"This test will take about half an hour. Please patiently complete the questions on your computers," Officer Chen briefly introduced the content of the test before letting everyone begin.
At first, there were standard self-assessment scale questions. Everyone clicked through them listlessly, selecting the "correct" answers that were obvious at a glance.
Later, some images and meaningless words appeared.
People started whispering to each other: "How is this different from previous psychological tests? What are these images and word groups testing us for?"
"Do we just need to press the F and J keys? What happens if we press the wrong one? They won't fire us right after we've just been hired, will they?"
"This is a variation of the Implicit Association Test, used to assess our cognitive tendencies," Mu Mian kindly explained to those around her. "It's based on a neural network model which assumes information is stored in a series of nodes connected by neural pathways organized hierarchically according to semantic relationships. Therefore, by measuring the distance between two concepts along these neural connections, we can measure the association between them..."
The people sitting next to her gave her strange looks.
Mu Mian stopped her explanation.
The social guide said not to force knowledge onto others, even if they particularly lack "common sense."
One of them asked, "What specific aspects does it test?"
"Whether we have violent tendencies; if our worldview is positive or negative; sexual orientation... things like that. This psychological paradigm is used to test our subconscious cognitive tendencies, so it doesn't let us easily perceive the purpose of the test."
"So there's no way to fake this kind of test?"
Mu Mian paused for a moment, then said quietly, "The real indicator of the test is the difference in reaction times. An average person can't perceive the purpose of the test and choose answers that don't align with their cognition within a few seconds. It requires a very high level of brain processing power."
"..." They couldn't understand at all!
As they progressed further into the test, everyone became more focused because they had no idea what these questions were testing.
Mu Mian also became increasingly concentrated, but when she saw a series of questions about social norms, she couldn't help but wonder:
Was this psychological test specifically designed for her? But why would they need to test her? She had been acting perfectly normal!
As soon as the test ended, Mu Mian's results appeared on the psychological testing system's backend.
"Are her test results satisfactory?" Fang Rui looked at the mass of data, feeling a headache coming on. "Explain it to me in layman's terms, no theory please."
"The test subject is extroverted, has a positive outlook, dislikes violence, is kind and enthusiastic, emotionally stable, and has strong social skills," Lin Sen shrugged. "Pretty much the same as the previous test results."
"Didn't you say these test results couldn't be faked?"
Fang Rui couldn't associate any of these descriptors with Mu Mian. In fact, Mu Mian seemed to be the complete opposite of what these words described.
"I said it's very difficult to fake, not impossible," Lin Sen said. "Clearly, this Dr. Mu is trying hard to conceal her psychological issues. And she's quite successful at it—if you don't observe her in person, that is."
Lin Sen paused, then continued, "I don't object to her joining us."
"You've changed your stance so quickly? Just because she passed your unreliable test?" Fang Rui was somewhat surprised.
Lin Sen pointed to the IQ score section on the screen, "A genius like me needs a genius colleague to work with."
"..."
Fang Rui had to admit that Lin Sen had a talent for criminal psychology, which was why he could tolerate this egomaniac. But right now, he still very much wanted to throw Lin Sen out.
After completing the psychological test, Mu Mian reported to the forensic department. By the time all the formalities were done, it was time to leave work.
Two other new forensic doctors had joined along with Mu Mian, a man and a woman. The man was called Zhang Xiaolin, and the woman was Chen Xue.
Chen Xue was outgoing, and since she had interned there for half a year, she got along well with everyone. After work, she enthusiastically invited everyone out for dinner.
Mu Mian, uncomfortable with eating with large groups, declined Chen Xue's invitation.
Outside the City Police Bureau, Mu Mian stood by the roadside, using her phone to call a taxi.
It was rush hour, and Mu Mian had particularly high standards for drivers, so she stood in the cold wind for over an hour but still couldn't get a ride.
When Zhang drove by, he saw Mu Mian huddled in her scarf, looking pitifully at the traffic.
"Boss, since we're heading to the crime scene anyway, should we give Dr. Mu a lift?" Zhang turned his head to look at Fang Rui in the back seat. "She seems lost."
"Whatever."
Zhang pulled up next to Mu Mian. "Dr. Mu, want a ride with us?"
"No!" Mu Mian refused without hesitation.
"Why not?" Zhang was puzzled. Was she refusing a free ride?
Mu Mian glanced at his car—a black, somewhat old and poorly maintained vehicle of an unknown brand with low safety ratings. She then eyed the tires—severely worn, and the bumper was dented.
There was absolutely no safety guarantee in riding in such a car.
But the social guide said not to directly point out others' shortcomings, so she asked tactfully, "Have you passed your driving test?"
"Of course I have. How could I drive without a license?"
The hint failed. Mu Mian began to ponder how to more tactfully refuse his unreasonable offer to give her a ride.
Zhang also caught on and turned to Fang Rui in the back seat, incredulous. "Boss, she... what does she mean? Is she questioning my driving skills?"
Fang Rui got out of the car and walked to the driver's side, telling Zhang to sit in the back. "I'll drive."
Seeing that Fang Rui was now driving, Mu Mian promptly got into the front passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.
Zhang watched in disbelief as Mu Mian got in the car. This Dr. Mu was so hypocritical! His boss was the truly unsafe driver. The car's sorry state was largely thanks to Fang Rui.
However, he didn't dare say it out loud and silently took the blame.
It was now the evening rush hour, and the main roads were severely congested. Feeling bored, Zhang tried to make conversation.
"Dr. Mu, what did you think of today's psychological test? It was specially..."
"Zhang, you talk too much," Fang Rui interrupted coldly.
Zhang quickly made a zipping motion across his mouth.
Mu Mian, however, felt her heart stop and her breath catch. She stared blankly at Fang Rui.
Had her secret been discovered so quickly?
Rumor had it that Fang Rui was a famous detective with keen observational skills. Had he seen through her disguise at a glance?
This man not only had a perfect skeletal structure but also a brilliant mind—such a brain would be worth studying as a specimen.
At this thought, Mu Mian felt a bit dejected. How could she legally obtain his body?
