after opening the window.


    Looking at the social relationships of the deceased, Zhou Jun was an outgoing person with a wide range of interests. He was acquainted with many people not only within his own department but also in other departments, and investigations into his external social relationships were still ongoing. Based on the investigation and visits, Zhou Jun was generally easy-going, enjoyed joking around, and had no known grudges with anyone. There were no valuable items found among the deceased''s clothing. His pocket contained 32.8 RMB, and it was unlikely that someone would commit robbery and murder in a toilet. Therefore, the possibility of the crime being motivated by material gain could be basically ruled out. As for the search for the victim''s belongings, no valuable clues were found.


    "That''s the basic situation. Also," Ding Shucheng closed his notebook, "The chief asked about the specifics of the drug trafficking case from yesterday afternoon. Would you like to go up and report on it?"


    Xing Zhisen sighed and buried his face in his hands.


    Recently, the municipal criminal police raided a hotel and arrested several drug users. After intense interrogation, the drug users divulged the identities of several drug traffickers. After studying the case, the bureau decided to send one of the drug users to act as a buyer, to lure the biggest drug trafficker in the adjacent city of A into a transaction, in order to completely dismantle the drug trafficking group. The operation was arranged quite meticulously, but unexpectedly, the drug user used as bait was also one of the drug traffickers. Consequently, during the operation, he used a pre-arranged signal to tip off the target, leading to the failure of the operation. Not only did the bait and the target escape, but two police officers involved in the operation were severely injured. Just before going to investigate the murder case at the Normal University, Xing Zhisen had just returned from A in defeat.


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    Xing Zhisen lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and fell into deep thought for a while.


    "I''ll go upstairs to report to the chief later. You take two people and start investigating," he said.


    Ding Shucheng seemed a little upset because he had been hoping to be involved in the major drug trafficking case and had witnessed the miserable condition of his two comrades. As a police officer, he was even more eager to personally bring the drug traffickers to justice. However, orders were orders, so Ding Shucheng nodded in obedience.


    Xing Zhisen noticed Ding Shucheng''s emotions and got up to pat him on the shoulder, offering some encouragement.


    In the eyes of the C City Public Security Bureau, the murder case at the Normal University was just a small, inconspicuous case, with several such cases occurring in C City every day. However, to the police officers, Zhou Jun''s death was just a pile of documents awaiting analysis, cold and impersonal data and information. Yet, in the tranquil environment of the Normal University, especially in the dilapidated second building, it was an extremely sensational event.


    The news of Fang Mu being called in for questioning by the security office spread throughout the law school on the same day, and as it circulated, it became increasingly sensational. In just one day, the version Fang Mu heard was that he was caught on the spot in the classroom, resisting arrest, and was eventually subdued by several armed police officers, to the extent that when Fang Mu returned to his dormitory in the evening, several classmates from other departments in the same building looked at him strangely: "Didn''t they catch you?"


    The attitudes of the people in the dormitory towards Fang Mu were also quite unusual, evasive, as if they unintentionally knew some secret about Fang Mu. He felt both angry and amused, not knowing what to say, so he lay on his bed reading a book alone. Later, when the others saw Fang Mu''s gloomy face, they also refrained from asking anything, and one by one, they quietly slipped out. At 10 o''clock in the evening, they returned one by one, also quietly. Finally, the student on the upper bunk, Lao Wu, couldn''t help but ask Fang Mu, who was lying on the bed: "What did the security office ask you about today?" Without lifting his eyes, Fang Mu replied, "They asked me if I killed first or raped first!"


    "Hehe, you," Lao Wu smiled embarrassingly, and the atmosphere in the dormitory suddenly relaxed, with several people gathering around, asking about the situation. After thinking for a while, Fang Mu felt that since the police had not told him not to talk about it, he recounted the process of the questioning at the security office in the afternoon. After hearing this, everyone fell silent for a long time. After a while, Lao Da said slowly, "This case... it''s clearly not a suicide!"


    "Damn!" Several voices said in unison.


    "Heh heh," Lao Da made a dodging gesture, "But it''s really scary. Lao Er from Room 348 said he went to the toilet last night. Perhaps Zhou Jun was already dead by then."


    "Yeah, I dare not go to that toilet at night anymore. Hey, do you guys think..." Lao Wu said mysteriously, "Could it not be the work of a person?"


    "Get lost, are you just reading too many ghost stories?" Lao Er said.


    "I didn''t say that," Lao Wu said aggrievedly, pointing his hand downward, "he did."


    Seeing everyone staring at him, Fang Mu felt flustered and said, "Damn, it''s just a joke. You all have received higher education, and you believe this? Besides, he didn''t die of fright."


    Everyone burst into laughter, and then, feeling that something was amiss, they all consciously fell silent.


    At that moment, the door opened, and Wu Han walked in, looking exhausted, with his sleeves rolled up high and a lot of water stains on his chest.


    "You''re all here."


    "San Ge, are you on duty tonight?" Lao Wu asked.


    "Huh? No, Xiao Chen from the Mathematics Department is on duty." Wu Han let down his sleeves, "Sun Auntie didn¡¯t dare go into that bathroom, so I cleaned it. Damn, I''m exhausted."


    "Aren''t you afraid?" Lao Da said admiringly.


    "Afraid of what," Wu Han climbed onto his bed and rested his legs on the edge of the bed. "If I see that kid, I''ll have a good chat with him. I might even solve the case and earn some credit." He lowered his head, "Fang Mu, what did the security office ask you about this afternoon? Give us some inside information."


    "Damn, San Ge, aren''t you suspecting me too?" Fang Mu said.


    "Hehe, you definitely are not the murderer."


    "San Ge knows me best!" Fang Mu pretended to be moved.


    "You don''t have the guts!" Everyone burst into laughter. Wu Han retracted his legs, spread the blanket, and said, "Killing someone is not a simple matter."


    Fang Mu wanted to argue but opened his mouth and couldn''t say anything.


    As the lights were about to be turned off, everyone took out their washbasins, towels, toothbrushes, and soap, preparing to go wash up. They pushed open the door and, without a word, headed for the bathroom at the other end of the corridor. Fang Mu was the last to leave and saw Wu Han lying motionless on the bed. He asked, "San Ge, aren''t you going?"


    Wu Han, covering himself with the blanket, mumbled, "I''m not going. I''m tired. I want to sleep."


    Fang Mu shrugged, closed the door, and left.


    That night, everyone slept restlessly, occasionally hearing the creaking of the bed. Around 1 am, Fang Mu heard Lao Wu say softly, "I need to go to the toilet. Anyone coming with me?" After a long silence, Lao Wu said awkwardly, "Well, then I won''t go either." Fang Mu chuckled secretly but found it even harder to fall asleep. He lay with his eyes closed, but his mind was constantly turning. It was only after a long time that Fang Mu realized he had been thinking about what Wu Han had said, "Killing someone is not a simple matter."


    Killing someone was indeed not a simple matter.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 4: The Second Victim

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 4: The Second Victim


    Youth is a neutral word, representing many flaws: lack of experience, immaturity, impulsiveness, but it also has many advantages, one of which is having plenty of time to forget things that should not be remembered.


    More than a month had passed, and there was no more news about the murder case. The name Zhou Jun and that terrifying morning gradually faded from people''s minds, from being specific to blurry, and eventually completely thrown into the dusty corner of memory. Days passed by calmly like flowing water, and the once bustling campus, which had been noisy because of a person''s death, slowly returned to its previous tranquility, as if a stone thrown into a pond, after the ripples, left no trace. Perhaps, that''s how life should be.


    It was a Thursday afternoon, after the international economic law class, Fang Mu was about to leave the classroom when Professor Gao, the teacher of international economic law, stopped him. He asked Fang Mu, Zhu Lao Si, Wu Han, and Sun Qingdong to go to his office to help move some things. Although Fang Mu was a little reluctant, he still followed. There weren''t many things, just two large boxes of materials and a large stack of books, but they were all very heavy, and carrying them from the faculty dormitory to the administrative building was indeed not a good task. Fang Mu and the others grudgingly carried the things into Professor Gao''s office, only to find another person in the office.


    Well, this trip wasn''t in vain. Fang Mu thought.


    She was Liu Weili, a graduate student brought by Professor Gao, a recognized beauty in the law school, tall and slender, with long flowing hair, the dream lover and object of self-pleasure for many students. The beauty smiled warmly at Professor Gao and didn''t exchange many pleasantries with the juniors, squatting on the ground and flipping through the materials.


    "Oh, you have this book. I specially went to the library to borrow it. If I had known, I would have borrowed it from you. Maybe I wouldn''t have to return it," she exaggeratedly pouted.


    "Then take it after you finish copying, remember to write a borrowing slip." Professor Gao didn''t seem to buy it.


    The beauty pouted exaggeratedly, "You guys, help me move these things to the copy room."


    The copy room is on the 24th floor! The four of them looked at each other.


    "There''s an elevator, what are you afraid of? Why make a fuss about such a small task?" With that, the beauty patted Zhu Lao Si''s shoulder with the book in her hand. Looking at Zhu Lao Si''s expression, he would rather carry the boxes to the 24th floor even if there was an elevator.


    Suddenly, Fang Mu remembered a song: "I''m willing to be a little lamb, following her. I wish she would hold a thin whip and gently beat me."


    Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si carried one box each, Wu Han carried the other, and Sun Qingdong carried a large stack of precarious books in front, while the beauty walked behind empty-handed, making a phone call, "You go by yourself tonight, I can''t make it. Don''t ask, overtime, yes, what''s wrong, help my supervisor make copies, okay, that''s it."


    Finally, they managed to move the things into the copy room. Zhu Lao Si wiped his sweat and smiled, "Sister, working overtime tonight?" "Yes." The sister''s tone was not enthusiastic. "Do you need our help?" "No need, you guys go back and have dinner." The beauty waved her hand, pushing them out like little chickens.


    Damn, not even a thank you. The four of them entered the elevator, and Fang Mu grumbled discontentedly.


    Zhu Lao Si seemed to be still in a daze. When they arrived on the first floor, the elevator shook, and Zhu Lao Si smacked his lips, "What a beauty."


    "Look at you drooling, who isn''t a beauty?" Wu Han pushed Zhu Lao Si out of the elevator. The four of them walked out of the administrative building, joking and laughing.


    The next day, Friday.


    It was a cloudy day, with dark rolling clouds covering the sky, occasionally rumbling thunder in the distance. Park Yali, who worked in the Personnel Department on the third floor, threw her bag on the table, took out a few biscuits, and prepared to go out to make herself a cup of coffee.


    It was not yet 8:30 in the morning, and most of her colleagues had not yet arrived. Due to the cloudy weather, the light in the administrative building was dim. As Park Yali walked back to her office, the sky suddenly lit up with lightning, startling her, and she couldn''t help but look out of the window.


    Clang! The coffee cup fell to the ground. The foamy brown liquid silently flowed across the floor.


    The people in the elevator ascending slowly could hear a horrific scream from the third floor.


    Liu Weili lay dead on the platform on the third floor.


    When Ding Shucheng arrived at the scene, the rain had become heavier.


    The body was on the platform on the third floor of the administrative building. The technical department colleagues were already busy at the scene. Two were taking photos, and a technician in a raincoat was crouching on the ground inspecting. The body lay prone on the ground, head to the north, from the body shape, it was a young woman, and several forensic doctors were packing up their tools. Ding Shucheng patted a familiar old forensic doctor, "How is it?"


    "Oh, you''re here. The preliminary estimate is that the time of death was between 9 p.m. last night and 3 a.m. this morning, the cause of death is head and brain injury and extensive internal bleeding. Other details can only be confirmed after an autopsy." The forensic doctor looked at Ding Shucheng, furrowing his brow slightly, and explained, "It suddenly cooled down last night, so we can''t give you a more precise time of death. We''ll do our best to get results as soon as possible."


    Ding Shucheng smiled apologetically, "Thank you."


    "No, it''s no use." The policeman who had been inspecting the scene suddenly stood up. He looked up at the dark, rainy sky, "The rain is too heavy, there''s basically no value in further investigation."


    Ding Shucheng also looked up. The 24-story office building stood silently in the rain, with almost every window flashing with confused, fearful, or excited glances. Ding Shucheng scanned the crowd looking out the windows and couldn''t help feeling dizzy.


    Would a person who fell from this building last night or this morning also feel dizzy?


    Ding Shucheng turned to his team and said, "Get to work."


    The deceased was named Liu Weili, female, 24 years old, a second-year graduate student majoring in international economic law at the Law School of the Normal University, from Sichuan, and currently living in Room 407 of Building A for graduate students. According to the deceased''s roommate, the deceased had mentioned that she was asked by her supervisor to help with copying materials and might come back very late, so staying out all night did not surprise her roommate, as the deceased had a boyfriend in the city who occasionally stayed over. The matter of copying materials was confirmed by Professor Gao and others. Professor Gao was preparing to apply for a national project and needed to copy a large amount of materials. On the night of the incident, Professor Gao was celebrating his mother-in-law''s birthday at a hotel in the city until 4 a.m., ruling out the suspicion of him being the culprit.


    The deceased''s boyfriend was a doctoral student at another university in the city. On the night of the incident, he had originally agreed to attend a farewell party for a friend who was about to get married, but the deceased called to say she had to work late and couldn''t make it. The boyfriend attended the party alone and drank at a bar in the city until 2 a.m., then went to a bathhouse to bathe before sleeping in the rest area until 8:30 the next morning, and all these circumstances were confirmed by witnesses, ruling out his suspicion as the culprit.


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    The scene of the incident was the administrative building of the Normal University. The building was 24 stories high, with the Law School on the 17th floor and the copy room on the top floor, the 24th floor. The window on the third floor opened onto a platform of about 200 square meters. The deceased was found on the platform. According to the duty personnel at the administrative building, Liu Weili entered the building at around 5:40 p.m. that night, and then several other people entered the building. As for whether Liu Weili left the administrative building, the duty personnel said they hadn''t noticed. From 10 p.m. that night to early morning, the duty personnel had patrolled the administrative building four times and found no unusual circumstances.


    Through an investigation into the deceased''s social relationships, it was found that the deceased was from out of town and had no relatives in the city. Her social relationships were relatively simple. According to the deceased''s classmates and friends, the deceased had a cheerful personality and was warm to others, but was a bit vain, longing for a high standard of living, but had a relatively upright lifestyle and no record of associating with bad people. The possibility of a revenge killing could be basically ruled out. Through an investigation of her boyfriend, although Liu Weili was a beautiful woman and had many pursuers on campus, her relationship with her boyfriend was good, and they had planned to get married after her graduation. Therefore, the likelihood of a crime of passion was low.


    After analyzing these preliminary investigation results, the first thought that crossed Ding Shucheng''s mind was that Liu Weili had died by suicide, or accidentally fallen from a height, and the subsequent autopsy report further strengthened this idea. The time of death was estimated to be between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., and the cause of death was head and brain injury and extensive internal bleeding. The deceased''s clothes were intact, her hymen was old but not torn, and there were no signs of sexual activity that night. The 155 yuan in her pocket and the 600 yuan left in her handbag in the copy room were also intact. The possibility of robbery or sexual assault was also low.


    Ding Shucheng read through the autopsy report several times, pondered for a while, and then went to the morgue.


    The body was covered with a white cloth, lying quietly on the dissecting table. Ding Shucheng lifted the white cloth, revealing a fair but lifeless body. It had once made its owner extremely proud and intoxicated the deeply loving man. And now it had been violently thrown from the building and ruthlessly dissected. Ding Shucheng looked at the head of the deceased, once beautiful but now broken, the mouth and eyes half open, showing a slightly surprised and hesitant expression.


    What are you trying to tell me?


    The on-site inspection report that arrived in the afternoon made Ding Shucheng overturn his initial thoughts.


    Because the scene was too clean.


    The deceased had been to the copy room on the 24th floor before, and the scene was relatively well-preserved. The door was closed during the inspection but not locked (the key was in the deceased''s handbag). The copy room was a 5.1-square-meter square room with a Sharp copier, a table, two chairs, and three and a half boxes of printing paper. The copier was still on, and the copied materials were neatly stacked aside. Apart from the deceased''s handbag, no other valuable items were found. Suspiciously, no fingerprints were found on the copier, table, chairs, and door handles. According to the results of the body examination, Liu Weili should have fallen from a height above the 19th floor. Therefore, the most likely location of the incident should have been the copy room, where the deceased fell from the window. However, the window of the copy room was tightly closed, and no footprints were found on the windowsill.


    It was as if someone had cleaned the scene thoroughly.


    After listening to Ding Shucheng''s re-report, Xing Zisen seemed very interested and arranged his work before going to the Normal University with Ding Shucheng.


    They went directly to the copy room on the 24th floor, and the situation at the scene was basically consistent with the description in the report, except that Professor Gao''s materials were taken back with his permission. After a brief inspection, Xing Zisen and Ding Shucheng went to the rooftop opposite the copy room.


    The rain had stopped, but the wind was still strong. Xing Zisen and Ding Shucheng raised their collars and looked around the roughly 100-square-meter rooftop.


    The rooftop was very clean, empty, with a small pile of sand and a few broken bricks in the corner, probably left over from previous waterproofing work.


    Ding Shucheng walked to the edge of the rooftop, where there was no railing, only a cement edge about 16 to 17 centimeters high.


    Did Liu Weili fall from here?


    Ding Shucheng carefully placed one foot on the cement edge and looked down, feeling dizzy in an instant. He quickly retreated and looked into the distance. This was the tallest building in the Normal University campus, and the entire campus and nearby buildings were all in sight. It was almost time for dinner, and the campus was bustling with groups of people walking around, and several cars were carefully shuttling through the crowd.


    Someone came up behind Ding Shucheng. He turned around and saw Xing Zisen squatting on the ground, looking at the ground under his feet.


    Ding Shucheng looked down and saw a half piece of brick next to his foot, about half a meter away, and another one.


    Ding Shucheng also crouched down and looked for a long time but couldn''t see anything. He wanted to ask Xing Zisen, but seeing him so focused, he didn''t dare to speak.


    Xing Zisen suddenly stood up, turned and walked away. Ding Shucheng hurriedly followed behind him.


    Xing Zisen jumped into the corridor from the window and went straight to the copy room. Ding Shucheng entered the copy room and saw Xing Zisen carefully searching on the floor.


    "Old Xing, what are you looking for?"


    Xing Zisen didn''t say anything, almost pressing his nose to the ground, searching slowly.


    A few minutes later, probably finding nothing of value on the ground, Xing Zisen turned his attention to the wall, and soon his gaze stopped at a certain place.


    Xing Zisen beckoned to Ding Shucheng, who walked over and squatted down, following his pointing finger.


    There were several water stains that had not completely dried, slightly darker in color than the rest of the wall. If you didn''t look carefully, you wouldn''t notice it. From the shape, it seemed like water splashed on the ground and then splashed up.


    Ding Shucheng looked at Xing Zisen, who was staring at the water stains, and slowly, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    "Ding, go ask Professor Gao if there''s anything wrong with the materials he took back."

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 5: Devotion

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 5: Devotion


    Three months ago.


    The intense summer sun blanketed the entire city. The dry wind blew gently, and cicadas in the trees were loudly chirping, causing an inexplicable feeling of irritation. It was now half past one in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day, and almost everyone was trying to stay in the shade. The deserted asphalt roads were softened by the sun, and occasionally, a few cars, either high-end or low-end, new or old, would speed by and quickly disappear, as if afraid of being scorched.


    A boy hurriedly walked along the roadside, occasionally looking back. Sweat beaded on the tip of his nose, and his glasses kept sliding down. He wiped his forehead with the oversized sleeves of his shirt, which was not suitable for the season, and quickened his pace.


    Arriving at the entrance of a residential area, the boy stopped, took off his glasses, wiped the sides of his nose with his fingers, put his glasses back on, and looked around. It was very quiet. A cart selling cold drinks was parked nearby, and the elderly woman selling cold drinks was dozing off. A listless dog lay at her feet, occasionally panting.


    Convinced that no one was paying attention to him, the boy suddenly ran into a building. The sudden movement startled the little dog, which looked at the disappearing boy at the door, but soon lowered its head and lay quietly in the shade at its owner''s feet.


    The coolness in the corridor made the boy feel much better. He cautiously climbed up to the third floor and stopped in front of an iron door. He raised his hand to knock, but for some reason, he put his hand down. Holding his breath, he pressed his ear against the door and listened for a while before finally knocking.


    A woman inside the room asked, "Who is it?"


    The boy remained silent.


    After a few seconds, the woman said gently, "Just open the door yourself."


    The boy took out a key from his pocket and quietly opened the door, then swiftly darted inside.


    It was a small one-bedroom apartment, sparsely furnished but tidy. Although it was noon, the windows were tightly closed, and the room was hot and dim. A woman who was half-lying on the bed struggled to sit up and smiled wearily at the boy.


    "I knew it was you."


    The boy remained silent, looking around the room.


    "Don''t bother looking. Xiaofan went to my sister''s house and won''t be back tonight."


    The boy visibly relaxed, feeling the warmth in the room and breaking out in a sweat. He looked at the tightly closed windows and curtains, furrowing his brow.


    Sensing the boy''s discomfort, the woman pointed to an old-fashioned electric fan in the corner. "Turn it on and cool yourself off for a while."


    The boy walked over and turned on the fan. The blades creaked as they started to rotate, swaying from side to side.


    As the wind blew towards the woman, she shivered and pulled the quilt covering her up.


    "Don''t blow it at me. Aim it towards your side."


    The boy turned the fan towards himself, pressed a button, and the fan immediately stopped swaying, directing the breeze towards him. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a lean but sturdy chest, and enjoyed the cool air.


    The woman watched the boy in silence. After a while, she gently said, "Don''t stay in the wind for too long. Be careful not to catch a cold."


    The boy looked at the woman and asked, "How are you? Are you okay?"


    The woman glared at the boy softly, lay back down, and turned her back to him.


    Feeling a little awkward, the boy stood there, unsure of what to do.


    The fan kept blowing, causing the boy''s unbuttoned shirt to flutter.


    After a while, the woman said softly, "Come here."


    The boy walked to the edge of the bed, sat down, and put his hand on the woman''s shoulder.


    The woman remained silent, not turning around, but shifting in the bed to make room for him.


    The boy took off his shoes and, after a moment of hesitation, placed them neatly by the door.


    The boy lay down next to the woman, gently embracing her shoulders. The woman did not refuse, but instead shifted back, closed her eyes, and lay comfortably in the boy''s arms.


    There was a strange scent emanating from the woman. The boy used his other hand to stroke her hair, and his palm caressed her forehead from time to time. The woman gently held the boy''s hand that was embracing her shoulder, and the two lay there in silence, only hearing the fan softly blowing into an empty corner.


    The woman''s hands were wrinkled, dry, and rough, and her fingers lightly touched the boy''s healthy, dark skin, giving him a tingling sensation. The boy closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling. As the drowsiness of the afternoon gradually set in, he unknowingly fell asleep.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    In the evening, the boy suddenly woke up, sitting up abruptly, covered in sweat, and looked around anxiously. The woman had turned her body at some point, and she was pushed aside by the boy''s sudden movement, whimpering in dissatisfaction.


    "What are you afraid of? Xiaofan went to my sister''s house and won''t be back tonight."


    The boy breathed a sigh of relief and lay back heavily.


    The woman crawled gently onto the boy''s chest, tracing her fingers lightly over his sweaty chest. The boy lowered his head and gently kissed the woman''s forehead. At that moment, the woman heard the boy''s stomach growling twice. She smiled.


    "Are you hungry?"


    The boy nodded.


    "I''m a little hungry too. There''s a chicken in the kitchen that I slaughtered this morning. Can you make chicken soup?"


    The boy nodded again.


    Pouting, the woman coquettishly said, "I want you to make it for me."


    The boy kissed the woman''s forehead again, jumped out of bed, and soon the kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking.


    The woman lay contentedly in bed, closing her eyes wearily.


    In the evening, the boy and the woman had dinner together. The woman did not get up and half-lay in bed, while the boy fed her spoonfuls of chicken soup. Every time the woman swallowed, she looked at the boy affectionately. After drinking a bowl of soup and eating a few pieces of chicken, she lay back in bed and watched the boy devour the rest of the soup and chicken hungrily. Then, the two of them cuddled up to watch TV. The boy was completely engrossed in a action movie, while the woman was not interested in the program and occasionally looked at the boy tenderly.


    Around 10 o''clock, the boy got up, dressed, and the woman still did not get up, silently watching the boy. The boy tied his shoes, sat on the edge of the bed, bent down, and kissed the woman on the lips. The woman immediately hugged the boy.


    "Stay tonight. It''ll just be the two of us."


    The boy hesitated.


    "Go early tomorrow morning, okay? Keep me company."


    The boy nodded, took off his shoes and shirt again, hesitated, and then took off his pants, leaving only his underwear to slip into the woman''s bed, then turned off the light.


    In the darkness, the boy held the woman, his hand slipping into her clothes. The woman wasn''t wearing a bra, and her skin was cool. The boy gently caressed the woman''s abdomen, then reached up to grasp the slightly relaxed Rx room of the woman, gradually applying more pressure with his fingers, twisting her nipples, and kneading them forcefully.


    The woman let out an uncontrollable moan and reached for the boy''s already erect body.


    The two entwined intimately, the boy''s breathing becoming heavier, and the woman''s moans growing louder. Suddenly, the boy released the woman''s Rx room, quickly took off his underwear, and eagerly tried to remove the woman''s pants. However, the woman suddenly came to her senses and forcefully held onto her pants.


    "Not today!"


    The boy, with his imposing erection, paid no heed and pushed aside the woman''s hand, forcibly tearing at her pants. The woman struggled and kicked, pleading softly. The bed creaked as they struggled, and then, a slap resounded on the boy''s face.


    The boy was struck dumb, his hand stopping in mid-action, and he remained silent for a while. The woman regretted her actions, quickly got up and reached to touch the boy''s face. But the boy ignored her hand, reaching for the woman''s pants again. The woman hurriedly grabbed them.


    "You heartless man, do you want to make me suffer?"


    The boy''s hand suddenly stopped, and after a while, he abruptly turned on the light. The woman covered her eyes with her hand, and the boy pulled down the woman''s pants.


    A strong smell of blood wafted into the air. The woman''s lower body was covered in dark red blood, and the pad beneath her was soaked in red, while her pubic hair was matted together with dried blood.


    The boy stared in shock.


    The woman glared at the boy softly, slowly pulled up her pants, turned off the light, and pulled the boy back to lie beside her.


    The boy lay stiffly next to the woman for a long time, then reached out to embrace her and gently stroked her hair. The woman obediently snuggled against the boy''s chest.


    "Why didn''t you tell me?" the boy asked softly.


    The woman raised her head from the boy''s embrace, looking at him in astonishment.


    "I did tell you. Didn''t you see that letter?"


    The boy''s movements came to a sudden halt.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 6: Night of Soul Returning

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 6: Night of Soul Returning


    Fang Mu could tell that Zhu Lao Si had been in a bad mood these past few days.


    During class, Zhu Lao Si often sat at the back, staring out the window in a daze. Back in the dorm, he didn''t interact much with anyone, sometimes lying on his bed staring at the upper bunk, or sitting at the table scribbling on a piece of paper, only to tear it up, or spending long hours on the computer. Once, when Zhu Lao Si went to the restroom, Lao Wu sneakily took a look at the webpage he was browsing, which turned out to be a supernatural-related website. Fang Mu speculated in his heart that it was probably because of Liu Weili''s death.


    Liu Weili''s death had caused quite a stir in the recently tranquil school. Speculations about the incident could be heard everywhere, in the cafeteria, classrooms, and even the restroom. There were numerous versions circulating, some claiming that Liu Weili had an affair with her mentor, and his wife came to confront her that night, leading to a physical altercation that resulted in her being pushed down the building; others said that Liu Weili was cheating with someone else on the 24th floor under the guise of working overtime, and when caught in the act by her boyfriend, he, filled with shame and anger, threw her off the building; some said it was an accidental fall due to a mental breakdown; and the most far-fetched version was that there was a ghost on the 24th floor, and it possessed Liu Weili, causing her death to take her place.


    Fang Mu felt a bit of regret for Liu Weili''s death. After all, a young and beautiful girl leaving this world in such a horrific manner, a stylish and fashionable senior sister knowing that her appearance had drastically changed after her death, would probably feel quite bitter. However, since Fang Mu had limited interaction with her, he was more concerned about when there would be an answer to the death of Zhou Jun, whom he had sat in the same classroom with for three years. Unfortunately, there was no news on that front. After two consecutive cases of homicide, the school held a meeting and tasked each department head to convey the school''s stance, which was to cooperate actively with the public security bureau in solving the cases, not to believe in rumors, and to trust the capabilities of the public security bureau. Fang Mu was particularly repulsed by the phrase "closing the stable door after the horse has bolted."


    On the seventh evening after Liu Weili''s death, Fang Mu returned to the dormitory after playing basketball. Everyone had gone out for self-study, leaving only Zhu Lao Si sitting alone on his bed lost in thought. Zhu Lao Si was still wearing his daytime clothes, with some dirt on his pants, looking disheveled. Fang Mu went out to wash his face with a basin and found Zhu Lao Si already sitting at the table when he returned, fiddling with something.


    Knowing that his emotions had been low these past few days, Fang Mu didn''t speak to him and started packing his bag to go for self-study. As he was about to leave, Zhu Lao Si called out to him.


    Turning around, Fang Mu saw Zhu Lao Si gazing at him with teary eyes. Even before he could say anything, tears were already rolling down his cheeks.


    Fang Mu felt at a loss, as it was the first time he had seen this carefree guy cry.


    Fang Mu awkwardly sat down at the table, not knowing what to say, and could only pat his shoulder symbolically. Zhu Lao Si lowered his head and rested it on the table, shoulders trembling.


    After crying for a while, Zhu Lao Si stood up, let out a sigh, and loudly blew his nose with a tissue. Then, he turned to Fang Mu and asked calmly, "Do you believe in ghosts?"


    It was then that Fang Mu noticed the strange items in a plastic bag on the table. It seemed to contain some yellow paper with twisted characters written on it, a bamboo pole wrapped with cloth, and a stack of spirit money.


    "You can''t be serious, Fourth Brother?" Fang Mu tried to make his tone sound less surprised.


    "I really liked her!" Zhu Lao Si''s eyes filled with tears again.


    Looking at the characters and spirit money on the table, Fang Mu quietly calculated and suddenly realized, "Are you thinking..."


    "Yes, today is the seventh day after Liu Weili''s death. According to our hometown''s tradition, the deceased should return to the place of death on this night, which is the night of soul returning. I found a local deity online and bought these things from him. Tonight, I''ll summon her spirit using these items, maybe we can find out who harmed her."


    Fang Mu thought for a moment. "Isn''t the seventh day for the deceased to return home to visit their relatives?"


    Zhu Lao Si hesitated for a moment. "Perhaps, or maybe on the way back to the place of death, after all, it''s the last place they visited." He stood up and held Fang Mu''s hand. "Among the people in the dorm, you and I have the best relationship (Fang Mu thought to himself, really? How come I didn''t know), and you have the most courage (I can''t even go to that restroom), tonight, will you come with me?"


    Fang Mu looked at Zhu Lao Si, pondered his words, and said, "Fourth Brother, we are educated people after all..."


    "Will you go or not?" Zhu Lao Si''s eyes filled with tears again, looking determined.


    Fang Mu had always been a soft-hearted person, and seeing Zhu Lao Si in tears, he reluctantly nodded.


    Following their plan, at around nine o''clock, Zhu Lao Si entered the administrative building, opened a window in the restroom on the first floor, and Fang Mu threw the bag of items inside before climbing in through the restroom window. Zhu Lao Si stayed in the building until around 10 o''clock, then left the administrative building. It would be best if the duty officer saw him leaving, and then he climbed back in through the restroom window. After that, they had pre-arranged for Wu Han (who was on duty that night) to open the dormitory door and return to the dormitory. (Originally, Zhu Lao Si''s plan was to boldly and openly enter the administrative building with the pile of miscellaneous items, but Fang Mu thought that after the incident in the building, anyone entering the building would be particularly cautious, so it was better to be cautious. Zhu Lao Si thought Fang Mu''s opinion was important and expressed that choosing Fang Mu was not wrong. Fang Mu thought to himself: Oh boy.)


    However, there was a small hitch in the implementation of the plan. The window of the restroom on the first floor was firmly sealed with iron bars (probably one of the school''s measures to close the stable door after the horse had bolted). Fang Mu had no choice but to hand the bag to Zhu Lao Si and nervously walk into the administrative building under the watchful eye of the duty officer.


    The two of them hid in the restroom on the 17th floor, not daring to make a sound until midnight. (As soon as Zhu Lao Si entered the building, he was extremely excited to burn paper on the third floor, but Fang Mu reminded him that it was customary to wait until after midnight for the soul returning, and even cited examples from Stephen Chow''s "A Chinese Odyssey," and said that burning paper on the platform on the third floor before that time would be strange.) Just after midnight, the two of them quietly made their way to the third floor. (Zhu Lao Si wanted to take the elevator, and Fang Mu reminded him that they would be noticed by the duty officer, to which Zhu Lao Si expressed his gratitude once again, and Fang Mu began to doubt the rationality of acting with this guy.)


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    They opened the window in the corridor on the third floor and went out onto the platform outside. It was very cold, and after Zhu Lao Si tremblingly burned a few pieces of paper, he shook the bamboo pole and chanted some words, but there was still no response. After thinking for a moment, Zhu Lao Si felt that his tone was not right and elongated his voice, "Wei---Li, you---come---back---ah, who---hurt---you, I---will---avenge---you." Hearing Zhu Lao Si''s ghostly voice, Fang Mu was trembling with fear. After calling out for a while, they had to give up. It was then that Fang Mu realized they couldn''t leave.


    After discussing with Zhu Lao Si, they decided to spend the night in the restroom and sneak out after the administrative building staff started work the next morning.


    The marble floor of the restroom was extremely cold. After tossing and turning for most of the night, Fang Mu leaned against the heater, grumbling to Zhu Lao Si, and eventually fell asleep, not knowing how long he had slept before Zhu Lao Si woke him up.


    "What''s wrong!" Fang Mu rubbed his eyes, impatiently asking.


    Zhu Lao Si''s eyes were shining in the darkness. "Do you think we got the wrong place?"


    "What?"


    "Weili fell from somewhere on this building. Although she died on the platform, she fell from higher up."


    Fang Mu widened his eyes. "Yeah, that''s right."


    Zhu Lao Si became more spirited. "Do you remember when we studied criminal law, we learned that the place where the criminal act occurred and the place where the result occurred are both part of the crime scene? By extension, the place where Weili fell should also be considered."


    At this point, Fang Mu wasn''t willing to discuss criminal law issues with him, especially considering that Liu Weili was still so academically inclined after her death. However, he agreed to go with Zhu Lao Si to the 24th floor.


    The two of them climbed to the 24th floor, and the corridor was pitch black. Fang Mu looked at the dimly visible copy room in the dark corridor and couldn''t help but shiver. Zhu Lao Si, on the other hand, was emotional, and he pulled Fang Mu, who was hesitant, and quietly walked towards the copy room.


    As they got closer to the copy room, suddenly, Fang Mu''s heart started pounding, and a sense of impending doom washed over him. He wanted to grab Zhu Lao Si, but before he could even touch him, he had already stopped. When Fang Mu looked ahead, he felt his blood freeze in his veins.


    The door of the copy room was open, and two figures were standing in front of it.


    There really was a ghost.


    Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si stood dumbfounded in the corridor. Fang Mu stared fixedly at the two blurry figures across from them. In the darkness, it appeared to be a man and a woman.


    Two of them? Fang Mu suddenly thought, could it be that Zhou Jun had also come?


    The two figures across from them silently looked at Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si.


    Zhu Lao Si trembled and softly said, "Weili, is that you?"


    One of the figures across from them let out an ear-piercing scream, then collapsed in silence.


    Fang Mu was petrified by the scream, and instinctively pulled Zhu Lao Si to turn and run. Just as they reached the stairs, several flashlight beams shone directly up from below, accompanied by several shouts, "Who''s there? What are you doing?"


    Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si were taken back to the dormitory by the counselor from the security office, and it was already 9 in the morning.


    The previous night, when the security office and the administrative building duty officer were patrolling the administrative building, they heard a scream coming from the 23rd floor. Several security staff rushed up to the building and coincidentally met Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si, who were running unsteadily. Fang Mu haltingly pointed towards the direction of the copy room and said, "Ghost...there''s a ghost!" A few people bravely went to the door of the copy room and found a man and a woman lying on the floor, with the woman already unconscious, and the man, though not unconscious, had soiled himself.


    After an investigation, the man was identified as Song Bo, and the woman as Jia Feifei, a couple from the Economics Department who had come to the administrative building that night to be intimate. To avoid being discovered, they had chosen the 24th floor, where they thought no one would come. (Fang Mu thought, this is a staunch materialist.) They found the copy room door unlocked, and after their intimate moment, when they opened the door and walked out into the corridor, they saw two dark figures, one of whom was holding a bamboo pole, much like the staff carried by the two ghostly assistants, and particularly using a ghostly voice called out the name of Liu Weili, who had fallen from this place. The couple''s world instantly collapsed, and the woman fainted on the spot, still in the hospital.


    Although the situation of these two people was sordid, it was still believable. Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si, on the other hand, seemed suspicious.


    Zhu Lao Si insisted that they had come to offer respect to their beloved senior sister by burning paper as an expression of grief. When asked about the bamboo pole, Zhu Lao Si mumbled that it was given as a gift when they bought the spirit money, a buy-one-get-one offer. The security office staff naturally didn''t believe this and subtly inquired further, mentioning that criminals usually return to the scene of the crime, and informed the police station. Two policemen, one older and one younger, arrived and questioned them before releasing them. As they were leaving, the older policeman jokingly asked if they intended to summon the spirit of the deceased to seek revenge, to which Zhu Lao Si was about to express his opinion, but was pulled away by Fang Mu.


    Exhausted, Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si sat on the bed, and the counselor scolded them before leaving. After the night of terror, Fang Mu was already dead tired. He opened the blanket, hadn''t even taken off his clothes, and crawled in. After a while, he still couldn''t fall asleep.


    Zhu Lao Si was the same, tossing and turning for a long time, unable to sleep. Later, he lifted the blanket and sat up, and pointed at Fang Mu, making shushing sounds, but Fang Mu ignored him with his eyes closed. Zhu Lao Si, feeling bored, sat alone on the bed, muttering to himself.


    "I know I''ve caused trouble for you, I''m sorry. But... sigh."


    Zhu Lao Si sighed, "I''ve been thinking these past few days, if I had gone in at that time, maybe Weili wouldn''t have died. So, I always feel like I owe her. So..."


    Fang Mu suddenly sat up.


    "Lao Si, you should go to the police!"

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 7: The Third and Fourth Victims

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 7: The Third and Fourth Victims


    The information brought back by Professor Gao was indeed problematic.


    After receiving the notification from Ding Shucheng, Professor Gao checked the materials brought back from the copy room and found that the final report of a research project conducted a year ago was missing. After the technical department re-examined the scene, they discovered that the water stains on the wall were likely formed on the night of the incident. Judging from the shape and position of the water stains, it seemed that the water was spilled from the table, splashing onto the floor and then onto the wall. Upon examination, the water stains contained components of theophylline. Although the table had been wiped by someone, similar theophylline water marks were found in the cracks of the table. According to the deceased''s roommate, Liu Weili never drank tea because she was afraid it would stain her teeth, so it was definitely not Liu Weili who brought the tea into the copy room that day, but another person. An important clue provided by Zhu Chengqiang, a third-year student at the Law School, confirmed that another person had indeed entered the 24th-floor copy room that night. Zhu Chengqiang said that he had intended to find the deceased in the copy room that night, and when he arrived at the corridor on the 24th floor, he saw the deceased talking with another person in the copy room. Zhu Chengqiang did not see that person and assumed it was the deceased''s boyfriend, so he left. Regarding the accent of the person, Zhu Chengqiang said he did not pay attention.


    So, what really happened in the copy room that night?


    Xing Zisen''s inference was: a person carrying tea water entered the copy room on the night of the incident, spilled water on the documents, and then took the wet documents to the 24th floor rooftop to dry. He (or she) deliberately hung the documents on the edge of the rooftop and then lured the deceased to the edge, pushing the deceased down.


    The basis for this inference was the two bricks placed on the cement edge of the 24th-floor rooftop. The placement of the bricks in that position seemed to be for drying something, fearing it would be blown away by the wind, and things that were afraid of being blown away were often relatively light, and the first thing that came to Xing Zisen''s mind was paper. Therefore, Xing Zisen conceived the idea: could it be because the documents in the copy room were wet, and Liu Weili climbed up to the rooftop to dry the documents, and then fell from there. So, he went back to the copy room to check, and indeed found water stains. Combined with the high likelihood that the scene had been cleaned by someone, Xing Zisen could almost confirm that Liu Weili was murdered. The perpetrator was extremely cautious and careful, and after committing the crime, in order to leave no trace, they would definitely take away the wet documents. Therefore, Xing Zisen asked Professor Gao to go back and check, and the results also confirmed Xing Zisen''s conjecture.


    The various suspicious points of this case led the Municipal Public Security Bureau to treat Liu Weili''s death as a homicide case for investigation. The perpetrator was likely someone known to the deceased, and most likely a student (Xing Zisen noticed that every student entering and leaving the teaching building carried a tea cup), so the team decided to focus the investigation on the students, which required a lot of time and effort and the cooperation of the school. Ding Shucheng decided to make a trip to the Teachers'' University, first to report the progress of the case to the school, and second to discuss cooperation with the security department for the investigation. When he was about to get on the car, Xing Zisen said he wanted to go to the district government near the Teachers'' University and asked if they could give him a ride. Ding Shucheng still had many questions and wanted to hear Old Xing''s opinion, so he readily agreed. However, after Xing Zisen got in the car, he didn''t say much, and was lost in thought looking out the window all the way. When the car passed the school gate, Xing Zisen suddenly asked, "How did that previous case turn out? The one called Zhou..." Ding Shucheng opened the car door as he said, "Zhou Jun. Still no clue. Why?" Ding Shucheng then retracted back into the car, "Do you think these two cases are related?" Xing Zisen responded with an ambiguous "Hmm," and Ding Shucheng said, "I''ve thought about it, but the deceased was a male and a female, one was an undergraduate, the other a graduate student, and the social connections of the two were almost non-existent. I analyzed it, and at least for now, I can''t see any connection between these two cases." After a moment of contemplation, Xing Zisen said, "Investigate this one first, and don''t let up on Zhou Jun''s case either." Ding Shucheng agreed, "You''re not getting off? Come with me." Xing Zisen waved his hand and said, "I''m not going, I have things to do. Put more effort into this case, and when my case is almost done, I''ll come over to help you." Ding Shucheng nodded and got out of the car and entered the campus.


