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"Could it be... that he's encountered another unsolvable case?"

"That's the most likely explanation." Luo Fei nodded in agreement. "Ding Zhen has already told us that Ding Ke never grew tired of solving cases. He only resigned because he encountered difficulties. If we analyze his retirement ten years ago using a continuation-based approach—which Ding Zhen is clearly implying—then we arrive at the conclusion you just mentioned."

Mu Jianyun nodded first, then shook his head: "It makes sense logically, but it's really awkward emotionally. If Ding Ke resigned to preserve his legendary 100% case-solving rate, then he retired from his position as a criminal investigator ten years ago. Even if he couldn't solve cases, would he really go to such lengths to hide?"

After a moment of silence, Luo Fei said, "Because that case was just too special. The immense pressure it generated would have been unbearable even for Ding Ke, who wasn't a detective."

"Do you know what case it is?" Mu Jianyun asked cautiously. She sensed an unusual atmosphere from Luo Fei's expression; although the sun was shining brightly outside the glass wall, a chilling feeling permeated the air.

Luo Fei lowered his voice, his tone low and hoarse: "The 119 Dismemberment Case."

The Fate of the Death Sentence (16)

These words immediately triggered some unpleasant memories in Mu Jianyun's mind, causing her to involuntarily gasp.

But Luo Fei seemed to be deliberately trying to make that memory even clearer. He looked at Mu Jianyun and asked, "You must know about this case, right?"

"Of course I know." Mu Jianyun's expression was somewhat strange, as if her internal organs were very uncomfortable. Then she added with a wry smile, "Everyone in the entire provincial capital knows."

Luo Fei lowered his head slightly, lost in thought: "I was working at the Nanmingshan Police Station back then, but I'd heard quite a bit about this case. I can imagine how much panic the brutality of this case must have caused ordinary citizens... Hmm, ten years ago, you were still in middle school, right?"

"I was in my final year of high school. Because I had to attend evening self-study sessions, my father came to pick me up from school every day after the incident. For those few months, the school gate was always crowded with parents picking up their daughters." Mu Jianyun paused, then continued, "But what impressed me most was that I had to cut off my beloved long hair, and for half a year I didn't dare wear red clothes, because that girl was dressed similarly when she was murdered. Everyone was saying that the perverted killer liked girls like that."

She was still just a young girl, and besides being scared, what frustrated her most was losing the right to dress as she pleased. Luo Fei couldn't help but sigh inwardly. His gaze towards Mu Jianyun changed slightly, because he was imagining what she would look like at seventeen or eighteen.

Mu Jianyun sensed Luo Fei's thoughts, and she wrinkled her nose slightly in annoyance: "Are you secretly making fun of me?"

"No, no," Luo Fei hurriedly denied, while simultaneously banishing those distracting thoughts from his mind.

Mu Jianyun gave a soft hum and didn't pursue the matter further.

Luo Fei continued the serious topic: "From your personal experience, you can see how terrible the social impact of the 119 case was. Everyone was paying attention to this case; the expectations of the entire city translated into enormous pressure on the police. Left with no other option, the police had to ask Ding Ke for help. If Ding Ke accepted, it meant he would become the focus of all that pressure. So, although he was no longer a criminal investigator, this case would still affect his reputation for life."

"So that's why he retired? He wasn't confident he could solve the case, so he simply found an excuse to escape?" Mu Jianyun looked disappointed. "If that's the case, then this Ding Ke is a bit overrated... at least he's a person who lacks courage."

Luo Fei touched his nose, unsure of what to say. Such a deduction certainly damaged Ding Ke's image, but there really wasn't a more reasonable explanation.

Humans are always flawed; even if someone is mythologized in every way, they cannot be perfect. It's just that the flaws of those mythologized are often obscured by their dazzling aura. And to maintain that aura, one must pay a price that ordinary people cannot comprehend.

Ding Ke, too, can hardly escape the universal laws of this world, can he?

Luo Fei's thoughts continued as described above. However, daydreaming was never his style; for him, any speculation had to be supported by facts. So, after some contemplation, he stood up again.

"We already have some ideas, and now it's time to test them," he said to Mu Jianyun.

Mu Jianyun raised his head with interest: "How do we verify it?"

"Let's start with something simple—the relationship between Ding Ke and his son."

