Chapter 80: Dual Personality

The city remained covered in snow, with the cold winter wind blowing through the streets, and the air was filled with a biting chill. The investigation was still progressing at full speed, but today, Su Wanqing and Lu Chenzhou were confronted with a new case that felt complex and heavy.

The suspect in the case was a middle-aged man named Li Hao, the owner of a small advertising company. According to eyewitnesses, he had a violent confrontation with someone in a hotel and pushed the person into an elevator shaft. When the deceased's family reported the incident, Li Hao claimed to have no memory of what happened, nor could he provide any explanation for his actions.

On the day of the incident, Li Hao was arrested by the police. After a preliminary inquiry, he still could not provide a clear motive for the crime, but instead exhibited highly abnormal behavior. During a psychological evaluation, Li Hao showed emotional fluctuations that were far from ordinary. His attitude shifted from cold to hot, from irritable to calm, as though another personality was controlling his actions and words.

Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing took over the case, but facing Li Hao's strange behavior, they were filled with doubts. The case appeared straightforward, but the suspect's evident abnormalities made them cautious.

In the interrogation room, Li Hao sat in a chair, expressionless, staring blankly ahead. As Su Wanqing approached him, he suddenly sneered. "You want to know what happened? Fine, I don't remember anything," he said, his voice low and cold, carrying an unmistakable edge.

Su Wanqing did not respond immediately but quietly observed his reaction. She instinctively paid attention to the subtle changes in the suspect's behavior, especially his eyes and body language. Li Hao's gaze occasionally flickered, as if he were suppressing some inner impulse.

"Are you telling me that you completely forgot about that day? Do you know who the victim was?" Su Wanqing asked softly, trying to keep her tone calm in hopes of getting Li Hao to relax.

Li Hao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Su Wanqing, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. "I know. It was him. The guy who's dead now. He should've died a long time ago," Li Hao said with intensity, as if harboring deep resentment toward the victim.

At that moment, Lu Chenzhou noticed a subtle change in Li Hao's facial expression. His gaze became sharper, almost like a completely different person. Lu Chenzhou's mind raced as he realized that Li Hao might not be the simple suspect he appeared to be.

"Li Hao, calm down," Lu Chenzhou said sternly, sensing that the suspect might be hiding something. "What are you concealing? Why did you say that?"

Li Hao's eyes instantly returned to calm. He lowered his head, his lips trembling slightly. "I just want to forget… him, and my past."

Seeing this, Su Wanqing immediately decided to change her approach. "Li Hao, have you considered that you might have a psychological issue? You know, many times we do things not because we want to, but because something is wrong with our brain."

A flash of fear crossed Li Hao's eyes. He gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, his body trembling slightly. "Psychological issue?" he murmured, "No… no way. I just… I just…"

At that moment, Su Wanqing's intuition told her that Li Hao hadn't intentionally done these things. His eyes and expressions revealed deep, long-hidden pain and confusion. She decided to conduct a further psychological evaluation.

When Su Wanqing returned to the hospital, she began Li Hao's physical examination. A brain scan revealed a shocking fact: Li Hao's left hemisphere showed significant trauma, as if it had suffered a severe impact. Further investigation suggested that this injury might have occurred during his younger years and could even be the root cause of his personality split.

"This injury is likely the key to his split personality," Su Wanqing told Lu Chenzhou. "His brain suffered external pressure, which may have led to the emergence of another personality. This personality might not remember what he did, but it can emerge in certain situations."

Lu Chenzhou frowned. "So, you're saying Li Hao might not have committed the crime intentionally? His actions could have been controlled by another personality?"

Su Wanqing nodded. "Yes, this condition is called 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' in medical terms. Studies have shown that people who suffer severe trauma, especially those under long-term psychological stress, may develop another personality as a way to escape the pain of reality."

Lu Chenzhou took a deep breath, deep in thought. "This case just became much more complicated. If he truly split due to trauma, we're not just dealing with a suspect, but someone deeply hurt."

However, as the investigation continued, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing discovered that Li Hao's family background was even more complicated than they had imagined. Through their investigation, Lu Chenzhou learned that Li Hao's parents had divorced when he was young, and he had been neglected by his father while his mother was often away for work. His father was a cold, ruthless businessman who had physically punished Li Hao multiple times due to work stress. This long-term emotional neglect and physical abuse might have laid the foundation for Li Hao's psychological trauma.

At the same time, Su Wanqing found additional clues about Li Hao's upbringing. He had been sent to see a psychologist as a teenager, but for various reasons, the treatment had not been thorough. As he grew older, Li Hao's symptoms worsened, eventually leading to a split personality.

Just as Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing were preparing to further investigate Li Hao's family situation, they uncovered something even more shocking. Li Hao's father, that cold, ruthless businessman, had ties to an underground criminal syndicate. There seemed to be some unknown conspiracy between Li Hao's family and this criminal group.

As the truth of the case began to surface, Li Hao's split personality turned out to be not just a result of an accidental brain injury, but also closely tied to his family background and past traumatic experiences. With these revelations, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing realized that this case was far more complex than they had initially thought. It wasn't just a simple murder—it was a long-hidden family conspiracy.

Yet, even with all these layers unfolding, they still had to find the final piece of the puzzle—the truth behind the conspiracy. And that truth might bring them closer to the dark forces hiding in the shadows.