After dying once, all sins are now cleared.
For Ye Sangsang, being able to let go of grudges and survive was a fairly good outcome.
However, she didn’t expect that the other party would still find her and give her closure.
A very good closure, indeed—the dead could rest in peace, and those who should live could continue living.
As for the *Criminal Files* game livestream?
Ye Sangsang had no intention of mentioning it. Let the matter simply pass.
She maneuvered her wheelchair back to her room, her mood inexplicably lifting. Sitting by the window, she slowly tore a letter into tiny pieces.
Some secrets are better kept hidden forever.
Ye Sangsang began her daily routine, though today she added some extra reading.
Her father only wanted to keep her confined in this psychiatric hospital. Aside from constant surveillance and ensuring she didn’t recover, there weren’t many other restrictions.
In fact, the room she was assigned and the nurses and doctors assigned to her were the best the hospital had to offer.
It took an hour before Ye Sangsang finally got her hands on the book.
She sat in the pavilion, surrounded by other patients out for their daily airing. Some sat near Ye Sangsang, rambling incoherently before wandering off. Others aimlessly wandered about, unsure of what they were doing or what they intended to do.
Amidst it all, Ye Sangsang remained unmoved.
She skipped her afternoon nap, spending her time between the courtyard and her room, dutifully taking the medication the nurse brought her.
By six in the evening, Ye Sangsang had moved herself to her bed and was reading her third professional book. The books sent to her were highly specialized, and the lawyer was indeed reliable. Ye Sangsang was starting to believe he might truly be an old friend of her mother’s.
At seven-thirty, Ye Sangsang turned off the main light in her room, leaving only a nightlight on, and closed her eyes to sleep.
Star Ring Live immediately detected the start of her broadcast, and the number of viewers in her livestream quickly began to soar.
Ye Sangsang suddenly remembered—had Ye Zhe just disappeared?
If he wasn’t coming, then so be it. It wasn’t interesting anyway.
She entered the game and picked up Shen Yu’s drawing board and sketch pencil. The pencil had red stripes and was engraved with the words "Zhongzhou Country." The eraser at the top still bore marks of use.
It had to be said, this game was incredibly realistic.
Ye Sangsang could already imagine how much the audience would enjoy scrutinizing the details once the game officially launched.
**[Is Sister Sang going to profile the killer? Can she even do that?]**
**[Sister Sang is finally live! I love how hardworking she is!]**
**[I wonder how this dungeon is going to go. The dungeons in *Criminal Files* never seem simple. I’ve followed so many streamers, and not to throw shade, but not many of them complete the dungeons, let alone perfectly.]**
**[Someone else just started this dungeon too—they’re a big internet detective influencer! I wonder who’s better, him or Sister Sang.]**
The livestream chat exploded with messages, discussing all sorts of things.
However, not many held out hope for the criminal profiling.
Based on Ye Sangsang’s previous performances, she was clearly intelligent and ruthless. Criminal profiling, on the other hand, wasn’t something simple—it required at least some professional training.
As usual, Ye Sangsang had the chat automatically filtered by the smart system, which detected her preferences and blocked it as soon as she entered the game.
So, Ye Sangsang couldn’t see any of these comments. She lowered her head slightly, deep in thought about the killer.
“What’s this? Let me see what this criminal profiling thing is all about,” Qin Jiang said, sliding his office chair over to Ye Sangsang on its wheels. He crossed his legs and looked at her with curiosity.
Qin Jiang had a sharp, stern appearance, his skin tanned from years of working outdoors. His slightly curly hair covered his forehead, extending about five fingers’ width—four fingers was normal, but five was a bit too much, hinting at thinning hair.
He wore a dark blue polo shirt, the kind middle-aged men often favored, paired with casual pants and simple black mesh sneakers.
His eyes carried a sharpness and a hint of menace, giving off a somewhat roguish vibe.
After glancing at him, Ye Sangsang replied, “There’s not much information yet.”
“Listen, kid,” Qin Jiang said, tapping the desk with his index and middle fingers, “just focus on learning from me, your master. Forget about all that criminal profiling stuff.”
Ye Sangsang looked at Qin Jiang sincerely. “I think criminal behavior analysis is quite useful.”
