Seeing Jiang Kexin's state, I was about to try and console her. But Jiang Kexin was a strong girl. She pulled herself back from the pain by gripping her hair.
"People with controlling personalities are very fond of making rules. This is evident in how Chen Ling controlled her drug empire. Under her command, rules played a significant role. The 'Heart Eater's' violent tendencies then manifest in punishment. People with this personality easily link breaking rules with the consequences of punishment. They might even say, 'If I break the rules, I will also be punished.'" After Jiang Kexin finished speaking, she lowered her head and added softly, "My brother is also like that."
"Don't connect everything to your brother?" I said, somewhat helplessly.
"I can't help it. After analyzing, my brother's image flashes in my mind, and there's always a voice telling me, 'He's just like him, he's just like him.' I don't mean to, I really don't mean to."
Jiang Kexin was on the verge of tears as she spoke.
"Did you notice something you just said?"
"What?"
"'He's just like him.' That doesn't necessarily mean it's him. How about this, be careful, let's stop profiling the 'Heart Eater' for now. Think carefully, based on your analysis, what aspects of this 'Heart Eater' are not like your brother?"
"What's not like him?"
"Yes, you just said he was exactly like him. So, where's the difference?"
"You really believe my brother isn't the murderer."
"Many things are related to your brother, but I believe Hu Xiaoyu wasn't killed by him. In this game, your brother was also helpless. However, the reason your brother could leave the police station is because the schemer, 'The Schemer,' has other objectives?"
"What objectives?"
"We don't know yet. I have a bad feeling about this, so we need to find the enemy as soon as possible and put him behind bars. Only then can we truly rest easy?"
Hearing my words, Jiang Kexin's spirits lifted slightly. She nodded with effort, "If the 'Heart Eater' is a schemer and dismembered Xiaoyu because of her provocation, then this deduction holds true. It also suggests that Xiaoyu wasn't the first person to be killed by the 'Heart Eater' due to provocation."
"Has the 'Heart Eater' killed people because of provocation before?"
"Yes!"
"Are you so sure?"
"Foreign psychologists once conducted an experiment. Extreme aggressors are often more introverted and submissive. Extreme aggressors, shaped by excessive control, appear less hostile. Their extreme aggressive behavior often begins after prolonged or repeated provocation. Such extreme aggressors have another term in psychology: impulsive murderers. These offenders might have no prior criminal record. They are usually introverted, troubled by negative emotions, lonely, or have experienced life setbacks."
"This is where the 'Heart Eater' differs from your brother, isn't it?"
"Yes. Based on his behavior now, my brother has an introverted psychological profile. He derives pleasure from controlling others. Someone like him despises violence and is capable. Therefore, he wouldn't feel lonely, nor would he have such negative emotions. As for life setbacks, my brother has none. From childhood, he strived relentlessly to win my mother's approval. Regardless of what my mother thought, he was always an outstanding student in the eyes of his classmates and teachers."
Seeing Jiang Kexin speak faster and faster, I smiled, "So, you're saying your brother isn't the 'Heart Eater'?"
"He isn't. Even though their personalities are both introverted, I believe my brother is not this 'Heart Eater.'"
"Impressive, impressive!"
"Please don't praise me. Based on the information you gave me, this is all I can profile. Honestly, this doesn't help much in finding the 'Heart Eater.'"
"It does!"
"It does? How?"
"When you're in the thick of it, you can't see clearly, but an outsider can. I've been listening. Use what you've just summarized, and I think we can find this person."
"What?"
"This 'Heart Eater' is plagued by low emotions, is lonely and introverted, and most importantly, Xiaoyu knew him. Precisely because she knew him, Xiaoyu's provocation triggered his greatest malice. For a simple task of hiding a body, he dismembered Xiaoyu."
Hearing my words, Jiang Kexin's eyes dimmed. I knew she was getting drawn back in.
"I'll go get Da Zhou for help. We need to find this 'Heart Eater' quickly. Xiaoyu cannot be brought back to life, and you need to live well. Don't let these matters disrupt your home too."
