That night, Su Hui didnt sleep for long. He woke up in the early morning and felt a slight chill in the blanket. Then he suddenly realized that the little thing that used to curl up in the blanket was gone.
Aristotle was lost; he didnt know where the cat had gone.
The house suddenly felt empty, and it felt like a small piece was missing from his heart.
Su Hui turned over and felt a headache, but he couldnt fall back asleep.
He got up, pulled open the curtains in the living room a little bit, and the morning light seeped in through the curtains cracks, shining on the scattered jigsaw puzzle.
Su Hui sat down and carefully picked up the puzzle pieces scattered on the floor. The puzzle was too fragnted, and even though he put a few pieces together absentmindedly, his mind couldnt calm down. He opened the door and walked out.
Su Hui couldnt rember how long it had been since he faced the morning light alone. The air was slightly cool, causing him to cough a few tis.
He looked up, using his slender fingers to gaze at the newly risen sun in the sky.
This world felt unfamiliar to him.
When Su Hui ca downstairs in the morning, he didnt bring his cane. It was only when he walked through the courtyard in the community that he realized the path was more complicated than he had imagined.
He walked back to the ground floor and sat on a slightly cold bench.
So faint things gradually erged in his mind, as if they were his remaining mories.
His mind used to be a ss, never as clear as it was now.
His hands were cold, and sitting here, he rembered the warmth of the blood flowing when An Yuci died in his arms.
Su Hui appeared indifferent on the surface, always claiming that he was fine, and he even rejected Yang Yuqings suggestion of imdiate dical treatnt.
But deep down, he was aware that An Yucis death had still affected him.
It was a living life that died in front of him, and he could feel the passing of life.
The scene of An Yuci pulling out a gun and shooting himself repeatedly appeared in his mind.
It was like a puzzle left for him to solve.
He wanted to understand clearly whom An Yuci had encountered and what led him to this point.
Su Hui organized his thoughts. If the ti with Qin Yongchen was just a coincidence, An Yucis death further confird it.
There is a connection between these serial killers.
And they know of his existence.
This information, which was classified by the police as confidential, is spreading among a group of psychopathic killers. That, in itself, is highly abnormal.
The initial person who knew about the poet alias must have been soone from the police or soone high-ranking. Who spread the news? Was it another cipherist like him? Or soone else?
And what is their purpose?
Are they trying to prove sothing or obtain sothing?
He has already encountered several of these brutal killers. Who will be next?
Will they bring new dangers into his life?
Su Hui recalled the man he saw in the elevator of Yang Yuqings clinic. Just the thought of that person made his heart accelerate.
That person should not be a stranger unrelated to him.
Who is he? What is his connection to this whole matter?
For a long ti in the past, Su Hui had been avoiding, trying not to recall those events.
An Yuci, Yang Yuqing, even Tan Ju had advised him the sa.
But Su Hui believed that everything has a cause, and the real answer must be hidden within his chaotic mories.
In the past, he might not have thought much about this matter or tried to find that person, but now
After Aristotle went missing, Su Hui suddenly understood one thing: he had gradually accepted the peace and stability in his current life.
After experiencing those traumas, he didnt want to go through any more unforeseen events.
He had a job and colleagues around him. He didnt care about his own life and death, but he didnt want to involve others.
Su Huis fingers curled slightly, and there was also Lu Junchi
So he must find the mastermind behind all this, take the initiative, and ensure that these matters wont affect his life.
He even contemplated whether, if he was proactive enough, he could launch an offensive and uproot the network of contacts, finding more ruthless serial killers.
In this way, he could prevent more cris and stop further tragedies from happening.
Su Hui believed in causality, not in the Buddhist sense or the commonly understood notion, but rather that certain events lead to certain outcos.
These events could be small, easily overlooked, yet they might be the origin of everything.
Like the butterfly in the butterfly effect, flapping its wings and eventually causing a violent storm.
