Chapter 36

The case was closed, and the police notified the victims’ families to come to the hospital to claim the bodies.

Lin Peixin carefully cleaned the corpses and dressed them again. The clothing covered the terrifying stitch marks, preserving their final dignity.

After finishing everything, Lin Peixin bowed deeply to the five bodies.

The officers waiting by the door showed no surprise. Every time a case was completed and the victims were to be “sent off,” Lin Peixin performed this ritual.

It wasn’t superstition about death, but genuine respect for the deceased.

Forensic doctors are the spokespersons of the dead. No one can feel the victims’ “communication” more than they do.

Professor Yan, upon learning that today was the day to bring Yan Zhan home, insisted on personally receiving him.

This led to another fierce quarrel between father and son, until Professor Wei intervened to mediate, and both finally compromised.

As a participant in the case, Jiang Xuzhou was also asked by his mentor to accompany them to the police bureau.

When they arrived, several victims’ families were already present.

The cries were loud enough to be heard from the doorway. Some cursed the killer, some collapsed to their knees in grief, each expressing pain in different ways.

From the moment Jiang Xuzhou entered, his emotions grew complicated as he watched the families’ reactions.

They seemed deeply sorrowful, even pounding their chests as if they wished to trade their lives for the victims’.

Yet if they truly cared so much, why hadn’t they reported the disappearances after so many days?

Confusion flickered in Jiang Xuzhou’s eyes. During the investigation, notices had been sent out for a long time, but no families came forward to report missing persons. This delay had cost them valuable time in identifying the bodies.

Professor Wei noticed his unease and softly asked: “Experiencing a case firsthand feels very different from just assisting with documents, doesn’t it?”

Jiang Xuzhou nodded: “Yes. It’s painful.”

Professor Wei smiled with relief, patting his back: “That’s because you have conscience. When you set aside pure logic, you can empathize with their pain and grievances.”

“But Xuzhou, I must remind you—emotion must not outweigh reason. If it does, your judgment will be affected.”

He understood Jiang Xuzhou’s feelings, but guidance was necessary.

Jiang Xuzhou nodded: “I understand.”

Wei Wenshan never hesitated to praise his prized student.

“You’ve already done very well. Director Feng called me, saying you provided several crucial directions during the investigation, saving them a lot of time.”

Jiang Xuzhou hadn’t expected this small surprise.

Seeing his stunned look, Wei Wenshan added: “Later, come with me to meet Director Feng. This is a chance for growth, and you should thank him for trusting you.”

Jiang Xuzhou nodded.

Meanwhile, Lin Peixin, overwhelmed by the cries, handed the task of facing the families to other officers and went to the window for air.

There he found Ruan Mingxi already standing, holding a half-burned cigarette.

Lin Peixin walked over: “Didn’t you say you were quitting? Why are you smoking again?”

Ruan Mingxi chuckled softly: “I’m not smoking. Just lit it to smell the scent.” His eyes, however, held no laughter.

For them, closing a case was never cause for celebration. Each ending meant another life lost. They only uncovered the truth, giving the dead an explanation. But those lost lives could never return.

Most officers in the criminal police team smoked. They knew it was unhealthy, but nicotine gave them a brief respite under immense pressure, and helped them stay awake through long nights.

Ruan Mingxi wasn’t addicted. He only smoked when the pressure became unbearable.

“Stop sniffing it. If you get tempted and start smoking again, all these days of quitting will be wasted.” Lin Peixin teased.

Ruan Mingxi replied: “It won’t come to that.”

Suddenly, noises of an argument came from ahead. The distance made it hard to hear what was being said.

Just as Ruan Mingxi was about to check, he saw Yao Panpan storming past from the end of the corridor, her face flushed red with anger.

“Hey, come back!” Ruan Mingxi immediately called out.

“Who upset you?”

As soon as he spoke, he noticed something wrong: “Why is your face so red? Allergic reaction?”

Yao Panpan quickly explained everything in one breath: “Liu Hui’s family said the victim is dead, the killer has been caught, so they should receive compensation money. They started demanding it from us.”

Whether the killer owed compensation to the victim’s family was not the responsibility of the criminal police team. Yet Liu Hui’s family kept making a scene, insisting the police should pay.

“No matter how we explained, they wouldn’t listen. They even accused us of trying to pocket the compensation money, and dragged other families in to argue.”

During the quarrel, things got physical. Yao Panpan, who had been at the front trying to calm the families, was struck in the face, leaving a red mark.

Ruan Mingxi glanced at the bruise on her cheek: “Causing trouble, huh? Do they think this is some kind of marketplace?”

He shoved the half-burned cigarette into Lin Peixin’s hand and strode forward.

Before Lin Peixin could recover from his commanding pace, a sharp rebuke rang out ahead. The noisy voices instantly fell silent.

