“Mou Ying suddenly admitted to pretending to be a ghost at this time, taking all the responsibility for Jiang Yunduo’s death. Who benefits the most?” Ling Lie sat on the hotel bed, his upper body leaning back, hands propped behind him.

Ji Chenjiao leaned against the TV cabinet, folding his arms, “Rongmei, Yu Group.”

Ling Lie: “So many days after the accident, the media and public have been in an uproar, yet the Yu Group hasn’t issued a single statement. Could it be they already had a plan? Find someone who won’t refute to take the blame? With Mou Ying’s death, Rongmei becomes clean.”

Ji Chenjiao: “But Mou Ying’s suicide note doesn’t look forged. The autopsy and on-site investigation also basically confirmed that she indeed cut her own artery.”

Ling Lie squinted, “She wrote the suicide note herself, and cut the artery herself, but behind this series of weird actions, is there a puppet master pulling the strings?”

Ji Chenjiao was silent. This was also a question he had pondered repeatedly since arriving in Chaoxia County. The County Bureau had already thoroughly investigated Jiang Yunduo’s interpersonal relationships; she seemed more like a randomly selected person. Mou Ying’s suicide note also corroborated this point from the side. The foggy one was Mou Ying. For this person, due to time constraints, the police actually only learned the most superficial things from others’ few words.

So after dawn, they needed to find people familiar with Mou Ying to piece together the real Mou Ying.

Ling Lie added: “But the logic just now has a time trap. When Jiang Yunduo had the accident, Rongmei was most affected. Now with Mou Ying ‘apologizing with death’, Rongmei benefits the most, so Mou Ying might have been pushed out by Rongmei. But Mou Ying started scaring Jiang Yunduo before the tragedy happened.”

Ji Chenjiao: “But that’s just what she wrote in the suicide note. The handwriting is genuine, but is the content necessarily true?”

Ling Lie laughed and fell back onto the quilt, covering his face, “I’m confused.”

It was already 2 AM. Ji Chenjiao remembered that Ling Lie went out early in the morning to find the “Master”, came to Chaoxia County twice, and had hardly rested. He was indeed overloaded.

He originally wanted to ask Ling Lie if there were any gains, but seeing Ling Lie’s listless appearance, he softened, turned off the overhead light, leaving only the bedside lamp on his side, walked over and patted Ling Lie, “Sleep.”

But Ling Lie seemed exhausted, maintaining the dead dog posture with feet on the ground, motionless.

Ji Chenjiao knelt with one leg and patted him again, Ling Lie still didn’t move.

“Really not moving?” Ji Chenjiao simply leaned over, covering Ling Lie.

Ling Lie then opened his eyes, looking at Ji Chenjiao at close range, then reached out, holding Ji Chenjiao’s face to examine. His eyes were a bit confused due to sleepiness, pupils wet, carrying moisture.

Ji Chenjiao’s Adam’s apple rolled, coaxing softly: “Move over, how can we sleep like this?”

Ling Lie suddenly said: “What kind of person is Yan Xi?”

Ji Chenjiao was stunned, not expecting him to mention Yan Xi at this time.

Ling Lie seemed unconcerned about Ji Chenjiao’s reaction, saying to himself: “You trust him very much; he is your informant.”

Ji Chenjiao frowned, subconsciously refuting, “He is not my informant, he is…”

Ling Lie: “I am just your suspect.”

Ling Lie’s tone sounded drunk, but they didn’t drink today. His eyes were more confused than just now, like a lake covered by morning mist. The sun had risen, and through the mist, the shimmering light of the lake water could be vaguely seen.

Ji Chenjiao rubbed Ling Lie’s face with his palm, asking with patience he didn’t expect himself: “Why mention Yan Xi suddenly?”

“He is your informant.” Ling Lie muttered, “You believe him, you even said I look like him. I don’t look like anyone.”

Ji Chenjiao understood a bit; Ling Lie was being difficult with him.

Ling Lie’s personality had some aspects he couldn’t figure out—suddenly extreme, suddenly evil, suddenly cold-blooded, suddenly sensitive… jumping around, with no logic to speak of.

But even so, Ling Lie minding Yan Xi surprised him. Was Ling Lie… jealous?

“Your skills were taught by Yan Xi.” Ling Lie’s restless fingers “drew” on Ji Chenjiao’s face, drawing eyes then nose, tone like a wronged child, “Are you thinking now, if Master Yan were here, he could provide you with ideas?”

