Lao Gong went to the captain's office. "Captain, we can't close this case yet! What's the deal with that stranger? Even if he didn't kill anyone, we have to find out. Also, Wang Bing and I have found that Gao Weiguang and Li Li are very likely to have assisted the killer."
The captain said, "I know. The higher - ups gave strict orders. The policemen have been working non - stop for three weeks. There are rumors about the serial killer all over the society. Let's issue the report first and investigate the unclear parts later."
"Do you really think Guo Pu is the killer? A dead killer with a history of mental illness. Doesn't this seem like a well - arranged trap?"
The captain pondered for a moment. "I thought so at first, too, but I believe in the results of the forensic science. Science doesn't lie. There are still hidden facts in this case, but the killer must be Guo Pu!"
Maybe it was his nature to be suspicious, but Lao Gong still wasn't convinced. The captain said, "Alright, go off work! No overtime today!"
Lao Gong took his leave. Wang Bing, who was waiting for him outside, said, "What are you doing? You're acting like you're disappointed there's no work to do. Everyone is getting ready to celebrate. They're just waiting for you."
"I just think..." Lao Gong frowned. "Finding the killer so easily makes me a bit uncomfortable. It's like someone just handed him to us."
"You're a typical masochist. You have to go through all sorts of setbacks to feel the sweetness of success. No wonder you've been chasing that goddess for so many years!"
"You really know how to bring up the wrong thing!"
"Don't think about this tonight!" Wang Bing patted Lao Gong on the shoulder. "Let's go have a drink!"
A group of policemen walked out of the police station. Lao Gong heard a clear "Brother". Everyone turned their heads and saw Gong Qin, Lao Gong's sister, standing by the road. Her outfit of hot pants and a pink T - shirt was incredibly cute.
"Why did you come here?" Lao Gong walked over with a smile.
"I was passing by and thought I'd come see you. How's the case going?"
"It's closed!" Wang Bing said happily. "We caught the killer last night! The policemen have solved another major case!"
"Really?" Gong Qin was very happy. "Then, brother, accompany me to buy clothes. You promised before."
Lao Gong then said to the group, "Sorry, I can't make it tonight."
Everyone booed and joked, "Go, you sister - obsessed guy!" "It's okay that your sister is more important than your brothers!"
Amid the booing, Gong Qin pulled Lao Gong's hand and left. After walking some distance, Lao Gong said "Thank you". It turned out that he didn't like crowded places, and Gong Qin deliberately distracted him.
Somehow, whenever he was in a crowded place and heard the noisy sounds, his head would ache sharply.
He had gone for a check-up before, suspecting he had a brain tumor or something. However, the test results showed that everything was normal. The doctor thought he merely had neurasthenia and advised him to rest more.
"I'm leaving!" Gong Qin let go of his hand. "You should go home early!"
"Where are you going at night?"
"Since work is over, of course I'm going to have fun!"
"Going to the bar again? Can you be more serious?" Lao Gong Jingfan took on an elder - brother's strict tone. The two were five years apart in age. Since their parents were often away for work when they were kids, it was he who took care of his sister.
"Who said it's a bar? I'm going to play scripted murder mystery games!"
"We finished work early today. Let's go for a meal and then I'll go shopping with you for clothes." Lao Gong Jingfan grabbed her arm.
Gong Qin pouted, but when she heard Lao Gong Jingfan say they'd have grilled fish, she smiled again. "You're treating!"
"Of course!"
After walking for a while, Lao Gong Jingfan asked, "How's your job going?"
"Ouch, you don't usually care. I became a full-time employee last month. The game is in internal testing these days, so I'm quite free."
"Is the company reliable? It's a private enterprise."
"So you're looking down on private enterprises just because you have an iron - rice - bowl job?"
"No, I just think that as a college graduate, isn't it a bit... to go and work on games?"
"College graduates are a dime a dozen these days. I'm lucky to have this job. I'm quite satisfied with it. I can put what I've learned into practice and it's creative."
"Take good care of yourself at work. If anyone bullies you, just mention me!"
"Got it, got it!"
When they got to the grilled fish restaurant, Gong Qin ordered the food and started munching on the takoyaki she bought on the way. The brother and sister chatted for a while. Then the waiter said it was time to pick the fish, so Lao Gong Jingfan followed the waiter.
Gong Qin looked up and saw a big, burly man sitting in the corner. Isn't that Di Zhen?
She was overjoyed and ran over to sit down. "Hey, you came here secretly to have grilled fish. I knew you couldn't forget it after one try!"
"What are you doing here?" Di Zhen was also surprised and showed a faint smile.
"I'm with my brother. He closed a case today, so we're out celebrating." Gong Qin didn't stand on ceremony and just reached out to grab a fried shrimp from the plate and took a bite.
"Is your brother a policeman?"
"Yeah, that's him!" Gong Qin pointed over there.
Di Zhen looked up. Wasn't that policeman...
Could it be such a coincidence?
"How about we eat together! I'll go call him over..." Gong Qin suggested.
"No, don't introduce me to him."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not a good person!"
Gong Qin looked at Di Zhen's serious face and burst out laughing. "Alright!"
"How about after you finish your meal and your brother leaves, I'll accompany you for a walk?" Di Zhen invited.
Gong Qin waved her finger and refused. "I don't play with bad guys, especially at night. Bye."
As he watched her go, Di Zhen felt a bit disappointed. Even though he knew it was a joke, her "playing hard to get" still had an effect on him.
Today, Di Zhen went to the city library. With over a hundred thousand books, it felt like he was swimming in an ocean of knowledge. He flipped through the pages of the books rapidly, using his "camera" to capture the pages so he could review them anytime.
He skimmed through "Toxicology," Carl Jung's "Man and His Symbols," and "Research on Witchcraft Beliefs in Ancient Chinese Folk Society." Why did he pick this folk - culture book? Maybe he hoped to find some topics to chat with Gong Qin next time!
After a day of reading, he got hungry and really craved the grilled fish from this place. So he came alone. Unexpectedly, he ran into Gong Qin and her brother. Moreover, he never expected that the policeman he met last night was actually her brother!
Once the grilled fish was served, Di Zhen dug in while looking at the "books" in his head. Today he ordered the Tom Yum Goong grilled fish, a spicy and sour Thai - flavored dish. The Qingjiang fish used in this dish had no small bones, as if it had evolved to be a perfect food. The fish could be directly paired with rice. The hot white rice and the grilled fish were incredibly satisfying.
Di Zhen wondered if he should turn this delicious grilled fish into a mental tool so he could enjoy it anytime.
But then he thought better of it. Making a mental tool could take a short time, just a few hours. Or it could take as long as ten days or half a month. When he was a kid, he had made "potato chips" and "Coke" as mental tools. Although the taste and texture were quite realistic, they didn't taste as good after eating too much, perhaps due to diminishing returns.
Food was something that required effort to go to the restaurant, wait patiently, and finally savor. Only then could one truly feel satisfied.
Moreover, the food made into mental tools couldn't fill one up; it was just self - consolation.
However, this grilled fish was quite expensive. If he ate it every day and continued to stay in a high - end hotel because of his洁癖, it would be a significant expense in the long run. He secretly pondered whether he should find a job.