Coming to Myself

You Mingxu's heart gave a slight jolt.

Only these few sets of footprints could be clearly identified. The footprints afterward became extremely chaotic and indistinct. Several people's footprints crisscrossed, trampling over each other, incomplete and fragmented. There were also several deep, small mud pits, as if someone had repeatedly kicked the ground, but no shoe prints could be distinguished. Based on You Mingxu's experience, it was likely that a struggle had taken place.

What was the outcome of the struggle?

You Mingxu carefully searched the vicinity and, as expected, found three clear sets of footprints in another direction from the "struggle area." After comparing them, she confirmed that these footprints belonged to the three individuals other than Guo Xing. Moreover, these footprints were noticeably deeper than before.

She followed these sets of footprints, moving forward in a direction opposite to the fish farm's main gate, heading toward the forested hills. The fish farm was open and unfenced, surrounded by muddy ground with increasingly dense weeds. The three individuals walked about a hundred meters until a mountain path appeared ahead, leading directly up the hill. It was here that the footprints disappeared.

You Mingxu immediately crouched down and examined the area carefully. However, the soil on the mountain path was hard and dry, leaving no discernible footprints visible to the naked eye. She stood up, her face smeared with dirt, and wiped it off without a second thought, turning to look at Jing Ping.

His brow was deeply furrowed as he asked, "What do you think?"

You Mingxu said, "Guo Xing arrived at the fishpond first and had been fishing for some time. One of the three individuals jumped into the fishpond, and Guo Xing, for some unknown reason, ran over to rescue them.

After pulling the person out, he was likely administering first aid or checking on the drowning victim. The other two individuals ambushed him from behind. There were no obvious bloodstains on the ground—they likely used a rope to strangle Guo Xing. Guo Xing struggled, leaving repeated kicking marks on the ground, but was overpowered. The three individuals then carried Guo Xing, either unconscious or already dead, away and into the mountains."

Jing Ping, however, simply smiled and said, "Interesting."

You Mingxu asked, "How skilled is Guo Xing in combat?"

Jing Ping replied, "Someone like him, climbing over corpses and bullets to get ahead—how could he not be skilled?"

You Mingxu said, "Exactly. The perpetrators knew this, which is why they set a trap. They first lured Guo Xing into the water to rescue someone, waited until he was physically drained and off guard, and then ambushed him. The question is, how did they know Guo Xing would definitely jump into the water to rescue someone? And why did Guo Xing do it without hesitation? They must have known each other. Are they members of the Xiangcheng drug trafficking organization? Were they Guo Xing's contacts? Or are they from another faction?"

Jing Ping had no answers to these questions either.

At that moment, Xu Mengshan ran over and said, "I've got the list. There were two other groups here that day. Two elderly men, retired fishing enthusiasts, and a family of three who brought their child to fish. They're all regulars. I had our colleagues at the bureau do a preliminary check—none of them seem suspicious. And the owner said they were all fishing in other ponds, nowhere near Guo Xing's area."

You Mingxu nodded. This also didn't match the owners of the footprints. The fish farm was open on all sides, so those individuals didn't need to use the main gate—they could have slipped in from other directions without anyone noticing.

The three of them briefly exchanged information, and Xu Mengshan said, "I'll contact the bureau right away and gather all the surveillance footage from around this mountain." You Mingxu agreed, but she doubted there would be much surveillance in such a remote area.Xu Mengshan turned to make a phone call. You Mingxu tilted her chin toward Jing Ping, signaling to head up the mountain. Jing Ping said, "Let me take the lead."

You Mingxu replied, "No need, follow me." Since Jing Ping wasn't from the criminal investigation division after all, she naturally took the lead out of habit.

Jing Ping remarked lazily, "Is this how things work in Hunan? Men following behind women?" Yet he moved to the front.

You Mingxu suddenly thought of You Yingjun, who always trailed behind her like a human shadow, lingering in her wake.

She remained silent.

Xu Mengshan hung up the phone and overheard the exchange, chuckling as he said, "Brother Jing, You Mingxu isn't really a woman."

You Mingxu elbowed him.

Jing Ping smiled, glanced at You Mingxu, and said to Xu Mengshan, "Nonsense." He walked ahead, rolling up his sleeves to reveal sturdy forearms.

You Mingxu knew well that a man capable of capturing drug dealers was far tougher than he appeared—nothing like his clean-cut, mild demeanor. On impulse, she said, "Old Jing, let's spar sometime."

Jing Ping didn't even lift an eyebrow. "I don't hold back, and I don't fight women."

You Mingxu laughed at that. "What a coincidence—neither do I."

Seeing this, Xu Mengshan chimed in, "Brother Jing, go for it. Don't let Sister You's slim build fool you—she's actually a fierce judo champion. She's taken down plenty of male colleagues at the station. If you can beat her, I guarantee everyone will treat you to a meal."

Jing Ping: "Deal."

You Mingxu: "It's settled then. Old Jing, don't blame me later for not sparing your seniority."

Jing Ping said, "Xiao You, I was already shooting drug dealers dead while you were still practicing marksmanship at the police academy."

The opportunistic Xu Mengshan burst into laughter. You Mingxu retorted, "Well, the new generation surpasses the old. The old wave gets washed up on the shore."

Jing Ping remained unhurried, his eyes smiling as he said, "Fine, come and wash me up then."

All three laughed, and the slight awkwardness that had lingered since Jing Ping joined the team seemed to dissolve completely. After walking a stretch, just as they were about to turn into denser woodland, You Mingxu's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, her face turning cold as she hung up immediately.

But the caller persisted, thick-skinned as ever.

Irritated, You Mingxu answered, her voice icy. "What do you want?"

A deep, pleasant voice came through: "Stay where you are. Wait for me."

You Mingxu was taken aback. She lowered the phone and looked back. Her pause made Jing Ping and Xu Mengshan stop and turn to look as well.

The man emerged from near the fishpond where Guo Xing had been. A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating him. He wore a black down jacket, a gray sweater, black casual pants, and sneakers, exuding a demeanor quite different from before. As he walked closer, mud stained his pant legs and grass clung to his clothes, yet none of it detracted from his striking handsomeness.

You Mingxu had no idea where he had come from or how he had found this place. She watched expressionlessly as he ascended the mountain path, his eyes fixed on her all the while. She turned her gaze away indifferently.

Xu Mengshan muttered, "Why is he here?"

Jing Ping asked quietly, "Who is he?"

Seeing You Mingxu stay silent, Xu Mengshan sighed inwardly and explained, "That's Yin Feng, a criminal psychologist. He serves as our consultant and has helped us solve many cases before."

Jing Ping: "I see."When Yin Feng approached them, he no longer looked at You Mingxu, instead fixing his gaze on Jing Ping. Jing Ping met his eyes with keen interest.

Then Yin Feng smiled—a smile warm enough to make one feel bathed in spring breeze—and said gently and amiably, "You must be Officer Jing. I'm Yin Feng, one of the team members. Sorry for being late. Pleased to meet you."

Author's Note:

Male lead: Even if I turn scummy, I'm still adorable Yin Feng!