Chapter 167: The Torn Diary

I asked Sun Bingxin, "Do we still need to test the internal organs?"

She shook her head. "No, it's not necessary."

So I used a scalpel to cut open the sutures on the corpse's abdomen. Then, I carefully stuffed the organs back inside, roughly in their original positions, and stitched them up again. Huang Xiaotao asked, "Song Yang, what are you doing?"

I sighed with compassion, "Let the deceased keep an intact body."

Sun Bingxin looked at me with admiration. "Brother Song Yang, you're so kind."

I smiled. Every forensic examiner does this—after examining, we sew the organs back to preserve the body's dignity. Then I took out a stack of yellow paper and burned it in front of the corpse, softly chanting, "A cup of yellow wine to honor Heaven and Earth, two incense sticks for the spirits. Light the lamp to dispel the dark veil, and clear the injustice for Investigator Song!"

"Today, Song Yang swears by the name of his ancestor, Investigator Song Ci, to uncover your wrongful death. Rest in peace." I clenched my fists tightly.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I heard faint sobbing in the morgue. Everyone stared silently at the body.

After finishing the examination, Wang Dali, Sun Bingxin, and I temporarily excused ourselves. Outside the police station, Sun Bingxin hooked her arm around mine.

"Brother Song Yang, you still owe me a meal!"

I said, "Next time."

She pouted her lips high. "Don't you dare renege. I barely got out today. Who knows when we'll meet again?"

I sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, let's go."

We chose a Korean BBQ restaurant. Sun Bingxin had a small appetite and barely ate, but chatted with me the whole time. She's a forensic pathologist, I'm a coroner, and since we've known each other since childhood, we talked about almost everything.

Wang Dali couldn't join the conversation and just buried his head in eating several plates of fatty beef rolls—turns out this meal was on me.

Maybe due to the shadow the recent case cast over us, we all unspokenly avoided ordering pork belly.

After dinner, we parted ways at the bus station. As Sun Bingxin got on, she repeatedly reminded me, "If there's any progress in the case, you must tell me. I want to see that pervert caught with my own eyes."

Two days later, Huang Xiaotao informed me there was a breakthrough and asked us to come over. The forensic team had confirmed the victim's identity by facial recognition: her name was Xu Xiaohui, a freelance painter.

Hearing the name, Wang Dali and I both froze. Wang Dali blurted, "Isn't she the missing painter from last time?"

Huang Xiaotao nodded. "Yes, what a strange coincidence. It really is her."

The photo of Xu Xiaohui showed a pure and beautiful young woman, radiating a sunny, cheerful aura. Thinking of the state she was found in filled me with rage. What kind of monster could do such a thing?

Huang Xiaotao also investigated all the plastic surgery clinics in Nanjiang City. Officers went hospital to hospital, cross-checking a medication list issued by Sun Bingxin. They narrowed the list down to five clinics that recently used all the drugs on that list—meaning these five hospitals were all suspects.

I asked to see the locations of these five clinics. Huang Xiaotao unfolded a map of Nanjiang City, pinned each hospital's location, and then pointed her laser at one spot.

"That's Xu Xiaohui's home."

I stared at the map, thinking. Huang Xiaotao asked, "Should we visit each one?"

I said, "No rush. Let's check out Xu Xiaohui's place first."

Huang Xiaotao called Wang Yuanchao, and the four of us headed to Xu Xiaohui's house. Officer Lao Zhang, who was patrolling nearby, saw us and said, "Officer Huang, why are you here? Did something happen to Xu Xiaohui?"

Huang Xiaotao said, "She was murdered."

Lao Zhang's eyes widened in shock. "Such a kind girl—she always greeted me whenever we met. How could she just leave like this?"

Lao Zhang kindly led us inside. The house was clean and tidy. Outside on the street were some sketches, and inside the shelves were stacked with books.

Huang Xiaotao asked, "Did she have any close friends or relatives?"