When the finger drew to the lips, Ji Chenjiao suddenly bit it. Ling Lie’s rounded eye tails suddenly opened, pupils holding a little surprise, like morning mist slowly dispersing in rising temperature.

Ji Chenjiao bit hard, didn’t break skin, but Ling Lie frowned, whispering: “Hurts.”

Ji Chenjiao kissed his fingertips, then lowered his head to kiss his lips, blocking those messy words back.

“Teacher Ling, are you jealous?” Ji Chenjiao blocked the light from the bedside lamp, shrouding Ling Lie in his shadow.

Ling Lie blinked. His face was actually a bit red, but the shadow and warm-toned light gave him a perfect shield.

“Listen to what you are saying?” Ji Chenjiao touched Ling Lie’s eye tail with his thumb, “Inexplicably comparing yourself to someone you haven’t met.”

Ling Lie said: “Fledgling complex.” (Imprinting)

“Hmm?”

“When you were still a rookie, Yan Xi taught you how to solve cases. He had no identity, disappeared with Captain Ning, and you are the only one who believes him.”

A wave of discomfort surged in Ji Chenjiao’s heart. He wanted to refute. Although he repeatedly told his superiors that Yan Xi had no criminal motive, deep in his heart, he didn’t fully trust Yan Xi. The only one he fully trusted was Ning Xiechen.

But at this moment, because of Ling Lie’s phrase “fledgling complex”, he acted in a fit of pique and didn’t want to refute.

“Still talking about me? Don’t you have a ‘fledgling complex’ yourself?”

Ling Lie’s eyelashes flashed, a trace of surprise passing through his eyes.

Ji Chenjiao felt regret as soon as he spoke, but couldn’t help finishing: “When you first arrived at the Special Operations Team, didn’t Xiao Yu’an guide you everywhere, teach you? You were only eighteen then, isn’t your ‘fledgling complex’ stronger than mine?”

Ling Lie’s eyes dimmed, seeming somewhat disappointed.

Ji Chenjiao knew he said the wrong thing, poking Ling Lie again, “What’s wrong with you today?”

Ling Lie: “At least I haven’t said who you look like. Do you look like Xiao Yu’an?”

Ji Chenjiao: “I…”

Ling Lie: “But you said I look like Yan Xi, more than once.”

Ji Chenjiao recalled when investigating the series of cases on Xieyang Road, he indeed mentioned Yan Xi several times, but that was not what Ling Lie meant at all.

“I’m going to sleep.” Ling Lie arched twice, squeezing out of Ji Chenjiao’s arms, burrowing into the quilt, back to Ji Chenjiao.

Ji Chenjiao sat by the bed watching for a while, wanting to say something, but most of his energy was occupied by the case, and it was too late. Not only Ling Lie, his own mind wasn’t very clear either. Whatever he said at this time might expand the conflict.

He sighed, pulled the quilt for Ling Lie, and returned to his own bed. But before taking off his shoes, he saw Ling Lie kick the quilt away with disgust.

Ji Chenjiao: “…”

Right, with such a big temper, why cover with a lousy quilt.

Ji Chenjiao also threw off the quilt in the dark.

But early the next morning, when Ji Chenjiao woke up, Ling Lie wasn’t there, but he was covered with a quilt.

“Tsk, doing good deeds without leaving a name.”

The investigation continued to unfold, and new clues soon came. The pharmacological test results of the organs came out; Mou Ying took an overdose of lithium.

This is a common drug for treating depression and bipolar disorder, but it must be taken according to doctor’s orders and dosage. Overdose can cause excitement, schizophrenia, and other problems, affecting health.

Specifically for Mou Ying, if what she said in the suicide note was true, then what caused her weird behavior and taking pleasure in scaring other patients was likely the lithium controlling her emotions and spirit.

“I didn’t prescribe her so much!” Ha Junli trembled all over after seeing the test data, immediately pulling up treatment records, “Daily dosages are here! Not me! I didn’t instigate her to commit a crime!”

Facing Ha Junli was Ji Chenjiao. Ling Lie was watching surveillance in another room. He stroked his chin, eyes lazy, but muttered to himself: “Instigate?”

During questioning, Ha Junli consistently denied giving Mou Ying excessive drugs, and further denied mentally controlling her. But both actually had large operational spaces, and it was difficult for police to find evidence—because of management loopholes in Rongmei, doctors had opportunities to get drugs without leaving work logs, and face-to-face psychological counseling could have surveillance turned off upon patient request.

Ha Junli appeared very agitated, thinking the police slandered her. But the objective reality was indeed that she was the person most likely to make Mou Ying take an overdose.

