Chapter 391: A Changed Guan Zengbin

2022-05-20

If only we’d known about this sooner. If we’d realized that Xiao Liu did it all for a colleague’s little sister, maybe we would’ve seen him in a different light. With Mary’s connections, she might’ve gotten the girl proper treatment in a good hospital.

But now none of that matters. If Xiao Liu really took that much money, it means he’s ready to throw everything away. Wu Zui once said it well—humans are a strange breed. For a single promise, Xiao Liu, helpless as he was, finally stepped into the abyss.

And once exposed, no matter the reason, Xiao Liu is as good as dead.

I rubbed my aching head. Our once tight-knit Special Investigation Team has fallen apart, all thanks to Wu Zui’s schemes. Xiao Liu’s gone over to Wu Zui, Guan Zengbin’s been taken for over two months, now Gu Chen’s disappeared too, Mary’s vanished, and Team Leader Shao hasn’t shown up in ages.

And me? I can’t even show my face anymore.

It’s all because of Wu Zui. Honestly, aside from his henchmen like Lai San and Old Zhang, I’ve only faced Wu Zui directly four times. That first time, it was a woman’s case. Even now, I don’t understand how all the evidence ended up pointing back at me, making me feel like I’d done it all myself.

In the end, I arrested myself and landed in Dongxing City’s Psychiatric Hospital. That’s when I realized even though my profiling skills were strong, they came with nasty side effects. Delve too deep, and you trigger Guilt Delusion, eventually going mad.

After over a year of treatment, Team Leader Shao got me out.

Ever since then, I only risk profiling when I’m truly stuck. I almost never go deeper, because I know my mind could shatter at any moment.

The second real showdown was with Liu Yinyan. That’s when Wu Zui showed up for the first time. We lost that round too and ended up getting booted from Dongxing City. In all the chaos, Xiao Liu steadily took his place.

But that was Wu Zui pulling the strings again. He found Xiao Liu—who desperately needed money—and dragged him down step by step. Tension between us and Xiao Liu started rising. But then, during the Twelve Zodiac murders, to rescue Guan Zengbin, we had to work with him.

That was our third face-off with Wu Zui. He captured Guan Zengbin, used some method I still don’t understand to disappear from the Pit, and pinned the murders on me. Xiao Liu, meanwhile, replaced Team Leader Shao.

That was it—our Special Investigation Team was broken. Each of us barely scraping by, desperately trying to stay afloat. That’s when Wu Zui could use Xiao Liu for whatever he wanted. Even when we figured out Xiao Liu was the mole, it was already too late.

I still don’t know what Wu Zui’s planning. But ever since Guan Zengbin was abducted, it’s been over two months and no movement from Wu Zui. I’m sure he hasn’t been idle though—what’s he really up to?

Fourth round—and that’s now.

This time, Wu Zui hauled both me and Gu Chen here. But here’s the thing: how did Wu Zui know where to find us? The only ones who knew were me, Gu Chen, Mary, and Uncle Chen. Gu Chen and Mary would never leak it. Was it Uncle Chen?

I threaded my fingers through my hair, an idea forming. Uncle Chen must’ve realized who I was, so Xiao Liu tipped Wu Zui off. That’s why Wu Zui was waiting for us on the road.

I’d wondered before if Uncle Chen was playing both sides. Maybe he was planning to let us solve the case then report it higher up, but now that seems very likely.

Now, aside from Mary and Team Leader Shao, every original member of the Special Investigation Team is under Wu Zui’s control. Our group was meant to catch Zhao Mingkun, but now, who knows where Zhao Mingkun is or what she’s doing.

Finally I felt control over my body again. I looked over at Wu Zui—his back to me. If I could seize him now, or even just see his face, it’d change everything. After all, from what he’s said, Wu Zui doesn’t seem eager to kill me. He’s had plenty of opportunities but never went through with it. I don’t get it, but it seems like anyone close to me ends up ruined. When I was young, a fortune teller once called me a star cursed to bring doom.

A star of death follows me—anyone around me ends up with a tragic fate, whether family, friends, or lovers.

Maybe I should’ve died on that snowy day twenty years ago.

My thoughts were a mess, my headache pounding.

Thinking it through, I decided to go for broke. I jumped off the bed and lunged at Wu Zui. But just as my hand reached for him, he spun and kicked me to the floor. I had no time to struggle before Wu Zui stomped his foot down on my head.

With his foot pinning me, Wu Zui spoke calmly. “What are you trying to do?”

“Where’s Gu Chen? Where did you take him?” I shouted, glaring up at him.

Wu Zui laughed softly, his tone still gentle. “Gu Chen’s right where he should be. You can’t see him yet. But I can let you meet someone you’ve been longing to see. How about it?”

“Who?” I asked. “Guan Zengbin?”

Wu Zui burst out laughing. “Smart as always.”

He clapped his hands.

Moments later, someone pushed open the door. It was Guan Zengbin.

“Guan Zengbin!” After all this time, seeing her again stirred up a storm of emotions. Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them. But then my heart went cold. Normally, after so long apart, Guan Zengbin should be just as emotional.

But there was nothing. No reaction at all.

Guan Zengbin just stared coldly at me, as if I was a complete stranger. The light was gone from her eyes—they looked dead, empty as glass. She just stared.

“What did you do to her?” I shouted at Wu Zui, struggling to get up.

I knew Wu Zui wouldn’t kill her outright, but I could only imagine what someone like him could put her through. I’d pictured it a thousand times, but facing it now, I still couldn’t accept it.

Wu Zui sneered. “What did I do? Just a little hypnosis. You know I’m Wei Demian’s student—his hypnosis skills are legendary. As his top disciple, I picked up a thing or two. In a closed environment, two months is all it takes to hypnotize a twenty-year-old with no special training. It’s almost too easy.”

“Guan Zengbin,” Wu Zui called gently, “You know what to do when the time comes, right?”

Guan Zengbin nodded. “I know what to do. I’ll definitely help you, Wu Meng.”

“Huh?” Her words floored me. “Guan Zengbin—I’m right here!”

Wu Zui laughed again, moving to her side. He gently cupped her face and kissed her cheek with his mask. “Let’s get married when we get back, alright?”

“Alright,” Guan Zengbin replied softly. “Wu Meng, I knew you were always the best to me.”

Flat on the ground, I watched Wu Meng stroke her cheek with that eerie mask. My mind went blank. I never expected Wu Zui to hypnotize her, let alone make her believe that this masked man in front of her was Wu Meng—and that she’d completely forgotten who I was.

“Who is he?” Wu Zui pointed at me.

Guan Zengbin took Wu Zui’s arm and replied, “That’s the one who brought me here—Wu Zui. He’s the villain.”

“Me?” I stared at myself, speechless.

Wu Zui burst into laughter. “Perfect, Wu Zui! With her, my plan is already halfway done. I’ll be the hero Wu Meng who saves her, while you—well, you’re just Wu Zui now. You get it?”

My head spun—I honestly couldn’t understand Wu Zui’s meaning.

“You mean… you’re going to become me, while I become you?” I blurted out, baffled. “Just because of your mask? Sure, maybe you can hypnotize Guan Zengbin, but can you brainwash the whole world? One day, she’ll recover, and then what?”

“Who said I’m running?” Wu Zui grinned. “This is our last game—win or die. As for why I can become you? Listen up.”

With that, Wu Zui slowly raised his mask but kept it hovering in front of his face.

“I am Wu Meng.”

It was my voice—almost no different from mine at all.