Chapter 70

Chapter 70 6. The Silence of the Lambs-0

“Really impressive. It’s clear that you are truly deserving of the title of expert in abnormal criminal psychology.”

Liu Yi’s fingers lightly rubbed the rough ceramic surface of his teacup. After a moment, he continued, “Especially the discussion on antisocial personality disorder—I found it very interesting.”

“Oh?”

Ying Chuan looked pleased. “You noticed that?”

“Mm.”

Liu Yi thought for a moment. “If I remember correctly, in some of the materials I’ve read before, there’s a set of diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Using adulthood as the dividing line, only after a certain number of conduct disorders and violations of social norms would someone be considered to have antisocial tendencies.”

“Right.”

Ying Chuan nodded. “According to the current CCMD standards, that’s correct.”

He paused, then continued: “However, I believe these diagnostic standards are somewhat outdated.”

Liu Yi laughed. “In your lecture just now, you put it much more tactfully.”

“Yes. After all, there were quite a few senior people who honored me by coming today. One has to give face. Too shocking a statement is better left unsaid.”

Ying Chuan shrugged. “Moreover, my current research progress isn’t great. Statistically speaking, the evidence is far from enough to challenge the existing diagnostic standards that have been in use for nearly thirty years.”

Liu Yi caught the keyword. “Research progress not going well?”

At this moment, a waiter brought salads and cold dishes, and poured them some warmed sake.

They paused their conversation. Once the waiter bowed and stepped away, Ying Chuan continued: “It’s not that it’s going poorly, but the national context is different. In China, the number of cases where police allow criminal psychology experts to intervene is very limited. The American investigation and profiling procedures are hard to replicate here.”

“After all, they are ‘Voodoo cops’!”

Liu Yi laughed, using the playful nickname for American criminal psychologists, then picked up the sake, taking a shallow sip.

He found the mildly warmed liquid slightly sour, smooth to the taste, perfectly balancing the chilled sensation of the salad and cold dishes—surprisingly to his liking. He tilted his head and drank the entire cup in one gulp.

“Exactly, voodoo cops.”

Ying Chuan picked up the warmed porcelain sake bottle and refilled Liu Yi’s empty cup, then raised his own for a light clink with Liu Yi.

Liu Yi politely finished his cup and refilled Ying Chuan’s as well.

“I think the theory you mentioned just now is quite interesting.”

Liu Yi wasn’t particularly interested in the cold dishes, but he did enjoy the taste of the sake. He didn’t pour another cup for himself but couldn’t stop his fingers from lightly rubbing the small porcelain cup repeatedly. “I mean the part about the hidden traits of current antisocial personalities.”

As a psychology expert, Ying Chuan naturally noticed the desire conveyed by Liu Yi’s finger movements. Pretending to act casually, he refilled their cups, then took a sip himself.

“Actually, especially for some antisocial personalities only discovered after committing crimes as adults, the hidden traits are far greater than the indicators in personality classification.”

He thought for a moment, giving an example: “For instance, when we read case reports, we often hear neighbors, colleagues, or relatives of heinous criminals say, ‘He seemed like a perfectly good person.’ I think this is also a manifestation of the hidden traits of antisocial personalities.”

At this moment, the waiter brought several main courses, arranged in a delicate plum blossom pattern in the center of the table.

Just as Liu Yi picked up his chopsticks to start, his phone rang.

He took it out of his pocket, and the caller ID showed it was the only female forensic officer in the department, Feng Ling.

Liu Yi remembered that Feng Ling was on duty this weekend.

Although usually sharp-tongued, Feng Ling was righteous, very capable, and absolutely competent.

If she called him at this moment, it was almost certainly a major case even she couldn’t handle alone.

He smiled apologetically at Ying Chuan, stood, and stepped aside to a private spot to answer the call. “Hello?”

“Hello, Director Liu.”

Feng Ling’s calm, direct voice came through: “I have a case over at Belle Community. I think it’s necessary for you to take a look as well.”

“What’s the situation?”

Liu Yi frowned. “The scene is complicated?”

“Complicated, yes,” Feng Ling replied. “But most importantly, the victim is missing all ten fingers.”

