The Brain Science Case 51

Chapter 51: The Body That Vanished in a Bloody Foam – 17 (End of Vol 1)

Having not cooked in a long time, Jinglin was a nervous wreck, watching online tutorials no less than three times just for the prep work.

Tang Yingli’s kitchen was clean and well-equipped, but she always resorted to microwave meals, wasting all the appliances.

After finally finishing the prep work, she looked up and saw that it was already 5:30. “Ugh, I might not make it.” She turned, and not far away, she saw the golden hamster still running around on the carpet. “Ah, I have to put her back in her cage first.”

She walked over quickly, but as soon as the golden hamster saw her, it immediately dropped the compressed block it was gnawing on and fled.

“Antisocial Personality.” What a mouthful. Jinglin chased after it, watching as the round little thing ran into one of the rooms. “Ah.”

That was Tang Yingli’s room.

The door was propped open with a non-slip mat, just a small crack, not enough for a person to get through, but more than enough for a hamster.

What do I do? Should I go in and get her?

Jinglin held the doorknob, and in the end, she gathered her courage and pushed it open.

The slightly stagnant air was filled with a faint fragrance. The room was full of things, but they were arranged neatly. The desk was mostly piled with books and notes, and something that was rarely seen now—cassette tapes.

“These should have been phased out long ago. So many…” It was like a small mountain. She rested a hand on the desk, and the pile of cassette tapes slid down like an avalanche. “Ah, I’m done for…” She frantically tried to put them back, and unexpectedly found a picture frame hidden behind the tapes.

There were three people in the photo, a little girl standing between an adult couple, a family. The girl was smiling brightly… it was completely unimaginable for Tang Yingli to have such an expression.

Huh? Three people… doesn’t she have a brother?

There was a thick notebook on the desk, with a pen clipped to it.

Jinglin knew she shouldn’t pry into other people’s privacy, especially since she and Tang Yingli were just friends who were a little closer… even if she wanted to ask, she should ask her directly.

‘I just happen to have had a similar experience.’ Her words from last night flashed through her mind… a similar experience?

‘I’ve been alone for a long time.’—she couldn’t forget the fleeting sadness on Tang Yingli’s face when she said that.

Forgetting that she had come into the room to chase the golden hamster, Jinglin, as if possessed, opened the notebook and immediately confirmed that it was a diary.

“This is…” Her eyes widened.

**

Suddenly being forced to go back to the Tang family mansion, Tang Yingli was completely unwilling.

Facing the other three family members and the dishes on the dining table, she felt inexplicably irritable.

“What do you want to talk about? I have to go home.”

“This is your home. What other home do you have to go back to?” Tang Yuzhong said irritably, and it was only with Shao Wanjuan’s soothing that he managed to calm down. “Sit down and eat. Don’t worry, it’s just us today. There are no aunts or uncles you hate.”

Tang Zhichao gave her a meaningful look. She ran her hands through her hair and, after a long struggle, took off her jacket and sat down.

Setting aside her displeasure, the dinner atmosphere was quite harmonious. After dinner, Tang Zhichao invited her for a drink.

After finally leaving the dining room, it wasn’t until they were in Tang Zhichao’s room that Tang Yingli couldn’t help but mutter.

“Dad’s eyes are so strange.”

“Oh? Are they?” Tang Zhichao, who was busy opening a bottle, was distracted.

“Yes. Didn’t you notice?”

“Maybe he has some reservations about your current job, but he doesn’t know how to bring it up.” He handed her a glass of champagne, his expression a little awkward. “Uh, I told him… don’t be angry.”

“Some reserva…” Tang Yingli was stunned for a second before she reacted. “You told him about my work at the station.”

“He kept asking. He said you’re just a part-time lecturer, and you shouldn’t be so busy. Mom and I couldn’t hide it anymore, so…”

Tang Yingli immediately put down her wine glass.

“So this is what you meant by something important.” She was dumbfounded. “How much did you tell him?”

