Chapter 53: Reading the Mind

Chapter 53: Reading the Mind

◎Is there anyone who has never told a lie?◎

In the Jinlian Lake Police Station, Zhao Xiangwan met an acquaintance.

Zhou Rulan still had a bandage on her right hand, and she looked thinner, but her look was full of heroic spirit and energy, which made people's eyes light up.

Seeing Zhao Xiangwan and his group coming to the police station, Zhou Rulan was very enthusiastic and personally took them to the archives room to look up all the archival materials on Wei Qingwan's missing case.

It was a long way from the office to the archives room. In the long corridor, Zhou Rulan spoke to Zhao Xiangwan intimately: "My mother is in much better health now and can eat porridge. Xinxin is now staying in the hospital every day. I will go back to take her place after get off work. The doctor said that she will be discharged in two weeks. My mother said she would like to treat you to dinner..."

Zhu Feipeng had sharp ears. After hearing the last sentence, he smiled and interrupted, "It's not just Zhao Xiangwan who helped your family. I personally delivered the paternity identification samples to the Liaoning Provincial Criminal Technology Center. For your sake, several comrades from our Serious Cases Unit went to the mountain village in northwestern Hubei and brought Liu Fumei and her son to Xing City. Oh, and our Captain Xu and Director Peng are also very worried about your family's affairs. If you want to treat us to a meal, I think you should invite all the people from our Serious Cases Unit."

He Mingyu rolled his eyes at Zhu Feipeng and said, "We are police officers, and we are responsible for doing these things. Zhao Xiangwan was still in school, and it was she who raised the alarm in time that saved Zhou Rulan's life. Do you want to take credit for this? You are a senior brother in vain."

The case of Wu Jianshe was solved because the Serious Crime Unit did the most. Zhou Rulan smiled and nodded, "Okay, after my mother is discharged from the hospital, I will invite Zhao Xiangwan to dinner alone, and then invite all of you from the Serious Crime Unit. It is my honor to invite Captain Xu and you."

Zhu Feipeng laughed and gave her a thumbs up: "That's great! I like it!"

[This girl is so funny. Why didn't I realize that there is such a lovely policewoman hidden in Jinlianhu Police Station before? ]

Zhao Xiangwan's eyes swept across Zhu Feipeng's face. This guy was very playful and was completely a child who had not grown up. Senior Sister He Mingyu liked him, so she would probably suffer a lot.

After interning in the serious crime unit for such a long time, Zhao Xiangwan has a good impression of the gentle and kind He Mingyu. She has the ability to read minds and knows that He Mingyu has a crush on Zhu Feipeng. The last time Zhu Feipeng was injured while investigating the murder of a driver, she was more anxious than anyone else and stayed by Zhu Feipeng's side.

But looking at Zhu Feipeng's attitude today, it was obvious that he had developed a crush on Zhou Rulan. Zhao Xiangwan pulled Zhou Rulan away and glared at Zhu Feipeng before leaving.

Zhu Feipeng was inexplicably stabbed by Zhao Xiangwan. Seeing Zhao Xiangwan and Zhou Rulan walking quickly in front of him, leaving only the two proud backs, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy and looked at He Mingyu: "She, what's wrong? What did I do wrong?"

He Mingyu pursed her lips and smiled: "Who wants you to beg for food? You are just being disliked."

Zhu Feipeng cried out, "God is my conscience. I am just trying to show off for our serious crime unit. How long have we been busy with the Wu Jianshe case? This case is not only complicated and serious, but also very nerve-wracking. We are working against the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation. If the news leaks out, I am afraid we will all be fired. We can't always be unknown heroes, right? We have to fight for some benefits for ourselves when necessary.

If Zhou Rulan is reluctant and refuses to treat us, then I will. I haven't had the chance to use the 20% discount gold card that Mr. Ji gave me last time, so this time is just right, I will treat to a good meal. Last time I was injured and I was not allowed to eat this or that. My mother saw the injuries on my face and was afraid that I would be scarred and disfigured and I would not be able to find a wife in the future. Tsk! A real man is afraid of this? "

He Mingyu's eyes stayed on Zhu Feipeng's face. For some reason, her cheeks felt hot. She lowered her head and said softly, "Don't be afraid."

Zhu Feipeng didn't hear her words clearly, so he moved closer and asked, "What did you say?"

He Mingyu's heart was pounding. He raised his hand and slapped him hard on the arm: "Stay away from me!" After that, he quickly caught up with Zhao Xiangwan.

Zhu Feipeng was left scratching his head in confusion: "Hey, wait for me——"

Zhao Xiangwan and the other two received the case file of Wei Qingwan's disappearance and discussed it while reading it.