Qin Jiang thought for a moment. “We haven’t known each other long, so here’s what we’ll do. Analyze me. If you can guess a few things correctly, I’ll acknowledge your criminal behavior analysis.”
Ye Sangsang nodded, eager to test her skills.
“Master, you don’t have a family. You likely lost your wife and child early in life. When you were younger, something traumatic happened during a case that left you with some psychological scars. You’re outwardly cold but inwardly warm-hearted, with a strong sense of justice. You’re passionate about solving cases and have a deep desire to help others.”
She paused, then added, “You’re a good police officer who’s dedicated to saving people.”
That was all she had.
Qin Jiang stared at her seriously for a few seconds before breaking into a wide grin. He pointed at her and said, “You little rascal, did you read my file?”
“No,” Ye Sangsang replied.
Qin Jiang laughed heartily, waving his hand dismissively. “Well, whether you did or not, it doesn’t matter!”
Ye Sangsang silently labeled him as stubborn and didn’t say anything more.
Qin Jiang stood up, looking at Ye Sangsang with approval. “However you got that information, I think you’ve got potential. Come on, let’s go meet a suspect.”
“Who?” Ye Sangsang didn’t feel the need to argue. As long as her analysis wasn’t completely off, that was enough. The case was what mattered now.
As she spoke, she also stood up from her chair.
Qin Jiang smiled mysteriously, picked up a blue folder, and headed for the door. He gestured for Ye Sangsang to follow, saying, “Someone who saw the victim before she died.”
Ye Sangsang stood up and followed Qin Jiang to the interrogation room.
**[Who is it? I’m so curious!]**
**[This case seems pretty straightforward.]**
**[How did the police confirm who saw the victim before her death?]**
The livestream chat was buzzing with excitement.
These viewers weren’t just fans of Ye Sangsang—they were also avid fans of the game.
The camera shifted to the best angle, focusing on Ye Sangsang as she and Qin Jiang entered the interrogation room.
As a key suspect, the person who had seen the victim before her death couldn’t be questioned in a regular interview room.
Ye Sangsang sat to Qin Jiang’s left. In the previous dungeon, she had been on the other side of the table.
Qin Jiang leaned back in his chair, legs crossed. “Tell us, when did you see Qian Chunmei, and how did you kill her? Be honest.”
Ye Sangsang sat upright, looking serious and official, holding a pen to take notes.
As the secondary figure in this interrogation, her role was simply to record the conversation.
“I didn’t kill anyone! I just saw her four days ago in the afternoon. We did some things at the hotel, and then we went our separate ways…” The man was thin, wearing an ill-fitting suit, his face a mix of panic and embarrassment.
Qin Jiang rested his forehead on his hand, then slammed the table. “Still not telling the truth? I think you did more than just ‘some things.’ If this were a few years ago, you’d be in deep trouble for indecency!”
Hearing this, the man flinched.
“I just have some… unique preferences, but I didn’t kill her! I paid her! It was a fair exchange!” The man’s voice was pleading, his words frantic as he tried to convince Qin Jiang of his innocence.
Ye Sangsang sat quietly, jotting down every word, thinking to herself that this was quite the twisted situation.
**[SM? So even thirty years ago, people were into these niche interests.]**
**[He probably had a hard time finding a partner for this, so he paid a lot. And that money might have led to Qian Chunmei’s death.]**
**[I don’t think he’s the killer.]**
Meanwhile, Qin Jiang pinched the bridge of his nose and asked again, “Tell us about the hotel you and Qian Chunmei went to four days ago, how much you paid her, and if she mentioned anything unusual or anyone she’d recently met.”
“Okay, okay…” The man nodded quickly and began to recount everything in detail.
He had contacted Qian Chunmei by chance, agreeing to pay her 500 yuan to indulge his preferences. They had met at room 304 of the Hongxin Hotel, and Qian Chunmei had left at 5:30 PM.
The man spoke with a bitter tone, "As you all know, this little hobby of mine is hard to find someone for, so I paid her a deposit for the next time. I never expected that now she's dead, and the money is a small issue..."
His face flushed for a moment, and he could only hope that this matter wouldn't be exposed to his family.
Ye Sangsang's expression remained cold and indifferent, showing no emotion.
Qin Jiang frowned and sighed, "Think about whether there's anything else you need to confess. We're going to verify what you've said now, so you'd better make sure everything you've told us is true."
