Chapter 141: Self-Hypnosis

The world is full of all sorts of people, and you never know what you might encounter.

Lu Feng felt that Yao Chuchu was truly pathetic. Given that her mother’s case might be linked to Wang Yongye, her life was indeed filled with misery. He took out a bank card, tapped it against the car door, tossed it over, and said coldly, "Move!"

Yao’s father grumbled as he picked up the card, hurrying off toward an ATM. As he ran, he glanced back and pointed at Lu Feng, shouting, "Don't you run off! If there's no money on this, you'd better watch out!"

Yao Chuchu felt as though all her insecurity and humiliation had been laid bare to the world tonight. She turned and bolted into the house. When the most vulnerable parts of one’s inner self are exposed, the last thing one wants is to be seen. Lu Feng knew that the last thing Yao Chuchu wanted right now was someone’s pity, so he started the engine and drove away.

...

"What is actually going on here?" Lu Feng pulled the car over to the side of the road, resting his arms on the window frame as he asked.

Guo Yanzhi didn't know where to begin. He gathered his thoughts and said, "While I was investigating Wang Yongye, I discovered the case involving Yao Chuchu’s mother. I followed the address in the files, hoping to ask a few questions..."

"...I’ve been here twice before and knew her family was in a bad spot. I found a new lead yesterday and came tonight to follow up, but I didn't see Yao Chuchu. Her neighbors said she’d been taken to a nightclub by some street thugs to make money. So, I tracked her down. You know the rest."

Lu Feng thought for a moment and asked, "What was her mother charged with?"

Guo Yanzhi adjusted his glasses, his tone shifting to a calm, professional register as he began to recount the case. "Yao Chuchu’s mother, Zhao Yuemei, worked as a nanny for a wealthy family five years ago. Later, several valuable antiques went missing from the villa. The owner insisted that Zhao Yuemei had swapped them while working there. The police checked the surveillance footage and confirmed she had moved the antiques out of the room, so she was convicted. Later, Zhao Yuemei committed suicide by drinking pesticide, leaving behind a note claiming she would prove her innocence with her life."

After listening to the summary, Lu Feng asked, "Why are you suspicious of this case?"

"I studied criminal investigation. In my view, while the evidence was all against Zhao Yuemei, there is one major anomaly that remains unresolved: the police never found the missing antiques. Furthermore, the most damning piece of evidence used to convict her was an unexplained deposit into her bank account, but that money was wired on the very day the crime occurred," Guo Yanzhi explained.

"Do you think this case can be reopened?" Lu Feng asked.

Guo Yanzhi replied dejectedly, "It’s unlikely. The main issue is that since Zhao Yuemei is dead, there is no new testimony to be had. The court won't approve it."

...

After a long silence, Guo Yanzhi turned to look at Lu Feng, hesitating before saying, "I think you should help Yao Chuchu."

Lu Feng frowned and glanced at Guo’s chubby face. "Do you think I did 'that' to her too?"

Guo Yanzhi hesitated, then said, "You were in that room for a long time..."

Lu Feng rolled his eyes, too lazy to explain. This guy had social anxiety; he probably hadn't even touched a woman in his life.

"If you want to investigate, keep at it. As for Yao Chuchu, no one can help her unless we get Xia Chong to kill her father," Lu Feng said.

Guo Yanzhi looked up, startled, then immediately shook his head. "You must be joking."

"Of course I'm joking. All right, you can get out now. I need to head back," Lu Feng said.

"Huh?" Guo Yanzhi opened his mouth wide, wringing his hands anxiously. "It’s a bit far from where I live. Can you not make me hail a cab myself?"

"This is to train your social skills!" Lu Feng retorted.

Guo Yanzhi wore a bitter expression. "I believe you didn't do anything with Yao Chuchu, okay?"

"Whether you believe it or not is none of my business." Lu Feng opened the door, pushed the chubby man out, and hit the gas, speeding away.

Guo Yanzhi stood alone in the cold wind. Several taxis passed by, and one driver even stopped to ask if he needed a ride, but he held his breath and couldn't bring himself to speak. Finally, he decided to walk home. He checked his phone’s digital map and saw it would take three hours on foot. Looking at the time, he felt a sense of relief—he would be back before dawn and could still get some sleep.

...

After walking for over ten minutes in the cold wind, Guo Yanzhi saw a familiar car ahead. He walked up and leaned against the window, staring at Lu Feng inside.

Lu Feng rolled his eyes. "Are you stupid? Can’t you just hail a cab?"

Guo Yanzhi rubbed his hands together. "It’s cold out here. Can you let me sit in the car for a while?"

Lu Feng opened the door and let him in, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement. "If you’re too scared to even talk to people, how do you ask questions when you’re investigating a case?"

"When I’m investigating, I’m Officer Guo—a different identity," Guo Yanzhi replied.

"Do you have multiple personality disorder?"

Guo Yanzhi shook his head vigorously. "It’s not a disorder; it’s roleplay. When I investigate, I pretend to be Officer Guo, a good cop chasing down the culprit."

"Get lost!" Lu Feng was speechless.

Actually, Lu Feng knew what was going on with Guo Yanzhi. This method of roleplaying was a form of self-hypnosis. Avoidant personality disorder is a psychological condition. Since Guo studied criminal psychology, he must have studied the psychology of social anxiety and tried to treat himself through self-hypnosis. While the hypnosis didn't cure him, it provided this self-deceptive way to interact with the outside world.

"Then I’m curious—can't 'Officer Guo' hail a taxi?" Lu Feng asked, dumbfounded.

Guo Yanzhi shook his head immediately. "I'm not investigating a case right now, and taxi drivers haven't committed any crimes. Officer Guo cannot interrogate citizens without cause."

"What about me? Why aren't you anxious when you talk to me?" Lu Feng was getting irritated just looking at him.

Guo Yanzhi shook his head again. "You’re different. We’ve been through life and death together, and you helped me avenge my sister. You’re a friend—a very good friend."

"Get out of here!"

Lu Feng had no interest in driving the chubby guy home, so he hailed a taxi for him, handed the driver a hundred-yuan bill, gave him the address, and shoved Guo into the back seat.

...

Lu Feng returned to Moxiang Mentidi and spent a while chatting with Qilin outside before heading in.

Su Muyu hurried over from the kitchen with a bowl of white fungus sweet soup, handing it to Lu Feng. "I saved some for you."

Lu Feng took a sip; it was delicious, the pearl barley cooked to a perfect softness.

"Hey!" Su Muqing glared at Lu Feng, pouting. "Sis, wasn't this sweet soup made specifically for me?"

"I made a lot, and you wouldn't be able to finish it by yourself anyway," Su Muyu replied.

"Who says! I could totally finish it!" Su Muqing slammed her hand on the table.

"Alright, alright, fighting over a bowl of soup? Muyu, bring one for Dad, too," Su Dao'an said, playing the peacemaker.