According to the testimony of neighbors at the time, Wei Qingwan was missing between 5:30 pm on September 23, 1990 and 8 am on September 25. Tan Xueru proved his innocence with a train ticket from Xingshi to Zhushi at 2 pm on September 21, a train ticket from Zhushi back to Xingshi at 9 am on September 27, and an accommodation invoice issued by Hongxia Guesthouse, which clearly stated the check-in and check-out times.

Zhu Feipeng frowned: "Leaving Xing City on the 21st does not mean that Tan Xueru cannot return by train on the 23rd."

He Mingyu nodded and added, "Yes! Xing City and Zhu City are more than 100 kilometers apart. The night we drove to find Qiao Xiaohong, it took about three hours to drive along the provincial highway. If we took the train, it would depend on how far they live from the train station to see if it would be convenient."

Zhou Rulan picked up the copy of the invoice, glanced at the name of the guesthouse on it, and whispered, "Hongxia Guesthouse... Here's the front desk phone number for the guesthouse. I'll ask."

After the call, Zhou Rulan's expression became serious: "This guesthouse is right next to the train station, about seven or eight minutes' walk away."

Zhu Feipeng slammed the table and said, "Tan Xueru is a suspect! He walked from the passenger station to the train station, bought a ticket to Xingshi, and returned early the next morning without anyone noticing. I'll go check the train schedule at the time. I remember there were quite a few green trains passing from Zhushi to Xingshi."

He Mingyu picked up a testimony and reminded him: "Tan Xueru has a roommate who proves that they slept in the same room that night." In the case file, there is also a testimony written by Lai Kuan, the deputy director of the sales department who went on a business trip with Tan Xueru. The two of them stayed in a standard room in the guesthouse and stayed together day and night. Lai Kuan proved that they slept in the same room on the night of the 23rd and Tan Xueru did not leave Zhushi.

Zhu Feipeng shook his head: "As long as there is a human witness, there may be loopholes. Have you forgotten that Pan Guoqing used his master to prove that he was drunk and asleep? Lai Kuan might be used by Tan Xueru, or he might be induced by him to give false testimony. In short..." He looked at Zhao Xiangwan.

Zhao Xiangwan understood what he meant and nodded: "Okay, let's ask Lai Kuan again." Whether he was lying or not, one could tell by reading his mind.

Zhu Feipeng rubbed his hands and took the initiative to ask for a break: "Xiang Wan, don't tell me the conclusion yet. Let me observe his expression and see if I can tell whether he is lying or not."

Zhao Xiangwan is pleased to see that the study of micro-expression behavior has moved from theory to practice: "Great."

Zhu Feipeng was slightly excited: "If Lai Kuan lied, then it means that Tan Xueru has something to hide. The person who met Wei Qingwan at dawn on the 24th was definitely him! Wei Qingwan has disappeared since she met him, and it is very likely that she was killed by Tan Xueru. Qian Yong reported that Tan Xueru said he killed someone after getting drunk, so that's true!"

Zhou Rulan was not a criminal police officer and had not handled the Wei Qingwan missing case, but she became interested when she heard them talking about the old case. She helped sort out the photos, testimonies, and the notes of Zhu Feipeng and others in the case file, and pointed to one of them and said, "Liang Chenghong said that Wei Qingwan went out on a bicycle. She is missing, but where is the bicycle?"

He Mingyu's eyes lit up: "Yes! This is also an important clue." In the 1980s and 1990s, bicycles were an important means of transportation for families. After purchasing a bicycle, one had to register it at the vehicle management office, have it stamped with a steel stamp, and obtain a bicycle license as a proof of discovery if it was lost.

Zhou Rulan looked at the photo of the black hollow flower dress and black sandals for a moment and sighed, "Wearing such cool and sexy clothes, riding a bicycle on the street in the middle of the night, if night walkers saw it, they would have been impressed. It's a pity that Liang Chenghong kept it a secret at the time, otherwise we should be able to find the place where they had a date by following this clue."

That's true.

If Liang Chenghong hadn't concealed anything, the clue that Wei Qingwan rode a bicycle out late at night would definitely provide strong help in solving the case. Unfortunately, nearly two years have passed, the bicycle has changed hands several times, and the memory of the witnesses has gradually blurred, so this important clue is estimated to have been lost long ago.

Alas, what a pity! Zhu Feipeng sighed and shook his head.

After leaving the Jinlian Lake Police Station, the three went to the shoe factory where Tan Xueru worked.

Lai Kuan is now the head of the sales department of the shoe factory. When he saw the police officers, he was very attentive. He served them tea and water and turned on the fan for fear of neglecting them. Zhu Feipeng frowned and said, "Okay, don't be so busy. We have some questions for you."

Lai Kuan traveled extensively in sales, and was as smooth as a businessman. He smiled and said, "You go ahead, please go ahead."

