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Chapter 3
The desire for beauty is universal, especially for someone who loves drawing like Song Wen. In that instant, he mentally sketched the person’s bone structure and features.
If God were an artist, painting a thousand faces, he must have favored this person a bit more when depicting them. There was no flaw in any facial feature; they all harmonized together, each with its own distinctive charm. There was a subtle, slightly aloof beauty, a non-aggressive appearance that gave off a sense of delicacy, as if frozen behind a glass window, stunningly beautiful at a glance but fragile, as if it would shatter with a little carelessness.
“You’re the new recruit…” Song Wen began, covering up his momentary distraction. He lowered his head, glanced at the file, and said, “Lu Siyu?” It was a beautiful name, much like the person it represented.
The person first lowered their gaze, avoiding Song Wen’s eyes. Then, the sharp chin stiffened slightly, and they softly murmured, acknowledging it. The whole movement was a bit slow, not as agile, somewhat sluggish, giving off a vacant feeling.
“Come with me; I am Team One’s Captain Song Wen.” With these words, Song Wen clarified their relationship. From today onwards, he would be their direct superior.
Lu Siyu didn’t say a word, took two steps forward, and followed Song Wen into Team One’s office area. When they reached the office area, they stood face to face. The main color scheme here was blue and white, with several police notices written on the walls. A corner of the office area was adorned with several pots of green plants by Fu Linjiang, looking lush and lively.
Lu Siyu was only slightly shorter than Song Wen but appeared slender. Song Wen looked him up and down, seemingly scanning his entire being with his eyes. Today, Lu Siyu wore a casual white shirt, appearing understated yet bearing an expensive brand. From this angle, the collar of the shirt revealed a half of his collarbone, thin enough to hold a curve of water.
Song Wen thought to himself, does this person look like a 26-year-old? Time hadn’t left any traces on him, looking refined as if he were a school teacher—or rather, more like a student. Some might even believe he was two years younger than Song Wen. After coming back to his senses, Song Wen considered that even if he didn’t train the person, he needed to assert authority. He took half a step forward, and Lu Siyu instinctively moved backward.
“Are you afraid of me?” Song Wen squinted his eyes slightly, probing.
“It’s my first time meeting a leader; I’m a bit nervous,” Lu Siyu’s voice was low. As he spoke, his gaze drifted past Song Wen, seemingly to alleviate the awkwardness. He habitually stuck out his tongue to moisten his lips. His lips were lightly colored, giving a somewhat indifferent impression. After hesitating for a moment, his cleanliness habits kicked in, and he kindly reminded, “Captain Song, there’s pencil residue on your little finger; you haven’t cleaned it yet.”
Song Wen turned his right pinky finger, observing pencil residue. When he draws, he habitually supports the paper with his knuckles. He casually took a piece of paper and wiped his hands, saying, “Not bad. As a criminal investigator, observational skills are fundamental. I hope you can notice something when you’re at the crime scene.”
With that said, Song Wen continued, “From now on, I’ll be guiding you. I’m not only the captain but also your mentor.” In the detective team, there is still an emphasis on inheritance, with mentors guiding their apprentices. Despite Song Wen being younger, he has rich work experience, while Lu Siyu, despite being slightly older, has been studying at school.
Song Wen’s tone was somewhat stern. Lu Siyu felt like he should address him as “mentor,” but looking at this handsome detective who was even younger, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Finally, he hesitated and said, “Thank you, Captain Song.”
Seeing that Song Wen didn’t respond, Lu Siyu lifted his head and looked at him with a somewhat timid expression.
At this moment, Song Wen noticed that Lu Siyu’s forehead hair was slightly curled at the ends. Despite being not short, he exuded a soft and quiet vibe, perhaps intimidated by him, resembling a timid little rabbit. Satisfied with the start, Song Wen took another step forward and continued sternly, “Entering the police force requires adherence to certain rules. As a newcomer, respecting seniors is a given. Besides that, the first priority is to obey orders. Don’t look where you shouldn’t, don’t ask what you shouldn’t, and don’t touch things randomly. After attending the crime scene, you need to write an on-site investigation report. After solving the case, you need to write a case summary. Wear a body camera during operations, remember your identity, don’t let anyone catch you off guard, or I won’t be able to protect you…”
At this point, a voice behind interrupted, breaking the tension, “Captain Song, we finally have a new colleague; don’t scare him away.” Then the speaker introduced himself, “I’m the deputy captain of Team One, Fu Linjiang.”
Lu Siyu nodded with an “um,” but slightly delayed in response. He was reserved, giving off a bit of distance, nodding continuously, portraying an obedient appearance.
“You can call me Deputy Captain, Captain Fu, or Deputy Captain Fu.” Fu Linjiang played a pun, breaking the initial awkwardness.