    As the car restarted, Xing Zisen lit a cigarette and sat in the back seat, lost in thought. In fact, his thoughts were similar to Ding Shucheng''s, both feeling that these two cases at the Teachers'' University did not seem to have any connection on the surface. However, Xing Zisen always unconsciously compared these two cases, even though the two homicide cases had no similarities, Xing Zisen still faintly felt that there must be some connection between them. However, this feeling was quite vague and lacked evidence, so Xing Zisen decided not to make any comments easily and to wait and see.


    Xing Zisen didn''t know that he wasn''t the only one who had this feeling.


    En Jing''s Study | www.Enjing.com</a>


    The matter of Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si summoning the spirit of Liu Weili quickly spread throughout the Law School. Some people admired their courage and determination, while others were moved by Zhu Lao Si''s persistence. However, most people still held a mocking attitude towards these two students from the 20th century. After being ridiculed by everyone for a few days, Fang Mu also began to feel that his behavior was ridiculous. He hadn''t spoken to Zhu Lao Si for several days. (This fellow had indeed won the image of a devoted man and earned many admiring glances from female students.)


    After shrinking for a few days, Fang Mu found that despite his reluctance to recall that day''s events, the scene had been playing in his mind all along, as if it were a scene with hidden secrets from a detective movie. Among these embarrassing memories, one scene had been constantly playing in Fang Mu''s mind, a scene of the two blurry figures standing at the entrance of the copy room.


    Fang Mu remembered that when he distinguished that it was a man and a woman in the darkness, the first thought that flashed in his mind was: Zhou Jun is here too.


    Why did I think that?


    Fang Mu found it difficult to explain why he had such a thought at that time. He preferred to believe that it was just his wild imagination under extreme fear. However, he soon discovered that no matter how he berated himself for his childishness and absurdity, this thought lingered like an unshakeable ghost in his mind, constantly reminding Fang Mu, forcing him to unconsciously replay that scene over and over again.


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    Could Zhou Jun and Liu Weili have died at the hands of the same person?


    When this terrifying thought finally appeared clearly in Fang Mu''s mind, he was confused and panicked.


    Confused about what kind of grudge could make the perpetrator harm these two almost unrelated people, as if a chain forged of blood had bound the two together and dragged them into an irredeemable abyss.


    Panic arose from the question: if it was indeed the same person responsible, would these two deaths be the end?


    The anticipation of happiness always seemed distant, while ominous signs always seemed to follow closely behind.


    C City in December was already very cold, and by night, the temperature had dropped to over twenty degrees below zero. Thick clouds covered the sky, and no stars could be seen. According to the meteorological department''s forecast, the city was about to experience the largest snowfall since the beginning of winter. Everyone walking on the campus was dressed in thick coats, complaining about the increasingly cold weather and discussing which study room was the warmest.


    But no matter how warm it was, where could it compare to the embrace of a lover?


    The sports field, known as the Love Corner, still lingered with couples. Some walked hand in hand in circles on the playground, while others huddled in a sheltered corner, whispering tender words to each other. Bolder ones would find even darker corners to enact more passionate scenes with their youthful bodies.


    At 10 o''clock in the evening, students who had been studying in their respective study rooms began to return to their dormitories, creating the last noise of the day on the campus. Many people walked through the sports field laughing and talking loudly, occasionally whistling good-naturedly at the couples. Disrupted by the noise, the men and women reluctantly stood up, disappearing into the various dormitory buildings. The sports field fell silent.


    No one noticed the half-naked bodies still reluctant to part under the steps in the northeast corner of the sports field.


    After a long while, the boy let go of the girl''s clothes that had been lifted to under his armpits and his hand left the still hot Rx room. He didn''t forget to give the girl''s nipples a light pinch.


    The girl coquettishly exclaimed, "You''re going to die!"


    After a series of soft, rustling sounds as they straightened their clothes, the two of them snuggled together again. The boy''s hand, still mischievously, slipped under the girl''s collar, making the girl giggle, and soon, the boy''s hot lips turned her giggles into moans.


    "Cold?" After some time, the boy asked softly.


    "Not cold," the girl replied gently, looking at her lover''s sparkling eyes in the darkness.


    "School''s probably closed. Since we can''t go back, let''s go to the screening room."


    The girl thought for a moment, "Okay, but you''re not allowed to do anything bad."


    The girl''s words were more of a reminder than a warning. The boy became excited, and as he was about to stand up, his legs, having been seated for too long and coupled with the cold weather, felt numb, causing him to stumble.


    The girl scolded with a laugh, "Pervert, be careful, you..." but then her eyes filled with fear.


    She saw a dark figure suddenly rise behind her boyfriend.


    The figure lifted a wooden stick-like object and struck the boy on the head. The boy groaned and then collapsed on the ground. The girl''s eyes widened in shock, leaving her speechless. Subsequently, she turned and ran without a second thought.


    The dark figure agilely leaped over the steps, grabbing the girl''s hair. The girl was pulled to the ground, struggling to get up but was muffled with a piece of gauze covering her mouth and nose. A strong medicinal smell surged through her nostrils. The girl struggled to move a few times before finally slumping down.


    The figure propped the limp girl against him and looked at the boy, who had been excited just moments before, now lying motionless on the ground. The figure carried the girl on his back and disappeared into the night.


    After some time, the figure returned alone, and to his surprise, the ground was empty. He anxiously looked around but saw no trace of the boy. On the ground, there were only a few faint footprints pointing towards the south exit of the sports field.


    Hurriedly, he looked around and found no one. His heart was pounding, and he turned and ran into the sports field, over the railings, and hastily climbed to the top of the twenty-something stairs, looking down through the increasingly dense snowflakes.


    He saw it. The boy was holding his head with one hand and supporting himself against the outer wall of the sports field, staggering forward.


    He ran along the steps. There was a small door a dozen or so meters away from the steps, and he could intercept the boy and stop him from leaving through that door.


    Just before he reached, he suddenly slipped, crashing into the railing at the top of the steps. His ribs were in excruciating pain, and at the same time, he heard several crisp breaking sounds and a short, sharp scream from below.


    He didn''t pay attention to his injuries, biting down on his teeth and rushed down the steps, opened the small door, and rushed out.


    The boy was kneeling in a strange posture, with his head against the ground and both hands hanging weakly on the ground. A transparent icicle was inserted behind the boy''s neck, and a few pieces of broken ice were scattered around him.


    The boy twitched a few times before falling still.


    This scene was probably not what he had expected. After standing there for half a day, he walked over to check the boy''s breath, then stood up, laughed a few times, and disappeared into the night.


    The snow was falling heavier and heavier.


    Gold Super from the School of Sports Science had a habit that was as regular as clockwork: morning runs. At 5 o''clock in the morning, as soon as the door of the dormitory opened, Gold Super would put on his running shoes and sportswear and slowly jog towards the sports field.


    It had snowed all night, and it was still falling, with large snowflakes occasionally slapping his face. Gold Super cursed softly while running. It was not yet half past five, and the campus was quiet. Gold Super fumbled his way into the sports field in the dark, did a simple warm-up, and started running along the deserted track.


    After the first lap, Gold Super''s eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness inside the sports field. As he ran, Gold Super vaguely saw someone standing near the flagpole.


    Out this early to listen to English broadcasts? Can you even see on such a dark day?


    Gold Super''s pace slowed down.


    Could it be to listen to the English broadcast? It''s snowing so heavily now.


    Gold Super stared at the person near the flagpole, getting closer as he ran.


    When he was about several meters from the flagpole, Gold Super finally saw clearly.


    It was a person covered in snow from head to toe.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 8: Powerless Grief

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 8: Powerless Grief


    Xing Zhisen sat exhausted in his chair, but his mood was joyful. The major drug trafficking case had finally been cracked. Early this morning, the city''s criminal investigation team, after careful planning, raided a warehouse on the outskirts of the city where the suspected criminals were hiding. Two suspects who had escaped last time, one was shot on the spot, and the other was captured alive. Xing Zhisen had been in command of the operation from start to finish. Despite being extremely tired from the overnight interrogation, the joy of victory made him excited. He had intended to take a nap in his office, but he couldn''t sleep at all.


    At that moment, his phone rang. Xing Zhisen glanced at the screen and saw that it was Ding Shucheng calling. It was probably a congratulatory call. Xing Zhisen answered the phone, but his expression changed after hearing a few words. He exclaimed, "What, another one dead?"


    His colleagues, who had been excitedly discussing the morning''s operation, suddenly fell silent and all looked at Xing Zhisen. He listened to Ding Shucheng''s urgent words on the phone with a solemn expression. Finally, he said, "Wait for me, I''ll be right there!" He grabbed his coat, called a few colleagues, and hurried out.


    As the police car just drove out of the city bureau''s compound, Xing Zhisen''s phone rang again, and it was Ding Shucheng once more. After listening to the call, Xing Zhisen sat in the car in silence. His eyes were fixed on the swirling snowflakes outside the window. After a while, he turned to a colleague who had been watching him with concern and said, "Not one, but two."


    At the scene, two bodies were found. The first was a female corpse tied to a flagpole. Ding Shucheng received a call from the security office at the university, and as he was about to leave, they called again to report that another body, covered tightly by the snow, was found kneeling outside the sports field.


    When Xing Zhisen arrived at the scene, his colleagues had already sealed off the area, and the surroundings were crowded with curious students. Xing Zhisen struggled to push through the crowd and saw Ding Shucheng squatting on the ground, staring blankly at the snowy ground, while a few forensic experts were busy by the female corpse that had been laid flat on the ground.


    Xing Zhisen walked over and patted Ding Shucheng on the shoulder. Ding Shucheng jumped as if scalded by fire. Xing Zhisen noticed the rare fear in Ding Shucheng''s eyes. He stared at Xing Zhisen blankly and after a few seconds, murmured, "Another person died, and it''s two."


    Xing Zhisen averted his gaze, feeling annoyed at his subordinate''s weakness at this moment. He turned to another police officer present and asked, "What''s the situation?"


    The officer briefly recounted the process of the case. A student who came to the playground for morning exercise found the female corpse tied to the flagpole and immediately ran back to the security office to report. The duty officer called Ding Shucheng and went to the playground to seal off and protect the scene. While passing by the sports field gate, another vigilant officer thought a snowdrift next to the wall looked suspicious. Upon closer inspection, they found another male corpse buried under the snow in a kneeling position.


    Xing Zhisen listened to the police officer''s report with a furrowed brow and pondered for a moment before asking, "How is the on-site investigation going?"


    The officer hesitated for a moment and said, "It''s in progress, but... it''s unlikely to yield any clues. The snow is too heavy, almost covering everything."


    Xing Zhisen''s brow furrowed even more tightly. He looked at Ding Shucheng, who still looked dazed. Xing Zhisen gave him a firm pat on the back and said, "Let''s go and take a look over there."


    The scene where the male corpse was discovered was similar to this one, with a dense crowd of students gathered around. The forensic experts had already begun to pack up their things. A familiar forensic expert approached Xing Zhisen and asked for a cigarette, taking a deep drag. Xing Zhisen asked if there were any clues, and the forensic expert said, "Death from hypovolemic shock," and then fell silent. After taking a big drag from the cigarette, the forensic expert threw the butt on the ground and extinguished it, then looked up and said, "I haven''t encountered such a bizarre situation in many years. Four people have died in less than three months." Seeing Xing Zhisen''s grim expression, he wisely kept quiet and went back to help others put the bodies into body bags.


    The police officers lifted the body bags and walked towards the police car parked nearby. Due to the bodies being frozen in a kneeling position, the body bags looked oddly shaped and drew the attention of the students. The police waved to the students to make way, but no one spoke, and no one moved.


    Xing Zhisen scanned the crowd and felt numerous hostile and distrustful gazes directed at him. He turned to the head of the security office, Chen Bin, and signaled for him to help maintain order. Chen Bin deliberately turned his head away, avoiding Xing Zhisen''s gaze, and wore a grim expression.


    Someone in the crowd shouted loudly, "How many more people have to die before you do something serious!" Many others immediately echoed in agreement, and the previously quiet playground suddenly became noisy.


    The police officers looked at their leader, Xing Zhisen, at a loss. Xing Zhisen walked over, lifted the edge of the body bag, and walked forward. When he reached the crowd, it remained unmoving. A sturdy male student stood in front.


    Xing Zhisen looked up at the face, full of energy and rudeness. The student, unyielding, met Xing Zhisen''s gaze and his facial muscles twitched slightly.


    Xing Zhisen stared into the student''s eyes, and as the student''s face turned increasingly red, his gaze gradually started to waver, his breathing grew heavier, and finally, he lowered his eyes and silently stepped aside. The crowd behind him also automatically made way.


    Xing Zhisen lifted the body bag onto the car, then sat in the front passenger seat. Just as he was about to close the car door, a hand stopped it. Chen Bin''s face appeared, and he glanced at the silent Ding Shucheng in the back seat, then looked at Xing Zhisen and said bluntly, "Four people have already died. When are you going to solve this case?"


    Xing Zhisen did not respond, pushed away Chen Bin''s hand, and closed the car door firmly.


    The autopsy report and the on-site investigation report were quickly delivered to Ding Shucheng''s desk.


    The female victim was named Jia Feifei, a third-year student in the School of Economics at the university, from Gansu. When the body was found, she was naked and tied to the flagpole in the southwest corner of the playground, with the victim''s underwear stuffed in her mouth. The autopsy revealed that the victim''s hymen was ruptured, but no signs of recent sexual activity were found. Residual ether was found in the victim''s mouth and nose, indicating that she was drugged before being stripped and tied to the flagpole. From the marks on the body, it was evident that the victim had briefly regained consciousness and struggled. With a temperature of approximately minus 24 degrees Celsius that night, the cause of death was clear: the victim had died from exposure.


    The male victim''s situation was rather unique. His name was Song Bo, also a third-year student in the School of Economics and a native of Henan. It was discovered through investigation that he and the female victim had been in a romantic relationship. The autopsy results showed a scalp laceration of about 3 square centimeters, likely caused by a blunt object, but not fatal. The ultimate cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to an icicle inserted into the back of the victim''s neck. The male victim''s death appeared to be an accident. However, due to the low temperature that night, the icicle on the victim''s head should have been the result of an external force. The investigators had climbed onto the sports field steps above the victim for examination, but due to over 11 centimeters of snow that night, the scene had left almost no valuable clues.


    Preliminary investigations and interviews showed that the two victims had simple social relationships and were well-liked in their departments, with no rumors of grudges against anyone. The only valuable external investigation result was that the two victims were the same couple involved in a recent incident in the copy room.


    Like the previous two cases, there were still no leads.


    In less than three months, four people had died at the university, causing a stir not only within the university but also attracting the attention of the city''s residents. This matter had drawn the attention of some leaders in the city, prompting the city bureau to report the situation to the city. It was rumored that the mayor had even lost his temper. After being reprimanded by the city''s leaders, the bureau decided to prioritize the university''s cases and set up a special task force led by the bureau chief to focus the entire bureau''s efforts on solving the case. Xing Zhisen was appointed as the person directly in charge.


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    Except for special circumstances, all the personnel in the criminal investigation team were assigned to field duty. Xing Zhisen and Ding Shucheng were also busy day and night. However, a week had passed, and there was still no progress.


    The biggest problem was: What was the motive behind the killings?


    This was the most troubling question for the task force. For ordinary homicide cases, if the perpetrator''s motive could be inferred, the investigation would have a general direction. But in these four cases at the university, it appeared that the victims had no connection with each other. Apart from being concentrated in the School of Law and the School of Economics, there were no similarities or intersections in the victims'' backgrounds and social relationships. This made the investigation difficult, and the focus was on the periphery in the hope of finding some leads, but this was a very complex and arduous task, with a very small possibility of finding clues in the short term.


    Another issue was: Would there be more deaths?


    This was a more pressing concern for the university. The goal of the police was to solve the case, but the goal of the university was to prevent any further similar incidents. The school was already in chaos.


    On the day of the homicide on the playground, hundreds of students gathered in front of the administrative building, demanding an explanation from the university president and the security office. The president initially refused to come out, and a few vice-presidents and the president''s assistant came out to mediate. The students'' emotions grew increasingly agitated, and the crowd grew larger, with about 2,000 people eventually gathering in front of the administrative building, chanting slogans such as "We want safety, we want to survive!" and "The campus is not a slaughterhouse!" and demanding the resignation of the university president due to incompetence. Teaching and administrative activities at the university were paralyzed that day, and a few older teachers said it felt like they had returned to the Cultural Revolution overnight. Later, the president had no choice but to come out with the security office''s head, Chen Bin, to appease the students and promise to strengthen campus security and prevent similar incidents. The students still refused to disperse. In the end, the president, with hair turned white, pledged to jump off the administrative building if there were any more deaths, and the students gradually dispersed.


    On that day, the university held an emergency meeting and decided to form a campus security joint defense team with the security office and the student union, using a van as a patrol vehicle to patrol the campus 24 hours a day. They also strictly enforced the management system for each dormitory and teaching building, with dormitory doors closing at 10 pm, and students needing to present their student IDs to enter and leave the teaching buildings before 9:30 pm. More personnel were assigned to each teaching building and dormitory, and plastic batons were distributed.


    Overnight, the once peaceful and serene university campus turned into a heavily guarded concentration camp.


    As evening approached, the campus, once bustling, became eerily quiet. Fewer and fewer students went to the study rooms, and occasional couples who couldn''t stand the loneliness came out to meet each other, casting cautious glances around. There were also fewer people in the dormitory, as many local students couldn''t bear the oppressive atmosphere and went home directly after classes.


    Especially in the male dormitory where the homicide occurred, the boys who used to be lively and talkative seemed to have grown up all of a sudden and became silent. After the curfew, there were no more cheerful chatter or hearty swearing in the corridor. Everyone moved quietly, as if afraid of disturbing a wandering spirit in the building. Occasionally, an accidental spill of a basin or a toothbrush cup would cause a panic and countless frightened glances.


    The administrator, Sun Mei, had become increasingly sullen. The school, considering that the male dormitory had only one female administrator and that the school was short-staffed, had assigned a widowed man in his fifties with big yellow teeth and a bewildered look as an additional administrator. Sun Mei had been with him for a few days and then submitted a report to the school requesting a replacement, citing concerns about being a widow and a widower, and fearing rumors. The school was short-staffed and did not agree to the change, but proposed moving Sun Mei to another dormitory. Sun Mei refused, saying that students were more familiar, making it easier to manage, and didn''t bring up the replacement of the administrator again. However, her attitude towards the students grew increasingly worse, and if students returned to the dormitory slightly late, they would receive a scolding from her. In front of the students, they called her Aunt Sun, but behind her back, they called her Sun Menopause.


    That night, when Feng Mu returned to his dormitory a bit late, he saw Sun Mei about to close the door and hurriedly shouted, "Wait!"


    Sun Mei glanced at him and slammed the door shut with a bang, then clicked the lock.


    Feng Mu panicked and ran to the door, pounding on it, "Aunt Sun, it''s me, open the door."


    Sun Mei remained silent inside.


    Feng Mu called out a few more times, but there was still no response. He was getting angry and was about to curse when the door opened, and Wu Han''s face appeared. He beckoned to Feng Mu to come in quickly, and Feng Mu hurriedly stepped inside.


    "You''re on duty tonight?" Feng Mu asked in a low voice.


    "Yeah, grab a few books. It''s past time for lights out," said Wu Han.


    "Thanks, Third Brother," Feng Mu said, looking at Sun Mei, who was wearing a stern expression, and didn''t say much. He ran up the stairs.


    The corridor was quiet. Feng Mu climbed up to the third floor and walked to the door of Room 352, but it was locked.


    "Lao San?" a voice came from inside the room.


    "Feng Mu."


    "You wait here."


    The person in the room, only wearing underwear, ran back to bed.


    "Why did you lock the door so early?" Feng Mu asked.


    The person got back into bed and said, "It''s safer. Why are you back so late? We thought you had gone home."


    Feng Mu threw his bag onto the bed, "I overstayed my time studying. Damn it, that old hag Sun Mei almost didn''t let me in."


    A few people chuckled. "Did Sun Menopause scold you?"


    "Not really, but she wouldn''t open the door. Luckily, Third Brother was on duty tonight."


    "Yeah," the person in the bed nodded while lying under the covers. "Third Brother gets along well with Sun Mei."


    Feng Mu took off his clothes and picked up a basin to wash his face and brush his teeth in the bathroom. When he returned, he noticed Room 351 across the hall was still pitch black. Despite having six people in Room 351, except for Lao Da and the deceased Zhou Jun, the other four were local students and had all gone home after class recently. Kong Qingdong didn''t dare to sleep alone and moved to another room.


    Feng Mu looked at the tightly closed door, where the somewhat irritating figure had lived for three years. Every day at this time, he would run around the various dormitories, asking for hot water, bragging, and joking with everyone, but now he lay as a pile of ashes in a small box at home thousands of miles away.


    Feng Mu turned and walked back to his room.


    With so many people dead, he was already too powerless to grieve.


    Feng Mu lay on the bed, but he couldn''t sleep at all. He glanced at the clock, there were still more than ten minutes until lights out. He turned over and got out of bed, taking two dumbbells from under the bed, and struggled to do chest exercises.


    As the campus tightened its management, the boys returned to their dormitories early every day, finding themselves bored. So, fitness activities quietly became popular in the building. It helped to relieve boredom and, in case of unexpected incidents, serve as a form of self-protection. Feng Mu also bought two dumbbells, but he was not adept at this and felt physically exhausted after a few tries.


    As he was panting, Wu Han pushed the door open and walked in.


    "Hey, you''re into this too?" Wu Han smiled. He took the dumbbells and effortlessly performed a few exercises.


    "Wow, you''re amazing," Feng Mu said enviously.


    "It''s nothing," Wu Han put down the dumbbells, maintaining an indifferent demeanor.


    "Comparing you to Lao San, you can''t keep up. He grew up doing farm work, unlike you, who was pampered," said Zhu Laosi.


    Wu Han''s expression changed, and he reached for several books from the upper bunk.


    "Third Brother, are you on duty tonight?" Lao Wu asked.


    "Yeah, grab a few books to read. Go to sleep, and make sure to lock the door," said Wu Han, and then left the room after these words.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 9: Death Borrowing Library Card

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 9: Death Borrowing Library Card


    Fang Mu was not a detective enthusiast, but he had to admit that he was more concerned about these several murder cases on campus than anyone else.


    That morning, Fang Mu also followed the crowd to the playground to witness the bizarre deaths of Song Bo and Jia Feifei. While the crowd was venting their anger at the incompetence of the public security bureau, he was surrounded by an indescribable feeling. When the students went to the administrative building to demonstrate, Fang Mu returned to the dormitory alone, lying on the bed, finally understanding what that feeling was.


    Fear.


    Fang Mu didn''t know why he felt afraid, or rather, why he felt a different kind of fear from everyone else. Every person on this campus felt scared because a demon lurked in this campus, having taken four lives. In every corner, whether in light or in darkness, it seemed that there were always eyes watching the vibrant life on this campus, choosing the next lamb according to the demon''s rules. No one was safe; that was the terror.


    And Fang Mu was often chilled by his own thoughts.


    Because he felt that he was the demon.


    Why, why, why?


    Could I be sleepwalking?


    Could I be someone else?


    Could the evil in my heart really materialize into a physical form?


    He began to force himself not to fall asleep.


    When he really couldn''t hold on, he secretly tied his hands to the bedpost.


    He started asking everyone in the dorm if he talked in his sleep.


    He began to suspect if he was a schizophrenic.


    When various tests finally confirmed that he was either awake or asleep in his own bed every night, he felt a little relieved.


    And the answer gradually became clear in those flipping, twisting, and crazy thoughts: he had unknowingly speculated about the thoughts of that demon.


    As if he were hidden in the shadow of that figure, flowing through the demon''s brain with the demon''s blood, every time it surged, Fang Mu struggled to turn back and see what kind of ending was hidden in the most secluded corner.


    In the deep of night a few days later, Fang Mu suddenly woke from his sleep. He gasped, drenched in sweat, listening to the rhythmic snoring of his roommates in the dark dormitory.


    He felt happy.


    Fang Mu fumbled for his glasses, slowly straightening out his thoughts.


    Just now, he suddenly had a thought in his sleep: he, the demon, had begun to find pleasure in this game.


    The first victim was strangled in the bathroom.


    The second victim was pushed downstairs and died from the fall.


    The third victim was bound naked to the flagpole and froze to death, the snow turning the once warm body into a lifeless sculpture. When Fang Mu saw the body, his first feeling was surprisingly: so beautiful.


    The fourth victim was impaled by the falling icicle on the wall. What precise calculation and judgment that took.


    Each victim died more bizarrely than the previous, each death¡ªcreative.


    He began to find pleasure in the killings.


    Artistic killings.


    So, this game would not end.


    Fang Mu consciously began to look for books on criminology and criminal psychology to read. His late return that day was because he had lingered in the library for too long.


    Fang Mu found it difficult to explain why he did this; curiosity alone seemed insufficient to describe it. Revenge? It didn''t seem necessary. Except for a slight fondness for Zhou Jun, the other victims were just lives that had once existed to Fang Mu.


    Since it couldn''t be explained, why did it need to be explained?


    Teacher Zhao at the library was very kind to Fang Mu, always giving him the green light when borrowing books. Some books were not allowed to be taken out of the library, but she allowed Fang Mu to take them, as long as he returned them the next day.


    When Fang Mu went to return the books that afternoon, Teacher Zhao was busy organizing the books, and the floor was littered with books and messy library cards. After completing the return procedure, Fang Mu saw Teacher Zhao sweating and offered to help. Teacher Zhao readily agreed.


    The workload was large but simple, just changing the library cards.


    The borrowing rules at the University Library were: after selecting the book to borrow, remove the library card inserted in the back cover, fill in your name, department, and student ID number in the designated position, and then hand the library card to the administrator to take the book. When returning the book, after the administrator registers it, insert the library card back into the book. If a book has been borrowed many times, the library card quickly fills up and needs to be replaced regularly.


    Fang Mu''s task was to open every book on two shelves. If the library card was full or only had one or two empty spaces left, he would replace it with a blank card.


    As Fang Mu busied himself, he chatted casually with Teacher Zhao. After about an hour, one bookshelf was finished. Fang Mu stood up straight and walked to the next bookshelf.


    The books on this shelf were mainly English originals, not borrowed by many people, so Fang Mu quickly organized most of the shelf. At this point, Teacher Zhao, who was handling the library cards, looked at the clock. "Oh, it''s almost four o''clock. Fang Mu, you can go back now. Dinner will be served soon."


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Fang Mu looked at the small remaining half of the shelf. "It''s okay, there''s not much left to organize. I''ll finish it quickly."


    Teacher Zhao smiled. "Alright, I''ll treat you to dinner at the staff canteen later."


    Fang Mu also smiled and said, "Okay," reaching for a book on the shelf.


    The book looked somewhat familiar, and the library card had 5 or 6 empty spaces left, so Fang Mu closed the book, ready to return it to the shelf. In that instant, a name flashed vaguely in his mind, causing him to quickly open the book again.


    Among the string of names in the borrower''s name section of the library card was Liu Weili''s name.


    Fang Mu instinctively flipped the library card over, and his heart began to race.


    In the names of the borrowers on the other side, he saw Zhou Jun and Jia Feifei.


    He closed the book. It was an English original titled "International Economics and International Economic Policy."


    Fang Mu looked at Teacher Zhao, who was busy with a surprised look. "Teacher Zhao, I''d like to borrow this book."


    Teacher Zhao looked up. "Sure. Why, are you leaving? I''ll treat you to dinner."


    "No need." Fang Mu quickly filled out the library card and left the library, leaving Teacher Zhao in surprise.


    Walking among the bustling crowd on campus, Fang Mu''s mind went blank for a while. He sat down on a bench, sorting out his thoughts.


    The names of three victims all appeared on this library card, and now this book lay in his bag.


    Was it a coincidence?


    If not, what did it mean?


    Groups of men and women walked by, clattering their food trays and chatting loudly. In this world, there were still people so concerned about eating.


    If the game really hadn''t ended, did it mean that every person on this library card had to die?


    Fang Mu began to shiver.


    His own name was also on that library card.


    After a long time, Fang Mu struggled to stand up and the bookbag felt so heavy. He tightly held the book as if it might suddenly spring out and bite his throat.


    He needed to talk to someone, especially the people on that library card.


    Fang Mu, Wu Han, and Zhu Lao Si sat around the desk in the dormitory, with the book and the notebook recording the contents of the library card on the table.


    None of the three spoke, and their expressions were surprisingly consistent.


    Fear.


    After a long time, Zhu Lao Si spoke slowly, "So, all the deceased had borrowed this book?"


    "Yes," Fang Mu pointed to his notebook.


    "What does that mean?" Wu Han asked, his voice trembling.


    "I don''t know, but I feel that this book must be related to these murders," Fang Mu licked his dry lips and mustered up the courage to say, "Perhaps the readers of this book are the targets of the killer."


    "Are you saying that anyone who has borrowed this book will die, including the three of us? No, the three of us?" Zhu Lao Si''s face turned frighteningly pale.


    Fang Mu remained silent for a long time. "I don''t know."


    Wu Han looked at the notebook, checking quietly, "Eleven, twelve, thirteen, a total of fourteen people." He looked up at Fang Mu, his eyes filled with horror. "So, ten more people have to die? Oh, wait." He looked back at the list, "There''s one missing."


    Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si said in unison, "What?"


    "The guy from the Economics Department, the one who was impaled, what was his name? It''s not on here."


    "Song Bo," Fang Mu took the notebook and looked at it repeatedly. Indeed, when he saw Zhou Jun, Liu Weili, and Jia Feifei''s names in the library, his first feeling was that the library card must have had a problem, and he hadn''t noticed that Song Bo''s name was not on it.


    "It''s really not here," Fang Mu put down the notebook.


    Zhu Lao Si''s complexion recovered a little. "I think it''s just a coincidence, right?" He looked at Wu Han and Fang Mu.


    Wu Han shrugged and turned to look at Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu felt a little relieved in his heart, but also a little discouraged. Song Bo hadn''t borrowed this book, and perhaps it was really just a coincidence. He, Zhu Lao Si, and Wu Han, as well as the other people on the library card, perhaps were not the next targets of the killer, which made him feel a little more at ease. However, he had just felt that he was getting closer to that demon again, as if he had caught a glimpse of the corner of his black robe and was about to reach out and grab it, but it slipped away.


    Zhu Lao Si stood up, stretched, and then lay heavily back on the bed.


    "You two, don''t overthink it. It''s just a coincidence. If you have time, go check out the other books in the library. There must be other books that they all borrowed."


    Wu Han looked down at the notebook for a while, then picked up the book, flipped through it, and thought for a while.


    "I don''t think it''s that simple," he looked up at Fang Mu, "Lao Liu, I think we should hand this over to the police."

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 10: SUO Group

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 10: SUO Group


    A plump female office worker led Fang Mu, Wu Han, and Zhu Lao Si to Xing Zisen''s office. Xing Zisen had just taken a nap on the sofa, and when the three of them entered, he quickly got up and motioned for them to sit down.


    Fang Mu briefly explained their purpose and took out the English book and notebook from his bag, handing them to Xing Zisen. Xing Zisen seemed very interested and carefully examined them for a while. Finally, he raised the same question as Wu Han: one of the deceased, Song Bo, was not on the list. He looked at Fang Mu, Wu Han, and Zhu Lao Si with a probing gaze, "What do you think this implies?"


    The three of them looked at each other somewhat awkwardly, and Wu Han gathered the courage to speak, "We can''t be sure if this is a valuable clue, but we found it suspicious, so we brought it to you to see if it could be of any help."


    Xing Zisen looked at him, "What''s your name?"


    "Wu Han."


    Xing Zisen lowered his head to look at the list in the notebook, then raised his head again, "If I''m not mistaken, your name is Fang Mu, and you''re Zhu Chengqiang, right?"


    Fang Mu and Zhu Lao Si nodded.


    Xing Zisen said, "All three of you are on this list. Do you think the next victim could be one of you?"


    The faces of the three turned red.


    "I understand your feelings, but there''s no need to be overly nervous. There''s currently not enough evidence to prove that these four cases were committed by the same person. So, this book and the library card may just be a coincidence," Xing Zisen noticed that Fang Mu seemed to have something to say but hesitated, so he motioned for him to speak.


    "I think these several murder cases were committed by the same person," Fang Mu hesitated before saying.


    "Oh? Why?" Xing Zisen raised an eyebrow.


    "It''s a feeling, a kind of..." Fang Mu carefully considered his words, finding it difficult to express this feeling in appropriate language. Finally, he blurted out the words that had been on his mind: "I feel like I can sense him!"


    Zhu Lao Si and Wu Han looked at Fang Mu in surprise.


    "Sometimes, I even feel like I am that person!" Fang Mu continued loudly, ignoring them.


    Xing Zisen calmly looked at the excited young man in front of him and slowly lit a cigarette, "Do you know what you''re saying?"


    "I do, but it''s not me. You all understand this very well."


    Xing Zisen stared at Fang Mu for a while, then slowly lit a cigarette, "Then let''s talk about your feelings."


    Over the next half hour, Fang Mu recounted to Xing Zisen his thoughts on these several murder cases. Especially after the double murder on the playground, he felt the pleasure the killer found in killing. He emphasized a word: artistic murder.


    Xing Zisen listened calmly, but inside he was repeatedly shocked by this young man. Although this description had no factual basis and could even be considered the young man''s subjective speculation, using the killer''s inner world as a starting point for reasoning was very bold. Although Xing Zisen had not yet decided to link the four murder cases, his guess was consistent with Fang Mu''s: the killer was the same person. If this was the premise, then exploring the killer''s inner world was undoubtedly crucial to solving the case.


    Xing Zisen decided to keep the book and notebook as a clue for further investigation. When he sent them out, he specifically called Fang Mu over and handed him his business card, instructing him to inform him promptly if they discovered any new clues. Fang Mu hesitated for a moment but agreed.


    On the way back in the car, Wu Han spoke with a mix of surprise and admiration, "Fang Mu, I didn''t expect you to be so capable." Zhu Lao Si also patted Fang Mu''s shoulder, "If you have any more ideas in the future, don''t keep them to yourself. Speak up, and let''s analyze them together."


    Fang Mu didn''t speak. He tightly clenched the business card in his pocket and looked out the window at the deepening dusk.


    Who is that person, really?


    The special task force conducted a thorough investigation based on the list of readers from the English book and the library card, but the results were disappointing. It was a book on "International Economics and International Economic Policy" by a foreign author named Philip Jink. Since it was an original English book, not many people borrowed it, and those who did quickly returned it after a few days, likely after finding the information they needed. According to the list on the library card, readers came from the Law School and the Economics Department (besides students from these two departments, few others would be interested in this English book). Among them, the deceased Zhou Jun, Liu Weili, and Jia Feifei had all borrowed this book, but from the sequence on the list, Liu Weili was the earliest, followed by Zhou Jun, and lastly Jia Feifei. The fourth deceased, Jia Feifei''s boyfriend, Song Bo, did not appear on this list. The technical investigation team carefully examined the book, trying to find any passwords or hidden messages, but found nothing. The entire book was as good as new, with only a few annotations made by the readers. Inside the special task force, the voices suggesting that the library card was just a coincidence grew louder. After further research, the special task force decided to thoroughly check all the books in the library. If they could find other library cards that listed the names of three or even four victims, it would prove that it was just a coincidence. However, the feedback from the University Library was that they had just finished organizing the library cards and had already destroyed a large batch. Although they were unable to prove conclusively that the library card was just a coincidence, no one was willing to continue the investigation.


    However, the news about the "death library card" spread around the campus, and the rumors became more and more bizarre. The most popular version was that there was a book in the library that caused people to die, and everyone who borrowed that book would die. Every day, many people came to find Fang Mu, asking him to check if their names were on that list. Some fainted on the spot upon receiving the answer, while others rejoiced.


    "This is not a sustainable situation," Wu Han frowned as he watched another group of people leaving Room 352 with a look of relief.


    "What can we do then? That idiot from the Economics Department in his second year has come three times already. I told him the first time that his name wasn''t on the library card, but he didn''t believe me, as if I was out to get him," Fang Mu said wearily.


    "Have you received any news from the police?" Wu Han asked.


    "No," Fang Mu said somewhat disheartenedly, "I guess they think it''s just a coincidence."


    "What do you think?"


    Fang Mu hesitated and said, "I don''t think so. There must be something wrong with that library card."


    Fang Mu took out the notebook again and looked at the names on it.


    "Perhaps the next person to die is among these people."


    Wu Han and Zhu Lao Si shuddered.


    After a long silence, Zhu Lao Si raised his head, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes, "Perhaps..."


    He avoided the gaze of Wu Han and Fang Mu.


    "Are you saying that the killer might be among the names on this list?" Fang Mu said calmly. "I had already thought of that."


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The three of them sat in silence for a while.


    "I suggest we have a meeting," Wu Han said slowly, "with everyone."


    The meeting was scheduled for 4:30 in the afternoon, when the cafeteria was serving meals, so most people were there, and it was less likely to be disturbed. The meeting place was arranged in the staircase classroom on the sixth floor of the Law School. Fang Mu, Wu Han, and Zhu Lao Si informed the other people on the list. By around 4:40, everyone had arrived.


    They were: Law School senior students Gao Guodong, Qi Xin; junior students Fang Mu, Wu Han, Zhu Chengqiang, Wang Jian; Economics Department junior students Chen Xi (female), Wang Pei (female), Liao Chuang; sophomore students Zou Qi, Liu Bailong.


    A strange atmosphere filled the classroom. Everyone secretly glanced at each other, and those who knew each other whispered to each other. Fang Mu felt many eyes on him and felt somewhat uncomfortable, but as the initiator of the meeting, he had to stay composed.


    Fang Mu cleared his throat and picked up the notebook, "I think most of us are here. I will call your name, and when I do, please stand up so we can all get to know each other."


    Fang Mu started with the Law School students. Gao Guodong and Qi Xin were senior classmates who often played basketball together, so they were quite familiar with each other. As for Wu Han and Zhu Chengqiang, there was no need to say more. When he called Wang Jian''s name, no one spoke. After calling it a second time, a gloomy-looking male student in the corner lazily responded.


    In fact, Fang Mu recognized him; he had transferred to their class just this year. The Law School had a special class known as the base class. The students in this class were recruited separately and, after completing four years, they could directly pursue a master''s degree. Of course, competition for this class was fierce, with ten percent being eliminated through exams at the end of each year, and those eliminated were placed in other regular classes. Correspondingly, students from regular classes could enter this base class through exams. Wang Jian had been eliminated from the base class in the exam last year and was placed in Fang Mu''s class. However, this guy hadn''t been attending classes much this semester, so although Fang Mu recognized him, they weren''t close.


    After finishing the list, Fang Mu let out a long sigh, as if it had been a difficult task. Indeed, among these eleven people, perhaps the next victim was among them. This list felt like an invitation to hell, instilling fear in everyone.


    "As you all know, there have been a series of murders on campus in the past three months, with four students killed. I found this book and a library card in the library, and three of the four deceased students, Zhou Jun, Liu Weili, and Jia Feifei, had borrowed this book."


    Although everyone in the room knew about this, most of them shivered after hearing Fang Mu''s words.


    "I don''t know what connection this library card has to these murders, but personally, I feel this is not a coincidence. Of course, I really hope it is, so I want to remind everyone," Fang Mu glanced at each person''s face, "Our lives are at stake, and we need to be extremely vigilant, even for a one-in-a-million chance."


    A cold laugh came from the corner. Fang Mu looked in that direction, and Wang Jian shook his head with a smile.


    Fang Mu retracted his gaze, "I know some of you are skeptical about why I think this way. I''ll tell you, I''m not a police officer, and solving cases is not my job. I don''t need any evidence. I am not trying to conceal anything. This is all based on my intuition. I don''t expect everyone to trust me, but I hope everyone can raise their vigilance, because the next victim could very well be among us," he paused for a moment, and the room was as silent as the dead, "One person''s power is limited, so I hope everyone can help each other, protect each other, and try not to act alone whenever possible. If you find anything suspicious around you, report it immediately. In short, we need to stick together as a group. Perhaps in this way, we," he licked his dry lips, "can save our own lives."


    "But why can''t we have the police protect us?" a female student from the Economics Department asked. Fang Mu remembered her name was Wang Pei.


    "As far as I know, the police haven''t made much progress on this case, and they don''t believe the library card has anything to do with these murders," Wu Han said calmly. "In other words, what we''re discussing here today is nothing but nonsense in their eyes."


    "So what should we do?" Zou Qi from the Economics Department''s second year asked.


    "Just as I said earlier, try not to act alone, especially at night. Wherever you go, try to have someone with you. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately," Fang Mu paused, "It''s best if we split into two groups, one for the Economics Department and one for the Law School. If it''s not too much trouble, each group should stay together as much as possible, except for attending classes and sleeping. It would be more convenient if someone from the Economics Department could lead that group and keep in touch."


    "I won''t do it," a male student from the Economics Department stood up and said. Fang Mu remembered his name was Liao Chuang. "I live in the city, and I go home after classes every day. Besides, this is too absurd."


    "Alright, you may leave," Fang Mu said with a stern expression. "If anyone thinks I''m talking nonsense, you can leave." He looked at Wang Jian, who kept his head down and remained seated without moving.


    Liao Chuang walked out angrily and slammed the door. The others looked at each other, and no one moved.