Zhu Feipeng said sternly: "We took Tan Xueru away today, did you know that?"

Lai Kuan nodded and bowed: "Such a big thing in the factory, of course I know about it."

Zhu Feipeng began to observe Lai Kuan's reaction: "Do you know what it is about?"

Lai Kuan was still smiling, but his smile did not reach his eyes. To use Zhao Xiangwan's words, although the corners of his mouth were raised, the muscles around his eyes were not involved in the movement, which made his mouth look a little square when he smiled, commonly known as a "fake smile."

"Police comrade, I just heard about it. It was said that Qian Yong reported Tan Xueru for murder. Although Tan is not a regular employee, he has always performed well in the sales department. He never complains about being tired when traveling with me. His shortcoming is that he has too many girlfriends, but that's because he is handsome and popular. Murder? I personally think it's unlikely."

Lai Kuan was very careful with his words, and it was obvious that he didn't want to offend anyone.

Zhu Feipeng waited for him to finish before asking, "What were you doing on the night of September 23, 1990?"

Lai Kuan's pupils suddenly shrank, his neck became stiff, his eyes turned, and his gaze stayed on the upper right. Zhu Feipeng searched in his mind for the micro-expression behavior theory mentioned by Zhao Xiangwan - when people construct images and sounds in their minds, their eyes will look to the upper right.

This piece of shit is trying to lie!

Zhu Feipeng said angrily: "Tell the truth!"

Lai Kuan was shocked and said, "Comrade police, I am telling the truth. It is July 1992, and almost two years have passed. Please let me think about it."

Zhu Feipeng sneered: "That day is very important to you. You should be able to remember it once I mention it. You said it yourself at the police station and signed and put your fingerprints on it. You won't forget it."

Lai Kuan slapped his head and said, "Oh, look at my memory. It was that day. I remember it. I went on a business trip to Zhuhai with Tan Xueru on the 21st and returned on the 27th. I slept in the guesthouse on the night of the 23rd and did nothing."

【Oh my god, did the police find out something? Why are they investigating this case again? I finally got a business trip, so I must go out and have some fun. There are a lot of girls in Zhu City, and my tigress is not around, what a good opportunity. Tan Xueru is also very smart, he discussed with me early on that we can have our own fun. On the surface, I booked a standard room, but in fact, I booked a separate room and paid for it separately for those nights, and then I would issue the invoices together and claim reimbursement, without anyone noticing.】

When Zhao Xiangwan heard this, his eyes flashed and he looked at Zhu Feipeng.

"You're lying!"

Zhu Feipeng was a little anxious. He could see that Lai Kuan was lying and making up stories, but he couldn't tell the truth or force him to tell the truth.

It is normal for salespeople to bargain. Lai Kuan knew at a glance that Zhu Feipeng was not confident enough, and the smile on his face was obviously more sincere: "Comrade police, I really didn't lie. We salespeople are on business trips, running around all day, and we are exhausted at night and sleep soundly. I don't know where Tan Xueru was in the middle of the night, but he must have been there when I fell asleep. When I woke up in the morning, he was brushing his teeth and washing his face. I think that's what I wrote in my testimony at the time, right?"

Zhu Feipeng certainly knew what was written in Lai Kuan's testimony. The key was that he did not believe the testimony, but he could not find any loopholes in it.

Suddenly feeling the gap between himself and Zhao Xiangwan, Zhu Feipeng looked to Zhao Xiangwan for help.

Zhao Xiangwan stood up.

Zhu Feipeng heaved a sigh of relief, smiled and gave up his seat, glaring at Lai Kuan: "Where's the cold tea? Why don't you pour me a cup of cold tea?"

Lai Kuan was a bit confused. Aren't police officers ranked by seniority? Zhao Xiangwan looked younger than Zhu Feipeng, so she should have lower seniority. Why was Zhu Feipeng so attentive to her? Could she be some big shot? While thinking about it, Lai Kuan stood up and poured three cups of cold tea from the ceramic kettle on the table in the corner of the office, and placed them in front of the three policemen.

"This is a cool tea I made myself using chrysanthemum, honeysuckle and farm tea. I didn't know whether the police comrades were used to drinking it, so I didn't dare to serve it. The weather is hot, and it's good to quench your thirst."

Zhao Xiangwan looked down at the red tea, which gave off a cool feeling. It was much more cooling than the Longjing green tea that Lai Kuan had brewed just now, so he picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp. July is the hottest time of the year, and this cool tea was just right to cool you down.

After drinking the tea, the dry mouth feeling was slightly relieved. Zhao Xiangwan then raised his head, looked at Lai Kuan seriously, and began to ask questions in a casual tone.

"Chief Lai, are you married?"

