After Chen Hui's case was closed, the police station became much more relaxed.
Mu Mian made significant contributions in the process of solving the case, leading to his formal promotion and official entry into the Special Crime Unit, and Chen Xue became Mu Mian's assistant.
The Special Crime Unit held a welcoming ceremony for Mu Mian.
Mu Mian met many familiar faces. They were all friendly towards him, after all, as soon as he arrived at the city bureau, he helped them solve a major murder case.
Mu Mian's impression changed from an eccentric forensic doctor to a competent case solver.
"Mu Mian, write a self-criticism, and reflect well on why a forensic doctor like you could be taken hostage by the killer." Fang Rui's words broke the previous friendly atmosphere, "Submit it to me before work ends."
"Alright."
Fang Rui received Mu Mian's self-criticism, which was very earnestly written, with deeply profound self-analysis. Just as he was about to fold it up, he caught sight of the conclusion:
All the above reasons are not the root cause of why I was taken hostage by the killer. The real reason is: I've been unlucky lately, or in Chen Xue's words, my luck has been bad! People of the Leo zodiac sign will be very unlucky recently!
Seeing Mu Mian space out in front of the computer, Chen Xue patted her, "Mian Mian, why are you wasting time and effort on DNA tests for these babies? It's meaningless."
"Chen Xue, I want to help these fetuses find their mothers."
"Their mothers had them aborted, they didn't want them anymore, what good would finding their parents do? They won't take this jar back, they might even resent it for bringing bad luck."
"Were they... also abandoned by their mothers?" Mu Mian looked at the clumps of flesh floating in glass jars, seeming somewhat perplexed.
"Of course!" Chen Xue felt that today's Mu Mian was a bit different. She was usually spaced-out, expressionless, but today she seems particularly down.
Mu Mian hung her head, "Why don't they want them? These embryos look healthy, they could have been normal children."
Mu Mian had always thought that it was only the disabled children who were abandoned by their mothers, like those in the orphanage who were sick, or physically handicapped, or autistic...
"There are many reasons, it could be an unplanned pregnancy or lack of resources to raise them... In any case, their mothers won't want to see them again."
Chen Xue took a sip of her coffee, "So let's send these embryos to the funeral parlor asap. Otherwise, it's bad luck to keep them here."
Mu Mian remained silent.
"I know you feel sympathetic towards these embryos. How about we give these embryos names, so they would have left some traces of existence in this world."
"I already named them."
Only then did Chen Xue notice that there were labels stuck on the jars:
BB1, BB2...
"Do these names carry any special meaning?"
"This one is called Baby No.1, this one is called Baby No.2, and so on."
Chen Xue facepalmed. Mu Mian did show kindness, but not too thoughtfully.
Mu Mian continued searching for the parents of these children in the police department's gene bank.
But she found nothing.
Mu Mian became somewhat frustrated.
She tried to match the genes of the victims with those of these children. But the result showed no match.
Mu Mian frowned, weren't the jars marked with the death date of the deceased supposed to contain their children?
Chen Hui's house had been thoroughly searched, all the jars had been brought to the office, and Mu Mian had collected all the DNA data. However, the DNA of the infants in those jars did not match that of the three victims.
So, where had Chen Hui hidden the fully formed fetuses inside the stomachs of these three victims?
Why did he hide them?
Mu Mian pulled out the files of the three victims again and discovered that they had all had pregnancy check-ups at the Anqi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, where Chen Hui worked.
"Mu Mian, Zhang Qiang says there is a dinner tonight. Will you go?"
Chen Xue's voice disrupted Mu Mian’s pondering, and suddenly she felt that the truth of the matter wasn't that important.
Those children were all unwanted, who would care about where their bodies were?
"Can I... not go?"
"Of course not! As a newcomer to the workplace, it is essential to go to the dinner!"
"Okay."
The dinner ended well past ten in the evening.
When Mu Mian returned home and was about to open the door, she noticed that the keyhole was shifted by 5 degrees - someone had broken into her house, and they had used a key.
As Mu Mian contemplated whether to call the police, the door suddenly opened from the inside.
"Mu Mian, it's been a long time." A beautiful woman emerged from inside, holding out her arms to hug Mu Mian.
"Shen Xiyin."
Mu Mian was slightly taken aback upon seeing Shen Xiyin, with her voice slightly choked.
Shen Xiyin was the daughter of her foster parents and also Mu Mian's therapist. Mu Mian had grown up abroad as her parents had gotten divorced and her father had died, her father's colleague had adopted her.
Shen Xiyin released Mu Mian and gave a gentle smile, "You didn't push me away this time, it seems like living independently has brought about some changes in you."
"We haven't seen each other in a long time, so we can hug." Mu Mian hated physical contact with others; it was already hard enough for her to not push her away.
"How did you get injured on your neck?" Shen Xiyin noticed the scar on Mu Mian's neck.
"Zhang says, it's a badge of honor." Mu Mian's voice carried a hint of pride.
"A badge?"