    In the following hour, Fang Mu and the remaining people discussed their plans and contact information for the future. They decided to follow Fang Mu''s suggestion and split into two groups. Fang Mu would be responsible for coordinating the Law School group, while Chen Xi volunteered to lead the Economics Department group. They agreed to stay together as much as possible, meeting at the cafeteria at 5 pm every day to check attendance and exchange information about the day''s events. Fang Mu and Chen Xi exchanged their dormitory phone numbers and pager numbers. Finally, someone suggested giving the small group a name, and Liu Bailong blurted out, "Let''s call it the SUO Group." Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone''s faces, he added, "save us ourselves." Everyone cheered in agreement.


    After the meeting, Fang Mu, Wu Han, and Zhu Lao Si left the staircase classroom. Fang Mu felt a bit tired but also excited, as if he had just accomplished something extraordinary. The three of them walked slowly through the darkening campus, shoulder to shoulder, with a sense of camaraderie and shared life and death.


    "Now that everyone is united and looking out for each other, it will be difficult for the killer to strike," Zhu Lao Si said, looking up at the sky.


    "Yes, and..." Fang Mu hesitated.


    "Are you thinking that if the killer is really among this list, it''s good to restrain him?" Wu Han said.


    Fang Mu smiled somewhat embarrassedly, admitting it.


    "To be honest, have you ever suspected me and Zhu Lao Si?" Wu Han turned to ask.


    Fang Mu thought for a moment and said, "No, have you?"


    Wu Han and Zhu Lao Si exchanged a smile, "No, as always, you don''t have the guts! Haha."


    The moon above seemed to suddenly shine brighter.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 11: If the Next One Is Me

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 11: If the Next One Is Me


    If you often eat at Cafeteria B, you will notice a group of strange people. They hold their trays, gather in a corner of the cafeteria, sizing each other up, quietly counting heads, whispering to each other, occasionally someone joins, which would elicit a sigh of relief.


    The SUO group has been meeting at Cafeteria B for four days at 5 o''clock in the afternoon. Fortunately, everyone is safe and sound. Occasionally, a few suspicious things and a few suspicious people are brought up, but they are quickly denied by the ones who brought them up. One particularly absurd incident was when Zou Qi mentioned that Professor Sun, who teaches international trade, had been giving him fierce glares lately. Later, Chen Xi exposed that Zou Qi often leered at the young accounting teacher''s chest and buttocks, and her husband happened to be Professor Sun.


    Every day, Fang Mu tries to arrange the members of the Law School group to sit together, including Wang Jian. This guy is always cold towards everyone, but it''s clear that he doesn''t oppose being with everyone. Even though he doesn''t speak during meals or when studying alone, he always stays within sight of Fang Mu. When returning to the dorm at night, he walks alone at the back, like a lonely shadow.


    This situation makes everyone feel awkward, one of the important factors for the continuation of the group is unity and trust. Someone who keeps hovering on the edge of the circle always causes unnecessary suspicion and panic. So, one evening, when Fang Mu saw Wang Jian walking out of the study room alone again, he decided to talk to him.


    Wang Jian went to the restroom. Fang Mu patiently waited at the door.


    A few minutes later, Wang Jian walked out, shaking the water droplets off his hands, and saw Fang Mu waiting at the door, looking startled.


    "Do you... need something?" Wang Jian asked.


    Fang Mu said frankly, "I want to talk to you."


    Wang Jian frowned, "About what?"


    Fang Mu suddenly realized he hadn''t thought about what to say to him at all. He shrugged, "Just chat."


    "I''m not interested," Wang Jian said bluntly and turned to leave.


    "Wait," Fang Mu caught up with him in a few steps, "Do you also think I''m talking nonsense?"


    Wang Jian turned to look at Fang Mu, his expression softened, "If I didn''t trust you, I wouldn''t be with you every day."


    Fang Mu smiled, "Then let''s chat. Consider it a break."


    Wang Jian hesitated for a moment, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one to Fang Mu. Fang Mu didn''t smoke, but he still accepted it and took a puff, only to choke and cough.


    Wang Jian, with a cigarette in his mouth, patted Fang Mu''s back, "You don''t smoke?"


    "No, it''s the first time."


    "Haha, I shouldn''t have given it to you. What a waste of tobacco."


    Fang Mu finally managed to stop coughing, wiped the tears from his eyes, and looked at Wang Jian''s cigarette, which flickered in the dim light. Suddenly, he remembered something.


    "Where do you live? I went to your dorm this morning, but your roommates said you don''t live there anymore."


    "Oh, I moved to a new place, just across from yours, Room 351."


    Room 351? That''s Zhou Jun''s dormitory, and no one has lived there for a long time.


    "Alone?"


    "Yeah, it''s quiet, perfect for studying."


    "Aren''t you afraid?"


    "Afraid? Why? Just because someone died? He didn''t die in the dorm, so what''s there to be afraid of?" Wang Jian quickly finished his cigarette, lit another one, took a deep drag, and looked at Fang Mu with a sideways glance. "What, do you suspect me?"


    "No," Fang Mu hurriedly explained, "Just asking." He lowered his head and took a careful puff of the cigarette.


    The two of them smoked in silence.


    "Why did you move out?" Fang Mu asked when Wang Jian didn''t speak for a while. "Uncomfortable living there, so I moved out," he said, crushing the cigarette butt on the ground. He looked up and asked, "Are you investigating those cases?"


    "No, I''m not a police officer. I just don''t want to die."


    "Do you really think that everyone with a library card is going to die?"


    "I don''t know, it''s just a feeling."


    "A feeling?"


    "Yes, I feel that the library card must be related to those cases, but I''m not sure how."


    "Maybe a few more people have to die before it becomes clear, heh," Wang Jian said with a cold laugh.


    Fang Mu fell silent for a moment.


    "What do you think about these cases?" he asked.


    "Me? I''m not interested."


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Then why are you with us every day?"


    Wang Jian lowered his head, crushed the cigarette butt under his foot, "Bored, I guess. At least you guys are more interesting than those people over there." He nodded toward a nearby classroom, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt. It was the exclusive classroom for the Basic Class, brightly lit inside.


    "I''m going in there." Wang Jian ran his hand through his hair. "What about you?"


    Fang Mu thought for a moment. "Since we''re in the same group, I''ll try to stay in touch with everyone in the future and not stay alone all the time."


    "Okay."


    "Also, be careful living alone."


    Wang Jian looked at Fang Mu and turned away. At the moment he turned, Fang Mu heard him say, "Okay, thanks."


    Fang Mu stood alone in the dark corridor, looking at the cigarette about to burn out in his hand, and threw it on the ground, crushing the butt like Wang Jian had done.


    As he walked back to the study room, passing the exclusive classroom of the Basic Class, he glanced inside. The room was full of people, but it was quiet, each person buried in thick books, studying hard.


    Fang Mu remembered Wang Jian''s look just now, and he felt that, in addition to disdain and contempt, there was also envy in his eyes.


    He suddenly felt a little sorry for Wang Jian.


    After a week of peace, it seemed that everyone was slowly relaxing. Those with lovers began to resume their dates, and more and more people were moving around alone. Once, Gao Guodong suddenly went missing, and his family didn''t know his whereabouts. Fang Mu and the others were almost frantic in their search. Two days later, when Fang Mu was about to report to the police, this guy came back with a smile, saying he had gone to meet a friend in a neighboring city. "You can''t expect us all to go, can you?" The people sitting at the fixed table in Cafeteria B at 5 o''clock every evening were becoming fewer and fewer.


    One evening, only five people showed up for the meeting: Fang Mu, Wu Han, Wang Jian, Qi Xin, and Chen Xi from the Economics Department. Chen Xi told Fang Mu the whereabouts of the other Economics Department students, and seeing Fang Mu''s gloomy expression, she hesitated to say, "I''m going out to buy something, how about you guys..." Her gaze became shifty.


    Fang Mu looked at the other Law School students, "I''ll go with you."


    It was the first time Fang Mu had gone out alone with a girl.


    Walking lightly beside him, Chen Xi greeted familiar classmates from time to time, looking relaxed and cheerful. But Fang Mu seemed a little uncomfortable, feeling the unusual looks from Chen Xi''s classmates: Could they think we''re in a relationship?


    Sensing Fang Mu''s mood, Chen Xi asked with a smile, "What, don''t want to accompany me?"


    Fang Mu hastened to say, "It''s not that."


    Pursing her lips, Chen Xi said, "You look so down, as if you''ve suffered some great injustice. What''s wrong?" She tilted her head to look at Fang Mu, "Do you think a plain girl like me isn''t good enough for a handsome guy like you?"


    "Not at all, you... you''re quite pretty."


    Chen Xi giggled, "Thanks for the compliment."


    They went to a supermarket near the school. Chen Xi was interested in looking at this and that, while Fang Mu didn''t have anything to buy, so he patiently accompanied her as she browsed.


    "Hey, how''s your investigation going?"


    "What?"


    "The murder cases, you''re investigating them, aren''t you?" Chen Xi sounded casual, as if she were talking about something fun.


    "Where have I been investigating? I''m not a detective," Fang Mu said grumpily. Chen Xi was reading the instructions for a bottle of toner, her long ponytail revealing her fair, slender neck.


    She''s quite pretty.


    "Why, are you still angry?" Chen Xi asked as Fang Mu remained silent.


    Fang Mu admitted honestly, "Yes, I am."


    "Hehe, it''s a good thing to have the courage to admit your vulnerability. You''re better than people like Liao Chuang, who are too scared to come to class."


    Fang Mu remembered the Economics Department student who had left in a huff.


    "If it''s fated for the next person to be me, I hope they can kill me in one go, preferably from behind, without me realizing it, without any pain," Chen Xi crossed her arms in front of her, looking up at the sky with a wistful expression.


    Fang Mu silently watched her. The girl''s figure bathed in the strong supermarket lights seemed somewhat blurred.


    She turned her gaze back, smiling at Fang Mu.


    "Wouldn''t that be great?"


    Translator''s Note: This is the translation of the first part of the text. Let me know if you would like me to continue with the rest of the text.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 12: Do Not Poison People

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 12: Do Not Poison People


    Unknowingly, the end of the year was approaching.


    The number of people wandering around the campus every day was decreasing. On one hand, it was because of the cold weather, and on the other hand, the final exams were approaching. For most people in this school, nothing was more important than the final exams, and for the students of the Law School, an even more brutal competition was about to begin.


    Hardly any students from the foundation class could be seen in the dormitory building. As soon as they opened the dormitory door each day, they rushed to the library to grab a seat, and then they stayed there all day, even skipping meals. It wasn''t until the last few minutes before curfew that they returned to the dormitory, exhausted. After quietly washing up, they each lay on their own beds to study. After the lights were turned off, they would gather in the corridor in groups of two or three, reading by the dim light.


    The leader of Dorm 352 had participated in the entrance exam for the foundation class, and he had bravely attended two self-study sessions in the foundation class''s dedicated classroom, only to be driven away by their silent glances each time. This was a great blow to the leader, and he swore in the dormitory that he would definitely get into the foundation class. So, every day, he joined the crowd, following the foundation class students to the library, to meals, and to the corridor for evening study sessions. His dorm mates were annoyed with him and encouraged him to move to Wang Jian''s old dormitory, where the study environment was better and there happened to be an empty bed. Surprisingly, the leader actually went there, but returned dejectedly, saying that someone had already taken the spot.


    The activities of the SUO group also became almost nonexistent. The long period of calm made most people start to believe that the borrowing of library cards was just a coincidence. There were fewer and fewer people who came to the table in the B cafeteria in the evenings, and almost no one reported the movements of others to Fang Mu. Fang Mu also didn''t bother to listen; coming here to eat had become a habit for him.


    Perhaps because he could see Chen Xi.


    Since the day they went to the supermarket together, they hadn''t been alone together. However, Fang Mu found himself looking forward more and more to their regular gatherings in the B cafeteria in the evenings.


    She always arrived a little later.


    She always scanned the crowd for the other team members. Every time her eyes met Fang Mu''s, she would smile, her white teeth gleaming.


    She liked her food a little spicy.


    She liked to use "Heart-to-Heart" brand tissues.


    One weekend evening, only three people arrived at the table: Fang Mu, Chen Xi, and Wang Jian.


    Fang Mu noticed that Chen Xi didn''t have her usual backpack and water bottle with her, but was carrying a small travel bag, as if she was about to leave. He wanted to ask, but felt it would be abrupt.


    It was Chen Xi who spoke first. "Tonight, I''m going to my aunt''s house. She lives in the city, and I''m staying with her for the weekend. Team Leader," she said, tilting her head to look at Fang Mu, "is it okay?"


    Fang Mu waved his hand in a fluster, agreeing.


    Chen Xi giggled. Her laughter was infectious, even causing Wang Jian, who was eating with his head down, to look up and grin.


    After dinner, Wang Jian hurried off as usual, carrying his backpack. Fang Mu and Chen Xi sat at the table, remaining silent.


    Chen Xi slowly wiped the spoon with a tissue until it gleamed on both sides. Fang Mu watched her in silence.


    "I have to go now," Chen Xi said without looking up.


    "Mm."


    "I''ll be taking the bus at the school gate."


    Fang Mu responded with another "Mm," and then suddenly realized. "Let me walk you there."


    "Okay!" Chen Xi''s face lit up with a smile.


    The two walked side by side on the campus. It had just snowed, and everything around them was covered in a thick layer of white, creating a serene and textured atmosphere. There were few people on the campus, and their footsteps on the snow made a crisp sound. They chatted about trivial things. The bus stop was getting closer.


    "Which bus are you taking?" Fang Mu glanced at a slowly approaching bus in the distance.


    "The 25 bus." Chen Xi''s face was turning red from the cold, and she occasionally stamped her feet, blowing on her hands.


    The bus that had been getting closer in the dark of the night had now arrived.


    "This is the one."


    Chen Xi took a look. "No, it''s too crowded. I''ll wait for the next one."


    Fang Mu didn''t say anything, watching as the bus approached.


    There were only the two of them at the bus stop, each silent like strangers. The passing cars cast their shadows on the road, elongating and shortening them, gradually bringing one shadow closer to another.


    Fang Mu felt Chen Xi''s shoulder pressing against his own, her body shivering slightly.


    She''s quite tall, probably around 5''6".


    Fang Mu remained still, not daring to move. After a while, he finally asked, "Are you cold?"


    Chen Xi nodded.


    Fang Mu looked at Chen Xi''s slender shoulders and suddenly felt the urge to hold her.


    At that moment, a No. 25 bus arrived as if it had descended from the heavens.


    "I''m sorry, the bus is here." Fang Mu blurted out, immediately regretting it.


    Chen Xi glanced at Fang Mu and silently boarded the bus.


    The bus quickly departed, and Fang Mu felt as though there were eyes watching him from the bus the entire time. He continued to stare in the direction the bus had disappeared until it vanished completely into the night.


    On his way back to the dormitory, Fang Mu passed by the sports field. The vast circular structure stood in the night, and he hesitated by the small gate where Song Bo had been killed before entering.


    The snow-covered playground seemed deserted. Fang Mu breathed carefully as he walked along the deserted track in the darkness. The snow crunched beneath his feet, the sound ringing out clearly in the night. Fang Mu occasionally stopped, listening for any sounds around him before sighing and continuing forward.


    In the distance, an endless expanse of darkness hid a massive secret.


    That was our destiny, Fang Mu told himself.


    He drew closer to the flagpole, his heart beating faster, his breath quickening.


    He seemed eager to see something, yet afraid to see it.


    The flagpole stood there alone, with no mournful ghost wailing beside it.


    It stood there, as plain and unremarkable as ever.


    Approaching it, Fang Mu ran his hand over the cold, smooth surface of the flagpole.


    It wouldn''t remember that it had recorded a girl''s declining body temperature.


    It wouldn''t remember that the girl had struggled with all her might in a brief moment of consciousness before her death, trying to break free from its cold restraint.


    It wouldn''t remember anything at all.


    But he remembered everything. He remembered it all.


    You should be sneering in the darkness, reveling in playing us in the palm of your hand, effortlessly selecting your next victim.


    Fang Mu looked up at the pitch-black sky. Who are you, really?


    In the darkness, Fang Mu felt a rush of adventurous impulse within him, as if his entire body was filled with an impending surge of power, ready to strike the killer at any moment, alert and prepared.


    Excitedly, he looked around in the darkness, his hand trembling slightly. No, he didn''t need any weapons. His hands alone were enough, seizing the killer''s throat just as he seized fate.


    After a while, Fang Mu left the sports field, feeling somewhat exhausted.


    He knew that his impulse had been fueled by the girl who had left on the bus.


    He felt a bit ashamed of his own immaturity.


    In the dormitory, only Zhu Laosi and Wu Han were present, and to everyone''s surprise, Wang Jian was there too.


    "Where are the others?" Fang Mu tossed his backpack onto the bed and reached under the bed to retrieve a basin.


    "Second and fifth brothers are staying overnight at an internet caf¨¦," Zhu Laosi replied.


    "And the eldest brother?"


    "Hehe, the eldest brother went to the opposite dormitory, saying he wanted to move in and study seriously with Wang Jian," Wang Jian snorted.


    "But Wang Jian thinks it''s better to live with us than with him," Wu Han chuckled.


    "This traitor," Fang Mu also laughed. He winked at Wang Jian. "Welcome to join us." Then, he grabbed the basin and headed to the water room.


    While brushing his teeth, Fang Mu heard a commotion in the corridor. He rushed out to see two people fighting (Fang Mu recognized them as students from the foundation class who had been in the same dormitory as Wang Jian). They were swearing at each other, seemingly because one had been caught looking at the other''s study materials, and the other was very unhappy, scolding him harshly, accusing him of staying in the foundation class by bribing the teacher. Many people rushed out to watch, and Fang Mu saw Wang Jian grinning mischievously among the crowd. The foundation class students looked on indifferently, neither trying to stop the fight nor getting involved. Finally, a few students from the regular class couldn''t stand it and stepped in to separate them.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Returning to the dormitory, Fang Mu tidied up his bed and was about to lie down when he saw Wang Jian taking out several packets of peanuts, ham sausages, and salted eggs, laying them out on the table.


    "It''s the weekend, let''s take a break from studying and have a drink!" Wang Jian casually invited everyone.


    Zhu Laosi immediately volunteered to go buy the alcohol. Fang Mu hesitated for a moment, but perhaps the recent tension had been too much, and he also felt the need to relax, so he gladly accepted the invitation. Seeing everyone, Wu Han suddenly pulled out an envelope from under his pillow and handed a hundred yuan bill to Zhu Laosi, saying, "Today, it''s on me. Laosi, buy some good food."


    Fang Mu and Zhu Laosi recognized the envelope as the donation Wu Han had received from a businessman at a scholarship ceremony the day before. They declined, but Wu Han insisted, so he and Zhu Laosi went to buy the items.


    Fang Mu watched Wang Jian, jokingly saying, "Why are you in such a good mood today?"


    Wang Jian lit a cigarette. "Hehe, nothing, just felt like having a drink."


    He smoked, looking around the dormitory with interest, and even took down Wang Jian''s guitar to strum a few chords.


    "Your dormitory is pretty good; this is what a boys'' dormitory should look like."


    "Hehe, not bad? Our dormitory is probably the messiest in the second dormitory building," Fang Mu said, looking at the scattered shoes and socks.


    "Better than my old dormitory, which was as clean as a hospital," Wang Jian said, taking a drag of his cigarette. "You saw it just now. Those idiots have no human touch."


    Fang Mu suddenly understood why Wang Jian had moved out. Being a loser and still living among the former collective was indeed hard, especially when the collective lacked friendship and was filled with competitive hostility.


    A few minutes later, the eldest brother peeked into the room. Zhu Laosi offered him a drink, but he shook his head. He paced back and forth in the room, glancing at Fang Mu and the others from time to time, as if struggling to speak. Fang Mu asked him what he was up to, and after hesitating for a while, the eldest brother stammered that he didn''t dare to sleep alone in the opposite dormitory and wanted to return to his own dormitory. Wang Jian chuckled as he moved his stuff off the eldest brother''s bed. "How about it? I told you that you wouldn''t be cut out for it."


    The others teased the eldest brother a few times, and he grumpily crawled into bed, muttering that they should be quiet and go to sleep.


    A few minutes later, the lights went out, and Wu Han lit the candles. The entire dormitory was filled with the dim flicker of candlelight, and each person''s face seemed to change expressions in the swaying light.


    Of the four, Wang Jian had drunk the most, yet his face was as white as paper. As he squinted, trying to toss peanuts into his mouth, he rambled incoherently, "You think getting into the foundation class is easy? It takes not only hard work but also perseverance!"


    Fang Mu nudged him with his foot, hinting that the eldest brother might not be asleep yet. But Wang Jian continued speaking, "Those idiots...they all act like good students, but they''re just a bunch of hypocrites, all calling out the class flower''s name and jerking off every night."


    He suddenly turned wide-eyed, gesturing toward the elder brother and the sleeping Wang Jian, but then faltered, struggling to choose the most fitting word to describe himself. After a few seconds of hesitation, he weakly uttered a generic word, "Talented!"


    Wang Jian burst into silly laughter, pointing at the elder brother who was asleep on the bed, opening his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Only tears rolled down his cheeks. Then, he reclined on the bed and fell silent.


    The three of them reassembled around the table, and no one spoke, each lost in thought by the candlelight. After a while, Zhu Laosi sighed, "This guy, drank too much."


    Wu Han shook his head. "Is it worth it to pursue a fancy reputation? These people really don''t think things through."


    Zhu Laosi seemed to remember something and, looking at the sleeping Wang Jian and the covered-up elder brother, asked in a low voice, "Third brother, are you still taking the exam this year?"


    "I''m not taking it," Wu Han said calmly. "I''ll take the postgraduate entrance exam in my fourth year directly. I don''t believe I won''t get in."


    Fang Mu remembered that last semester, Wu Han had participated in the entrance exam for the foundation class, and his grades were enough, but when the classes were rearranged this semester, he had inexplicably been rejected. The incident had greatly affected him, and he had been melancholic for a long time. Fang Mu winked at Zhu Laosi, signaling him not to bring up such a demoralizing topic.


    "Actually, it''s a pity what happened to you that time," Zhu Laosi didn''t notice Fang Mu''s signal. "I heard that getting into the foundation class not only depends on good grades but also on giving gifts to the supervisors. You probably didn''t make it because of that."


    "I don''t know," Wu Han smiled wryly, shaking his head. "I don''t think about it, and besides, even if I had the money, I wouldn''t give them any gifts." His tone suddenly became lively. "I''d rather treat you guys to a drink."


    Fang Mu and Zhu Laosi both chuckled, and the three of them clinked their beer bottles, the clear sound echoing in the dormitory.


    "Don''t let you spend all the money, I feel bad," Zhu Laosi wiped the beer foam from the corner of his mouth. "You''ve earned your money the hard way."


    Wu Han looked at his pillow, under which was an envelope containing 2000 yuan. "This kind of money, heh, I don''t care."


    He turned to Fang Mu and Zhu Laosi. "Do you think he was helping me? No, he was helping himself."


    Fang Mu recalled the donation ceremony, where the businessman had tightly hugged Wu Han''s shoulders, stuffing the envelope into his hands and refusing to let go, his eyes fixed on the flashing cameras around them. It seemed as if they were fighting over the envelope. Finally, the businessman reluctantly let go, adding with great solemnity, "Young man, use this money to study well." Wu Han kept his eyes down, expressionless, showing neither gratitude nor tears. This displeased the businessman, who was about to say a few more words. Wu Han left the stage with the envelope.


    "He just saw me as a prop for his performance, displaying his kindness and generosity," Wu Han stared at the flickering flame on the candle. "I won''t give him that opportunity. This isn''t a donation; it''s the reward I deserve for playing along with the performance." He lowered his head, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "Nobody can humiliate me, not even the slightest bit."


    The atmosphere grew heavy. They couldn''t drink anymore.


    Zhu Laosi awkwardly pretended to yawn. "Let''s go to sleep, it''s almost 1 a.m."


    Wu Han also regained his usual calm demeanor and, echoing Zhu Laosi, said, "Let''s sleep, let''s sleep. It''s almost 1 a.m."


    Fang Mu watched Wang Jian sleeping soundly on his bed and sighed. Then, he climbed up to tidy up the upper bed where the fifth brother usually slept.


    After roughly straightening the messy bedding, Fang Mu got a toothbrush and went to the water room.


    After brushing his teeth, Fang Mu returned to the now peaceful dormitory. The intermittent sounds of snoring filled the room, and Fang Mu quietly undressed, extinguishing the nearly burnt-out candles. As he climbed onto his upper bunk, the phone rang.


    Who could be calling so late?


    Fang Mu was puzzled, and quickly jumped off the bed to grab the receiver.


    "Hello?"


    There was no response.


    "Hello?" Fang Mu was starting to get annoyed. Was someone making a prank call?


    "Aren''t you asleep yet?" came a soft voice from the receiver.


    Fang Mu''s heart started beating faster.


    "Not yet. Why aren''t you asleep either?"


    "I can''t sleep."


    There was a long silence, Fang Mu holding the receiver, feeling the rhythm of Chen Xi''s breathing on the other end.


    "I just watched a horror movie, about a serial killer," she said with a hint of fear in her voice. "Hehe, I''m a little scared now."


    "Hehe," Fang Mu''s heart warmed at her admission. "Don''t scare yourself."


    Chen Xi laughed softly. "Yeah, I know. You''re not going to sleep yet? What are you doing, solving cases?"


    "Not really, just had a drink with a few guys from the dormitory."


    "Drank too much?"


    "No."


    "That''s good."


    Another silence.


    "If," Chen Xi''s voice was soft, with a hint of trembling, "if it''s my turn next, would you feel sad?"


    "Don''t talk nonsense," Fang Mu quickly said, "It won''t happen, it definitely won''t."


    "I mean, if. Would you feel sad?"


    Fang Mu fell silent for a moment. "Yes," he stammered, "I would. I would, I would..." He started to stutter, "I would protect you."


    Chen Xi laughed softly. "I know," she said cheerfully, "I know."


    "You don''t need to worry."


    "Hehe, don''t worry, I''m not that easy to get rid of," she said with a carefree tone.


    "

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 13: The Devils Feast—The Fifth Victim

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 13: The Devil''s Feast¡ªThe Fifth Victim


    At the end of every year, the various clubs on campus would be busy with activities. Despite the impending final exams, the club leaders and members would still make time to hold events such as a poetry recitation for bidding farewell to the old year, or a concert to welcome the new year. This year, New Year''s Day was particularly significant, as after the clock struck midnight on December 31st, the entire human society would enter into the next millennium.


    Whether it was 1999 or 2000, apart from the computer professionals worrying about the Y2K bug, it was probably the students who were most concerned. After all, not everyone could witness human history entering into a completely new era, especially those born in the late 1970s, who still vividly remembered the image of the boy riding a spaceship towards the year 2000 printed on their schoolbooks. What would the 21st century be like? In a few days, everything would be revealed.


    Among all the club activities, the most anticipated one was the play by the Starlight Drama Club.


    The Starlight Drama Club was one of the oldest student clubs at the university, founded in the mid-1980s, and currently had over 100 members. Initially, the Starlight Drama Club was just a small club formed by a few students who loved drama, rehearsing small plays in their spare time and occasionally participating in literary performances organized by the school. Later, a member who graduated from the Department of Mathematics accidentally became a movie actor, and in an interview, he mentioned the Starlight Drama Club. Overnight, this small club became famous, not only expanding in scale but also becoming one of the few student clubs at the university funded by the school. Every major festival, school anniversary, or other large-scale events always involved the participation of the Starlight Drama Club. On this historically significant millennium New Year''s Day, the Starlight Drama Club naturally wouldn''t be left out, and a play that was set to be performed on New Year''s Eve was in intense rehearsals.


    Ever since that night when they talked on the phone, Fang Mu and Chen Xi were almost always together, even if it was just having meals or studying together, occasionally taking a stroll by the artificial lake on campus. For Fang Mu, who had never been in a relationship, this was a great happiness. The single men in the dormitory were also very concerned about Fang Mu''s love life. Whenever Fang Mu returned to the dorm with a smile on his face, these single guys would swarm around him like flies, asking inappropriate questions: Did you kiss? Did you touch? Did you go all the way?


    "These perverts, do they take me for a sex maniac?" Fang Mu often thought to himself in irritation.


    One evening, when Zhu Laos¨¬ asked Fang Mu for the third time whether he had kissed Chen Xi, Fang Mu couldn''t bear it anymore.


    "Do you think I''m you? Your mind is always filled with such things. Instead of this nonsense, why don''t you wash your pillowcase? It''s all yellowed!"


    Everyone burst into laughter, and Zhu Laos¨¬ blushed and pounced on Fang Mu, trying to grab his neck.


    "Seriously, Laoliu, which one of you confessed first?" Fang Mu finally managed to free himself from Zhu Laos¨¬''s grasp, and Laowu leaned down from the upper bunk to ask.


    "Confessed? Fang Mu was a little stunned. "Confessed what?"


    "Said you liked each other, or something similar."


    Fang Mu thought for a moment. "We haven''t said anything like that."


    "Damn, really? You''ve been on several dates, but neither of you has said ''I like you''?" Laoda interjected from the side.


    Fang Mu thought carefully. Indeed, he had been with Chen Xi for a considerable amount of time, but neither he nor Chen Xi had ever said "I like you" or "I love you." Was that important?


    "Of course," Laoda put on the face of a love expert. "If you don''t confess, why should she be with you? It''s unclear¡ªfriends with benefits?"


    A chorus of lewd laughter.


    "Girls need promises. If you give her a promise, even if it''s insincere, she will use it as a reason to throw caution to the wind. And this promise is very simple: I love you." Laoer also put on a mysterious look. "So, women need to be deceived."


    "Damn, it''s none of your business, old man."


    Fang Mu sat on the bed, but his mind was still pondering their words.


    In the past few days, Chen Xi had been leaving the study room early, not telling him where she was going and not letting Fang Mu accompany her. Was she angry?


    To say or not to say, that was the question.


    At that moment, the door opened.


    In walked a ghost.


    The noisy dormitory suddenly fell silent.


    Its head was bald, with a pitch-black scalp, and underneath...


    What kind of face was that?


    Where there should have been eyes, there were two blood-red hollows. There was no nose, only two thin, constantly moving slits. The cheeks had cold, harsh lines, and the lips were thin, revealing sharp white teeth.


    Who was it?


    When everyone was petrified, it spoke.


    "When the leaves are swirling and falling, when the begonias scatter in the wind," it elegantly raised a hand, as if gently caressing a wisp of gossamer in the air, "when the ocean is no longer azure, when the sky loses its clarity, when the sun and moon both sink, when children leave their homes," its hand fell again, "my dear, that is me loving you," it cradled its hand against its chest, then reached forward, "only you, only you know my pain, only you saved me in the fierce fire of hell, only you liberated me from the ugliness and hypocrisy of the mortal world!"


    It quickly turned around, placing both hands on the stained wall. "My god, my love, she sees it all, she sees everything. He fell, he stumbled. You mock repeatedly, but you should know, he stumbled above you..."


    "Go to hell," Fang Mu threw a slipper at it and burst into laughter.


    The ghost was hit on the butt, and it also laughed. It turned around, and with a pull of its hand, Wu Han''s smiling face was revealed.


    "How was that? Spectacular, isn''t it?"


    The dormitory erupted into a chorus of laughter and teasing.


    "Damn, you scared me," Laowu, with a pale face, panted heavily, holding his chest, "I really thought I saw a ghost."


    "What''s this?" Zhu Laos¨¬ snatched the headgear from Wu Han''s hand, inspected it for a moment, and was about to put it on his head. Wu Han snatched it back. "Don''t put it on. Your fat face will stretch it."


    He turned to Fang Mu with a smile and asked, "Why aren''t you afraid?"


    Fang Mu said with a smile, "At first, I was startled, but then I recognized the clothes you were wearing."


    "No artistic appreciation. Everyone else listens to the lines, and you look at the clothes," Wu Han said, disdainfully.


    "Why are you wearing this thing?" Fang Mu pointed at the headgear in Wu Han''s hand. "To scare people? It seems quite expensive."


    Wu Han smiled mysteriously. "I''m not telling you."


    Fang Mu rolled his eyes at him, but then immediately realized. "The play! I forgot. Third Brother, you''re in the Starlight Drama Club. Is this a prop for the play?"


    Wu Han still smiled and remained silent.


    Everyone became excited and bombarded Wu Han with questions.


    "What''s the plot?"


    "Is it modern or traditional costume?"


    "Is it a ghost story?"


    "What role are you playing?"


    Wu Han had a satisfied smile on his face and seemed pleased with everyone''s attention.


    "Stop asking, keep it a secret for now. You''ll all find out on New Year''s Day."


    "Don''t be so secretive. We''re all brothers here. What''s the harm in sharing a little? We definitely won''t tell anyone," Zhu Laos¨¬ persisted.


    "You?" Wu Han pointed at Zhu Laos¨¬''s nose with a smile. "With your big mouth, if I tell you tonight, the whole school will know tomorrow."


    Having said that, he picked up a basin, opened the door, and walked out.


    "He''s quite mysterious," Zhu Laos¨¬ said sheepishly.


    While Fang Mu was brushing his teeth in the bathroom, he saw Wu Han. With a toothbrush in his mouth, he seemed to be muttering something. Fang Mu walked over and patted him. "Are you rehearsing your lines, big star?"


    Wu Han turned around and smiled.


    "What are you playing? Give us a hint."


    Wu Han looked around, and there were only the two of them in the bathroom.


    "The protagonist," Wu Han mumbled with toothpaste foam in his mouth.


    "Alright, Third Brother, what''s the plot?" Fang Mu''s curiosity was piqued.


    "Hehe, I can''t say."


    "Was what you were reciting your lines?"


    "Hehe, yes, it was. It was the lines before cutting off a girl''s head."


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    "Cutting off a head?" Fang Mu''s eyes widened.


    "Hehe, it''s fake, a plastic model," Wu Han said, winking at Fang Mu. "Guess who I''m going to chop?"


    "How would I know," Fang Mu said blankly, then immediately understood his meaning. "Chen Xi?"


    "Hehe, yes, she''s the female lead. Are you jealous?"


    No wonder, Fang Mu thought to himself, no wonder she''s been so secretive these past few days.


    He rinsed his toothbrush and slapped Wu Han on the back. "You''re not telling me, but you think I can''t figure it out."


    Back in the dorm, Fang Mu began to tidy up his bed while thinking about how to coax a confession out of Chen Xi the next day. This girl, keeping secrets from me.


    Wu Han returned to the dormitory after a long time and didn''t rush to undress and go to bed. He stood in front of the mirror, admiring himself, while everyone teased him for being narcissistic, but he paid no attention to them.


    Just after 11 o''clock, the lights went out.


    In a daze, Fang Mu vaguely saw Wu Han put the headgear back on. He stared at himself in the mirror with a fierce expression and stood there for a long time.


    Nuts, Fang Mu cursed under his breath, and closed his eyes to go to sleep. Just as he was starting to feel sleepy, he heard Wu Han speak.


    "He stumbled, he fell. You mock repeatedly," Fang Mu opened his eyes to see Wu Han, still in the same position, standing in front of the mirror without moving.


    "You should know, he fell above you. He joyfully fell into despair," he suddenly turned around, with a fierce, menacing tone, "but his brilliance follows your darkness!"


    Coaxing a confession out of Chen Xi didn''t take much effort. She squirmed for a bit and then admitted she was rehearsing a play. She even revealed the general plot to Fang Mu: it was a play with a fantasy theme about a royal gardener falling in love with a princess, but due to their disparate status, he never confessed his love to her. Later, when the kingdom was invaded, and the country was in jeopardy, the gardener, tempted by a demon, sold his soul, transformed into a powerful hero, and defeated the enemy army, saving the country from peril. The princess and the gardener married joyfully, but the demon''s goal was to use the princess''s blood to gain eternal life. Under the demon''s influence, the gardener killed the princess, deeply regretted his actions, and, following a divine directive, dug out his own heart to resurrect the princess, thwarting the demon''s plans. Wu Han and Chen Xi played the gardener and the princess, respectively.


    The plot was quite lousy, Fang Mu thought to himself. "And I heard there''s another beheading?"


    "Yes, how do you like it? Exciting, right?"


    "Do you feel nothing for someone else decapitating me?" Chen Xi asked with a smile before Fang Mu could respond, blushing.


    Before Fang Mu could answer, she blushed even more.


    "Beautiful," Fang Mu said sincerely.


    Chen Xi wrinkled her nose and made a face before turning to look back at the stage.


    "That Wu Han is from your dorm, right?"


    "Yes."


    "He''s quite strong. He lifted me effortlessly. At first glance, he seems unremarkable, but he''s quite artistic," Chen Xi admired Wu Han with an appreciative look, who was in conversation with the director, then turned back to look at Fang Mu, shrugging.


    "You''ve seen it too," Wu Han nudged Fang Mu with his shoulder, "many are after her."


    Fang Mu looked at the male actors on stage, all tall and imposing. He looked down at himself: wearing a down jacket that had been worn for several years, faded jeans, and fake Nike sneakers. He felt a little embarrassed.


    He sat up straight, trying to make himself look more elegant.


    At that moment, the director called out, "Everyone, get ready for the rehearsal."


    Wu Han stood up, patted Fang Mu on the shoulder, and said, "Buddy, be careful. Don''t let others snatch her away."


    Chen Xi also hurried back to the stage, giving Fang Mu a shrug from a distance.


    Fang Mu waved, indicating he didn''t mind.


    But before the rehearsal ended, he left.


    As he passed by the club''s entrance, he stopped in front of the large mirror. He scrutinized himself critically.


    Inside was an ordinary boy with a crew cut, a slightly pale complexion, and an unremarkable appearance.


    When Fang Mu left the club, he had made a decision.


    Although the decision was quite common, he believed that many people on campus would do the same.


    He would confess his feelings to Chen Xi.


    At the end of the millennium, the play ended, and on New Year''s Day, he would tell Chen Xi: "I love you."


    That day came quickly.


    On the night of December 31, 1999, the university held a New Year''s Eve event, and after the clock struck midnight, fireworks were set off in front of the administration building.


    At 10 p.m., the highly anticipated play "The Devil''s Feast" opened at the club''s theater.


    The theater, which could accommodate 3,000 people, was filled to the brim, with even the aisles crowded. Despite being a student production, the play had impressive lighting, costumes, and props, and the actors'' performances were excellent. An hour into the performance, the magical and romantic plot captivated the audience, creating a lively atmosphere.


    As the play approached its climax, the excitement reached its peak.


    The stage was bathed in eerie blue light, and the music was a monotonous piano melody. The hero, with a fierce expression, slowly pushed a small cart onto the stage. The cart held the sleeping princess, and as the eerie music reverberated through the theater, the tension in the audience was palpable.


    The hero began a solo dance next to the princess, expressing his inner turmoil.


    As the hero''s frantic dance unfolded, the audience was on edge, and couples couldn''t help but hold each other tightly.


    However, something felt off to Fang Mu.


    The person dancing on stage looked peculiar.


    In terms of height, this person was similar to Wu Han, but he was noticeably more muscular. He wore a thin, skin-tight costume, and his arms, thighs, and chest were broader than Wu Han''s.


    Didn''t Third Brother mention a last-minute role change?


    Moreover, the dance he was performing was completely different from what Fang Mu had seen during the rehearsal. Although Fang Mu didn''t understand dance, he could tell that the movements were haphazard and lacked grace and rhythm.


    The hero concluded the dance and, lifting the white cloth covering the princess, revealed her.


    Fang Mu disregarded the audience''s disapproval and stood up.


    He was too far away to see clearly, but the plastic model''s head was covered with a long black wig.


    He gestured with the axe toward the princess''s neck, raised it high, and brought it down forcefully!


    The audience let out a collective gasp, followed by enthusiastic applause.


    The head of the princess, or rather the model''s head, was severed and landed on the stage, and blood gushed out quickly.


    It''s too realistic; the front-row audience could even see the blood flowing from the neck.


    A feeling of foreboding surged in Fang Mu. He tried to lift his head and look at the stage.


    The hero lifted the princess''s head, or rather the plastic model''s head, and threw it into the air. With a swift movement, he then picked up a sharp axe.


    The entire audience gasped in shock.


    No, there should have been a long monologue here, the lines that Third Brother was reciting in the dorm that night.


    Fang Mu''s heart raced. A sense of fear came over him, unlike anything he had ever experienced.


    That was just a model; it had to be a model!


    He kept reassuring himself in his mind, but his eyes remained fixed on the unmoving figure on the stage, only the torso left of the model.


    The hero threw the axe, turned around, and disappeared from the other side of the stage.


    After a while, a group of actors stumbled onto the stage and began to dance. Their movements were chaotic.


    The princess''s body lay in the center of the stage, and a pool of blood had formed on the floor.


    One of the dancers, as he twirled and spun, accidentally landed in the pool of blood, and when he got up, he found himself face to face with the severed head on the stage.


    He stood frozen for a few seconds, then let out a deafening scream.


    Several minutes later, students passing by the club witnessed one of the most terrifying scenes in the history of the university: a crowd of people rushing out of the club''s doors, their faces filled with a look of terror. Every now and then, someone would hysterically shout, "Someone''s dead!"


    At that moment, the bells rang out at midnight, and the administration building suddenly erupted in a dazzling display of fireworks.


    The year 2000 had arrived.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 14: The So-Called Talent

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 14: The So-Called Talent


    The first case of the 21st century. Ding Shucheng sat in the car, lost in thought.


    Outside the window, there was a surging crowd and fireworks soaring high into the sky. Police cars squealed as they struggled to navigate through the traffic, but not many people turned back to look in surprise. Other people''s life and death were ultimately their own concern.


    January 1, 2000, at 00:19.


    The people in the theater had all fled, leaving behind scattered mineral water bottles, food wrappers, trampled flowers, and a few lost shoes on the floor.


    The spacious stage looked extraordinarily vast, with a headless female corpse lying quietly on a cart, surrounded by several police officers and a group of tense security guards from the school.


    Ding Shucheng jumped onto the stage, narrowly avoiding stepping into a large puddle of partially coagulated blood. Next to the pool of blood was a human head, with long hair tangled in blood, making the features indistinguishable, but it was certain that it was a young girl. About 3 meters away from the body, there was an axe thrown on the ground.