"Alright then." Mu Jianyun also stood up. "Where should we go?"

"No, you don't need to go." Luo Fei waved his hand. "I can handle it by myself. You just wait here for me."

Mu Jianyun thought for a moment and said, "Okay." Then she sat back down in the soft chair. Although she didn't understand Luo Fei's intention in acting alone, she believed that he must have a reason for doing so, and she was even more confident that Luo Fei would be able to bring back the information they wanted. In that case, she might as well bask in the sun and enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Luo Fei left the lounge area. He first went to the floor plan in the lobby and looked at it for a while, then took the elevator. Mu Jianyun sat alone for a while, feeling a little bored. She saw a magazine rack by the curtain wall and went over to pick up a magazine. But after flipping through it, she found that the rack was full of environmental professional publications. Just as Mu Jianyun was about to lose interest, she suddenly noticed that the cover of one of the magazines featured Ding Zhen. So she took the magazine to her seat.

The cover photo was taken in the office. In the photo, Ding Zhen is dressed in a suit and tie, sitting back in his office chair with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the distance, exuding an extraordinary confidence and authority. Below the photo is a title that reads: "To achieve extraordinary success, one must invest extraordinary effort—An interview with Professor Ding Zhen, an expert in water pollution control."

Mu Jianyun opened the magazine to the interview and read it carefully. The first half of the interview focused on Ding Zhen's academic achievements this year, which Mu Jianyun was not very interested in. She was more interested in the discussion of Ding Zhen's personal life in the second half of the article.

The following is part of the reporter's article:

"……

Q: Professor Ding, is your success today related to your personality in some way?

A: Definitely. I'm a person who doesn't give up easily; whatever I do, I have to do it to the best of my ability. I can't tolerate others questioning me. And the only way to avoid questioning is to do things perfectly.

...

Q: Professor Ding, how do you allocate your time between work and leisure?

A: Entertainment? No, I don't need entertainment.

Q: Do you mean you spend all your time working? Don't you need to rest?

A: Eating, sleeping, and even work itself are forms of rest. When I get tired of doing experiments, I can read some literature; when I get tired of reading literature, I can schedule a meeting… Entertainment? That's a complete waste of time.

...

Q: Professor Ding, you are still single. Have you not considered starting a family?

A: I'm doing very well at work right now, so there's no need for me to start a family just for the sake of starting one.

Q: Would having a warm and loving family help you better support your work?

A: This is a common thought, and it's what most people think. It doesn't apply to someone like me. I don't have time to enjoy the warmth of family. Starting a family under these circumstances would only harm other family members.

……"

He was utterly devoid of emotion, like a robot. Looking at the interview above, Mu Jianyun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. What joy could such a life possibly hold? What good was great success in one's career? She simply couldn't understand it.

But then I thought, whatever life path you choose, regardless of what others think, it's probably the most satisfying one for you. You don't understand him, and he doesn't understand you either. This world is inherently diverse, so why presume to speculate about other people's lives?

Just as she was lost in thought, Luo Fei reappeared in the lobby on the first floor, walking towards the curtain wall. Mu Jianyun checked the time; less than twenty minutes had passed since he left. She put down her magazine, waited for Luo Fei to approach, and smiled, saying, "You're quick, aren't you?"

Luo Fei sat in the soft chair opposite Mu Jianyun. He noticed the magazine on the table, picked it up and flipped through it, exclaiming, "Heh, it seems you've gained quite a bit even though you haven't moved an inch."

"The biggest takeaway from this interview was learning that Professor Ding remains unmarried because of his work," Mu Jianyun said casually, shrugging. "You definitely have more information than I do, so share it with me."

Luo Fei, however, seemed captivated by the interview. He read it intently, even softly reciting key passages: "...I don't have time to enjoy the warmth of family. Starting a family under these circumstances would only harm other family members... Hmm, that statement is clearly pointed."

Mu Jianyun became interested and sat up straight, waiting for Luo Fei to continue. The latter, however, gently tossed the magazine back onto the table and said, "Ding Zhen's words were directed at his father."

"Oh?" Mu Jianyun seemed to understand slightly. "Damage... what kind of damage?"

"Ding Ke neglected his wife and children due to work, and his wife couldn't bear it any longer. She eventually had an affair, which ultimately led to their divorce. That was over twenty years ago; Ding Zhen was only sixteen or seventeen years old at the time."

