Chapter 54: The Campus Dismemberment Case

One evening, after finishing work, Lin Dongxue returned home and had just changed clothes when the doorbell rang.

When she opened the door, Chen Shi came in carrying several bags, which shocked Lin Dongxue. “What are you doing? Planning to move in?”

Chen Shi set down the bags, which were all filled with groceries. He said, “I can’t stand watching you eat instant noodles every day. I’m making you a proper meal.”

Lin Dongxue smiled wryly but didn’t refuse.

After fixing the light, Chen Shi rolled up his sleeves and started working in the kitchen. Before Lin Dongxue could finish half an episode of her TV show, he had already prepared several dishes. The table was full with oyster sauce lettuce, fish-flavored pork, and minced pork with eggplant. Lin Dongxue couldn’t help but praise, “I didn’t know you had such skills!”

“Haha, I’m a seasoned bachelor. If I couldn’t even cook, I’d be useless.”

Lin Dongxue took a bite. Chen Shi’s cooking was indeed good, but she couldn’t help but feel suspicious. “You suddenly come over to cook for me. Do you have an ulterior motive?”

“When will you learn to think positively about people?”

“It’s a professional habit.”

“Alright, since you think that way, how do you plan to repay me?”

Lin Dongxue’s voice rose a few octaves. “Hmph, I knew you had bad intentions!”

“Human interactions are always about mutual benefits. Even if it’s not for immediate gain, it’s for future benefits.”

“So what do you want in return? Treat you to a meal?”

“Just praise me!” Seeing Lin Dongxue’s surprised expression, Chen Shi said, “I went through all the trouble of buying groceries and cooking, and you don’t even have a kind word for me.”

Lin Dongxue awkwardly said, “It’s really good!”

“Good girl!” Chen Shi smiled and lowered his head to eat.

Lin Dongxue thought to herself that this guy, always roundabout in doing good for others, was also what made him endearing.

No, no, she couldn’t develop feelings for him just because of one meal, she warned herself.

After dinner, Chen Shi cleaned up the dishes. Lin Dongxue offered to help, but Chen Shi quickly washed everything himself.

Lin Dongxue asked, “Want a cup of tea?”

“No need, I’m going home to watch TV. See you.”

Lin Dongxue felt a bit embarrassed. “Let me walk you out.”

Downstairs, Lin Dongxue received a call from Lin Qiupu. “Dongxue, are you home?”

“Yes, what’s up?”

“A private middle school near Qingzhu Road reported finding a bag of body parts. I’m busy here, can’t get away. Can you handle it?”

Upon hearing “a bag of body parts,” Lin Dongxue immediately thought it might be a dismemberment case.

“Alright, I’m on my way.”

“Be careful on the road, and don’t take those black taxis. Text me when you arrive.”

“Brother, I’m going to handle a case, not visiting relatives.”

“Alright, alright, I’m hanging up.” Lin Qiupu awkwardly ended the call.

Lin Dongxue got into the passenger seat. Chen Shi asked, “What’s up? A case?”

Lin Dongxue curiously observed him. “What’s with your constitution?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why is it that every time I’m with you, there’s a case?”

“Haha, pure coincidence… Where to?”

“Qingzhu Road!”

Qingzhu Road was only three kilometers from Lin Dongxue’s place. In less than fifteen minutes, they arrived and inquired at a newsstand. They learned there was a Pusi Foreign Language School, a private middle school, on that road.

They entered the school, and Lin Dongxue showed her ID to the gatekeeper, who said excitedly, “Oh, thank goodness you’re here. The school is in an uproar.”

“What happened?”

“This evening, a cleaner found a bloody black bag in the trash can. Inside were some hair and meat. He thought it was animal offal, but then he saw a human hand and reported it immediately. It’s under Dormitory No. 4.”

Chen Shi parked the car, and they went to Dormitory No. 4, where a crowd had gathered. Lin Dongxue flashed her ID and pushed through. The crowd described the situation similarly to the gatekeeper.

Chen Shi shouted, “One at a time. Who found the body first?”

A teacher-like person said, “Old Zhang, the cleaner.”

“Bring him here. Is there any surveillance here?”

“No, only the teaching area has cameras.”

“So, only teachers live in this building?”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t leave yet. We need to register everyone. And does anyone have rubber gloves? Bring two pairs, and a flashlight too.”

Soon, the teacher who explained the situation brought the requested items. They put on gloves and opened the trash can. The stench was overwhelming, and Lin Dongxue felt nauseous, her stomach churning.

“If you need to puke, find a bathroom,” Chen Shi said.

“No!” Lin Dongxue suppressed the urge to vomit. “Everyone’s watching. How can you stay so calm?”

“Actually, I want to puke too,” Chen Shi grimaced.

With so many people around, they decided not to examine the body on-site. Chen Shi poked at the body parts. “It’s a child, judging by the fingers, probably around twelve or thirteen.”

Lin Dongxue felt a chill. “Could it be a student here?”

“Most likely!”

Lin Dongxue resisted the urge to look back at the crowd. The body was found here, so the killer was likely a teacher or someone who had just spoken to them.

Just then, she saw a man emerge from the corridor, eyes wide, who then turned back inside.

“This bag can’t hold a whole person.”

Chen Shi’s words brought her back. He opened other bags and found more body parts. He lifted one, approximating the weight of a teenager.

“Let’s take it back.”

“Alright!”

“We’ll split the work. You register everyone present.”

Lin Dongxue registered the onlookers and questioned the cleaner, who said he found the body around 8 p.m.

Chen Shi asked the gatekeeper for a large roll of plastic bags, packed all the body bags, including those with and without bloodstains, labeled them, and put them in the car trunk.

Local police and auxiliary police arrived to secure the scene. Lin Dongxue handed over the work and got into the car.

Chen Shi lit a cigarette. “When this is over, my car needs a wash.”

Lin Dongxue was puzzled. “Why did you bring back all the trash and label it?”

Chen Shi retorted, “How did you pass your criminology classes? The bags with bloodstains can indicate when the body was dumped. I labeled them for reconstruction later.”

Lin Dongxue was impressed. “Maybe my soul left my body during class, and you possessed me.”

“Haha, get us two bottles of cola. I’m about to puke.”