    "We haven''t touched anything," a 110 patrol officer walked over and said, "and a few people are still searching upstairs."


    Ding Shucheng nodded, carefully avoiding the blood pool, and circled the cart to observe the female corpse. The headless body appeared unusually petite, and the congealed blood at the severed part revealed red muscles and white neck bones. The deceased had fair skin and was dressed in a white robe, with little bloodstains on it.


    At this moment, a commotion came from the theater entrance. Ding Shucheng followed the sound and saw a boy running quickly down the aisle, stumbling, with two police officers chasing after him. He looked somewhat familiar.


    "Is it her?" the boy shouted as he ran, an indescribable fear in his eyes.


    No one answered, and everyone stared at him in astonishment.


    "Is it her?!!" The boy rushed to the stage, trying to climb up, but stumbled and fell down.


    The police behind him restrained him, and he struggled desperately, intermittently shouting, "Is...is it her?"


    The police dragged him out.


    "Damn it," a police officer took off his cap, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "he just rushed in, and three people couldn''t stop him."


    Ding Shucheng remembered the boy''s name was Fang Mu.


    At this moment, the walkie-talkie of the patrol officer next to him crackled: "There''s someone on the third floor!"


    Although it was likely that the perpetrator had taken advantage of the chaos to escape, the 110 patrol officers who arrived early still conducted a thorough search of the club. As a result, a person was found unconscious in a bathroom on the third floor.


    "Isn''t this Wu Han?" a security guard from the school exclaimed.


    The police who found Wu Han said that when they found the boy, he was wearing only underwear, his hands were tied behind his back, his feet were also tied, and he was lying unconscious in a cubicle in the restroom. Two police officers took Wu Han to the hospital, while the others conducted an on-site investigation.


    The bathroom was about 15 square meters, with a urinal on the left and a closed small window above. On the right were four cubicles, and Wu Han was found in the innermost one. There were two shoes scattered on the floor, presumably belonging to the victim, Wu Han. After a preliminary investigation, no valuable clues were found.


    When Ding Shucheng returned to the theater, Xing Zhisen and his colleagues from the forensic team had arrived.


    The forensic team was conducting an autopsy on the deceased on stage, and several people in casual clothes, clearly from home, were present.


    Xing Zhisen sat in the front row of the audience, watching the busy forensic team on stage, lost in thought.


    The spotlight above the stage still cast a blue light below. Below were a group of solemn-looking people with different attire, in the middle of which lay a headless female corpse.


    Ding Shucheng sat down next to Xing Zhisen. Xing Zhisen did not turn around, still watching the people on stage.


    After a while, he murmured, "Right here, in front of more than 3,000 people, she was killed?"


    The deceased was named Chen Xi, a 21-year-old female student in her third year of the economics department. The cause of death was decapitation, and the time of death did not require the forensic team to strain their minds; when her head was severed, the watches of more than 3,000 eyewitnesses all pointed to 11:55 p.m. Residual ether was found in her mouth and nose. The murder weapon was the axe left on the stage, and as Xing Zhisen had expected, there were no fingerprints on it.


    The deceased was the female lead in the play "The Devil''s Feast." According to the plot, the princess played by the deceased was supposed to have her head chopped off by the male lead. However, the head that was supposed to be chopped off should have been a plastic model. According to the student in charge of props, before the scene, she had placed the model (which was later found in a corner outside the dressing room) covered with a white cloth on the cart and handed it over to Wu Han, the male lead from the Law School. The female lead, Chen Xi, was supposed to reappear in the scene where the princess was resurrected, so she had gone to the dressing room to touch up her makeup. Therefore, when the person wearing a mask and a costume pushed the cart onto the stage, no one expected that there was a living person lying underneath the white cloth¡ªChen Xi.


    The male lead, Wu Han, had already regained consciousness in the hospital. According to his account: that night, due to a long speech before decapitating the princess, he parked the cart with the model at the backstage entrance and went to the corridor on the second floor to rehearse his lines (at that time, a monologue by the devil was being performed below, about 7 minutes long). It was there that he felt a sharp blow to the back of his head, and then he knew nothing. Upon examination at the hospital, Wu Han had a scalp laceration about 5 centimeters long and 0.5 centimeters wide at the back of his head, suspected to be caused by a square pillar with sharp edges. Subsequently, the police searched the second-floor corridor, the first scene of the crime, but found no items matching the murder weapon, which should have been taken away or discarded by the perpetrator. They also found no other valuable clues.


    When Wu Han was found, his hands and feet were tied with plastic fastening ropes commonly found in shopping malls, used to secure goods. He was only wearing these when found, and had been dumped in the restroom cubicle, unconscious. This meant that the perpetrator''s target was only Chen Xi.


    According to interviews with the deceased''s social circle, the deceased, who was from Hunan, had only one relative in the city, her aunt. The deceased was described as cheerful and easygoing, without any grudges with anyone. According to her roommate, the deceased had recently been very close to a group of people, all of whom were readers listed on a borrowing card, and they had even formed a small group, with the leader being Fang Mu, a third-year student in the Law School.


    When Xing Zhisen and Ding Shucheng entered Room 352 of the male dormitory at the Normal University, there were already two people in the room.


    Fang Mu was half lying on the bed, pale-faced, staring straight at the bed above. Sitting by the bed was a middle-aged woman with a slightly plump figure and gray hair. When she heard someone enter the dormitory, she turned around, and Xing Zhisen noticed her striking resemblance to Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu looked at Xing Zhisen and Ding Shucheng, his eyes filled with complex emotions, whether resentment, anger, or anticipation, was unclear.


    The middle-aged woman stood up. "Who are you...?"


    "We''re here to see him," Ding Shucheng nodded towards Fang Mu, "no need for introductions, right, Fang Mu."


    The middle-aged woman was clearly surprised at how familiar Fang Mu was with the two police officers.


    "I''m Fang Mu''s mother. What do you want? This child isn''t feeling well. If you have something to say, tell me," she said nervously, constantly looking at Xing Zhisen and Ding Shucheng.


    "Sister, don''t be afraid. We just want to ask Fang Mu some questions," Xing Zhisen turned to look at Fang Mu, who stared back at him, and then said to his mother, "Go buy some fruit for me."


    The middle-aged woman hesitated, but Fang Mu urged her again, "It''s okay, I''ll talk to them."


    She picked up a leather bag from the bedside, tucked in the quilt for Fang Mu, and left.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.There were only Xing Zhisen, Ding Shucheng, and Fang Mu in the room.


    Xing Zhisen sat down on the bed opposite Fang Mu, looking at him, but not saying a word.


    Fang Mu remained in the same position, looking up and staring at the bed above.


    The three of them remained silent for a while, until finally, Xing Zhisen cleared his throat. "We..."


    "I know what you came to ask," Fang Mu suddenly turned his head, "Is it about the SUO group? Yes, Chen Xi was a member of the group, and we are all the readers listed on that borrowing card."


    SUO? Xing Zhisen pondered for a moment; it should be "saveusourselves."


    These kids, he smiled faintly.


    But this smile angered Fang Mu, who had been watching him all along.


    "Is it funny? Is it childish?" he got up, jumped off the bed barefoot, and walked straight to Xing Zhisen, "Someone died! Chen Xi died!"


    He pointed at Xing Zhisen''s nose, "I told you, that borrowing card must have been a problem. What do you think? Chen Xi is dead..."


    "We came here today to ask..."


    "Ask what? What kind of nonsense is this? What about my relationship with Chen Xi? Nothing, there''s nothing! I didn''t have the chance!"


    Fang Mu suddenly squatted down, crying bitterly.


    It was too late; he hadn''t had the chance to say that to her.


    Ding Shucheng looked at Fang Mu, at a loss, then at Xing Zhisen.


    Xing Zhisen waved his hand, indicating to not disturb Fang Mu.


    After Fang Mu finished crying, he wiped the tears from his face with a towel and silently lay back on the bed.


    Xing Zhisen saw his emotions gradually calm down and spoke, "I understand how you feel right now, and I don''t think your group is childish at all. I am also deeply saddened by Chen Xi''s death, and like you, I want to catch the perpetrator. I came today to hear your thoughts."


    Ding Shucheng looked at Xing Zhisen in surprise.


    "I know that you have many of your own...feelings about this case," he paused, looking at Fang Mu, who also returned his gaze with less hostility, and he nodded.


    "I remember giving you a business card and asking you to call me if you discovered anything, but you didn''t come to me on your own in the past few days."


    Yes, Fang Mu thought to himself.


    That night, when the dancer let out that deafening scream, Fang Mu immediately realized something was wrong. He desperately tried to squeeze towards the stage, but was carried out by the panicked crowd, twisting his ankle in the process. After finally breaking free from the crowd, Fang Mu prayed that Chen Xi would be okay and tried to force his way back into the club. He even broke through the blockade of three police officers and was about to reach the stage when he fell. Although he repeatedly asked, he also knew in his heart that the person lying on the stage, decapitated, was Chen Xi.


    For two full days, Fang Mu lay in bed, not eating or drinking, and didn''t even go to the hospital to find out about Wu Han. His mind was completely blank, and at one point, he even felt like his heart had stopped beating.


    How much suffering was this 21-year-old young man going to endure?


    How much fear would make this inexperienced boy tremble?


    He didn''t want to talk, didn''t want to think, and just wanted time to stop, everything to be silent, frozen in this moment.


    Until Xing Zhisen and Ding Shucheng appeared in the dormitory.


    I will protect you.


    Fang Mu, you should remember that.


    "That person should be about 174 centimeters tall," Fang Mu spoke with difficulty, "slightly stronger than Wu Han."


    Ding Shucheng nodded, finding his analysis consistent with the descriptions from other witnesses at the scene.


    "This person should be familiar with the environment of the scene, have a rough idea of the plot, but not a detailed understanding," Fang Mu continued.


    "Why?" Ding Shucheng raised his eyebrows.


    "Because according to the plot, there was a long passage of lines before decapitating the princess, but he didn''t memorize those lines at the time, and his dance was also incorrect. Thus, the perpetrator must be someone from this school who has seen the rehearsal."


    Ding Shucheng nodded slightly. When they questioned the play''s director the next day, the senior student from the School of Art said that the drama club''s initial plan was to install a blood bag on the plastic model, but considering it was too bloody and could easily splatter onto the front-row audience, this plan was canceled. When the deceased''s head was chopped off and blood splattered onto the stage that night, he had thought Wu Han had added the blood bag without permission. What surprised him even more was that the originally arranged long lines (which was the director''s proudest line) were not recited, and the male lead''s dance was a mess. Due to this sudden turn of events, the later dancers were not ready and hurried onto the stage.


    Fang Mu noticed Xing Zhisen''s expressionless face; he knew this wasn''t what he wanted to hear.


    Fang Mu bit his lip.


    "This murder can be described with one word: perfect."


    (Chen Xi died in a perfectly planned murder. She didn''t know whether to feel fortunate or unfortunate.)


    "If this were a performance, I think nothing could be more exciting than this, in front of over 3,000 spectators, beheading the victim (it''s difficult to say this), and even getting applause from the entire audience. This is an upgrade, from the unimaginative strangulation in the toilet, pushing off the building from upstairs, to sculpting the victim into a snow sculpture, impaling with an icicle falling from the wall, and finally killing in public, each time more thrilling than the last. He is experiencing a growing sense of self-fulfillment, and as a result, his actions become increasingly adventurous. But for him, the more daring the murder, the greater the sense of success."


    Fang Mu paused to catch his breath, "He should be a person full of contradictions, intoxicated with self-satisfaction. I think in reality, he might be a failure, needing an extraordinary way to express his strength and wisdom. For example, murder, to let you¡ªpolice, fall into an unsolvable mystery. Also," Fang Mu licked his dry lips, "I can hardly imagine what method he will use to kill next."


    "Will there be more deaths?" Xing Zhisen suddenly asked, who had been listening intently.


    "Of course, there are still 10 more people on the list."


    Xing Zhisen furrowed his brow slightly, "Do you still insist that the people on that borrowing card are the victims."


    "Yes, the evidence is right here, and another person on the list has died."


    "No, that borrowing card definitely isn''t it," Xing Zhisen shook his head.


    "Why?" Fang Mu was about to ask, but someone else answered the question.


    "Because of me."


    The door opened, and Wu Han, with bandages on his head and a pale face, walked in with the help of Zhuo Laosi and Laoda.


    "I am not dead, and that''s the evidence."


    Fang Mu suddenly understood; Wu Han was also on that borrowing card. If the perpetrator was using the list on the borrowing card to commit the murders, then after knocking out Wu Han, he could have easily killed him, but instead, Wu Han was only knocked unconscious and left in the restroom, meaning the perpetrator''s target was only Chen Xi.


    Song Bo, a person unrelated to the borrowing card, was killed, while Wu Han, listed on the borrowing card, was only knocked unconscious.


    There was no need for further explanation; the borrowing card was indeed a coincidence.


    Fang Mu''s mood returned to despondency. I''m so foolish not to have seen something so obvious.


    The only clue had been severed, and everything had to start over from scratch.


    As they were leaving, Fang Mu kept looking at Xing Zhisen, who sensed that he had something to say.


    "Is there anything else?"


    "I hope... I want to help you solve the case."


    His voice became hoarse.


    "I promised her I would protect her."


    Xing Zhisen looked at him silently.


    "What do you need?"


    "Everything," Fang Mu said urgently, "all the details of these cases."


    Xing Zhisen looked seriously at Fang Mu''s face, and Fang Mu stared back at him without flinching.


    "Alright," after a moment, Xing Zhisen spoke, "come to my office tomorrow."


    On the way back, Ding Shucheng curiously asked Xing Zhisen, "Why did you want to involve him in this case? Do you believe his analysis?"


    Xing Zhisen smiled. He looked out the window and said, "Do you know why Ronaldo is the world''s number one striker?"


    Ding Shucheng was a bit puzzled; he didn''t know how to respond.


    "Why can''t Hao Haidong become the world''s number one striker?"


    Ding Shucheng was even more confused, not knowing how to answer.


    "It''s not because of the intensity of their training, but because of¡ª" Xing Zhisen turned to look at Ding Shucheng, "talent."


    He turned his head back to look out the window, "Some people just have that talent, the talent to perceive crime."

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 15: Hatred

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 15: Hatred


    Xing Zhisen did not break his promise. The next day when Fang Mu arrived at the police station, Xing Zhisen brought him straight to his office. He pointed to a large pile of files on the desk and said, "You can read them here. You can use my cup for water, and the thermos is under the table."


    Then he turned and walked to the door. "If someone knocks, don''t make a sound, and don''t answer the phone." With that, he locked the door and left.


    Fang Mu understood his meaning. Allowing an unrelated person like him to read the police files was a serious violation of protocol.


    Why didn''t he consider that I might be the killer? Fang Mu smiled and shook his head. He was very grateful for Xing Zhisen''s trust.


    He looked around the office. It was not large, with only a desk, a chair, and a three-person sofa against the wall. The rest of the space was occupied by several bookshelves, all locked. There should be many thrilling or absurd stories inside.


    Fang Mu sat at the desk, facing a thick file bound in leather. The cover listed the date, location, and the victim''s name. Fang Mu pulled out the bottom one, which read "December 31, 1999, Shida Club, Chen Xi."


    Tears welled up in Fang Mu''s eyes.


    Interrogation transcripts. Crime scene investigation report. Autopsy report. Next were the crime scene photos. Fang Mu''s hands began to tremble.


    Chen Xi lying on the stretcher. Her fair and slender neck was bare, only with smooth muscles and broken bones. Apart from a few blood spots on the collar, her robe was spotlessly white.


    Her head lying on the stage. Her long hair tangled with blood, revealing a broad and fair forehead. The graceful curve of her cheek.


    A close-up of her head. Her hair parted, with a serene expression, but with a slight frown, closed eyes, and a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Below was a smooth and neat incision, the muscles showing no signs of life, pale and lifeless.


    The axe lying on the stage. Long handle, iron-made, unremarkable. There were no obvious bloodstains on the blade.


    Fang Mu couldn''t help but burst into uncontrollable sobs, large tears falling onto the photos.


    After a long time, Fang Mu bit his finger, forcing himself to calm down.


    I will protect you.


    He put it back and took a deep breath before opening the first file, "September 17, 1999, Shida Men''s Dormitory, Third Floor Bathroom (West Side), Zhou Jun."


    After reading all the files, it was already 5 p.m. Xing Zhisen came back silently. He lit a cigarette and sat opposite Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu kept his head down, not wanting Xing Zhisen to see his still swollen eyes.


    "Is there anything you want to talk about?" Xing Zhisen asked.


    Fang Mu shook his head.


    Xing Zhisen''s face did not show any disappointment. He stood up, patted Fang Mu''s shoulder, "Let''s go, let''s have dinner together. The police canteen has good food."


    Fang Mu looked up, gazing at Xing Zhisen''s kind face. "No, I want to go back early."


    Fang Mu sat on the No. 64 bus, staring out the window. It was the peak of rush hour, and the noise of people and car horns filled the streets. Everyone''s face showed an eager expression, perhaps looking forward to a simple or sumptuous dinner at home. The hurried footsteps, the turning wheels, leading them towards dry slippers, warm rice, affectionate complaints, and the murmurs of children.


    Life, like an ever-flowing river, sometimes calm, sometimes violent, sometimes with waves, and sometimes with surging tides.


    As the sky gradually darkened, Fang Mu felt a sense of exhaustion and powerlessness.


    A No. 25 bus approached from the opposite direction. Fang Mu watched it pass by, filled with a crowded group of people, sitting or standing, with numb or loud expressions. Each person''s life was unrelated to the others, as mundane as fate itself.


    But, that person was no longer there.


    "If fate has decreed that I am the next person, I hope he can kill me at once, preferably from behind, without my knowledge, without the pain of taking my life."


    The autopsy report said that Chen Xi had been anesthetized with ether and beheaded while in a deep coma.


    Who would have thought that one word could become reality?


    The bus passed by Shida, but Fang Mu didn''t want to get off, riding it all the way to the end.


    He walked slowly back to the school, the sky completely dark, and the streetlights gradually coming on. His figure was elongated and shortened repeatedly.


    He walked faster and faster, finally breaking into a run, drawing astonished glances from passersby.


    In the midst of his run, he burst into uncontrollable sobs once again.


    Two days later, Fang Mu attended Chen Xi''s funeral.


    The funeral was held at the Chaoyanggou Crematorium. Most of the attendees were Chen Xi''s classmates, as well as members of the SUO group.


    Chen Xi''s parents were supported by her aunt and uncle as they greeted those who came to bid her a final farewell.


    Chen Xi bore a striking resemblance to her father.


    The sound echoing in the hall was not funeral music, but the song "Love" by Karen Mok, reportedly Chen Xi''s favorite song.


    If it weren''t for loving you, how could I not sleep late into the night?


    Fang Mu walked past the coffin placed in the center of the hall. Chen Xi lay quietly inside, a light purple veil wrapped around her neck, thanks to the mortician, she looked remarkably peaceful.


    Love is a torment, yet we can''t bear to give it up, constantly conjecturing about your heart, does it have my name... Her hands were crossed in front of her chest, slightly clenched, as if holding a deep-seated secret.


    Love is my only secret, breaking hearts yet enchanting, no matter what words are used, only missing you.


    The memorial service ended. As Chen Xi''s distraught parents were assisted out of the hall by relatives and classmates, and the crematorium staff lifted Chen Xi''s body, preparing to place it on the cold trolley, Fang Mu turned around.


    I love you.


    Zhou Jun was strangled in the restroom. After his death, the killer posed his body in a grotesque manner, likely to prevent it from being discovered too early.


    Liu Weili was lured to the rooftop from the copy room and pushed off, and then the killer cleaned the scene thoroughly, leaving no trace.


    Jia Feifei was tied to the flagpole and froze to death. The killer stripped her clothes but left no signs of sexual assault, indicating that he only wanted to kill, not to violate. A statue in the snow.


    Song Bo was impaled by a falling icicle. From the scene, it seemed like an accident, no one could have calculated it so accurately. So why didn''t the killer hide the bodies or clean the scene like the previous two murders?


    He could have easily hidden Jia Feifei and Song Bo''s bodies in the hollow space under the sports stadium stands. That way, they might not have been found for days or weeks.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Tying her to the flagpole was probably intended to draw attention to his cruelty and intelligence, as if an artist wanted his work to be displayed in the most prominent place in the exhibition hall.


    Song Bo''s death was likely an accident, but for the killer, it seemed more like a surprise. What kind of death is more eerie and astonishing than being instantly killed by a falling icicle? Compared to Jia Feifei on the flagpole, he probably wanted people to see Song Bo kneeling outside the sports stadium, with an icicle impaled in his neck.


    As for Chen Xi, beheading her in front of over 3000 spectators, then calmly escaping.


    A perfect murder staged in front of everyone, leaving no trace, and then watching the audience''s fear and escape, the police''s panic and confusion.


    "The Devil''s Feast." That night''s play was a solo performance, his feast.


    Cunning. Cautious. Strong. Cruel. Arrogant. He enjoys dramatic life experiences.


    More importantly, deep within his heart lies a profound¡ªhatred.


    What kind of hatred is this?


    What kind of hatred requires slaughter to appease?


    What kind of hatred demands the lives of five people in retribution?


    What kind of hatred can make him willingly give up his soul?


    What kind of hatred can inspire such cruel inspiration?


    The killer, male, physically strong, with an incredibly intelligent mind, cautious, cruel, introverted, longing for extraordinary experiences and encounters.


    And, he is around me.


    "You mean, the killer is someone from this school, and it''s very likely someone you know?" Xing Zhisen and Fang Mu sat in a small restaurant on the campus, the food in front of them already cold. Xing Zhisen looked at Fang Mu through the smoke from his cigarette.


    "Yes."


    "Why?"


    "First, the person who killed Zhou Jun in the restroom must be someone familiar with his habits. It would be very risky to attack him in the dormitory building, as he might be seen by others. Zhou Jun had a habit of using the restroom late at night when everyone should be asleep, so the killer must have known Zhou Jun. Second, Liu Weili was lured to the rooftop from the copy room, and then pushed off by the killer. He must have known that Liu Weili needed to work late that night, and it''s impossible for a stranger to lead her to the rooftop late at night. Third, Chen Xi was killed on the stage, and the method of killing matched the plot, indicating that the killer must have known the development of the play in advance. So, he must be someone from this school."


    Xing Zhisen exhaled smoke silently. Fang Mu''s analysis was consistent with his inference. He looked at the college students coming and going in the restaurant, dressed in either luxurious or simple attire, but all with a youthful and innocent look. He couldn''t imagine any of them having such a cruel character or such meticulous thoughts.


    "Why did he do this?"


    "Hatred." Fang Mu thought for a moment and softly uttered these two words.


    Hatred? How could a student with shallow life experiences harbor such hatred?


    "Hatred is not always about avenging a father or a lost love," Fang Mu seemed to see through Xing Zhisen''s thoughts. "Hatred often quietly breeds in the smallest of things, a glance, a gesture, a joke, all of which could be the source of hatred. When a person feels hurt, they have a reason to hate. Just like your smile that day, it made me want to strangle you on the spot."


    Xing Zhisen looked at Fang Mu, and in the boy''s eyes, he could no longer see the nervousness and the age-appropriate innocence when they first met. His gaze was world-weary, lonely, with deep weariness yet a sharp and bright light.


    "Have you ever hated anyone?"


    "I have," Fang Mu said in a low voice. "Bullies from high school, a teacher who caught me cheating, a disrespectful ticket seller." He sighed. "But those were fleeting moments of hatred. The person I hate the most now is just him."


    Fang Mu looked into Xing Zhisen''s eyes. "Whenever, wherever, if you catch him, please let me..."


    "Let you do what?"


    Fang Mu fell silent and shook his head.


    Fang Mu arrived at the desolate club, standing at the entrance for a while before walking in.


    The second-floor corridor was empty, and the sound of Fang Mu''s footsteps echoed around. He stood near the stairs.


    This is where Wu Han was knocked down by the killer.


    He swung his right hand in the air, striking an invisible object.


    The wound on the back of Wu Han''s head was almost vertical to his shoulder, indicating that the killer had struck his head from behind with a wooden stick.


    So his habitual hand should be his right hand.


    Yes, the night the killer raised the axe with both hands, it was clear that he exerted force with his right hand.


    Fang Mu stood still, as if trying to sense the lingering breath of the person who had swung the stick in the air a few days ago.


    The surroundings were incredibly quiet, with the occasional sound of the wind blowing through the window cracks. The tap in the bathroom was dripping.


    After a long time, he walked down the stairs with a hint of disappointment.


    As he entered the lobby downstairs, Fang Mu noticed someone sitting inside the theater.


    He held his breath and quietly entered the theater, approaching the person.


    The theater was very dimly lit, and the person sat motionless in the front row of the audience seats, staring at the stage.


    Fang Mu''s eyes gradually adjusted to the light in the theater, and he noticed that the person had a bandage on the back of his head.


    It was Wu Han.


    Fang Mu let out a breath and no longer tried to move stealthily.


    He sat down next to Wu Han. Wu Han had obviously noticed Fang Mu, but he didn''t turn his head, still staring at the stage, unmoving.


    The stage was empty, with the previously used decorations hanging listlessly, and the floor had been hastily cleaned, still bearing dark red bloodstains and chalk outlines marking the position of the head and the axe.


    Wu Han let out a heavy sigh. "Right here? In front of everyone?"


    Fang Mu remained silent.


    Wu Han lowered his head and said softly, "I''m sorry."


    "It''s not your fault," Fang Mu''s voice became hoarse.


    "I know," Wu Han looked back at the stage. "But... Chen Xi was a good girl."


    "Stop talking!" Fang Mu''s voice became more strained.


    Wu Han closed his mouth obediently.


    The two sat in the increasingly dark theater, silently side by side, until they were completely shrouded by the thick darkness.


    "Let''s go," Fang Mu stood up.


    Wu Han picked up his bag. Fang Mu felt for the steps and was about to move his foot, but his arm was grabbed by Wu Han.


    In the darkness, Wu Han''s eyes flashed with an odd light.


    "Fang Mu, no matter what, no matter what, catch him!"

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 16: Song of Midnight

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 16: Song of Midnight


    The day after Chen Xi''s death, the school party committee held an emergency meeting.


    Within just one semester, five students were killed, and on New Year''s Eve, over a hundred students who escaped from the club were either trampled or injured by broken glass.


    No one could focus on studying anymore, as almost all the students from the city went back home, and the out-of-town students remaining on campus were restless, fearing they might be the next targets. The principal''s mailbox was filled with report letters like snowflakes, and overnight, it seemed like everyone in the school was a suspect. Teachers faced half-empty classrooms every day, and some even stopped coming to class altogether.


    The final decision of the meeting was to close the school.


    However, this decision was vetoed by the Provincial Education Committee. The deputy governor in charge of education harshly criticized the principal and cited examples from the resistance war period, such as Zhejiang University enduring the bombardment by the Japanese army to continue its education.


    The principal could only smile bitterly. He didn''t mention his promise to jump off the building if there were more deaths.


    Of course, the building would not be jumped off. The school would continue to operate for the rest of the semester.


    Thankfully, it was less than a month until the break.


    God willing, there would be no more deaths.


    The news that final exams were still required actually calmed the students at the Normal University. For most people at this school, the threat of failing the final exams was much more real than the risk of being targeted by the serial killer. The self-study rooms were once again crowded, and the teaching order at the school slowly began to recover. Just like every other semester''s end, everyone shuttled back and forth between classrooms and dormitories, murmuring to themselves.


    No one paid attention to the five empty seats anymore.


    Except for one person.


    Every day, Fang Mu, like everyone else, brought his water cup and book bag to the classroom, had lunch at 11:30, dinner at 5:00, and returned to bed at 10:00. Even though his mother repeatedly asked him to come home, he stayed at the school under the pretext of studying for exams. (En*Jing*Book*Room www_EnJing_com_)


    He often stared at a person for a long time until that person noticed, and then, when the person expressed fear or anger with their eyes and words, he would lower his head back to his book. Then, he would cast his gaze onto the next person.


    He shuttled between the self-study rooms, the library reading room, and the cafeteria, tirelessly staring at everyone within his line of sight, speculating on their personalities, identities, lifestyles, and hobbies.


    When he felt tired, he would go to the 24th floor of the administration building or the sports field, and at night, he would squat in the first stall of the third floor west side of the dormitory''s bathroom without any convenience. However, he never went to the club again.


    Who are you, exactly?


    Fang Mu often stared at the bunk above him with wide-open eyes at night, and just like his answer to that question, sleep never came.


    Everything in the darkness seemed to be endowed with a life unnoticed during the day. While everyone murmured in their dreams, they whispered to each other.


    The dry, crackling sound of the wind blowing through the branches.


    The sound of snowflakes falling to the ground.


    The lonely whistle of a night wanderer.


    The sound of rats gnawing on food in the water room.


    The clattering of slippers in the corridor.


    If you see it, tell me, who is he?


    Wang Jian came to find Fang Mu.


    Unexpectedly, Wang Jian was not studying hard in the classroom, so when he hesitantly appeared at the door, Fang Mu thought he was seeing things.


    "Hey," Wang Jian greeted awkwardly.


    Fang Mu sat expressionless at his desk and nodded.


    There was no one else in the dorm. During dinner, Fang Mu was beaten by a student from the Physical Education Department because he had been staring at him for a full 20 minutes (he had strong upper arms). As Fang Mu wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth, covered in rice and soup, he didn''t even speak. He just cleaned his glasses, sat back down at the table in front of everyone, and finished his meal.


    Impulsive, rude, simple-minded, and in a romantic relationship.


    It wasn''t him.


    The student from the Physical Education Department was baffled by Fang Mu''s indifference and stood dumbfounded for a long time before leaving with his Hello Kitty lunch tray.


    Fang Mu waited until everyone in the dormitory had gone to study before returning to the dormitory. He didn''t want them to see him with a bruised and swollen face, not because he was embarrassed, but because he wasn''t used to their pitying looks and righteous words.


    Wang Jian carefully looked at Fang Mu''s still swollen mouth and pretended to pick up a few books from Fang Mu''s bed, flipping through them casually.


    Seeing Fang Mu''s silence, he sat at the desk, took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one for himself, and offered one to Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu hesitated for a moment before taking it, and Wang Jian quickly lit it for him.


    The two of them sat silently at the desk, blowing out smoke. After finishing a cigarette, Wang Jian coughed awkwardly.


    "Fang Mu, are you... are you okay?" he asked hesitantly.


    Fang Mu looked up at him with a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    Wang Jian blushed. He took another cigarette from the pack and lit it quickly.


    "I know you''re not feeling well. As a... as a friend, I hope you can be happier and stop thinking about these unhappy things all the time," Wang Jian said haltingly.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Thank you," Fang Mu said, staring into Wang Jian''s eyes.


    Wang Jian''s expression relaxed slightly, and he took a drag of his cigarette, gazing at the rising smoke.


    "During this time, being with you guys, seeing how you care for each other, honestly, this is probably the happiest time I''ve had in the past three years. In my heart..." his voice lowered, "I consider you, all of you, as friends."


    Then, he took a deep drag of his cigarette.


    "Chen Xi''s death has made me very sad. She was such a lively, kind girl. And..."


    He stood up, with his hands in his pockets, and walked to the window, speaking softly as he looked out, "I also liked her a lot."


    Fang Mu quietly gripped the lighter on the table in his hand.


    Wang Jian turned around, "Would you be upset if I said this?"


    Fang Mu smiled and shook his head.


    "But I feel even more upset seeing you like this," Wang Jian said earnestly.


    "Oh?"


    "Tonight, I saw that kid hit you. Normally, you would definitely fight back. I know that you don''t care about anything else in order to find the killer. But don''t do this, buddy," Wang Jian took a drag of his cigarette, and there was only a short stub left in his hand, "take care of yourself so that you can seek revenge for Chen Xi and the others."


    He flicked the cigarette butt out the window and turned to look at Fang Mu, squinting his eyes.


    "If I die, I''ll count on you to avenge me too," he said, chuckling to himself.


    Fang Mu didn''t laugh.


    Wang Jian also restrained his smile, took out another cigarette from his pocket, and fumbled for a lighter.


    Fang Mu suddenly threw the lighter at him.


    Wang Jian reached out to catch it, and in that instant, Fang Mu saw clearly.


    Wang Jian was reaching out with his left hand.


    He took the lighter and lit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and saw Fang Mu still staring at him.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Oh, nothing," Fang Mu came to his senses, "Are you, are you left-handed?"


    "Oh? Yes, I am. I''ve been left-handed since I was young," Wang Jian said, holding the cigarette and examining his left hand, "I play table tennis, basketball, all with my left hand, and I kick with my left foot."


    Fang Mu''s heart relaxed. When he realized the deep-seated hatred in the killer''s heart, the first person he thought of was Wang Jian. Although it didn''t make much sense because all the victims were not from the base class, let alone from the Economics Department like Chen Xi, Jia Feifei, and Song Bo. However, he wanted to find an opportunity to verify Wang Jian''s habitual hand. When Wang Jian caught the lighter with his left hand, Fang Mu even felt relieved. After all, he didn''t believe, or rather, he didn''t want to believe that Wang Jian was the killer. But what came with it was a deeper sense of desolation: who was he after all?


    Wang Jian''s expression suddenly changed from sincere to doubtful.


    "Are you suspecting me?" Wang Jian frowned, "Did the killer use their right hand, didn''t they?"


    He looked hurt. His eyes also became as cold and mocking as they used to be.


    He strode to the desk, grabbed his bag, and turned to leave.


    "Wait!" Fang Mu hurriedly stood up.


    "What''s up?" Wang Jian asked coldly, holding onto the door frame.


    Fang Mu stared at him for a few seconds and smiled, "Hey, buddy, I want to go out for a drink. Want to come?"


    Wang Jian''s face still showed hostility, but Fang Mu smiled at him, watching the ice and snow in his eyes gradually melt, and Wang Jian''s mouth slowly curved into a faint smile.


    "Okay!"


    When Fang Mu and Wang Jian returned to the second dormitory, supporting each other, it was already 1:30 in the morning. Fortunately, they greeted Wu Han, who was on duty, so they were able to return to their dormitory.


    Wang Jian vomited heavily in the bathroom and then fell asleep in the dormitory like a dead dog. Although Fang Mu had also drunk a lot, his mind was surprisingly clear. He looked at the clock, nearly two in the morning, hesitating in front of room 352 for a moment. Just as he was about to go to Wang Jian''s dormitory to spend the night, the door opened by itself, and Zhu Laosi poked his head out, holding a mop handle in his hand.


    "You rascal, I knew it was you, come in."


    Fang Mu staggered into the dormitory but was taken aback. The room was lit by candles about to burn out, and the other four people in the dormitory: Lao Da, Lao Er, Lao Wu, and Zhu Laosi, were still awake, but everyone looked very tired.


    "What are you all doing?" Fang Mu asked puzzledly.


    "Damn, you didn''t come back, and we couldn''t sleep. Who knows if that kid..." Lao Da nodded towards the opposite door.


    Fang Mu grinned but didn''t say anything.


    "Go to sleep, Lao Liu, rest early, and stop thinking nonsense," Lao Wu said.


    Fang Mu sat on the edge of the bed, hanging his head.


    Everyone fell into silence for a while.


    After a while, Lao Da said slowly, "Lao Liu, hang in there."


    Lao Wu took off his earphones and the music playing on them suddenly echoed throughout the dormitory.


    Chasing in the wind and rain, unable to discern the shadow in the fog, you and I in the vast sky, will it change...


    Fang Mu looked up at Lao Wu. Suddenly, he started singing loudly: "In a moment of confusion, a feeling of loss, unknowingly fading away, in my heart, love¡ªeveryone joined in and sang in unison: Who understands me¡ªAt 2 am, five boys sang loudly and hoarsely in the quiet and dilapidated male dormitory: Forgive me for living a wild and free life, but also fearing that one day I''ll fall, abandoned my ideals, anyone can do it, but fearing that one day, only you and I will share it."


    Fang Mu didn''t need to turn around to know that behind him were Lao Da, his face flushed; Lao Er, with bulging veins on his neck; Zhu Laosi; and Lao Wu, bouncing around on the bed in just his underwear.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 17: Closing

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 17: Closing


    The final exams arrived as scheduled.


    In the last few days, Fang Mu finally settled down and pulled several all-nighters, managing to handle the previous subjects. It was impossible to achieve a high score, but passing the exams should not be a problem.


    January 17, 2000, the final exam for Environmental Law.


    In the classroom, students with varying expressions sat. Many of them were muttering to themselves and constantly flipping through their review materials. Some were even carefully writing down answers on their desks.


    Ten minutes before the exam, Fang Mu decided to go to the restroom. As soon as he entered the restroom, he saw Zhu Laos¨¬ standing in a cubicle, tiptoeing to place something on top of the water tank.


    "What are you doing?" Fang Mu shouted.


    Zhu Laos¨¬ was startled, and the thing in his hand fell into the water tank. He turned around and saw Fang Mu, cursing under his breath, "Damn, it''s you. You scared me. I thought it was the counselor."


    "What are you doing?" Fang Mu asked as he adjusted his belt.


    Zhu Laos¨¬ used the water pipe to retrieve the item that had fallen into the tank. It was a water-soaked environmental law textbook.


    "You see, it''s ruined," Zhu Laos¨¬ shook the book. "It''s okay, this book won''t be of any use after this subject anyway."


    He carefully placed the book on the edge of the water tank, jumped down, walked to the cubicle door, looked around, and then adjusted the book''s position.


    Satisfied, he clapped his hands and, seeing Fang Mu looking at him inexplicably, grinned.


    "How about it, clever, right?" He pointed to the book on the water tank. "No one will notice it there. I''ll put the book there, write down the questions I don''t know during the exam, and then say I need to go to the restroom. Clever, right?"


    "I truly admire you," Fang Mu fastened his belt. "If I were you, I''d just find a plastic bag, put the book inside, tie it up, and toss it in the water tank. Wouldn''t that be safer?"


    "Yeah!" Zhu Laos¨¬ suddenly realized, "You''re smarter. Laoliu, do you have a plastic bag?"


    "Damn, go away. I don''t have that stuff," Fang Mu punched Zhu Laos¨¬. "Let''s go, it''s time for the exam."


    "Good idea, next time I''ll definitely listen to you," Zhu Laos¨¬ said regretfully.


    Environmental Law was the subject Fang Mu disliked the most and usually paid little attention to. Although the questions were not too difficult, he still found it challenging. Fortunately, Wang Jian was sitting beside him, and this guy was like a genius with the pen. Fang Mu wrote down the answers he knew while also looking for opportunities to copy Wang Jian''s paper.


    After about half an hour of the exam, Zhu Laos¨¬ raised his hand and said he needed to go to the restroom. It took him almost 15 minutes. An older invigilator instructed another invigilator to check the restroom, "Check if he fell into the toilet."


    Several people from dorm 352 looked at each other and burst into laughter.


    In less than a minute, Zhu Laos¨¬ came back dejectedly. Walking to Fang Mu''s desk, he made a helpless grimace and whispered, "Damn, it was unsuccessful."


    Finally, Fang Mu couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    It should be said that today was quite lucky. Both invigilators were well-known for their leniency in the department. Although many students were cheating, the two gentlemen turned a blind eye. So, with Wang Jian''s help, Fang Mu quickly finished most of the exam. He did a rough calculation and felt that passing should not be a problem, so he put down his pen.


    Twenty minutes before the end of the exam, Zhu Laos¨¬ raised his hand again and said he needed to go to the restroom. The invigilator smiled and waved him off, and he dashed out like he had received an amnesty. A few minutes later, he returned with a triumphant V sign for Fang Mu.


    Ha, the fatso succeeded.


    After the exam, Fang Mu seemed at a loss. Sitting on the bed, he watched everyone packing their bags. Everyone seemed eager to leave, perhaps because of the events of this semester. It seemed like everyone was eager to escape this ominous campus.


    The eldest packed his bags, said goodbye, and hurried to the train station. Soon after, the second and fifth also left. Zhu Laos¨¬ and Wang Jian went to buy train tickets. Wu Han disappeared to goodness knows where. There was only Fang Mu left in the dorm room.


    Suddenly, it was quiet, and Fang Mu felt a bit at a loss.


    He stood up, pacing back and forth in the dorm room, and stopped in front of the mirror.


    Inside was a person with disheveled hair and a pale complexion.


    When did you learn to furrow your brow so deeply? When did you learn to clench your fists? When did your eyes begin to emit a cold light? When did your shoulders begin to bear such a heavy burden?


    My name is Fang Mu, what about you?


    The phone rang, and Fang Mu picked it up. A familiar voice came from the other end.


    Fang Mu said, "Okay, Mom, I''ll come home now."


    Home is always the most relaxing place, and the family feast is always the best meal in the world.


    Perhaps because of Fang Mu''s increasingly pale complexion, his mother prepared a lot of delicious food. Fang Mu enjoyed it very much. It seemed like a long time since he had such a good appetite. While eating, the phone rang. It was Zhu Laos¨¬ calling, asking where the small pot for cooking noodles was in Fang Mu''s dorm room. Fang Mu told him it was under his bed and asked, "What are you guys doing?"


    "Hehe, Wang Jian and I are going home tomorrow. We''re preparing to have hot pot tonight in the dorm room."


    "Having hot pot in the dorm room? Be careful not to get reported."


    "It''s fine. There''s no one in the building, and also, San-ge is on duty tonight, so there''s no problem."


    Wang Jian''s voice came from the phone, "Fang Mu, want to join us?"


    Fang Mu chuckled, "No, you guys go ahead and eat. Be careful, and have a safe journey tomorrow."


    "Okay, we''ll call you to wish you a happy new year during the Spring Festival."


    After dinner, Mom was washing the dishes in the kitchen, and Dad had put on a Jackie Chan movie in the VCR, enthusiastically inviting Fang Mu to watch it with him. Fang Mu had already seen the movie, but seeing Dad''s excitement, he sat down next to him.


    It seems like all men have a bit of a violent streak. Dad was fixated on the scenes of car chases, explosions, and gunfights in the movie. When he saw Jackie Chan and a few special agents fighting in the office, Mom poked her head out of the kitchen and asked Dad to help boil some water.