"So that's how it was," Mu Jianyun sighed softly. "Sixteen or seventeen is an age when one has a vague understanding of matters between men and women. For Ding Zhen to have his parents divorce because of infidelity at this time must have left a deep scar on his heart. No wonder his views on family and kinship are different from those of normal people."

"Yes. Because of the hurt he experienced at home, he developed a fear of starting a family himself. To outsiders, he seems to have neglected his family because he was completely focused on his work. But if you think about it the other way around, isn't it possible that the premature breakdown of his family relationships created such an aloof workaholic?"

Listening to Luo Fei's analysis, Mu Jianyun couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. He analyzed others with great clarity, but he seemed to have forgotten that he too was a lonely, older man. Could the same theory explain his own lack of romantic opportunities?

Luo Fei was unaware of Mu Jianyun's thoughts. Seeing that Mu Jianyun didn't respond immediately, he assumed Mu Jianyun had some objection. After waiting a moment, he suddenly asked, "Do you know the relationship between Wu Qiong and Ding Zhen?"

"Wu Qiong and Ding Zhen?" Mu Jianyun was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "I don't think there's anything special between them."

The term "special relationship" is vague, but its meaning is quite clear here. A single male leader and a young, beautiful female secretary—this is a pairing that easily evokes speculation. Mu Jianyun had also made worldly guesses when she first met Wu Qiong, but after she soon met Ding Zhen, she dismissed those guesses herself.

From their conversation, their eye contact, and other subtle details of interaction, Mu Jianyun couldn't detect any hint of ambiguity between the two. Wu Qiong showed Ding Zhen ample respect, but not intimacy; Ding Zhen, on the other hand, showed no enthusiasm for anyone. Mu Jianyun was adept at reading people, and she was confident she couldn't be wrong. Besides, if these two had feelings for each other outside of work, there was no need for them to hide it from her.

"It's definitely not the kind of relationship you're thinking of," Luo Fei explained. His explanation made it seem as if Mu Jianyun was overthinking things. The latter inevitably felt a little embarrassed, and blushed as she turned her gaze to the window.

Seeing the other person's embarrassed expression, Luo Fei realized he had said something inappropriate. However, apologizing wasn't really appropriate in this situation; the best approach was to play dumb. So, as if he hadn't paid any attention, he continued, "With Ding Zhen's reputation and achievements, he can be considered a true eligible bachelor. In fact, many women pursue him, and Wu Qiong is one of them."

Mu Jianyun turned to look at Luo Fei again, his thoughts returning to the topic they had been discussing.

"Wu Qiong used to be Ding Zhen's student," Luo Fei further explained. "Many female students had a crush on Ding Zhen, but he never accepted any of their advances. Wu Qiong, however, was very persistent. After graduating with her master's degree, she gave up a job opportunity at a well-known foreign company, preferring to stay in the department as a lowly secretary, all so she could be by Ding Zhen's side. Even so, Ding Zhen remained unmoved. Three years passed, and their relationship never crossed the line of work."

Hearing Luo Fei's words, Mu Jianyun felt a pang of sympathy for Wu Qiong. To wait so long for the one she loved, only to receive nothing in return—what bitterness that must have been! Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh softly, "What's the point? With that girl's qualities, isn't she capable of finding a good man?"

Luo Fei chuckled, "Who can really explain matters of the heart?"

Mu Jianyun still felt quite uneasy: "This Ding Zhen is really strange. Spending so much time with such a gentle and beautiful girl, even the hardest heart should melt, right? How can he be so unmoved? Is he really some kind of robot, untouched by human emotions?"

"Untouched by worldly concerns...that's certainly a fitting description," Luo Fei said thoughtfully. "Actually, he's not only emotionally cold, but his needs in other aspects of life are also extremely simple."

"Oh? What else did you find out?"

"He can eat fast food in the office for a month straight, and tolerate the same menu for a week. He still lives in the tiny one-bedroom apartment the school allocated to him, while his assets are more than enough to buy a villa in the best part of the city."

"This is utterly incomprehensible," Mu Jianyun shook her head repeatedly. After a while, she looked at Luo Fei curiously, "Where did you get all this gossip?"

Luo Fei smiled faintly: "I went straight to the personnel department and chatted with a senior colleague for a while."