He needed to find that butterfly.
With this in mind, Su Hui took out his phone and started typing on the mo app, ticulously organizing
He attempted to profile the other person, soone familiar with and knowledgeable about criminal psychology, soone who knew about the poets existence and possibly knew he was the poet. This person had connections to these serial killers.
Su Hui lowered his head, his long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, as he began considering each person he had t since coming to Huadu.
Who did that person co into contact with?
Currently, there was no evidence. Qin Yongchen and An Yuci died without revealing much information, and Fu Yunchu, who might have known the truth, was nowhere to be found.
Su Hui switched to a different approach. Following the general process of investigating a case, now was the ti to search for any other cases that could be linked together. The more he knew about the other person, the easier it would be to see his opponent clearly.
Suddenly, Su Hui rembered sothing and wrote down a na: Yu Yan.
The forr top cipherist in Huadu, it was Yu Yan who initially contacted him and had him fill out an application, hoping he would co to the Huadu Bureau.
Without Yu Yan, he might not have ended up here, but even before he officially took up the position, Yu Yan had already died.
Su Hui had reviewed the file on Yu Yans death, but as the perpetrator was later killed, there were no direct testimonies left behind in the case.
Now, in retrospect, if soone was truly targeting cipherists for murder, Yu Yans death might not be as simple as it appeared on the surface.
His death might have foreshadowed sothing
Su Hui continued to follow his train of thought, gradually becoming lost in deep contemplation.
Many clues surged in his mind, but they were fragnted pieces.
Lately, he would occasionally have dreams and hallucinations. He would suddenly hear a song and feel familiar, as if sothing had happened before.
However, in his mory, there seed to be a black hole that would devour objects.
That feeling of sothing happening but not being able to rember exhausted him.
But Su Hui didnt give up. He had faced too many difficulties. He appeared fragile but was, in fact, the most resilient and courageous.
He delved into the darkest aspects of everything, yet never succumbed to that darkness. He knew how to face challenges and uncover the truth
When Lu Junchi woke up, he saw that Su Huis door was open, but he wasnt inside the room.
He was startled and hurriedly went down using the ergency staircase. Finally, he found Su Hui sitting on a bench downstairs.
At the sight of Su Hui, Lu Junchi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he hadnt lost him.
When Su Hui saw him coming down, he put away his phone and looked up, saying, I just felt a bit suffocated upstairs, so I ca down for a walk. You dont need to worry.
He stood up and only then realized that he had been sitting downstairs for a couple of hours, and his legs had gone numb.
The early birds were awake in the morning, followed by the elderly exercising. The sun gradually rose, and more people appeared in the courtyard.
Lu Junchi took the opportunity to give the printed missing cat notice to the security guard and property managent at the entrance. He also carefully searched all the paths and garbage bin areas in the community. Aristotle was not found, but he did spot several stray cats.
The two of them returned upstairs together. Lu Junchi prepared breakfast and then called Lu Haochu.
Lu Haochu obviously hadnt woken up yet and complained groggily, Bro, I dont have classes this morning. Its only 7:30 in the morning
Lu Junchi asked, You didnt stay up late playing gas again, did you? How is the cat search going?
Lu Haochu exclaid, Bro, when you gave the missing cat notice yesterday, it was already midnight. Now youre asking for the cat early in the morning. Even if I mobilized the entire student union and classmates to search, it wouldnt be that quick. Even if a child goes missing, it takes several hours to find them, let alone a cat.
Lu Junchi said, Alright, do your best. Ill ask for the results tonight.
When Lu Junchi brought the breakfast upstairs, he noticed Su Hui sitting on the sofa, holding a pillow in his arms, looking dazed.
Lu Junchi didnt know how to comfort him for a mont, but Su Hui lifted his head and said, Lets focus on work today. The cat situation can wait.
Lu Junchi, upon hearing the words can wait, was montarily taken aback.