“A part of it. I emphasized that you were asked by my classmate, and I also told him about the cases you’ve solved, and I insisted that you ‘only’ provided your opinion on criminal profiling. I didn’t mention anything about going to the scene to investigate, interrogating criminals, or helping with autopsies…”

“Thank you for your secrecy.” She put her hands on her hips. “Brother, you’re going to make it so I can’t continue. I haven’t… I haven’t officially started my investigation yet.”

“Haven’t started?” Tang Zhichao was a little surprised. “I thought you would have already requested to access their database… why so late?”

“Although it was Chief Fang who invited me in the first place, I’m still an outsider. But to request access to the database after solving just one or two cases, don’t you think that would look bad?”

“It would. But it’s been almost four months. I thought you would have already done it.” Tang Zhichao said in surprise. “Yingli, do you think the Criminal Investigation Bureau has what you’re looking for?”

“It should. There’s a paper database there…” She walked to the balcony, unable to hide her anxiety. “I won’t give up. I came back for this… to find out the truth about this matter.”

“I know. That’s why when Zijun came to ask me, I immediately accepted on your behalf.”

Her expression was grave. “No matter what Dad thinks, I will never give up my position at the station.”

“I know. So this is related to the other part of what I wanted to tell you.” He took a small sip and put down his wine glass.

“Another part?”

“Yes. Although Mom has been trying to convince Dad that you’re just working and that you’re renting a place outside so you don’t disturb the family, Dad feels like you’ve changed…” She turned, and to avoid provoking her, Tang Zhichao chose his words carefully. “He just feels like you’ve isolated yourself from us.”

She pursed her lips and did not object. “He’s very concerned about you. He thinks you might be hiding something from us.”

“Is that important?” She almost wanted to roll her eyes. “Please, if you want to talk about isolation, why didn’t you say anything when I was studying abroad for over ten years? And I can’t be like a teenager and stay at home all day, can I?”

Facing her rebuttal, Tang Zhichao was surprisingly calm. “Actually, I feel the same way.”

She glared at him. “What feeling?”

“The same as Dad. I can’t put my finger on it, but I just feel like you’re slowly cutting yourself off.” He came before her. “I’ve watched you grow up, even though we were separated when you went to study abroad. Yingli, you can fool outsiders, but you can’t fool us… we’re a ‘family’.”

He reached out to touch her face, but she subconsciously dodged.

“Also, didn’t you say you wanted to know the reason I broke up with Ren Liqiong?”

The topic was too abrupt, and she couldn’t react. “Huh?”

He took a deep breath and took a dark blue velvet box out of his pocket.

Staring at the small box, which looked like it held a ring, Tang Yingli suddenly felt it was hard to breathe.

**

Jinglin opened the page Tang Yingli had just written last night—

*‘Finally asleep.

Watching Officer Zhou fall asleep, I feel relieved, but I can’t help but think of the night I lost them.

I was as sad and self-reproachful as she is, but I didn’t have someone to talk to me. Even though I met my brother later, and he took the place of me now, by Officer Zhou’s side…’*

So… that “senior” didn’t mean what Tang Yingli had explained?

“They’re not… not real siblings?”

With a sense of shock, she continued to read. *‘I just had a similar experience, although I also really want to see into her heart and see where she’s been hurt.

How did I get through it back then? It was like a dream.

When I woke up, I had new parents, a new brother, and I became Tang Yingli.

The reactions of the people around me were as if nothing had happened. That was a lie.

To me, everything had changed.’*

Became Tang Yingli.

Jinglin was stunned, unable to react for a long time. “So this photo… is her ‘original’ family.”

And now, the secret was revealed.

**

“Liqiong was the one who broke up with me.” Tang Zhichao’s tone was light, so light that she couldn’t feel any regret from him. “The reason was because she thought there was someone else in my heart who was more important than her.”

“Are you admitting to me that you were two-timing?”

“I guess so.” He smiled a little awkwardly.

“Then should I not continue to ask who that person in your heart is?”

“You should know that person. You’re very close to her.” He opened the velvet box. Tang Yingli looked down and saw a real diamond ring.

“This is the most important thing I wanted to tell you today.” His expression was incredibly serious. “Yingli, let’s become a real family, okay?”

“Brother…” Her hand trembled, and her index finger pressed firmly against her glasses.

“This joke is not funny at all.”