Mu Jianyun laughed too: "You really know how to find people."

The woman Luo Fei called "Big Sister" was probably in her forties, the age when people are most eager to gossip. The Personnel Department, as an administrative department within the university, is often staffed by long-serving, well-connected individuals. Their work is relatively easy, they are experienced, and they also have access to the personnel files of every employee. Therefore, if you want to gather information about people within the department, talking to someone like her is the perfect way to do so.

"But why won't you let me come with you?" Mu Jianyun didn't quite understand this question.

"We're discussing other people's privacy, and it's not appropriate with too many people around," Luo Fei explained. "Although these older women like to gossip, they are subconsciously self-disciplined. If it's just the two of them talking, they'll consider it natural casual conversation. But if a third person is present, they feel guilty about spreading other people's privacy, and they won't feel so comfortable talking about it."

"You really understand their psychology perfectly," Mu Jianyun chuckled, showing his admiration. "Even I, a psychology major, have to admit defeat."

"Heh." Luo Fei waved his hand dismissively. "I don't have any theories, just experience I've accumulated over a long career as a criminal investigator."

"Alright, based on what we know now, we can basically conclude that Ding Zhen is indeed a cold-hearted person, completely focused on work. Ding Ke is probably much the same, so it's quite possible that the father and son haven't been in contact for ten years." Mu Jianyun summarized, and seeing that Luo Fei had no objections, she continued her train of thought, asking, "The first question is temporarily resolved. What should we verify next?"

"Those two cases," Luo Fei answered without hesitation, his expression turning serious. "We need to investigate the details to verify that Ding Ke did indeed resign and retire because of these two cases."

The so-called "two cases" naturally refer to the loose ends left by the "130 case" and the sensational "119 dismemberment case". The former is not so bad, but that dismemberment case is a terrible past event that left a shadow on Mu Jianyun many years ago. Now, to uncover its secrets up close is a chilling thought.

"You don't need to look at the case files in detail. Just like before, I'll find out the situation, and then we'll discuss it together." Luo Fei noticed Mu Jianyun's hesitation and offered reassurance.

Mu Jianyun's furrowed brows relaxed. She smiled and said, "Thank you." Now she was even more certain of her judgment: Luo Fei was not an emotionally detached man; he was even more sensitive than many men, he just rarely expressed it.

3:11 PM, the criminal investigation team leader's office.

On the conference table in front of Luo Fei were two stacks of files, which he had recently retrieved from the archives concerning two cases related to Ding Ke's retirement. The stack on the right contained little material, just a single file folder. However, Luo Fei was more interested in this file because it was the tail end of the "130 Case" that Ding Zhen had mentioned.

In the hostage situation eighteen years ago, Yuan Zhibang shot and killed the suspect, Wen Hongbing, after the situation was under control. Wen Hongbing's son, Wen Chengyu, was also present at the scene. There is now ample evidence to suggest that Wen Chengyu is Eumenides, the assassin Yuan Zhibang later trained. Even the most oblivious person would realize that certain anomalies in the 130 case are likely connected to the emergence of Eumenides.

Now, a more intriguing twist has emerged in the "130 case." Could there be more clues about Eumenides hidden within this twist?

Based on this consideration, although the other stack of documents contained the infamous "119 Dismemberment Case," Luo Fei still focused his primary efforts on the aforementioned insignificant little case.

When Luo Fei actually opened the case file, his feelings were somewhat complicated. According to Ding Zhen, Ding Ke was at a loss when faced with this case file back then, and in the end, he even had to resign to escape the pressure.

So what kind of peculiar case is contained in this file? After the file was opened, Luo Fei's thoughts returned to the time and space of eighteen years ago, along with those long-sealed words.

The records kept were not many. The first document was a transcript of the interview with the person who reported the case, which contained the following:

Interrogation Record (First Time)

Time: 4:20 AM - 5:30 AM, April 7, 1984

Location: Room 404, Building 7, Dongtai Residential Area

Name of the person asking the question: Wang Donglin (Police Officer, Criminal Investigation Team, Public Security Bureau)

Recorder's name: Xu Jun (Police Officer, Criminal Investigation Team, Public Security Bureau)

Name of person questioned: Chen Tianqiao; Ethnicity: Han; Former name: None; Gender: Male; Age: 45; Education: Junior high school

Q: Did you call 110 to report the case?