23 Train of Thought

"Yes, that is the project."

Captain Feng replied casually, squeezing back into the car. To ensure Ji He could hear him clearly on the other end, he raised his already booming voice: "Could the killer have done this to frame Liang Ming? Liang Ming’s identity is sensitive; once he’s tainted by something like this, he won't be able to clear his name regardless of whether he’s innocent or not."

The background on Ji He’s end was equally chaotic, filled with various voices. She replied: "There is no evidence left at the scene pointing to Liang Ming. Liang Ming also has a clear and definitive alibi, thousands of miles away. If the police hadn't automatically assumed a connection to Liang Ming upon hearing the victim's name, this matter would never have landed on him. I don't believe the perpetrator's goal was to frame him."

Zhou Suirong sat silently, detached from their discussion. He lifted his head slightly from the steering wheel, gazing at the distant, sprawling mountain scenery.

Except for Fang Qingzhou, no one noticed his current despondency.

Captain Feng analyzed: "It’s summer, and Jiang Ping was still wearing a jacket, which suggests he was killed in an air-conditioned room. His financial situation was average; the fact that he specifically wore expensive clothes for this trip suggests he was going to meet someone important."

Ji He: "I just contacted Jiang Ping's family. His wife said this was his first time in City B. His client for this project is from City B and invited him over to discuss the contract. They last spoke three days ago. Since the couple rarely talks much, this isn't unusual, so she didn't think anything of it. Officers from the local station have already arrived at Jiang Ping's home and obtained his toothbrush to send for DNA matching. His wife guessed that he might have been murdered; she’s quite hysterical now and insists on coming to City B to find him."

Captain Feng thought for a moment and said: "Let her come. Tell me the time, and I’ll have someone pick her up."

Ji He: "Forget it. Once the results are out, someone from our bureau will accompany her. Given her current state, I’m worried she might have trouble on the way."

Captain Feng: "Alright. Then we will apply to pull Jiang Ping’s hotel check-in records to analyze his movements and see if we can lock onto a suspect."

The two were efficient, swift, and decisive—it would have been even better if they weren't using Fang Qingzhou’s phone.

Because Fang Qingzhou was always slow to reply to messages, Lu Shengxing had forcibly upgraded some of her hardware, making her phone much louder than a standard communication device. Coupled with Captain Feng’s booming voice, the two echoed each other, their back-and-forth no less deafening than the ringing of bells and drums. It made Fang Qingzhou feel as if her eardrums were trembling, adding an echo to everything she heard.

After giving his orders, Captain Feng wiped his face and, brimming with energy, dragged Fang Qingzhou back into the case analysis: "Expert, could I assume the killer’s cognition was modified to make him kill Jiang Ping for revenge?"

Fang Qingzhou felt a headache coming on: "Why would Liang Ming move the body to the side of Liang Yizheng's villa after killing him? Although they share the same surname, their social circles don't overlap, and they don't know each other."

Captain Feng stroked his chin, imagining wildly: "Then perhaps the killer was instilled with some of Liang Ming's cognitions by a perverted scientist, while simultaneously having an experience related to Liang Yizheng mixed in, leading to a modus operandi that lacks logic and makes it impossible to systematically study his motive."

His reasoning was not only detached from reality but also absurdly devoid of intellect.

Ji He was actually swayed and didn't refute it immediately, instead asking: "It’s a bit difficult, isn't it? Fang Qingzhou."

Zhou Suirong’s melancholy was scattered by the two's utter lack of focus. He couldn't help but say: "Is your investigative process always this wild?" It felt like they were possessed.

"Impossible! This project isn't as anti-human as you think. I’ve explained it many times: it cannot modify the cognition of a normal person at will!" Fang Qingzhou was beyond annoyed; the pent-up irritation bubbled out like a spring, and she enunciated heavily, "Shen Zhiyang was manipulated because she had spent years in close proximity to me. She was superstitious about my authority and dependent on my protection, so when she was on the verge of collapse, the will to 'become me' deeply aligned with her desire for self-avoidance. Even so, within just a few days, she still suffered from confusion, loss of control, anxiety, and trance-like states, unable to stably maintain this forced external interference. Anyone else would have gone insane."

The two, who had been passionately letting their imaginations run wild, finally quieted down when they heard her genuine anger.

Captain Feng said sheepishly: "Oh, we were just expressing a positive outlook on the motherland's scientific development."

Ji He said without batting an eye: "I know. I was just subtly refuting his conjecture."

Fang Qingzhou’s remaining anger simmered: "You keep calling me a perverted scientist everywhere."

She heard a commotion on the other end of the phone; it was likely Ji He rolling up some paper and hitting Zhao Rong on the forehead. Zhao Rong let out an exaggerated scream.

Ji He said evasively: "Idiot, how could you use that kind of wording?"

Zhao Rong complained indignantly: "I was strictly following your every word while executing the mission."

Ji He ignored him and shifted the blame entirely: "Heard that? It wasn't me who said it. Besides, the prefix 'perverted' wasn't meant for you."

Fang Qingzhou turned her head and locked eyes with Zhou Suirong in the front seat.

Zhou Suirong wore a mournful face and silently mouthed: "Is the boss unhappy?"

Fang Qingzhou’s temper came suddenly but left just as quickly. Feeling a bit confused herself, she regained her composure and kindness, saying methodically: "Jiang Ping has never been to City B. If the killer took his personal documents and his wife wasn't alert enough to report him missing in time, it would be difficult for the police to confirm the victim's identity based on current conditions. Following normal procedures, we should start with Liang Yizheng's social circle."

