After leaving the hospital, Song Rui went straight home. He took off his suit, smoothing out the creases one by one before hanging it in his cloakroom. He walked into his bathroom with the upper half of his body bare. He looked very thin, but in fact, after taking off his clothes, a very strong physique was revealed. His muscles looked strong and explosive, and although they weren’t as exaggerated as Zhuang Zhen, they created very smooth lines.
In front of others, he was gentle, refined, and polite, but at this moment, he was cold and arrogant, with a wild unruliness reflected in the mirror. He turned around, revealing his broad back that was covered with staggered whip marks, some of which were scabbed over, and others still red and swollen. It was a shocking sight.
However, Song Rui didn’t seem to feel any pain as he walked directly under the shower head and was bathed in icy cold water. In fact, his current situation was actually very good. Before meeting Fan Jialuo, he almost never stopped whipping himself, so his old wounds were never healed before new ones were added, layer upon layer of staggered marks as he endured endless pain. The pain constantly reminded him not to cross boundaries prohibited by the law.
The only difference between him and sociopaths was that his IQ was higher than theirs, so he knew how to satisfy his dark desires. He knew how to control them so he could live an ordinary life. After showering, he took out a tube of ointment and gave himself a simple treatment.
Today was the 30th day since he stopped whipping himself. The wounds were healing, and the void inside him seemed to be filling slowly, little by little. At this moment, the cell phone placed on the shelf began to ring sharply, one after another. He frowned with an extremely impatient expression, but when he picked up, he spoke very gently and politely, “Xiao Liao, it’s so late. You haven’t slept yet?”
Liao Fang’s energetic voice came from the speaker, “Dr. Song, I was just browsing Weibo and saw a piece of gossip, so I wanted to ask you if it was true.”
“What gossip?” With only a bath towel around his waist, Song Rui strode out of the bathroom and walked to the balcony. He looked towards the northern suburbs covered by the night and imagined what that man was doing at this time.
“Dr. Song, I watched today’s broadcast of ‘The World of Strange People.’ Didn’t Mr. Fan do a psychic profiling for Yaya and Jie Furui? The scene was so moving! I was crying like a dog……”
Song Rui’s expression was cold, but he spoke with a chuckle. If you didn’t look at him, you couldn’t imagine how impatient he was. “Xiao Li, can you tell me your point?”
“Oh oh oh, I’ll say it right now! I was just scrolling through Weibo and saw someone say that there were actually three people who participated in the psychic profiling at that time, and one of them was Song Wennuan’s ex-boyfriend Yu Yuntian. Mr. Fan immediately saw that he was a pedophile. Song Wennuan broke up with him, and then took him to the United States to be arrested. Dr. Song, you are a judge for this program, so you were there at that time, right? Is it true? Now it’s all over the internet, and many people are saying that it’s false news spread by Mr. Fan’s team, hyping up his godly character. I think the truth is definitely not like this, and it’s unfair how they always look at Mr. Fan with colored glasses. They don’t know how good Mr. Fan is!”
Liao Fang wouldn’t let the topic go, and she lowered her voice and said mysteriously, “Dr. Song, I’m only telling you this, don’t tell anyone else! You know, last night we went to catch the thief, and he actually grew dozens of hands, turning into a human-shaped centipede! The scene was so terrifying, I don’t know how to describe it to you, but that isn’t important. The important thing is that after the man was caught, the case was taken over by the higher ups, and they also blocked all news, not allowing us to ask any questions. We were all furious, as it feels awful to be only one step away from the truth, but unable to touch it. You understand, right?”
Song Rui poured himself a glass of red wine and sipped it slowly and methodically, before saying perfunctorily, “I understand.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Liao Fang said vigorously, “Our hearts were twisted into knots, and Sun Zhengqi and Hu Wenwen were even crying. Ah, Sun Zhengqi and Hu Wenwen were the man and woman who were particularly unfriendly to Mr. Fan during the meeting that day. We were busy for more than a month, but in the end we only received a mystery that could never be solved, leaving behind a shadow that we’d be unable to let go for for a lifetime. Can you imagine our feelings of suffocation, anger, and unwillingness?”
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Liao Fang heard this change and said briskly, “Dr. Song, do you also want to know the truth? This is what Mr. Fan said……” She relayed Fan Jialuo’s words, not daring to embellish the details, let alone add her own comments.
