Chapter 10: The Case Reconstructed

Returning to the Criminal Investigation Team, Xiao Yu picked up the case files again, forcing himself to set aside all his emotions.

Only a calm mind can offer clear thinking and lead to meticulous reasoning.

As he delved deeper into the various details and clues in the files,

his brain worked like a high-speed CPU, piecing together disparate bits of information until the case started to come into focus.

He identified three key suspicious points.

Why would the victim head to the dormitory rooftop in the dead of night?

If not the two female employees, then who could it be?

How did the killer transport the deceased victim to the Storage Room?

While Xiao Yu analyzed and deduced the case, other officers were busy piecing it together as well.

The time given by his superiors was far too short.

Two weeks were allotted, yet nearly five days had already slipped by.

If they didn’t crack the case soon, everyone would be in trouble.

In a past life, Xiao Yu had encountered a murder case that left an indelible mark on him.

The detectives stayed up all night, letting their minds wander through multiple theories based on the clues.

Using these as a foundation, they set out to collect evidence.

Later, each theory was completely overturned, forcing a fresh round of analysis.

By the time the case was solved, everyone was mentally and physically exhausted, on the verge of collapse.

This line of work required so much blood, brainpower, and energy—it was a wonder anyone could keep going.

It wasn’t until midnight that Xiao Yu snapped out of his reverie and glanced at Guo Qiang, who was smoking and deep in thought. “Master, shall we go check out the scene?”

“Really? We’re still going?”

Guo Qiang looked up, surprised as he eyed his apprentice. “Got a new idea?”

“Not really,”

Xiao Yu shook his head. “I think the case files aren’t detailed enough. I want to… recreate the crime scene!”

Recreating the crime scene is a mandatory exercise for every detective.

During police academy, the instructors emphasized this repeatedly.

If you can fully simulate the perpetrator’s actions, even the smallest detail can lead you to the killer.

“Tch!”

Guo Qiang smacked his lips. “Alright, let’s roll.”

Going to recreate the scene in the middle of a chilly winter night is a real pain.

Most people wouldn’t bat an eye, but Guo Qiang was different.

This apprentice was exceptional—his mind was brilliant, and that was something he really admired.

What if this actually led to a breakthrough?

Then he’d gladly stick around with his apprentice…

……

A police car returned to the crime scene.

Xiao Yu didn’t immediately dash onto the staff dormitory rooftop; instead, he stood downstairs, watching intently.

If I were the victim…

He closed his eyes, blocking out all distractions, and imagined himself as the victim.

This was a form of psychological self-suggestion.

In criminal psychology, simulating the crime scene is an essential component.

By envisioning himself as the victim, he could deduce every move the killer might have made.

At that moment, adrenaline surged through Xiao Yu, and his brain cells fired at a furious pace.

If pheromones could mimic behavior,

then his brain cells were like koi fish battling for food, causing the water to boil.

Why would the victim go to the rooftop?

In the dead of winter, the victim wasn’t exactly foolish, right?

Someone must have beckoned him there.

That person was very likely the killer!

So, by what means did the killer lure the victim to the rooftop?

The case files revealed that, around the time of the murder, there were no phone records nor any social media chat logs…

Xiao Yu’s eyes lit up. “Dormitory?!”

The victim had been in the dormitory at that time, correct?

So, someone must have come to see him, prompting his trip to the rooftop?

Only those who can freely enter and exit the dormitory—likely factory workers—could do so.

Anyone with unrestricted access to the victim’s dorm would be someone familiar—a manager, or perhaps… a female employee?

No, not those two female employees.

Through interrogation, if they were hiding something, even veteran detectives wouldn’t miss it.

Although they remained suspects, the likelihood was minimal.

Apart from them, all the other employees were working overtime at the factory.

Although, during overtime they could move about more freely.

They might even leave the factory and return to the dormitory.

But the factory’s workshops were under surveillance.

At the time of the incident, CCTV footage showed only a few employees had left, and none for more than half an hour.

Sneaking back to the dorm to locate the victim, taking him to the rooftop, killing him, and disposing of the body… half an hour simply wasn’t enough!

This meant that even the overtime-working employees were unlikely suspects.

Something’s fishy, isn’t it?

Xiao Yu grew puzzled.

If not the two female employees in the dorm, and not the overtime workers, could it be an outsider?

But how would an outsider get into the dormitory?

After all, there was a security guard on duty…

Wait a minute—security guard?

A flash of cold determination crossed Xiao Yu’s eyes.

According to the investigation, the security guard was also a suspect.

Yet his likelihood remained low.

Based on his statement, the guard had been playing mobile games at the time.

A check of his phone confirmed recorded gaming sessions.

This verified that his involvement was minimal.

Minimal doesn’t mean impossible.

In a previous life, many suspects in cases Xiao Yu handled had fabricated alibis on purpose.

But the fact that the guard was playing an online competitive game using the dormitory’s Wi-Fi was indisputable.

Could it be that something was truly amiss?

Could an outsider really sneak into the dorm, lure the victim away, commit the murder, and then nonchalantly transport the body out?

Does he possess some sort of magic?

Xiao Yu’s expression darkened.

Even veteran detectives were stumped, unable to uncover the key evidence.

Now, even he found himself at an impasse.

From all this, it was evident that the killer was exceptionally intelligent.

It seemed every detail had been calculated meticulously.

Leaving no clues behind is not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

The approach of recreating the scene just wasn’t working.

The drive to solve the case was genuine—even if it was fueled by frustration.

Suddenly,

a spark of sharp insight flashed across Xiao Yu’s eyes as his mind raced once more.

If I were the killer…