Chapter 23: Remembering — There was at least a third person at the scene of the crime.
♕
Ye Zhen Zhen caught sight of Dr. Ji sitting on the sofa—staring at her—the moment her eyelids flung open. A faint trace of anxiety flitted across his face. “Are you okay?”
Ye Zhen Zhen’s complexion was deathly white, the panic in her eyes not yet dispersing. Ji Zhe Yan’s gaze, however, was like the sun’s warm rays, gradually soothing her erratically pulsing heart. “I’m fine.”
“What did you see?” Dr. Zhang’s voice suddenly rang out. Ye Zhen Zhen suddenly realized that he had not moved from his seat as he examined her.
She took a deep breath and slowly began to recall the dream. “I felt like I was rocking heavily when I first fell asleep, as if I was on a boat. I then saw a man wearing a black suit. Unfortunately, he stood in the shadows, so I couldn’t see his face when he pushed me down the stairs.”
Ye Zhen Zhen retrieved her drawings her bag once she finished describing the dream. “Look, Dr. Zhang. I drew what I had seen in my nightmares previously—this specific hand is identical to the one I had just seen in the dream.”
Dr. Zhang studied the drawing for a while before speaking his analysis. “I think the rocking wasn’t necessarily from a boat; it might be because you were in a car. Though it could also be someone carrying you as they walked…” He glanced down at the drawing of the hand again. “When did you begin having nightmares?”
Ye Zhen Zhen stated, “After I went back to the Ye Mansion.”
Dr. Zhang pondered for a moment before saying, “You’re getting nightmares because your subconscious is being triggered, and this trigger might be because it’s the scene of the crime—that staircase where you rolled down to be specific, or possibly because of someone or something.”
Ye Zhen Zhen wrinkled her brows and thought this over. She then asked Dr. Zhang, “Do you mean that I might have run into the man after I returned to the Ye Mansion, which might have subconsciously triggered me?”
“That is only one of the possibilities. Of course, it might be the uneasy ambiance that unsettles your mind.” He paused and examined Ye Zhen Zhen. “Do you not trust a single person in the Ye Family? If a person does not feel completely secure in an environment, their frame of mind would fluctuate massively.”
Ye Zhen Zhen bowed her head in silence. She had been acquainted with three people after returning to the Ye Mansion: her uncle, housekeeper Zhou, and Wang Er Gou. Who among them had triggered her subconscious? Her nightmares had started the very day she overheard Zhou Wen argue with housekeeper Zhou—or was it because this event caused her to feel even less safe in the Ye Mansion?
She subconsciously bit the corner of her lips, suddenly recalling a question. “Dr. Zhang, did you just say someone might have been carrying me as they walked?”
Dr. Zhang nodded. Ye Zhen Zhen once again carefully tried to recall that dream. Just a moment ago, that angle didn’t look like she had been carried; it was more like she had been lifted, but…why would they lift her?
She felt it was necessary to listen to Officer Zuo’s professional opinion.
“Come again next week at the same time as today.” Dr. Zhang stood up from his chair and bypassed the office table to sit down in his boss chair. Ji Zhe Yan thanked him and tugged Ye Zhen Zhen to the exit.
After pressing the elevator button, Ji Zhe Yan glanced down at the woman beside him. “Do you have classes this afternoon?”
Ye Zhen Zhen nodded. “I do, two English courses.” Since she had been requesting a leave of absence every few days, she truly was anxious about whether she could graduate on time. As for the details of the English course, it was probably better if she didn’t mention it.
“Then you should return to school first. After lunch, take a nap and rest well.”
Ye Zhen Zhen originally wanted to meet him for lunch, but then she recalled her unfinished English homework and threw this idea away. She should return to the dormitory early…and see if there were any classmates who could lend her their homework to copy.
She parted ways with Dr. Ji in the parking lot. Ye Zhen Zhen sat in the car that speedily made its way to school, yet for some reason, she couldn’t stop worrying. The dream she had just seen kept playing back in her mind. Ye Zhen Zhen compromised and took out her phone, tapping on Officer Zuo’s number.
Because it just happened to be lunch time, Zuo Yi arranged to meet Ye Zhen Zhen at that noodle shop they went to last time. Business at the small shop still flourished, and when Ye Zhen Zhen stepped in, Zuo Yi was already sitting inside and drinking tea.