"Okay!"
...
Finding Da Zhou, he seemed hesitant. After all, the case had already been classified. The criminal investigation detachment had received orders to apprehend Chen Ling and Liu Ran, who were both drug traffickers.
There was a certain "prejudice" in everyone's hearts. Drug traffickers designed an elaborate scheme to entrap anti-drug elites. It seemed only natural. After the truth was revealed, everyone was outraged, and the entire Beijing police force wanted to see justice for Jiang Keyang.
Under these circumstances, asking Da Zhou to help me find a killer who didn't exist, or even to prove that Chen Ling and Liu Ran, two major drug lords, were not the murderers, was indeed somewhat unfair to Da Zhou.
...
Da Zhou rubbed the skin between his eyebrows with his thumb and index finger, remaining silent.
"Captain Zhou, you have to trust me."
"Don't I trust you enough?"
Da Zhou's retort made me quite embarrassed.
"I guarantee that this schemer called the 'Heart Eater' is the true killer of Hu Xiaoyu."
Da Zhou sighed, "Tang Nan, the criminal investigation officers are not like you imagine. We're not like in the movies, all honor and passion. We're human too, with emotions and desires."
"Captain Zhou, I really don't understand what you mean? What does this have to do with Jiang Keyang's case?"
"You're so smart, why are you being dense now?"
"I truly don't understand. Please enlighten me."
"I don't know your situation, but right now, no one cares who actually killed Hu Xiaoyu. Everyone just wants to catch Chen Ling and Liu Ran, and then reap the rewards and accolades."
"Catching them will bring them glory?"
"What do you think? Liu Ran is the son of the Northeast female drug lord Liu Zhaodi, and Chen Ling is the famous 'Sister Ling' in the anti-drug circles recently. Let alone catching both of them, catching one would be a great achievement. Catching two would practically lead to a promotion. Normally, drug trafficking arrests are handled by the anti-drug detachment. Now, these two have murder charges, meaning the credit will go to our criminal investigation team. Do you think I can help clear two people's names?"
"So, for the sake of credit, you're ignoring the facts?"
"No one is saying we're ignoring the facts, Tang Nan. Let's not see ourselves as Mother Mary. Think about it, whether they killed Hu Xiaoyu or not, they are still drug lords. Hu Xiaoyu's death is the concern of one person, but once drugs are involved, it's the ruin of families and the death of countless people. I admire you for speaking up for Senior Wang Zeyi. But I don't agree with you speaking up for a drug dealer. I'm not a saint. I don't have that kind of principle where even if I know someone is utterly evil, I still want to save them. I'm sorry Tang Nan, I can't help you."
...
Jiang Kexin's analysis was very good. If the criminal investigation detachment's Da Zhou participated in the investigation, things would be easier. But I never expected Da Zhou to refuse me.
Thinking about it carefully, I could understand Da Zhou's reasoning. No matter my relationship with Chen Ling, or how tragic her experiences had been over the years, she was now a drug trafficker, and a high-ranking one at that.
Drugs had ruined countless families. This was not comparable to a case of involuntary manslaughter. Therefore, Da Zhou's help was understandable. I couldn't blame Da Zhou. If I were in his shoes, I might not have done otherwise.
...
"In that case, Captain Zhou, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll find another way."
"You're going to find someone else?" Da Zhou asked me.
I nodded sincerely, "Some things require the truth, so I must find it."
"I don't even advise you to do this?"
"Why?"
"Jiang Keyang's case is mine. Both professionally and personally, I don't want you to get involved further. I know you have your own moral compass, but I want to say that you shouldn't think of us as a righteous department. If you push us too far, it won't benefit you."
I was dumbfounded, "Captain Zhou, are you threatening me? I understand you're not helping me, but is it necessary to do this?"
"I'm doing it for your own good."
"Is there some inside information I don't know?"
Hearing me say this, Da Zhou gave an awkward laugh. "We've said enough. Ultimately, how you proceed is up to your own discretion."
His words held a hidden meaning and were not clearly stated, leaving me completely bewildered.