Chapter 296: Chapter 294: What’s Wrong With Me?

The body was nothing but a skeleton.

It had been buried for at least a year.

They looked around the burial site but found no clues. Taking the skeleton with them, they started back.

This side of the mountain was rather steep, so their descent was much slower.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain and were sitting in the car, Su Miaoyi started to feel unwell.

She was sweating profusely. Her body was starting to feel weak, and her heart was beating too fast.

"Sister Miaomiao, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Chu Xingrou quickly grabbed her arm.

Lu Zhishen looked over as well. "Heatstroke?"

"Huh? Is that it? I thought the scenery was just so beautiful it made my heart flutter," Su Miaoyi said.

A helpless look crossed Chu Xingrou’s worried face.

Lu Zhishen: "..."

"I’m fine," Su Miaoyi said. "Let’s just get back first."

When they reached the village committee office, they quickly found the village doctor. After drinking some medicine, Su Miaoyi leaned back in her chair with her eyes closed.

"You’re all fine." Su Miaoyi’s hair was soaked with sweat. "How come I’m the only one with heatstroke?"

"Because none of us walked that far under the hot sun, wearing a jacket, without drinking a single drop of water," Lu Zhishen said. "Stop talking if you feel sick."

"Talking makes me feel a little better," Su Miaoyi said.

"There’s a cot in the duty room. Go lie down for a bit and get some sleep," Lu Zhishen said. "Or we can head back to town now so you can get a proper night’s rest."

"I’m not going. I’ll stay here." Su Miaoyi leaned back in her chair. "I’m more comfortable like this. I’m covered in sweat; lying down would be uncomfortable."

Chu Xingrou wiped her palms with some rubbing alcohol.

"You two go on with your work. I’ve already taken the medicine, and it’s not serious," Su Miaoyi said. "Don’t worry about me."

Lu Zhishen went to find Duan Wenrui.

The skeleton would have to be sent to the city for an autopsy.

Chu Xingrou sat with Su Miaoyi for a little while. Seeing that she was okay, she also went to get back to work.

Su Miaoyi remained leaning back in her chair. After a moment, she said, "So, tell me what’s happened these past couple of days."

’You should get some rest first,’ the voice in her head said.

"It’s nothing. I’m just a little dizzy and weak. Not a big deal," Su Miaoyi said. "You talk. I’m listening."

The voice in her head told her everything that had happened in the past few days, in great detail.

Su Miaoyi had witnessed the incidents with Tian De, Gao Hui, and Tian Dajiang jumping into the well. She remembered those.

She just didn’t know their names.

The voice in her head supplied her with the names.

Then there was Wan Shuang’s case, which had happened on the day they arrived in Yanjing Village.

And Wu An, who disappeared from the village a year ago.

Many names were mentioned, like Tian Min, Tian Ming, and Tian Liu.

Su Miaoyi listened and understood everything.

She now also knew all the clues they currently had.

However, she kept her eyes closed the whole time and had no files on hand.

So while she knew the names, she couldn’t put a face to any of them.

’When you’re feeling a bit better, you can look at the files. Or if we run into anyone later, I’ll remind you who they are,’ the voice in her head said.

"You’re such a nice person," Su Miaoyi said.

’Screw you.’

"How can you be like that? I compliment you, and you tell me to screw off? I’m so hurt. My heart feels like it’s been pierced by a thousand arrows."

’Listen to yourself,’ the voice in her head said. ’Did that sound even remotely sincere?’

Su Miaoyi chuckled.

"So, do you have any leads now?"

"No," Su Miaoyi said. "Let’s assume, based on the numbers, that Wu An is the third case. But where would the number be written? We didn’t find it at the burial site."

’You think it’s not the same killer?’

"I’m not sure," Su Miaoyi said. "From what we’ve seen, the killer is extremely cautious. We can only learn about the cases, but we have nothing on the killer themselves. There’s also the matter of... the time gaps between the cases. Two incidents three years ago, one disappearance a year ago..."

She trailed off for a moment. "Wu An is the only person reported missing from this town in the last three years. Judging from the skeleton today and the tattered fabric with it, the body has been buried for over a year. The chances are high that it’s Wu An. But we can’t rule out the possibility that it’s an outsider."

After a pause, she continued on the topic of the time gaps. "Then there’s Wan Shuang’s case now. The timing is a mystery. Cases one, two, and four all scream ’I’m here for revenge,’ which matches the modus operandi of the nursery rhyme. So why does case three feel like it’s been hidden away?"

’Could it be that the body isn’t Wu An’s, and that we still haven’t found number three?’

"Not being found is also a form of hiding," Su Miaoyi sighed. "I can’t figure it out."

The voice in her head didn’t speak again.

After nearly three minutes of silence, Su Miaoyi suddenly asked, "Why did I black out again?"

She was met with silence.

"Hello? Why aren’t you answering?" Su Miaoyi asked.

Still silence.

"Are you still there?"

There was no sound.

"Hello? Hey?! Heeeello! Are you out of service range? Hallooo! My beautiful, cold-hearted lady, are you still there? Come in, do you copy? Over."

As Su Miaoyi was speaking, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

It didn’t sound like Lu Zhishen or Chu Xingrou.

She opened her eyes and looked toward the door.

The person outside knocked on the door. "Consultant Su, are you alright?"

It was Duan Wenrui’s voice.

"I’m fine, much better," Su Miaoyi said.

"That’s good," Duan Wenrui said. "I was just grabbing something from the office next door and thought I heard you talking. I just wanted to check on you. I’m glad you’re alright."

"Oh, it’s nothing." Su Miaoyi shut her eyes, embarrassed. "I, uh... have a habit of talking to myself. Please, don’t mind me."

"Alright." Duan Wenrui left.

Su Miaoyi tilted her head back and closed her eyes again. Two seconds later, she heard the voice in her head chuckle.

"You did that on purpose," Su Miaoyi said. "You’re just amusing yourself at my expense."

’You’re surprisingly self-aware,’ the voice in her head said.

"Look into my eyes and answer me. Why did I black out again?" Su Miaoyi asked.

The voice in her head was silent for two seconds. ’And tell me, how exactly am I supposed to look into your eyes?’

"Answer the question. Don’t change the subject," Su Miaoyi said.

’I don’t know either. I just suddenly appeared the moment I saw that scene with Tian Dajiang, and then you knew nothing,’ the voice in her head said. ’Did you see something?’

"Can’t we both see things at the same time? You didn’t see it?" Su Miaoyi asked, trying to recall the scene.

Her memory stopped with Tian Dajiang struggling in the well before his eyes closed and everything went dark.

She didn’t know what happened after that. The next thing she remembered was digging on the mountain.

’I didn’t see it,’ the voice in her head said.

Su Miaoyi fell silent. The last time this had happened was because she’d been seriously injured. This time she wasn’t hurt. ’So what happened?’

’I’ll have to ask Lu Zhishen or Chu Xingrou...’

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