The man nodded repeatedly, his face filled with hope. He was afraid the police wouldn't investigate!
Soon, Qin Jiang and Ye Sangsang got into the car and headed to Hongxin Hotel to check the surveillance footage.
Ye Sangsang sat in the passenger seat, holding a brush and writing on a piece of white paper, occasionally pausing to think.
Qin Jiang, who was driving, didn't say much, glancing at her a couple of times before focusing back on the road.
This city was about the same size as Lin City from the last case, a medium-sized inland city. After about ten minutes, they arrived at their destination.
The receptionist was a young woman with dyed blonde hair, wearing a white shirt and a red pencil skirt. She stood up when she saw them.
Qin Jiang and Ye Sangsang showed their badges and asked her to pull up the surveillance footage.
The footage was in black and white, not very clear, but it was still possible to see the two of them entering the room and then leaving one after the other after 5:30 PM.
Qian Chunmei even looked around, perhaps afraid of running into someone she knew.
The man who was caught had even paid a deposit for the next time, which completely eliminated any motive for murder.
Qin Jiang and Ye Sangsang then checked nearby places that might have surveillance cameras to confirm that Qian Chunmei had left alone.
After finishing this, they received a call from the station saying that Qian Chunmei's autopsy report was ready.
Qin Jiang and Ye Sangsang headed back.
Ye Sangsang continued to write, occasionally pausing to think.
"You're not still trying to profile the killer, are you?" Qin Jiang suddenly realized and asked Ye Sangsang in the car.
Ye Sangsang nodded slightly, "Yes, I have some leads."
Qin Jiang shook his head. He didn't believe in this kind of thing, but since she did, he could only prove her wrong by finding the killer.
"Suit yourself," he said.
Ye Sangsang didn't say anything more, focusing on sketching out the possible characteristics of the suspect.
When the car stopped in front of the Major Crimes Division, Qin Jiang strode toward the forensic lab.
"Any leads?" he asked as soon as he pushed the door open.
Ye Sangsang followed behind, looking at the deceased on the relatively simple autopsy table—not the body itself, but the white sheet covering it.
The forensic examiner, holding a folder, walked over to Qin Jiang. "The cause of death was excessive blood loss from a severed carotid artery. The estimated time of death has been narrowed down a bit, likely between 9 PM on the 5th and 2 AM the next day. There are fingerprints, and the weapon was an ordinary knife. As you speculated, the timing of the two wounds is inconsistent. The whip marks and some other injuries were inflicted before death, and they're all superficial."
"Got it," Qin Jiang said, taking the autopsy report and heading back to the office.
As for the fingerprint comparison, it had already been done, but there were no matches.
This meant that the person whose fingerprints they were either was a migrant worker or a local with no criminal record. In such cases, fingerprints could only be used for identification once the person was caught.
Qian Chunmei was a migrant worker with no family or friends in the city. The only people she knew were her landlord and the man who had made an appointment with her.
If the motive was money, then the killer must have known about the money.
It seemed they would have to start investigating around the neighborhood and focus on the man.
Moreover, it appeared that the killer was familiar with the layout of the room but had acted on impulse.
It was likely someone from the area.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Jiang stood up. He still needed to go to the crime scene to see if there were any other clues.
"Let's go to the crime scene," he said, picking up his bag, phone, and keys, and motioning to Ye Sangsang.
Ye Sangsang looked at him, stopped writing, and raised her head. "How about looking at my criminal profile first?"
"What's the point of looking at that? Going to the scene is what matters," Qin Jiang said, exasperated. Newcomers were always like this—too stubborn, too reliant on what they learned from books, and not grounded in the reality of actual investigations.
But even as he thought this, Qin Jiang didn't say it out loud. Young people cared about their pride, and it wouldn't do to embarrass them and risk them getting defensive.
Ye Sangsang sat upright in her chair, then turned to face Qin Jiang, holding the profile she had drawn and tilting it toward him. "How about you listen to my explanation, Master?"
Her tone wasn't filled with confusion or frustration, just a simple inquiry into whether he was willing to hear her out.
Often, trying too hard to sell your idea might not be as effective as simply asking if someone wants to hear it.
Qin Jiang had been prepared for his apprentice to be overly enthusiastic, but seeing her calm demeanor, he paused for a moment. "Alright, go ahead."
