Chapter 233: Three Photos

Today, Chen Shi didn’t drive his taxi but wandered around the city instead.

In his hand, he held three photos that the mysterious boy had slipped into his pocket. The first photo was of Tao Yueyue, the second of Lin Dongxue, and the third of himself, each marked with a red X.

The photos were clearly taken secretly, and the message was unmistakable: a silent threat.

Given his recent involvement in solving several cases, it was possible that a suspect’s relative was behind this, but one face kept haunting him—Zhou Xiao.

He spent all night pondering. Should he stop assisting with cases? Should he move out of Long’an City? No, running away wouldn’t solve the problem. But if he didn’t run, someone would die. The photos made it clear that the targets could be Tao Yueyue or Lin Dongxue.

With the photos in hand, he searched for the locations where they were taken. Tao Yueyue’s life was simple, and it was easy to pinpoint the angle from which her photo was taken—a small alley on her way home from school.

Lin Dongxue’s photo was harder to determine.

His own photo was even more challenging. He looked somewhat unfamiliar in it, which made sense since it wasn’t his real face.

After nearly a whole day, Chen Shi returned home in the afternoon, exhausted and wanting a drink.

As he reached his building, he saw a truck unloading furniture. He thought nothing of it and went upstairs. The door across from his was open, and a stylish woman with glasses was standing there. The room behind her was empty.

“New here?” Chen Shi asked.

“Hello, I’m Gu You. We’re neighbors now,” the woman extended her hand. Chen Shi shook it.

Workers were carrying a sofa up the narrow staircase. Gu You stepped over to Chen Shi’s side, and he caught a whiff of her jasmine perfume. He glanced at her and noted her impressive figure.

“Sorry, but can I stay at your place for a bit? It’s going to take a while to move everything,” Gu You smiled.

“Aren’t you going to supervise? They might damage your furniture.”

“It’s okay. It’s not worth much.”

“Well, make yourself at home then.”

Inside Chen Shi’s apartment, Gu You looked around. “Nice place. It’s a bit bigger than mine.”

Chen Shi poured her a glass of water. “Did you buy your apartment?”

“Yes, I heard this area might be redeveloped. Is that true?”

“Probably still a few years away.”

“Do you live alone?”

“No…” Chen Shi hesitated, unsure what to say, “I have a daughter.”

“A single dad.”

Chen Shi took out a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label and poured himself a drink. Gu You asked, “Do you mind if I have a glass too?”

Chen Shi thought she was being a bit presumptuous but nodded. “I’ll get you a glass.”

Gu You sipped her drink from a rocks glass and remarked, “I like the taste of whiskey. It’s very smooth.”

“This is cheap stuff. If you like it, you should try some Chivas.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a driver.”

“I’m a psychologist. I run a clinic here. Here’s my card.”

Chen Shi took the card and glanced at it. Gu You had a refined air about her. He noticed the wear around her nails and calluses on her inner wrist, likely from long hours at a computer.

Chen Shi said, “No wonder you keep staring at my nose while we talk.”

“Haha, it’s a social psychology rule. Looking at the triangle formed by the eyes and nose is the most appropriate. What should I call you?”

“Chen Shi.”

“Mr. Chen, do you have an interest in psychology?”

“I’m just curious about it.”

“It seems we have something in common. At least you won’t ask, ‘Can you read my mind?'”

“Psychology studies the laws and principles of mental activities, not their content.”

“Just out of curiosity, do you believe in mind reading?”

“What do you think?”

Gu You looked around. “Mr. Chen, you must have suffered some major trauma. You seem calm and open on the surface but lack a sense of security and live under constant pressure. You have an urge to escape reality.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Walking into this home feels warm and comfortable. The living room reflects your public persona, while the bedroom represents your inner self. Your bedroom is very messy, which shows you consciously present your best side to others. Also, I noticed there are no sharp objects on the coffee table, like scissors, knives, or toothpicks, which indicates your lack of security and your need to eliminate potential threats.”

Chen Shi stood up and closed the bedroom door, smiling. “The bedroom isn’t mine… But you do have a point. You’re good at what you do.”

Gu You was about to pour herself another drink when Chen Shi took the bottle away. “I have something to do. Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. I enjoyed our chat.”

After seeing Gu You out, Chen Shi sniffed the air, still filled with the scent of her perfume. He quickly turned on the air conditioner to ventilate the room and cleaned the glass she used, even wiping down the fingerprints on the table.

He laughed at himself, wondering why he was being so cautious. Was he afraid Lin Dongxue would smell the perfume and get upset?

Today, Lin Dongxue was supposed to move out.

Although he liked her, he didn’t want to drag her into danger. Was he doing the right thing? He felt uncertain.

At five o’clock, Lin Dongxue came back. Chen Shi said, “I don’t want to chase you away. I just think it’s not suitable for us to live together.”

“I know, I know… I’ll pack my things.”

“Have you found a place?”

“Yes, I’ve already paid the deposit.”

“I’ll call the moving company.”

It was clear that Lin Dongxue was in a bad mood. Chen Shi sighed inwardly, feeling sorry.

When the moving truck arrived, Chen Shi ordered Lin Dongxue’s favorite takeout. They sat in the living room, with her few bags by the door. Lin Dongxue said, “By the way, I need to tell you something.”

She told him about the file she saw in the morning and the serial killer’s recent activity.

Chen Shi’s reaction was unexpected. He grabbed her shoulders, “Are you sure it’s the same burn mark!?”

“Uh… Captain Peng wanted me to get your opinion.”

It wasn’t about seeking his opinion. Peng Siyue clearly wanted Lin Dongxue to inform Chen Shi about the situation.

Chen Shi pondered for a moment and shook his head. “Just hearing it doesn’t ring a bell. Next time, let me see the file.”

They heard the sound of the moving truck outside. Lin Dongxue looked out the window and sighed. “The moving company is here. I guess we won’t get to eat the takeout… Thank you for taking care of me during this time.”

Chen Shi didn’t say anything, lost in thought.

“Chen?”

“Wait, you don’t need to leave. Stay here!”