Yesterday, he could sense Su Huis anxiety and despair. Lu Junchi thought that feeling anxious and worried was a normal reaction at that ti, so he beca concerned when Su Huis emotions seed to have eased. However, Su Hui had indeed improved a lot. His despondency and loss were temporary, and he quickly found solace. Anxiety wouldnt help him solve the current puzzle or find his cat faster. He had beco even more composed and calm than Lu Junchi, thinking of thods to solve the imdiate problem.
Su Hui seed remarkably calm throughout the day, just like any other day. He put his heart and soul into work, and not once during the day did he ntion the word cat.
As the end of the workday approached, Lu Junchi organized various case files and finished his tasks. He glanced outside through the glass door at Su Hui sitting at his desk, flipping through a case file with great focus.
Lu Junchi took out his phone and asked Lu Haochu, Did you find the cat?
Still searching, not confird yet. Lu Haochu sent a picture, clearly taken on campus. Is this the one?
At a glance, Lu Junchi recognized that it wasnt Aristotle. No.
What about this one? Lu Haochu sent another picture of a tabby cat.
No.
And this one?
Lu Junchi sighed and rubbed his forehead. No Didnt I give you a missing cat notice? How co your observation skills are more like surveillance?
Lu Haochu felt wronged and protested, Bro, in my eyes, tabby cats all look pretty similar Besides, weve searched through Officer Huas tabby cats. Although these arent Aristotle, they could be its siblings. Maybe if we study them carefully, we can create their family tree and eventually find Plato and Socrates!
Lu Junchi paused when he reached this point and looked at Su Hui outside. Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind. Wait, you havent brought the third cat yet, right?
Lu Haochu hurriedly replied, No, this one looks quite clean, doesnt have any bugs on it. It doesnt seem like a stray cat. Theres a girl here waiting to adopt it.
Lu Junchi made a quick decision. Bring it over tonight.
This cat seed to be the closest match to Aristotle, with a high level of attractiveness, just slightly smaller and with two tufts of white fur near its ears.
Lu Haochu hesitated. He looked at his phone and reacted, Bro, youre not just randomly giving him a cat because Su Teachers eyesight isnt good, right? He just has so difficulty seeing, plus his hearing isnt that good
Lu Junchi understood the underlying aning in Lu Haochus words.
However, Su Teacher wasnt stupid. How could he not recognize his own cat?
I didnt an that, Lu Junchi said seriously. He didnt intend to deceive anyone. His decision was based on his concern for Su Hui.
He explained to Lu Haochu, At least this shows so progress. It can divert his attention. He hasnt seen you students for a long ti. Take this opportunity to visit him while bringing the cat. Maybe it can improve his mood.
He wouldnt give up on finding Aristotle, but at the sa ti, he hoped Su Hui could be a little happier and reduce so of the self-bla for losing the cat.
In the past, Lu Haochu had always been the source of joy for the family. He was eloquent and better at comforting people.
Lu Haochu finally realized the plan. Smart! Bro, I promise to complete the mission.
Thus, Lu Junchi and Su Hui finished work and returned ho, where they saw Lu Haochu waiting at the doorstep.
Lu Haochu opened the backpack on his back and a small tabby cat popped out.
Seeing the two of them coming out of the elevator, Lu Haochu handed the cat over. Bro, Su Teacher, we searched through Officer Huas place and finally found the cat!
The little cat was quite well-behaved, soft and tender. It obediently owed as if cooperating.
The three of them entered the house, and Su Hui took the cat, sitting on the sofa. He held it in his arms and gently stroked it. The cat was familiar and rubbed against him, extending its tongue to lick his palm.
Lighter, smaller Su Hui squinted and observed. And I rember Aristotle seed to have been neutered
But this cat clearly had its boys intact.
Under the gaze of everyone, the kitten couldnt help but bend its leg to cover its private area. It shyly owed a couple of tis.
Although it had an elegant appearance, it was still a little male cat.
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