“I ordered two beef noodle soups for us; do you mind?” Zuo Yi beckoned her over, revealing a sexy smirk. “The lunch rush here is just too busy; if you came any later, you wouldn’t be able to eat anything.”
“Thank you.” Ye Zhen Zhen sat across from him. The beef noodle soup here was indeed amazing; perhaps she should bring Dr. Ji here to eat sometime.
Zuo Yi flashed Ye Zhen Zhen a smile and handed over a pair of chopsticks. “You went to see a psychiatrist?”
Ye Zhen Zhen accepted the chopsticks before pausing. She had said she wanted to talk with him on the phone, but she hadn’t mentioned seeing a psychiatrist. It seemed that she was continuously monitored by the police.
Mn, this truly was how a suspect was treated.
“Officer Zuo’s information network is truly fast and efficient.” Ye Zhen Zhen unknowingly adopted a slightly sarcastic tone, but Zuo Yi didn’t seem to mind. He had spoken that line deliberately for Ye Zhen Zhen to hear.
“We don’t follow you 24/7. After all, police officers are limited…” The waiter interrupted him. Only after he and Ye Zhen Zhen were served their bowls did he continue. “I simply wanted to remind you to pay attention to your safety.”
Ye Zhen Zhen raised her gaze to look at him. If she wasn’t the murderer, then the true culprit would definitely become worried after learning she wanted to regain her memory through hypnosis. Could it be that Officer Zuo was subtly telling her that all the suspects were being monitored, so her safety was guaranteed?
Actually, at present, the police only needed to ensure the suspects couldn’t abscond. As they wouldn’t monitor them 24/7, Zuo Yi had simply made deliberate inquires about Ye Zhen Zhen, nothing more.
The two of them each had worries on their minds, though they didn’t mention it to each other. After they began eating the noodles, Zuo Yi once again opened his mouth to speak. “Why did you seek me out today? Did you recall something?”
“Mn.” Ye Zhen Zhen sipped some noodles quietly before wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “I saw a man in a black suit but couldn’t get a clear look at his face. Oh, that’s right. He seemed to be lifting me up the stairs.”
“Lifting you?” Zuo Yi’s brows lightly wrinkled as he set down his chopsticks. “He can’t lift you by himself. If what you remembered is correct, then there was at least a third person at the scene of the crime.”
A third person? Ye Zhen Zhen’s brows also wrinkled. Officer Zuo Yi’s words were correct. If she was being lifted, there needed to be two people at the very least…uncle and auntie.
Zuo Yi also thought of Ye Kang Ping and his wife, but there was still something he couldn’t get over. “If they lifted you, it indicates that you had already lost the ability to move. It’s very likely that you were already unconscious. Since that’s the case, why did they intentionally carry you up the stairs only to push you down?” Furthermore, what caused her to lose consciousness?
Ye Zhen Zhen’s brows furrowed deeper. She originally found Officer Zuo to help her analyze her question, but instead, the analysis created more questions.
“Let’s eat first. Soggy noodles don’t taste very good.” Zuo Yi twirled the noodles around his chopsticks and ate, his movements confident and at ease—as if he was eating spaghetti. Upon seeing him so contented while eating, Ye Zhen Zhen’s appetite also seemed to have returned. She wholeheartedly devoted herself to the beef in the noodles. Zuo Yi smiled at the sight and called for the boss to add more beef. 1
Ye Zhen Zhen’s spirit improved by quite a bit after eating her fill. It seemed what they said was correct, food really was the God of the people.
Zuo Yi covered the bill, making Ye Zhen Zhen feel a bit embarrassed. Even though it was merely two bowls of noodles, she and Zuo Yi couldn’t be considered well acquainted; with him paying twice, he would inevitably think she was stingy. Therefore, she volunteered, “Officer Zuo, I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”
Zuo Yi stuffed the change the boss gave to him in his pocket and turned his head to glance at her. “Government officials cannot be asked out as one pleases.”
“Eh…” Ye Zhen Zhen was at loss for words.
“Let’s go; don’t block the doorway.” Zuo Yi flicked her forehead, smiling as he walked through the door. Ye Zhen Zhen breathed rapidly, touching her forehead. A schoolgirl’s forehead also couldn’t be flicked as one pleased!
♕
Uncle Wu drove Ye Zhen Zhen back to school. Although Zuo Yi had closed his car door, he didn’t immediately start his car. Instead, he opened his window and lit a cigarette.
