Chapter 121: The Hypnotic Murderer

I spent three hours in the detention room, my mind completely crushed. Then, a shifty-looking man was thrown in. Without hesitation, he asked, "Hey brother, how'd you end up here?"

I ignored him. He stubbornly leaned closer, grinning, "Officer Wang told me to keep an eye on you."

I immediately moved away. Looks like all the cops had agreed to throw me away like trash! Just days ago, I was one of them; now I was the joke.

I even entertained a dark thought — once I get out, I'm going to make them pay.

But the guy who said he'd 'look after' me surprised me. He pulled out a sausage, a bottle of water, and a pack of dried tofu snacks from under his shirt. "Eat up, brother!"

I stared wide-eyed. So this was what 'looking after' meant.

"Hurry up. If the guards catch us sharing food during inspection, we're both in trouble."

I hadn't eaten since noon. Starving, I devoured it all. Afterward, I asked, "You mean Officer Wang Yuanchao?"

"Heh, yeah. They call me 'Rat' on the streets. I'm Wang's informant," Rat answered.

...

Their act was so convincing, I had to ask, "So what about how they treated me before…"

"Are you dumb? That was just for show! This case's connected to you. If they don't act like they're cutting ties, the higher-ups won't let them continue the investigation." Rat patted my shoulder.

Suddenly it all made sense — I nearly broke down. Not a single hint was given. No wonder I almost lost it.

But from Huang Xiaotao's point of view, the more upset I was, the more authentic it looked. She was playing for control over my rescue. Guess I was still too inexperienced.

Rat grinned, "Hey man, you got quite the face. Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm just a college student," I said, dejected.

"Where's your old man working?" Rat pressed.

"Just a regular businessman."

Rat looked confused. Didn't see why the cops cared about me, but still extended his hand, "Let's be friends! I'm a small fry, but I can do things cops can't."

Normally, I'd ignore people like him. But that night had been too much. Rat was the only one who showed me kindness. So I shook his hand, surprised I actually knew someone on the streets.

Rat bragged loudly about his 'glorious deeds' — protecting the boss from a knife, dealing ecstasy in Thailand, sleeping with top escorts, even dining with Li Ka-shing.

I read his bluff instantly, but didn't call him out.

At eleven, Huang Xiaotao came to interrogate me. As she left, Rat whispered, "Keep in touch!"

They led me to the interrogation room — Huang Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao on duty.

Huang Xiaotao smiled, "Never thought you'd be sitting here someday, huh?"

"Why stop acting now?" I asked.

"Captain Lin approved it. I'm heading the task force. Glad you understood my tough love. I was worried about your mental state," she said, sticking out her tongue.

Mentally, I'd been crushed into a million pieces!

Feigning strength, I said, "Your little tricks don't fool me. I'm playing along with you too."

"I'll make it up to you later. Let's go through the formal process. Wang Yuanchao, you take notes," Huang Xiaotao ordered.

I recounted everything from the start. Suspicion pointed to Teacher Li. Huang Xiaotao slammed the table, "But without evidence, we can't arrest her. Even if she confessed to hypnotizing Ye Shiwen, we'd have to let her go!"

"Is hypnotism a matter of skill?" I asked.

"Yes!"

Huang Xiaotao told me about a case three years ago, where a psychologist named Li Wenhai hypnotized victims to kill. His methods were extraordinary — choking victims until their brains lacked oxygen, then hypnotizing them with nearly a 100% success rate.

Her knowledge of hypnotism came solely from that case. Hypnotism doesn't work every time — some people are naturally suggestible, others aren't. Like Wang Yuanchao, a former armed police instructor, strong-willed and tough to hypnotize.

And it's nothing like movies with pocket watches or counting down from three to one. Real hypnotism takes five to ten minutes of gradual guidance.

I pondered, "If Teacher Li hypnotized Ye Shiwen and Wang Dali, she must have had five to ten minutes alone with them."

"Is Ye Shiwen easily suggestible?" Huang Xiaotao asked.

"I don't know about easy or not. But imagine Teacher Li standing in front of Ye Shiwen, giving hypnotic induction for five to ten minutes — wouldn't Ye Shiwen get suspicious? Why would she willingly let her hypnotize her?"

Huang Xiaotao asked, "When she tried to hypnotize you, did you resist?"

"I don't know…" I recalled slowly, "When I looked into her eyes, my thoughts suddenly clouded, and I started imagining what she said."

"Her eyes? What kind of eyes?" Huang Xiaotao was curious.

I described those eerie green eyes. She raised an eyebrow, "Could hypnotic eyes really exist? If so, she could control anyone."

I shook my head, "That can't be. If one glance controlled someone, she could rule a country. That'd be godlike!"

"Do you think Teacher Li had a motive to kill Zhang Yan?" Huang Xiaotao pressed.

"I can't think of any. She was a teacher, Zhang Yan a student, different majors. No connections except the club…" Suddenly, I remembered, "Wait, Teacher Li's real name is Li Wenjia!"

Huang Xiaotao's face changed, "Li Wenjia? Li Wenhai? Both skilled in hypnosis? Wang Yuanchao, investigate their connection immediately!"

I said, "Let's start by looking into Li Wenjia ourselves."

I stood up, but Huang Xiaotao called, "Sit down! Forgot your role?"

I suddenly remembered I was a suspect, awkwardly scratching my head.

She laughed, "You get too absorbed in the case."

"By the way, is Li Wenhai still alive?"

She shook her head, "He died months ago. I sent him to prison myself. He was a scholar who couldn't stand the abuse inside and killed himself with a sharpened toothbrush."

I asked, "Will I be staying at the station these days?"

"No, we'll arrange bail for you soon!" Huang Xiaotao smiled brightly.

"Get Rat bailed too," I said. He'd looked after me, and I owed him.

Wang Yuanchao said, "He's clean. I sent him here. He's already gone."

"What about Ye Shiwen?" I asked.

"She can't be bailed. Hundreds saw her kill someone. Transferring her to the detention center soon — releasing her back at school would be bad."

I sighed for Ye Shiwen, thinking about the huge blow she'd just endured.

Putting myself in his shoes, after finishing my bail procedures, I went to see him. Ye Shiwen was broken, kneeling on the floor, sobbing helplessly. I comforted him through the bars, "Don't worry. I'll prove you innocent."