The others in the office, hearing their conversation, turned their attention toward them.
Qin Jiang, the seasoned detective, was known for being stubborn and not the best at communicating. Yet here he was, being persuaded by his new apprentice in just a few words?
The four other members of the Major Crimes Division who were still in the office gathered around.
"What are you two discussing? Care to share with us?"
"What's this? Whose information is this?"
"What's going on?"
They were like curious onlookers, eager to know the details.
Ye Sangsang, under the gaze of these people, rubbed the edge of her drawing board and looked at Qin Jiang.
Qin Jiang sighed and found a seat.
He wanted to hear what this criminal behavior analysis was all about.
Ye Sangsang walked over, pulled out a movable whiteboard, and pinned her profile in the middle using magnets.
"The profession of criminal behavior analysis has actually developed more comprehensively abroad. By analyzing criminal behavior, the methods used by the perpetrator, and the subsequent actions, we can deduce the characteristics and information of the suspect," she explained briefly, then continued, pointing with her sketching pen, "Of course, the focus of criminal psychology is on psychological profiling and behavioral motives, which help us understand the criminal's intentions."
"First, based on the preliminary details of the throat-slitting case, I've conducted the following criminal psychological profile."
"The suspect is male, aged between 24 and 28, approximately 168 cm tall, weighing between 60 kg and 63 kg, and is very thin. He likely experienced psychological trauma during childhood due to acts like molestation and has a voyeuristic tendency. He has a somewhat handsome, melancholic, and scholarly appearance, with at least a high school education, but also some bad habits, which can be inferred from his weight."
Ye Sangsang pointed at each item as she read out her profile.
Qin Jiang couldn't help but interject, "Psychological trauma? What does that have to do with throat-slitting? And the voyeurism—are you saying this guy was spying on Qian Chunmei?"
"Yes, voyeurism. This person has been watching Qian Chunmei and is familiar with her figure and the layout of her room. That's how he was able to steal the money in the dark and quickly target her neck to kill her. Because of his bad habits, he's short on money, and Qian Chunmei happened to have some. I suspect he's addicted to drugs," Ye Sangsang replied, circling the word "drugs" on the paper.
One of the officers chimed in, "So you think it could be the landlord, a neighbor, or some pervert with voyeuristic tendencies?"
"Whoever fits the description and is addicted to drugs!" another officer added.
The remaining three older detectives, including Qin Jiang, still looked skeptical. If Ye Sangsang's profiling was accurate, finding the killer would indeed be much easier than before.
But it all seemed a bit too simplistic.
Ye Sangsang looked at Qin Jiang, "Master, what do you think the accuracy rate is?"
"We'll know once we find the killer!" Qin Jiang replied.
Ye Sangsang didn't push further. If he wanted to wait until the killer was found, then so be it.
[I'm curious, how accurate is this?]
[I believe in Sister Sang. What she's saying makes sense.]
[Qin Jiang's skepticism might be due to the era and the fact that this field wasn't well-established in the early 2000s.]
The live chat was filled with various opinions, though only a few were particularly excited.
Ye Sangsang, however, was already indifferent to their thoughts. She picked up her things and followed Qin Jiang to the crime scene.
They lifted the police tape and unlocked the door with a key.
Standing in the room and taking a careful look around, Qin Jiang spoke up, "You mentioned peeping. How exactly was it done? The landlord I saw doesn't match the description."
Ye Sangsang stood on the balcony, tilting her head to look toward the left.
"The security window on the left side of the room is actually decayed. If someone moves carefully, they can easily reach this balcony. Zhao Yue's boyfriend is highly suspicious. Why don't we call him out and see?" Ye Sangsang stated straightforwardly.
Qin Jiang felt that his apprentice, though talented, was a bit too eager for quick success.
According to Zhao Yue, her boyfriend came from a well-off family and shouldn't be involved in such shady activities.
As the two were discussing in the room, voices came from outside the door.
"Zhang Chen, the woman next door died. The police came to ask questions yesterday!" Zhao Yue said to the man beside her.
A moment later, an unfamiliar male voice responded, "Aren't you scared? Why don't you move in with me for a few days?"
"Dream on! I'm not moving in with you!"
The next second, playful banter could be heard.
Without hesitation, Ye Sangsang and Qin Jiang opened the door.