That night, he had rushed to the crime scene; Ye Kang Ping had indeed been wearing a black suit. As for Qin Kong, Zuo Yi had seen him wearing a leisure jacket in the hospital. Even though it seemed that Ye Kang Ping was the most suspicious right now, he had always felt that Qin Kong was guilty as well.
He exhaled a puff of smoke and extinguished the cigarette before dialling Li Xin Ran. “Look up what clothes Qin Kong wore that night when he left A City.”
On the line, Li Xin Ran was startled. Even though this request was a bit befuddling, Leader had never done anything without a reason, so he straightforwardly agreed.
Zuo Yi hung up and reversed the car, heading to the police station.
♕
When Ye Zhen Zhen arrived at the dormitory, Pei Cui Cui was inside, continually alone as usual. She glanced at the additional two empty beds and couldn’t help but ask, “Are the two of them normally very busy?”
Pei Cui Cui didn’t move her gaze from the computer screen as she replied, “Oh, they’re sitting an entrance exam for a graduate program. Every day if they’re not in the library, then they’re in study room.” Once she said this, she realized… Fuck, she unexpectedly spoke to Ye Zhen Zhen. She had decided to estrange herself from her, okay?! Okay?!
Ye Zhen Zhen clearly didn’t sense the surging chaos in Pei Cui Cui’s heart and mentioned the pot that didn’t boil. “Oh, that’s right. How were things with you and Xi Cao gege after?”
Pei Cui Cui really wanted to throw the mouse at Ye Zhen Zhen’s face. Didn’t she realize how extremely tragic it was for her to see 《 Ghost School 》 in the theaters alone?
Ye Zhen Zhen knew that the date didn’t go smoothly from the silence, so she consolingly said, “It’s okay, don’t be discouraged; the future is long.2 Can I borrow your homework to copy?”
Pei Cui Cui: “…”
She finally couldn’t help throwing the mouse at Ye Zhen Zhen’s face.
The ending occurred like this: Pei Cui Cui killed her computer mouse; Ye Zhen Zhen did her English homework by herself in the dormitory, even if it resembled gibberish to her.
Indeed…the serene and beautiful life of a university student!
♕
She does love herself some meat, doesn’t she? – Kiseki Idiom: there will be ample time for that later/we’ll cross that bridge when we get there
Chapter 23: Remembering — There was at least a third person at the scene of the crime.
♕
Ye Zhen Zhen caught sight of Dr. Ji sitting on the sofa—staring at her—the moment her eyelids flung open. A faint trace of anxiety flitted across his face. “Are you okay?”
Ye Zhen Zhen’s complexion was deathly white, the panic in her eyes not yet dispersing. Ji Zhe Yan’s gaze, however, was like the sun’s warm rays, gradually soothing her erratically pulsing heart. “I’m fine.”
“What did you see?” Dr. Zhang’s voice suddenly rang out. Ye Zhen Zhen suddenly realized that he had not moved from his seat as he examined her.
She took a deep breath and slowly began to recall the dream. “I felt like I was rocking heavily when I first fell asleep, as if I was on a boat. I then saw a man wearing a black suit. Unfortunately, he stood in the shadows, so I couldn’t see his face when he pushed me down the stairs.”
Ye Zhen Zhen retrieved her drawings her bag once she finished describing the dream. “Look, Dr. Zhang. I drew what I had seen in my nightmares previously—this specific hand is identical to the one I had just seen in the dream.”
Dr. Zhang studied the drawing for a while before speaking his analysis. “I think the rocking wasn’t necessarily from a boat; it might be because you were in a car. Though it could also be someone carrying you as they walked…” He glanced down at the drawing of the hand again. “When did you begin having nightmares?”
Ye Zhen Zhen stated, “After I went back to the Ye Mansion.”
Dr. Zhang pondered for a moment before saying, “You’re getting nightmares because your subconscious is being triggered, and this trigger might be because it’s the scene of the crime—that staircase where you rolled down to be specific, or possibly because of someone or something.”
Ye Zhen Zhen wrinkled her brows and thought this over. She then asked Dr. Zhang, “Do you mean that I might have run into the man after I returned to the Ye Mansion, which might have subconsciously triggered me?”
“That is only one of the possibilities. Of course, it might be the uneasy ambiance that unsettles your mind.” He paused and examined Ye Zhen Zhen. “Do you not trust a single person in the Ye Family? If a person does not feel completely secure in an environment, their frame of mind would fluctuate massively.”
