Chapter 30: The Psychology of Micro-Expressions and Actions

Inside the victim’s house.

“We’ve hit a dead end,” Xiao Yu said, looking calmly at the painting of flesh and blood on the wall. 

“He’s very clever, probably planning for a long time. The way he entered and exited the victim’s home, and even the cleanup afterward, were all executed flawlessly. If he could think of all these details, finding additional clues at the crime scene is likely to be challenging.”

The task force members were silently observing Xiao Yu, their expressions solemn. 

Even though they had only met him today, this trainee officer struck them with just one word, monstrous. His frighteningly strong investigative skills and boundless creativity were somewhat overwhelming for them.

Thus, as the leader of the task force, Niu Peng took a moment to pull up Xiao Yu’s profile on his phone. He was astonished at what he found. 

Xiao Yu had been an exceptional standout at the police academy, the kind that made others’ heads spin with his brilliance. He wasn’t just a top student at the academy. He was a fighter jet among top students.

When Niu Peng shared Xiao Yu’s background with the other team members, they all had an aha moment.

A top student from the police academy? That was reassuring.

Niu Peng decided that the task force would be temporarily led by Xiao Yu, with everyone cooperating. 

Was this a problem? Absolutely not. The team had been investigating for two days without any significant leads, but Xiao Yu, within half a day, had identified a major clue. Despite the dead end, his capability was evidently superior to the entire team combined.

In the police force, during an investigation, age, position, and rank took a back seat to competence. Whoever had the skill stepped up, and those who didn’t, followed orders. It was a pragmatic approach. 

Successfully solving the case would be a win for everyone. Xiao Yu might be leading, but the whole team would share in the glory and rewards. If the case remained unsolved, everyone faced the fallout.

“Focus on the investigation, examine the clues and details, and hypothesize boldly,” Xiao Yu said, shifting his gaze away from the grisly painting on the wall to his colleagues. “But remember, what we assume might not be the truth. It needs verification.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. As seasoned detectives, they were familiar with this logic.

“If our initial clues have run dry, it’s time to search somewhere else,” Xiao Yu said, squinting his eyes thoughtfully. “Let’s begin by interrogating the suspect.”

But why interrogate the suspect? 

The real perpetrator had committed such heinous acts, yet made the suspect bear the brunt, turning him into a scapegoat. How often do ordinary people go out of their way to frame others for entertainment?

Was it a matter of vengeance, retribution, or something else entirely? 

Xiao Yu suspected it might be none of these reasons. It seemed unlikely that any substantial leads would emerge from the wrongfully accused suspect. If there was a personal vendetta between him and the real culprit, why hadn’t the latter simply targeted him directly? Why resort to such elaborate schemes?

Interrogating the suspect was a desperate move, akin to trying to revive a dead horse. They wouldn’t overlook even the slimmest chance.

The team members were ordered to stand by at the detachment, while Xiao Yu and Niu Peng headed straight for the detention center.

After undergoing the standard procedures, Xiao Yu finally faced the suspect in the interrogation room of the detention center. The man was of average height and had a nondescript appearance, just about qualifying as a young adult. Dressed in the typical vest of the detention center, he looked decadent, hopeless, and angry.

He Xiao, 29, a local from this city, employed in a private company.

Knowing the potential of his wrongful accusation, why not release him? The process had to be followed.

Firstly, the evidence was heavily stacked against him, found unconscious at the crime scene, with all clues pointing in his direction. These factors alone made it impossible to release him.

If he was wronged, it didn’t matter. He could seek national compensation, and the police system would work to restore his reputation.

Unfortunate? Definitely, but unavoidable when entangled in a case. In previous times, if the case had been handled by someone less careful, he could have ended up facing execution.

“I am innocent!” He Xiao, with eyes bloodshot, bellowed at the two policemen.

“Uh-huh, I know,” responded Xiao Yu with a nod, his expression unchanging.

He Xiao was taken aback by Xiao Yu’s response. For a moment, he was stirred with hope. Could it be that the police had identified the real culprit?

But then, the police officers fell silent again.

He Xiao grew impatient.

‘Are they even human, leaving their sentences half-finished?’

Xiao Yu remained silent, intently observing He Xiao. He was scrutinizing the subtle nuances of He Xiao’s expressions and mannerisms.

In reality, some truths are often hidden within expressions. Human expressions typically stem from psychological states. For instance, genuine surprise doesn’t last more than a second. Eyes looking downward suggest reminiscing, while upward glances might imply fabricating a story. Uncontrolled eye movements can indicate either lying or nervousness.

Typically, a person blinks five to eight times per minute. A higher frequency suggests inner turmoil. While lying, the heart rate often accelerates, the face flushes, and sometimes the nose itches, prompting an involuntary touch.

When someone is truly angry, their expressions and words are in sync. If there’s a disconnect between facial expressions and language, it’s likely an act.

This is the study of micro-expressions in psychology, a subject taught by specialized teachers in police academies.

Police officers’ keen perception stems from their ability to read these micro-expressions.

After observing for two minutes, Xiao Yu became certain of one thing. He Xiao, in front of him, was indeed just an unfortunate soul, wrongly accused. 

However, Xiao Yu noticed something peculiar. He Xiao had incredibly steady hands. They were so steady that whether he was excited, angry, or in despair, his hands never moved erratically. 

This was quite unusual. It’s known that when people are in an emotionally uncontrollable state, their bodies naturally react and unconsciously make movements reflective of their emotions. For instance, in anger, some might instinctively clench their fists, in excitement, they might rub their hands, and in happiness, they may break into spontaneous dance.

But He Xiao showed none of these bodily reactions. His complete lack of physical movement was unsettlingly odd.