    "Xiaomu, come."


    Mom held up her sleeves and poked her head out of the kitchen, "Xiaomu, it''s rare for you to come home, don''t bother the child, you come."


    Dad grumbled discontentedly and went to the kitchen.


    After boiling the water and returning, the fight scene had ended. Dad expressed regret, and Fang Mu picked up the remote control, pressed the rewind button.


    The scene comically played in reverse as Jackie Chan leaped over his own handcuffed hands.


    Dad was engrossed in the movie and didn''t notice Fang Mu''s sudden change in breathing.


    As Dad was enjoying himself, Fang Mu abruptly grabbed the remote control and pressed the rewind button.


    "What are you doing?"


    Fang Mu didn''t answer, his eyes fixed on the screen.


    In that scene, Jackie Chan''s hands were handcuffed behind his back, and after kicking down several special agents, he leaped over his own hands. In the rewound footage, Jackie Chan''s hands were in front, and after leaping, they became handcuffed behind his back.


    Fang Mu watched it several times, and the remote control was snatched away by Dad, who protested loudly.


    It turned out that it''s not difficult to handcuff your hands behind your back, as long as you''re agile enough.


    What about his feet?


    Why did I start thinking about these things? I don''t want to think about it. Fang Mu forced himself to focus on the video tape.


    On the rooftop, Jackie Chan had an intense battle with two thugs. Plastic handcuff clips.


    As long as the pointed end was inserted into the small hole of the other end and pulled hard, hands and feet could be bound.


    The live broadcast mentioned that this was a very simple yet effective method of securely binding a person.


    It''s easy to bind others, and it''s just as easy to bind oneself.


    Fang Mu''s heart began to race.


    Impossible. Absolutely impossible.


    When he was discovered, he was only wearing underwear.


    If it was him, where were his tight-fitting clothes and headgear?


    The scene was thoroughly searched, including downstairs, and no tight-fitting clothes or headgear were found. They would have left traces and smells if they were burned. No, it''s impossible.


    When he was discovered, only his underwear was worn, and the people who were present all had alibis, including him.


    If Sun Mei lied? Then...


    Dad noticed Fang Mu''s expression and asked concernedly, "What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"


    Fang Mu weakly shook his head.


    No, I''m overthinking. Stop these crazy thoughts. Stop it now!


    "If you''re not feeling well, speak up. If it gets serious, it''ll be too late."


    It''s too late.


    When I realized the true intentions of the people on stage, I didn''t take action immediately.


    It''s too late. Chen Xi is dead.


    No, even if I''m wrong, I don''t want it to be "too late."


    Fang Mu leaped up, picked up the phone, and dialed Xing Zhisen''s mobile phone.


    "The number you''ve dialed cannot be reached at the moment. Please try again later..."


    No one answered the phone in Xing Zhisen''s office.


    Fang Mu paced back and forth in the room, suddenly remembered something, and dialed the dormitory phone.


    The receiver emitted a monotonous tone, and no one answered.


    Where did they go? Wang Jian''s dorm? I don''t know their phone number.


    Or, did something happen?


    Should I call the police?


    Fang Mu''s hand lingered on the 1 and 1 for a long time, then put the phone down.


    Maybe, it''s just my overthinking.


    Fang Mu sat back on the sofa, and the clock pointed to 10 o''clock. His eyes remained fixed on the TV, but he didn''t actually see anything. After enduring for 10 minutes, he suddenly stood up, said to his stunned parents, "I''m going out for a bit," and put on his coat, opened the door, and left.


    He had to go to the school and see for himself, otherwise he wouldn''t be able to calm down tonight.


    In the sparsely populated street, Fang Mu flagged down a taxi and let out a long sigh as he got in.


    I hope it''s just my overthinking.


    Two hours ago.


    In Room 352, a gas canister was placed under the table, a small aluminum pot was bubbling with heat, and the table was filled with lamb, squid, vermicelli, oysters, and several bottles of beer, with two already opened. Zhu Laos¨¬ and Wang Jian were crouching on the floor, selecting ingredients, and the chosen vegetables were scattered on the floor.


    Someone knocked on the door. Zhu Laos¨¬ asked, "Who is it?" Wang Jian stood up and was ready to turn off the heat.


    "It''s me." Zhu Laos¨¬ breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door. Wu Han walked in.


    "Damn, I thought it was Sun Meigeng."


    "It''s okay, she''s downstairs watching a TV drama, ''Chasing No Regrets.'' She''s really into it. She won''t come up. But keep your voices down."


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Don''t worry, with you around, we''re covered," Wang Jian held a tray filled with vegetables. "I''m going to wash the vegetables. Wu Han, come up later for dinner."


    "Okay."


    Wang Jian pulled the door shut and walked out. Wu Han walked to his bed and pulled out a plastic bag from under the bed, taking out a dark object.


    "Laos¨¬, do you want to eat this?"


    "What is it?"


    "Cured meat, a fellow villager gave it to me. I''m not used to this taste."


    "Cured meat! This is the best for hot pot! San-ge, you''re really something," Zhu Laos¨¬ eagerly received it.


    "Clean it before eating, it''s been there a long time."


    "Okay, San-ge, watch the heat for me," Zhu Laos¨¬ grinned and left.


    Wu Han walked to the door and closed it, taking out a small packet from his pocket and quickly pouring the powder inside into two beer bottles, giving them a shake. The powder quickly dissolved in the beer.


    In no time, Zhu Laos¨¬ and Wang Jian pushed open the door and walked in. Wu Han stood up.


    "Do you want some? I''ll come up later, save some for me," Zhu Laos¨¬ said.


    "I''ll bring the pot to you," Wu Han held onto the doorframe.


    "It''s okay, there''s no one else in the building. Besides, San-ge is on duty tonight, so it''s fine."


    In a tone of regret, Zhu Laos¨¬ said, "Room 3, Room 6, and Room 8 will come up later to eat."


    Zhu Laos¨¬ turned to the door, and Wu Han took out a small piece of paper from his pocket, pouring some powder into the two beer bottles, shaking them. There were no signs of panic, no one heard. He closed the door and quickly made his way down the stairs.


    Wu Han stood in the dark corridor, quietly waiting, occasionally checking his wristwatch.


    After a long time, he opened the door and a strong smell of gas hit him. He was satisfied with the door being slightly ajar, turned around, and quickly went down the stairs.


    Sun Han hurriedly entered the duty room downstairs, and Wu Han walked into the room, putting his ear to the door and listening intently. After about a minute, the footsteps sounded again, but gradually faded until they disappeared.


    "No problem, it''s probably the security guard. I greeted them," Wu Han said.


    Wu Han walked to the door, and the corridor was empty. He breathed a sigh of relief.


    He went back to the room, took out the report book, and put it in his backpack. Then he took out a mop from his bag and cleaned the floor of the room, then went to the corridor and wiped the windowsill and frame. He then went to the 24th-floor bathroom, took out a mop, and cleaned the floor of the restroom. Afterward, he took out his backpack and water cup, left the restroom, and before leaving, wiped the doorknob of the restroom, then closed the door and quickly disappeared into the dark corridor.


    In the study room, Jia Feifei and Song Bo were cuddling in a corner, and Song Bo''s hands were moving around Jia Feifei''s body.


    The phone suddenly rang, and Song Bo quickly picked it up.


    "Hello? Oh, I''ll be right there."


    He hung up the phone, turned to Jia Feifei, and said, "It''s my father. I''m going home now."


    Jia Feifei nodded, and Song Bo left the study room.


    In the corner of the locker room, Wu Han also started packing his bag.


    Jia Feifei and Song Bo arrived at the sports field, found a sheltered corner, and as soon as they sat down, they passionately embraced each other.


    They didn''t hear, in the hollow space under the steps where they sat, a person was calmly breathing.


    Wu Han was sitting there, holding a wooden stick, his eyes closed, but his ears were catching every sound from above.


    After a long time, the students'' loud laughter and applause filled the sports field. Wu Han quickly dashed into the corridor, ran to the third floor, and hurried into the restroom. As expected, everyone was downstairs enjoying the climax of the drama, and the restroom was empty.


    He went back to the dorm and put the report book in his backpack, then took out a piece of cloth and carefully wiped the table and photocopier. He then went to the corridor and wiped the windowsill and frame. Then he went to the 24th-floor bathroom, and from inside, took out a mop and cleaned the floor of the restroom. Afterward, he took out his backpack and water cup, and left the restroom. Before leaving, he wiped the doorknob of the restroom and then closed the door and quickly disappeared into the dark corridor.


    In the evening, the community streets were quiet, and Wu Han walked toward the school, his heart full of determination.


    At the school, the streetlights cast a dim glow, and Wu Han hurried to the dormitory building, his eyes fixed on the darkened windows.


    As he approached the dormitory, Wu Han''s heart raced, and he quickly climbed the stairs to the third floor, his breath coming in short gasps. He saw the door to the restroom, and as he pushed it open, the


    He took off the tight-fitting costume and headgear, with thick cotton pads stuck to his chest, arms, and thighs. He entered a compartment, stepped on a water pipe, and took out a plastic bag from the water tank. He crumpled the costume and headgear into a small bundle, stuffed them into the plastic bag, tied it up, then stepped back onto the water pipe and placed the plastic bag in a corner of the water tank, where it would not affect the water supply and drainage.


    Next, he tore off the cotton pads stuck to his body, tore them into small pieces, and wet them under the faucet, turning the thick cotton pads into several small bundles. He threw these cotton bundles and the tape into the toilet in another compartment, flushed them down the drain.


    After doing all this, he took out two plastic fastening ropes that were already prepared from behind the radiator and walked into the innermost compartment. He first tied up his feet, then, with the coordination of his knees and mouth, he tied up his hands, then sat on the ground, curled his feet through his hands, so his hands were tied behind his back. With his hands on the wall behind him, Wu Han stood up, pressing the back of his head against the wooden compartment door frame. When he felt the edge of the door frame against the back of his head, he leaned forward and then suddenly slammed backward. A gash immediately appeared on the back of his head, and blood quickly flowed down. Feeling dizzy, Wu Han leaned against the wall, carefully not letting the blood touch the wall, then lay down on the floor of the compartment, closing his eyes.


    "So, I saw you at the club that day," Fang Mu said slowly, "Did you go to the third-floor restroom to get that costume and headgear?"


    Wu Han nodded.


    I see. He didn''t sit in the theater that day out of grief for Chen Xi or guilt, but to relive the wonderful performance of the day.


    The two men silently faced each other.


    "Why didn''t you kill me?" Fang Mu suddenly asked.


    "I wanted to keep you until the end, dear Fang Mu," his smile could almost be called friendly, "Someone is constantly guessing my thoughts, but can''t figure them out, how fun. But." His smile disappeared from his face in an instant, "You stupidly ruined this great drama, it was supposed to have a perfect ending. So, Fang Mu, we can only say goodbye today."


    A wave of fear rushed to Fang Mu''s heart, with only one thought in his mind: run fast.


    He had just turned around, but Wu Han picked up a chair leg from the ground and swung it at him.


    Fang Mu hurriedly dodged, but Wu Han only feinted, crouching and hitting his ankles.


    "Crack!" Fang Mu clearly heard the sound of his ankle breaking. His body tilted, and Wu Han quickly stood up, swinging his hand at Fang Mu''s head. Fang Mu took a heavy blow and couldn''t stand anymore, falling backward.


    The intense pain almost made Fang Mu faint. In a daze, he felt Wu Han grab his collar and drag him toward the still-burning Room 352. Fang Mu struggled weakly, but it was in vain, he could only let Wu Han drag him to the doorway of the room.


    Wu Han let go, Fang Mu fell heavily to the ground, just about to get up, but was stepped on the chest by Wu Han''s foot, unable to move.


    Wu Han took out a large military knife from his pocket, Fang Mu recognized it as the fake Swiss army knife that Wu Han bought at a stall last year.


    Wu Han snapped the knife open, then straddled Fang Mu, pressing the blade against Fang Mu''s neck.


    "To tell the truth, I really didn''t want to kill you," he sighed, "I was planning to let you live a few more days, so the game would be more fun."


    "You''re a psycho!" Fang Mu cursed through gritted teeth.


    Wu Han wasn''t angry, instead he smiled gently. "A psycho?"


    "Actually, you''re just like me." He leaned close to Fang Mu''s face, "Sensitive and insecure, just like me."


    Fang Mu stopped struggling, staring at Wu Han with wide eyes.


    "Yes, you''re just like me. I knew it as soon as we came back from the police station that day." Wu Han''s knife still pressed against Fang Mu''s neck, "So, before you die, I''ll tell you all the secrets. Thank me, at least," he nodded toward the two bodies in the room, "You should be more willing than they are."


    "The police will catch you sooner or later!"


    "Hehe," Wu Han''s mouth curved into a compassionate smile, "You''re being silly. You''re all dead, it doesn''t matter what I say."


    The sharp siren of a fire engine gradually echoed in the distance.


    He took out a bottle of mineral water from his pocket, the liquid inside showing a faint red color.


    "Good, I saved a bottle, it''s enough." He unscrewed the cap, as if coaxing a child to sleep, "Don''t move, it won''t be long, it''ll all be over in an instant."


    "No¡­"


    Fang Mu and Wu Han both looked at the wall corner. For a moment, Fang Mu thought he was seeing things.


    But Sun Mei really moved a little.


    Then, she slowly stood up.


    "No¡­ don''t¡­ kill again¡­"


    Sun Mei''s hair had been completely burned off, her face was charred and her flesh was exposed, her features were no longer discernible. Her clothes were barely hanging on, some still smoking.


    She walked step by step toward Wu Han, murmuring to herself, "No¡­ don''t¡­ kill again¡­"


    Wu Han gaped, unable to say a word, his face twisted in fear.


    The disfigured Sun Mei reached out to him, "Don''t¡­ don''t¡­ kill again¡­"


    "Don''t come near me!" Wu Han shivered, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.


    "Don''t kill again!"


    Suddenly, Sun Mei let out a desperate, piercing scream and pounced on Wu Han.


    Wu Han was knocked down in an instant. Fang Mu rolled to the other side of the corridor.


    Sun Mei clung tightly to Wu Han, who struggled desperately, the liquid from the mineral water bottle spilling onto him.


    They rolled on the ground, grappling. Wu Han scratched and clawed at Sun Mei''s face, chunks of burnt flesh falling off, but her hands held him firmly.


    The door frame, which had been burning for a long time, finally collapsed on top of them, and flames immediately leaped up on Wu Han''s body.


    "Ah¡ª¡ª" Wu Han screamed in agony, the flames on his body growing bigger.


    "Help¡­ save me¡­" He reached out a burning hand toward Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu looked at Wu Han and Sun Mei, who had been burned into a ball of fire, wanting to move but unable to. Dizziness struck, and Fang Mu gradually lost consciousness.

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 18: Sun Meis Diary

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Chapter 18: Sun Mei''s Diary


    When Fang Mu woke up, he found himself in the hospital.


    The ordeal from that night had left Fang Mu with a fractured skull and ankle, as well as burns in some parts of his body. On the second day of his admission, in his intermittent state of consciousness, he narrated the events of that night to Xing Zisen.


    Two grim-faced policemen stood guard outside his ward from morning till night. Xing Zisen, who came to visit, openly mentioned that the police were treating Fang Mu as a major suspect in the investigation, as the large military knife Fang Mu mentioned was not found at the scene.


    "Everyone else is dead, only you are alive, the reason is self-evident."


    One night, Fang Mu suddenly woke up.


    The hospital room was filled with choking smoke, and outside the door, flickering flames could be faintly seen.


    It was on fire.


    Fang Mu wanted to shout, but he couldn''t make a sound.


    He struggled to sit up, but his body wouldn''t obey.


    In his struggle, Fang Mu suddenly recognized the familiar bed board above him.


    I''m in Room 352.


    The door was pushed open gently.


    First, a charred, mangled hand, then a charred body with unrecognizable features.


    Plump, it was Zhu Lao Si.


    He walked to Fang Mu''s bed and stood silently.


    Next was Wang Jian, whose body was burned down to a short stub, and Sun Mei, with a shattered face.


    Then came a girl in a white robe, holding her own flowing head in her hands.


    Fang Mu''s mouth gaped in horror.


    You guys...


    The deceased stood in a silent line, silently staring at Fang Mu in the bed.


    Their gazes were like a net, tightly ensnaring Fang Mu.


    As the net tightened, Fang Mu felt his breathing becoming more and more difficult.


    No, let me go.


    In fact, you are just like me. A voice sounded in his ear.


    Fang Mu suddenly turned his head, and Wu Han lay beside him, with only two empty bloodied sockets for eyes, and his lips were gone, leaving only the wriggling teeth attached to the bloody flesh.


    Actually, you are just like me.


    No¡ª


    Fang Mu''s body twisted in agony on the bed, his hands tightly gripping the sheets, muttering incoherently.


    His mother, sitting by the bed, suddenly jumped up and desperately pressed down on Fang Mu''s body.


    "Don''t be afraid, don''t be afraid, it''s okay, Mom is here."


    Fang Mu''s eyes suddenly opened, and the afternoon sunlight streamed in, and he couldn''t help but close his eyes again, tears flowing freely down his cheeks.


    It''s a dream. He relaxed suddenly.


    The door was thrown open, and the two policemen waiting outside rushed in. Xing Zisen followed behind them.


    "What are you doing!" Fang Mu''s disheveled mother exploded, "Take the child away, sentence him to death!"


    She pounced on one of the policemen, pounding his chest.


    The policeman awkwardly grabbed her hand and gently pushed her away.


    After struggling for a few moments, feeling her own lack of strength, she let go, and collapsed by the bed, sobbing loudly.


    Xing Zisen spoke a few words to the two policemen sitting at the bedside, and they nodded repeatedly. Finally, they said, "Captain Xing, we''re leaving," and left the ward.


    Xing Zisen walked to the bedside and patted the mother''s shoulder, "Don''t worry, everything''s fine, we''ve ruled out suspicion against him."


    "Really?" The mother raised her tear-stained face, "Has the murderer been caught?"


    "No. But we''ve figured it out, and it has nothing to do with Fang Mu." Xing Zisen picked up the towel on the bedside, "Quick, wipe your face, look at you, what have you become."


    The mother sniffed, embarrassedly taking the towel.


    "I''m going to wash my face." She looked back at Fang Mu with concern.


    "It''s okay, you can go, I''ll take care of him here. Besides," Xing Zisen turned to look at Fang Mu lying on the bed, "Your son is a strong-willed person."


    Pride glimmered in the mother''s eyes, as if saying "Of course." She tidied her hair and left the room.


    Xing Zisen sat at the bedside, his hand on the cover.


    "How are you?"


    "Fine." Fang Mu took a while to reply.


    His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, and his head and ankle throbbed intermittently.


    His gaze was hollow and desolate, with an indescribable fear. Xing Zisen sighed softly, burying his face in his hand, rubbing it vigorously.


    "We''ve ruled out your suspicion."


    "Mm."


    Fang Mu''s indifference left Xing Zisen at a loss. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and then put it back in the packet after a moment of contemplation.


    "Are you still resentful towards me?" he tentatively asked.


    Fang Mu remained unresponsive.


    "I want to apologize to you. That night, I was in the suburbs..."


    "I don''t resent you, I don''t resent anyone." Fang Mu suddenly spoke.


    Yes. I have no reason to resent anyone.


    I found the library card. I didn''t return to school in time. It''s all too late.


    Xing Zisen lowered his head.


    The two sat in silence for a while. When the mother returned to the ward and saw the scene inside, she retreated again.


    Xing Zisen sighed again and began to rummage through his bag. After a while, he placed a few things on the bedside.


    "We found this at Sun Mei''s house."


    For the first time, Fang Mu turned his head. There were three hardcover notebooks, one of which was of good quality and expensive, while the other two were ordinary and cheap.


    "What is this?"


    "Sun Mei''s diary. We found some important evidence here, so we''ve ruled out your suspicion."


    Xing Zisen saw Fang Mu''s intense gaze fixed on the notebook and smiled faintly.


    "Do you want to take a look?"


    Fang Mu shifted his gaze from the notebook to Xing Zisen''s face. Though he didn''t speak, Xing Zisen saw something familiar in that look.


    Strength and fervor.


    "Do take a look, but handle it with care." Xing Zisen stood up, rubbing his eyes, "After all, I''ve already violated discipline before. Besides," he paused, "you have the right to know the truth."


    He placed his hand on Fang Mu''s head, his touch heavy and firm.


    "Fang Mu," he stared into Fang Mu''s eyes, "let the past remain in the past. You are stronger than I imagined, don''t disappoint me."


    With that, he opened the door and left.


    The first diary.


    July 14, 1998, sunny.


    Today is Kejian''s death anniversary. Feeling low.


    Took the morning off and went with Fanfan to his father''s grave. I dressed her in his favorite floral dress. It was quite expensive, over a hundred yuan, but Kejian bought it without hesitation.


    It felt like it happened just yesterday.


    Fanfan is 8 years old now, the dress was a bit small, fitting tightly. Fanfan is obedient, didn''t say a word, and even helped me pack up.


    Children grow up, not like the first two years, when they played around like it was a spring outing during grave sweeping. It was quiet today, and she even kowtowed to her father.


    July 29, 1998, light rain.


    The logistic department brought in a boy, Wu Han, a university student on work-study. He looks thin and malnourished.


    I''m not very happy about this, supposed to help me with dorm management, yet they assigned me such a small and weak boy. What can he do?


    Wu Han is timid, speaking with his eyes downcast and constantly shifting. He might be a cunning little fellow.


    In any case, I don''t like him.


    August 3, 1998, cloudy to light rain.


    Sun He introduced me to a man, this meddlesome sister of mine.


    I couldn''t refuse, so I went to meet him. It had been a long time since I wore high heels, and my feet hurt.


    He is a retired high school teacher, like me, and a widower.


    He looks spirited and presentable. At the beginning, when I said I worked in the logistics department at the Normal University, he was polite, but when he found out I was a dorm manager, he immediately took on an arrogant air.


    During dinner, I ordered steamed Mandarin fish, and he seemed heartbroken, changing it to a pork dish.


    Later, it rained, and he eagerly invited me to his house. Hmph, did he think I didn''t know what he was up to?


    August 4, 1998, heavy rain.


    I wasn''t feeling good yesterday, and Wu Han was upset when he came to work in the afternoon. I sent him to clean the glass of the toilet, despite the heavy rain outside. He went without a word, lifting a bucket of water effortlessly. Don''t judge me by my thin build, my bones are all flesh, who said that again?


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    In the evening, he came back drenched in sweat, timidly saying the rain was too heavy outside, and he couldn''t clean the windows. My heart softened.


    September 17, 1998, sunny.


    This morning when washing my face, I found a few more white hairs, and the crow''s feet at the corners of my eyes deepened.


    Am I getting old?


    October 22, 1998, sunny.


    Wu Han was not in high spirits today. I asked him what was wrong, and hesitantly, he said he lost 300 yuan.


    I was shocked, 300 yuan, that''s equivalent to a month''s living expenses for him.


    I asked him what he would do, and this stubborn child smiled and said it didn''t matter, he could eat bread dipped in soy sauce for a month.


    For a month, he''s still growing, and has to do so many chores every day, how can he endure it?


    In the evening, I secretly slipped 100 yuan into his schoolbag. Not for anything else, just pity for him.


    October 23, 1998, sunny.


    All day Wu Han didn''t say much. I suspect whether he saw that 100 yuan.


    When packing up in the afternoon, I found a note in my bag, saying: Aunt Sun, thank you, I will return the money to you.


    This child is quite polite.


    The second diary.


    November 2, 1998, light rain.


    At lunch, I brought Wu Han a lunch of braised pork ribs, which I made myself. He ate it with relish and cleaned the lunch box after finishing.


    Deng Jie saw it and teased me about having a lover, this old woman, and we bantered for a while. Afterward, I noticed that Wu Han''s face had turned as red as a beetroot. This child, he took it seriously. Hehe.


    December 11, 1998, heavy snow.


    Yesterday, I saw Wu Han sweeping the snow in just a thin shirt, trembling from the cold. It''s so cold, that one shirt isn''t enough.


    I found an old cotton jacket of Kejian''s at home. It looks a bit old, but it''s very warm.


    Wu Han seemed very shy when he took the jacket, and I told him to wear it immediately. He obediently did so, and it was a bit big, but from the back, it looked a bit like Kejian.


    After Fanfan slept, I satisfied myself with my hands in the bathroom. Afterward, I cried a lot.


    Kejian, I miss you so much.


    January 16, 1999, sunny.


    Tomorrow is the start of the holiday, and most of the students have left. The whole building is full of trash left behind by the students, but thankfully, I have Wu Han to help me.


    When working, Wu Han said he was going home for the New Year. I asked for his phone number, so I could call him to wish him a happy new year. He said he didn''t have one. No wonder, he lives in such a remote place, even electricity is hard to come by, let alone a phone.


    I gave him a jar of braised pork knuckles to eat on the way, and he said, "Aunt Sun, thank you."


    Aunt Sun, Aunt Sun, am I really that old, it feels like it was a long time ago.


    February 15, 1999, cloudy.


    Today is New Year''s Eve, and Fanfan is watching the Spring Festival Gala. I don''t want to watch, it''s the same old programs, so boring.


    I wonder how people in the countryside celebrate the New Year, it should be livelier than in the city. Slaughtering pigs, setting off firecrackers, making dumplings, inviting the God of Wealth, visiting each other''s homes.


    Suddenly, I feel a bit tired of the current life.


    February 16, 1999, light snow.


    I had planned to go to Sun He''s house today, but unexpectedly received a call from Wu Han. He was panting heavily, and first wished me a happy new year. I was shocked and asked him where he was, and he said at the village''s post office. I asked how far it was from his home, and he said more than 10 miles of mountain roads.


    On the first morning of the new year, he ran more than 10 miles of mountain roads just to wish me a happy new year.


    March 2, 1999, sunny.


    The first day of school, and I saw little Han, a bit plumper, and he awkwardly smiled when he saw me.


    March 9, 1999, sunny.


    Yesterday, I discovered a secret of Wu Han''s.


    When he was on night duty, I saw how tired he was, so I told him to go and rest in the inner room. After a while, I wanted to check if he had covered himself properly, and saw him curled up in the blanket, holding one of my clothes, eyes closed, and his hand moving underneath.


    I was scared, and quickly retreated.


    I know what he was doing, but I''m not very angry.


    Maybe he likes me? Hehe, my face is turning red.


    March 22, 1999, light rain.


    Today is a bit unlucky, I fell down the stairs for no reason. My foot couldn''t move at the time.


    Wu Han carried me to the hospital, panting heavily and sweating profusely.


    His back is so broad, lying on it makes me not want to get off.


    Should I dress up nicely when he comes to see me tomorrow?


    The third diary, the one of good quality.


    March 23, 1999, overcast.


    From today, from this moment, this diary is just for you, my Han. I want to record every moment we share, and fill every page of this diary. But before that, I want to keep this little secret from you, my Han, I want to see the surprise on your face.


    You are the gift from heaven, yes, my beloved, I should have known from the very beginning. When you first stood in front of me that afternoon, why didn''t I realize that you were the man destined for me? My goodness, I''m so foolish.


    Today was a wonderful day. But now, lying here alone, I can''t remember how I buried my head in your arms, and when you started kissing my lips. My dear, are you also sleepless and reminiscing quietly like me?


    The first time you entered me, I almost couldn''t help but scream. Yes, my body was like a land that had been barren for a long time, and under the plough of spring, it suddenly awakened. How I longed for your young body, and when it leaped naked on mine, I felt like I was ten years younger, with an exquisitely sensitive touch just like yours. Your hands, your lips, where they touched felt like they were burning. At that moment, I believed I was beautiful.


    I can''t help but want to see you again. Will you come to see me tomorrow, my dear Han?


    April 1, 1999, sunny.


    I''m pregnant.


    I missed my period for a month, and this morning, I used a test strip, and it was positive. I was shocked, and went to the hospital for a check-up, and the result was the same.


    Should I tell him?


    April 6, 1999, overcast.


    I decided to tell him.


    I had wanted to tell him at night, but he seemed very excited, and the matter of passing the entrance exam seemed to be going well, and I didn''t want to spoil his mood.


    So I decided to write him a letter and put it in his bag while he slept. Hehe, I still remember the note he gave me.


    Aunt Sun, thank you.


    It seems like a long time ago.


    April 9, 1999, overcast.


    Why?


    It''s been a few days, and Han hasn''t responded. Did he not see the letter, or does he find it hard to face?


    Tomorrow is the start of the holiday, and I dare not ask him, but it''s going to be more than a month without contact.


    What should I do?


    April 16, 1999, light rain.


    I have to face this alone, I don''t want my man to worry about me.


    But it really hurts.


    April 29, 1999, sunny.


    I made a mistake.


    Han didn''t see the letter, I don''t know where it went.


    My goodness, if someone finds it, we will both be finished.


    I''m a foolish woman, why did I put the letter in his bag?


    I really want to slap myself.


    May 3, 1999, overcast.


    I''m as worried as today''s weather.


    Han hasn''t been willing to talk to me for a long time. When he came to see me last night, he didn''t want to come near me, and stood in the corridor.


    I brought this on myself, I know.


    May 16, 1999, light rain.


    I discovered something about Han yesterday.


    When I was on night duty, I saw him looking very tired, so I asked him to go and sleep in the inner room. After a while, I went to check if he had covered himself properly, and saw him curled up in the blanket, holding one of my clothes, with his eyes closed, and his hands moving underneath.


    I was scared, and quickly retreated.


    He can''t possibly like me, right? Hehe, my face is turning red.


    May 22, 1999, overcast.


    Han got injured. At around 11 o''clock, he knocked on the door from outside. I quickly opened it, and saw him holding his side. I asked him what happened, and he said he had slipped and fallen while running back. I asked why he came back so late, and he didn''t answer, just telling me not to tell anyone, and quickly went upstairs.


    I''m so worried.


    May 23, 1999, overcast.


    This school is too scary, two more students have

 Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Epilogue

    Volume One (Prequel): The Seventh Reader - Epilogue


    Fang Mu applied for half a year of sick leave.


    One sunny afternoon in the second month after the start of the school year, Fang Mu received a call from the big boss.


    "The second dormitory has been demolished."


    "Oh, why?"


    "I don''t know."


    "..."


    "When will you come back to school?"


    "In a while, I''m not sure."


    "There are only four of us left."


    "..."


    "We all miss you. Come back and visit when you have time."


    "Okay."


    After hanging up the phone, Fang Mu picked up his crutches, hailed a taxi, and went to the school.


    The second dormitory had turned into a pile of broken walls and rubble, with various unnamable construction machinery bustling about in the dusty construction site. Many people curiously gazed at the pale-faced boy leaning on crutches.


    Fang Mu picked a stone and sat down, squinting at the dormitory building where so much had happened.


    Someone was cursing loudly in the corridor.


    Someone took the opportunity to grab someone else''s crotch while they were washing their face.


    Someone was jumping up and down loudly in the hallway.


    And someone was killed in this building.


    Everything had been buried, the good and the bad, the sorrowful and the joyful, all disappeared beneath this pile of rubble.


    Not far away, something was shining.


    Fang Mu laboriously moved over, squatted down, and turned over a large piece of cement.


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    It was a large military knife, charred black, with some parts of the handle already melted.


    Fang Mu recognized it as the knife that Wu Han had pressed against his neck that night.


    In fact, you are just like me.


    Fang Mu picked up the knife and tucked it into his arms.


    Leaning on his crutches, he left the construction site and slowly walked to the edge of the artificial lake on campus.


    The artificial lake named "Quiet Lake" had already thawed, with wisps of steam floating on the surface. Occasionally, small fish would swim up from the bottom of the lake, splashing a few drops of water before disappearing.


    Fang Mu sat by the lake, watching the slightly green-tinged water, with students rushing to and from classes around him. They chatted loudly, hurried in their steps, and occasionally someone noticed the strange boy by the lake, but it was just a casual glance.


    Fang Mu felt a bit weary. He looked up and gazed into the distance, where on the opposite shore of the lake, a row of willow trees had already begun to show a hint of green. The gentle breeze brushed past, causing the branches to sway softly. From a distance, it looked as if someone was beckoning.


    Fang Mu''s eyes gradually became unfocused, and he tried hard to see what was on the other side. A large mass of mist rose from the lake, expanding, swirling, and dissipating in the air, making the swaying hand on the other side even more blurry. In the end, he couldn''t tell whether it was right in front of him or on the distant shore.


    (The end of the text)

 Volume Two: Portrait - Prologue: Monster

    Volume Two: Portrait - Prologue: Monster


    Last night, they came to see me again.


    As usual, they remained silent, standing silently at the foot of my bed. And as usual, I was still motionless in bed, staring at the charred, headless figures surrounding me. And he, still whispered gently in my ear: "Actually, you''re just like me."


    I''ve grown accustomed to meeting them at night, but I still break out in a cold sweat.


    It wasn''t until they left without saying a word that I heard Du Yu''s calm breathing on the bed opposite mine.


    The cold moonlight quietly spilled in from the window, the flames in the dormitory had long disappeared, and it felt chilly.


    I struggled to turn over, my hand finding the military knife under the pillow, feeling the rough, uneven handle, my breath slowly calming.


    I fell back into a deep sleep.


    Occasionally, I would return to Shanghai Normal University. I would sit in front of the flower bed at the entrance of the men''s dormitory, where there used to be a very old locust tree. Now, there were various colorful, unidentified flowers swaying in the breeze. I often gazed at the seven-story modern student apartment building in front of me, trying hard to recall its previous appearance. The faded red bricks, the shaky wooden windows, the mottled paint on the iron gate.


    And the young faces that used to come in and out of this building.


    Suddenly, I would feel deeply melancholic, as if struck by a fragile emotion. And the floodgate of memories would quietly open, unstoppable.


    If you knew me, you''d feel that I''m a quiet person. Most of the time, I try to be alone. Eating alone, walking alone, even in class, I avoid sitting with others.


    Don''t come near me. I often use my gaze to stop those who try to understand me. Everyone keeps their distance from me, but I am familiar with the temperaments, characters, and habits of everyone around me. If you see someone in the classroom, cafeteria, or on campus, with a pale face, seemingly indifferent, yet constantly observing others, that person is me.


    I live in Room 313, Building B, South Garden of J University. My roommate is Du Yu, a master''s student majoring in jurisprudence. Probably because of living in the same room, he is one of the few people in the Law School who often talks to me. He is a kind-hearted person, and it''s clear that he is deliberately trying to build a good relationship with me, making me feel less lonely in the Law School¡ªalthough I don''t care about that. However, I don''t refuse to chat with him occasionally, including about his somewhat exaggerated girlfriend.


    "Here, let''s eat together."


    I was holding a tray, eating the knife-cut noodles mixed with chili sauce, while engrossed in looking at a picture and the accompanying text on the computer. I didn''t notice when Du Yu and his girlfriend entered the dormitory.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    It was a freshly grilled skewer of lamb, sprinkled with chili powder and cumin, with yellow oil flowing down, emitting a burnt smell.


    I''m sure my face must have been paler than the wall behind me. I stared blankly at the skewer of grilled lamb that was handed to me, and after a few gurgling sounds in my throat, I spat out the half-eaten lunch back into the tray in my hand.


    I covered my mouth, rushed out with the tray full of still steaming vomit, and behind me came Zhang Yao''s astonished voice: "What''s wrong with him?"


    I weakly leaned against the sink in the bathroom, hastily splashing water on my face. I looked up, and in the stained mirror on the wall, I saw a pale, wet face, with a vacant look in my eyes, a bit of vomit still on the corner of my mouth.


    I bent down and retched a few more times, feeling empty in my stomach. With nothing left to vomit, I trembled as I struggled to stand up, and approached the faucet to drink a few mouthfuls of cold water, swirling in my mouth before spitting it out.


    I tossed the tray into the trash and staggered back to the dormitory.


    The room was in chaos, Zhang Yao was crouched on Du Yu''s bed, with a large puddle of vomit on the floor, and a sour, rotten smell filled the room. Du Yu, pinching his nose, threw a basin in front of her.


    Seeing me come in, Zhang Yao raised her face, drenched in cold sweat and tears, pointed at me with her finger, trying to say something, but was silenced by another violent bout of vomiting.


    Du Yu looked at me awkwardly, "Just now, Yao Yao, I don''t know what happened to you. I saw you looking at something on the computer, and out of curiosity, I went over to take a look, and then..."


    I ignored him and walked straight to the computer desk. It was a webpage I had been browsing, with several pictures. One of them was a decaying head, with the skin on the face and neck peeled off. The other three were the torso and left and right arms of a victim who had been dismembered. These were crime scene photos from a murder case that occurred in Wisconsin in 2000. I downloaded these pictures into the "Severely Damaged" folder on my hard drive.


    I stood up and walked over to Zhang Yao, bending down to say, "Are you okay?"


    Zhang Yao was weak from vomiting, and when she saw me, she shrunk back in fear, "Don''t come near me!"


    She trembled and weakly raised a hand, pointing at the computer, then at me, her lips trembling for a few moments before finally blurting out two words between her teeth: "Monster!"


    "Yao Yao!" Du Yu shouted loudly, stopping her, while looking uneasily at me.


    I smiled at him, indicating that I didn''t mind.


    I really didn''t mind. I am a monster, I know.


    My name is Fang Mu, and in a disaster two years ago, I was the only survivor.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 1: The City of Qiang xx

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 1: The City of Qiang xx


    The spring in J city was unbearably hot. Even though the tree branches were still bare and devoid of any green leaves, the temperature had risen to seventeen or eighteen degrees. Sitting in a speeding jeep, Tai Wei impatiently undid another button.


    He was restless, not just because of the overly hot spring day, but also because as a police officer, Tai Wei was facing the most challenging case in his ten years on the force.


    On March 14, 2002, Chen, a 31-year-old female resident of Apartment 402, Building 32, Pearl Community, No. 83 Taipei Street, Hongyuan District, J City, was found dead in her home. The autopsy indicated that she had died from mechanical asphyxiation between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, with clear signs of strangulation on her neck. Despite the absence of any signs of a break-in or theft, and no evidence of sexual assault, the killer had gruesomely mutilated the victim''s body using a kitchen knife found at the scene. This brutal crime, along with two subsequent similar murders, had caused a stir in the city.


    In a city with a population of nearly two million, homicides were not uncommon, but the heinous and bizarre nature of these serial killings had attracted widespread attention and sparked various speculations. Rumors about the revival of ancient vampires or genetic mutations caused by biological weapons left by the invading Japanese army began circulating. The case drew the attention of the municipal government, which urged the public security authorities to solve the case within a limited timeframe.


    A special task force was formed by the city bureau to investigate the case, but after nearly a week, there had been no progress. Just when the task force was feeling desperate, Ding Shucheng, a detective from City C who was on a business trip to J City, suggested a surprising idea: to consult a graduate student specializing in criminal psychology at J University.


    Initially, Tai Wei thought he was joking, but Ding Shucheng earnestly shared a story with him.


    In the summer of 2001, City C experienced a series of brutal murders, where the victims, all white-collar workers aged 25 to 30, were raped and strangled with a rope on the rooftop of four high-rise buildings under construction. Ding''s superior at the time, Xing Zisen, had just been promoted to deputy director of the City C Public Security Bureau. He revealed partial details of the case to the media and promised to solve it within half a month. Soon after, a letter arrived at the special task force''s office, suggesting that the killer was a psychologically disturbed individual seeking to satisfy his desires through rape and murder, and likely not older than 30. Xing, intrigued by the letter, assigned someone to investigate the sender''s background. Upon learning that the sender was a recent graduate from City C Normal University named Fang Mu, Xing was excited and brought him to the bureau. After a half-hour conversation in the office, Xing personally drove Fang to all four crime scenes. Upon returning, Fang thoroughly examined all the case materials and visited one of the crime scenes late at night. The young man''s remarkable deduction left a deep impression on Ding.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "He is not raping the woman; he is raping the city itself!" Fang had said.


    Fang then proposed a plan: first, search all low-end video halls in the city, especially those near construction sites, for a thin, short-haired, right-handed man about 20 to 25 years old, wearing glasses, with a scratch on his left wrist and a habit of wearing a watch on his left hand. Second, search for a person with similar characteristics among the construction workers in the city. Third, search the surrounding towns for a young man who failed the college entrance exam, moved to the city for work, and fits the aforementioned description, especially those from single-parent families with only male relatives. He even predicted that the suspect would be wearing a white shirt when caught.


    The members of the task force were skeptical about this seemingly far-fetched theory, but Xing instructed them to follow Fang''s provided characteristics. Two days later, a small video hall owner near the train station claimed to know such a person who worked at a nearby construction site. This person, Huang Yongxiao, a 21-year-old high school graduate from the rural area of City C, was the perpetrator of the four rape-murders in City C.


    Huang''s arrest and his confession brought the case to a close. The citizens of City C praised the police for swiftly solving the case. Xing wanted to reward Fang, but the young man declined. Instead, he requested a private conversation with Huang before his trial.


    During their private conversation, which lasted over two hours, Fang took detailed notes and made recordings of their discussion. Although the conversation had little to do with the case, it seemed that Fang was more interested in Huang''s life experiences from childhood to the age of 21.


    Afterward, Fang became a "consultant" for the City C Public Security Bureau, assisting in solving a kidnapping, extortion, and two other murder cases by providing accurate descriptions of the suspects.


    As the translation is quite long, I will continue it in another message.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 2: Marked People

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 2: Marked People


    After listening to the bizarre and almost absurd story from Fang Mu, Tang Wei found it hard to believe.


    "He, that student called Fang Mu..."


    Tang Wei carefully chose his words, "He is drawing portraits for the criminal suspects?"


    Ding Shucheng nodded.


    "Is he really that amazing?"


    Ding Shucheng smiled and leaned in, asking mysteriously, "Do you know why Ronaldo is the world''s number one striker?"


    "Huh? What are you talking about?" Tang Wei was a bit puzzled.


    "Why can''t Hao Haidong become the world''s number one striker?"


    Tang Wei stared at Ding Shucheng in astonishment.


    "Talent. This guy has the talent to perceive crimes."


