After the autopsy, Chen Shi went outside and saw Lin Dongxue sitting frustrated in a chair. Chen Shi sat down next to her and asked, “What's wrong? Your mouth has turned so far down, it looks like a bottle opener.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Let me guess, is it because your brother reprimanded you in public that you are upset?”

Seeing that he hit the nail on the head, Lin Dongxue was a bit ashamed and changed the subject. “How was the autopsy? Were there any major findings?”

“For the time being, it should be said that it is just an ordinary dismemberment case.”

“Ordinary?!” Lin Qiupu went out of the forensics lab. “Chen Shi, the way you’re saying it is a bit much, don’t you think? The deceased is only a teenage boy. The method is too cruel! This case will definitely cause a lot of public scrutiny and backlash.”

Lin Dongxue was still angry with him and looked away. Chen Shi explained, “I am only speaking about it in a technical sense. From what we can see, it is technically an ordinary case.”

“Then you...” Lin Qiupu wanted to say, “Then you solve the case for me to see then!” However, he retracted his words. This driver has proved his capabilities several times. I mustn’t fall into his trap again.

“What about me?” Chen Shi smiled and asked, “Would you like me to help?”

Lin Qiupu glared at him. “No need. We haven't fallen so far to need to ask for help every time.”

“Okay, I won't intervene this time then.”

Lin Qiupu, who seemed to have gotten words he could hold Chen Shi against, immediately exclaimed, “Well then, since you said so yourself, this time you are not allowed to intervene!”

“If I said I’m not going to intervene, then I’m not going to intervene.”

Lin Qiupu’s heart was filled with delight. He felt that this nosy driver dug his own grave this time. He refused to believe that they couldn’t solve cases without this guy.

Still, they had to be wary of him. So he added, “We need to agree beforehand that if you intervene...”

“I won't appear in front of you in the future ever again.”

“Deal!”

“But……”

“No ‘but’s! Don’t try to negotiate conditions with me.”

“Captain Lin, is it that only officials can start fires, but the common person can’t even light a lamp?[1] Why can you make conditions but I can’t? Surely you’re not afraid?”

“Me? Afraid of you?!”

Lin Dongxue couldn't stand listening to them anymore, but wondered why Lin Qiupu seemed to be getting more and more petty these days. She was about to stand up and leave when Chen Shi signalled her to stay with his eyes.

Chen Shi negotiated, “But this case, you have to give Lin Dongxue full autonomy and allow her to investigate independently.”

Lin Dongxue's eyes wide open. Is Chen Shi trying to help her find her face back?[2]

“With what authority?” Lin Qiupu fumed.

“I’ve already told you that the case is simple. It is so simple that Lin Dongxue can solve it alone. You don't need to send out the whole team for it.”

Lin Qiupu heard the meaning of his words in between the lines. Chen Shi was betting with him again, but this time he was gambling a bit too much. As Lin Dongxue's brother, how could he not know her capabilities?

However, Chen Shi was very sly. He might give her pointers behind the shadows.

While Lin Qiupu was hesitating, Chen Shi made it seem like he knew what he was thinking. “Don’t worry. I am very busy these next couple of days, so I won’t intervene and I won’t be giving your sister instructions behind the scenes like a military counsel.”

“Hmph, are you saying that our entire task force can’t even compare to my sister?”

Lin Dongxue couldn't sit still anymore. She stood up and yelled. “You always take me for a child! I am going to prove to you that I’m not worse than anyone else.”

Lin Qiupu’s words immediately softened. “Sister, I didn’t mean it like that. I just care about you, that’s all.”

“You don't need to care, you control freak!”

“What? You’re saying I’m a control freak? Do you know how much you’re hurting me right now?!”

“If this case can be broken by me, you’re not allowed to interfere with my personal affairs in the future, and you can’t just make me lose face in public again!” After saying her piece, Lin Dongxue turned around and left, leaving no opportunity for Lin Qiupu to refute.