*fu dui – Deputy Captain, Fu dui – Captain Fu, Fu fu dui – Fu Deputy Captain(his name Fu(傅) and Deputy(副) have the same sound (fu) but different characters.
Then he smiled and said, “Don’t worry; Captain Song usually doesn’t put on airs. Regarding work, document processing is a weak point in our team. Your handwriting is good, so you can try doing that. In the first year, you’re a probationary officer, just two turns, meaning two rotations. If you smoothly pass this year, you’ll be a third-level police officer. Usually, there’s no need to wear a police uniform when there are no activities or leadership inspections. In the first year, you won’t be issued a gun, can’t handle cases independently, and need to follow experienced detectives. Once you’re proficient, you can take over cases. In less than two years, you can mentor new recruits too.” Fu Linjiang’s words conveyed a similar message to Song Wen’s but in a more digestible manner.
Then Fu Linjiang introduced Lu Siyu, “Working hours here are usually from 8 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm from Monday to Friday. But, in reality, it’s not fixed. If there’s a case, overtime, staying up late, and going out are all normal. Since you may need to go out at any time, I suggest having a travel bag with personal items and a change of clothes.” He then turned and said, “Captain Song, how about I show him around upstairs and downstairs to get familiar with the environment and meet people?”
Song Wen clearly didn’t like the idea. Before establishing authority with Lu Siyu, Fu Linjiang interrupted. Also, the process seemed to end here when Zhu Xiao joined last time. The detective team wasn’t a kindergarten, and he, being a pampered rich second-generation, wasn’t a leader. There was no need for someone to accompany him. Thinking of this, Song Wen spoke, “Linjiang, you haven’t given me the deposition summary from the last case yet. Since everyone is so busy, let him get familiar on his own.”
With that said, Fu Linjiang withdrew, still smiling, “Let’s talk during the break, and, Xiao Lu, settle in and get used to the job.”
Song Wen turned around and glanced at Lu Siyu. The seemingly expressionless face showed a hint of confusion, appearing extremely obedient. Feeling a bit softened, Song Wen pointed and said, “The first floor is the office area, with the front desk responsible for receiving alerts, next to it is the conference room, control room, rest area, and duty room. The second floor is the evidence Identification Bureaur, file room, and interrogation room. The third floor houses the leadership office, while the adjacent building is for anti-vice and anti-narcotics. The cafeteria is at the back, and there aren’t many people here. The main contacts will be forensic scientists and technicians. You’ll get to know them gradually.” This brief introduction clarified the layout of the entire city bureau building.
Just as Song Wen finished speaking, the front desk alert operator brought in a form, saying, “Captain Song, Pingshuang District received an alert, a homicide.”
So soon, the previous case wasn’t even closed properly, and a new one arrived. Song Wen made a quick arrangement by saying, “*Lao Jia, Zhu Xiao, go prepare with forensic scientists for the operation.” Then, he turned to Lu Siyu, “It’s your first day; come with us to observe.”
*lao – old
This is the first criminal case after the May Day holiday, and the city bureau naturally attaches great importance to it. Three cars were dispatched in total, with Fu Linjiang, a young lady, and Lu Siyu in one of them. Once on the car, Fu Linjiang explained to Lu Siyu, “Captain Song can be harsh with words but soft-hearted. He dislikes all the unnecessary formalities, but it’s not aimed at anyone. You don’t need to mind.”
Lu Siyu nodded.
Cheng Xiaobing, the forensic officer accompanying the team today, despite having a “little” in her name, was an experienced forensic officer who had worked for three years. She was meticulous during work hours but a carefree gossip-loving foodie in her daily life. As soon as they got on the car, she took out a pack of melon seeds and enthusiastically offered them to Lu Siyu, saying, “Hey, want some?”
*little – xiao
Lu Siyu shrank back, looking like a frightened rabbit. He waved his hand, saying, “No, thank you, I don’t eat them.”
Fu Linjiang chuckled and interjected, “Xiaobing, you’re too enthusiastic. Don’t scare him.” He openly showed his care for Lu Siyu, treating him like a younger brother. Then, he began to introduce the situation in the police station to Lu Siyu. Throughout the conversation, the sound of Cheng Xiaobing cracking melon seeds accompanied them.
In the morning of Nancheng, just after the peak commuting hours, there were still many vehicles on the road. The police cars attracted the attention of the public in the congested traffic as they left the city bureau. The three police cars headed south, becoming slightly smoother only after getting on the elevated highway. The weather in Nancheng in May was already warm enough. It was a little after nine in the morning, and the city bureau wasn’t far from the crime scene, about a twenty-minute drive. Due to some morning traffic, it took about thirty minutes to arrive.