"It's over."

"What grade is your child in?"

"I'm going to be in the fourth grade soon."

"Boy or girl?"

"boy."

"Who does he look like? Are his grades good?"

"He's strong and sturdy, like me. His grades are pretty good, he's in the top three in the class."

"It seems your wife is good at raising children?"

"Yes! My wife is an elementary school teacher and she has a lot of ways to take care of children."

At this point, Zhu Feipeng and He Mingyu were completely confused. What was Zhao Xiangwan trying to do? Why was he chatting with Lai Kuan? The more Lai Kuan talked, the more relaxed he became. His eyes were clear, and it was obvious that he was not lying.

"How old is your wife?"

"This year... thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six?"

"You're not even sure how old she is?"

"I'm a man, I'm on business trips all day long, how can I remember these little things?" Lai Kuan felt a little embarrassed, laughed it off, and looked away guiltily.

Zhao Xiangwan's voice was very cold: "It seems that you and your wife don't have a good relationship."

Hearing a stranger comment on his relationship with his wife like this, the good-tempered Lai Kuan felt a little irritated for some reason and turned away: "No, we are fine."

Zhao Xiangwan continued to stimulate him: "If you have a good relationship, would you forget her age? If you care about your wife's feelings, would you be happy to go on business trips?"

Lai Kuan tried hard to control his rising temper, but his voice changed from being polite and courteous just now to being much stiffer: "I work in sales, how can I not be on business trips? I also do this for a living, there is no other way. I have to support my family, police comrade."

[What is this female police officer doing? She is talking nonsense without knowing anything. What is wrong with my relationship with Wei Hong? I give all my salary to her and work hard at home. To put it bluntly, I am the one who pours the water for Wei Hong to wash her feet at night. What's wrong with that? She just can't remember our ages. What's the big deal? We are an old married couple. Who can remember so clearly? ]

After successfully disturbing Lai Kuan's mood, Zhao Xiangwan's eyes became stern: "You are on a business trip in Zhu City, why are you covering up for Tan Xueru? Is there something he has on you?"

When Lai Kuan heard what Zhao Xiangwan said, he folded his arms, his eyes widened, his brows raised, the corners of his mouth drooped, and he went into a defensive state.

Two words popped up in Zhu Feipeng's mind - fear.

Lai Kuan was afraid, Zhao Xiangwan guessed right!

Zhao Xiangwan emphasized: "What leverage do you have over Tan Xueru?"

"No, I didn't." Lai Kuan denied repeatedly.

Zhao Xiangwan stared closely at Lai Kuan's expression and gradually increased his speaking speed.

"When you and your partner are on a business trip together, what shameful thing can you do? Gambling?"

"No, I didn't." Lai Kuan took a long breath and denied it again.

Zhao Xiangwan nodded: "Well, it doesn't look like gambling. Bribery?"

Without Lai Kuan's answer, Zhao Xiangwan directly denied it: "It seems not. You are salespeople. Even if you give kickbacks or gifts, you are working together. There is no such thing as a handle."

Zhao Xiangwan raised his lips into a mocking smile: "It's pornographic, right?"

Cold sweat dripped down Lai Kuan's forehead. There was a ceiling fan in the office that was whirring. Although there was wind, he felt extremely hot all over.

"For a couple to have a good relationship, loyalty comes first. You started to hire prostitutes as soon as you arrived at the guesthouse. I'm afraid this is not just the first or second time, but a habit. If I tell your wife about this..."

Hearing Zhao Xiangwan's cold voice, Lai Kuan was unconsciously brought into the scene she had set. He was frightened and shouted loudly: "No, don't tell her!"

"If you don't want me to tell anyone, then tell the truth to the police!" Zhao Xiangwan's voice suddenly rose, cold and firm.

Lai Kuan had already been overcome by her, and he had no strength to resist. He sat down, his face twitching. He raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, looking at Zhao Xiangwan pleadingly.

"I said, I said, but... you must not tell this to my wife. She is an elementary school teacher, with a higher education than me, and she has always looked down on me. If she knew that I had other women outside, even if they were prostitutes, she would never forgive me. I, I was just curious, and I was blinded by greed. Damn it!"

He slapped himself dramatically, and the crisp applause made Zhao Xiangwan's heart skip a beat.

The verbal battle just now was too intense, and Zhu Feipeng's palms were clenched tensely. When he heard Lai Kuan slap him, he knew that the interrogation was coming to an end. He raised his palm and slammed it heavily on the table, leaving a wet palm print on the smooth table.

He excitedly signaled to He Mingyu: "Get ready to take notes."

He Mingyu had already prepared a notebook, but was so attracted by the fight between Zhao Xiangwan and Lai Kuan that he forgot to write down for a moment. He readily agreed "OK" and started recording.

