Memory Lost

At the river sh.ore, rocks and weeds are everywhere. The investigators spread out on a search but they haven't found where he has landed yet.

It's likely that he fell into the river.

Han Chen is in charge at the scene; he and a few investigators are immersed in their discussion about the situation while they walk around. Su Mian takes a look around by herself. She stops beside the river and spots Xu Si Bai standing in the water by himself; his shoes and the end of his pants are wet while he is in a daze.

Just as she is about to walk over, there's a tingling feeling in her heart; she looks around to confirm that Han Chen is not nearby before striding toward Xu Si Bai. She pats his shoulder, "What are you thinking about?"

Xu Si Bai stuffs both hands into his pockets. His face looks even more refined and handsome. He looks at her and answers, "I'm thinking about Xu Nan Bai."

At the same time, a couple of tens of meters away behind a big tree, Han Chen and two other investigators are examining an area below the cliff. He looks up and catches Su Mian's subtle movement of looking left and right, but she doesn't see him behind the tree. And then she walks quickly over to Xu Si Bai in a relaxed manner and they start to chat.

……

Seeing her smug and clever look makes Han Chen feel stuffed inside, but at the same time, he feels as if a feather is tickling his heart. He keeps quiet for a second and then lets out a laugh.

Whenever he doesn't pay attention, this woman will pour jealousy into him, yet it softens his heart.

"Leader Han, should we go take a look over there?" an investigator asks.

Han Chen takes another glance at her from a far distance before turning his head and following the other investigators.

_____

"What are you thinking Xu Nan Bai for?" Su Mian asks.

Xu Si Bai answers a little absentmindedly, "This man makes me feel antipathy. He makes me feel uncomfortable."

Su Mian is a bit surprised. He usually never pays attention to the outside. When it comes to other people and things, he has no interest to comment on them. Now that he is standing on the same side as the Black Shield Team, it makes her feel comfort nonetheless.

The distance between this aloof man and everybody else seems to be shrinking slowly.

"It's unfortunate that……" he murmurs.

Su Mian asks, "What's unfortunate?"

He frowns his eyebrows slightly, "Xu Nan Bai took hydrogenated toxins before death and fell from such a high place into a rushing river. It's rare to have so many harm and wounds on the body, so it's unfortunate that we can't find it."

Su Mian is speechless, "……pfft. That's enough, Xu Si Bai."

They're almost done with examining the area. Chatterbox rounds up everybody to the cars. Su Mian turns around and sees Han Chen and a few investigators walk out from the forest. She leaves Xu Si Bai and runs over to meet up with Han Chen.

She makes it in front of him. Han Chen glances at her and then says to the other investigators, "You guys get into the car first." After everybody leaves, he rests his hand on her shoulder and walks toward the parking lot.

Their relationship is already an open secret. Everybody at the scene also knows them well, so Su Mian doesn't mind too much and lets him walk while embracing her. It's just that she feels strange about it——he usually keeps his distance from her in public places. Why is he acting so affectionate today?

She turns her head and looks at the side of his face. They've been working all night; his hair is a little messy and his shirt underneath his jacket is a bit ruffled. His embrace is warm and comfortable though.

Is it because he's tired?

Su Mian leans further into his chest. She gives his shirt a tug near his chest area. This subtle movement of hers shows a bit of affection. Han Chen lowers his head to glance at her and doesn't say anything.

Not far away at the sh.ore, Xu Si Bai turns around and sees the back of those two walking away while embracing each other. He stands there quietly for a while before walking toward a police car that is farthest away from them.

Han Chen's car and a couple of police vehicles have been parked on the exit road beside the beach. Just as they get to the car, Chatterbox comes running over, "Leader, can you still drive your car? Do you want me to help you call a toll truck? There's still room in the car at the back. Only Forensic Investigator Xu is in it."

Su Mian takes a look at the Land Rover which is in a wreck after all the crashes. Just as she is about to nod, Han Chen releases her, fetches his keys, opens the door and sits inside.

