The spacious conference room was brightly lit, occupied only by Yin Feng, Xu Mengshan, and You Mingxu.
You Mingxu gazed at the faint smile lingering at the corner of Yin Feng's lips.
Why did she feel he was acting a bit strange today? Unusually patient, gentle, and even taking the initiative to brainstorm with the two of them—these "mediocre strategists."
Since Xu Mengshan was no outsider, You Mingxu asked, "Why are you being so nice today?"
Xu Mengshan chuckled.
Yin Feng also considered Xu Mengshan an insider. Reaching across the table, he pinched her neck and gave it a couple of rubs, saying, "Isn't it all for your sake?"
Xu Mengshan cleared his throat lightly. This was going too far—flaunting their affection as if he weren't even human.
You Mingxu swatted Yin Feng's hand away.
Yin Feng was telling the truth. Because of You Mingxu, he had always regarded Xu Mengshan quite favorably. And now that You Mingxu was finally with him—even if it had only been a few days—his heart seemed perpetually enveloped in a faint layer of joy. In such a good mood, he put more thought into dealing with her friends.
Yin Feng hadn't yet realized that his behavior could be described as "blind indulgence."
Yin Feng added, "It's not just for your sake. Since we're trying to predict the Apprentice's behavior, there's nothing too far-fetched to consider. The more minds, the more ideas—we might just stumble upon something useful."
You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan nodded.
Yin Feng said, "Let's begin." He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked down at them like a lord overseeing his subjects: "Say whatever comes to mind, don't worry about whether it's right or wrong. No idea is too unreasonable."
When detectives analyzed cases, they always prioritized logic and rigor. This kind of brainstorming was something You Mingxu and the others rarely engaged in. They called it "wild speculation." Still, the two of them followed Yin Feng's lead and began their wild speculations.
Xu Mengshan frowned in thought: "Since he's a crime enthusiast, would he buy a lot of books and novels on criminal investigation?"
Yin Feng stood up, walked to the blackboard, and noted it down: "Continue."
You Mingxu said, "He'd pay close attention to cases from over the years, follow this kind of news closely."
Yin Feng raised an eyebrow and added, "He might even actively comment on cases and share his views."
Xu Mengshan said, "Since he's so interested in the Xu Baping case, would he try to contact the officers who handled it back then to gather information?"
You Mingxu: "Possibly!"
"He might be very interested in the weapons used in the crimes, buying similar items—like binoculars, gloves, magnifying glasses, body disposal bags, scalpels..."
"Then would he have dissected a corpse before?"
"Even if he hasn't dissected a human body, could he have dissected animals?"
"His first crime was such a big deal. He must have gone through a process of accumulation and rehearsal before that. Would he have abused animals? Attacked women and left a criminal record? Could he have broken into homes by force?""How would he dispose of the souvenirs? Air-drying them? Putting them in bottles? Eating them?" When Yin Feng mentioned this possibility, You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan both gave him complicated looks. He remained expressionless and unperturbed, continuing his brainstorming: "Air-drying doesn't look good. If he eats them, he won't be able to see them again—he wouldn't want that. Maybe he'd preserve them in formaldehyde to maintain their color and appearance. After all, that's how it's often done in many TV shows and books. When we find where he lives, we might discover a few beautiful glass bottles."
...
The three of them freely discussed for over an hour. Yin Feng filled the blackboard with dense notes, then crossed out many possibilities the group deemed either unverifiable or worthless. In the end, five key points remained:
He might have contacted the police officers who handled the case back then—we need to locate and question those officers.
He might be intensely focused on murder case news and publicly express opinions or comments in an attempt to attract attention—we can gather similar clues online to identify any suspicious individuals.
He has purchased prohibited knives and items.
He might have attacked women—verify recent cases in the area involving stalking, attempted rape, or assaults on women.
He might have committed forced break-ins—check recent reports of such incidents in the area.
After this discussion, both Xu Mengshan and You Mingxu felt a sudden clarity. Xu Mengshan even looked at Yin Feng with newfound admiration, slapping him on the shoulder and saying, "Teacher Yin, you're really something. Now I think you and Sister You are a perfect match!"
You Mingxu shot Xu Mengshan a glance but didn't refute it.
A deep smile spread across Yin Feng's eyes as he replied, "Of course." Then, glancing at Xu Mengshan, he added, "Want me to introduce you to a junior female student?"
Xu Mengshan burst into laughter, but You Mingxu rolled her eyes. Hah, already introducing junior students? Was his playboy side emerging again? How dare he! And when had these two become so close that they were discussing women together?
You Mingxu said coolly, "Had enough fun? Shouldn't we get back to business?"
Xu Mengshan winked at Yin Feng, who leaned forward slightly, looking at You Mingxu, and said, "Of course we should discuss business. We'll follow your lead."
Xu Mengshan was almost melted by the sweetness, turning his head away. You Mingxu still refused to give Yin Feng a pleasant expression, asking, "So what's next?"
These conclusions were wildly imaginative, lacking any solid evidence, yet they were carefully discussed and considered highly plausible actions of the killer.
Yin Feng said, "Points two and three involve the internet. I'll have Guan Jun look into them."
Xu Mengshan nodded. "Then I'll handle points one, four, and five."
As soon as he finished speaking, the three exchanged glances, each seeing an unstoppable spark in the others' eyes.
—
That day, by the time Yin Feng and You Mingxu returned home, it was already past 1 a.m.
Yin Feng went to take a shower. When he came out, he saw You Mingxu lying on the bed, still tirelessly reviewing case files.
He walked to the bedside without making a sound, causing You Mingxu to break out in goosebumps.
He then lay down on the bed, pressing against her from behind, burying his head.
You Mingxu trembled slightly under his weight and said, "What's gotten into you?"
He replied calmly, "Seeing you makes me want to go crazy."
You Mingxu thought about how someone had been recovering from serious injuries these past few days and let out a cold laugh.Yin Feng naturally thought of it too and smiled, saying, "I'm only crazy about you."
You Mingxu turned around, thus embracing him, yet there seemed to be a tranquil and gentle aura lingering around them.
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