When the car arrived at the destination, Cheng Xiaobing wasn’t in a hurry to get off. Instead, she took out a bag of candies from her bag and continued to wave it in front of Lu Siyu, saying, “How about these?”
Lu Siyu once again shook his head.
Cheng Xiaobing said, “Oh, how come you don’t eat this either? What do you like to eat?” Speaking without reservation, she stuffed a candy into his hand.
Feeling embarrassed to refuse again, Lu Siyu could only put the candy in his pocket. He thought seriously for a moment and, after a few seconds, said, “I like sour things…”
Lu Siyu originally meant he liked sour plums or tomatoes, but unexpectedly, Cheng Xiaobing giggled and said, “Sour boy, spicy girl… Does that mean you’re good at being jealous?” She completely treated this as teasing the new colleague, making Fu Linjiang laugh on the side.
酸儿辣女(suān ér là nǚ) – if a woman likes to eat sour things during pregnancy, she’ll have a boy; if she likes to eat spicy food, she’ll have a girl.
*the good at being jealous is referencing sour-vinegar(jealousy)
Coincidentally, Song Wen overheard this conversation. The banter amused him, and he opened the car door, staring at Lu Siyu and Cheng Xiaobing, saying, “We’re at the crime scene. Put away the food; I think you guys should endure some hardship…”
Reflecting on his actions, Lu Siyu obediently got out of the car without saying a word. On the other hand, Fu Linjiang, in the driver’s seat, looked at Song Wen and then at Lu Siyu, smiling without uttering a word.
This was a relatively new mid-range residential area named Yuting Huayin, located in Xincheng to the north of Nancheng. Five years ago, Xincheng was still an undeveloped area. It was bought by a developer, and with subsequent construction and development, along with the opening of a high-speed rail station, this area had become much busier. However, it still couldn’t compare to the city center. The houses were mainly for investment, resulting in less than one-third occupancy rate in the entire residential area.
This residential complex, Yuting Huayin, primarily features small-sized elevator apartments, which are clean, tidy, and offer strong privacy. The community is well-designed to separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic, with the parking garage located beneath the complex. The police had informed the property management and security in advance, and as the team arrived at the underground parking lot, there were people waiting for them. Among the detectives, Zhu Xiao, responsible for external liaison, proactively got off the car and chatted with the head of the community’s security about the situation. The glorified property management claimed not to disturb regular residents’ use of the parking lot, and pointed out a few parking spaces for them, all tucked away in corners.
In the investigation of a criminal case, the cooperation of forensic experts, medical examiners, and detectives is essential. Shortly after their arrival, the Identification Bureau’s vehicle also parked in the garage. Forensic examiner Lin Xiuran took the lead in getting off the car. Today, he wore a thin suit, impeccably combed hair. Following him was a graceful and beautiful woman, like a lotus emerging from the water. As soon as she got out of the car, she skillfully gathered her shoulder-length curled hair with her hands and then opened the trunk to change into a pair of flat shoes.
Lu Siyu stood on the side, observing these people as if he were a bystander, carefully studying them. Fu Linjiang introduced them to him, “Lin Xiuran, the director of the Identification Bureau, Xu Yao, our bureau’s number one beauty, a forensic expert.” Both were around thirty years old, experienced, and considered the ace team of the Nancheng Bureau.
Among the detectives, there was an older one who, upon seeing Xu Yao get off the car, walked over attentively, helping her with surveying tools. Fu Linjiang added, “This is Lao Jia, the oldest detective in our team.” Introducing them, Lao Jia held a cigarette in his hand, exhaling a puff of smoke, and waved towards this side.
Lu Siyu nodded again, indicating that he remembered. Lao Jia, despite looking younger than middle-aged, seemed to be heading towards a weathered appearance. The hair on his forehead was sparse, and he hadn’t shaved for several days. If he didn’t say he was a cop, others would likely think he was a street thug who had infiltrated the police. Lu Siyu thought to himself, what kind of team is this?
Lin Xiuran looked at the people standing here, walked over, and asked, “Where’s Song Wen?”
Fu Linjiang replied, “Dealing with property management.”
Lin Xiuran’s gaze fell on Lu Siyu, couldn’t help but take a few more glances, and then added a preventive remark, “Today is a dismemberment case. We’ll go check the situation first. You wait outside for a while before coming in.” This wasn’t discrimination against the new guy; it was just that many newbies tended to be a bit overwhelmed when they encountered more gruesome scenes for the first time. It was also easy to disrupt the crime scene.
Lu Siyu replied calmly, “I studied forensic science in college.”