    Tang Wei found out from the graduate school office that Fang Mu lived in Dorm B313 in Nan Yuan Building 5, but when he arrived at the dormitory, he found it empty. A roommate of Fang Mu''s said that Fang Mu had gone to play basketball. Tang Wei asked what Fang Mu looked like. The roommate smiled and said, "You don''t need to ask about his appearance. If you see someone practicing free throws alone on the court, that''s definitely Fang Mu."


    The weather was nice. There was a faint warm breeze and the pleasant scent of flowers in the campus. Most of the college students had taken off their heavy winter clothes and were wearing light attire while shuttling around the campus. Occasionally, one could see a few girls eagerly putting on skirts. Tang Wei''s black overcoat seemed out of place, and he started sweating after walking for a while. He stopped a small guy holding a basketball and asked for directions to the basketball court. The small guy enthusiastically led him there.


    The basketball court was located in the southwest corner of the campus, a large area of concrete enclosed by wire mesh, containing eight complete basketball courts. Tang Wei walked through these courts, observing the lively young men and searching for the boy practicing free throws alone.


    He wasn''t hard to find.


    Tang Wei quickly spotted a boy on the edge of one court, standing at the free throw line, raising his hand, and accurately shooting the ball into the basket.


    Tang Wei walked to the edge of the court and watched as the boy repeated the same motion over and over: raise hand, shoot, score, retrieve the ball, walk back to the free throw line, raise hand, shoot, score...


    The boy''s movements were precise and graceful, with almost no missed shots.


    "Is there something you need?" Suddenly, the boy threw a cold glance at Tang Wei without turning his head.


    "Oh?" Tang Wei was caught off guard. He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Um, are you Fang Mu?"


    The boy''s raised hand paused slightly, then flicked his finger, and the basketball flew out, hitting the rim and bouncing back into his hand.


    The boy held the ball and turned around.


    His face was flushed, with tiny beads of sweat on his nose, sunken cheeks, a sharp chin, and thick eyebrows furrowed together. His eyes were cold, tired, yet sharp, as if they could pierce through the intense afternoon light.


    Under such a gaze, Tang Wei couldn''t help but shiver. He avoided the boy''s eyes and was about to speak when he realized he hadn''t prepared a suitable opening line for his first meeting with Fang Mu.


    "Do you... do you know Ding Shucheng?"


    Fang Mu furrowed his brows even tighter, staring at Tang Wei and asked, "Are you a police officer?"


    Before Tang Wei could respond, Fang Mu walked straight to the bench at the edge of the court.


    Tang Wei hesitated for a moment and followed to sit down.


    On the bench lay a very old backpack. Fang Mu took out a pack of tissues, wiped his face, and put on his glasses.


    "Is there something you need my help with?" His expression remained blank.


    Tang Wei felt a bit uneasy, but considering the purpose of his visit, he took out a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Fang Mu.


    "I''m from the Municipal Bureau''s Criminal Investigation Division. My name is Tang Wei. Since March this year, there have been three consecutive cases of home invasion homicides. These are some of the materials related to these three cases. I heard that you..." At this point, Tang Wei noticed that Fang Mu was not listening to him but was fully focused on the materials in his hands. He closed his mouth and discreetly put back the police credentials he had prepared to show his identity.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    There was nothing more annoying than sitting with such a person for an entire afternoon.


    Fang Mu remained silent, examining the documents. At first, Tang Wei patiently maintained a posture ready to listen at any time. But as time passed, his shoulders became sore, and he started to feel impatient. He stretched his limbs and leaned back comfortably in his chair, looking around listlessly.


    The court where Fang Mu had been shooting was now occupied by several young men. These boys in their twenties were running on the court, competing and occasionally shouting excitedly, debating loudly about whether a certain move was a foul or if a score was valid. Watching these energetic young men, Tang Wei couldn''t help but recall his days at the police academy, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.


    Suddenly, he realized that the person next to him was one of these young men, and he, compared to these carefree boys, was so different! As if there was some kind of mark that made him stand out from the others. He couldn''t help but turn his head to look at Fang Mu again.


    Fang Mu was reading very slowly. He kept his head low, his eyes fixed on the pictures and on-site reports and autopsy reports. There were a few times when he looked up, and Tang Wei thought he was going to say something, but Fang Mu just gazed into the distance without speaking. After a while, he lowered his head to carefully examine the materials. Tang Wei noticed that he paid particular attention to several on-site photos.


    Finally, he stood up and let out a sigh. Then he took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and handed the materials to Tang Wei, who had been staring at him.


    "This person, male, aged between 25 and 35, should not be taller than 175cm, and is likely to be quite thin."


    Tang Wei stared at Fang Mu. After a few seconds, he couldn''t help but ask, "Is that all?"


    "Yes, that''s all," Fang Mu replied simply.


    Tang Wei felt deeply disappointed. He had expected Fang Mu to describe the appearance, living environment, and family background of the killer in detail, as Ding Shucheng had described. But Fang Mu only provided such vague and ambiguous conclusions. In all honesty, what Fang Mu had deduced wasn''t a valuable clue: most of those who used such brutal methods were male, and the majority of serial killers were aged under 40. As for height and weight, the perpetrator''s height and weight could be inferred from the footprints found at the scene, and the evidence left at the scene indicated that the perpetrator had engaged in a fierce struggle with the victims, meaning that the perpetrator wouldn''t be too strong.


    "Based on these materials and the on-site photos, this is all I can gather," Fang Mu seemed to see through Tang Wei''s thoughts. However, he added, "I also feel that this person has some mental issues, but I cannot be certain about the specifics."


    Hmm, Tang Wei thought to himself, even a fool could see that this killer is a psycho!


    "Being a psycho and having mental disorders are two different things."


    Tang Wei couldn''t help but be surprised. He realized that Fang Mu had seen through his thoughts twice within a few minutes. To cover up his surprise, he stood up and reached out his hand to Fang Mu.


    "Alright, thank you. If there''s anything else we need to consult you about, we will contact you again. Goodbye."


    Fang Mu shook Tang Wei''s hand. Tang Wei felt that the hand was cold and lacked any warmth.


    "It''s probably best if we don''t meet again."


    "Oh?" Tang Wei raised his eyebrows.


    "When we meet again, it means someone else has died."


    Tang Wei opened his mouth but didn''t say anything. He could only nod and turn away, walking off.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 3: Fear

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 3: Fear


    Today was the first class of criminal procedural law. The lecturer for this class, Professor Song Yaoyang, had just returned from an exchange visit to Japan, so the class had been postponed until now.


    Fang Mu was still sitting in the back row of the classroom. Although Professor Song had delayed the class for over a month, he was not in a hurry to start the lecture. Instead, he talked extensively about Japan''s economic development and comfortable living, as well as "stories that must be told" with several Japanese criminal procedural law experts. Just as he was getting into it, a student knocked on the door and walked in. At that moment, Professor Song, feeling self-satisfied, graciously waved the student in.


    The student walked briskly to the back row and sat down next to Fang Mu, nodding friendly at him.


    Fang Mu recognized him as Meng Fanzhe, a graduate student majoring in civil law.


    In a university classroom, being late was quite common, and most of the time, students would be forgiven by the teacher. What slightly puzzled Fang Mu was the overly relieved expression on Meng Fanzhe''s face. It was as if he had just passed a severe test.


    Professor Song finally finished his "thoughts on Japan" report. He picked up the attendance register and with a friendly wink at the students, said, "Before the lecture, let''s get to know each other."


    The sleepy students suddenly perked up. This was a mandatory class, and no one wanted to miss out on the credits. As Professor Song called out each name, the classroom echoed with responses of "present" from all corners. Fang Mu unintentionally glanced at Meng Fanzhe and was surprised.


    The relaxed Meng Fanzhe from earlier now looked nervous, as if facing a formidable enemy. His hands were tightly gripping the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white, and his eyes were fixed on Professor Song, biting his lip as if the professor was not calling out names but rather firing bullets from his mouth.


    What was wrong with him?


    "Meng Fanzhe."


    Large beads of sweat rolled down Meng Fanzhe''s face. His lips moved a few times, but no sound came out. Professor Song scanned the classroom and repeated, "Meng Fanzhe."


    Several familiar classmates called out to him in a low voice, but Meng Fanzhe seemed not to hear them, staring fixedly at Professor Song, leaning forward, his lips half-open, as if eager to speak but unable to.


    "Not coming? Skipping the first class?" Professor Song angrily took out a pen, ready to make a mark on the attendance register.


    At that moment, Meng Fanzhe suddenly stood up, still unable to speak but raising his hand high.


    "Oh, you''re Meng Fanzhe?"


    "It''s me," finally, two words came out of his mouth.


    "Sit down and pay more attention next time."


    As if those two words had exhausted all his strength, Meng Fanzhe sat down heavily. A few people in the classroom chuckled, while more looked at him with disbelief.


    It was as if Meng Fanzhe was avoiding those gazes, and he spent the whole class with his head down, taking notes, but it was evident that he was no longer as nervous as before.


    What was he afraid of?


    Honestly, Professor Song''s lecture was quite average. During the break, while he went out to smoke, several students sneaked away (of course, none of Professor Song''s graduate students dared to move). When Professor Song returned and noticed a few missing students, he was furious and called the roll again.


    Fang Mu noticed that Meng Fanzhe, who had just calmed down, seemed to plunge into despair, nervousness, and resentment as the roll call approached.


    Fang Mu had been quietly observing Meng Fanzhe and paying attention to the order of the roll call.


    "Wang Degang."


    "Present."


    "Chen Liang."


    "Present."


    "Chu Xiaoxu."


    "Present."


    The next one was Meng Fanzhe.


    "Meng Fanzhe."


    As the word "Meng" was about to come out of Professor Song''s mouth, Fang Mu suddenly patted Meng Fanzhe on the shoulder.


    "Hey!"


    Startled, Meng Fanzhe turned around, just as the word "Fanzhe" was pronounced.


    Meng Fanzhe replied, "Present."


    Without pausing, Professor Song continued down the list.


    Meng Fanzhe was stunned for a moment, but his expression quickly relaxed. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked somewhat awkwardly, "What''s up?"


    Fang Mu thought for a moment and asked, "What time is it?"


    Meng Fanzhe glanced at his watch, "It''s 9:05, oh, 38 seconds," he added urgently.


    Fang Mu smiled, and Meng Fanzhe''s face turned red as if his secret had been exposed.


    At lunch, Fang Mu ate to his heart''s content and felt a bit drowsy. Looking at his watch, with less than an hour until the afternoon class, he went up to the rooftop to get some fresh air.


    When he reached the rooftop, Fang Mu noticed that someone was already there.


    It was Meng Fanzhe.


    He was sitting on the cement edge of the rooftop, with his legs dangling casually, gazing into the distance, lost in his thoughts.


    Fang Mu didn''t want him to see, so he quietly turned to leave but found that Meng Fanzhe suddenly stood up.


    He stood carefully on the cement edge, which was less than 20cm wide, with his toes and heels hanging outside. Meng Fanzhe stood unsteadily on the edge, arms outstretched, took a deep breath, as if he had made a big decision, and lowered his head.


    Fang Mu held his breath. This was the seventh floor! What would he see if he looked down? Heads the size of buttons? Toy-like cars? Or the ground ready to pounce at any moment?


    No, he couldn''t shout at him. Otherwise, he would surely be frightened, and there might be a fall.


    Fang Mu took the first step carefully, and the sound of his shoe soles rubbing against the sand seemed like thunder at that moment.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Meng Fanzhe''s body shook even more violently, and he was about to lose his balance!


    Without thinking, Fang Mu rushed up and firmly grabbed his belt, pulling him back.


    Meng Fanzhe let out a short cry and fell backward with Fang Mu onto the rooftop.


    "What are you doing? Do you want to die?" Fang Mu looked at him angrily with scraped elbows.


    "Yes, I''m sorry," Meng Fanzhe said, still in shock, muttering to himself.


    Fang Mu looked at his pale face, helped him up, and supported him to sit on a stone bench on the rooftop, then took out a cup of water from his backpack and handed it to him.


    Meng Fanzhe took several big sips and gradually calmed down.


    "Thank you," he said, handing the tissue to Fang Mu after wiping the cup.


    Fang Mu sat down next to him, took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one for himself, and after a moment''s thought, handed one to Meng Fanzhe. He hesitated for a moment, then took it. But as soon as he took a puff, he choked and coughed.


    "Do you not smoke?"


    "No."


    "Haha, what a waste of tobacco."


    It was such a familiar saying, but it seemed like it happened a long time ago.


    For some reason, Fang Mu''s mood suddenly became low.


    The two sat in silence, Fang Mu smoked incessantly, and Meng Fanzhe stared thoughtfully at the cigarette in his hand.


    "You must think I''m crazy, right?" Meng Fanzhe finally spoke.


    "Oh, why would I think that?"


    Meng Fanzhe forcefully flicked the cigarette butt away, "You must think I''m not normal."


    "Why would you think that?"


    "Why don''t you ask me what I was doing just now?"


    "Oh, okay, what were you doing?" Fang Mu found it a bit amusing.


    "I, heh, it''s nothing, I just wanted to experience the feeling of fear." He turned to look at Fang Mu with a forced, casual smile, as if hoping Fang Mu would think he was cool.


    Fang Mu smiled and lit another cigarette for himself.


    Meng Fanzhe looked at Fang Mu expectantly for a long time, seemingly waiting for some words like "I see" or "You''re quite boring." But Fang Mu remained silent for a while, then suddenly looked up at him and asked, "What are you afraid of?"


    Meng Fanzhe opened his mouth wide, staring at Fang Mu in shock. His gaze seemed to ask, "How did you know?"


    Of course, I knew. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have pushed you during roll call.


    When a person is afraid of something, they will show an abnormal level of attention and sensitivity to that thing. If their attention is suddenly interrupted, they can eliminate their fear of that thing in an instant. Of course, it''s only for that moment.


    Meng Fanzhe was probably afraid of roll call, so during roll call, he would show a "fully focused" kind of fear, the more afraid he felt, the less he could respond. When Professor Song called his name, I pushed him for a split second, shifting his attention from the roll call to me, making it natural for him to respond.


    Meng Fanzhe''s expression changed from surprise to dejection. He lowered his head and fell silent.


    "What are you afraid of?" Meng Fanzhe raised his head, and Fang Mu saw his weak eyes. He stared at Fang Mu for a long time. Fang Mu smiled and even looked back at him casually.


    Gradually, his eyes showed more trust and friendliness.


    "I, " he scratched his head, "I''m a little afraid of roll call, heh, it''s weird, isn''t it?"


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know." Meng Fanzhe gazed into the distance, "I don''t know when it started, I just get nervous during roll call. The more nervous I get, the more I can''t say that ''present.'' I often stand up with a red face and a thick neck, but I can''t say a word, and the whole class is watching me," he lowered his head, and his voice suddenly became lower, "many people make fun of me."


    "Do you have a stutter?"


    "No, do you think I have a problem speaking?"


    "No."


    "I''m also very strange. Why can''t I say that ''present''? Sometimes, I secretly practice. I call out my own name and answer ''present,'' and there''s no problem at all, but during class, I still can''t say it." He said in a low voice, "Give me a cigarette."


    Fang Mu handed him a cigarette and lit it for him. He took a careful puff.


    "Four years of college. How did you get through it?"


    I found a way on my own, heh," he smiled faintly, "usually, when roll call was right before class, I pretended to be late, waited until roll call, then went in and explained the situation to the teacher after class. At that time, I was nicknamed ''The Late King.'' Many teachers had a very bad impression of me, but fortunately, my grades were good."


    Fang Mu smiled, showing understanding.


    "One time in class, international economic law. The lecturer was terrible and relied on roll call to maintain attendance. He called the roll four times in two classes. Do you know how I felt at that time?" He took a deep breath of the cigarette and then coughed as if his heart was being torn apart.


    Fang Mu patted his back to help him breathe, and when his breathing finally calmed down, Fang Mu asked, "Have you ever thought about seeing a psychologist?"


    He hesitated for a moment, "I''ve seen one before. Why, do you think I have a mental problem?"


    "No, you just have a psychological barrier. Almost everyone has a psychological barrier, just to different degrees. You''re afraid of roll call, and many people are afraid of heights, elevators, sharp objects, and so on. It''s not a big deal."


    "Really?" Meng Fanzhe listened with doubt, but his expression became more relaxed. "So, " he curiously looked at Fang Mu, "what are you afraid of?"


    Fang Mu didn''t answer. He silently finished smoking a cigarette, looked at his watch, and said, "I have to go to class, let''s chat next time." After that, he left the rooftop, leaving behind a slightly disappointed Meng Fanzhe.


    Fear. Actually, you don''t know what fear is.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 4: Bloodsucker

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 4: Bloodsucker


    Grandpa Qin carried two grass carp, walking steadily into the corridor. Due to his age, he was already panting by the time he reached the fourth floor.


    Leaning on the railing, Grandpa Qin wanted to catch his breath before continuing upstairs. However, he inadvertently noticed that the door of 401 was slightly ajar. Curiously, he peeked inside and then sat down on the floor.


    The two gutted and gilled grass carp lay on the ground, still struggling for life. One of them unexpectedly hopped into 401, leaping on a puddle of dark red viscous liquid, oblivious to the fact that at the end of the puddle, another creature with its abdomen torn open was lying silently.


    The police quickly arrived at the scene. The leading officer took one look and instructed his colleague to call the headquarters.


    "That vampire has appeared again."


    On the way to the scene, Officer Tai Wei changed his mind. He told his colleagues to go ahead and drove to J University himself.


    Although the previous conversation with Fang Mu did not provide any new insights or leads for the case, Tai Wei still decided to listen to his thoughts again. There was no better way to understand the case than being at the scene.


    Fang Mu was in the middle of a Japanese class.


    This was a common class for over 700 graduate students in the largest auditorium at J University. Just a few minutes after the class started, a tall young man burst into the room. He walked straight to the Japanese teacher, flashed a card at him, and whispered a few words. The Japanese teacher then grabbed the microphone and said, "Fang Mu, who is Fang Mu?"


    "I am." A bespectacled male student stood up in the corner.


    "This officer from the Public Security Bureau is looking for you."


    The entire classroom fell silent. All eyes shifted from the intruder to Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu stood there as if he were oblivious to the curious, suspicious, and astonished gazes. He stared into Tai Wei''s eyes, his brow furrowed.


    Tai Wei made a gesture to indicate, "Let''s go."


    Fang Mu picked up his backpack and, under the curious glances, followed Tai Wei out of the auditorium.


    Tai Wei didn''t say anything on the way, and Fang Mu remained silent.


    In the next encounter, someone would lose their life. This made it difficult for Tai Wei to find the right opening. What was even more strange was the boy next to him. What had happened? Where did he need to go? He didn''t ask at all, just silently stared out of the window.


    "Is that Mingzhu Community?" Suddenly, the strange boy spoke.


    Tai Wei turned to look. "Yes, that''s right." He suddenly realized that it was the scene of the first murder.


    A few minutes later, the jeep stopped at the workers'' dormitory of the J City Motorcycle Factory, known as Guangming Garden.


    Guangming Garden was built in the 1980s. At that time, the motorcycle factory was a well-known large state-owned enterprise with excellent employee benefits. At the time of welfare housing, the workers'' dormitory of the motorcycle factory was one of the few seven-story high-rise buildings. However, as time passed, the city saw more and more tall buildings, and these few old buildings, standing for 20 years, looked dilapidated.


    The crime scene was in Room 401 of Unit 2 in Building 3. The scene had already been cordoned off by the officers who had arrived earlier. Fang Mu and Tai Wei crossed the police line and quickly climbed to the fourth floor. There were many policemen rushing up and down the stairs, many of whom looked at the bespectacled young man with a backpack with suspicion.


    Tai Wei entered Room 401. It was an old one-bedroom apartment of about 40 square meters. Several forensic experts and technicians were busy examining the body, taking photos, and collecting evidence. A police officer at the scene told Tai Wei that the deceased had just rented the apartment and was a single woman, and the landlord was on the way to the scene.


    The deceased was a woman who looked to be no more than 35 years old. Her body was lying on her back, with her chest and abdomen cut open with a sharp object, revealing ribs and internal organs.


    "How is it?" Tai Wei tapped a forensic expert on the shoulder.


    "The cause of death is mechanical asphyxiation, and the weapon is a nylon rope, which has been collected by the forensic team. The time of death is estimated to be within the past two hours."


    Tai Wei glanced at his watch. "So, the time of death was probably between 2:00 and 2:30?"


    "Yes."


    Committing the crime in broad daylight, this person was too audacious. While muttering to himself, Tai Wei turned to look for Fang Mu but found him standing at the door, staring in horror at the body.


    "Come here," Tai Wei called out to him.


    Fang Mu seemed startled and hesitated for a moment. He nodded but did not move.


    "Are you scared?" Tai Wei frowned.


    Fang Mu looked at Tai Wei, took a deep breath, and walked in.


    The forensic experts were carefully examining the wound on the woman''s chest and abdomen, gently pulling apart the skin and muscle tissue. Fang Mu stared at the wound for a while, then looked at the congealed blood on the floor before swiftly darting into the corridor. He almost collided with a police officer carrying evidence bags, who scolded him in annoyance.


    Tai Wei quickly followed him and found Fang Mu leaning against the wall, bent over, and retching in the corner of the corridor.


    Tai Wei inwardly cursed Fang Mu as useless and asked a police officer beside him to bring some water for him before returning to the scene to continue his work.


    Fang Mu knew that one day he would personally visit the crime scene of the bloodsucker, but he did not expect to feel so embarrassed. Despite being able to eat while looking at nauseating crime scene photos, the dim and filthy corridor, the solemn-faced officers passing by, the conspicuous police cordon, the cold instruments of the forensic experts, the body lying in a pool of blood, and the faint scent of blood in the air all gave him a chilling feeling. Pictures were just pictures, and they would never convey the same information as the scene itself, using sight, touch, and smell to communicate the message: a life had just been extinguished. This realization made him shudder, as if a part of his memory that he didn''t want to touch had been violently struck.


    Stay calm and don''t let it affect your judgment. He reminded himself sternly as he vomited.


    "Are you okay?" Tai Wei''s impatient voice sounded in his ear.


    Fang Mu gasped heavily, weakly leaning against the wall, and gulped down the half-empty water bottle handed to him by a police officer. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said laboriously, "There may be another person."


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    "What?" Tai Wei''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Fang Mu didn''t answer him and continued to ask the police officer, "Have you found a cup or other container containing blood and other substances?"


    The police officer glanced at Tai Wei and replied, "No."


    Fang Mu closed his eyes tightly, muttered under his breath, then turned to Tai Wei and said, "There is another victim, and it may be a child."


    "Another one, a child?" Tai Wei furrowed his brow. "How did you come to that conclusion?"


    "Do you want me to explain it to you now?" Fang Mu had already started to leave. "That child may still be alive! Get your men and follow me!"


    Tai Wei, Fang Mu, and several police officers got into the car. As they drove to the entrance of the community, Tai Wei suddenly slammed on the brakes.


    "Where should we look?"


    "Start from here and search in concentric circles, looking for a man aged between 25 and 30, about 170 cm tall, slim, with long and unkempt hair, carrying a large checkered-patterned bag, and with a vacant look in his eyes." Fang Mu paused for a moment. "Maybe he''s wearing a relatively thick garment."


    The police officers exchanged glances.


    Tai Wei contemplated for a moment and instructed the police officers behind him, "Did you hear that? Pay attention to anyone matching that description!"


    After circling around Guangming Garden twice, Tai Wei realized they were at a crossroads with multiple exits. He slowed down and turned to Fang Mu. "Which way should we go?"


    Fang Mu stared at a junction for a few seconds and decisively pointed, "This way!"


    At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and large leaden clouds rolled in the distance. Deep inside the clouds, distant thunder rumbled.


    This was a newly built road leading to the outskirts. There were few pedestrians on the road, and low houses and fruit stalls were visible on both sides of the road.


    The wind grew stronger, carrying sand and pebbles from the road, tapping against the car window. People either hurriedly ran or pedaled their bikes, and it seemed like a storm was about to arrive.


    The people in the car pressed their noses against the windows, trying to look outside. Tai Wei''s palms were sweaty, and he almost lost control of the steering wheel several times. He didn''t notice that Fang Mu''s expression was becoming increasingly grim.


    A few minutes later, heavy raindrops finally began to fall, creating countless smoking craters on the road. The outside world became blurry, and no one looked outside anymore because there was nothing to see within sight.


    Nobody spoke, and the jeep sped rapidly down the seemingly endless road. The sky seemed to be pressing down, and occasional lightning tore through the leaden sky, followed by a tearing explosion.


    "Stop!" Fang Mu suddenly shouted.


    Tai Wei quickly stepped on the brakes, and the jeep swayed and skidded for a long distance before coming to a stop.


    Before the car had fully stopped, Fang Mu jumped out and ran back.


    On the roadside were a row of ruins, possibly an abandoned factory for a long time. Perhaps there were once machines roaring and people coming and going, but all of that was now buried in waist-high weeds.


    Fang Mu was soaked by the rain, staring at the rain-soaked grass, trembling slightly all over.


    Tai Wei covered his head with his clothes and ran to Fang Mu. Before he could speak, he heard Fang Mu say through clenched teeth, "It''s here! We need to search here!"


    Without hesitation, the group immediately spread out to carefully search through the waist-high grass.


    A few minutes later, a police officer to the west exclaimed and then shouted, "Found it!"


    All eyes turned to him.


    He knew what those looks meant. Swallowing hard, he said, "It''s dead."


    It was a little girl. The body was stuffed into a section of a concrete pipe, with her chest and abdomen cut open. Beside the body was a mineral water bottle containing a red viscous substance, resembling blood. In the nearby bushes, they found a large checkered-patterned knitting bag and a pointed wooden knife.


    Tai Wei directed several police officers to seal off the scene and requested assistance from the headquarters. After finishing all this, he felt deeply exhausted. He opened the car door and saw Fang Mu sitting in the passenger seat, soaking wet, with water dripping from his hair. His eyes were fixed on the rain-blurred car window, and the cigarette in his hand was almost burnt out.


    Tai Wei didn''t say anything, even though he had a lot of questions for Fang Mu. Instead, he lit a cigarette and slowly organized his thoughts.


    "Male," Fang Mu suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. "Aged no more than 30, very thin, unkempt, lives nearby, parents were possibly former employees of a state-owned enterprise, deceased or not living with him. He has severe mental disorders, and blood has a very special meaning to him."


    He took a hard drag from the cigarette, then rolled down the window and flicked the cigarette butt outside.


    "I have two suggestions: first, search for people who have been hospitalized in the past five years due to blood-related diseases and look for those with the mentioned characteristics among them; second, search for people who have received blood transfusions in the past three years, especially those who voluntarily requested non-essential transfusions."


    Tai Wei jotted down these points in his notebook, then asked carefully, "How did you know there was another victim?"


    "That button. The deceased at the scene was about 30 years old, so it''s unlikely that she would have used a button with a cartoon pattern. Also, I didn''t find any matching garments at the scene."


    "That button could have been left behind by a previous tenant."


    "No. There was no dust on the button. Also," Fang Mu stared out the window, "the deceased must have just moved into this apartment. The bag of clothes hadn''t been opened yet, but there were scattered clothes on the floor, and no bag for storing clothes could be found. There was a missing knife in the kitchen, probably the one used to open the deceased''s body. Although the deceased''s body was cut open, there was no evidence at the scene that the killer had drunk her blood. This suggests that the killer must have found more attractive blood and then taken the victim away using a bag."


    Fang Mu turned to Tai Wei. "Younger blood. What do you think?"


    Tai Wei was taken aback by the question. "I, I don''t know."


    Fang Mu didn''t seem to expect an answer from him either. He turned his head to stare into the darkening sky.


    Tai Wei thought for a moment and asked, "How did you know that the killer killed the child here?"


    Fang Mu didn''t answer immediately. After a long pause, he slowly said, "For him, this is the most suitable place."

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 5: Doctor

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 5: Doctor


    One week ago.


    It was lunchtime now, and the library corridor was quiet. A boy carefully walked up the stairs, leaned on the railing, and took a moment to catch his breath.


    The corridor seemed endless. The boy adjusted his backpack and walked determinedly to a door, looking left and right. No one was around. He looked up at the sign on the door: Counseling Room. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.


    The knocking echoed loudly in the empty corridor, making the boy shiver involuntarily. No response. He knocked again twice, still no response. He pressed his ear against the door, but there was no sound inside. The boy sighed, his expression difficult to determine whether it was disappointment or relief. He turned to leave, but the door across from him suddenly opened, and a man stuck his head out.


    "Who are you looking for?"


    The boy was clearly startled, he pointed to the tightly closed door but couldn''t speak.


    The man walked over and looked at the door, "Looking for Teacher Qiao? He''s not here." He looked at the boy, "Do you need to see him?"


    "I... have nothing."


    The man smiled.


    "If you have something, you should speak up. Otherwise, keeping it inside will only make you sick."


    The boy looked up at him. Neat parting, kind eyes, white teeth, and a slightly upturned mouth when smiling.


    "Sometimes, I feel scared."


    The man chuckled softly, "Everyone feels scared. Can you tell me what you are afraid of?"


    The boy lowered his head, lips tightly closed.


    Seeing that the boy didn''t want to speak, the man didn''t force him.


    "You can overcome this feeling." He gently placed his hand on the boy''s shoulder. "For example, you can imagine various dangerous situations, let the worst scenario come first and repeat it. Gradually, you will feel that you are not afraid in any dangerous situation, and naturally, you won''t be afraid of what you fear."


    The boy looked up, and the man blinked kindly at him, as if to say, "Trust me."


    At that moment, the bell for work suddenly rang in the corridor. The boy was startled, he quickly thanked the man and turned to leave.


    The briefing on the case analysis chaired by the director has just ended. At the meeting, Tai Wei detailed the preliminary investigation of the home invasion murder case.


    There were two victims. The first victim was named Yao Xiaoyang, a 32-year-old divorced female teacher at J City Normal University. Two days before the incident, she had just moved into Unit 401 of Building 3 in Guangming Garden. From the scene, it appeared that the victim, Yao Xiaoyang, had just moved in on the day of the incident and was in the process of arranging her belongings. There were no signs of forced entry on the door lock at the scene. The special investigation team had considered the possibility of the perpetrator being an acquaintance, but after comparing the fingerprints found at the scene with those of the landlord and other individuals closely related to the victim, this possibility was ruled out. Preliminary inference suggested that after the perpetrator entered the room, there was a struggle with Yao Xiaoyang, and ultimately, the perpetrator used a nylon rope (which Yao Xiaoyang used to tie up her luggage) placed on the living room table to strangle her. Subsequently, the perpetrator used a kitchen knife in the house to open the victim''s chest and abdomen, which was similar to the modus operandi of previous cases. However, surprisingly, the perpetrator did not drink the victim''s blood as in the previous cases. Analysis indicated that the reason the perpetrator did not do so was because at that time, the second victim was discovered.


    The second victim was Tong Hui, a 6-year-old girl who lived in Unit 401 of Building 3 in Guangming Garden. On the day of the incident, Tong Hui''s parents were at work, and only her grandmother, Yu Huifen, who was in her 70s, was taking care of her. According to Yu Huifen, on the day of the incident, after she and Tong Hui had lunch, Tong Hui fell asleep. In a daze, she felt Tong Hui run out to play by herself, and Yu Huifen said, "Don''t go too far," before falling asleep again. It was only when the police were investigating the adjacent crime scene that she woke up, and it was at that moment that she discovered Tong Hui was missing. As for any activity during this time, the elderly Yu Huifen said she had not heard anything. Analysis suggested that it was very likely that Tong Hui accidentally encountered the perpetrator when she went out to play or returned home, and the perpetrator then made a spontaneous decision to choose her as the object of blood-sucking. Based on the conditions of the first scene (Unit 401 of Building 3 in Guangming Garden) and the second scene (the former site of the Da Ming Glass Fiber Factory), and the examination reports of the bodies of the victims, the perpetrator likely used a rope to render Tong Hui unconscious (during this process, a button from Tong Hui''s dress fell at the door), emptied a large organizing bag in the bedroom (large, yellow plaid pattern), then put Tong Hui in the organizing bag and took her away from the first scene. The perpetrator walked about 40 minutes in the southeast direction and killed Tong Hui at the former site of the Da Ming Glass Fiber Factory, then opened her chest and abdomen, and drank about 200cc of the victim''s blood.


    The interviews with the residents near Guangming Garden did not yield any valuable clues, as most of the residents in the community were at work at the time of the incident. Therefore, even though the perpetrator had brazenly taken the victim away in broad daylight, no one had noticed. Important clues were obtained from the interviews with the residents along the road from the first scene to the second scene: according to the owner of a small grocery store on Hongyuan Road (the distance between the grocery store and the second scene was about 3000 meters), a man had bought a bottle of mineral water at his store that day. The man was about 1.72 meters tall, very thin, with dirty and messy hair, an anxious expression, bloodshot eyes, and several blisters around his mouth. The man was carrying a large knitting organizing bag. When the owner asked what was inside, he replied that it was a dog. A composite sketch of the man had been made based on the description provided by the store owner, and a warrant had been issued for the man''s arrest.


    After the meeting, Tai Wei was about to leave when the director called him back. "Xiao Tai, stay for a moment."


    The director, who had noticeably gained weight, struggled to change his posture in his leather swivel chair. When he saw Tai Wei still standing, he waved his hand for him to sit down. He turned the teacup in his hand and pondered for a moment before asking, "I heard that you got a student from J University to help solve the case?"


    "Yes. Ding Shucheng from the C City Bureau recommended this person to me, saying he''s quite extraordinary."


    "What do you think?"


    Tai Wei carefully chose his words, "This person is quite interesting. It was under his guidance that we discovered the second victim. Besides, his description of the suspect is consistent with what the grocery store owner said. He said he would contact me in the next few days, and I want to hear his thoughts on these cases."


    "No!" The director raised his index finger firmly. "Don''t let this so-called genius participate in this case anymore. Not only this case, but similar methods should not be used in the future."


    ¡°Why?¡± Tai Wei was surprised.


    "Isn''t it enough that we suffered losses from that matter?" The director''s face turned unpleasant, and his voice suddenly became louder.


    Tai Wei was even more puzzled. He looked straight at the director. The director suddenly slapped his forehead, as if he had just remembered something, and asked, "How long have you been transferred here?"


    "Four years."


    "No wonder," the director''s expression softened slightly. "Ignorance is not a crime. But, you must remember what I said. This is an order." With that, he waved his hand, indicating for Tai Wei to leave.


    Perplexed, Tai Wei returned to his office. He was about to find an older colleague to ask for clarification when the phone rang. It was Fang Mu calling.


    The heavy rain that night had given Fang Mu a bad cold, and he spent the entire next day in his dormitory. Feeling slightly better, he got up and went to the library the following day.


    After examining the materials from their first meeting and visiting the scene of the fourth murder, Fang Mu had formed a preliminary conclusion about this series of blood-sucking murder cases. If most serial killers leave their "signature" at the crime scene, what was the signature of this bloodsucker?


    Undoubtedly, the reason for naming him the bloodsucker was his characteristic behavior of opening the victim''s chest and abdomen after killing them, and drinking their blood. Clearly, this excessive destruction of the body was not for venting anger or concealing the victim''s identity, but was driven by a specific need.


    So, what was this need?


    Drinking the victim''s blood could be seen as a way to "supplement" his own blood, indicating that the perpetrator must have had a "fear" and anxiety about his own blood. The source of this psychological fear was unknown, but it was certain that this fear and anxiety had reached an extremely intense level, otherwise, he would not have used killing and bloodsucking as a way to alleviate this emotion.


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    The scene also supported this conclusion.


    The first victim was killed just after finishing her night shift. When the police arrived at the scene, her keys were still in the door. The perpetrator may have followed the victim into the hallway, then suddenly attacked her as she opened the door, choking her after pushing her into the room, then opening her abdomen and mixing her blood with milk before drinking it.


    The second victim was a female doctoral student who was supposed to go to school on the day of the incident. When her neighbors went out to take out the trash, they found the door wide open and her dead body in the living room, killed with a vase placed on the shoe cabinet.


    The third victim was a recently laid-off female worker who had just returned from the morning market. She was killed in the bungalow where she lived. The perpetrator first grabbed her hair and slammed her head against the stove, then strangled her with a lamp cord, and finally mixed her blood with unsold soy milk and drank it.


    The fourth victim was a divorced female teacher who had just moved in. The perpetrator strangled her with the rope she used to tie up her luggage. Just as he was about to drink her blood, he unexpectedly found the little girl in the hallway. The little girl then became the sacrifice.


    Without the signature "bloodsucking" behavior, it would be difficult to imagine that these four cases were the work of the same person. The victims were varied in terms of identity and age, the crime scenes were in both apartments and bungalows, and the methods of killing varied from strangulation with a rope, suffocation, and being beaten to death with a vase. The tools used to open the victims'' chests were consistent: they were all weapons found at the crime scene, and were left behind at the scene after use. Furthermore, the perpetrator did not seem to deliberately destroy the evidence: his fingerprints were all over the scene, and he didn''t even close the door before leaving the scene.


    The only word that came to Fang Mu''s mind for such scenes was: chaos.


    There were no deliberately chosen victims; no crime tools carried on hand; no careful cleaning of the scene after the crime.


    This perpetrator was either an extremely careless person, or someone who was often in a state of mental confusion.


    So, what kind of psychological disorder led to this mental confusion, and what was the internal connection with blood?


    Fang Mu entered the keywords "blood" and "psychological disorders" on the library computer. The computer indicated that there were several books on this topic in the third reading room. Fang Mu copied down the book titles and went straight to the third reading room.


    Since Fang Mu often went to the library to borrow books, he was familiar with the staff at the borrowing counter. Without much small talk, Fang Mu handed the book list to Sun Laoshi, who was on duty, and asked directly where to find these books.


    "Oh?" Sun Laoshi looked at the book list, "Aren''t you from the Law School? These are books for medical students to read. What are you researching this for?"


    "Just out of curiosity."


    After looking carefully at the book list, Sun Laoshi smiled and said, "They are on the Z1 and Z3 shelves, in that corner."


    Fang Mu found the books according to Sun Laoshi''s instructions. While processing the borrowing procedures, Fang Mu picked up a newspaper placed on the table. It contained a report on the recent home invasion murder case, along with a composite sketch of the suspect.


    "Do you think this vampire won''t run away after being reported in the newspapers and being wanted?" a teacher commented as he saw Fang Mu reading the newspaper, shaking the newspaper in his hand.


    "He won''t," Fang Mu said without looking up, and casually added, "These kinds of people usually don''t care about the news media."


    "Oh, really?" The teacher suddenly became interested. "How do you know? Were you taught by a teacher?"


    "Ha, I''m just guessing." Fang Mu didn''t want to say much. He took the book list from Sun Laoshi and left the library quickly.


    After being locked in his dorm room for an entire day, Fang Mu called Tai Wei. He first inquired about the hospital investigation, and Tai Wei replied that due to the large number of cases to be investigated, it would take some time and no valuable clues had been found yet. The interviews around the crime scene were still ongoing. Fang Mu told Tai Wei that he had read some books on blood diseases and mental disorders, and he felt that this person may have been to a mental hospital for treatment or counseling.


    "So, if you have time, we can go to the mental hospital to investigate together," Fang Mu paused for a moment, "But it''s better to do it quickly, because that person will soon commit another crime."


    "You''re here?"


    "Are you busy? Am I bothering you?"


    "No, it''s okay, come in and sit down."


    "Reading books?"


    "Just browsing. Would you like some tea or coffee?"


    "Coffee."


    "I only have instant coffee, is that okay?"


    "That''s fine."


    "Okay, scratch that, I see that you haven''t been sleeping well, I''ll just give you water."


    "Sure."


    "Here you go, be careful, it''s hot."


    "Thank you. Wow, the books you''re reading are quite complex. ''Blood Diseases and Mental Disorders'', ''Psychogenic Mental Disorders'', and this one is ''The Study on... ''"


    "''The Study on Agoraphobia.'' It''s a study on agoraphobia."


    "Agoraphobia, what does that mean?"


    "Simply put, agoraphobia is when a person has a fear of any situation that could make them feel helpless and frightened. It''s similar to acrophobia."


    "Oh, it''s a fear disorder, right?"


    "Ha, it''s quite similar."


    "You are quite knowledgeable, understanding all this."


    "Just reading for fun. By the way, how did the method I taught you last time work? Was it effective?"


    "Uh, it''s okay."


    "Can you tell me what you are afraid of?"


    "... Nothing."


    "Ha, relax. For many things, if you look at them from a different angle, your perception of them might change. For example..."


    Clicking of the mouse.


    "Among these animals, which one are you afraid of?"


    "Um, mice."


    "Mice, okay. Look, this is a picture of a mouse. Ha, don''t be nervous, does it still scare you?"


    "Yes, of course."


    "Okay, don''t be nervous. Have you been bitten by a mouse when you were young?"


    "No."


    "Any of your family members afraid of mice?"


    "My mom."


    "When you were young, did your mom often take you out to play?"


    "Yes."


    "Did you see a mouse when you were with your mom?"


    "Yes."


    "How was it at that time?"


    "Once, when my mom was carrying me to kindergarten, we passed by a garden, and a mouse suddenly ran past her. My mom was so scared that she screamed and quickly ran away, almost throwing me out. Another time, there was a dead mouse in front of our door. My mom was so scared that she didn''t dare to approach it. She held my hand and stood at the door for a long time, until the neighbor took away the dead mouse, and then we went back home."


    "Ha, I understand. Do you love your mom?"


    "Of course."


    "If your mom were in danger, would you protect her?"


    "Of course."


    "How old is your mom?"


    "Well, 51."


    "Okay, imagine this scene: your mom with white hair ¡ª has your mother''s hair turned white?"


    "The hair around her temples has turned white."


    "Okay, let''s continue. It''s winter, there''s a strong wind outside, and your mom, with her white hair, is shivering in the wind. In front of her, there is a mouse blocking her way. It''s a big mouse with black fur and red eyes, staring at your mom intently. You don''t need to shiver, be brave."


    "Okay... okay."