Ji Chenjiao returned to the lounge, seeing Ling Lie there, subconsciously thought of the midnight matter. But Ling Lie seemed like two different people day and night, as if amnesiac, not mentioning a word of the conflict, waving cheekily: “Come come, analyze.”

Now the case was most important. Ji Chenjiao considered himself a rational person, asking: “Any views on Ha Junli?”

Ling Lie: “Just when you started asking her, she immediately said the word ‘instigate’. At that time you hadn’t even raised who instigated whom.”

Ji Chenjiao nodded, “She had the concept of instigation in her subconscious.”

Ling Lie: “Then did she instigate Mou Ying? This is different from yesterday’s logic again.”

Mentioning yesterday, Ji Chenjiao subconsciously coughed.

Ling Lie: “Xiao Ji, did you catch a cold?”

Ji Chenjiao felt a bit resentful in his heart. Quarreling was a matter for two people, and the initiator was this certain Ling, but how come after waking up, he was the only one who cared?

“No.” Ji Chenjiao said absent-mindedly.

Ling Lie was like a nagging old man, “Young man, still need to pay attention to cold and heat when sleeping at night, don’t kick the quilt at the drop of a hat. Did the quilt provoke you? The quilt covering you is caring for you.”

Ji Chenjiao: Why does this sound like implying something?

Ling Lie: “Know why you didn’t catch a cold? That’s because I covered you.”

Ji Chenjiao looked at those sincere big eyes, after a moment, “Then thanks.”

Ling Lie accepted calmly.

The two continued discussing.

Yesterday’s logic assumed the suicide note content was false, Mou Ying pretending to be a ghost didn’t exist, and the biggest victim (Rongmei) wanted to eliminate the crisis by deliberately creating the illusion of Mou Ying’s suicide.

But now because of the appearance of lithium, Mou Ying acting out the behaviors in the suicide note under the influence of drugs was logical. And who gave her the overdose? Ha Junli’s suspicion was increasing. Ha Junli subconsciously said instigate when facing criminal police, which made people suspicious.

Then what was her motive?

Ji Chenjiao said: “Seems not only Mou Ying’s background needs checking, Ha Junli’s background also needs detailed investigation.”

Ji Chenjiao was about to assign tasks when Ling Lie suddenly stopped him, “Someone else might die.”

Ji Chenjiao’s eyes instantly darkened, “Copycat crime? Copycat suicide?”

Ling Lie nodded, “Both possible. There are many potential suicidal people receiving treatment here. They can’t be stimulated. Mou Ying’s behavior set an example for them. And Ha Junli, if she is really related to instigation, then how many ‘rescuers’ like her are hidden in this rehabilitation center?”

Ji Chenjiao was silent for a moment, “I’ll let the County Bureau pay close attention.”

After Mou Ying’s death, the atmosphere in Rongmei North District gradually became somewhat strange. Some patients became more excited, and doctors seemed to have received instructions from above, all keeping silent.

Rongmei officials finally issued a statement under huge public pressure, expressing deep condolences for the loss of two lives, stating the whole hospital would fully cooperate with the police investigation. Regarding the rumors of vengeful spirits, Rongmei called on everyone to believe in science and have their own judgment.

“What kind of statement is this, a whole bunch of words saying nothing!” Shen Qi said dissatisfiedly: “Fully cooperate, cooperate my ass! Those medical staff are all hem-hawing; weren’t they warned by the higher-ups?”

An Xun said: “Can’t we just investigate Rongmei directly? And the Yu Group behind Rongmei.”

Shen Qi: “Hey, you don’t understand this. Now we haven’t caught their slip-up, no entry point. Xiao An, don’t always stay in the forensic room. Come out more to experience the suffering of our field team members, otherwise you know nothing and just take things for granted.”

An Xun was speechless. Thinking back, who was the otaku in the serious crime squad? Wasn’t it this incessantly talking Xiao Shen in front of him?

Since following Ling Lie on field duty last time, Xiao Shen changed his nature, happily being a lackey and even lecturing others.

Xiao An thought, why do you call me Xiao An? I am clearly older than you!

But Xiao An was a civilized person, generally not quarreling with people.

Shen Qi chattered non-stop. Xiao An drove Shen Qi away in a rage.

Shen Qi dusted off his butt, “You forensic doctors, how can you not strive for progress?”

Shen Qi was very motivated. Seeing a familiar corner of clothes flash past the corner, his sharp eyes flashed, rushing up quickly, “Brother! Brother! Wait for me!”