[Wow, is this how seasoned detectives operate?]
[Hahaha, they're so in sync.]
[I'm curious, is this Zhang Chen guy the killer?]
Their sudden appearance startled Zhang Chen and Zhao Yue. The playful smiles on their faces froze.
Zhao Yue spoke up first, "Oh, it's you! Are the officers here to check the scene again?"
"Yes, the killer is too cunning. We're here to see if there's any new information," Qin Jiang said, glancing at Zhang Chen. "You're Zhao Yue's boyfriend, right? We happen to have some questions for you. Is now a good time?"
It's common knowledge that first-time killers, no matter how calm they appear, can't help but feel panic, fear, and nervousness.
Under the gaze of the two officers, Zhang Chen remained remarkably composed and nodded, "Sure."
The two of them, carrying groceries, walked ahead of Ye Sangsang and Qin Jiang.
There was a height difference of about five centimeters between them, but visually, it was almost negligible.
Despite their similar heights, Zhang Chen was noticeably thinner. When facing him, one could see the dark circles and hollows on his face.
According to Ye Sangsang's profile, Zhang Chen matched her description perfectly: around 168 cm tall, mid-twenties, a slender build, and a brooding yet handsome face.
Once inside the room, Zhang Chen quietly took the groceries to the kitchen, put them away, and then returned to the living room to sit down.
"What do you want to ask?" he asked, his tone stiff and his face unconsciously stern.
It was clear from his tone that Zhang Chen wasn't exactly welcoming.
Shen Yu was a pretty girl with a sweet smile, so Ye Sangsang decided to use her charm. "It's nothing major. We just want to know if you were at Zhao Yue's place on the night of the 5th and if you heard any noises from next door."
"No," Zhang Chen replied decisively.
Ye Sangsang continued, "Can you tell us where you were at the time, what you were doing, and if there are any witnesses?"
Zhang Chen took a sip of water, set the cup down, and answered, "I was at my own place. There were no witnesses, but I was on the phone with Yue the whole time. I was telling her stories to help her fall asleep. There are call records, and Yue can confirm it."
At that moment, Zhao Yue slapped her forehead and pulled out her phone. "Oh! I almost forgot. We were indeed on the phone. It lasted almost three to four hours. I only realized the next morning how long Zhang Chen had been talking to me!"
In a way, this served as an alibi.
"Mr. Zhang, you don't seem to be in the best of health," Ye Sangsang suddenly remarked.
The abrupt change in topic caught Zhao Yue off guard.
Before Zhang Chen could respond, Zhao Yue explained, "He used to be quite heavy. He lost weight but developed some anorexia tendencies. That's why we're cooking together. I'm trying to get him to eat more."
Zhang Chen nodded in agreement.
Ye Sangsang scratched her head. "No worries, just curious. Sorry, can I use your bathroom? I couldn't and didn't dare to use the one next door."
"Go ahead!" Zhao Yue said generously.
Qin Jiang remained silent, keeping his eyes on Zhang Chen as he continued to ask questions.
For example, did he know what kind of person lived next door, or if he had seen anyone suspicious around the area.
Zhang Chen shook his head. "I don't really know."
"Hey, you said something different before! You told me the neighbor seemed like a woman of ill repute, bringing different men back all the time," Zhao Yue interjected, puzzled.
Zhang Chen's expression cracked for a moment before he quickly explained, "I hope you understand, Officer. I'm a bit of a hassle-averse person, so I said that."
Qin Jiang smiled, indicating he understood, and continued with his questions.
Meanwhile, Ye Sangsang remained in the bathroom for an unusually long time.
After a while, Qin Jiang was already casually asking the couple when they planned to get married.
Zhang Chen frowned. "The officer who went to the bathroom hasn't come out yet. Is something wrong? Should I go check?"
Zhao Yue stopped her boyfriend.
A flash of hostility crossed Zhang Chen's eyes, his lips pressed together, and his gaze became suspicious.
But the next moment, Zhao Yue said, "It's not appropriate for you to knock. I'll go ask."
Zhang Chen's expression softened imperceptibly, and he nodded lightly.
Zhao Yue walked up to the door and knocked. "Are you okay in there, sis?"
"Just a bit of an upset stomach," Ye Sangsang's muffled voice replied.