Lin Xiuran didn’t expect this to be half a colleague and looked at him a bit unexpectedly. He then added a sentence, giving him a heads up, “The bodies you see in school and the bodies you see at the crime scene are completely different. Since you’ve studied forensic science, you can observe and understand by yourself. If you have any doubts or discoveries, you can discuss them with me at any time.”
During this pause, Song Wen had finished negotiating with the property management. Turning back, he first checked the surroundings here. The parking lot was very clean but a bit dim. This building had one elevator per two households, and each floor had a dedicated elevator entrance. It was now during working hours, and there weren’t many cars coming in and out of the parking lot.
When everyone was ready, they waited for the elevator. Song Wen looked at Lu Siyu standing at the back, who seemed to be in deep thought, and reached out to hand him a notebook and pen, saying, “When we get to the crime scene, ask me or the Deputy Captain if you don’t understand. Hold onto the notebook. Record anything you see, and when you go back, organize the crime scene investigation report.”
The crime scene investigation report must be detailed, including the origin of the report, the time and place of the investigation, people involved, various details of the scene, the position of the body, and the collection of physical evidence. The entire process was not a small workload.
Fu Linjiang told Lu Siyu, “Later, I’ll find several examples for you to study and summarize.”
Lu Siyu was not surprised and did not decline, showing no signs of distress. With a calm face, he lowered his head to look at the notebook and pen Song Wen gave him, saying, “No problem. We studied this in class, and I’ve done internships before.”
While they were talking, the elevator arrived. Everyone entered the elevator, and Lao Jia stood at the door, reaching out to press the close button. When Lu Siyu entered the elevator, he looked around and always felt that someone was missing. Then he realized that he hadn’t seen Song Wen’s figure among the crowd. He couldn’t help but mutter, “Ah, Captain Song…”
Fu Linjiang said, “No need to wait for him.”
Lu Siyu was a bit puzzled, “Does he have other things to do?”
Fu Linjiang explained to him in a low voice, “Captain Song never takes the elevator when leaving the crime scene.” His voice was low, but the elevator was not that big, and naturally, the others also heard.
Lu Siyu was still a bit stunned, not reacting yet, “Why?”
Lao Jia in front combed his sparse hair in front of the mirror in the elevator and felt that this new comrade seemed cute in his innocence, “Well, who dares to ask? Maybe he likes to exercise, just get used to it.”
In these few seconds, the elevator made a ding sound and stopped. Just as everyone exited the elevator one after another, Song Wen walked over from the stairwell. Climbing the stairs and taking the elevator, the two sides almost arrived simultaneously. Song Wen was in good physical condition, breathing evenly, showing no signs of having just climbed six floors.
Today, the head of security at the crime scene, after seeing the body, was afraid of causing panic and locked the door again. A few people stood in the corridor, and the narrow space seemed cramped.
As Zhu Xiao took out the keys, he briefly explained, “The security guard said that they heard water running upstairs all night and thought there was a leak. When they went to the bathroom, they found red blood dripping from upstairs. The landlord is out of town, unable to contact the tenant. The property security used the spare key left by the landlord to open the door and found a dismembered corpse in the bathroom.”
“How many households live around here?” Song Wen asked.
Zhu Xiao, who had just inquired with the property, answered truthfully, “The opposite side is still under renovation. Only the one downstairs is occupied, and it’s a simple rental with basic furnishings. Otherwise, it might not have been discovered.”
As the door opened, Lu Siyu moved his nose, raised his head and slightly wrinkled his brows. Standing outside the room, he didn’t smell much of the stench of a corpse. Instead, he caught a strange smell—a scent of human flesh.
It was strange to say, various creatures in this world were diverse. Although they were all meat with similar compositions, their tastes were vastly different. Using only their noses and taste buds, people could skillfully distinguish pork, beef, lamb, chicken, and even further, different breeds, different regions, different years, and different feeding methods of animals, resulting in various flavors of food.
Now, this scent, unfamiliar to those who hadn’t smelled it before, was known to Lu Siyu. It was the smell of human flesh.
After killing a person, dividing the body with a blade, and placing it over a fire, slowly simmering for several hours until all the meat fell off the bones—that was when this kind of smell would diffuse.
TN:
I’m going to go out on a limb and say the reason why he’s familiar with this smell is because he’s studied Forensic Science and probably conducted experiments or autopsies because the other option is just…
Something like Maceration(although this is soaking in water to make scraping easier without damaging the bones not boiling).
Anyways, yaay first case lezzgooo!
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EuphoriaT[Translator]
Certified member of the IIO(International Introverts Organization), PhD holder in Overthinking and Ghosting, Spokesperson for BOBAH(Benefits of Being a Homebody), Founder of SFA(Salted Fish Association), Brand Ambassador for Couch Potato fall line Pajama set.