Lai Kuan felt that Zhao Xiangwan's eyes were too sharp, as if they could see into his soul. He dared not hide anything and told the truth.

"On the afternoon of September 21, Tan Xueru and I went to Zhushi on a business trip. The train ride took about three hours. We stayed at the Hongxia Guesthouse near the station. I was quite familiar with the boss there. I usually stayed there when I went to Zhushi on business.

According to the reimbursement standard of the unit, Tan Xueru and I booked a standard room on the second floor. That night, I asked the boss to find a young woman and booked a single room on the third floor. We played all night and returned to the standard room in the morning. Tan Xueru saw that I had not returned all night and was disheveled. He knew what was going on and made a few jokes. However, he was very good at dealing with people. He smiled and said that he would help me cover it up, so that I could go and play without worry and would not reveal a word after returning to the unit.

I took a day off on the 22nd, but on the night of the 23rd, I did it again. After dinner with Tan Xueru, we separated. He went back to his room to rest, and I went to the bar to find a woman. I didn't come back until nine o'clock the next morning. When the police came to question me later, I did lie. I didn't know where he was from six o'clock in the evening to the next morning.

Zhao Xiangwan asked, "What was Tan Xueru doing when you came back?"

Lai Kuan thought for a long time: "He took a shower and his face was a little red. Oh, by the way, when he first saw me, he seemed a little out of breath and his hands were shaking. I laughed and wondered if he had done something shameful to be so tired."

Zhu Feipeng asked, "How did he answer?"

Lai Kuan tried to recall: "It seems, he didn't answer. He just smiled and asked me if I had a good time yesterday, whether it was a solo or a couple."

He Mingyu snorted coldly and pushed the notebook in front of him: "Okay, take a look and see if it's correct. If there is no problem, sign it."

Lai Kuan picked up the pen and signed. After hesitating for a long time, he looked up at Zhu Feipeng again and pleaded: "Comrade police officer, I have confessed the truth. Can you please not tell anyone? I don't want my wife to know. I will definitely change in the future. I promise!"

Zhu Feipeng stared at him and pressed his handprint, then said with disdain: "If you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? When you were out there recruiting skills, did you ever think about how hard it was for your wife to take care of the children at home? If you don't want your wife to know, the only way is to stay out of it!"

Lai Kuan's face was filled with shame and he nodded repeatedly.

The three of them walked out of the sales office and opened the door to see a group of people gathered at the door. The shoe factory was so small and the office was a two-story building with poor sound insulation. When they saw three uniformed policemen walking into the office to look for Lai Kuan, curiosity drove the group of people to eavesdrop.

Lai Kuan looked up and saw seven or eight people gathered at the door, including several familiar faces. He turned pale. It's over! These people are all gossipers. They love to gossip about other people. If someone has any scandal, they want to spread it to the whole world. Now that they know that I'm recruiting skills in Zhushi, I'm afraid my wife will hear it in no time.

"You...what are you doing here!" Lai Kuan yelled.

The people standing at the door burst into laughter.

"What? To hear about your glorious deeds."

"You're really busy. Can your body handle finding a pretty girl every other day?"

"Wei Hong tells us every day that Section Chief Lai is such a responsible and good husband, but I never thought he is such a bad person behind the scenes...Haha!"

"Chief Lai, what does double flying mean? Can you answer our questions? Or, can you show us a demonstration?"

Lai Kuan's face was swollen and red, so red that it seemed to bleed. Shame on you! So shameful!

Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, "Teacher Wei Hong is a good person. We can't let her take advantage of us and cheat us!"

Several sisters-in-law nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes, let's go! Let's find her and make her divorce Lai Kuan!"

"Teacher Wei Hong is pretty and educated. If it weren't for Lai's honesty, why would she marry him? Divorce is the best. I will introduce her to a better partner right away."

"My brother has a colleague who is a leader in a switch factory. His wife died last year. He is very loyal and has a ten-year-old daughter. He wants to find a wife with a good personality and good education. I will go and find out for Wei Hong."

Lai Kuan was so overwhelmed that he wished he could slap himself to death.

Zhu Feipeng grinned and said loudly: "Chief Lai, I didn't tell anyone about this." After that, he pushed through the crowd and led He Mingyu and Zhao Xiangwan out.

Back in the car, Zhu Feipeng started the jeep and headed towards the Municipal Bureau.

He Mingyu and Zhao Xiangwan were sitting in the back row. They shook their heads and laughed, saying, "Lai Kuan really deserves it!"

Zhao Xiangwan: “Yes.”

If you don't want others to know, then don't do it. Lai Kuan said that he cared about his wife, but he couldn't even be loyal to her. So what was the point of caring?