Getting in the car, Shen Qi asked: “Brother, where are we going?”

Ling Lie said: “Household registration department.”

Ha Junli’s resume was very impressive. She was twenty-five this year, hired by Rongmei two years ago to help patients with psychological barriers in the South District. After the North District was built, she began to treat patients independently.

She was a native of Chaoxia County. Her family used to do business, with good economic conditions. She excelled in studies, attending key middle and high schools in Xiarong City, admitted to a prestigious university in the college entrance exam, worked out of town for two years, then came to Rongmei.

Currently, her family had immigrated abroad and couldn’t be contacted. As for why she didn’t go abroad together, her own explanation was that Rongmei paid well, and prospects were not worse than abroad. And having left Chaoxia County since junior high school, she missed her hometown very much.

Ling Lie felt there was a problem. Would someone who left home at twelve really have such distinct love for their hometown?

Learning that people from the serious crime squad came, the household registration police hurriedly searched for materials. Early files were not entered into electronic files. Shen Qi also helped search, shouting: “Brother, found it!”

Ha Junli changed her name; her original name was Hao Junli. And Ha Junli’s mother’s surname was Hao.

“Hao?” Names of fire victims flashed quickly in Ling Lie’s mind. Among them was a couple, the man named Hao Guoyong, the woman named Li Zhenzhen. They were among the merchants closest to the deflagration, doing clothing business, gone on the spot.

Continuing to check, Hao Guoyong was Ha Junli’s mother’s cousin. Ha Junli’s birth certificate showed her biological parents were Hao Guoyong and Li Zhenzhen.

The Ha couple who immigrated were actually her adoptive parents!

In the early questioning, Ha Junli concealed this from the police.

Shen Qi was surprised, “Biological parents died in the fire. Ha Junli didn’t go abroad with adoptive parents but came to work at Rongmei. Now her patient overdosed. She… she seems to have a motive!”

Facing the new clues presented by the police, Ha Junli relaxed suddenly after a brief tension, looking at Ji Chenjiao with dull eyes: “Yes, I am Hao Guoyong’s daughter. My parents died unjustly.”

After Ha Junli was born, the somewhat superstitious Hao couple found a witch to tell her fortune, saying she shouldn’t have been born in the Hao family, fearing bloody disasters in the future. At that time, Hao Guoyong’s sister was diagnosed infertile. After discussion between the two families, Ha Junli was adopted by the Ha family after turning three.

Although she became someone else’s child, Ha Junli met her biological parents frequently. She was actually raised by both families together.

Nine years ago, that fire changed everything. She lost her biological parents, and her adoptive parents were also grief-stricken. Three years ago, her adoptive parents decided to immigrate, but Ha Junli stayed.

Ji Chenjiao asked: “You came to Rongmei for your parents?”

Ha Junli buried her head, shoulders trembling slightly, “I want to avenge them.”

“Was the fire caused by Rongmei?”

“That’s not it.”

Ha Junli said Rongmei gave a large sum of money to victims and the injured. If one didn’t think about anything, one could muddle through a lifetime with this money.

“Muddle through?”

“Isn’t it muddling through? Getting money and thinking everything is fine. But those who got money are us living people. Did the dead get comfort?”

Ha Junli’s emotions gradually lost control, red eyes glaring at Ji Chenjiao, “Rongmei is a profit-oriented scum. Because the dead cannot speak, they are unwilling to perform even a religious service. They didn’t give the dead basic respect at all!”wikipedia​

Ji Chenjiao saw distinct hatred in Ha Junli’s eyes. This was resentment that money couldn’t wipe away.

“So I want Rongmei to pay the price for this!”

Ji Chenjiao asked: “Joining as a doctor, then manipulating patients here? Ruining Rongmei’s reputation? What did you do to Mou Ying?”

Ha Junli fell silent at this moment, raised shoulders collapsing like a crumbling gully.

Ji Chenjiao asked again: “Was it you who added medicine to her? Was it also you who induced her to pretend to be a ghost and then commit suicide?”

Ha Junli gasped, screaming: “Not me! I didn’t induce her to commit suicide!”

“Then adding medicine? Pretending to be a ghost?”

“I… I…”

Ha Junli suddenly couldn’t speak. The panic and confusion in her eyes made Ji Chenjiao find it hard to understand—her motive was clear; what exactly was she confused about?

Because Ha Junli had an emotional breakdown, the questioning was suspended.