Meanwhile, the live stream audience, who had been waiting for the bathroom screen to go dark, was stunned by what they were seeing.
[Wow, the owner is still outside, and you're dismantling their ceiling.]
[Looks like she's searching for drugs, but I'm not optimistic.]
[Hurry up, I feel like someone's about to barge in.]
After the initial shock, the audience started enjoying the drama.
If drugs were indeed found, both of them outside would likely be taken in.
Now, it was time to witness Ye Sangsang's skills.
With a small flashlight clenched between her teeth, Ye Sangsang stood on a plastic stool, searching the ceiling.
Nothing on the left, nothing on the right, nothing above or below.
Had she miscalculated?
Just as she was about to climb down and restore the ceiling, her hand brushed against a bag of powdery substance.
Wearing gloves, she quickly retrieved the powder.
Continuing her search, she found a roll of money tied with a yellow rubber band.
As Ye Sangsang was halfway down, holding both items in her gloved hands, the bathroom door was suddenly slammed open.
Seeing what Ye Sangsang was holding, Zhang Chen instinctively lunged at her.
But before he could act, Qin Jiang stepped forward, expertly grabbing his neck and forcing him down. Before Zhang Chen could react, Qin Jiang pulled out handcuffs, pinned him to the ground, and secured his hands.
Then, without missing a beat, Qin Jiang said, "Kid, you dare lay a hand on my apprentice!"
*Click*
*Click*
The sound of the handcuffs locking echoed through the room. In one swift motion, Qin Jiang yanked Zhang Chen to his feet.
His sharp eyes softened slightly as he glanced at Ye Sangsang. "Not bad!"
Zhao Yue, completely bewildered, stared in shock at the scene unfolding before her.
[Ahhhhh, so cool!!!]
[Help, that move was so smooth! What a highlight!]
[Their teamwork is amazing, hahaha. Qin Jiang, the seasoned pro, knew exactly what kind of person Zhang Chen was. As soon as Ye Sangsang spoke, he was ready to act.]
Ye Sangsang held up the evidence, looking at Zhao Yue from inside the bathroom. "You'll need to come with us too."
Zhao Yue might not have been involved, but she would have to accompany them for questioning.
Time skipped forward. After handing over the evidence, Ye Sangsang headed to the interrogation room.
Zhang Chen sat there, silent as a statue.
No matter what they asked, he refused to speak.
He had given up.
Before entering the interrogation room, Qin Jiang stopped Ye Sangsang. "Since you're skilled in criminal profiling, why don't you take the lead in questioning Zhang Chen?"
"Alright," Ye Sangsang agreed without hesitation.
The two entered the interrogation room. After Ye Sangsang sat down, she didn’t bring up anything related to the case. Instead, she said something completely unrelated: “We’ve already informed your parents. They should be here in about two minutes. How about I arrange for you to meet them?”
Ye Sangsang’s words seemed to carry a certain kind of magic. The person who had been silent and still as a statue suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably.
“If I’m not mistaken, you’re terrified of them, aren’t you? Especially your father…”
As soon as Ye Sangsang finished speaking, the room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Qin Jiang sat to the side, his fingers tapping quietly on the table, like a semi-retired middle-aged man.
The other person continued to tremble on their own, clearly still unwilling to speak.
Ye Sangsang rubbed her nose and said, “If you tell me everything, I’ll consider not arranging this meeting. You can also refuse to see them later.”
At the very least, he’d get life imprisonment; at worst, the death penalty. If he didn’t meet them now, he’d never see them again in this lifetime.
The live stream was flooded with question marks.
[This is ridiculous! Who interrogates people like this?]
[??? My brain is completely baffled.]
[How can a murderer be so cooperative? Ye Sangsang’s approach is kind of turning me off.]
Before the confused viewers in the live stream could finish typing their criticisms, Zhang Chen spoke up the next second.
“Really?” He looked up at Ye Sangsang.
Ye Sangsang nodded. “Yes.”
She had no qualms about lying to Zhang Chen because this meeting wasn’t actually allowed. As a suspect, Zhang Chen was only permitted to meet with his lawyer.
“Alright, I’ll talk,” Zhang Chen said without hesitation, spilling everything.
[Huh!!! What did I just miss?]
[This suspect is so… fragile?]
[Three sentences, and the murderer spills all the details of the case.]
