"Oh yeah." The boy took a few unsteady steps, his body swaying slightly with a hint of wild recklessness. Gu Tiancheng got out of the car, helped him fold his bicycle, and placed it on the roof rack as well.
The boy plopped into the back seat, letting out a long, comfortable sigh. The car continued driving into the darkness ahead.
For a while, no one spoke. The boy tapped away on his phone, sending voice messages. You Mingxu heard him telling several people that he had finally caught a ride, and that the drivers were a handsome guy and a beautiful girl, completely unfazed by the fact that the subjects of his comments were sitting right in front.
After a moment, the boy leaned forward and introduced himself: "I'm Mingtao, a senior in college, graduating soon. So I'm taking this trip to Tibet to fulfill a dream. I've been traveling for three days already."
"You Mingxu."
"Gu Tiancheng."
Mingtao looked at them both and grinned, saying, "So you're not a couple after all. The way you interact doesn't seem like it."
Unexpectedly, Gu Tiancheng responded this time, asking, "What should a couple... look like?"
Mingtao replied, "More intimate, I guess. When I go out with my girlfriend, she's practically hanging off me all the time. Very clingy. But this sister here seems like she might be the cooler type. Still, it shouldn't be like this—look, even though she's sitting next to you, her body is slightly tilted away, keeping her distance. You two haven't made much eye contact recently either, and the few words you've exchanged have been very polite, question-and-answer like a script. So, you're definitely not a couple. Could it be... friends with benefits?"
Gu Tiancheng: "..."
You Mingxu: "..."
Mingtao seemed to think he had told a hilarious joke and burst into loud laughter, exaggerating it quite a bit. Then he suddenly stopped and resumed his casual, carefree expression.
You Mingxu thought, this guy really loves to perform.
She said, "So it seems your observational skills are quite sharp?"
Mingtao chuckled and said, "More than just sharp. To be honest with you, I'm also somewhat accomplished in psychology and behavioral analysis. Do you know what behavioral analysis is? It's a method from criminal psychology—have you seen the American show Criminal Minds? It's about drawing conclusions based on your behavior. I've studied several shows and read about many foreign serial killer cases. I often analyze people around me and those I meet on the road. I find it really interesting."
You Mingxu smiled without responding.
But Gu Tiancheng said calmly, "I really don't understand that criminal psychology thing you mentioned. I don't like American shows either. But I don't think it's as miraculous as you make it out to be. At first, you guessed we were a couple, and then you guessed..." He paused. "We were that kind of relationship, and you analyzed so much. Actually, if you had just noticed earlier that there's only one bicycle on the roof, and considering the frame height, you'd know it's for a woman. If we were a couple or friends who had planned this trip together, why would we only bring one bicycle?"
Mingtao's eyes widened.
You Mingxu also glanced at Gu Tiancheng and said softly, "Not bad... like Sherlock Holmes."
Gu Tiancheng smiled faintly. "Is it that exaggerated? Just normal deduction."
Mingtao, however, squeezed forward, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Master, I bow to you!"Even Gu Tiancheng was amused by him, glancing at the lively and funny young man in the rearview mirror. Mingtao then said to You Mingxu, "So you're also hitching a ride. Fellow travelers in a world of woes—let's shake hands." He extended his hand, but You Mingxu didn't want to shake it. Turning her head, she saw his eyes behind his bangs again, glinting with a hint of a smile. She slapped his hand away and said, "No need for formalities. Just sit properly."
Mingtao laughed and took a few more glances at her appearance and figure before leaning back, legs lightly bouncing, looking quite content.
Ahead, there was still no sign of habitation. There were one or two small houses, but they were dark, old, and dilapidated—likely abandoned homes.
The car continued forward.
The three of them fell silent for a while, making the music from the radio particularly noticeable.
Mingtao suddenly said, "Why listen to this? Let's hear the news. There's been a serial killer roaming the highways lately, killing everyone they come across. Have you heard about it?"
The car fell silent for a moment.
You Mingxu's tone was a bit tense: "What serial killer? I haven't heard anything. What's going on?"
Gu Tiancheng also said, "Haven't heard. Tell us about it."
Mingtao actually smiled with a hint of pride and said, "You don't know? Lucky you ran into me. Well, the news only reported a little, keeping it low-key. But I know the situation inside out—" His tone suddenly dropped a few notches as he slowly said to them, "That killer murdered two people in Xiangcheng, Hunan. The police haven't caught them yet—they don't even know if it's a man or a woman, old or young. Impressive, right? Then they fled to Tibet and killed two more along the highway. You might ask, how do we know it's the same person?
Because serial killers like this always leave a signature. The police must have identified certain consistent behaviors to conclude it's the same person and are investigating the cases together. The victims are all young, pretty girls. Like Miss You here."
But You Mingxu didn't show any fear. Instead, Gu Tiancheng said, "Don't scare her."
Mingtao glanced at the two of them and muttered, "Getting cozy, huh? But think about it—isn't it thrilling? We're traveling on this road, and that serial killer might be heading the same way. You might have even crossed paths. Hey, Miss You, scared?"
Now even You Mingxu found him a bit annoying. Instead of answering, she retorted, "Are you scared?"
Mingtao smiled faintly: "Of course not. I'm actually hoping to run into the serial killer. After all, they only kill young girls, not me. Too bad I haven't met anyone who fits the bill along the way."
Gu Tiancheng asked, "Do you know what they look like?"
Mingtao replied, "Of course not. But I understand serial killers. If I encountered one, I'd definitely recognize them. I'd analyze their behavioral evidence."
Gu Tiancheng laughed and turned to say, "Then, do I look like one?"
Mingtao was taken aback and hadn't answered yet when You Mingxu also turned around, a faint smile on her lips: "Didn't you say we don't know if it's a man or a woman? Mingtao, what about me? Do I look like one?"Two handsome faces, both wearing similarly ambiguous smiles, gazed at Mingtao with inscrutable eyes. Mingtao stared blankly for a long moment before suddenly clapping his hands and bursting into laughter. "How amusing! Three strangers in one car—none of us knows whether we might encounter a serial killer, or whether the serial killer might be among us. Hey, the same goes for me. After all I've said about serial killers, don't you think I might just be one?"
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