“……So the suspect is not a monster at all, but a person who accidentally obtained a strange ability. Mr. Fan took away the object that allowed him to mutate, and his current condition is probably very bad. Mr. Fan said he may not be able to live long, so we don’t need to interrogate him anymore. He was born of desire and he will die due to desire. That’s the truth of the matter, a little metaphysical, but not very surprising. What do you think Dr. Song, are you satisfied after hearing the truth?”
Liao Fang laughed and said, “What bullshit higher ups, saying this is so mysterious, is it necessary? Let’s just ask Mr. Fan!”
Song Rui also laughed softly, his voice full of joy as he said, “Well, I feel very satisfied now. Thank you for calling to share it with me. In this case, I will also tell you a secret. Yu Yuntian’s matter is true and Fan Jialuo’s words led to his arrest, but that footage was later cut out. I don’t believe that he was the one who broke the news on the internet. While recording the program, he asked us to cut out the segment in order to protect the privacy of the child.”
Liao Fang was also satisfied and sighed. “I knew the truth wouldn’t be what the public is talking about. Mr. Fan is awesome! Sun Zhengqi and Hu Wenwen are now his biggest fans. Ah, it’s very late. Dr. Song, you should go to bed early.” She hurriedly hung up the phone, probably to share the gossip with others.
Song Rui pressed the power button and stared at the lock screen photo that appeared for a long time, his thoughts unknown. The smoky breeze dried his hair and warmed him up. When he returned to the living room, he called Meng Zhong and said sarcastically, “I regret to inform you: all the information you tried so hard to block, Fan Jialuo has already told the investigation team of the Chengnan Branch, including what happened to Li Youde, and also what he took from Li Youde’s body.”
Meng Zhong, who was unable to react for half a day: ……
Song Rui continued to taunt him, “What you consider confidential, others will tell ordinary people without hesitation in order to let them realize the horror of desire. What do you think you are? Leaders? Protective gods? Saviors? Compared to Fan Jialuo, don’t you think your lofty attitudes are simply ridiculous?
“I told you a long time ago that this is how he treats all beings. He places himself in their midst, sharing everyone’s sorrow and joy. He thinks of himself humbly, while you consider yourself above all other beings, and act foolishly. You detain people in the hospital, cornering them and spending so much manpower and money, only to receive an ambiguous answer. Meanwhile, the ordinary people who you cut off from the truth only need to make a phone call and ask a simple question to learn the truth. What have you achieved after being tossed around in such a big circle?”
Song Rui chuckled and said, “Meng Zhong, that department of yours is very powerful in your eyes, but in the eyes of others, you are just a bunch of self-righteous idiots. I was in a bad mood today, but now, I can probably drink a whole bottle of red wine in one go. Without further ado, I have to pour a glass of wine to celebrate, so you can continue to investigate those cases of yours.”
The phone had been hung up, but Song Rui’s magnetic voice and sarcastic words seemed to linger in Meng Zhong’s ears. He tried to settle his stunned mood, and then smiled softly. “Mr. Fan, you are always so elusive. I can’t wait to meet you,” he muttered to himself as he leaned back in his chair and let out a long, helpless sigh.
Recently, there had been many changes in Fan Jialuo’s life. First of all, there were significantly more things in his house, including a second bathtub, recliner, and wardrobe. As long as it was something he originally owned, he would prepare a copy for Xu Yiyang. Secondly, from time to time his previously silent and desolate home would be filled with croaking and his phone ringing during the day or night, lively and intermittent. Lastly, his popularity had increased. Although many were more skeptical than appreciative, his “acting” skills had won the general public’s unanimous approval. When Cao Xiaohui called to report his work situation, he didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. He said that many directors wanted to invite Mr. Fan to film their scripts. Most of the roles were national teachers, monks, Taoist priests, and so on.
Fan Jialuo refused them one by one. Other than “The World of Strange People,” he was not going to take on any jobs. Although Cao Xiaohui was regretful, he had no complaints. Fan Jialuo was not an artist, but an immortal, so he didn’t dare to make trouble!
Time passed smoothly for Fan Jialuo, but Su Fengxi was experiencing a violent storm. The company she had just set up was seized by the authorities due to tax issues. Then, for some unknown reason, all the records she had released were taken off the shelves, and the songs she had released on the internet all disappeared overnight. Obviously, she was being blocked.
The fans stirred up a lot of trouble, but to no avail. The decisions made by the authorities couldn’t be overturned by ordinary people. Su Fengxi completely and utterly disappeared, and no one knew where she went.