The live stream was in shock. Many couldn’t understand why Zhang Chen had caved so easily.
Qin Jiang, who had been sitting somewhat casually, straightened up and watched Zhang Chen recount the entire crime step by step, his expression dazed.
[Qin Jiang’s face is literally me right now.]
[Hahahaha, I feel better now. Even the police officer is clueless.]
[+1, Qin Jiang: ??? I barely sat down. Wasn’t this supposed to be a long battle?]
The comments section was filled with laughter.
Meanwhile, Ye Sangsang and Qin Jiang listened to Zhang Chen’s explanation of his motives and the crime.
“I didn’t plan to kill her. I just wanted the money. I liked her body too… I didn’t plan to kill her…”
Zhang Chen slowly revealed everything.
Just as Ye Sangsang had deduced, he had stalked Qian Chunmei, killed her, and taken the money.
But what was different was that, according to Zhang Chen’s confession, during Zhao Yue’s business trips, he would sneak into her room every day through the window bars and watch her sleep for two to three hours.
Sometimes, when she was deeply asleep, he would even climb into bed and hold her in his arms.
He said, “I was planning to pay her to sleep with me. But she looked down on me, rejected me, and even said something about me having a girlfriend, that my girlfriend was great. It was all excuses! She just looked down on me!”
Zhang Chen’s emotions flared up, his face and eyes filled with rage.
[Damn, this animal!]
[That poor girl…]
[Disgusting. He already has a girlfriend and still wanted to pay for sex.]
The live stream was repulsed by his expression, and the comments section was filled with anger.
Zhang Chen continued, “I didn’t plan to kill her. She provoked me! She actually slept with someone else and looked so smug about it. Then she woke up and realized what I was after. I lost control in my anger and slit her throat.”
He clenched his fists. “She tried to fight back and grab the money, so I dragged her outside. She bled out and died.”
“It’s all her fault!”
His eyes darted around wildly before locking onto Ye Sangsang, his bloodshot triangular eyes glaring at her. “It’s all her fault! Her fault!”
He screamed hoarsely, as if trying to absolve himself of all responsibility.
Even Qin Jiang, a seasoned detective who had seen his share of scumbags, was seething with anger.
This guy was truly despicable!
“I understand you,” Ye Sangsang suddenly said.
Zhang Chen froze, not understanding what Ye Sangsang was doing.
Ye Sangsang looked at him with a sympathetic expression and repeated, “I know, I understand you. You were hurt as a child, and that trauma shaped your unique perspective, which is why you acted this way.”
[I almost started cursing, but then I used my brain.]
[Hahahaha, this is even more savage than cursing him out.]
[I’ve learned something new. Sangsang, you’re amazing. I’m in awe!]
Qin Jiang, who initially didn’t get it, couldn’t suppress a smile once he understood.
“You’re insulting me! You bitch!” Zhang Chen roared. If it weren’t for the restraint chair, he would have lunged at Ye Sangsang and killed her on the spot.
Ye Sangsang frowned in confusion, looking at the agitated Zhang Chen. “It must have been hard being molested by your own father, huh? This world is cruel. No one understands you, but I do. You’ve been hurt too deeply…”
“I’ll kill you!” Zhang Chen roared like a wild beast, his deepest, most hidden wound exposed. He wished Ye Sangsang would drop dead right then and there.
Ye Sangsang looked at him puzzled, then suddenly realized something. “Do you have post-traumatic stress disorder? PTSD? It’s a mental health condition. You can get treatment for it.”
[I’m so into this. This is satisfying.]
[Wow, I’ve learned how to argue calmly.]
[So you don’t have to lose your temper to win an argument. You can even drive the other person crazy!]
The live stream exploded with comments. No one felt any sympathy for Zhang Chen; they only felt a sense of justice for the victim.
In front of Ye Sangsang, Zhang Chen trembled violently, his emotions so intense it seemed like he might pass out at any moment.
“Shut! Up!” he screamed, each word punctuated with rage.
Ye Sangsang looked at him with pity.
Finally, Zhang Chen was so agitated that he had a drug withdrawal episode.
Ye Sangsang stood up, coldly watching him suffer, then turned and left.
A tragic childhood may be worthy of sympathy, but if, as an adult, you allow yourself to remain trapped in those emotions, you’ll only drag yourself deeper into hell.
