Coming to Myself

"Zhou Rongfeng, Chen Zhaoci, He Qi, Xie Tangmao, Zhang Wei..." Han Feng said, "None of their fingerprints matched. We've already released them."

After hanging up, You Mingxu's hand was almost sweating. Instead, she laughed, murmuring to herself: "Damn it, justice has long arms, justice has long arms."

Yin Feng felt uncomfortable seeing her like this. After thinking for a moment, he said seriously: "A Xu, actually this was within my expectations. They don't match the killer's profile. The case is more complicated than we imagined. Just wait, my people are about to identify the list of suspects in that area who fit the profile."

But You Mingxu said: "Continuing like this isn't the solution. I want to go back to Gold Splitting Treasure Company. Since we've reached a dead end ahead, we should return to the crime scene."

The sky was completely dark, and this remote location had no pedestrians or vehicles at this time. Because of the incident during the day, there was now police tape at the entrance of Gold Splitting Treasure Company, and all employees had been taken to the police station for detention. You Mingxu took out the access card she had confiscated during the day, swiped it open, and quietly brought Yin Feng inside with her.

It was one of those old-style office buildings - a single corridor with offices on both sides.

They first found the room on the second floor where Fan Jia had been subjected to a body search, simultaneously lost the listening device, and had her phone confiscated. Later, they had found the listening device in this room.

It was quite a small room, containing only one table and two chairs, with nothing else. After looking around, You Mingxu said: "According to their statement, the body search and phone confiscation were to prevent journalists. But for an ordinary female college student, this meant being cut off from the outside world."

Yin Feng nodded: "We can assume that Zhao Feier and Liu Yisha, when they became completely unable to repay their loans and could only borrow more to pay off existing debts, coming to Gold Splitting Treasure Company, would have all gone through this step."

You Mingxu's eyes flashed: "Do you remember? The reason we couldn't determine Zhao Feier's exact time and location of disappearance was because her phone was found in a trash can in a busy commercial area. Someone deliberately cut off the clues, showing certain anti-surveillance capabilities."

The two walked out of this room. You Mingxu glanced at the tracking record on her phone: "Then Fan Jia was taken to... this room."

A plaque reading "Financial Director Zhang Wei" hung at the door. The two pushed the door open and looked around.

"Why bring Fan Jia to see Zhang Wei?" You Mingxu said, "She stayed here for 20 minutes."

Yin Feng said: "This Zhang Wei normally doesn't handle specific business operations at all. Relying on her beauty, her main job is maintaining the company's various external relationships. The financial director title is just nominal. It's indeed strange to specifically bring a college student like Fan Jia to see her."

You Mingxu turned to look at him.

Yin Feng also looked back at her intently.

You Mingxu had to give up trying to signal with her eyes, saying: "How do you know about Zhang Wei's situation?" Although the police had questioned this person, they had immediately been busy searching for Fan Jia afterward, and hadn't had time to investigate Zhang Wei's daily work and relationships in detail.

Yin Feng pointed at the desk, saying: "Apart from the computer, there are no other office supplies, not even a pen. There are almost no documents or materials in this office either. No financial director's office would be like this. So she doesn't handle specific business operations."He pointed to a corner of the desk where a sizable business card holder was stuffed so full it could barely close, and said, "Then what does she manage? A campus loan company whose primary clients are college students—who don’t carry business cards. Yet as a financial director, she’s clearly received far too many cards. Business cards are easy to lose, but instead of keeping them in a drawer, she places them in the most conspicuous spot, ensuring anyone who approaches sees them first. She takes pride in her network and connections and enjoys flaunting them."

Yin Feng then picked up several photo frames from the desk and the nearby bookshelf. You Mingxu let out a soft, derisive laugh as he smiled and remarked, "As a manager, she doesn’t display team photos or pictures of her family—only posed, alluring shots of herself. Clearly narcissistic. A woman who prides herself on her beauty, grows restless with routine work, and thrives on socializing as her capital—why would she arrange to meet Fan Jia?"

You Mingxu’s eyes darkened. "She had called Fan Jia before, urging her to film a nude loan video. Perhaps it’s easier for a woman to persuade another woman. But Chen Zhaoci revealed that things had taken a turn, and filming the nude loan video was no longer necessary. So why did she specifically meet with Fan Jia and talk for so long?"

"Zhang Wei is eloquent and, from appearances, a successful woman far above the average college student," Yin Feng said. "When Zhao Feier and Liu Yisha reached this point, burdened by debt, temptation, and coercion, their psyches were fragile and helpless. What influence would she exert on them before sending them to meet senior executives like Zhou Rongfeng?"

You Mingxu glanced at him and said, "Great author, we can’t make such assumptions in our investigation. It’s entirely speculative and suggestive, with no evidence. We can only think it to ourselves."

But Yin Feng shook his head. "Who says I have no evidence? Behavior is evidence. Campus loan companies have very mature tactics, each step with a clear purpose—to control victims psychologically or financially. Would they chat idly with you about everyday life without any agenda? No. So I can conclude that Zhang Wei’s appearance is also a deliberate part of their strategy. And the guidance she provides victims regarding 'female roles,' 'life development,' and 'understanding' is almost obvious. She’s the most suitable one to present the 'solution' to their current predicament."

"However, other campus loan companies might only ensnare victims deeper financially. Given the conflict that later occurred in Zhou Rongfeng’s office, I believe Zhang Wei’s persuasion in this round also carried undertones of sexual crime. Of course, she would certainly use high-sounding reasons to brainwash the victims, such as life choices, the boss’s appreciation and affection for young women, or even equivalent exchange and career development."

You Mingxu pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I’m convinced."

Hearing this, Yin Feng also smiled—after all, it wasn’t easy to get You Mingxu to admit defeat. He asked, "Am I smart enough now?"

You Mingxu thought to herself, What’s this 'enough' or not? and replied calmly, "Hmm, you are smart. You even know about 'sex' now."

After teasing him like this, she turned back to continue her observations. A few seconds later, she heard Yin Feng say slowly, "Those words just popped into my head automatically. As for 'sex' or whatever, this handsome one knows nothing about it."

You Mingxu muttered under her breath, "Nonsense."Then she heard him chuckle softly and say, "I really don't understand, not at all."

You Mingxu ignored him.

She stared at the sofa and coffee table, her brow slightly furrowed. "Don't you think it's strange here? Something's missing from the coffee table?"