It's easier to have nightmares when you're asleep.
Before dawn, the old campus of the military medical university resembled a forgotten tomb.
Fan Jinci stood in the center of the third-floor laboratory, broken test tubes and yellowed experimental records scattered at his feet. A fight had clearly just taken place here—fresh bloodstains were on the corner, several empty syringes lay scattered on the worktable, and the lingering sweet smell of the nerve agent still hung in the air.
But neither Shen Mo nor Jiang Zhaoyue were there.
"The bloodstain DNA matches Zhou Xue, who is also Jiang Zhaoyue." Yu Yan walked in, holding a scene report. "She is indeed still alive. Shen Mo is her assistant, or rather... her experimental subject."
Fan Jinci didn't turn around; his gaze fell on an old photograph on the wall. It was a group photo of all the members of "Project Butterfly." A young Fan Jinci stood on the very edge, next to Zhou Lin, who had a gentle smile. In the corner was a thin girl wearing glasses, who was none other than Zhou Xue, the lab assistant from back then.
"Shen Mo has been caught," Yu Yan continued. "He was intercepted at the highway exit, and a large amount of experimental data and..." He paused, "...a box of injections labeled with your name were found in his car."
Fan Jinci's fingers unconsciously traced the scars on his wrist: "His imitation wasn't perfect. Zhou Lin never puts labels on injections."
Yu Yan took a few steps closer and, in the morning light, saw clearly Fan Jinci's pale face and chapped lips. The chief forensic pathologist had been working continuously for more than 72 hours, and his body under the black turtleneck sweater was so thin that it seemed as if it could be blown away by the wind.
"Go back and rest." Yu Yan's voice softened unconsciously. "I'll handle the rest."
Fan Jinci finally turned around, his grey-blue eyes almost transparent in the morning light: "Do you know why it's called the 'Reverse Butterfly Project'?"
Yu Yan shook his head.
"Because Zhou Lin believed that human memory is like dust on a butterfly's wing," Fan Jinci's voice was as soft as a dream, "that a gentle touch can alter its trajectory. He used electricity and drugs to 'touch' the brains of his experimental subjects, attempting to create absolutely obedient 'perfect soldiers.'"
Sunlight streamed through the tattered curtains, casting dappled shadows on Fan Jinci's face. Yu Yan suddenly noticed a very thin scar at the corner of his right eye, shaped like a teardrop.
"Is Jiang Zhaoyue the first successful case?"
"No." Fan Jinci walked towards the door. "I am."
His figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs, leaving Yu Yan standing alone amidst the mess, the report in his hand suddenly feeling incredibly heavy.
In the police station's interrogation room, Shen Mo appeared unusually calm. He wore the orange vest of the detention center, and the handcuffs on his wrists gleamed coldly, but his expression was like that of a student waiting for praise from his teacher.
"Dr. Fan will come to see me, right?" he asked the guard, his voice filled with a morbid anticipation. "He must be very curious about my improved formulas..."
The door opened, and Jiang Zhaoyan walked in. He wasn't wearing his signature flashy suit today, but a simple black police uniform, and even the frivolous smile that always graced his face was gone.
"Give me a break, you pervert." Jiang Zhaoyan pulled out a chair and sat down. "Forensic Doctor Fan won't be coming to see you."
Shen Mo's smile froze on his face: "Does he know I left him a gift? That specimen box was just the beginning; I have many more—"
"Shut up!" Jiang Zhaoyan slammed his hand on the table. "Do you even know where Jiang Zhaoyue is right now?"
"Teacher Zhou Xue?" Shen Mo tilted his head, then suddenly chuckled. "You really think the case is over just because you caught me?" His voice abruptly lowered. "My relationship with Dr. Fan... has only just begun."
Jiang Zhaoyan stood up, looking down at Shen Mo: "Listen, you piece of trash. If you dare take another step near Fan Jinci, I'll show you what true 'neural remodeling' really means."
Shen Mo showed no fear, instead moving closer to the glass: "Do you know how the butterfly on his wrist got there?" His breath misted the glass. "Zhou Lin used extra-thick electrodes because he likes listening to Dr. Fan—"
Jiang Zhaoyan slammed his fist against the glass, interrupting him. Shen Mo laughed as the police officers dragged him away, shouting back before leaving, "Tell him the M series still has one last gift to deliver!"
On the rooftop of the forensic center, Fan Jinci leaned against the railing, letting the night wind tousle his black hair. Familiar footsteps sounded behind him, but he didn't turn around.
"The case report is finished." Yu Yan walked to his side and handed him a cup of coffee. "Shen Mo was charged with murder, but..."
"But Jiang Zhaoyue is still on the run." Fan Jinci took the coffee, his sleeve slipped down, revealing the shocking scars on his wrist.
The two drank their coffee in silence. In the distance, the city lights shone brightly, as if all evil was hidden beneath a glamorous facade.
"Jiang Zhaoyan seems to know a lot," Yu Yan finally broke the silence.
Fan Jinci gave a soft "hmm": "After his sister was modified, the first person she came to was him." His fingertips traced the rim of his coffee cup. "Zhou Xue—or rather, Jiang Zhaoyue—has always believed that I killed Zhou Lin."
"Yeah?"
"I provided crucial evidence that led to Zhou Lin's arrest," Fan Jinci said calmly, devoid of any emotion, "but I didn't kill him."
Yu Yan wanted to ask more, but seeing Fan Jinci's tired profile, he ultimately only said, "Go back and get some sleep. There's a new case tomorrow."
Fan Jinci shook his head: "I'm used to sleeping in the office."
"Why?"
"Nightmare," Fan Jinci replied curtly, tossing the empty coffee cup into the trash can. "Nightmares are more likely to occur when you're asleep."
Just then, Situ Jin hurriedly pushed open the door leading to the rooftop: "Dr. Fan! Another female corpse has been found in the south of the city. Preliminary assessment indicates the time of death was no more than six hours ago. Moreover..." He hesitated for a moment, "The deceased had a butterfly-like mark on her wrist."
Fan Jinci's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, then he regained his composure: "Send me the photos of the scene to my email. Instruct the forensic department to focus on examining the injection marks and—"
"I've already sent it to you." Situ Jin's expression was somewhat strange. "The strangest thing is... there was an old photo of you in the deceased's pocket. From your time at military medical school."
The night wind suddenly became biting. Fan Jinci's phone lit up at that moment, and an encrypted message popped up:
[Specimen M-10 is ready. Will you come in person this time, teacher?]
The sender's number was listed as "unknown," but Fan Jinci knew who it was. Jiang Zhaoyue's game had only just begun, and this time, she would no longer hide it.
"Let's go." Fan Jinci put his phone back in his pocket, his voice regaining its usual calm. "There are corpses waiting for us."
Yu Yan followed in his footsteps, knowing in his heart that this was far from over. Those butterflies that could not take flight would eventually stir up even greater waves in the storm.
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