    "Your mom is trying to find a way around, but the mouse is blocking her path. She''s anxious and scared, tears streaming down her face as she mutters, ''What should I do, what should I do?'' Are you willing to protect your mom?"


    "I am willing!"


    "Sit down. Look at it, it''s less than a foot long, you just need to step on it and crush it, and it won''t scare your mom anymore."


    "Yes."


    "Go protect your mom! Step forward and crush it."


    The chair suddenly fell, and the room was filled with the sound of footsteps as Fang Mu stomped on the ground.


    "Okay, okay, calm down. Do you want some water?"


    "No, thank you."


    "Take a deep breath. Good, good. Here, look at this picture again. Are you still afraid?"


    "A little better now."


    "It''s not worth being afraid of, it''s just a despicable little thing. Be brave for your mom''s sake."


    "Yes. Um, I''m feeling better now."


    "Wipe your sweat."


    "Thank you. You should be a psychologist."


    "A psychologist? No, I just enjoy exploring the human mind."


    "Really, teacher. I feel very relaxed and happy when I''m with you."


    "That''s good, I''m willing to help you."


    "You know, you remind me of a friend of mine."

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 6: The Fascination of Blood

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 6: The Fascination of Blood


    This was the second time that Tai Wei had been called out of the classroom by Fang Mu.


    The class was on criminal procedure law. Fang Mu and Meng Fan Zhe sat in the back row. Meng Fan Zhe looked relaxed and pleased with himself, as he had made a deal with Fang Mu: if their names were called, Fang Mu would cover half his mouth and answer for him. Fang Mu didn''t mind helping him out, but having to be with him in every class made Fang Mu, who was used to being alone, feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, this was not a fundamental solution to the problem.


    As Fang Mu left, he felt Meng Fan Zhe becoming anxious and despondent behind him. He really wanted to comfort him and say that the possibility of Professor Song calling their names again was unlikely, but for Fang Mu, it was Tai Wei''s gaze that made him nervous.


    In the corridor, Fang Mu asked Tai Wei in a low voice, "What''s wrong this time?"


    "Well, no one died, but a girl has gone missing."


    "That girl shouldn''t be very old, right?" Fang Mu blurted out.


    Without needing an answer, Tai Wei''s eyes had already confirmed it.


    At around 10 p.m. last night, the Ba Jian Fang Police Station in the Hong Yuan District received a report that a first-year junior high school girl from the Eighth Middle School in the city had gone missing. According to the person who made the report (the missing girl''s parents), the girl''s name was Xu Jie, 13 years old. Normally, Xu Jie would go straight home after class and would have arrived home at around 5 p.m. However, yesterday, she still hadn''t returned home by around 10 p.m. Frantic with worry, her parents reported her missing after they were unable to find her.


    During the investigation, an owner of a barbecue stall by the roadside provided crucial information: at around 4:40 p.m., he had seen a girl who appeared to be Xu Jie talking to a scruffy, thin young man. The police officers at the station thought that the physical characteristics of the man resembled those of the "vampire" in the wanted posters, so they reported it directly to the Municipal Bureau''s special task force.


    Fang Mu and Tai Wei went to the location where the witness claimed to have seen Xu Jie and the man. Fang Mu looked around, and Tai Wei asked him, "Do you think it''s him?"


    Fang Mu didn''t answer him. Instead, he asked Tai Wei, "Do you have a map of this area?"


    "We''ve already prepared it," Tai Wei said, reaching into the car to take out a map.


    He figured it out. Fang Mu smiled.


    For the first time in a long time, this guy smiled. Tai Wei thought to himself and reached for the map.


    "As you may have noticed, the areas where the perpetrator committed the crimes are very concentrated," Tai Wei pointed out on the map with his finger. "Here, here, and here, all in this area, including the location where this girl went missing, which is also nearby." He looked up at Fang Mu and asked, "According to our usual reconnaissance thinking, if a suspect chooses to commit multiple crimes in one place, it''s usually presumed that he is not familiar with the crime scene, meaning that the likelihood of the perpetrator being from out of town is higher. Why do you think he lives nearby?"


    "He''s different," Fang Mu shook his head. "This person''s attacks show a strong element of randomness, meaning that he didn''t deliberately choose the victims, but perhaps this time is an exception," he looked up at Tai Wei, "He''s starting to target some young people."


    "Then, do you think this girl is still alive?" Tai Wei asked.


    "It''s possible," Fang Mu looked at the calendar on his watch and silently calculated in his mind, "The perpetrator has a pattern of committing a crime roughly every 20 days, and this time, it''s only been a week since the last crime. He probably wants to ''nurture'' a source of blood and be ready to use it when he needs it."


    Despite the bright morning sun, after hearing this, Tai Wei couldn''t help but shudder.


    To nurture living people and then, when needed, to kill and feed on them, just like slaughtering pigs and sheep.


    What kind of person was this?


    "Let''s go to the mental hospital," Fang Mu got into the car. "If I''m not mistaken, we still have some time, and we must catch him before he feels the need."


    Most hospitals in City C have psychiatric departments, but there are only two specialized psychiatric hospitals. Tai Wei arranged for his subordinates to go to other hospitals (emphasizing not to let the chief know), while he and Fang Mu went to the two specialized hospitals.


    Fang Mu was looking for people who had consulted or been hospitalized for delusions related to blood in the past five years, especially those related to blood. The first hospital was very cooperative, but unfortunately, they found nothing. When they were investigating at the second hospital, the director suddenly remembered someone.


    This person''s name was Feng Kai, male. Two years ago, when he was 26 years old, he suffered from severe depression due to the successive deaths of his father and brother within a year. After being admitted to the hospital, Feng Kai was relatively cooperative in his treatment, and it seemed that his depression was gradually improving. However, one day, a nurse found him catching a bird and drinking its blood while strolling outdoors. Subsequently, he requested a blood transfusion from the hospital because he believed he suffered from severe anemia. After a detailed examination, the hospital found that the amount of red blood cells in his blood was completely normal. But Feng Kai did not accept this fact and insisted that he was severely anemic. As a result, the hospital determined that he also suffered from delusions. After treating his delusions for a period of time, Feng Kai suddenly disappeared without saying goodbye.


    In the doctors'' and nurses'' impressions, Feng Kai was 173cm tall, thin, and unkempt. His ward was always in a mess. Feng Kai did not like to interact with people, and no one had come to visit him. After he disappeared, the hospital went to look for him, only to find that the address he registered at the hospital was fake.


    This clue excited Fang Mu and Tai Wei. Considering that Feng Kai could very well be a fake name, Fang Mu suggested that Tai Wei immediately investigate the father and son who died of blood diseases two years ago, and search for this person named Feng Kai throughout the city, especially in the Hong Yuan District.


    Two days later, the investigation results finally came out. There were a total of 1244 people named Feng Kai in City C, and none of them met the search criteria. However, there was a father and son with the surname Ma who died of aplastic anemia in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The father, Ma Xiangwen, was widowed early, and he died in 1998 due to aplastic anemia. Ma Xiangwen had two sons. His eldest son, Ma Tao, died a year after his father due to acute aplastic anemia. His younger son, Ma Kai, inherited a set of properties left by his father, which was located at 83-4 Changqing North Street, Hong Yuan District. This location was within 5 kilometers of all five crime scenes.


    "It''s him!"


    In the household registration room of the Changqing North Street Police Station, Fang Mu looked at a photo on the computer screen and said decisively.


    Despite Ma Kai looking neat and having a serene expression in the photo, Fang Mu still saw deep anxiety and despair in his slightly vacant eyes.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    At this moment, Tai Wei appeared very cautious. He found the two eyewitnesses of the cases of Yao Xiaoyang, Tong Hui, and Xu Jie''s disappearance and brought them to the police station. The witness of Xu Jie''s disappearance could not confirm that Ma Kai was the person he saw that day. However, the eyewitnesses of the murders of Yao Xiaoyang and Tong Hui were very certain that Ma Kai was the person who had gone to their convenience store to buy mineral water that day.


    "There''s no mistake, he may look a bit thinner than in the photo, but it''s definitely him!"


    There was no more room for hesitation. Tai Wei immediately applied to the bureau to gather personnel to apprehend Ma Kai. As he was about to leave, Tai Wei asked Fang Mu whether he should wait there or go back to school.


    Fang Mu quickly said he would wait at the police station for news. Tai Wei instructed his colleagues at the police station to take care of Fang Mu, turned to leave, but was stopped when Fang Mu grabbed his arm.


    "Be careful. This person is very dangerous."


    At 8:22 p.m.


    This was a building that had been standing for at least 20 years. Upon investigation, it was a staff residential building of the Hong Guang Tractor Manufacturing Factory. Tai Wei looked up at the windows on the third floor, the deep blue curtains blocking the windows tightly, and a faint orange light could be seen from inside.


    Nine police officers participated in the operation. Tai Wei divided them into an attack team, a support team, and a blockade team. The attack team was responsible for subduing the suspect after entering the room, the support team was responsible for rescuing the victim (if the victim was still alive), and the blockade team was responsible for sealing off the corridor and the outside of the window to prevent the suspect from escaping.


    To ensure the success of the operation, in the afternoon, Tai Wei and another police officer disguised themselves as employees of a gas company and surveyed a resident on the first floor. The layout of this residence was similar to that of Ma Kai''s on the third floor, both being two-bedroom apartments. Tai Wei analyzed that the victim was very likely to be held in the small northern bedroom. He instructed the support team to enter the room as soon as possible, regardless of whether the suspect was immediately subdued, and to find an opportunity to enter the northern bedroom to rescue the victim.


    At 8:25 p.m., the rescue operation began on time.


    Tai Wei quietly led the attack and support teams up to the third floor, stopping in front of the right door. There was no peephole on the door. After the attack team took up positions on both sides of the door, Tai Wei raised his hand and knocked on the door.


    No response. But Tai Wei noticed faint footsteps inside, and the light under the door was blocked.


    Tai Wei knocked on the door three more times, but there was still no response.


    Tai Wei loudly said, "No one''s home here, let''s go to the opposite side."


    Turning around, Tai Wei knocked on the door of the neighbor, and a woman''s voice quickly responded, "Who is it?"


    "We are from Pharmaceutical Factory Three. We''ve recently developed a new product called Blood Supplement, specifically designed to treat various types of blood deficiency and anemia. To show our gratitude to our consumers, we''re conducting a million-drug giveaway today. We''re here to deliver medicine to you free of charge."


    "Really? Wait a moment."


    The door opened, and a middle-aged woman with disheveled hair appeared. "Is it really free?"


    At almost the same time, the door across the hall suddenly opened.


    The police officers from the attack team leaped up and suddenly rushed at the person opening the door, catching him off guard and knocking him down.


    Tai Wei left the bewildered middle-aged woman and quickly rushed into Room 302.


    The person was pinned to the ground by several police officers, and one of them grabbed his hair. "What''s your name?"


    As he passed by, Tai Wei looked at him and confirmed that he was indeed Ma Kai. He didn''t hesitate and followed the support team straight to the door of the northern bedroom.


    The door was closed. A member of the support team kicked the door open, and Tai Wei aimed his gun into the room.


    The room was dark, and a person could vaguely be seen lying on a large bed. Other police officers entered the room to search, and Tai Wei went straight to the bed, shining a flashlight to reveal a girl tied in a "´ó" shape on the bed, with her hands and feet bound to the head and foot railings of the bed. Her hair was messy, her eyes closed tightly, and her mouth was taped shut. Tai Wei recognized her as the missing Xu Jie.


    Was she still alive?


    Tai Wei put his hand under the girl''s nose and felt warmth, and a stone in his heart finally fell.


    His colleagues confirmed that there was no one else in the room, and Tai Wei instructed them to untie the unconscious girl, while also notifying the blockade team downstairs to call an ambulance.


    The ambulance that had been parked at the entrance of the community arrived quickly and took the girl to the hospital for examination.


    The suspect was already handcuffed, lying face down in the living room, with two police officers pointing their guns at his head.


    Tai Wei grabbed his hair, feeling uncomfortable with the greasy sensation on his hand. He looked at Ma Kai''s face, pale, emaciated, with scabs around his mouth, crusts in the corners of his eyes, and probably a broken nose from the recent blow, with dark red blood flowing. Ma Kai''s body kept writhing, and he mumbled, "Blood... stop it..."


    "Is your name Ma Kai?" Tai Wei asked loudly.


    Ma Kai slightly opened his eyes, glanced at Tai Wei, then closed his eyes and continued muttering, "Blood... blood... stop it."


    Tai Wei suddenly wanted to fiercely hit him in the face with the butt of his gun, but he restrained himself in time. He stood up, waved his hand in disgust, and said, "Take him away!"


    The duty police officers at Changqing North Street Police Station occasionally glanced curiously at this strange young man.


    For the whole evening, he didn''t say a word, didn''t smoke, just stared ahead in a daze, not touching the meal in front of him.


    The phone rang, and the duty officer answered it, then turned to ask, "Is your name Fang Mu?"


    The young man suddenly turned his head, and his eyes flashed with an intimidating light.


    "It''s for you."


    Fang Mu stood up. Possibly because he had been sitting for too long, his feet were a bit stiff, and in the few meters he walked over, the table and chairs made a clattering sound.


    "Hello?"


    The receiver was noisy, with loud shouts and shrill sirens. Tai Wei''s voice was urgent but filled with excitement:


    "We got him, it''s him!"


    "What about the girl?"


    "She''s okay, she''s in the hospital now. I just called to confirm, the doctor said apart from being scared and malnourished, there''s nothing serious."


    Fang Mu closed his eyes.


    After hanging up the phone, Fang Mu felt the pain from where he had knocked against the table and chairs.


    He returned to the table and sat down, silent for a moment, then opened the meal in front of him.


    "Sorry."


    The duty police officer saw the weak smile on Fang Mu''s face, as if a great burden had been lifted.


    "Can you get me a glass of water?"

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 7: Forgetting

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 7: Forgetting


    Tai Wei was so busy that he didn''t realize it was already past 10 o''clock in the evening when he remembered to send Fang Mu back. In the car, he told Fang Mu that the forensic science department had confirmed that Ma Kai''s fingerprints matched the large number of fingerprints left at the crime scene. Although Ma Kai had not confessed yet, there was no problem in prosecuting him.


    Fang Mu didn''t say much, just gazed out the window at the night sky.


    "You should go back and rest. I''ll find you in a few days," Tai Wei noticed Fang Mu''s tired expression.


    At the school gate, Fang Mu got out of the car, said goodbye to Tai Wei, and turned to leave. Tai Wei called out, "Hey."


    Fang Mu turned back.


    Tai Wei leaned out of the driver''s seat, resting his elbow on the car window, and stared at Fang Mu for a few seconds, a smile appearing on his face.


    "You''re amazing, kid."


    Fang Mu smiled, waved, and walked away.


    It was close to midnight now, and most of the student dormitories were pitch black. The streetlights were sparsely scattered around the campus, and in the distance, a dim yellow glow could be seen, illuminating the campus. Unknown insects could be seen flying around the light bulbs. Fang Mu walked slowly through the campus, as if his soul was wandering in the night.


    Looking up, the deep blue sky was filled with twinkling stars, and in his chest was the slightly cool, fresh air.


    There is a romantic saying: after people die, they become stars in the sky. They illuminate their loved ones and also their enemies.


    Room 313 was dark, and Fang Mu took out his key to unlock the door, but found it was bolted from the inside.


    Inside, there was a flurry of panicked voices, someone tremblingly asked, "Who''s there?"


    "It''s me, Fang Mu."


    "Oh," Du Yu visibly breathed a sigh of relief, "Just wait a moment."


    A woman''s voice quietly complained that she couldn''t find her underwear.


    Fang Mu smiled, leaned against the opposite wall, and lit a cigarette.


    The hallway was dark, with only a 15-watt light bulb shining in the stairwell. The bathroom light was probably broken again, and looking in from the doorway, it was pitch black, like an open mouth.


    Someone muttered in their sleep.


    Someone was grinding their teeth.


    The faucet in the bathroom was dripping.


    Upstairs, it seemed like someone was shuffling around in slippers.


    Fang Mu suddenly felt fine beads of sweat break out on his forehead, and his lips trembled as he held the cigarette.


    He anxiously looked around.


    The doors on both sides of the corridor were tightly shut, silent and seemingly sinister.


    Fang Mu involuntarily walked to the other side of the corridor.


    The doors on both sides gradually receded. Fang Mu stared intently ahead, wondering what was hidden in the darkness?


    He dared not look left or right. The seemingly ordinary doors in the late-night corridor seemed to have come to life, silently watching and laughing as they witnessed this trembling wanderer step toward an unknown fate. One of those doors seemed like it could open at any moment, leading him into a tempting but deadly path.


    Suddenly, a burnt smell filled his nose.


    Fang Mu almost shouted out as the doors on both sides of the corridor burst into flames. A blurry figure appeared in the thick smoke not far away.


    Fang Mu reached into his backpack, simultaneously retreating and frantically fumbling for the military knife.


    When he finally grasped the slightly undulating handle of the knife, his heart raced even faster.


    The blurry figure slowly approached him.


    Fang Mu suddenly realized who it was.


    No, don''t.


    At this moment, a door behind Fang Mu creaked open.


    A drowsy, tall figure rubbed his eyes and walked out, catching sight of Fang Mu. His eyes widened as he saw Fang Mu, who had just been standing there, and exclaimed, "What are you doing?"


    Fang Mu recognized him as Liu Jianjun, a criminal law major.


    He almost wanted to shout, "Run!" but those words were stuck in his throat.


    The smoke and flames in the hallway disappeared in an instant. On the other side, it was still pitch black, and nothing could be seen.


    "Nothing, just go back to sleep," Fang Mu apologized to Du Yu after sitting on the bed for a while, catching his breath.


    "Kid, I thought you weren''t coming back," Du Yu scratched his head and said, "I thought it was someone from the security office, and I almost got scared stiff."


    Fang Mu smiled weakly.


    "Are you okay? You don''t look too good," Du Yu asked.


    "I''m fine," Fang Mu shook his head, "You can go to sleep. Sorry for disturbing you."


    Du Yu nodded apologetically and got into bed, soon the sound of snoring could be heard.


    Fang Mu turned off the light and sat quietly in the darkness for a long time. When his breathing finally calmed down, he took off his clothes and crawled under the covers.


    Are you here again?


    A person stood silently in front of the bed, gently placing their hand on my shoulder.


    "Actually, you''re just like me."


    Without turning around, I knew it was Wu Han, who had already changed beyond recognition.


    No, I''m not like you!


    Four days after Ma Kai''s arrest, he finally spoke up and readily admitted to the four murders. However, he insisted that his motive for killing and drinking blood was self-preservation, as he, just like his father and brother, suffered from severe anemia. The detention center specifically had a doctor conduct a physical examination, which proved that his blood was completely normal. Due to the clear facts and substantial evidence, the city bureau decided to quickly transfer him to the prosecutor''s office for prosecution.


    Tai Wei briefly informed Fang Mu of the progress of the case over the phone. Fang Mu requested to have a meeting with Ma Kai. Tai Wei hesitated, but ultimately agreed.


    The meeting was arranged in a visiting room at the detention center. Tai Wei suggested accompanying Fang Mu, but Fang Mu insisted on meeting Ma Kai alone. Tai Wei couldn''t persuade him otherwise and had no choice but to agree. As he escorted Fang Mu in, Tai Wei repeatedly reminded him to be careful.


    "We''ve arranged a single cell for this guy in the detention center. Why? On his first night in, he attacked other inmates and bit someone''s throat without letting go. There was no choice but to put him in a single cell."


    The visiting room only had a table and two chairs, all fixed to the floor. There were no windows, only an iron door. Tai Wei pointed to a red button on the iron door and said, "We''ll be next door. When the conversation is over, press this, and we''ll come and take you out." He paused for a moment, "If there''s any danger, press this, understand?"


    Fang Mu nodded.


    Tai Wei looked Fang Mu up and down, "Also, you didn''t bring any weapons, did you?"


    Fang Mu thought for a moment, reached into his backpack, took out the military knife, and handed it to Tai Wei.


    "What are you doing with this?" Tai Wei took the knife, frowned, and examined it, "I''ll have to confiscate this for now and return it to you later."


    He raised a finger and made a threatening expression, "Technically, this is a controlled weapon, understand?"


    Fang Mu smiled without saying a word.


    Tai Wei put the knife in his pocket, "Sit for a while, I''ll go get the person."


    A few minutes later, there was a grating sound of shackles and the scraping of feet against the ground outside the door.


    Ma Kai was led into the visiting room by two guards, walking unsteadily. They pressed him into the chair opposite Fang Mu, and just as they were about to shackle his hands and feet to the table and chair, Fang Mu said, "Don''t shackle him."


    "No, this won''t do," Tai Wei straightforwardly refused.


    Fang Mu pulled Tai Wei aside and said in a low voice, "I need him to completely relax in order to get what I want."


    According to the available information, although Ma Kai lost his mother at a young age, he had grown up normally until the age of 26. After graduating from high school, he went directly to university, where, apart from failing one exam, he had no other blemishes in his life. After graduating from university, he worked as a salesperson in a small company. Although he had very few social interactions, he did not show any signs of mental disorder. He had been in a relationship once, which ultimately ended without any issues. If Ma Kai had been traveling along a normal and smooth path before the age of 26, something extraordinary must have happened after that, changing his life and resulting in the deaths of many innocent people.


    What Fang Mu wanted to explore was his mental journey over the past two years, which was the answer to all the mysteries in the case.


    "No, this guy is very dangerous. I have to be responsible for your safety."


    "I''ll be fine. If there''s any trouble, I''ll press the button."


    Tai Wei looked at Fang Mu, hesitated for a moment, and signaled to the two guards not to shackle Ma Kai. He then walked over to Ma Kai, sternly saying, "Be honest, do you hear me!"


    After Tai Wei and the two guards left the iron door, Fang Mu returned to the table and pressed the record button on the recorder.


    "Your name is Ma Kai? Hello, I''m from the Behavioral Science Department of the city bureau," Fang Mu originally intended to say that he was from the television station, but at the last moment, he decided to make up an identity on the spot.


    There was no response from the other party, and he continued to hang his head.


    "Can you hear me? Ma Kai, please lift your head," Fang Mu raised his voice, trying to sound as calm as possible.


    Ma Kai slowly raised his head.


    Fang Mu held his breath.


    What kind of eyes were those! Under the glaring incandescent light above his head, Ma Kai''s eyes were completely gray, as if they had no pupils at all, like two tombstones embedded in his face, devoid of any signs of life.


    In the silent and desolate cemetery, the stillness of the mist; the swaying of the branches in the wind; the distant and faint sight of broken bricks and tiles, for a moment, Fang Mu felt as if he were trapped in an inescapable nightmare, and he could almost hear the distant tolling of a death knell and the mournful cries of crows.


    Fang Mu and Ma Kai locked eyes for several seconds until he lowered his head again, and Fang Mu slowly exhaled.


    "I came today," Fang Mu did his best to sound calm, "because I''m very interested in you. If you don''t mind, I would like to talk to you about everything you''ve done."


    Ma Kai seemed indifferent and did not speak, his hands clasped between his legs, and Fang Mu noticed that he was swaying slightly back and forth with a rhythmic motion.


    He is trying to distract himself.


    Instinctive evasion.


    "You have received a higher education, and perhaps you are aware that my personal opinion will not have any impact on the court''s judgment," Fang Mu said slowly, "But I can sense that you have an unknown pain in your heart. If you don''t want this pain to torment you to death, and if you want those who misunderstand you to know the truth, then please believe me and tell me."


    Ma Kai seemed indifferent, and after a few seconds, he raised his head again, "Many people think I''m a murderous demon, right?"


    Fang Mu nodded.


    Ma Kai seemed to smile bitterly and shook his head, "You don''t know, I didn''t want to kill."


    "Why do you say that?"


    Ma Kai remained silent, staring blankly at the white wall behind Fang Mu, and his body started to sway back and forth slightly.


    Fang Mu thought for a moment, took out a pack of cigarettes, and offered one to Ma Kai, "Do you want one?"


    Ma Kai raised his head, staring at the cigarette in front of him, and shook his head slowly, a hint of disdain in his eyes.


    Fang Mu lit a cigarette, taking several deep puffs, and a large cloud of smoke filled the space between him and Ma Kai. Fang Mu could feel Ma Kai''s gaze following the smoke, finally settling on the cigarette by his lips.


    "Smoking is harmful to health," he suddenly said in a dry tone.


    "Oh, and how is your health?" Fang Mu immediately seized on this topic.


    "Not good," Ma Kai shook his head.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    Ma Kai''s facial muscles twitched a few times, and he shifted his gaze away from Fang Mu''s face, speaking softly, "I have severe anemia."


    "But a doctor has already examined you, and your blood is completely normal."


    "They don''t know anything!" Ma Kai''s voice suddenly rose, sitting up straight, and his hands suddenly pulled out from between his legs, "I know my illness best! My father died of leukemia, and my brother did too. I, I''m going to dry up completely, like a mummy. I know."


    "You don''t believe the doctor''s diagnosis?"


    "They''re all liars, they want me to die. They won''t help me. I offered them money, asking for a blood transfusion! But they said no. What''s the logic behind that? When my father was lying in the hospital bed, his face was getting paler and paler, I knew that his blood was slowly drying up. But after the transfusion, he could walk, eat, and talk to me. Why won''t they give me a transfusion? They want me to die, I know it."


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "What are you going to do?"


    "I won''t die. I won''t end up like my father and brother, lying in bed until the oil runs out. I won''t, I''m going to save myself!"


    Fang Mu''s head was suddenly covered in fine beads of sweat, and his lips trembled as he held the cigarette.


    He looked around in panic.


    I can''t look at his eyes anymore.


    "I can''t look at these ordinary doors in the late-night corridor anymore."


    Suddenly, there was a burnt smell.


    Fang Mu almost screamed out, but the doors on both sides of the corridor suddenly burst into flames. A blurry figure appeared in the thick smoke not far away.


    Fang Mu reached into his backpack, simultaneously retreating and frantically fumbling for the military knife.


    When he finally grasped the slightly undulating handle of the knife, his heart raced even faster.


    The blurry figure slowly approached him.


    Fang Mu suddenly realized who it was.


    No, don''t.


    At this moment, a door behind Fang Mu creaked open.


    A drowsy, tall figure rubbed his eyes and walked out, catching sight of Fang Mu. His eyes widened as he saw Fang Mu, who had just been standing there, and exclaimed, "What are you doing?"


    Fang Mu recognized him as Liu Jianjun, a criminal law major.


    He almost wanted to shout, "Run!" but those words were stuck in his throat.


    The smoke and flames in the hallway disappeared in an instant. On the other side, it was still pitch black, and nothing could be seen.


    "What''s wrong? You''re going to be okay, right?" Liu Jianjun said, looking at Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu felt her eyes burning into him as she ran past him. "I''m sorry," Fang Mu sat on the bed, panting, and looked up at Du Yu.


    "You, kid, I thought you weren''t coming back," Du Yu scratched his head and said, "I thought it was someone from the security office, and I almost got scared stiff."


    "Sorry," Fang Mu said as he lay down on the bed, "I disturbed you."


    Du Yu nodded apologetically and got into bed, soon the sound of snoring could be heard.


    Fang Mu turned off the light and sat quietly in the darkness for a long time. When his breathing finally calmed down, he took off his clothes and crawled under the covers.


    Are you here again?


    A person stood silently in front of the bed, gently placing their hand on my shoulder.


    "Actually, you''re just like me."


    Without turning around, I knew it was Wu Han, who had already changed beyond recognition.


    No, I''m not like you!


    Four days after Ma Kai''s arrest, he finally spoke up and readily admitted to the four murders. However, he insisted that his motive for killing and drinking blood was self-preservation, as he, just like his father and brother, suffered from severe anemia. The detention center specifically had a doctor conduct a physical examination, which proved that his blood was completely normal. Due to the clear facts and substantial evidence, the city bureau decided to quickly transfer him to the prosecutor''s office for prosecution.


    Fang Mu was informed of the progress of the case over the phone by Tai Wei. Fang Mu requested to have a meeting with Ma Kai. Tai Wei hesitated, but ultimately agreed.


    The meeting was arranged in a visiting room at the detention center. Tai Wei suggested accompanying Fang Mu, but Fang Mu insisted on meeting Ma Kai alone. Tai Wei couldn''t persuade him otherwise and had no choice but to agree.


    Fang Mu was escorted into the visiting room, and shortly after, the door was shut and locked. Fang Mu pressed the button on the recorder and began the conversation.


    Suddenly, the door burst open, and a group of guards rushed in, pulling Ma Kai off Fang Mu.


    Tai Wei quickly pulled Fang Mu to his


    "A serial killer with no organizational skills has some typical characteristics. For example, poor social skills; emotional anxiety; inability to engage in skilled work; often born as the youngest child in the family; living alone, often near the crime scene; lack of interest in the news media, and so on. Therefore, I deduce that the murderer likely lives near the crime scene, and the Hongyuan district is an old city area in this city, with few commercial housing. Furthermore, given his mental state, he cannot engage in high-income professions, so his economic ability does not allow him to purchase commercial housing. Therefore, he is very likely to live in the house left to him by his parents, who were originally employees of state-owned enterprises, as in the past only state-owned enterprises would have the welfare of housing allocation.


    Fang Mu flicked away the cigarette ash, "So, to sum up, the murderer is likely to be under 30 years old, very thin, untidy, living near the crime scene, the offspring of a state-owned enterprise employee, and a person with severe mental disorders."


    Tai Wei stared at Fang Mu in astonishment for a long time before coming to his senses.


    "Oh my god, you got it all right."


    "Really?" Fang Mu smiled faintly, "Initially, I misjudged the relationship between the crime and blood. I thought his anxiety towards blood originated from the weather."


    "I remember you said the murderer might be wearing a thick coat that day when the first case was reported."


    "Yes, it was just after winter when the first case occurred, and I thought he might be afraid of blood freezing, so he might take some additional measures to keep warm, such as wearing thick clothes. Later, when I saw the scene where Tong Hui was killed, I felt that it might stem from delusions about his own blood ''deficiency.''"


    Seeing Tai Wei still in awe, Fang Mu smiled and said, "I''m not that amazing. There are many things about this case that I don''t understand, such as how he chooses his victims, why he mutilates them, why he mixes blood with other substances, and why he took Tong Hui away from the initial crime scene, among many others."


    "Oh..." Tai Wei suddenly realized, "So when you talked to Ma Kai, you asked him those questions?"


    "Yes."


    "Empirical research." Tai Wei looked at Fang Mu thoughtfully, "Bro, do you want to be a criminologist in the future?"


    Fang Mu was taken aback, "No. I haven''t thought about that."


    "Then why..." Tai Wei finally asked the question that had been bothering him for a long time, "are you so interested in these things?"


    Fang Mu''s expression darkened, and it took him a long time to finally speak, "I don''t know."


    Coming out of the small restaurant, slightly tipsy Tai Wei patted Fang Mu''s shoulder, "Bro, you''ve helped me a lot, if you want any reward, just say it!"


    Fang Mu shook his head with a smile, "No need."


    "No! You must!" Tai Wei said in a rough voice, "Material reward? Or should I write a commendation letter to your school? Oh, maybe I don''t need to write it, heh heh."


    Fang Mu was about to ask why, but Tai Wei took out his wallet, and his face darkened, "Tai Wei, we''re friends, right?"


    Tai Wei vigorously nodded.


    "If you really consider me a friend, don''t do this."


    Tai Wei scratched his head, pondered for a while, and seemed to make a big decision as he reached for his waist, took out a spare magazine from the gun holster, and handed a bullet to Fang Mu.


    "What''s this for?" Fang Mu asked in surprise.


    "For us police, the best friend is our own gun." He solemnly put the bullet in Fang Mu''s hand and held it, "I can''t give you the gun, but I''ll give you a bullet as a memento."


    Fang Mu thought to himself, "Bro, don''t you think this is unlucky? This sounds like ''here, have a peanut.''"


    Nevertheless, he carefully placed the bullet in his pocket and then waved to Tai Wei, "I''m going back, drive carefully."


    Just as Fang Mu took a few steps, Tai Wei called out, "Hey."


    Fang Mu turned to look at Tai Wei.


    Tai Wei stared at him as if appraising him for a few seconds, and said solemnly, "Fang Mu, have you ever considered becoming a police officer in the future?"


    "No!" Fang Mu said firmly. Then he left without looking back.


    Tai Wei felt a little disappointed, opened the car door, started the engine, and saw the "Five Prohibitions" hanging on the rearview mirror, praying not to encounter police inspection.


    Instead of going back to the dormitory, Fang Mu went to the public bus stop at the school gate. He hid behind the sign and only jumped on the No. 315 bus when he saw Tai Wei''s jeep drive away.


    When the bus arrived at Changsheng Road, Fang Mu got off. Not far to the north, he arrived at Yanshou Street, a street in J City specializing in funeral supplies. Changsheng, Yanshou, yet every household had paper figures and funeral wreaths at their doorsteps. There were too many things in this world that did not live up to their names.


    Twenty minutes later, Fang Mu boarded the returning school bus with a bulky black plastic bag.


    1 a.m.


    Fang Mu quietly climbed to the seventh floor, and the black plastic bag in his hand made an annoying sound from time to time. This floor was the female dormitory, and if someone unlucky came out to use the bathroom at this time, they would surely be scared to death.


    Fang Mu carefully opened the window leading to the rooftop, tossed the plastic bag inside, and then silently jumped onto the rooftop, heading straight to the northeast corner.


    The night was good, with a gentle breeze that sounded like murmurs. In the northeast corner of the rooftop, there was a heap of sand mixed with a lot of black paper ash. Fang Mu squatted down, opened the plastic bag, and took out bundles of paper for burning. He lit them with a lighter, and a small fire quietly started burning on the midnight rooftop.


    The campus at midnight was unusually quiet. Most people were either indulging in sweet or terrifying dreams, and no one, human or ghost, had seen the strange memorial on the rooftop of Building B of South Garden Five at J University, despite it not being the first time.


    Fang Mu lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and placed it on a brick near him. Then he lit another one, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and the smoke rose in the firelight, like a delicate veil swaying and then disappearing into the night sky.


    A gust of wind blew, lifting a few pieces of paper ash that lightly stuck to Fang Mu''s face. He brushed them away, but his hands were left with black marks, and his face probably didn''t look much better.


    He chuckled softly.


    Is that you, Chen Xi?


    Alright, I won''t cry anymore.


    Fang Mu stood up and threw several bundles of paper into the fire. Turning to look, the cigarette on the ground was almost burned out.


    Give one to Wang Jian. Light another one for himself.


    The pile of fire slowly diminished, leaving only a heap of smoldering ashes. Fang Mu covered the ashes with sand and took out another pile of paper from the plastic bag, lighting it with the lighter.


    Just as the corner of the rooftop that had just returned to darkness was illuminated by a small pile of firelight, Fang Mu''s eyes were no longer filled with tears, his lips were tight, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and his face showed an inscrutable expression.


    Sun Mei, I''m here to see you.


    Although it was difficult to say that Fang Mu had any affection for Sun Mei from start to finish, it couldn''t be denied that this unfortunate woman had saved him twice.


    Whether it was lucky or unlucky, let it stay in this life. Just like these swirling paper ashes, spinning, shattering, let it be. Love in the next life, just remember to be happy.


    Fang Mu held the last bunch of burning paper in his hand for a long time, only throwing it into the fire when it was about to go out.


    I hope you''re happier over there. Wu Han.


    Back in the dormitory, Fang Mu felt an indescribable exhaustion but also an incomparable lightness of heart.


    Every time he paid tribute to the deceased, Fang Mu would have this feeling, as if the heavy burden on his shoulders had lightened a little bit.


    Fang Mu sat listlessly at the table, the clear moonlight outside the window. The light seemed to have texture, gently and softly covering Fang Mu''s body. The cool breeze blew in, brushing his face comfortably, as if it had pierced through his body, making him transparent and clear. Fang Mu leaned his head against the railing, and his eyelids grew heavier...


    A few minutes later, Fang Mu suddenly woke up. Du Yu on the opposite bed was speaking in his sleep, "The ribs in the B cafeteria are delicious!"


    Fang Mu rubbed his temples, leaned over, and turned on the computer.


    The heavy sound of the chassis started, and after a few seconds, he opened a folder named "Ma Kai" on the hard drive.


    Fang Mu''s face appeared somewhat blue under the monitor''s light, and his eyes became cold, tired, and extremely sharp once again."

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 8: Happy or Not Happy

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 8: Happy or Not Happy


    "Oh, it''s you. Come in and have a seat."


    "Am I disturbing you?"


    "Not at all. Do you want some water?"


    "Yes, please."


    "Have you finished reading those books?"


    "Yes, I came to return them today."


    "So, did you understand them?"


    "Haha, not really. There are a lot of things I don''t quite get."


    "Haha, it''s okay. It''s normal for you. Those books are quite deep for you. How have you been recently?"


    "Okay."


    "But your complexion doesn''t look good. Is it because of that thing? The one that makes you feel scared?"


    "Yes."


    "Can you tell me what exactly you are afraid of?"


    "..."


    "I hope you can trust me. Look at me. Maybe I can help you."


    "Um, okay. I... I''m afraid of being called on."


    "Being called on?"


    "Is it strange?"


    "No, not at all. I once knew someone who was afraid to cross a bridge alone."


    "Oh? Afraid to cross a bridge alone?"


    "Yes, it got to the point where he couldn''t even walk alone through narrow streets without his wife. It developed into a dependency on his wife for everything. So, subconsciously, he had a childish need for his wife, but consciously, he wouldn''t admit to this immature need. So, he used the fear of open spaces to impose the obligation on his wife to accompany him."


    "Did he get better?"


    "Of course. With medication and behavioral therapy, he recovered quickly."


    "Oh, so it''s not incurable."


    "Haha, of course not. So, are you willing to tell me why you are afraid of being called on?"


    "To be honest, I don''t know."


    "Oh? When did you start being afraid of being called on?"


    "Um... I don''t remember. Sorry."


    "Haha, it''s okay. Lie down on this chair. How does it feel? Comfortable?"


    "Ah, very comfortable."


    "Do you want to listen to some music?"


    "Yes."


    "Listen to this first."


    Mozart''s "Lullaby" played in the room. Then Mendelssohn''s "Song of Midsummer." Tsai Chin''s "Those Lost Times."


    "Which one makes you feel relaxed?"


    "The last one, I couldn''t understand the first two."


    "Okay. How many classes did you have this afternoon?"


    "What? Oh, two."


    "And then, what did you do?"


    "Played basketball for a while."


    "Haha, your life seems quite rich. Do you feel tired?"


    "A little."


    "Alright, just consider it as resting. Now, do as I say. First, adjust your body to the most comfortable position, then relax your body and take slow, deep breaths."


    "Like this?"


    "Yes, very good. Breathe out slowly, just like that. Do it again, take a deep breath, exhale. Very good. What kind of environment do you like?"


    "Um, the seaside."


    "Okay, now imagine yourself lying at the seaside. The cool, comfortable sea breeze. The rhythmic waves crashing against the rocks, swoosh, swoosh, one after another. Can you feel your soul? Very good, use your soul to feel every part of your body. When you feel your head, it relaxes; when you feel your chest, back, your body relaxes; relax your abdomen, breathing becomes smoother; when you feel your arms, they relax; when you feel your legs, they relax. Your whole body is getting more and more relaxed, more and more relaxed... Okay, how do you feel now?"


    "Very... comfortable, very... relaxed. There''s... a white light around me." His voice was low, as if every word took great effort.


    "Very good, just enjoy the peace quietly."


    Five minutes passed.


    "Okay, now I will slowly count from one to ten. When I count to ten, your subconscious will take you back to a certain moment in the past, where you will see an event that had a huge impact on you. When I count to ten, whatever you see or think, please say it. After you say it, if it''s happy, you will remember it, if it''s not, you will let it go. Okay?"


    Slowly nodding.


    "Good, let''s start. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10."


    Suddenly, his eyeballs could be seen rapidly moving under his eyelids.


    (Very good, this indicates that the subconscious has started providing information.)


    "We are in the courtyard... the smell of roasted grasshoppers... my dad brought me back on his bike... I had to finish my homework before playing... a wooden gun... better than Da Meng."


    (In this memory he''s recalling, he shouldn''t be older than 10.)


    "I was playing war games with my friends (his voice became childish and lively), in the sandpit... Er Pang always refuses to lie down when he''s out... there are People''s Liberation Army soldiers practicing formation over there (his voice became envious and admiring), so imposing... one, two, one, two... roll call... Wang Libo, present. Meng Fanzhe, present. Heehee... huh, how come it''s stuck when it gets to him? Oh, the officer is so angry (his voice became fearful)... roll call again... why is it stuck again... roll call again... come on, officer... stuttering?... oh, don''t hit him (his body started trembling)... so much blood... the officer was punished to run alone on the playground..."


    His breathing suddenly became rapid, and his body began to convulse violently.


    "What did you see?"


    "Falling down (starting to cry)... blood kept flowing from my forehead... the gym teacher... roll call... slapped me... no..."


    "Okay, okay, we''ll end this experience now. Everything you just saw is deeply imprinted in your mind, and you can easily recall it at any time. Understand?"


    "Yes... I think so."


    "Can you still feel the white light?"


    "...Yes."


    "Very good, now let the white light gradually dissipate, and your body and mind are slowly awakening. When I count from ten to one, you will be completely awake. Understand?"


    "...Understood."


    "Okay, ten, the white light is getting fainter, and you feel very relaxed both physically and mentally; nine, you''re getting clearer; eight, your body''s normal senses are gradually returning; seven, your fingers are starting to feel again; six, your inner peace, feeling very happy; five, getting clearer; four, your neck is starting to move; three, you feel a huge amount of energy throughout your body; two, you''re about to awaken, the exit is ahead; one, you''re completely awake, open your eyes!"


    Deep breath.


    "Wow, was I... hypnotized just now?"


    "Haha, let''s just say you were."


    "I remembered. When I was 9 years old, I saw a stuttering soldier being punished."


    "Yes, that sounds about right."


    "But why couldn''t I remember it all this time?"


    "It''s called ''psychogenic memory loss,'' and this kind of memory loss is selective. In other words, you have chosen to forget those experiences that caused you pain. In essence, it''s a form of avoidance."


