Chapter 280: The Most Unlikely Thing

“Perfectionists…”

Jiang Xin’s expression indeed changed, even showing a trace of fear.

‘What are you afraid of?’ Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes, watching her carefully. “Looks like you’re familiar with this peculiar type of person?”

Are perfectionists frightening?

No, not inherently.

But when perfectionism is pushed to a twisted extreme, it becomes something unsettling.

So, had Jiang Xin encountered such a person before?

“Yes, I know,” Jiang Xin admitted without hesitation. She nodded and began to explain. “I once came across a perfectionist. He was incredibly mature and had impeccable taste. Through counseling sessions, I discovered that he wasn’t just a perfectionist, he also had obsessive-compulsive tendencies. He told me that he had transformed a girl into his ideal, perfect girlfriend. To achieve this perfection, he spared no expense, even paying for cosmetic surgeries. He even trained her in every aspect of her behavior. In the end, he shaped her into what he believed was flawless.”

“Flawless?” Xiao Yu frowned.

How could there be a flawless person in this world?

Even in his eyes, Mu Qingwu was as close to perfect as anyone could get. But even she had moments when she’d throw a little tantrum.

“His girlfriend died,” Jiang Xin revealed, her face growing pale. “First, she suffered from mental health issues, and eventually, she committed suicide. It’s very likely that her mental problems only began after being with him.”

‘What the—’ Xiao Yu nearly cursed aloud.

No wonder Jiang Xin was so unnerved. She was a woman, after all. What normal woman wouldn’t fear encountering a man like that?

‘So that’s the story.’ Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and disbelief.

It made sense: a perfect girlfriend only existed in dreams. When she died, perhaps, in that man’s eyes, she truly became perfect.

This wasn’t perfectionism, nor was it mere obsessive compulsiveness. This guy was straight-up a lunatic.

“Was this person your patient?” Xiao Yu asked with a faint smile, though a sharp glint flickered in his eyes.

“No, more like a… friend,” Jiang Xin said, shaking her head. “I haven’t seen him in two years. I met him while I was working in another city.”

Two years? Out of town?

Xiao Yu furrowed his brow. Probably not him, then.

“By the way, during your chats with Jiang Xiuran, did he ever mention any close friends? Or maybe someone skilled in psychology, like a doctor?”

“That, I’m not sure about,” Jiang Xin replied, shaking her head again. “I wasn’t that close to him, and he never brought it up with me.”

“Thank you, Dr. Jiang, for your cooperation.” Since there were no leads, Xiao Yu stood up and extended his hand with a polite smile. “Sorry for taking up so much of your time today.”

“No problem at all,” Jiang Xin said graciously, reaching out to shake his hand.

“Goodbye.”

After releasing her hand, Xiao Yu left the office with Jiang Xin accompanying him to the door. As they reached the entrance of the clinic, a man in a white coat walked in.

Xiao Yu glanced at him and froze for a moment.

He rarely paid attention to other men. After all, he was perfectly healthy. But this man made Xiao Yu take a second look.

The newcomer appeared to be around thirty, wearing silver-framed glasses. His looks were decent, but his shoulder-length hair gave off a peculiar air of nonconformity. Despite the slightly unkempt hairstyle, it added a touch of lazy elegance, creating an unexpectedly refreshing impression.

Even though the long hair might seem effeminate, it inexplicably held an appeal to women. His eyes were strikingly clear—calm, composed, and sharp.

What truly caught Xiao Yu’s attention, however, wasn’t the man’s appearance. It was the sense of familiarity he gave off.

Xiao Yu was sure of one thing.

He had never met this man before in this lifetime.

So where did this strange sense of familiarity come from?

“Jiang Xin, is this your friend?” the man asked with a smile, glancing at Xiao Yu.

“No, Dr. Liu,” Jiang Xin replied, smiling. “This is a police officer.”

“Oh?” Dr. Liu looked surprised, turning his gaze to Xiao Yu.

“Xiao Yu,” Xiao Yu said, introducing himself while studying the man. “And you are?”

“Liu Yunwei,” the doctor replied, extending a hand. 

“Nice to meet you.”

Though the feeling of familiarity lingered, Xiao Yu suppressed it and shook Liu Yunwei’s hand before leaving.

Where was that familiarity coming from?

As he walked out of the building, Xiao Yu frowned. Unable to make sense of it, he stepped into the police car parked by the curb.

For the rest of the day, the Criminal Investigation Unit conducted a thorough investigation into anyone who had been in contact with Jiang Xiuran. This included combing through social media platforms and app usage—leaving no stone unturned.

The result?

Nothing.

Xiao Yu had expected as much.

The killer was a perfectionist—a master of erasing evidence. Even if they had been in contact with the victim, they would have gone to great lengths to wipe all traces of it.

But could all traces really be erased so cleanly?

Then, another lead emerged.

Jiang Xiuran had reportedly enjoyed going to bars before his marriage. However, he had rarely visited such places since tying the knot.

“The victim didn’t have many friends. He was very introverted,” a colleague reported. “When he got married, it was through a blind date. They had a flash wedding. It’s also clear that apart from his delivery job, he rarely left home. The community surveillance footage confirms this.”

“Boss, do you think his five late-night outings over the past month could have been to a bar?” Guo Qiang speculated.

“A bar?” After some thought, Xiao Yu shook his head. “Highly unlikely.”

Why?

Trying to psychologically manipulate, comfort, or connect deeply with someone in a bar setting? Convincing someone to willingly embrace death? It was nearly impossible.

Psychological treatment—or manipulation—requires the right environment.

Who’s ever heard of a psychologist treating patients amidst deafening music?

But just as Xiao Yu dismissed the possibility, a phone call came in. It was from the forensic examiner, He Li.

“We’ve found something,” He Li said, her tone grave. “The victim’s body showed elevated ALT levels.”

Xiao Yu, “???”

‘Why not speak plainly?’

Instantly, his Medical Expert skill from the system fed him the information.

ALT—alanine aminotransferase—is an enzyme primarily found in the liver. Elevated levels often indicate heavy or prolonged alcohol consumption.

What did this mean?

The victim had been drinking heavily recently.

A bar… Xiao Yu’s eyes glinted coldly. The most unlikely scenario had actually occurred.