Chapter 122: A Formidable Enemy

Huang Xiaotao drove me back to campus. When Wang Dali saw I was safe, he broke down crying and hugged me tightly."Seeing the cops take you away scared me out of my wits. I thought you wouldn't come back."

He asked if I was hungry and kindly made me a bowl of instant noodles. I just stared at him for a moment."What's up? Got a crush on me? If I were a girl, I might consider it," Wang Dali joked.

"Dali, you really were in the lounge with Teacher Li, right?" I asked with sharp eyes.

"Yeah!" Wang Dali nodded heavily.

"What did you talk about?"

"Everything… well…" Wang Dali hesitated, "I can't really remember."

He must have been hypnotized. People under hypnosis can't recall what happened during the trance. But what was her goal? Revenge against Huang Xiaotao? That seemed too roundabout.

The next morning, Wang Yuanchao and Huang Xiaotao came over together. We headed to the faculty dorms to find Teacher Li. Wang Dali tagged along. Even though I'd been at this school for four years, it was my first time at the staff dorm. The conditions were surprisingly nice—each had their own room, fully furnished with appliances.

Wang Dali said the dorm fee was only a thousand yuan a year and sighed with envy, "I really wanna stay here and be a teacher someday—six classes a week, and the rest of the time just chill in the dorm playing games. Sounds perfect!"

"Do you even have what it takes to get into grad school?" I shot back with a teasing jab.

We knocked on a door, and Teacher Li opened it, dressed in a loose robe. Despite the casual attire, her figure was undeniably captivating—I heard Wang Dali intake a sharp breath behind me.

Huang Xiaotao was about to show her badge, but Teacher Li waved it off."No need. I know you, Officer Huang."

Wang Yuanchao had already checked the connection between her and Li Wenhai—they were siblings. Huang Xiaotao said, "Since you know me, let's cut to the chase. Please tell us everything that happened last night, exactly as it was."

Teacher Li invited us in. As I suspected, there was a shrine with her parents' memorial plaques, and next to them a smaller one inscribed "Elder Brother Li Wenhai's Spirit," with an incense burner full of ashes.

But I was wrong about the dog—her pet didn't look like a dog at all. Huang Xiaotao's sharp eyes caught it immediately:"You keep a fox?"

"Dou Dou is a pet fox. Very obedient. Dou Dou, come here!" Teacher Li called, but the little fox was shy and hid behind a cabinet.

"Tea, anyone?" she offered.

"No, thanks," Huang Xiaotao declined.

"The dorm smells nice," Wang Dali whispered excitedly.

"Nice my foot—it reeks of fox," I muttered, sniffing the air carefully. Foxes have a distinct odor, nothing like a dog's.

Teacher Li pulled up a chair and lit a slim menthol cigarette. She leisurely recounted her experience from last night, saying she had been chatting with Wang Dali in the lounge and knew nothing about the knife incident until she heard the commotion outside and ran out.

I watched her carefully with my "洞幽之瞳" — the special gaze that lets me spot micro-expressions. Suddenly, she locked eyes with me and smiled subtly. There was an eerie chill in that gaze.

"Student Song, your eyes are sharp. Are you reading my micro-expressions?" she asked.

I was shocked—she'd seen through my special ability. Then she added,"Song, was I lying just now?"

Huang Xiaotao asked too, "Did she lie?"

I sweated nervously. "From her micro-expressions, no signs of deceit."

Her psychological resilience was impressive—no wonder she studied psychology. For the first time, I felt like I was facing a worthy opponent.

She said calmly, "You can also assume I told the truth, and I have a solid alibi. If you think I'm lying, it's only because Song here is close to you all—it looks like favoritism."

I pressed, "You definitely touched that knife, yet no fingerprints. You must've coated your fingers with super glue last night. Care to let us test it?"

She opened her hands, revealing smooth, unmarked fingers."Go ahead."

I stared closely—nothing. She'd clearly washed it all off by now.

Huang Xiaotao asked, "Can we see your right eye?"

"Sure." She pushed her hair aside to reveal a striking emerald green eye, deep and captivating. Unlike last night's strange feeling, this eye looked lively, not like a lifeless prosthetic.

"That's a pretty unique prosthetic eye," Huang Xiaotao noted.

"That's just my personal preference," she said casually.

"Then why do you usually hide it under your hair?"

Teacher Li shifted her crossed legs nonchalantly."Don't want to give the students a bad impression, I guess."

"How did you lose your eye?"

She explained, "Sick as a child, lost sight in that eye. Got the prosthetic a long time ago, got used to it."

Her story matched exactly what she said the night at the club. But this time, no trace of nervousness. I realized she had complete control over her micro-expressions.

When recalling memories, people tend to glance involuntarily to their lower right. She did that perfectly—so lifelike it was uncanny.

She let her hair fall back and said, "You've asked all your questions, seen everything you needed. If nothing else, please leave—I have to prepare lessons."

Huang Xiaotao looked frustrated—this woman was airtight, flawless. Locking eyes with her, Huang said,"Li Wenjia, what are you really plotting? Avenging your brother?"

Teacher Li smiled."Officer Huang, looks like you've already pegged me as the suspect. I know my rights—I can sue you."

"Fine!" Huang spat through clenched teeth, "I will expose you. I promise!"

After leaving Teacher Li's dorm, I noticed Huang Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao exchanging strange looks. I asked,"Hey, you don't really believe her, do you?"

"No, I believe you're innocent, but there's another possibility—you might've been hypnotized too," Huang Xiaotao said.

"Impossible. If that were true, then I'd be the killer, not Ye Shiwen," I said firmly.

Huang nodded."Fair enough, but right now, all evidence points to you. It's not looking good. In court, you could become an accomplice."

Wang Dali exclaimed,"How many years could that be? Should we get a lawyer?"

I gritted my teeth,"Planning to quit before the fight's even started? Ye Shiwen and I are both innocent—I'll prove it."

Huang Xiaotao asked,"Song Yang, got any tricks up your sleeve?"

Honestly, I was stumped. The hardest cases are ones with no motive or plan—someone suddenly going on a killing spree. Ye Shiwen's case was just like that, with hundreds of witnesses. Impossible to overturn.

Wang Yuanchao suddenly said,"I'll stay and keep an eye on her."

Huang nodded,"Alright, be careful."