The Brain Science Case 58

Chapter 58: The Lonely Killer – 7

At eight in the evening, Yingli took a sip of her red wine and happened to see the golden hamster stop on its wheel in the cage.

“What’s wrong?” She stood up and walked to the cage, and it stared at the main door. “Is someone here?”

As soon as the words were out, she heard the sound of the main door being opened.

“I’m back.”

“You’re back?” Yingli smiled and reached out to grab the golden hamster. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes, I have. I’m sorry, I smell like smoke.” She gave a wry, apologetic smile.

The laptop screen was still on the ceramic search page. Yingli saved it and closed it. “How did the investigation go?”

“It went well. I got a lot of information, and I’m a little… closer to my father, whom I’ve never met.” Taking off her jacket, Zhou Jinglin loosened her ponytail and sank into the sofa, as comfortable as if she were in her own home.

But her smile was more self-deprecating than happy.

“Let me guess…” she leaned closer to Zhou Jinglin and sniffed. “You went to some entertainment venues you never go to?”

“Yes, I went to ‘Starry Night.’ The owner is very close to my mom and used to be a hostess at her club…” After living together for almost a week, she had grown more and more accustomed to the quiet here, and she recounted her conversation with Xu Shanni.

“…It might be a high-ranking official in the political world. I was thinking on my way back whether I should investigate everyone with the surname Zhou.”

From her smile, Yingli sensed the hidden pain.

“Why didn’t she tell me… did she think, like me, that we still had time?” she choked out, looking at Yingli. “We had just mended our relationship, and we had so much time. I never thought…”

“I understand that feeling. We always think we have a lot of time, and it’s not until something happens that we realize that the people and things we’re familiar with can change in an instant.”

“She also said my mom was very devoted, so she doesn’t know who the man who attacked me is.”

“Have you ever tried to find out that person’s real identity?”

“No. I wish he would just disappear from my sight.” She shook her head. “Also, I found out who took over my mom’s club. Maybe Qian Hanliang got the Taoyuan address from her… she’s my next target.”

“Next time you investigate, remember to tell me. I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure?” Zhou Jinglin raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have other things to do?”

“I do.” She glanced at her phone. “But this matter with your aunt, I don’t want to be a bystander.”

Zhou Jinglin’s feelings became complicated. “Teacher…” but there was also an indescribable sense of security.

Her rose-colored lips lifted. “Ah, let’s talk about tomorrow’s plan first.” She tilted her head back and finished her red wine, then walked to the kitchen. “I’ve made an appointment with Teacher Wu. We’ll meet at her house tomorrow. Also, Officer Lu has already visited Ou Anpo’s biological mother, and it’s been preliminarily determined that she has nothing to do with this incident.”

“That was fast. Wait, if it has nothing to do with her biological mother…” she followed, reaching out to play with the golden hamster on the counter, “then the focus should shift to her romantic partner, right?”

Yingli poured another glass, and the red wine was a beautiful violet color in the light. “Oh, she has a romantic partner?”

“That’s what you think, right? Didn’t you ask Mrs. Ou if she had a boyfriend?”

Her index finger on her lips, “Mm, I think so.”

“You’re playing dumb again.” Zhou Jinglin made a move to hit her, and she quickly backed away. “Whether she ran away with an unknown boyfriend, or she couldn’t stand the pressure from her parents, what do you think, Teacher?”

“It’s hard to say. Maybe Mrs. Ou was right. I only asked that question to confirm, but I believe that even if Ou Anpo didn’t have a boyfriend, she definitely had someone she admired. That poem… it really bothers me.” Seeing Zhou Jinglin staring at the wine bottle, she tilted her chin up. “If you want some, pour it yourself.”

“Then I won’t be polite.” She grinned and expertly took out a wine glass.

“I thought someone said they didn’t drink…” Yingli muttered, closing her laptop. “Ah, there’s something I want to confirm.”

Sniffing the fruity aroma, Zhou Jinglin turned as she drank. “Hm?”

“You haven’t been in my room, have you?”

She choked. “Cough, cough.” Putting down her wine glass, she coughed several times over the sink.

“Are you okay?” she asked, patting Zhou Jinglin’s back.

They were very close, and she could smell the fresh fragrance on Yingli. “Cough… why did you… suddenly ask… ask that?” she covered her mouth, her cheeks quickly turning red.

“I was just thinking I might have forgotten to emphasize that you shouldn’t go into my room without permission. After all, I have a lot of personal belongings.”

“I… I haven’t been in there.” Zhou Jinglin coughed a few more times for show. “I’m not so clueless that I don’t know how to write the word ‘respect,’ am I?”