"It is the badge left by my confrontation with a ruthless criminal."
Mu Mian briefly described the course of events, of course, she hid the part about her acrophobia causing her to faint, and then embellished the part about how she escaped from Chen Hui.
Mu Mian found that she could already skillfully tell small white lies.
"Your work seems quite dangerous."
Shen Xiyin had already found Mu Mian a very good job, working as a researcher at a university, which was stable and required no social interaction. But Mu Mian had secretly quit.
"Not dangerous. Chen Xue says I am the only forensic pathologist in the office who was taken hostage by a murderer. This shows how safe this job really is."
"But you got hurt."
"That's because I’m unlucky, otherwise known as going through a retrograde period. But don’t worry, Chen Xue says that Leo's retrograde period is already over, my luck for the next few months will be very good."
Shen Xiyin realized, Mu Mian had changed a lot.
Mu Mian took several notebooks from the desk, "I have recorded all the peculiar things that have been happening recently in my self-observation diary."
Shen Xiyin flipped through Mu Mian's observation diary. As with previous entries, they were descriptions of events viewed objectively, with little subjective emotional experience.
When she read about Mu Mian's interest in the body of her deceased coworker and realized she had even planned how to study the corpse, Shen Xiyin seemed a bit exasperated, "How have you been getting along with your colleagues?"
"I don't know. Most of my colleagues don't talk to me much. Maybe not so good, they don't smile at me," Mu Mian slumped into the sofa, sounding extremely dejected, "I've been interacting with them according to the social guidelines, but it seems like I still messed up."
"But they were okay with you hitching a ride. And you became a regular in just a month," Shen Xiyin encouraged, "This shows that your social skills have improved a lot."
"Really?" Mu Mian's mood immediately lifted, "Sister Xiyin, am I a normal person now?"
She had asked this question countless times since childhood.
Mu Mian was diagnosed with autism when she was just three years old. At that time, many top autism experts predicted: Mu Mian would have a low IQ, might not even develop language skills, and would lack emotion.
When Mu Mian still couldn't speak at the age of six, all the therapists gave up on teaching her language skills.
However, only Shen Xiyin didn't give up. She was just a high school student at the time, not understanding complicated techniques. She could only repeat simple words and phrases in front of Mu Mian over and over again, even if Mu Mian didn't respond.
Amazingly, Mu Mian eventually spoke her first word. Now, she could basically communicate with others without any problems.
The journey was lengthy and challenging.
Shen Xiyin knew very well that it was a miracle for Mu Mian to have recovered to this extent.
Mu Mian could never become a "normal" person.
No matter how much training she went through, she would never have the emotions of a 'normal' person.
"Little Mian, you're a genius. Geniuses are always a bit different from others."
"I still want to be a normal person like you."
Mu Mian had always admired Shen Xiyin. Her sister had loving parents, many friends, didn't have to hide in the corner all by herself, and was never a burden to anyone.
Shen Xiyin understood why Mu Mian wanted to be normal—Mu Mian stubbornly believed that if her autism was cured, her mother would come back for her.
"I'm sorry, Little Mian, it's my fault. I shouldn't have hidden your mother's photos. You have the right to find your mother."
Half a year ago, Mu Mian found her mother's marriage license and a stack of photos in Shen Xiyin's room. In one of them, her mother was holding a baby, her eyes full of affection.
This photo overturned Mu Mian's opinion of her mother—an unfeeling woman who abandoned her autistic child. It led to a fierce argument between Mu Mian and Shen Xiyin, and Mu Mian ran away from home.
Mu Mian suddenly interrupted her, "I don’t want to look for her anymore."
"Why?" Shen Xiyin was somewhat surprised, "Didn't you return to China to find your mother?"
Mu Mian thought of Chen Hui, who committed so many evil deeds, just to gain illusory love and acceptance.
"Here is your photo," Mu Mian took out the picture with her mother from the pocket of her clothes, took a reluctant glance at it, then handed it to Shen Xiyin, "I think you are right. I shouldn't disturb her current life, nor should I let her disturb mine."
Shen Xiyin was surprised by Mu Mian's shift. In fact, she was not eager for Mu Mian to see that woman, as it might be a heavy blow to Mu Mian.
"Mu Mian, let's move. The sound insulation here is not good, and it's too far from where you work," Shen Xiyin closed Mu Mian's diary. "I have already bought a house near your city bureau, let's move there in the next few days."
"Are you also staying here?" Mu Mian was somewhat surprised, "What about your job?"
"I have a senior sister who opened a psychological clinic, she wants me to return to China to help her, I have agreed."
Seeing that Mu Mian's mood was low, Shen Xiyin added, "Mu Mian, you are not a burden to me, you are my family. No matter what happens, I will not abandon you."
Shen Xiyin knew that Mu Mian had a great sense of insecurity, so she always repeatedly told Mu Mian that there were people who would steadfastly love her.
"And neither will I!"
Shen Xiyin somewhat hoped Mu Mian could abandon her, as then Mu Mian would be able to become an independent person.
