Coming to Myself

"It seems Lao Ding and the others were right—the perpetrator is a young person, unlikely to be the criminal from the original case."

"Mm." Yin Feng said, "Where are you?"

"I'm still at the station. I plan to head out soon, to the bathhouse."

"Have you eaten?"

"We'll talk about it when I get there." Even though it was already noon.

You Mingxu recalled Ding Xiongwei's instructions from the morning and had a sudden thought. There was still an unresolved doubt about the crime scene she and Xu Mengshan had inspected yesterday. So she said, "There's one detail I'd like your opinion on."

"Mm."

You Mingxu described the bloodstain on the chair in the far corner of the room, away from the bed, and said, "The victim was strangled to death, and the bleeding occurred post-mortem. So why was there a single drop of blood on the chair? Did the perpetrator touch the chair? If he was so meticulous, why would he touch the chair? The victim was knocked unconscious as soon as she entered the room, so it couldn't have been from a struggle in the bedroom."

Without hesitation, Yin Feng replied, "Isn't it obvious? He pulled up a chair and sat by the bed to talk with the victim. After the conversation, he killed her and then returned the chair to its original position—the bloodstain was an accidental transfer."

You Mingxu was taken aback. "A conversation? How do you know the perpetrator spoke with her?"

Yin Feng chuckled. "Since the victim was subdued and knocked unconscious as soon as she entered the room, why would the perpetrator go to the trouble of tying her hands and feet? Because he later woke her up, communicated with her, and only killed her after their exchange. He's methodical, selective, and in complete control. Now that his prey is in his grasp, this psychological torment is the climax! Most organized serial killers relish this process."

You Mingxu said, "How do you know he was sitting in the chair? He could have been sitting on the edge of the bed."

Yin Feng's tone turned slightly teasing. "Sitting on the bed increases the risk of bloodstains, while sitting in a chair opposite gives a greater sense of control and confrontation."

You Mingxu fell silent. She had to admit he was right. Although the police's investigative direction was clear and significant progress had been made, she still felt something was missing, as if a layer of fog separated them from understanding the perpetrator's intent. So she said, "Where are you? I want to meet and discuss the case further."

He said, "Guess."

You Mingxu couldn't help but laugh. "Where are you, really?" Her voice carried a hint of unconscious reproach, giving Xu Mengshan beside her goosebumps.

Yin Feng said, "Downstairs at your building."

They both fell silent for a few seconds before she said casually, "See you in a bit."

He chuckled softly. "See you in a bit."

Yin Feng was already well-known at the station—everyone knew he was You Mingxu's person and even held a position as an investigator. So now, as police officers came and went, watching him stroll in unhurriedly, no one batted an eye.

Today, however, he wore a black thin jacket and black trousers, yet he lacked the stern, cold aura of a criminal investigator. Instead, his fair skin and aloof demeanor exuded an air of refinement. Strangely, he carried a light green thermal lunch pail, as if he'd come to deliver a meal, prompting passersby to glance at him twice.

Yin Feng walked straight ahead, holding the lunchbox in one hand and the other tucked into his pocket, entering the conference room where You Mingxu was.Apart from You Mingxu, Xu Mengshan and several other key members were present. They looked up when he arrived, clearly having waited for some time.

Yin Feng sneered inwardly, thinking: My wife certainly doesn’t hesitate to make use of me. She didn’t even bother meeting me first to let me feed her the chicken soup that the chef had simmered for eight hours.

Outwardly, however, he remained expressionless. He set the chicken soup aside. You Mingxu glanced at Xu Mengshan, who thought, Why do I have to be the one to ask for help when your husband is here? But he smiled and said, "Teacher Yin, please sit! Sister You mentioned that you’ve reviewed the case files. This one is quite unusual. We’re currently focusing on a few key leads and would like to hear your thoughts."

Yin Feng noticed that all the seats near You Mingxu were occupied, giving off the vibe of a boss surrounded by her crew. He smiled slightly and took a seat on the other side of the table, asking which leads they were pursuing.

Xu Mengshan listed them one by one.

Yin Feng then asked, "What do you know about the perpetrator so far?"

The detectives exchanged glances. You Mingxu said, "Male, 20-30 years old, around 180 cm tall, shoe size 42-43, slim build. He’s very familiar with the surroundings, meticulous in planning, thorough in execution, and highly aware of anti-surveillance tactics. We suspect he harbors intense hatred toward women. Moreover, he’s completely replicating the case from nineteen years ago. We believe he may have some connection to the original case. We’ve already assigned people to contact the officers who handled it back then and are gathering more detailed information."

Yin Feng nodded, looking directly at her. "That’s exactly why I’m here—I want to examine the more detailed records from nineteen years ago for comparison. As for the perpetrator, I agree with A Xu’s assessment, but there are a few points I’d like to highlight:

First, anyone with some knowledge of criminal psychology can tell that this perpetrator is a classic 'organized' serial killer. This is in contrast to 'disorganized' killers—precisely the type A Xu described: meticulous planners, careful executors. His crimes are purposeful; he knows how to satisfy himself. However, I have a feeling his methods are too... standard."

"Standard?" Xu Mengshan repeated.

Yin Feng replied, "Yes. From target selection, to stalking and observation, to planning, executing the crime, imitating the signature behaviors from nineteen years ago, and taking 'souvenirs'—don’t you think he’s executed everything exceptionally well? Aside from that silhouette caught on surveillance, he’s left almost no traces. This is nearly a perfect crime. He’s thorough, but I’d say he’s far from a 'crime master' since he shows no innovation. Still, he exhibits a sense of craftsmanship—no, more like an 'apprentice spirit': meticulous, precise, and rigorous."

The detectives exchanged uncertain looks.

You Mingxu, hearing Yin Feng’s almost artistic summary, lifted her gaze to him. She understood what he meant—it reminded her of when they went to Huaicheng to investigate the case of the girl in the black suitcase. He had said then that the perpetrator was like a craftsman with a street-smart vibe. And indeed, that had proven true.

Now, with terms like standard, perfect, thorough, and apprentice spirit—what did it imply?

You Mingxu immediately asked, "Then what do you think his identity could be?"Yin Feng's gaze shifted, instantly taking on an indescribable nuance that, of course, the rough-edged detectives failed to notice. But You Mingxu thought to herself: What are you making eyes at now? There's never a moment of peace with you.