He Mingyu thought thoughtfully: "If I get married in the future and my husband dares to cheat on me, I will divorce him immediately and will never forgive him."

Zhao Xiangwan said "Oh".

He Mingyu asked her: "What about you?"

Zhao Xiangwan raised his eyebrows: "Huh?"

Zhu Feipeng, who was driving in front, laughed: "Zhao Xiangwan is so good at seeing through lies, how dare her husband do anything to let her down? Even if he even thinks about it in his heart, Zhao Xiangwan can find him out!"

Zhao Xiangwan was neither angry nor smiling, and did not respond to Zhu Feipeng's words.

Zhu Feipeng felt the gaze from behind him was a little cold and shuddered. Although Zhao Xiangwan was nice, her vision was too sharp and no one could lie to her.

Is there anyone in this world who has never told a lie?

If your heart is completely exposed to the outside world and you have no privacy at all, then... that would be terrible!

Zhao Xiangwan heard everything Zhu Feipeng was thinking. She turned her head to look out the window without saying a word, but her tightly pursed lips and dim eyes revealed her inner loss.

From the moment she acquired the ability to read minds, Zhao Xiangwan knew that her life would not be dull.

——You can know a person’s face but not his heart;

——People’s hearts are unpredictable and human nature is complicated;

——Only the sun and the human heart cannot be looked at directly.

Such words all tell Zhao Xiangwan: understanding human hearts is a painful thing.

Some people talk about morality, but in their hearts they are thieves and prostitutes.

Some people appear smiling and amiable on the outside, but their hearts are full of curses and hatred.

Some people respect and love you and show you their courtesy when they see you, but they turn around and pull out a knife and stab you until you bleed.

Not to mention, in love between men and women, beneath those silly yet sweet love words, there may be disdain, contempt, control and calculation.

Everyone in the world is drunk but I am sober.

This is not a reward, but a punishment.

The reason why Zhao Xiangwan applied to the People's Public Security University was that she had seen too many dark and gray hearts, and she wanted to seek justice and strength to support her to move forward.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiangwan stretched out his right hand and gently touched the golden shield on his left arm. A song that was played everywhere in the streets and alleys rang in his ears -

"Golden shield, forged with blood, shows its power in times of crisis."

The feeling of loss just now gradually dissipated, and Zhao Xiangwan made a rare joke: "Don't worry, I will pretend to be confused."

He Mingyu and Zhu Feipeng were stunned for a second, and suddenly laughed.

The three returned to the Municipal Bureau and just as they parked their car in the parking lot, they ran into Liu Liangju who was about to go home. Liu Liangju had already settled Liang Chenghong, who they had brought over earlier, and asked, "It's time for dinner. Are you going to interrogate Liang Chenghong or take a rest first? Do you want me to stay and help?"

Zhu Feipeng was already starving. He put away the car key and wiped the sweat off his head. "Eat, eat, I'm starving. Old Liu, just go home. We'll hear about it tomorrow. There's no rush."

Liu Liangju waved to them, got on his bike, and went home happily.

"You guys go eat first. I'll come after I put everything away." He Mingyu was a careful person. He was concerned about the case files he had borrowed from the Jinlian Lake Police Station and the transcript he had just completed from the investigation. He planned to go back to the office to put all the materials into the metal cabinet, lock it, and then go to the cafeteria.

Zhao Xiangwan said, "Okay, Senior Sister, I'll accompany you." Ji Zhao should still be waiting for her in the office. If she didn't come over, he would probably forget to even eat.

Zhu Feipeng went straight to the cafeteria, while He Mingyu and Zhao Xiangwan returned to the office.

Walking through the long corridor, Zhao Xiangwan just opened the door and his nose was filled with the strong smell of pine. When he looked up, a gorgeous and colorful oil painting appeared before his eyes.

It was exactly the same as what Zhao Xiangwan saw in his mind, green grass and wild flowers in full bloom. Red, yellow, blue, white... colorful and brilliant.

This is a picture that makes people feel happy at first glance.

The smile on Zhao Xiangwan's lips grew deeper and deeper, and he gradually grinned, revealing his snow-white teeth, as bright as the sun.

He Mingyu stopped and stared at the painting blankly. After a long while, she exclaimed: "Ji Zhao, did you draw this? It's so beautiful!" What woman doesn't love flowers? Such beautiful flowers blooming in front of her eyes at the same time, the shock was really strong.

The fingers, sleeves, and hem of Ji Zhao's right hand were all stained with paint, but his eyebrows were curved and his black pupils were sparkling, which made people involuntarily infected by his emotions and happy.

[You asked me to draw this, so I finished it. Do you like it? ]

The clear voice of the boy echoed in his mind, and Zhao Xiangwan nodded: "I like it!"

