The Brain Science Case 109

Chapter 109: Hibernating in the Dim Sunlight – 3

She knew that by jumping out in front of everyone to question the selection of the team members, it was an extremely provocative act to both Fang Zijun and Zhou Zengxiang, and she had also become the focus of everyone’s attention.

But she really couldn’t understand why she had been excluded from the list.

“Jinglin.”

Ignoring the hints from Cai Yuwei, Fang Zijun, and the others, she took a few steps forward.

“Director, please tell me the reason.”

Facing Jinglin’s pressure, Zhou Zengxiang answered with a blank expression, “Since a colleague has doubts about the list, then I will take this opportunity to explain.”

The information on the projection screen suddenly changed, and Yingli was taken aback, realizing that Zhou Zengxiang had come prepared.

“The few selected above, I not only considered their usual performance on duty, but also took into account their specialties in the allocation. For example, Dr. Tao is an expert in forensic identification; Deputy Chief Chen Huomu has been recognized by his colleagues for his experience and proactiveness in handling cases; Officers Jian Minggui and Cai Yuwei have performed particularly outstandingly in on-site identification and search, and in summarizing information, respectively. As for Dr. Tang’s contribution to psychology and criminal profiling, I believe there is no need to say more.”

The screen listed the unique specialties of each team member, and Jinglin suddenly felt dizzy.

“Of course I’m not saying that Officer Zhou is not qualified to be selected, and I also emphasize that not being selected does not mean that her usual performance is poor. Officer Zhou’s proactiveness and passion for handling cases are admirable, but… I heard you once privately beat a suspect?”

Jinglin’s face instantly turned pale. “That was…”

“Although Chief Fang did not give you a demerit, a record was still left. In fact, he also recommended you to join this special task force, but I also considered your previous actions—you rushed to rescue Jingxun, and you did not inform your superiors before you acted, right?”

She trembled all over, and Zhou Zengxiang said in a firm tone, “Disobeying orders and acting on your own. This is very difficult for any superior to accept. If you cannot completely improve this point, how can you convince your superiors to entrust a case to you with confidence?”

“I…”

“However,” his tone suddenly softened, “as a father, I still have to solemnly thank you here. Thank you for saving Jingxun.”

She wanted to object, but she was speechless in the face of Zhou Zengxiang’s combination of kindness and severity.

“Does anyone else have any questions about the list?” he looked around at the audience, “if not, then today’s meeting is over. Dismissed.”

Jinglin glared at Zhou Zengxiang unwillingly until he disappeared from the conference room.

“Jinglin… you were too impulsive.”

“Little Zhou, how could you directly question the director in front of everyone…”

Surrounded by her other colleagues, Jinglin bit her lip and turned, only to find Yingli right behind her.

“Did you know all along?”

Facing her anger, Yingli was surprisingly calm.

“Did you? You knew all along that I… otherwise why would you tell me to be prepared?”

“I really didn’t know the detailed list…”

“You don’t need to know the detailed list. You just need to confirm that I’m not on it.” She gave a sarcastic smile. “No wonder I had a vague feeling that your attitude was not right just now… since you knew, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Yingli frowned. “So you’re blaming me for not immediately pouring cold water on you and extinguishing your hope?”

“No, it’s that you knew I wasn’t on the list, and yet you just watched me, like a clown, making a fool of myself in front of you.”

“Alright, alright, Little Zhou, calm down.” Chen Huomu intervened. “Oh, not being selected is not the end of the world. And the chief also recommended you, but the decision was up to the director. You should be looking for him, what are you getting angry at the teacher for?”

Turning, Jinglin was startled to find that all the people surrounding her were the selected members, which made her feel ashamed.

“I’m going back to the office.”

“Hey, hey.” Lu Tingfeng opened his mouth, but she had already walked away. “What’s with her?”

“Officer Zhou just had too high expectations, which led to a sense of loss when her expectations were not met,” taking a deep breath, Yingli found an out for her, “I can understand. It’s no big deal.”

“The teacher is really so magnanimous. To be honest, when Little Zhou gets emotional, it’s not the first or second time she’s suddenly lost control like this…”

Fang Zijun, who had been watching from the side, only spoke after all the irrelevant people had left. “Only the special task force members are left… let’s go. The director is already waiting for us.”

The director is waiting? Besides Yingli, everyone else looked at each other.

“Some of the clues were not convenient to announce just now. In order for our team to be able to investigate smoothly, the director has set up another office, and the relevant information has also been prepared. Everyone, follow me.”

Cai Yuwei looked at the others and finally found Chen Huomu. “Senior, the chief said it’s not convenient… what does that mean?”

“It means what it means. You’ll understand in a bit.” Chen Huomu pursed his lips, and after walking a few steps, he suddenly raised a finger. “Let me remind you, any information you see in the special task force room later, you absolutely cannot discuss it casually… especially with Little Zhou.”