Captain Feng, having talked until his throat was dry, took a bottle of water from their car and now appeared somewhat docile: "Exactly, that was our original plan. The killer's method of disposing of the body was simple and crude; clearly, the goal was for it to be found. And he has sufficient knowledge of Liang Yizheng to know he would be at the villa today. A murder case is different from other minor incidents; even if Liang Yizheng is the son of the Emperor of Heaven, it won't be easily suppressed. The police will certainly conduct a thorough and in-depth investigation."

"Assuming the killer's true target is Liang Yizheng, he needs to focus the police's attention on him, so the identity of the dead person isn't the key part of his plan."

Fang Qingzhou deliberated: "Generally, a killer wouldn't travel thousands of miles to commit a crime in a place they are unfamiliar with; there's no sense of security in that. If we look at it from another angle, it’s not that Jiang Ping came to City B and was accidentally killed, but that he needed to be brought to City B for the killer to kill him. Liang Yizheng is the person the killer wants to deal with, and Jiang Ping... might be the person his accomplice wants to deal with."

As she spoke, her voice became increasingly strained. Her brows furrowed with fine lines, unwilling to accept the conclusion that Liang Ming might be involved in this.

Captain Feng finished half the bottle of water, his lips no longer dry, and ruthlessly pointed out: "After all this time, going round and round, Liang Ming is still the biggest suspect."

Ji He, already able to read the room remotely, said smoothly: "Not necessarily. Maybe it was to frame Liang Ming?"

Captain Feng scolded bluntly: "You didn't say that ten minutes ago!"

Zhou Suirong listened for a while, sorted out a thread of logic, and feeling somewhat idle being left out, requested to participate: "Can I say a few words too?"

At any rate, it would be much more sensible than their previous fantasy-like theories.

Fang Qingzhou allowed it: "Xiao Zhou, please proceed."

"Thank you, Boss." Zhou Suirong nodded in acknowledgement and spoke his summary fluently: "I believe that since the killer went through cumbersome preparations and risked exposure to guide the police to investigate Liang Yizheng, it shows he harbors intense hatred for him. Simply witnessing the other party's death wouldn't satisfy him; at the very least, he wants to see Liang Yizheng disgraced."

"Ultimately, the only protagonist of this case is not Jiang Ping, and certainly not Liang Ming—it is only Liang Yizheng."

"If the killer’s cognition was modified, then the person who truly has a connection with Liang Yizheng is the mastermind behind the scenes. Leaving a 'calling card' in City A to lure you into bringing me here was also because he wanted you to pay attention to Liang Yizheng."

"Furthermore, just because he has mastered this technology doesn't mean he has to use it. Perhaps there is no so-called accomplice; the killer is the man himself."

Ji He, who had been typing away on her keyboard, felt inspiration spark like fireworks and smoothly took the second half: "He had close contact with [Anomaly Determination] and knew that this project was originally founded because of Liang Ming."

"When this perverted scientist needed a corpse as a fuse and didn't have a suitable target, it was only natural for Jiang Ping to fall into his selection range, whether out of homage or other unspeakable considerations." Captain Feng knew what they were about to say and finished the sentence with rapid speed, adding with a hint of disdain, "Are we writing a story?"

"Can you all stop using the term 'perverted scientist'? Think of a new one." Fang Qingzhou protested slightly, then immediately praised Zhou Suirong’s insight into the diversity of human nature: "Xiao Zhou really understands the ways of the world. I think there’s no problem with the logic."

Zhou Suirong said happily: "Thank you for your appreciation, Boss."

Captain Feng couldn't bear to watch the two young people being so affectionate. He clapped his hands and delivered the concluding statement: "Anyway, there are two main directions for the investigation: first, the reason for Jiang Ping’s business trip to City B, and second, Liang Yizheng’s past. Team Leader Ji, please trouble yourself to verify the specific situation at Jiang Ping's company. Let's communicate in a timely manner if there are any findings."

Ji He: "Understood."

Captain Feng said in a rush: "I’m leaving then. I need to get back to the bureau for a meeting."

As he got out of the car, he glanced back at Fang Qingzhou to confirm she wouldn't attempt another strangulation, only then feeling safe enough to stride away.

After the call ended, the sudden silence left both of them with an uncomfortable sense of emptiness. It was as if something was missing from the car, making it seem suddenly vacant.

Fang Qingzhou moved to the passenger seat.

Zhou Suirong set the navigation and started the drive back to the hotel.

"I feel like I'm having auditory hallucinations." Zhou Suirong patted his ears and asked, "Do you want to listen to music?"

Fang Qingzhou, with a solemn expression, asked in a tone that allowed no escape: "Did you remember something just now?"

Zhou Suirong said, deeply moved: "Wow, you're paying so much attention to me? I thought your heart and mind were entirely on the case."

The muscles in his face were lifted, carrying his usual air of ease, but there was no happiness in his smile.

"I thought of my mother, for some reason." Zhou Suirong asked faintly, "Did I go back?"

"Yes." Fang Qingzhou replied softly, "I'm sorry."

Zhou Suirong looked at her repeatedly, looking very surprised, and then said with a wry smile: "Why are you saying sorry to me for no reason?"

Fang Qingzhou’s expression was grave: "I don't know. Because you’re unhappy."

Zhou Suirong suddenly felt his nose sting, almost unable to suppress his surging emotions. He wanted to pull the car over to the side of the road and hold Fang Qingzhou in his arms.

He tried his best to appear unaffected to show his invulnerability, so that Fang Qingzhou could discard the disappointment and sadness that didn't belong to her. His Adam's apple bobbed as he said gently: "I'm not unhappy. I just feel like I probably shouldn't have gone back."