“That’s true.” Yingli squinted with a small smile. “Then it must have been Antisocial Personality who messed up the cassette tapes. Right, you little rascal?”

A chill ran down Zhou Jinglin’s spine. As Yingli carried her laptop back to her room, she looked down and met the gaze of the golden hamster, who had taken the blame for her.

“She was actually talking to me… right?”

As if in agreement, it blinked its small, black-bean-like eyes twice.

**

Wu Yingfan lived in a villa on a mountainside in the suburbs. It was both her home and her private music studio.

“So luxurious.” Standing outside the main gate, Zhou Jinglin couldn’t help but exclaim. “But this location is quite remote.”

“Yes, the advantage is that you don’t have to worry about disturbing the neighbors.” Tang Yingli crossed her arms and paced back and forth anxiously.

“Teacher,” she lightly tapped Yingli’s back, “you said you almost came here to learn the violin. When was that?”

She tilted her head. “First year of high school, I think.”

Zhou Jinglin’s expression changed. “That was a long, long time ago.”

“Yes, I didn’t say it was recent.”

“Then why didn’t you learn?” It felt like the “no musical talent” excuse was just a pretense.

She put her hands in her coat pockets, squinted, and shivered. “You’ll find out in a bit…”

The mutter was very quiet. “Huh?”

The main gate slowly slid open. “Officer Cai, you go first.”

He pointed at himself. “M-Me?”

“Who else has the surname Cai?” Yingli pushed him onto the stone path.

A moment later, a person peeked out from the main house. “Oh, it’s really Yingli.” The weather was cold, and Wu Yingfan came out to greet them personally, her attitude very familiar.

“Teacher Wu, long time no see.” She looked around, on guard for something. “Why didn’t you come to the last party, Teacher?”

“I was taking a student abroad, so I missed it. And these two are?”

“They are both detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division. Officer Cai called you yesterday, and the other is Officer Zhou.”

The two of them said in unison, “Hello, Teacher.”

“Hello, you two. It’s cold outside. Let’s go in and talk.”

Even though they were acquaintances, Yingli was uncharacteristically timid. Zhou Jinglin nudged her from behind. “Hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re so timid.”

She pushed up her glasses. “N-No, I’m not…”

It was a short walk, but Yingli took it step by step. Zhou Jinglin almost had to push her. “Where did it go?” Inside, she was still cautious.

“I was wondering why you were calling again yesterday.” Wu Yingfan had a “I’ve already told you everything I know” expression on her face. “Later, when Officer Cai mentioned you, I was so surprised that I even called Wanjuan to confirm. You still have that baby face. You don’t look old at all.”

“I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry when you say that.”

“Of course you should laugh. No one stays young forever. It’s so unfair.” She turned to Zhou Jinglin for confirmation.

“I can only say that Teacher Tang is naturally beautiful.”

“That’s right. Just like her mother.” Wu Yingfan chuckled. “Here, please sit. Tea or coffee?” she asked, looking at Cai Yuwei first.

“Tea, please…”

“Let’s all have coffee, to save you the trouble.” Yingli sat between the two of them, choosing her words carefully. “Teacher, that, y-o-u-r d-o-g…”

“You mean Lainie?” Her face was filled with grief. “Sigh, she passed away a few years ago. She was such a sweet and loyal dog. I cried for three days.”

“I see.” Yingli immediately relaxed. “What a shame.” But her expression was one of relief.

Zhou Jinglin gave her a questioning look.

“Yes, but I got a second one last year.” Wu Yingfan said proudly, “Lainie, Sister Yingli is here. Come here.” At her owner’s call, two energetic “woofs” came from not far away.

Zhou Jinglin looked in the direction of the sound, and a round, chubby corgi ran over, wagging its tail. And Yingli screamed, “Oh my god.”

“Isn’t she cute?” Wu Yingfan had a mischievous smile on her face and held the dog as she approached.

“D-Don’t come any closer.” She jumped up from the sofa.

“Pfft… I think I know why you didn’t learn the violin.” Zhou Jinglin covered her mouth to hide a smile, and Yingli, who was hiding behind the sofa, could only glare in protest.

“You’re still afraid of dogs. Strange, why haven’t you considered using something like cognitive restructuring or exposure therapy to overcome your fear?”

“I’ve tried, but it didn’t work.”

Closing her eyes, Yingli waved her hands frantically for Wu Yingfan to send the dog away. After she had had enough of her fun, she sent the dog to her room and served coffee.

The hot coffee soothed her frightened heart. Yingli put down her cup and regained her usual calm and sharpness.

“What’s your impression of Ou Anpo?”