Chen Shi smiled. “That's it then. We’ll set the conditions like that.”

Lin Qiupu was so angry that steam came out of all his orifices. The words “control freak” spoken from his sister's mouth were like an ice pick stabbing his heart. When they were young, their parents died, so they were adopted into their relatives' homes. They were always at the receiving end of disdain and being snubbed. He tried keeping the wind and rain away from his sister at all costs.

When his sister was bullied by little hooligans at school. He took half a brick[3] to find the bully to seek justice. He was beaten up badly at the time.

Later, he got into the police academy. His sister cried on the phone saying that in summer, all the other students were wearing sandals, and she was the only one who didn’t. She could only wear sneakers as it was the only thing she owned. He went to work secretly even though it was against the school rules, in order to send money to her.

Lin Qiupu suddenly became very lost and depressed. Sitting in a chair, his head fell into his hands. Chen Shi patted his shoulder. “If you care too much, it will become a burden.”

“I don’t need you to say this to me, you outsider!”

“Well, I will take my leave first. Remember our agreement.”

Looking at the back of Chen Shi as he left, Lin Qiupu clenched his fists. He must lead this case and solve it before his sister.

Chen Shi caught up with Lin Dongxue and asked, “Have you let off some steam yet?”

Lin Dongxue’s cheeks were red but she spoke with gratitude, “Thank you for helping me out back there.”

“I didn't help you out. I just gave you an opportunity.”

Lin Dongxue thought of the fragmented body in the bags. The identity of the deceased and the motive of the murderer was a complete mystery. She suddenly felt overwhelmed. “But how can I break this case? You overestimated me. I have learned things from you after being around you for so long, but I don’t possess the same capabilities that you do.”

“Don't fret. Let's find a place to sit down.”

“Okay, I’ll invite you to have a cup of milk tea.”

The two went to a tea shop and asked for two cups of pearl milk tea. Chen Shi said, “I will tell you about the issues regarding this case.”

“Oh? Okay!”

“From the perspective of the murderer, since they have already committed to the dismemberment of the corpse, why would they throw the bags in the garbage bin of the school? The school is a closed environment. How many people are there in that building in total? It is too easy to find out if it were investigated. Is the murderer stupid? This is the first issue. Second of all, the body parts have been packed separately, so why would it be thrown away together? For the murderer, the later the identity of the deceased is determined, the better it is for themselves. Generally, murderers who dismember bodies will throw out the corpse in a multitude of locations so that the police will have to expend all their resources to search for all the parts. But this time, the murderer’s approach seems too straight and honest.”

“Huh? So you’re saying that the murderer has a hidden reason behind his actions?”

Chen Shi smiled. “You’re making it out to be too complicated. I can tell you with certainty that the murderer is not a person inside the school, but he chose to throw the corpse there, revealing a thick sense of framing. This person must have connections with the school and he has the ability to dismember and abandon the body. Obviously, there are adults involved in the murder.”

“There are adults involved in the murder?”

“Mmhmm, there should be more than one murderer. I think the principal murderer is a child, and the person who dismembered the corpse is probably their guardian. You just have to investigate the interpersonal relationships of the deceased. But you need to be aware of one point. For children, their killing intent is often something that is not important to adults.”

Lin Dongxue seemed too drunk on excitement, and excitedly exclaimed, “It's that simple?!”

“The more difficult the case seems to be, the simpler the clues are. Don't be fooled by illusions. Especially don't be deceived by your brother. Remember my words and follow this line of investigation. I believe you can do it.”

Lin Dongxue was grateful in her heart and asked, “Why are you doing this for me?”

Chen Shi took a sip of milk tea and stated calmly, “Because I like you!”

1. An expression that means officials can do anything they please, but commoners aren’t allowed to do anything.

2. Her dignity and pride that she lost when her brother yelled at her in front of everyone.

3. Whatever he could get his hands on.