“Huh?”

Chen Huomu also left immediately, and the informed Lu Tingfeng, Tao Qianya, and the others all gave Cai Yuwei a strange look. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know what it means either.” Jian Minggui made a gesture of surrender and also went out, leaving only him and Yingli behind.

“Does the teacher know?”

“Ah,” pressing her lips together, she said with her hands in her coat pockets, “in any case, before the situation is clear, you must keep it a secret from Officer Zhou. Let’s go.”

“Oh, oh…”

**

Jinglin ran back to the office in tears and, as soon as she got back to her seat, she slumped over it.

Everyone saw it, but no one dared to go and comfort her, especially since many of them had witnessed her argument with Yingli.

Only Xiangrong, who was sitting closest, was pushed up by the others. He braced himself and knocked on her desk. “Senior Little Zhou, are you okay?”

“No,” she choked out.

He immediately threw up his hands at the others, as if to say, “See, I tried.”

No one dared to go and get a cold shoulder again. Until someone unexpectedly appeared—“This is for you,” and boldly gave her two extremely gentle pats.

Jinglin suddenly looked up and first saw a milk candy, and then she saw Lian Huizhu standing next to her with a smile.

“Dr. Lian? You’re still…” not gone?

Lian Huizhu was in a gray cotton dress, which gave off a gentle and approachable impression. “I stayed to look at my senior’s previous analysis files. After all, I can’t come here often.”

She proactively pulled up Cai Yuwei’s chair and sat down. Jinglin smelled the fresh, fruity scent on her.

“So many people are suddenly gone… is it related to Officer Zhou’s bad mood?”

“N-No.” she turned her head away in embarrassment.

Lian Huizhu took out a handkerchief from her bag. “Wipe your tears.”

She shook her head. “Are you leaving, Dr. Lian?”

“Yes, I was originally going to say goodbye to my senior… but it seems she won’t be back for a while.”

“She’s probably busy with the special project. Ah Wei too.”

“A special project?”

Jinglin briefly explained. Lian Huizhu listened intently, nodding frequently. “So you’re so down because you weren’t selected?”

She bit her lip and did not immediately object. Lian Huizhu moved a little closer to her. “Instead of your efforts not being recognized, you hate the feeling of being excluded, right? And even your senior is like this. If it were me, I would definitely feel very hurt too.”

Jinglin’s cheeks flushed. “Dr. Lian, you…”

“I actually know.” She moved even closer and said to Jinglin in a near-whisper, “I know how much Officer Zhou values her relationship with my senior… I know what position you place her in.”

Lian Huizhu gently held Jinglin’s hand. “I don’t know if being selected has any other meaning for you, but as I said before, my senior’s thoughts are not something we can guess. Unless she is willing to tell you.”

Through the touch of her palm, Jinglin clearly felt her warmth. “And I believe she is definitely thinking of you. She values you very much. Although I’m not happy about it… I have to say with certainty… my senior values you very much.”

Lian Huizhu’s gentle words, bit by bit, penetrated Jinglin’s defenses. Her eyes silently conveyed her concern, and this feeling of being understood made Jinglin feel inexplicably at ease… the sense of loss in her heart was no longer so heavy.

“Even though you say that, she… always has a poker face.”

She chuckled. “Isn’t that her usual way of hiding her emotions?”

Silently recalling Yingli’s usual expression, Jinglin finally smiled. “I guess… that’s right.”

“That’s it. It seems Officer Zhou doesn’t know her senior well enough.”

“Probably.” She looked up and suddenly asked, “You just said ‘not happy about it,’ Dr. Lian. Why?”

Lian Huizhu was taken aback for a moment, and only then did she realize she had let it slip. “Oh, did I say that?”

“You did. Is it because you think the teacher is better to me, so you…”

“Officer Zhou must have misheard. This is for you,” Lian Huizhu pouted and unceremoniously stuffed the milk candy into her hand, “I should go.”

“Hey, wait. Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the teacher to come back…”

Before she could finish, the phone rang throughout the office.

“Hello, Criminal Investigation Division…” Xiangrong listened for a moment, and his expression suddenly became hesitant. “Someone was shot? Where… Linsen North Road…” there were not enough people in the division, and he was clearly a little flustered.

“Xiangrong, transfer it over.” another, more experienced detective requested.

“Oh, okay.”

“Is this a report call?”

Jinglin nodded with certainty. “Yes, it sounds like a criminal case reported from a precinct.”

The call ended quickly, and the detective stood up. “Xiangrong, call the chief or Ah Mu.” he turned to the others, “everyone, let’s go. There was a violent brawl at a club called ‘Givenchy’ on Linsen North Road, and it seems someone was killed.”

“Givenchy…” Jinglin was shocked, and Lian Huizhu clearly noticed the change in her emotions.

“What’s wrong?”

“That was my mom’s club before.” she said urgently and looked up, “senior, I’m going too.”