A director of Rongmei North District learned of the situation and immediately found the serious crime squad, trying hard to disassociate Ha Junli from Rongmei.

Ling Lie said: “But wasn’t she recruited by you? Your doctor subjectively wanted to harm patients, and you still want to say she is a temporary worker?”

The director was anxious and spoke indiscriminately, “She signed a contract with the South District; she hasn’t become a regular employee in our North District yet!”

Ling Lie found it laughable, persuading the director to leave. The director, afraid the media would catch wind, repeatedly warned the employees.

Mou Ying’s parents finally arrived in Chaoxia County after several transfers. They lived in a small city, family conditions staying at a passable level. Their daughter’s bad news filled their eyes with sadness, but compared to most white-haired people sending off black-haired people, they appeared somewhat cold.

Ji Chenjiao took the two to identify Mou Ying’s body. Mou’s mother finally shed tears, squatting on the ground crying silently.

Mou’s father said Mou Ying had been somewhat maverick since childhood, liking to watch foreign art films, tinkering with things they couldn’t understand. She had no friends in class; teachers commented she was smart but withdrawn.

The whole family was worried about Mou Ying. After all, in the public mind, if a child can’t make friends, it’s largely the child’s own reason. “Misfit” is a very ugly label. But Mou Ying didn’t care about having no friends. Cousins coming to enlighten her also left her indifferent.

Every winter and summer vacation, Mou Ying would propose to go to the provincial capital to see exhibitions. The internet wasn’t developed then. She collected information about various art exhibitions from newspapers and broadcasts, insisting on going.

Although the Mou family could afford the expense of seeing exhibitions, Mou’s father and mother couldn’t understand what was good about those strange geometric figures and bafflingly shaped exhibits.

As Mou Ying grew older, the family atmosphere became weirder. She was obsessed with making things her parents couldn’t understand with wire and paper pieces. Her already not-so-good grades plummeted. Parents hated iron for not becoming steel, forbidding her to play with these things, thus constantly erupting in quarrels.

Mou Ying’s college entrance exam scores were barely enough for a third-tier college. Parents planned to sell a house to scrape together money for her to go abroad. But she was unwilling, even running away from home, messing around in bars and nightclubs.

She was an adult then; parents were completely disappointed in her. She rented a house outside, working part-time while making her so-called artworks. These things actually sold for some money.

After Mou Ying became independent, the relationship with her parents eased a bit. Parents also tried to understand her work and ideas. Although still not understanding why those messy things put together could sell for money, they didn’t belittle her like before.

The economic level of the hometown and provincial capital was a bit low, and the cultural and artistic atmosphere was insufficient. Three years ago, Mou Ying came to Xiarong City. Since then, family problems became serious again.

Mou’s father recalled painfully that when Mou Ying first arrived in Xiarong City, she often posted on WeChat Moments, collision of thoughts with peers, seeing exhibitions, getting inspiration, etc., looking like living a fulfilling life. But half a year later, she often wrote some incomprehensible words and posted incomprehensible pictures. Parents guessed she might not be doing well, calling to ask if she encountered trouble. She just opened her mouth asking for money.

The first few times, parents naturally gave, but her personality became more unreasonable, losing her temper easily, saying things like “It’s all your fault, you didn’t give me soil”. After that came quarrels. Sometimes after quarrels, Mou Ying would actively apologize. But human hearts are softest; there will be barriers after being hurt. Plus Mou Ying never came back, parents, chilled to the heart, acted as if they didn’t have this daughter.

Ji Chenjiao asked: “Did Mou Ying tell you what happened later?”

Mou’s father rubbed his face sadly, shaking his head, “We already had deep communication barriers with her, but her mom and I guessed she probably hated us for not supporting her when she was little, just that popular saying now—as parents, we let her lose at the starting line.”

Ji Chenjiao frowned. Was Mou Ying’s mental problem due to blows suffered in her career?

Mou’s father said Mou Ying was developing well in the provincial capital, but because she felt the ceiling in her hometown was too low, she brought her proud works to Xiarong City, wanting to carve out a niche. But perhaps there were too many capable people here, her light was obscured, or perhaps she didn’t adapt to the style here. In short, she couldn’t attract attention like before.

Ji Chenjiao knew there was a block in the North District where literary youth and artists gathered. He couldn’t appreciate that art, but there was no lack of people who could appreciate and pay sky-high prices for those works.

When a self-proclaimed talented artist finds her feathers dim in such a city, what changes will happen to her already sensitive and different mentality?

Inferiority? Paranoia? Madness?