Chapter 3

“We just received a report. There’s been a homicide on Sanjiang Road in Hexi District. According to the officers who first arrived at the scene…” the man began loudly, but his voice trailed off toward the end, the rest of his words unclear.

It was unclear whether he had spotted Luo Jingyao standing under the tree not far away or was simply being cautious due to the ongoing chaos outside the gates caused by Huang Guojun’s family.

After hearing the man out, Lin Jiafan gave his team members a meaningful look. The Special Case Investigation Unit immediately understood and sprinted into the main building at top speed.

Lin Jiafan exchanged a few more low-toned words with the officer, then turned and slowly walked over to the old tree. He stopped two steps in front of Luo Jingyao.

“Coach Luo, right? I’m sorry, but today’s session…” His voice, usually clear and warm, now sounded hoarse from fatigue.

“It’s no problem. Your work is obviously more urgent. I’ll coordinate with the bureau regarding future classes,” Luo Jingyao replied, waving her hand with a polite and distant smile.

Lin Jiafan said nothing more. Just then, a police van drove out from the rear courtyard.

The driver’s window rolled down, revealing the familiar long face of the blond youth: “Captain Lin!”

Lin Jiafan nodded slightly and strode over to the van, swiftly pulling open the passenger door and climbing in.

The front gate of the Jinshi Public Security Bureau was still completely blocked. The riot police had just barely cleared a narrow path for the police vehicle to pass through.

A moment later, the sirens wailed, and the van disappeared down the road.

The crowd outside quieted for only a moment before the previously wailing middle-aged woman exploded again. She frantically waved her arms in the direction of the departing van and loudly accused the police in front of countless recording phones:
“Look how fast they ran! That van must be carrying the top brass from the bureau!”

A young officer trying to maintain order couldn’t stand her baseless accusations any longer and retorted, “Ma’am, please don’t make random claims. That police vehicle was dispatched on a routine field assignment!”

“Field assignment?” Huang Guojun’s mother, like a wild cat sniffing fish, immediately grew alert. She exchanged a subtle glance with the man beside her holding a protest sign.

This subtle exchange did not escape Luo Jingyao’s eyes. She had just reached the gate and was trying to exit through the side entrance when she witnessed the whole thing.

Raising an eyebrow, she nodded at the now-familiar gate guard and agilely slipped into the crowd.

Despite the dense mass of people, Luo Jingyao moved easily, squeezing through the crowd until she was near the middle-aged woman. At just over 160 cm tall, she blended in seamlessly.

Just then, a commercial van pulled up to the curb. Several people carrying equipment stepped out—it looked like a media crew.

Naturally, Huang Guojun’s mother noticed them. Suddenly reinvigorated, she planted her hands on her hips and launched into a new tirade:
“A field assignment, is it? Then tell everyone what kind of field assignment it is! Dare you?!”

The officer who had earlier tried to argue instinctively opened his mouth to respond, but a colleague tugged his arm just in time. He snapped out of it and swallowed the words.

Seeing this, the woman shouted even more aggressively:
“What? Cat got your tongue? I knew it—you’re guilty!”

As the media crew pushed their way through the crowd, the onlookers were initially annoyed by their rudeness. But when they recognized the press badges hanging around their necks, the frustration faded and was replaced by eager anticipation.

Faced with cameras shoved in her face, Huang Guojun’s mother didn’t flinch. In fact, her emotions grew even more intense. She wailed dramatically, tears and snot flowing:
“Reporters, please help me! Two years ago, the Jinshi police wrongfully accused my son of murder and got him killed!”

Even though it wasn’t the first time the officers had heard such unfounded accusations, the slander still stung.

Eventually, the hot-tempered young officer couldn’t take it anymore and stepped forward:
“The 6/13 Serial Murder Case was crystal clear. All evidence was complete, the police conducted the investigation properly, and Huang Guojun himself confessed in court. The verdict was upheld through final appeal. You can’t make such irresponsible accusations!”

“Slander?” The middle-aged woman exploded the moment she heard this, especially with the media cameras pointed at her. “Fine! Then why don’t this officer explain the murder that occurred in our city just last week?”

“And that police van that just drove off—where exactly was it headed?!”

The young officer hesitated. It wasn’t because he felt guilty or intimidated, but rather out of concern for the bigger picture.

The scene today had drawn far too much attention—there were live streams, influential news outlets, and an emotionally charged crowd. One wrong word could land the Jinshi Public Security Bureau in serious trouble, sparking massive public backlash.