【You like flowers, colorful flowers.】

Zhao Xiangwan smiled: "Yes."

【Then I'll just leave them on. 】

Zhao Xiangwan and Ji Zhao looked at each other, and the fatigue brought by the busy day of interrogation was swept away. Maybe Zhu Feipeng was right, there is no one in this world who does not lie, including Zhao Xiangwan himself, who would lie and tell half of the truth.

But Ji Zhao is a different person.

He has been a recluse since childhood, his inner world is closed and he doesn't open up to the outside world. He has a language barrier and doesn't use language to communicate with others. Maybe others would think that Ji Zhao can't communicate and that living with him is extremely painful. But Zhao Xiangwan thinks he is pretty good.

Because he is isolated, his world is pure and real.

Because of his speech impediment, he could not lie.

Being with Ji Zhao, Zhao Xiangwan no longer had to endure two voices ringing in his mind at the same time, no longer had to worry about guessing what was true and what was false, and no longer had to pretend to be confused.

Zhao Xiangwan felt relaxed and comfortable with Ji Zhao as he was.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiangwan reached out and gently touched the painting. The blooming petals reflected the vitality in the sunlight.

Zhao Xiangwan exclaimed: "Ji Zhao, you paint really well."

Compared to Ji Zhao's well-fed and beautiful hands, Zhao Xiangwan's hands are not perfect. Because he did a lot of farm work when he was a child, his palms are big, his fingers are thick, and the skin on his fingertips is rough. But Ji Zhao's eyes stayed on Zhao Xiangwan's hand that touched the oil painting, and he did not hide his love and desire. There was a childish eagerness in his eyes, as if he saw a toy that he wanted very much.

Ji Zhao slowly raised his right hand and gradually stretched it forward.

A big hand came out from the horizontal spike and clamped Ji Zhao's restless hand.

Zhao Xiangwan and Ji Zhao looked at the newcomer at the same time.

Xu Songling grabbed Ji Zhao's wrist, pulled it down, and said unhappily, "Ji Zhao, what are you going to do?"

Ji Zhao looked a little confused, but he did not resist. He took a half step back obediently, turned his wrist, and looked at Zhao Xiangwan seriously.

【He is unhappy, why? 】

Zhao Xiangwan didn't know how to explain it, so he soothed him softly, "He is my master, please be more considerate."

【Oh, okay.】

Ji Zhao listened to Zhao Xiangwan very much. Since she said she would give in to Xu Songling, then she would give in.

Ji Zhao once asked Zhao Xiangwan what a master is. Zhao Xiangwan told him that a master is an elder who brings you into the industry, teaches you things, and cares about your growth. It feels like a father, right?

【Okay, then I forgive him. 】

The little skylark squatted on the branch, pecking at its own feathers, its black bean-like eyes shining.

Zhao Xiangwan wanted to laugh, but when he looked up and met Xu Songling's serious face, his smile faded.

Xu Songling said to her, "Come home with me for dinner tonight. Your teacher Zhou said he hasn't seen you for a long time."

[I haven't agreed to their relationship yet, but they dared to touch my hand in front of me. How can this be tolerated? This is outrageous! Xiang Wan is young and doesn't know anything. We can't let her associate with this autistic boy, otherwise she will suffer in the future.]

Hearing Xu Songling's dissatisfaction, Zhao Xiangwan felt helpless and warm at the same time. Only someone who truly cares about her would consider her in every way: "Okay, Master."

Ji Zhao had just raised his head when Xu Songling had already instructed He Mingyu: "Take Ji Zhao to dinner, and I will take Xiang Wan back to the dormitory after dinner."

Xu Songling was nicknamed "Xu Black Face" because he had dark skin and not much flesh on his face. When he was serious, his face looked stern and scary, and everyone was afraid of him.

He Mingyu glanced at Xu Songling and said in silence: "Yes!"

After being in the serious crime squad for a long time, Ji Zhao gradually got familiar with the team members because of Zhao Xiangwan, and was not as repulsive as before. He Mingyu lived in the same dormitory as Zhao Xiangwan and often appeared in front of him, so it was not a problem for her to take Ji Zhao out for dinner.

Before Zhao Xiangwan and Xu Songling left together, he glanced at the pitiful Ji Zhao and said with a smile, "My master and I will be back after dinner. It will probably be around nine o'clock. You can go with my senior sister to eat, and then go back to the dormitory. If you are tired, go to sleep first."

The little skylark flies in the sky, its voice ethereal and joyful.

The scene was so beautiful. Zhao Xiangwan, who was sitting on the side seat of the police motorcycle, had a smile on his face the whole time. This made Xu Songling, who was a little angry, not sure whether to praise him or scold him.

The sun sets and the sky is filled with sunset glow.