However, none of these matters had anything to do with Fan Jialuo. After a long break, he began the fourth recording of “The World of Strange People,” but at five o’clock, he had to drive to school to pick up his child.
The head teacher held Xu Yiyang’s hand and said with a smile, “Mr. Fan, Yangyang has changed a lot since he began following you. Today he recited a Tang poem in class with standard pronunciation, so I believe that he will be able to speak like a normal child soon. When school is about to end, he stares at the wall clock like he can’t wait to go home, which is completely different from before. When his parents were still here, he dreaded the end of school and refused to leave the classroom, but now he can’t wait to see you. He has changed a lot, and his condition is getting better and better. Mr. Fan, thank you for taking care of him. You have saved this child’s life.”
The head teacher bent down deeply to express her gratitude on behalf of Xu Yiyang. She didn’t know that this child had no more life left, as he had already been killed by his parents.
Fan Jialuo similarly bowed and thanked her with a humble attitude. After leaving the school, he touched Xu Yiyang’s forehead, sucking away the other’s death energy, and asked, “Do you want to go and stay at home, or do you want to go to work with me?”
“Work!” Xu Yiyang said while nodding.
“Okay, then you can come to the TV station with me. While I’m recording the show, you can stay in the lounge and do your homework, and I’ll check it when I’m done,” Fan Jialuo rambled on like any other normal parent.
Xu Yiyang nodded while humming. His small hands held a huge school bag, and he appeared very well behaved.
After Fan Jialuo settled his small tail, there were still two more small tails around him. Ever since secretly eating a loss at Su Fengxi’s hands, He Jinglian and Ah Huo didn’t dare to leave Fan Jialuo’s side, lest another shit-stuffed dumpling wrapped in sugar came and they accidentally tasted it.
Song Wennuan was introducing the content of the test, while inside the observation room Song Rui raised his eyebrows and looked at the two guests invited to the show in surprise.
“When did you get back?” he asked as he adjusted his tie, shifting the expensive emerald-studded tie clip to a better position. As Song Wennuan said, he had recently begun to follow the lead of male models and was dressing increasingly provocatively. He had lost the simplicity and rigidity he once had.
Zhuang Zhen replied, “I came back last night.” He glanced at Song Rui and wrinkled his brows. “You’ve made yourself up like a flowery peacock recently. The entertainment industry is truly a big vat of dye.”
Song Rui continued to fiddle with his cufflinks and chuckled. “The peacock is the most beautiful bird in nature, you have to admit that.”
Zhuang Zehn turned his head away disdainfully.
Song Rui looked at Yang Shengfei and asked with certainty, “You guys didn’t find anything on this trip, did you?”
Yang Shengfei’s face appeared very haggard, and he mumbled while stealing a glance at the captain, “Yes, we didn’t find any clues. The police officers from the Mobei Police Branch were all transferred, and the new officers know nothing about the case, so they can’t provide us any help. The evidence is still there, including samples of the murderer’s DNA, but we cannot find a suspect for comparison, and it’s basically useless. The case was not investigated properly twenty years ago, and it is even more difficult to investigate now. I watched your program and came running back.”
Zhuang Zhen said coldly, “As I said before, gods and ghosts cannot help you.”
“Captain, let me give it a try. We have nothing else to try.” Yang Shengfei’s eyes were bloodshot from the exhaustion of the past few days. In fact, he was going to come back secretly, and was caught by the captain when he was about to board the train. He was only able to arrive at this program after continuous begging.
Zhuang Zhen closed his eyes and said helplessly, “Then let’s give it a try, but I don’t have any expectations for this.”
In response, he received thanks and an apology from Yang Shengfei, and a quiet chuckle from Song Rui, loaded with meaning.
He knows. Song Rui knows that Fan Jialuo knows hehehe 🤭
I love that Song Rui has gotten more colorful since meeting Fan Jialuo, and now he’s even dressing up! Cute sociopath!
Thanks for the chapter ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the chapter
Thank you for the chapter!
Why do you receive your paycheck if it’s Fan Jialuo that dies the work XD
These policemen better pay at least half of their paycheck to our favorite psychic!
Aw. I’m glad that SR no longer has to curb his desires with self-harm ever since meeting FJ but also kinda crazy how self-aware he is as a sociopath. Nice moment of Liao Fang sharing the news with SR and stirring up the curiosity of MZ, then SR going to gloat about it XD