Chapter 229

This early autumn rain carried an eerie aura, falling incessantly in a drizzle, its chilling cold piercing the soul and plunging one into a state of melancholy. In Zizhen City, this endless autumn rain had formed a vast mist over the entire city, like a hazy monster, with slivers of light breaking through the clouds resembling the cold eyes of that giant beast, staring down at all things in the world...

On the evening of September 26 at 9 p.m., Chen Mengyao finished gathering with friends and returned alone by bus to her dormitory at the children’s welfare home.

As a recent college graduate of six months, Chen Mengyao chose to work as a social worker at her hometown’s children’s welfare home while preparing for the civil service exam. She was a bright, ambitious, and beautiful, multi-talented girl. Today was a high school reunion; rarely drinking, she had consumed two beers under her classmates’ teasing and now felt slightly intoxicated.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Chen Mengyao failed to notice that since she boarded the bus, a man in a gray hoodie in the back row had been staring at her. Of course, his oversized hood cast most of his face in shadow, making it impossible for others to tell where his eyes were fixed.

The bus passed through Jiangnan District, crossed Qingjiang Bridge, and entered Jiangdong District. After two more stops, a pleasant female voice announced: “Next stop: Zizhen Children’s Welfare Home. Passengers wishing to disembark, please exit from the rear door…”

Hearing the announcement, drowsy Chen Mengyao stood up hastily. Before the bus had fully stopped, her body lurched forward due to inertia and collided with a standing young man. She quickly apologized; the young man, seeing a pretty girl her own age, did not get angry but grew shy, wondering how he could subtly use this moment to introduce himself—when a man walked up behind him and growled: “Get off or don’t block the way!”

The young man was about to snap back, but saw Chen Mengyao pout her lips, furrow her brow slightly, and shake her head faintly—clearly signaling him not to cause trouble. Chen Mengyao was already beautiful; this pout and frown made her even more alluring and adorable. The young man obediently stepped aside, watching as she and the faceless man exited the bus one after the other...

———

“Deceased: Chen Mengyao, 23, volunteer at Zizhen Children’s Welfare Home.” Lao Zheng removed his rubber gloves, frowning. “Time of death: approximately between 11 p.m. last night and 1 a.m. Cause of death...” He paused. “It differs from the previous cases.”

While police detectives were urgently investigating the serial murder case, the 110 emergency platform received another report: a woman’s body had been found in the dormitory building of Zizhen Children’s Welfare Home in Jiangdong District. The caller was the dorm supervisor, Aunt Wu.

Gu Changzheng bent down, ignoring the rain dripping from his hair. The deceased, Chen Mengyao, wore a red dress, her face meticulously made up, a pink pair of underwear stuffed into her mouth...

“The victim was first stabbed to death with a sharp weapon, then sexually assaulted, and her genital area was also severed...”

“But this time, the killer’s ‘work’ was even more brutal—the victim’s abdomen was not only slit open, the incision still forming a ‘Z’ shape, and her internal organs were arranged with precision into a twisted cross.” Lao Zheng forced down his revulsion, his voice thick with sorrow and fury.

“Fuck! He’s a madman!” Luo Fei punched the wall.

Gu Changzheng frowned. He noticed the deceased’s right index finger, caked in blood, pointing straight ahead—as if trying to convey something.

“Lao Zheng, pre-mortem or post-mortem wound?”

“Pre-mortem.” Lao Zheng pointed to the wound edges’ retraction marks. “The killer slit her abdomen while she was still alive. The wound margins show the blade used was highly professional—different from the one used to stab her.”

Gu Changzheng stood, scanning the crime scene inside the welfare home’s staff dormitory. His gaze unconsciously followed the direction of the dead woman’s finger—to a wall covered in children’s drawings, with toys piled in the corner.

On Chen Mengyao’s desk sat a photo: her smiling warmly beside a group of children.

“Photo?” A sudden flash lit up Gu Changzheng’s mind.

“Gu team, look at this!” Luo Fei called out. “Another half-cigarette here—and same brand as the previous two!” His voice trailed off, as if sensing a chill.

Gu Changzheng put on gloves and carefully pinched the half-smoked cigarette between two fingers, holding it to the light. Two faint tooth marks remained on the filter—different from those found at the crime scenes of Xia Fei and Su Yuqing. Could it be someone else? Unlikely. Was it intentional? Or did the killer, in a state of extreme agitation or excitement, leave it unconsciously?

“Luo Fei, how’s the welfare home’s surveillance?” Gu Changzheng asked. Luo Fei understood his meaning and replied: “I’ll check the control room right away.”

Minutes later, he returned with a helpless expression. “Damn. These government units really need to fix their surveillance—this place has so many kids, yet only the main gate camera works clearly. Everything else is broken or pixelated beyond recognition!” As he complained, a middle-aged woman around fifty entered with him.

“Oh, Gu team, this is Director Xiao Fang of the welfare home.” Luo Fei introduced her.

“Hello, Director Xiao. I’m Gu Changzheng from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Brigade. We’d appreciate it if you could give us a detailed account of the victim, Chen Mengyao.” After brief pleasantries, Gu Changzheng made his request.

“Of course! Of course!” Director Xiao replied anxiously, nodding repeatedly. It was understandable—no ordinary person could remain unmoved by such a gruesome, bloody scene.

At that moment, Lao Zheng suddenly called out: “Gu, come look at this!”

Gu Changzheng nodded to Xiao Fang and turned toward Lao Zheng.

Lao Zheng was staring at the wall covered in children’s drawings. Gu Changzheng frowned, puzzled. Lao Zheng grabbed his arm and pointed to a watercolor painting with extremely childish brushwork, his voice trembling: “What do you see?”

Gu Changzheng squinted hard, but his vision blurred. Lao Zheng glared at him, then impatiently removed his reading glasses. “Hmph! Still refusing to admit you’re old? Then don’t wear glasses!”

Gu Changzheng chuckled weakly, put on the reading glasses—and his smile froze instantly, as if time had stopped.