Liu Yi’s brow furrowed even tighter. “All ten fingers?”

Feng Ling’s steady voice continued: “Yes, exactly as you imagined. All ten fingers were cut off at the base with a sharp instrument, and the severed fingers were not found at the crime scene.”

She paused for a few seconds before continuing: “I feel it’s very similar to that skeleton case you received a few days ago.”

“Got it.”

Liu Yi replied, “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

He hung up, returned to the table, and apologized to Ying Chuan, explaining he had urgent business and needed to leave immediately.

A glint flashed in Ying Chuan’s eyes, but he quickly masked it; no one else could notice.

“No problem. Go ahead, we can meet next time.”

He politely stood and shook Liu Yi’s hand.

Liu Yi left the Japanese restaurant and headed for the nearest campus gate of X University.

His car was still in the north parking lot, but it was far from his current location. Plus, having had two cups of sake, it wasn’t convenient to drive, and there was no time to wait for a driver.

He took a taxi nearby, heading straight to Belle Community.

At this moment, he remembered something.

Although Ying Chuan had said, “We’ll meet next time,” they hadn’t exchanged any personal contact information.

Of course, since he knew Ying Chuan’s workplace and name, contacting him wasn’t too difficult.

Liu Yi thought that although he barely ate during that meal, he owed Ying Chuan a lunch and should make it up when he had time.

Thinking about food made him press his stomach.

It was almost one o’clock in the afternoon. He had eaten a minimal breakfast, just milk and instant oatmeal. That had long digested.

Because he didn’t like cold food, he had barely touched the cold dishes, drank two cups of sake, and now his stomach felt empty, cold, and hungry—uncomfortable, though not unbearable.

“Sir, we’ve arrived at Belle Community.”

The taxi stopped by the roadside, pointing ahead to a residential area. “The streets inside are narrow; I won’t go in. Is that okay?”

Liu Yi looked at the street, barely wide enough for two cars to pass side by side, and didn’t pressure the driver. He paid and got out, entering the narrow old street.

On the map, Belle Community is in the north of Xinhai City, in one of the earliest urban districts. Most buildings are over thirty years old.

Two years ago, the area was renovated, and the walls of dozens of buildings along the main streets were refurbished with bright cream-colored tiles, looking neat and fresh.

But walking deeper in, he found the backstreets’ buildings much more dilapidated, some with peeling paint revealing rough gray-brown cement beneath.

After some searching, he located the building where the incident occurred. Showing his ID to the police guarding the staircase, he went straight up to the sixth floor.

The sixth floor had already been cleared. The narrow stairwell was packed with uniformed police—it was clearly a major case.

“Liu… Liu Forensic Officer.”

Qi Shanyu was waiting at the unit’s door, having known Liu Yi was coming. His eyes brightened, nearly saying “Brother Liu” before remembering to maintain professionalism.

“Yes, Officer Qi.”

Liu Yi smiled and nodded. “What’s the situation inside?”

“The resident of Room 604 was found dead in their home about two hours ago.”

Qi Shanyu led him inside, and as they got closer, Liu Yi detected a faint scent of smoke and alcohol on him.

Though subtle, Qi Shanyu was certain he wasn’t mistaken.

The small apartment, around 70–80 square meters, was an old south-facing unit. Even at noon, lights were on, yet it still felt dim.

Liu Yi immediately saw a bloodied, mutilated body lying on the living room floor.

“Ah, Director, you’re here.”

Feng Ling appeared from a room on the right, carrying a forensic kit, followed by her assistant and student.

“What’s the situation?”

Liu Yi asked, putting on shoe covers carefully, avoiding marked blood and footprints, and stepped inside.

His graduate student, Jiang Xiaoyuan, hadn’t arrived yet, so no work clothes were available, but the disposable nonwoven suit in the forensic kit sufficed.

Liu Yi quickly put on his gear, hat, and gloves, instantly transforming from a graceful gentleman into a serious forensic expert. He moved swiftly to the body.

Even he couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

Author’s note: Your weak author couldn’t survive this cold spell, caught a cold, took a day off lying down, and updated late, sorry (:з」∠)

Wishing everyone