Ye Zhen Zhen bowed her head in silence. She had been acquainted with three people after returning to the Ye Mansion: her uncle, housekeeper Zhou, and Wang Er Gou. Who among them had triggered her subconscious? Her nightmares had started the very day she overheard Zhou Wen argue with housekeeper Zhou—or was it because this event caused her to feel even less safe in the Ye Mansion?
She subconsciously bit the corner of her lips, suddenly recalling a question. “Dr. Zhang, did you just say someone might have been carrying me as they walked?”
Dr. Zhang nodded. Ye Zhen Zhen once again carefully tried to recall that dream. Just a moment ago, that angle didn’t look like she had been carried; it was more like she had been lifted, but…why would they lift her?
She felt it was necessary to listen to Officer Zuo’s professional opinion.
“Come again next week at the same time as today.” Dr. Zhang stood up from his chair and bypassed the office table to sit down in his boss chair. Ji Zhe Yan thanked him and tugged Ye Zhen Zhen to the exit.
After pressing the elevator button, Ji Zhe Yan glanced down at the woman beside him. “Do you have classes this afternoon?”
Ye Zhen Zhen nodded. “I do, two English courses.” Since she had been requesting a leave of absence every few days, she truly was anxious about whether she could graduate on time. As for the details of the English course, it was probably better if she didn’t mention it.
“Then you should return to school first. After lunch, take a nap and rest well.”
Ye Zhen Zhen originally wanted to meet him for lunch, but then she recalled her unfinished English homework and threw this idea away. She should return to the dormitory early…and see if there were any classmates who could lend her their homework to copy.
She parted ways with Dr. Ji in the parking lot. Ye Zhen Zhen sat in the car that speedily made its way to school, yet for some reason, she couldn’t stop worrying. The dream she had just seen kept playing back in her mind. Ye Zhen Zhen compromised and took out her phone, tapping on Officer Zuo’s number.
Because it just happened to be lunch time, Zuo Yi arranged to meet Ye Zhen Zhen at that noodle shop they went to last time. Business at the small shop still flourished, and when Ye Zhen Zhen stepped in, Zuo Yi was already sitting inside and drinking tea.
“I ordered two beef noodle soups for us; do you mind?” Zuo Yi beckoned her over, revealing a sexy smirk. “The lunch rush here is just too busy; if you came any later, you wouldn’t be able to eat anything.”
“Thank you.” Ye Zhen Zhen sat across from him. The beef noodle soup here was indeed amazing; perhaps she should bring Dr. Ji here to eat sometime.
Zuo Yi flashed Ye Zhen Zhen a smile and handed over a pair of chopsticks. “You went to see a psychiatrist?”
Ye Zhen Zhen accepted the chopsticks before pausing. She had said she wanted to talk with him on the phone, but she hadn’t mentioned seeing a psychiatrist. It seemed that she was continuously monitored by the police.
Mn, this truly was how a suspect was treated.
“Officer Zuo’s information network is truly fast and efficient.” Ye Zhen Zhen unknowingly adopted a slightly sarcastic tone, but Zuo Yi didn’t seem to mind. He had spoken that line deliberately for Ye Zhen Zhen to hear.
“We don’t follow you 24/7. After all, police officers are limited…” The waiter interrupted him. Only after he and Ye Zhen Zhen were served their bowls did he continue. “I simply wanted to remind you to pay attention to your safety.”
Ye Zhen Zhen raised her gaze to look at him. If she wasn’t the murderer, then the true culprit would definitely become worried after learning she wanted to regain her memory through hypnosis. Could it be that Officer Zuo was subtly telling her that all the suspects were being monitored, so her safety was guaranteed?
Actually, at present, the police only needed to ensure the suspects couldn’t abscond. As they wouldn’t monitor them 24/7, Zuo Yi had simply made deliberate inquires about Ye Zhen Zhen, nothing more.
The two of them each had worries on their minds, though they didn’t mention it to each other. After they began eating the noodles, Zuo Yi once again opened his mouth to speak. “Why did you seek me out today? Did you recall something?”
“Mn.” Ye Zhen Zhen sipped some noodles quietly before wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “I saw a man in a black suit but couldn’t get a clear look at his face. Oh, that’s right. He seemed to be lifting me up the stairs.”
“Lifting you?” Zuo Yi’s brows lightly wrinkled as he set down his chopsticks. “He can’t lift you by himself. If what you remembered is correct, then there was at least a third person at the scene of the crime.”