Fortunately, before Huang Guojun’s family could push any further, a calm, steady voice spoke from behind the young officer:
“Last week’s homicide case is still under investigation, so we are currently unable to share specific details with the public. Once the investigation is complete, we will release a full and truthful report. We ask everyone to trust the police.”

The speaker was someone Luo Jingyao recognized. Just three days earlier, during her onboarding, Deputy Director Zhang had given her a tour around the public security bureau.

Perhaps it was because Deputy Director Zhang looked so calm and reliable, and spoke with such clarity and authority, that the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

But that kind of harmony clearly wasn’t what Huang Guojun’s family wanted. As expected, the middle-aged woman spoke again—this time, exposing information the police had yet to make public:
“Spare me! Stop pretending to be some righteous judge! The reason you haven’t dared to reveal the truth is because last week’s murder was exactly like the 6/13 serial killings from two years ago, isn’t it?!”

“Oh, and don’t think I didn’t notice—that police van just now was obviously headed to the newest crime scene in Hexi District. Let me guess… this new case is also connected to the 6/13 murders, right?”

As her voice fell, Luo Jingyao, standing in the crowd, furrowed her brows. Something didn’t feel right.

Deputy Director Zhang’s eyelid twitched. His expression didn’t change much, but his gaze toward the woman turned probing.

Since last week’s murder, the bureau had done everything possible to contain the news. Even the most connected media outlets didn’t have the full story. So how did this woman know?

But now wasn’t the right time to dig into that. Under the watchful eyes of both the crowd and countless online viewers, Deputy Director Zhang carefully replied:
“The investigation is ongoing. To be responsible to the public, we cannot draw conclusions prematurely.”

“That’s right. Last week’s murder does bear some similarities to the 6/13 serial killings. However, based on current evidence, we believe it may be a copycat crime—”

“So you finally admit it!” Huang Guojun’s mother rudely cut him off, her voice shrill and piercing. “Copycat crime? That’s just an excuse to cover up your mistakes! The truth is, my son was innocent, and you all wrongfully accused him!”

“How are you going to repay me for my son’s life?!” she shouted—and then, without warning, lunged at Deputy Director Zhang.

Luckily, the riot police maintaining order reacted quickly and stopped her just in time.

But then, the crowd heard a gasp.

The woman suddenly stumbled backward and fell to the ground as if she had been shoved, dramatically positioning her face right in front of the media cameras. She screamed in exaggerated anguish:
“There’s no justice left! The police hit me!”

“Poor my son! He was only thirty when these heartless bastards killed him! And now the real killer is still out there, murdering again, while the police sit back and bully a grieving mother instead of catching him… boohoohoo…”

“Son! It’s all your mother’s fault… I couldn’t get justice for you… so I’ll come join you now!” she suddenly cried out in despair. Then, in a dramatic motion, she pulled a fruit knife from her coat and pressed the blade against her own delicate neck!

The surrounding crowd took several seconds to process what just happened. Chaos instantly erupted.

Some scrambled to film, others loudly relayed the incident to friends over calls, while some fanned the flames with sarcastic and inflammatory remarks.

Seeing this, Deputy Director Zhang didn’t hesitate—he stepped forward to try and calm her down. But just as expected, the woman shouted:
“Don’t come any closer! If your bureau doesn’t give me a proper explanation today, I’ll die right here!”

The blade in her hand, gleaming coldly in the sunlight, inched even closer to her pulsing artery.

With no other choice, Deputy Director Zhang stopped a few meters away and began speaking gently, trying to reason with her while frantically signaling the riot police with his eyes.

But the area was too crowded. Huang Guojun’s mother was shielded by several men she had brought with her. The police had no good opening to end this public stunt safely.

Just as everyone’s attention was fully locked onto the hysterical woman threatening suicide, a quiet, unnoticed figure moved stealthily through the crowd.

It was Luo Jingyao.

She moved smoothly, nearly invisible, until a few large men holding signs and banners blocked her path. She stopped, tilted her head slightly, and peered through the gaps between people.

Then, without warning—

“Ah!”

A sharp, panicked scream rang out from the woman. The gathered crowd and media all instinctively looked up.

They saw a fruit knife spinning through the air, forming a clean arc before landing precisely at Deputy Director Zhang’s feet.

The crisp clang of metal hitting concrete made everyone’s skin crawl.

As if coordinated in advance, countless phones and camera lenses at the scene all turned in unison toward the two people on the ground, who were now in an overlapping position.

The onlookers:
Well… that was kind of unexpected…