Lin Peixin chuckled: “Your captain really is intimidating when he loses his temper.”

Yao Panpan nodded. That was why they were intimidated.

Ruan Mingxi was a good person, protective of his team, but when he lost his temper he was truly fierce—like a firecracker, explosive and powerful.

Once the “team tyrant” appeared, the situation was immediately brought under control.

Watching the entire process, Jiang Xuzhou’s eyes carried a faint smile, his gaze fixed on Ruan Mingxi the whole time.

After handling the commotion, Ruan Mingxi turned around and saw Jiang Xuzhou staring at him.

His previously tense expression softened at once, and he strode toward them.

Ruan Mingxi greeted a few people, exchanged a few words, and once his part was done, he stood beside Jiang Xuzhou.

“Why didn’t you say you were coming this morning when you left?” Ruan Mingxi asked in a low voice.

Jiang Xuzhou replied: “I only found out when I saw my teacher.”

As they spoke, the victims were brought out.

When Professor Yan received Yan Zhan, he could no longer hold back. His voice broke into sobs, his body trembling violently.

After a few words of comfort, Professor Wei led Jiang Xuzhou away, leaving space for the family.

Learning they were heading to Director Feng’s office, Ruan Mingxi followed.

Director Feng greeted Jiang Xuzhou and Wei Wenshan with a smile, but when he saw Ruan Mingxi trailing behind, his smile vanished instantly.

“Didn’t I tell you to rest at home? Why are you wandering around the bureau every day?”

Ruan Mingxi grinned cheekily: “I missed you.”

“Stop being disgusting.” Director Feng looked thoroughly annoyed.

Their casual, banter-filled dynamic—without the usual superior-subordinate distance—made Wei Wenshan laugh.

Soon the conversation shifted to Jiang Xuzhou. Director Feng suggested that if possible, he hoped Jiang Xuzhou could continue serving as a consultant for the team.

Research in criminal psychology relies heavily on experience. Book knowledge alone is not enough. By working at the bureau, Jiang Xuzhou could gain valuable training, while the team gained another talent—a win-win decision.

Wei Wenshan looked at Jiang Xuzhou, asking for his opinion.

With three pairs of eyes on him, Jiang Xuzhou smiled: “I’m very grateful Director Feng trusts me and gives me this opportunity. I really like the atmosphere and colleagues here. I’ll work hard.”

Director Feng smiled with satisfaction. He had “tricked” a talent into joining, and his mood was so good his eyes nearly disappeared with laughter.

Wei Wenshan respected Jiang Xuzhou’s choice completely. This opportunity was very beneficial, though balancing school and the bureau would be tiring.

Jiang Xuzhou expressed clearly: “I’m honored to be part of this team.”

With that said, there was nothing more to add.

Wei Wenshan and Director Feng had more to discuss, so the two younger men left first.

As the office door closed, Ruan Mingxi deliberately bumped Jiang Xuzhou’s arm: “What you said just now wasn’t right.”

Jiang Xuzhou raised his brows: “What wasn’t right?”

“What do you mean you ‘really like the colleagues’? Do you mean the others, or do you mean me?” Ruan Mingxi pressed, refusing to let it go without an answer.

Meeting his teasing, smiling gaze, Jiang Xuzhou’s heart stirred.

Ruan Mingxi was the type who flirted without realizing it. He didn’t mean it that way, but the way his eyes focused only on one person made Jiang Xuzhou’s heart skip.

“Say it—do you like them, or do you like me?” Ruan Mingxi asked again.

Jiang Xuzhou stayed silent.

Seeing him refuse to answer, Ruan Mingxi tried to playfully bump him again.

Before he could touch him, Jiang Xuzhou spoke: “I like you.”

Getting the answer he wanted, Ruan Mingxi instantly broke into a wide grin: “That’s more like it. Next time don’t use them as an excuse—just tell the truth.”

Jiang Xuzhou, worn down by his persistence, shot him a look: “Stop showing off like a peacock.”

Ruan Mingxi froze for a second, then burst out laughing.

—

Suddenly, a violent crash shattered the quiet of the night street.

A white car slammed straight into the roadside guardrail. Because of its high speed, the front of the vehicle crumpled severely on impact.

The ruptured fuel tank poured gasoline like an open faucet.

Hiss—

Sparks flickered, the situation dangerously close to disaster. The driver showed no reaction.

No cries of pain, no pleas for help—only faint, fragmented sounds from time to time.

Hiss—

The moment the sparks ignited the fuel tank, a deafening explosion erupted.

The blast was so powerful it felt as though the ground itself trembled, and the massive heat wave seemed to tear the air apart.

The shockwave spread outward like wildfire, the air heating rapidly, scorching hot.

The vehicle was engulfed in flames, but since there were no houses nearby, no one immediately discovered the accident.