"No need. She likes riding in my car," he turns to glance at her, "She doesn't like to ride in another car."

Su Mian is stunned. Chatterbox clicks his tongue and says, "Women are so hard to please!" He turns around and leaves. 𝐟𝗿𝚎𝐞𝓌e𝒃𝑛𝒐ѵ𝒆𝑙.c𝚘𝓶

_____

On their way back to the city.

Han Chen has one hand on the steering wheel while resting the other on the side of the window with the back of his hand on his lips. His eyes are looking straight as he drives steadily. Su Mian stares at his cold and handsome face and thinks to herself: even when he's driving a broken car, he's still so incredibly good looking.

She hadn't realized it until now where his stubbornness is coming from. After thinking through it, she can sense the reason behind it. But she doesn't know that her little movements have been spotted by him (she actually just didn't want him to be unhappy). She thinks in her heart: he can't even tolerate having the three of them sit in a car together?

"Oh crap! Han Chen, are you jealous?" she blurts out.

Han Chen doesn't deny it or refute it. His expression is indifferent as he continues looking straight.

"So you do know," his deep voice says in a relaxed manner, "If you knew it, why did you provoke me?"

Su Mian is a bit surprised, but she then chuckles. She thinks for a second and then releases her seatbelt, leans over and kisses the side of his face.

"There has always been only one person in my heart. You don't need to mind so much about other people. I love you."

Han Chen lowers the hand that has been on his lips. He turns his head and pecks her lips. Their faces are extremely close. His pupils are rich in black; Su Mian feels hot and her heart pounding being looked at by them.

"Sit back and put on your seatbelt," he says in a low voice.

"Mm."

They both remain quiet but the atmosphere in the car seems to have become more gentle and relaxed. Su Mian leans back into her seat and swings her legs up and down. After a while, she hears him say, "Su Mian, I'm thinking…Xu Nan Bai is one of the serial killers from back then and a criminal psychologist from a family with a background in academic research and the police force. Could Xu Nan Bai had played a part in the mistakes made when the police attempted to arrest the seven-member organization?"

Su Mian is stunned.

_____

In the day to come, besides continuing their search for Xu Nan Bai's body at the river, they are also doing an in-depth investigation of his personal life and background.

The results of the investigation further confirm Han Chen's suspicion. But they also find something else to their surprise.

Firstly, during the seven-member organization case, Xu Nan Bai was still an assistant professor at the Public Security Bureau university. His dad was a highly reputable criminal psychology professor, so Su Mian might have even been in his lectures before at the time. Other members of his family were either working in the police academy or in the public security bureau. Therefore, if he was a traitor back then, he could indeed have caused a lot of trouble to the police.

Additionally, through questioning his colleagues from the public security bureau university, the Black Shield Team learns that: regardless of how well-known he is, his colleagues do not speak highly of him. Many feel that Xu Nan Bai is too radical in the discipline. He often wishes to try "stepping" on boundaries; experiments that are not acceptable legally. But a lot of times, he has very innovative theories, which is why the faculty tolerates him. But recently, the dean of the faculty is already considering to dismiss him.

As a result, he left Beijing and came to take part in a research project at Province K. It might have been an attempt to secure a new job for himself.

But when they search his home, computer, and workplace……they don't find anything relating to the seven-member organization.

"Since Xu Nan Bai is an extremist in the discipline, obstinate and self-opinionated, and does not get along with other scholars, it might have been one of the reasons why he joined the seven-member organization," Su Mian concludes after they've done quite a bit of research now, "As a criminal psychologist being with other psychopaths, he could understand them and be with people whose thoughts resonated with his and acknowledges him. He might have even been respected and gained popularity from them. This may have given him the feeling of success and thrill. Just like what he said before he died. It's like he truly began to ignite himself. As for what kind of role he played in the organization…an undercover inside the police force? A motivational mentor? Did he hypnotize them to kill, or was he like the others and killed people himself? We don't know yet."

……

The investigation ends for today. The street lamps are already on when Su Mian and Han Chen go home.