Chapter 421: Exposing the Truth

Chen Shi took off his headphones. “I’ve been watching Luo Zuyu’s interviews over the years and found some interesting clues.”

He played a video and skipped to the middle. The host asked, “Zuyu, congratulations on your new song topping the Chinese music charts. A viewer wants to know how you keep your creative inspiration flowing.”

Luo Zuyu smiled, “Every time I write a new song, I immerse myself in the emotions. Of course, I don’t actually fall in love! I watched a foreign film by a director from either Finland or Spain, where the protagonist had a mortal enemy. He practiced killing a dummy at home with a knife to truly feel that intense emotion.”

After watching the interview, Chen Shi asked, “What do you think he means?”

Lin Dongxue said, “If you didn’t know his background, you’d think he was speaking metaphorically. But now, it sounds more sinister.”

“Let’s watch another clip.”

This video was from a recent variety show. Lin Dongxue had seen it before at Chen Shi’s place. The host asked, “Is it true that you fall in love every time you write a song, Mr. Luo?”

“No, that’s not true. While creating, I do try to experience certain emotions, but not in a literal sense. It’s like how the director of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ didn’t actually kill anyone to make the movie! I might look at gifts from ex-girlfriends, photos, or listen to old CDs for inspiration. It’s not like I actually fall in love each time.”

Chen Shi paused the video, smiling. “He often mentions ‘killing’ in interviews about his new songs. This is a form of self-revelation. For example, Xiaodong, imagine I’m your biological father…”

“Huh?” Xu Xiaodong looked confused.

“I’m your real father, but your current father doesn’t know this…”

“What? I have a father? What kind of situation is this?”

“Don’t interrupt. Imagine I’ve watched you grow up, knowing you’re my son, but no one else knows. I might make comments like, ‘Xiaodong is such a good kid, I wish he were my son.’ To others, it sounds innocent, but to me, it’s satisfying because I’m revealing a hidden truth. This is called self-revelation.”

“I get it, but your example is a bit…”

Lin Dongxue said, “I understand. You mean Luo Zuyu’s killings are linked to his songwriting, and he subtly boasts about it in his interviews, taking pride in it.”

“Exactly!” Chen Shi flipped open his notebook. “I cross-referenced the dates of his songs’ releases with the timelines of the related murders. They always precede the release of a new song. I have a bold hypothesis: he kills for creative inspiration!”

“He’s killing to write songs!” Lin Dongxue was shocked.

“This might be linked to his childhood trauma. His accounts of his childhood are contradictory and vague in interviews. I suspect he had an unhappy childhood, possibly involving domestic violence. He’s a serial killer who happens to have musical talent. With a famous, successful family supporting him, he became a star.”

Lin Dongxue and Xu Xiaodong sat in stunned silence. Xu Xiaodong finally said, “It’s unbelievable that someone like him can be a celebrity and have so many fans.”

Chen Shi took a twisted breadstick from the bag on the table and started eating. “What did you find out?”

“A body,” Lin Dongxue said.

“Really!?”

“We left the scene untouched for you to reexamine.”

“Great job. Let’s head there now… Xiaodong, do you know how to analyze audio?”

Xu Xiaodong scratched his head. “No, I don’t.”

“Then take Luo Zuyu’s hit songs to the tech department, including the unreleased one on this USB.”

“Why analyze the songs?”

“What do you think?”

Xu Xiaodong couldn’t figure it out, but Lin Dongxue did. “You suspect his songs contain evidence?”

“Look, he was involved in the arrangement of every song. I suspect he might have added ‘something’ in the arrangements. A serial killer with musical talent would likely want to subtly showcase his ‘work.’ If he’s a celebrity, what could be more thrilling than embedding victims’ voices into songs that millions sing?”

On their way to Ling Shuangshuang’s home, Chen Shi played Luo Zuyu’s hit song “Black Farewell” in his car. The lyrics went: “Roses wither like blood in the night, you chose to leave without a word, your warmth still lingers on my fingertips, that farewell as sharp as a dagger…”

After the song ended, Lin Dongxue said, “Listening to it now, the imagery of a brutal breakup really does feel like it’s about killing.”

“Love and murder are both intense emotions. They share many similarities: possession, taking, merging.”

“Is your love for me as intense as murder?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“It feels more like friendship, the best kind of friendship… Love is complex. Human emotions are like a cocktail, mixed with various ingredients but labeled differently.”

“So, have I replaced Peng Team Leader in your heart?”

“Well…”

“Don’t hesitate!” Lin Dongxue poked Chen Shi’s forehead.

“Let’s listen to another song.”

They continued listening to Luo Zuyu’s other songs. Chen Shi noticed that his recent songs were more subtle, likely due to his encounters with the police. Realizing that flaunting too much could get him noticed, Luo Zuyu had toned down his displays.

An hour later, they arrived at Ling Shuangshuang’s home. The door was locked as they had left it. Lin Dongxue said, “I’ll find the locksmith.”

“No need!” Chen Shi pulled out his lock-picking tools, just two modified ear scoops, and easily opened the lock. He thought it might be time to reveal this skill to make investigations easier in the future.

“You… you know how to pick locks?”

“I’m smart, aren’t I? I’ll teach you sometime.”

“Speaking of, my brother can do this too. I’ve always wondered who taught him. He’s so rigid and proper; it doesn’t seem like something he’d know.”

“It wasn’t me!” Chen Shi pushed open the door. “After you.”