Motorcycles sped by on the city roads, bringing them a gust of wind. The wind blowing against his face brought a cool feeling, and Zhao Xiangwan was in a good mood.

It was still the familiar Public Security University family building. Teacher Zhou Qiaoxiu came out wearing an apron and greeted with a smile: "Xiang Wan is here, come and sit down. I have another dish ready. Pour yourself a cup of cold tea first. The tea is in the earthenware jar on the low cabinet at the door."

Xu Songling turned up the ceiling fan. The wind was blowing, but the room was still a little stuffy.

Seeing that he looked unhappy, Zhou Qiaoxiu gave him a reproachful look and said, "You are so impatient. Drink some cool tea first, then wash your face, and it will cool down naturally. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Zhou Qiaoxiu's gentleness finally calmed Xu Songling's anxious heart. He held the baby and played with him for a while, then helped to serve the dishes and rice. The family finished dinner in harmony.

Xu Songling winked at Zhou Qiaoxiu: Hurry up and talk to Zhao Xiangwan.

Zhou Qiaoxiu nodded in understanding, pulled Zhao Xiangwan to sit on the bed in the bedroom, and handed her a registered letter: "The paper you wrote has been accepted. This is the acceptance letter sent by the magazine."

Zhao Xiangwan quickly opened the letter and saw the acceptance letter with the magazine's official seal. He smiled happily: "Great!"

After school started, she spent two months working on her thesis, "A Preliminary Study on the Application of Micro-Expression Theory in Case Detection," and she never expected it to be accepted by the "China Public Security" magazine!

The happiness and sense of accomplishment of having his hard work recognized and his theoretical research adopted were so strong that Zhao Xiangwan, who was usually introverted, couldn't help but jumped up and waved his hand holding the acceptance letter in the air: "I didn't expect that I was accepted! The magazine said that it will be published in the 10th issue, and three sample copies will be sent to me in three months."

Zhou Qiaoxiu was also happy for Zhao Xiangwan, with a big smile on her face: "You can summarize while practicing, combining case detection with micro-expression theory, which is very innovative. It is normal for your paper to be accepted. In our school, publishing papers is basically the job of professors. You are an undergraduate student, and you can publish a paper in a high-quality journal in your freshman year. This is an honor for our class. Just wait, I guess the school will commend you."

Zhao Xiangwan was a little embarrassed: "Being able to publish my paper is the greatest recognition for me. I am satisfied. There is no need for any commendation or anything like that, right?"

Zhou Qiaoxiu patted her arm and said, "This commendation is not just for you. It is also an honor for our 91 Criminal Investigation Department. It must be given."

The weather was hot, and Zhao Xiangwan was wearing a short-sleeved shirt with her arms exposed. In Zhou Qiaoxiu's impression, Zhao Xiangwan was averse to physical contact, so she carefully placed her hand on Zhao Xiangwan's upper arm through her short-sleeved shirt, not daring to touch her skin.

Zhou Qiaoxiu was delighted to find that Zhao Xiangwan's attitude was much more natural and his body was not stiff. This was a good thing for Zhao Xiangwan, who was cautious, calm and self-controlled.

Zhou Qiaoxiu asked gently: "Are you in love now?"

Zhao Xiangwan hesitated for a moment, then raised his eyes and met Zhou Qiaoxiu's gaze, neither confirming nor denying.

Zhou Qiaoxiu is Zhao Xiangwan's homeroom teacher and knows her very well. Seeing her expression, she immediately felt something was wrong. If Xiangwan wasn't in love, she would have quickly denied it, but she wasn't, which meant that she recognized Ji Zhao in her heart.

Xu Songling came back specially at noon today and talked a lot with Zhou Qiaoxiu, the general meaning of which was to ask Zhou Qiaoxiu to persuade Zhao Xiangwan not to fall in love with Ji Zhao. The reason was simple: Ji Zhao was not a normal person.

Zhou Qiaoxiu had never seen Zhao Xiangwan and Ji Zhao's daily interactions. Her impression of Ji Zhao was still stuck on the quick glance she got at the Four Seasons Hotel. She only thought that Ji Zhao was a handsome, introverted, cold son of a wealthy family, an autistic genius painter, who couldn't speak and would climb to terrifying heights when he was unhappy.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qiaoxiu asked tentatively: "I heard from your master that you get along well with everyone in the serious crime team. There are many outstanding young men in their city bureau, don't you like any of them?"

Zhao Xiangwan smiled and said, "Look, I've found one."

Zhou Qiaoxiu was a little nervous: "Which one?"

Zhao Xiangwan admitted openly: "Ji Zhao."

Before Zhou Qiaoxiu could say anything, Xu Songling came over anxiously and shouted, "No! I don't agree."

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