A third person? Ye Zhen Zhen’s brows also wrinkled. Officer Zuo Yi’s words were correct. If she was being lifted, there needed to be two people at the very least…uncle and auntie.
Zuo Yi also thought of Ye Kang Ping and his wife, but there was still something he couldn’t get over. “If they lifted you, it indicates that you had already lost the ability to move. It’s very likely that you were already unconscious. Since that’s the case, why did they intentionally carry you up the stairs only to push you down?” Furthermore, what caused her to lose consciousness?
Ye Zhen Zhen’s brows furrowed deeper. She originally found Officer Zuo to help her analyze her question, but instead, the analysis created more questions.
“Let’s eat first. Soggy noodles don’t taste very good.” Zuo Yi twirled the noodles around his chopsticks and ate, his movements confident and at ease—as if he was eating spaghetti. Upon seeing him so contented while eating, Ye Zhen Zhen’s appetite also seemed to have returned. She wholeheartedly devoted herself to the beef in the noodles. Zuo Yi smiled at the sight and called for the boss to add more beef. 1
Ye Zhen Zhen’s spirit improved by quite a bit after eating her fill. It seemed what they said was correct, food really was the God of the people.
Zuo Yi covered the bill, making Ye Zhen Zhen feel a bit embarrassed. Even though it was merely two bowls of noodles, she and Zuo Yi couldn’t be considered well acquainted; with him paying twice, he would inevitably think she was stingy. Therefore, she volunteered, “Officer Zuo, I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”
Zuo Yi stuffed the change the boss gave to him in his pocket and turned his head to glance at her. “Government officials cannot be asked out as one pleases.”
“Eh…” Ye Zhen Zhen was at loss for words.
“Let’s go; don’t block the doorway.” Zuo Yi flicked her forehead, smiling as he walked through the door. Ye Zhen Zhen breathed rapidly, touching her forehead. A schoolgirl’s forehead also couldn’t be flicked as one pleased!
♕
Uncle Wu drove Ye Zhen Zhen back to school. Although Zuo Yi had closed his car door, he didn’t immediately start his car. Instead, he opened his window and lit a cigarette.
That night, he had rushed to the crime scene; Ye Kang Ping had indeed been wearing a black suit. As for Qin Kong, Zuo Yi had seen him wearing a leisure jacket in the hospital. Even though it seemed that Ye Kang Ping was the most suspicious right now, he had always felt that Qin Kong was guilty as well.
He exhaled a puff of smoke and extinguished the cigarette before dialling Li Xin Ran. “Look up what clothes Qin Kong wore that night when he left A City.”
On the line, Li Xin Ran was startled. Even though this request was a bit befuddling, Leader had never done anything without a reason, so he straightforwardly agreed.
Zuo Yi hung up and reversed the car, heading to the police station.
♕
When Ye Zhen Zhen arrived at the dormitory, Pei Cui Cui was inside, continually alone as usual. She glanced at the additional two empty beds and couldn’t help but ask, “Are the two of them normally very busy?”
Pei Cui Cui didn’t move her gaze from the computer screen as she replied, “Oh, they’re sitting an entrance exam for a graduate program. Every day if they’re not in the library, then they’re in study room.” Once she said this, she realized… Fuck, she unexpectedly spoke to Ye Zhen Zhen. She had decided to estrange herself from her, okay?! Okay?!
Ye Zhen Zhen clearly didn’t sense the surging chaos in Pei Cui Cui’s heart and mentioned the pot that didn’t boil. “Oh, that’s right. How were things with you and Xi Cao gege after?”
Pei Cui Cui really wanted to throw the mouse at Ye Zhen Zhen’s face. Didn’t she realize how extremely tragic it was for her to see 《 Ghost School 》 in the theaters alone?
Ye Zhen Zhen knew that the date didn’t go smoothly from the silence, so she consolingly said, “It’s okay, don’t be discouraged; the future is long.2 Can I borrow your homework to copy?”
Pei Cui Cui: “…”
She finally couldn’t help throwing the mouse at Ye Zhen Zhen’s face.
The ending occurred like this: Pei Cui Cui killed her computer mouse; Ye Zhen Zhen did her English homework by herself in the dormitory, even if it resembled gibberish to her.
Indeed…the serene and beautiful life of a university student!
♕
She does love herself some meat, doesn’t she? – Kiseki Idiom: there will be ample time for that later/we’ll cross that bridge when we get there