If you hurt others, you must pay the price for your actions.
Qin Jiang scratched his head. He couldn’t really criticize Ye Sangsang.
Although her methods were unconventional, she got the results she wanted.
Moreover, she didn’t resort to coercion, insults, violence, or leading the suspect to confess. No matter how Zhang Chen broke down, everything was justified.
The process was good, and the outcome was good.
Once the fingerprints were matched and the evidence was organized, the case could be handed over to the narcotics division. By the time it went to court, the drugs he had hidden would be enough to sentence him to death.
Qin Jiang brought Ye Sangsang back to the office, where their colleagues immediately crowded around.
But they weren’t surrounding Qin Jiang—they were surrounding Ye Sangsang.
“I’ve seen it. Zhang Chen matches your profile exactly!”
“Did you already know it was him?”
“Tell us about your profiling process. Teach us something!”
Everyone chattered away, asking Ye Sangsang questions one after another.
Ye Sangsang answered each colleague patiently. “It was based on the crime scene. I didn’t know it was him beforehand. Profiling is something you can learn. I’d be happy to discuss it with everyone.”
Qin Jiang found a seat, lit a cigarette, and started smoking.
He was pondering why the department had assigned Ye Sangsang to him.
She didn’t seem like someone who needed guidance. If anything, she made the rest of them look a bit rough around the edges.
The only odd thing was that she was a little too calm, with very little emotional fluctuation. She didn’t seem like a typical young person.
Maybe that was what the higher-ups were worried about?
He didn’t understand, and he didn’t want to ask.
After Ye Sangsang finished talking with her colleagues, she saw Zhao Yue standing there, tears streaming down her face.
In just two or three hours, her boyfriend had turned into a murderer, and she had been dragged into the mess. Even someone as cheerful and resilient as Zhao Yue couldn’t hold back her emotions.
Zhao Yue seemed unwilling to believe it. She walked up to Ye Sangsang and asked, “Did he really do drugs? And kill someone?”
Ye Sangsang nodded.
Zhao Yue burst into tears. “He lied to me! He said he was sick, and I thought I could help him recover. Liar! Liar!”
“You should get tested for HIV,” Ye Sangsang said calmly, watching Zhao Yue cry and repeat her grievances. Her words were like a final, cutting blow.
Zhao Yue's expression froze on her face as she stared blankly at Ye Sangsang.
[Don’t say it, but she’s quite good at comforting people.]
[The girl stopped crying right away; her expression is as if frozen in ice.]
[Sis Sang’s awareness is top-notch.]
Zhao Yue opened her mouth, finally managing to utter, "Huh?"
"You should go as soon as possible. If your blood hasn’t been drawn, you can probably sign and leave," Ye Sangsang said sincerely.
Zhao Yue nodded hesitantly, "...Okay."
Qin Jiang watched as Zhao Yue was led to the next room and stepped forward, saying, "Well done. We need to learn to show less sympathy towards both victims and perpetrators and handle cases with rationality."
Ye Sangsang nodded in acknowledgment.
[What a great mentor.]
[Yeah, less sympathy, more rationality—that’s how to handle cases properly.]
[I’m almost convinced this is a police documentary, and I’m here for it.]
The comments flowed casually, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
What followed were some routine procedures: statements, DNA comparisons, fingerprint matches—all relatively complex tasks.
Most of the work was handled by the administrative staff who had stepped back from field duties, with Qin Jiang guiding them through the process.
The team leader, upon hearing about the profiling, specifically inquired and encouraged Ye Sangsang to continue excelling in it.
Life carried on with a touch of mundane warmth.
Ye Sangsang diligently studied case handling but couldn’t help wondering why the game task hadn’t been marked as completed.
Logically, since the case was closed, it should have counted as finished.
Unless the task issued by the game wasn’t related to the case she had solved.
Or perhaps this case was just a warm-up for the players?
Not only was Ye Sangsang puzzled, but the netizens were also brainstorming.
Soon, on a seemingly ordinary morning the next day, the second unit of the Serious Crimes Division received a report of a dismemberment case on South Street.
The long-awaited game task interface appeared.
[Congratulations, player. You have triggered the "Frenzied Revelry" game instance. Please complete the task of finding the killer within 28 days.]
[Good luck, player.]