Lao Zhang replied, "Her parents live out of town. She lived here alone, supporting herself by painting while attending school. She was introverted and didn't socialize much—never heard of a boyfriend, either. Should I notify her family?"

I immediately said, "Not yet."

Losing their daughter this way would be too much for them. If we need to question them later, we'll contact them then.

We put on gloves and began searching. There was nothing unusual until Wang Dali suddenly called out, "Yangzi, I found something!"

He pulled out a diary from a drawer. It was a daily log, showing Xu Xiaohui was meticulous about managing her time.

I flipped through it quickly. Xu Xiaohui went missing on November 7, but when I turned to that page, there was only November 6. The page for the 7th had clearly been torn out.

On the blank page next to it, a neat handwriting read: "Song Yang, don't investigate this case!!!"

I called everyone over to see it. Huang Xiaotao took a deep breath. "Who's so powerful that they know you'd come here?"

Wang Dali guessed, "Could it be a threat left by the killer?"

I pondered, "No. A killer wouldn't do something so foolish as to leave their handwriting—that's just asking to be caught. This person must be... the mysterious swordsman who attacked Lao Zhang that night."

Huang Xiaotao frowned, "What's wrong with this person? Why tear out the key page?"

I said, "The point is, he knows me—and knows I'll definitely investigate this case."

Now I was even more certain. He's the one who saved Bald Qiang. His warning to stay away from the case doesn't feel like a threat, but who is he? And why won't he show himself?

I flipped a few more pages. The diary was filled with routine schedules, but surprisingly, the page for November 3 was also torn out. What did that mean?

After thinking hard, I said, "Could it be that the victim met the killer on November 3? This person tore out that page to keep me from finding out."

Wang Dali said, "Song Yang, you're too smart. That's called trying to cover up but only drawing more attention."

Huang Xiaotao sent Wang Yuanchao to the telecom bureau to get the victim's recent call records while we searched the house again.

Inside an old book, I found a middle school graduation photo. Since Xu Xiaohui was introverted and had few friends, maybe she still kept in touch with some old classmates. I pocketed the photo.

Wang Yuanchao was efficient. By the time we got downstairs, he was already back in his car and handed me a printed call log.

On November 3, the same number called the victim three times.

Wang Yuanchao said, "I asked the telecom staff. The owner of this number is Wu Li."

Huang Xiaotao dialed the number on her phone. Wu Li was shocked to hear about Xu Xiaohui's death. She said they had a reunion that day. Xu Xiaohui was late because of traffic, so Wu Li called three times to urge her.

This was a key lead. Huang Xiaotao asked if Wu Li had time to meet. She gave an address.

We went to a café at that address. The three of us went inside, but Wang Yuanchao stayed outside.

Huang Xiaotao said, "Why aren't you coming in?"

Wang Yuanchao gestured at the 'No Smoking' sign on the wall. Huang Xiaotao laughed, "So well-behaved!"

Wang Dali whispered, "Wang Shu smokes and drinks every day—doesn't he fear cancer?"

Huang Xiaotao smiled faintly, "Don't worry, this workaholic will probably die before cancer can get him."

Wang Dali looked at her dumbfounded. Huang Xiaotao said, "What's wrong with that?"

She ordered a coffee and got an extra latte for Wang Yuanchao outside.

Halfway through the coffee, a short-haired white-collar woman carrying a small bag walked in.

"You must be the officers here to see me? I'm Wu Li."

Huang Xiaotao invited her to sit and ordered coffee. Wu Li whispered thanks and first asked how Xu Xiaohui died. Huang Xiaotao said some details were confidential, then asked about the reunion.

Wu Li recalled it was nothing special. Xu Xiaohui was always introverted since high school, only close to a few girls. Everyone chatted and laughed, had a meal, and then parted.

I asked, "Do any of your classmates run plastic surgery clinics?"

Wu Li nodded. "Yes!"