    "Will remembering these things help me?"


    "Of course, solving any problem requires finding the key, especially when it comes to mental issues. Once you find the cause, it''s easy to deal with it."


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Would you be willing to help me, teacher?"


    "Do you trust me?"


    "Of course, would you be willing?"


    "Haha, haven''t I been helping you all along?"


    "Thank you."


    "Don''t be so polite. I have only one request, keep this between us, okay?"


    "Okay."


    Sleeping. Reading. Attending classes. Occasionally playing basketball.


    No need to worry about who might be killed. No need to face bloodthirsty lunatics. Even nightmares were rare.


    This is a happy life.


    Every day, Fang Mu went to and fro on campus like everyone else, living a quiet life for a week. He went home for a weekend, ate several meals of his mother''s cooking, and gained 2 pounds.


    The weather was getting hotter, and inexplicably, his mood improved.


    Sitting on the bus back to school, the gentle breeze brushed his face, making it pleasantly ticklish. Outside the window, the scorching sun, the scent of grass in his nose. He patted the bottles and jars in his bag, filled with his mother''s meat sauce and pickles. Leaning lazily against the back of the chair, he closed his eyes and dozed off.


    How long had it been since he felt this way?


    Back in the dorm, Du Yu was playing CS, and when he heard Fang Mu push the door open, he greeted without turning his head, "Back?"


    "Why didn''t you go out with Zhang Yao on such a nice day?"


    "Haha, she''s gone to tutor. I''m enjoying the peace."


    Fang Mu took out a bottle of meat sauce and placed it on Du Yu''s desk. "Here, my mom made it, try it."


    "Huh?" Du Yu looked a bit surprised, "Thanks."


    "Be careful!" Fang Mu pointed at the screen.


    "Ah?!" Du Yu frantically pressed the keys and mouse. It was too late, "Bang," he was shot in the head.


    "Damn, I''m done playing." Du Yu quit the game, took out a pair of chopsticks from the drawer, opened the meat sauce bottle, stirred it a few times with the chopsticks, then took a bite.


    "Mmm, it''s delicious. Your mom''s really good at this," Du Yu said, picking up another big piece and putting it in his mouth.


    "I''m going to have noodles tonight, mixed with meat sauce. It''s definitely going to taste great," Du Yu said, picking up another large piece and putting it in his mouth.


    "You''re not afraid of it being too salty," Fang Mu smiled.


    "Bro, it''s clear to see that you''ve been in a good mood lately," Du Yu said, chewing.


    "Is it?" Fang Mu replied absentmindedly as he tidied up his things.


    "Recently, everyone felt like you were in trouble. Liu Jianjun once told me he saw you walking around the corridor in the middle of the night. If you have something on your mind, why not talk to me about it? We''re good friends, aren''t we?" Du Yu said, looking at Fang Mu with a sincere expression.


    For the first time he gave him something, and this guy was moved like this.


    "Yes." Fang Mu nodded heavily.


    After dinner, Fang Mu and Du Yu sat in front of their respective computer desks. Du Yu was tirelessly battling it out in CS. Fang Mu had wanted to organize the files on the Ma Kai case, but on this afternoon, he didn''t want those dark, bloody things to occupy his mind, so he aimlessly opened a webpage and browsed.


    The door was pushed open. Liu Jianjun came in with a basketball and a few classmates, laughing and joking around. When they saw Fang Mu was also there, their voices, as if by mutual consent, lowered.


    "Still playing? Got shot in the head a few times?" Liu Jianjun threw the ball and pulled off Du Yu''s headset, "Let''s go, play basketball."


    "Just finishing this game, just finishing this game," Du Yu kept his eyes on the screen.


    The basketball bounced and landed at Fang Mu''s feet, rubbing against his jeans and leaving a mark.


    Fang Mu kicked the ball back.


    Liu Jianjun, seeing that he had dirtied Fang Mu''s pants, looked a bit awkward as he said, "Sorry."


    "It''s okay." Fang Mu waved his hand and turned back to browsing the webpage.


    "I knew it, this guy always thinks he''s a big basketball star, do we have to pay him appearance fees?" Liu Jianjun teased, looking at Fang Mu.


    "Come on, it''s okay," Fang Mu said as he picked up the basketball and threw it back.


    As they passed the campus store, Fang Mu bought a chilled watermelon.


    Back in the dorm, everyone cut open the watermelon, with ice chips still on it, and fought to stuff it into their mouths. Every now and then, someone choked on watermelon seeds, prompting a round of good-natured teasing.


    "I say, Fang Mu," Liu Jianjun wiped the watermelon juice off his mouth, "join the Law School basketball team. When we play in the ''Master''s Cup'' next time, you can be the shooting guard."


    "Me?" Fang Mu threw away a piece of rind and suddenly smiled, "I should get an appearance fee for that."


    Everyone burst into laughter, Liu Jianjun pretended to be in deep thought and reached for the door, "You guys clean up the melon rinds yourselves."


    "Good, I''m leaving, Fang Mu, let''s have a good competition one on one another day," Liu Jianjun got up.


    "Okay." Fang Mu smiled.


    "As for these rinds..." Liu Jianjun pretended to ponder, then reached for the door, "you guys clean up yourselves." After saying that, he opened the door and slipped out, laughing.


    Du Yu picked up a slipper and threw it, but it landed on the door with a "pop."


    "Haha, that guy."


    Before going to bed, Fang Mu took a cold shower in the bathroom. Standing under the shower, the ice-cold water covered his entire body, bringing an indescribable sense of refreshment. He tilted his head back, letting the water flow freely over his face.


    Next to him were two male students from the Mathematics department, discussing the "super fit" girl they had seen in the library.


    Through the frosted window, he could vaguely see the lights in the opposite dorm building, blurry yet warm.


    In fact, there is a lot of happiness in life, but I always felt unworthy of enjoying it.


    Back in the dorm, Du Yu was already snoring, but this guy was thoughtful enough to leave a desk lamp for Fang Mu.


    Fang Mu felt very tired. It had been a long time since he had exercised, and his knees and shoulders were aching terribly. Before his hair dried completely, he lay down on his bed.


    Something poked him as he lay down, and he reached into his pillow and found the military knife.


    He got up, put the knife under the pile of clothes in the wardrobe, and lay down again.


    He got up again, opened the wardrobe, took out the knife, and put it under his pillow.


    He lay down again, turned off the light, and went to sleep.


    At one o''clock in the morning, Fang Mu suddenly sat up, opened the wardrobe, took out the military knife, and put it under his pillow.


    Then he pulled the quilt over his head.


    Finally, the heavy, black curtain of sleepiness quietly descended, like a heavy drama unfolding.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 9: Exposure

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 9: Exposure


    Wednesday afternoon, the whole school gathered for a meeting.


    The theme of the meeting was to implement the guidelines from the Provincial Education Commission about "applying knowledge to practice and promoting the great cause with technology." All the school staff attended the meeting, and the auditorium was packed. Of course, most of the people were sleeping.


    The principal gave a speech. The secretary of the school party committee gave a speech. The vice president in charge of teaching and research gave a speech.


    Vice President Qi had just been promoted from the head of the research department. It was probably his first appearance in the whole school, and it was clear that he was nervous and excited. The speeches of the first two leaders did not last more than half an hour in total, but this guy had been speaking for almost an hour before he got to the "second aspect of the second issue."


    Fang Mu was drowsy below, and the auditorium was hot. He could feel the sweat trickling down his neck, sticky and uncomfortable. He struggled to open his eyes, pulling at his collar and fanning himself while looking around.


    Heh, Du Yu was sleeping soundly with his head tilted, drool dripping onto his shoulder without a care. The person next to him hadn''t fallen asleep, but was nodding off, probably about to give in as well.


    "Comrade Deng Xiaoping once said, ''Science and technology are the primary productive forces.'' This not only explains the important position of science and technology in the socialist modernization construction, but also poses a question to us research workers. That is: why do we need to conduct research?" Vice President Qi deliberately paused for a moment, but the audience below was either still sleeping or their eyes were wandering, not provoking deep thought. He had to answer his own question, "For the sake of serving practice."


    To cover up his own embarrassment, he picked up a teacup, took a sip of water, spat out the tea leaves, and tried to perk up, saying, "In the past, we have not done enough in this respect. Professors, in order to get promoted or achieve results, bury themselves in their research topics and rarely consider whether their research has any practical significance for society. This has led to a serious disconnect between research and practice. If what you produce is not used by anyone, it is useless; so what is the point of being holed up in your room all day?"


    He took a letter from his pocket, exaggeratedly waved it, and said, "Here is a letter of commendation, although it was written to one of our students, I think this student can be a role model for everyone here!"


    The whole room suddenly quieted down, and many people who had been dozing off opened their eyes.


    Vice President Qi was obviously very satisfied with this effect. He opened the envelope and took out a few pages of paper, "I believe everyone knows that some time ago, there were several brutal murders in City J. The methods were extremely cruel, and the public security agencies were scratching their heads as the cases remained unsolved. But one of our students applied the knowledge he learned at school to assist the public security agencies in successfully solving a series of murders..."


    Fang Mu''s eyes widened.


    "...There was a victim who was successfully rescued, and her father sent this letter of thanks. I was very moved after reading it. A student who is still in school can be brave, proactive, and carry forward the excellent spirit of combining theory with practice. This spirit is worthy of our vigorous promotion and praise!"


    ?? En`jing''s` Study


    The crowd below started to get excited, whispering and sizing each other up.


    "Quiet! Quiet, please." Vice President Qi, with a flushed face, reached out his hands in a calming gesture. "Now, we invite Fang Mu, a 2001 graduate student in the Criminal Psychology program at the Law School, to come up and talk about his thoughts." He brought the microphone to his mouth, "Fang Mu, where are you?"


    Fang Mu''s mind went blank, and it wasn''t until Du Yu nudged him a few times that he came to his senses and raised his hand dumbly.


    A spotlight snapped onto him, casting a large halo around him.


    "Come on, come over here." Vice President Qi stood up enthusiastically.


    The light was shining uncomfortably in Fang Mu''s eyes. He looked around blankly, and the classmates in the same row had already stood up, leaving a space for him. He had no choice but to stand up, squeeze his way past his classmates, and walk towards the stage along the aisle. The halo followed him as he moved, and the cameras were clicking incessantly.


    How far was this walk, and why did it seem endless? All he could see was white light, and dizziness kept coming over him. He felt like he could collapse at any moment.


    Run away, turn around, and dash out along the aisle.


    Vice President Qi, who couldn''t wait any longer, stood at the edge of the stage. He grabbed Fang Mu, who was climbing the stairs, and shook his hand, while also placing his other hand on his shoulder, half pulling and half pushing him to the microphone.


    "Come on, Fang Mu, talk about your thoughts."


    Fang Mu stood stiffly in front of the microphone, looking around at the audience below. Everyone was staring at him intently, their eyes expressing various emotions: curiosity, speculation, disdain, envy, and jealousy.


    Is this a nightmare? Disappear, all of you, including myself.


    A full minute passed, and Fang Mu moved his lips and, from between his teeth, a single word popped out, "I..."


    The Vice President, who had already lost patience, reminded, "Tell us about how you assisted the public security agencies in solving the case."


    Under the spotlight, Fang Mu''s face turned ashen, and sweat dripped down from his forehead, his teeth clenched as if in a spasm.


    The entire audience held their breath, silently watching the young man on the stage who remained silent.


    "Alright," Vice President Qi finally lost his patience. He leaned toward the microphone and forced a smile, "Silence is better than speech. Fang Mu must have a lot to say, but I can see he''s too nervous. Please step down for now, Fang Mu."


    At this moment, Fang Mu suddenly felt a surge of energy. He stepped down from the platform with his two stiff legs. He didn''t return to his seat but walked through the aisle, facing the whispers and countless eyes, and left the auditorium directly.


    "Hello?" The voice in the receiver was indifferent.


    "..."


    "Hello? Who is this?"


    "Is it you who told that girl''s parents my name?"


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Heh, it''s you. Did you receive the letter of commendation?" The tone of the voice became cheerful.


    "What do you think?" Fang Mu didn''t want to use foul language and held back his anger.


    "Heh, did the school praise you?"


    "What''s wrong with you?" Fang Mu hung up the phone fiercely.


    "What''s wrong with this guy?" The other party looked at the phone inexplicably, feeling annoyed as well.


    On his way back to the dormitory, Fang Mu kept his head down, trying to avoid the curious gazes, and hesitated for a moment before taking a detour to the sports field.


    The steps of the sports field still held the warmth of the daytime sun, and sitting on them felt comfortable.


    In the darkness, people walked tirelessly around the sports field in pairs, and cheerful laughter occasionally pierced through the night, inexplicably bringing a smile to Fang Mu''s face.


    Suddenly, he felt the urge to smoke. Fang Mu opened a pack of cigarettes and lit one.


    For a long time, Fang Mu didn''t know what he was doing. It seemed like he had been pursuing a certain kind of life, but when asked to describe that life, he often felt lost. Endless contemplation, instant judgments, the cold crime scenes, the horrifying data in the computer, and the endless nightmares that haunted him for the past two years. These "companions" that had been with him constantly, at this moment, made him feel incredibly exhausted.


    What do I really want?


    He looked up at the star-studded night sky as if someone were kindly watching over him.


    Can you tell me?


    When it was time to go back to the dormitory, Fang Mu returned. As soon as he entered, Du Yu informed him that his mother had called several times.


    Call back. The phone rang once, and he heard his mother''s voice.


    Was she waiting by the phone the whole time?


    "Why did you come back so late?"


    "Oh, I went out." Fang Mu didn''t want to say much, "Is there something you need to tell me?"


    "No, nothing. You looked much thinner when you came back last time, and your dad and I are very worried about you. We wanted to talk to you when you came back. But you left so soon."


    "Oh, I''m fine. Don''t worry about me. How are you and Dad?"


    "We''re both doing well." His mother paused for a moment, "Little Mu, can you tell your mother what you''ve been up to recently?"


    "I haven''t been up to much, just attending classes and studying."


    "Are you still helping the police solve cases?"


    "No." It was the hardest to lie to his own family, and Fang Mu felt the strangeness in his own voice.


    His mother fell silent for a while and sighed, "Child, your mother is getting older. Please don''t worry your mother anymore. Dealing with those things all day, associating with those people, do you know how worried your mother is?"


    Fang Mu said nothing.


    "I''ve been having nightmares these days. I dreamt that Wu Han killed you and woke up scared every time. Your dad asked me what was wrong, but I didn''t dare tell him."


    "Mum, don''t overthink. That matter is already in the past."


    "I know, but I can''t control myself." His mother''s voice choked, "Little Mu, can you promise me not to do those dangerous things again, just be a simple and honest ordinary person, okay?"


    "...Okay."


    "You promise?"


    "I promise."


    After hanging up the phone, Fang Mu sat in a daze for a while, then picked up his toiletries and went to the washroom.


    In the washroom, the large mirror on the wall reflected a slightly gaunt figure of a young man. His upper body was bare, with pale skin and a sunken chest.


    Fang Mu leaned closer to the mirror to scrutinize himself: short, stiff hair, a broad forehead, pale, sunken cheeks, eyes with red blood vessels, dark stubble on his chin, furrowed brows, and deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.


    Was this really me at 24?


    Fang Mu turned his head left and right, carefully examining himself.


    Damn, I look worse when I smile.


    But I have to smile.


    Fang Mu dipped his face into the basin of cold water.


    In life, there''s more than just serial killers.


    When it was time to go to bed, Fang Mu returned to the dormitory. As soon as he entered, Du Yu told him that his mother had called multiple times.


    Call back. The phone rang once, and he heard his mother''s voice.


    Perhaps she had been waiting by the phone all this time.


    "Why did you come back so late?"


    "Oh, I went out." Fang Mu didn''t want to say much, "Is there something you need to tell me?"


    "No, nothing. You looked much thinner when you came back last time, and your dad and I are very worried about you. We wanted to talk to you when you came back. But you left so soon."


    "Oh, I''m fine. Don''t worry about me. How are you and Dad?"


    "We''re both doing well." His mother paused for a moment, "Little Mu, can you tell your mother what you''ve been up to recently?"


    "I haven''t been up to much, just attending classes and studying."


    "Are you still helping the police solve cases?"


    "No." It was the hardest to lie to his own family, and Fang Mu felt the strangeness in his own voice.


    His mother fell silent for a while and sighed, "Child, your mother is getting older. Please don''t worry your mother anymore. Dealing with those things all day, associating with those people, do you know how worried your mother is?"


    Fang Mu said nothing.


    "I''ve been having nightmares these days. I dreamt that Wu Han killed you and woke up scared every time. Your dad asked me what was wrong, and I didn''t dare tell him."


    "Mum, don''t overthink. That matter is already in the past."


    "I know, but I can''t control myself." His mother''s voice choked, "Little Mu, can you promise me not to do those dangerous things again, just be a simple and honest ordinary person, okay?"


    "...Okay."


    "You promise?"


    "I promise."


    After hanging up the phone, Fang Mu sat in a daze for a while, then picked up his toiletries and went to the washroom.


    In the washroom, the large mirror on the wall reflected a slightly gaunt figure of a young man. His upper body was bare, with pale skin and a sunken chest.


    Fang Mu leaned closer to the mirror to scrutinize himself: short, stiff hair, a broad forehead, pale, sunken cheeks, eyes with red blood vessels, dark stubble on his chin, furrowed brows, and deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.


    Was this really me at 24?


    Fang Mu turned his head left and right, carefully examining himself.


    Damn, I look worse when I smile.


    But I have to smile.


    Fang Mu dipped his face into the basin of cold water.


    In life, there''s more than just serial killers.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 10: The Five-Pointed Star on the Door

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 10: The Five-Pointed Star on the Door


    June 30, 2002, Yokohama, Japan, World Cup final, Brazil vs. Germany.


    Since the start of the World Cup, all the small restaurants near the school gate have been providing live football viewing services. Today is the final, and all the restaurants are packed with people.


    Fang Mu and a few classmates were sitting in a Sichuan-style restaurant called "Guangyuan." In front of them were several bottles of beer, the table was piled with peanut shells and edamame skins, and several plates of cheap stir-fried dishes had already been wiped out. The situation at the other tables was similar. Everyone was staring at the 21-inch color TV hanging on the wall. The boss was busy punching the calculator behind the bar, feeling ecstatic in his heart, thinking how great it would be if the World Cup were held every month.


    Fang Mu had been dragged here by Du Yu, Zou Tuanjie, and Liu Jianjun. He didn''t want to come originally, but since there was nothing else to do, he decided to join in the fun on one condition: they wouldn''t go to the barbecue shop.


    The people in the restaurant naturally divided into two factions: one supporting the Brazilian team, and the other supporting the German team. Fang Mu didn''t really understand football, and besides Ronaldo, he couldn''t name the other players on the field. Seeing that Du Yu and the others were all supporting the Brazilian team, he temporarily became a Brazilian fan without any principles.


    In the first half, neither side made much progress. The Brazilian team seemed more passive from the looks of the game, and the German team had several good opportunities, but unfortunately, they didn''t capitalize on them. During halftime, the fans in the restaurant were watching the halftime replay and loudly debating who would win the championship, with some even betting on their late-night snacks. It wasn''t until the start of the second half that everyone''s attention returned to the TV. As a first-time football fan, his supported team wasn''t performing well. Fang Mu initially found it uninteresting, slowly drinking beer and eating peanuts, but he gradually got caught up in the emotions and occasionally found himself shouting along with the others.


    The Brazilian team successfully counterattacked in the frontcourt, Ronaldo passed the ball to number 10 (Du Yu told him number 10 was called Rivaldo), Rivaldo took a long-range shot from outside the penalty area. The ball''s power wasn''t great, and the German goalkeeper Kahn easily prepared to cradle the ball in his arms, but unexpectedly, the ball bounced off his chest and slipped out of his hands.


    "Don''t relax!" a big guy at the next table shouted. His voice had barely fallen, and Ronaldo quickly struck, pushing the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. The Brazilian team led 1-0!


    The small restaurant was filled with a burst of excitement, followed by cheers and curses.


    "Kahn was too relaxed," the big guy shook his head, "this ball came along the grass, he should have used his body to press down, using his hands to cradle it was easy to slip. Kahn was too confident."


    "Hehe, how professional," Zou Tuanjie laughed.


    "Oh, idol, can you not disappoint me," the big guy stared at the screen with a disappointed expression similar to Kahn''s.


    "Qu Weiqiang, from the physics department," Liu Jianjun whispered to Fang Mu, "the goalkeeper of the school''s football team."


    "Oh, no wonder."


    The German team started to desperately counterattack, but they repeatedly missed scoring opportunities. In the 79th minute, Rivaldo skillfully dribbled in front of the penalty area, and Ronaldo''s right-footed low shot scored in the bottom left corner of the goal, securing the victory.


    The German team''s fans were relentless in their criticisms. Qu Weiqiang sighed and said, "The Brazilian team must have studied Kahn''s technical characteristics in advance. He''s most afraid of this kind of low flat ball."


    The game ended with Brazil winning the championship, and the field was filled with flying paper scraps as Rivaldo ran around the field draped in the Brazilian flag.


    Once the game ended, the university students either cheered with raised arms or left with their heads down. Qu Weiqiang loudly yelled, "Boss, bring me four more bottles of beer. I''m taking them with me." The petite girl who had been watching the game with him all along quietly tried to stop him, "Don''t drink anymore, you''ve already had so much today."


    "Mind your own business?" Qu Weiqiang glared, "This game is so depressing, can''t I have a drink?"


    The petite girl pouted and fell silent.


    Fang Mu wasn''t particularly concerned about the result of the game; it was just that he had drunk too much beer and his bladder was uncomfortable. He hurried back to the dormitory and went to the bathroom to relieve himself.


    Fang Mu returned to the dormitory feeling relaxed, but saw Du Yu standing at the door, vigorously rubbing the door with a cloth.


    "What''s wrong?" Fang Mu asked as he shook off the water from his hands, "What are you wiping off?"


    "I don''t know who painted it," Du Yu pointed to the door, "maybe someone played a prank."


    Fang Mu looked up and saw several traces that hadn''t been wiped away on the door, probably drawn with a large marker, haphazardly.


    "What did they paint?"


    "It looks like a five-pointed star," Du Yu frowned, "damn, who''s so boring."


    "A five-pointed star?" Fang Mu looked around the corridor, and all the doors of the surrounding dorms were clean.


    "You haven''t wiped it off yet?" Liu Jianjun poked his head out from across the door.


    "Soon," Du Yu wiped vigorously, and the marks on the door finally disappeared.


    "Damn, it''s really annoying, it looks a bit like Alibaba and the Forty Thieves." Liu Jianjun made a face.


    Fang Mu laughed, "Then I''ll draw a five-pointed star on all the doors in the building later."


    At night, Fang Mu suddenly woke up.


    There was a rustling sound in the dormitory. Fang Mu struggled to open his eyes and scanned the room slowly in the dim moonlight.


    Suddenly, Fang Mu held his breath.


    There was a person standing in front of the closed dormitory door.


    Fang Mu tried to reach under the pillow to grab the military knife, but his body seemed frozen, unable to move. He tried to open his mouth to wake up Du Yu, but the sound was stuck in his throat, and he couldn''t shout.


    Cold sweat started to trickle down, Fang Mu struggled desperately, staring at the person at the door.


    The person seemed unaware that Fang Mu had woken up, with their back facing him, slowly gesturing on the door of the room. With each movement of their hand, the area they touched caught fire.


    No! Fang Mu felt himself trembling. There was a smell of burning in his nose.


    On the door, a burning five-pointed star.


    The person slowly turned around, and in the firelight, Fang Mu saw Wu Han''s unrecognizable face.


    No¡ª


    Suddenly, there was a glaring white light in front of him. Du Yu''s voice sounded, "Fang Mu, Fang Mu, what''s wrong?"


    Fang Mu finally opened his eyes, in a daze, and saw Du Yu''s shocked face.


    "What''s wrong, having another nightmare?"


    Fang Mu struggled to sit up, pushing Du Yu away and looking at the door.


    The door was clean, with nothing but two class schedules, and nothing else.


    It was a dream.


    Fang Mu felt relieved, and lay down, feeling the dampness underneath him. He reached out and felt his cold sweat had soaked the bedsheet.


    "Are you okay?" Du Yu handed him a towel.


    "Thanks, I''m fine, you should go to sleep." Fang Mu took the towel and wiped his face and neck.


    Du Yu turned off the light, and the room fell silent again.


    But Fang Mu couldn''t sleep.


    Clearly, this dream was completely different from the almost identical nightmares he had experienced before.


    A five-pointed star? What does it represent?


    It couldn''t possibly be a symbol of unity under the leadership of the Party.


    The five-pointed star is one of the earliest symbols related to natural worship in the world, and it is also the most perfect and concise symbol in geometry. The five-pointed star initially represented women but was later distorted into a symbol of pagans. In modern times, it has become a symbol of war.


    Could someone be challenging me to a duel?


    Fang Mu found it amusing to think about.


    Stop thinking about it, didn''t I promise myself to be a simple, ordinary person?


    After that, Fang Mu slept heavily. If it weren''t for Du Yu calling him to have breakfast, he didn''t know what time he would have slept until.


    The two of them slowly walked to the cafeteria, chatting as they walked. People hurried past them, and at first, Fang Mu didn''t pay attention. But soon, he realized something wasn''t right; the people on campus seemed to be running towards one direction: the sports field.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "What''s going on?" Du Yu stopped a student from the foreign language department.


    "Not sure, I heard someone died on the playground."


    The sports field was located in the northwest corner of the campus, with a standard football field in the middle covered with rare plastic grass, surrounded by a rubber track. At the moment, there were several police cars with flashing lights parked outside the sports field. As they entered the sports field, there were at least a few hundred people gathered near the north goal. The surrounding stands were also crowded with excited and fearful students.


    Before reaching the front, Fang Mu saw Liu Jianjun squirming in the crowd, straining to look. He walked over and patted him on the shoulder, "What''s going on?"


    Liu Jianjun seemed startled when he turned around and saw Fang Mu. He smiled and said, "Hey, the detective is here?"


    Fang Mu didn''t pay attention to him and instead craned his neck to look, "What happened? I heard someone died?"


    "Yeah, not sure who it is, too many people."


    Several students in front were pushed and shoved by those behind them. They turned around to complain, but upon seeing Fang Mu, they voluntarily made way, their faces showing expressions of awe.


    Fang Mu felt a bit awkward and was about to leave, but Liu Jianjun and Du Yu pushed him into the crowd.


    The scene had been cordoned off by the police, and the forensic team was busy at the scene. A forensic expert carefully examined a whitish object picked up from the left door pillar.


    The onlookers let out a fearful gasp; it was a hand.


    Several police officers who appeared to be part of the evidence team were carefully surveying the goal area. Not far away, a police officer was holding a notebook, questioning a student in sportswear. The student looked pale, as if he might collapse at any moment.


    Not long after, the forensic team turned the body over, and the stiffened corpse revealed its face. Several onlookers gasped.


    "Who is it?" Liu Jianjun craned his neck, trying to get a better look. "Why does he look familiar?"


    Fang Mu also felt that the deceased''s clothes looked familiar, but couldn''t remember where he had seen it.


    "I''ll go check it out over there," Liu Jianjun said, crouching down and making his way through the crowd. A few minutes later, he returned pale-faced to Fang Mu and Du Yu.


    "It''s Qu Weiqiang, and his hands were cut off. It''s really tragic."


    The news of a murder at the J University sports field created a stir. The school cooperated with the police to solve the case and stepped up campus security measures. As a direct consequence, due to stricter dorm management, all cohabitating couples returned to their respective dormitories. The indirect consequence was that students often saw romantic scenes unfolding in the dark corners of the campus during evening self-study sessions.


    It was common to see police officers in uniforms visiting the school to interview the deceased''s roommates and classmates. The captain of the school''s football team hinted more than once to the police to investigate other football teams in the city. After being ignored by the police, he organized a so-called retirement ceremony for the football jersey.


    Despite being in the midst of final exams, the retirement ceremony for the football jersey still attracted many students. Fang Mu was also one of them.


    The ceremony was held at the football field. The entire football team lined up into two teams, and the captain and vice-captain, along with two other team members, each held the corners of a jersey, slowly and solemnly walking toward the north goal of the football field. There, a table was placed with a large portrait of Qu Weiqiang. In front of the portrait was a soccer ball and Qu Weiqiang''s boots. The players walked to the side of the table, lining up on both sides, standing with their hands behind their backs. The captain bowed three times to Qu Weiqiang''s portrait, then took out a piece of paper from his pocket and began to deliver a speech.


    The speech roughly recalled Qu Weiqiang''s joining of the team and the "outstanding contributions" he made to the team, using flowery language and emotional expressions, with some exaggeration, such as "the hope of the future of Chinese football" and "the impenetrable gatekeeper," making people mistake that the deceased was not Qu Weiqiang, but rather Wang Dalei. However, the effect of the speech was still good, with almost every player standing in tears, and most of the onlookers also in tears.


    After the speech, the captain poured a liquid on the jersey and then lit it with a lighter. The No. 1 jersey of the J University team caught fire and quickly became a ball of flames. The captain was probably burned by the jersey and quickly threw it on the ground. The smell of burning woven material and plastic immediately filled the air. The sports field administrator hurriedly ran over, stomping on the still-burning jersey. The players immediately panicked, surrounding the administrator and questioning him loudly. The administrator also got angry, "It''s okay to have a ceremony, but you can''t start a fire. Can you afford to pay for the damaged plastic grass?" The two sides pushed and shoved each other out of the sports field, saying they were going to explain things to the principal. The retirement ceremony for the football jersey ended abruptly, with only half of Qu Weiqiang''s jersey smoldering on the burnt grass. Fang Mu looked at the overturned portrait of Qu Weiqiang and smiled wryly, walking out of the sports field with the dispersing crowd.


    Returning to the dorm, he unexpectedly found that Tai Wei was sitting on his bed flipping through a book. Fang Mu still held a grudge against Tai Wei from the last time, and frowned without speaking to him. Tai Wei smiled and spoke first, "What''s up, I''ve been waiting for you."


    "What do you want?" Fang Mu asked coldly, but then hesitated, could something have happened again?


    "Nothing major, the Bureau just happened to be investigating a case at your school, so I came to see you."


    "Why did you come?" Fang Mu considered, "Because of that murder case? Isn''t that the responsibility of your detective team?"


    "Hehe, you know quite a bit," Tai Wei laughed, "It''s handled by the Document Preservation Section, and I heard they came to your school to investigate, so I came along. How are you doing?"


    "I''m fine. Thanks for coming," Fang Mu sat down in a chair, speaking with a lack of enthusiasm.


    "Hehe, still mad at me?" Tai Wei didn''t seem to mind, "I admit I did something inappropriate, but I think you wouldn''t want a material reward. Let the school commend you would be good. I took a risk too; the director is scolding me."


    "You should be scolded," Fang Mu said and couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Hehe, it''s not what you think. I don''t know why, but our director doesn''t want you to be involved in this case."


    Fang Mu was about to ask why, but Tai Wei took out an envelope from his bag.


    "Let''s get to the point; this letter is for you." Tai Wei handed Fang Mu the envelope and stared into his eyes, his expression becoming more serious, "It''s from Ma Kai."


    Fang Mu was about to reach out, but hearing that it was from Ma Kai, he involuntarily pulled back, hesitated for a moment, and then took it.


    It was a plain white envelope with no recipient written on it, and the letter inside wasn''t very thick, light as it was held in his hand. Fang Mu turned the envelope over and saw the letter wasn''t sealed.


    "I didn''t read it, I swear to Chairman Mao," Tai Wei saw Fang Mu look at him and quickly defended himself, "He handed it directly to me, and I handed it to you."


    Tai Wei saw Fang Mu staring at the unopened envelope, "What''s wrong, aren''t you going to look at it?"


    Fang Mu didn''t answer him, just stared at the envelope.


    Ma Kai, what do you want to tell me?


    Tai Wei noticed he wasn''t speaking, and found it uninteresting, so he got up to leave. Fang Mu didn''t try to stop him, and as Tai Wei reached the door, he suddenly turned around and said:


    "Ma Kai was sentenced to death in the first trial, and it will be immediately executed," he paused, "He did not appeal. If nothing unexpected happens, the death penalty will be carried out early Thursday morning." After speaking, he nodded at Fang Mu, opened the door, and left.


    At 7:35 a.m., Fang Mu was awakened by a call from Tai Wei. Tai Wei told him that Ma Kai had been executed by firing squad at 2:50 a.m. that morning. It was a single bullet to the head, painless.

 Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 11: City of Memories

    Volume Two: Portrait - Chapter 11: City of Memories


    During the summer vacation, the teacher''s university appeared empty. Fangmu walked under the scorching sun on the campus road, with familiar teaching buildings, cafeterias, and sports fields on both sides, as well as unfamiliar, brand new dormitory buildings. Fangmu looked around like a newcomer, feeling not so much a sense of familiarity as a sense of loss.


    Three weeks had passed since the summer vacation, and ever since returning home to C City, Fangmu had been diligently behaving like a good obedient child every day. His mother was pleased and made delicious food for him in various ways every day. Fangmu seemed to have nothing to do, spending his days either surfing the internet, watching VCDs with his father, or cycling around the streets. C City had changed a lot, and many places that had left a deep impression on him had now completely changed, often leading Fangmu to get lost in what he thought were familiar places. His high school classmates had invited him to a gathering, but Fangmu had made excuses to decline.


    Today, while helping his mother clean the house, Fangmu unexpectedly found many clothes and toys from his childhood. Sitting on the floor, he enthusiastically played with them for a while and even struggled to put on his elementary school uniform to show his mother, making her burst into laughter. As he finished cleaning, he noticed the crutch he had used two years ago, and after a moment of contemplation, he took a car to the teacher''s university.


    Calculating in his mind, it had been over four months since he had last visited the teacher''s university. During this time, many new buildings had been constructed at the university. The club had been transformed into a four-story student entertainment center. Although it was not yet completed, it looked quite grand. Fangmu stood at the entrance for a while, determined to go inside, but was stopped by several people wearing safety helmets. Unclear about his feelings, whether it was disappointment or relief, Fangmu did not linger and went straight to the second dormitory building.


    The second dormitory had now become a modern seven-story student apartment. Fangmu still sat on the flower bed in front of the door, gazing at this tall building. Surrounding him was the faint scent of unfamiliar flowers, and occasionally dragonflies flew over, daring enough to land on Fangmu. The sun was bright, and Fangmu had to squint as he looked at the shiny tiled second dormitory. In the upper left corner, the left side of the third floor was no longer the two shaky wooden windows, probably because the people in the dormitory had all gone home, and the PVC windows were tightly closed. After looking for a while, Fangmu got up and walked towards the main entrance of the second dormitory.


    The paint-peeled iron door had been replaced by two toughened glass doors, and the floor was shining marble. As he walked in, a cool breeze hit his face. In the duty room, a middle-aged woman in her forties with half-knitted sweater peered out. Fangmu nodded to her and went straight up the steps. She looked at Fangmu with suspicion and then withdrew.


    Turning left and going up to the third floor, the corridor in front of him was now very unfamiliar. The original location of Room 352 was now a staircase. The dormitories on both sides were tightly locked with sturdy anti-theft doors. Fangmu stood in the corridor feeling unsure. Suddenly, the door of a dormitory behind him opened, and a half-naked male student in shorts and slippers carrying a basin emerged. When he saw Fangmu, he seemed startled, then frowned and asked, "Student, who are you looking for?"


    Fangmu looked at the door of the dormitory he came out of, Room 349.


    "Where is Room 352?"


    "352?" The male student paused. "There is no Room 352 on the third floor. Look," he pointed to the doors on both sides, "349, 350, 351, 353, but no Room 352."


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know. But I heard from the senior brothers that many people died in the original Room 352 in the second dormitory, and when it was rebuilt, that room was canceled." He looked at Fangmu with a curious expression. "Are you looking for someone in Room 352?"


    Fangmu did not answer him and turned and went downstairs.


    One dormitory, one number, four people, all disappeared in this cold and solid building.


    As long as it was knocked down and rebuilt, it could permanently seal a memory.


    If it could really be like that, how nice it would be.


    On the way back, Fangmu brushed shoulders with a hurried middle-aged woman, who glanced at him and called out, "Fangmu, is that you?"


    Fangmu turned around and recognized her as Teacher Zhao from the library.


    "It''s really you," Teacher Zhao smiled as she looked at Fangmu. "You''ve lost some weight, but you haven''t changed much."


    For the entire afternoon, Teacher Zhao was the only acquaintance Fangmu had encountered, and he couldn''t help but smile too.


    "Teacher Zhao, how have you been?"


    "Pretty good, pretty good." Teacher Zhao placed her hand on Fangmu''s shoulder. "I heard you''re doing your postgraduate studies at J University. How''s it going? Not bad, right?"


    "It''s okay."


    Teacher Zhao looked at Fangmu''s lean face and spoke in a softer tone. "I haven''t seen you since you graduated. Hey, it''s not easy to have come through such a big thing."


    Fangmu lowered his head and didn''t speak, feeling the warmth from the hand on his shoulder.


    "Your matter has almost become a legend at the teacher''s university. People are always asking about it, and someone even inquired recently. People are so superstitious nowadays. No one dares to borrow that book anymore..."


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Fangmu interrupted Teacher Zhao, "Someone asked about me?"


    "Yes, a man in his thirties, very capable-looking, was reading that book everyone''s afraid to borrow for a long time."


    Probably Than Wei, that kid.


    Seeing Fangmu lost in thought, Teacher Zhao realized she shouldn''t have mentioned it and changed to a cheerful tone, saying, "Let me treat you to a meal. I remember I still owe you one."


    Fangmu was about to decline when his phone rang from his pocket.


    It was a Motorola V998 that his mother had given him, which cost quite a bit, showing that his mother cared a lot. However, she wanted to be able to contact Fangmu at any time, and Fangmu, being a young man, also thought the gadget was pretty good, so he accepted it.


    His mother''s voice came through the phone, "Where have you gone again?"


    "Oh, I went to buy some game discs. I''ll be home soon," Fangmu lied.


    "Have you found a girlfriend?" Teacher Zhao asked with a smile after he hung up the phone.


    "No, it''s my mother, urging me to go home." This topic made Fangmu feel even more uncomfortable.


    "Alright, then you should go. Remember to come find me next time you''re back at school."


    After staying at home for another week, Fangmu returned to J University earlier than expected, only to find that most of his classmates had already returned. Du Yu, in particular, had eagerly returned to J University after only a week at home because Zhang Yao was staying at the school to work for a translation agency during the break. Pushing the door open, he saw Zhang Yao and Du Yu hastily separating.


    Damn, in broad daylight.


    Fangmu pretended not to have seen anything and went straight to his own bed, taking out a bottle of meat sauce from his bag and handing it to Du Yu. "Here, my mother specifically brought this for you."


    Zhang Yao snatched it first, "Hehe, I''ll take it, I also love your mother''s meat sauce." Du Yu smiled helplessly at Fangmu.


    "Hehe, why didn''t you say it earlier? I''ll ask my mother to make more next time."


    "Then you must remember next time you go home."


    "Okay." Fangmu smiled.


    "Hehe, you actually look quite handsome when you smile. I''ll introduce a girlfriend to you when I have time."


    Fangmu waved his hand with a smile.


    When he went to the bathroom to wash his face, he met Liu Jianjun, who had a basketball magazine in his mouth and mumbled, "You''re back?"


    "Yeah." Fangmu splashed cold water on his face.


    "Has the case been solved?"


    "What case?"


    "The case of Qu Weiqiang and his girlfriend."


    "How would I know?"


    "Ah, I wonder when the case will be solved. Damn, it''s too miserable." After speaking, Liu Jianjun staggered out.


    Back in the dormitory, Fangmu really wanted to call Than Wei, but after hesitating for a long time, he gave up.


    The case had indeed not been solved. While Fangmu had been feeling restless at home, the Municipal Public Security Bureau''s Cultural Preservation Department had been working frantically.


    It had been over a month since the case was opened, and the police had visited the cities of Linjiang in Jilin Province (Qu Weiqiang''s hometown) and Hegang in Heilongjiang Province (Wang Qian''s hometown) several times, investigating nearly a thousand people, but the case had made no progress. The most troubling aspect for the police was: what was the motive for the crime?


    The scene indicated that the victims'' belongings showed no signs of being stolen. The few hundred yuan in the drawer and the deceased''s mobile phone, jewelry, and other valuable items had not been touched. The possibility of a burglary-homicide could be basically ruled out.


    Considering the brutal method of the killer, it seemed that the possibility of a revenge killing was high. However, after repeated investigations, it was found that both victims were university students without complicated social relationships, and no one had heard of any grudges with others. Qu Weiqiang''s parents were both workers, and Wang Qian''s parents were a doctor and a teacher, which also essentially ruled out the possibility of being killed due to previous generation grudges.


    If it was a home invasion and murder, there would be even more questions. Firstly, why would the killer dismember Wang Qian? If it was to cover up the crime, why would they then reassemble her into human form? Where did the medical syringe inserted into the left chest of Wang Qian come from? What did it imply?


    Secondly, why did the killer take Qu Weiqiang to the campus sports field and then cut off his hands? The distance between the dumping site and the scene of the crime was over 1000 meters, so why did the killer spend so much effort? If this behavior was understood as a challenge to the police, why did they not choose Wang Qian, who was much lighter in weight?


    Despite so many questions in this case, the police were very certain that the killer was a very calm and clever person. They broke in through the window, killed Qu Weiqiang, who was drunk and sleeping, with a blunt object (Qu Weiqiang''s blood alcohol concentration was very high), then raped Wang Qian, killed her, dismembered her, then reassembled her into human form, cleaned the scene, took Qu Weiqiang''s body to the sports field, and cut off his hands. From the condition of the scene, the killer did all of this very methodically, even cleaning the bathroom where the body was dismembered very thoroughly, leaving no trace for the police.


    From the perspective of criminal psychology, the killer''s method was very meticulous, and it seemed that they were very satisfied with this meticulousness, which meant that there was a high likelihood of them committing further crimes.


    This was a premonition that made the police very nervous.