As You Mingxu drove, her passenger unexpectedly began humming a song: “…Born beautiful, can’t help myself, but nothing I eat ever gets old… Calories are my nemesis, burning my calories… Calories calories calories, calories calories calories, calories calories…”

You Mingxu knew this song was playing everywhere, but hearing Yin Feng mumbling these few lines repeatedly like some kind of incantation made her brain unconsciously follow his rhythm.

“Shut up!” You Mingxu pulled out a stack of documents from beside her and tossed them into his lap. “Didn’t you say you understood geography? Here’s Li Biran’s file, study it properly!”

Yin Feng immediately lowered his head to read.

The car fell silent instantly. After a while, You Mingxu glanced at him and paused.

At this moment, he looked nothing like someone with mental problems. He was completely different from the childish youth who had been repeatedly singing about calories. One arm casually resting on the car door, the other holding the documents, head lowered, his expression calm and focused. If you ignored the Teletubbies printed on his red T-shirt and only looked above his neck, he resembled that mature, talented man from before.

You Mingxu looked at him a few more times before returning her attention to the road.

—

The boy in the photograph was tall, slim, and refined-looking. A faint smile played at his lips, but Yin Feng could still see a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Li Biran, 15 years old, from Xiangtan. His parents worked in another city, so they entrusted him to his aunt Xie Huifang’s care. Though his parents couldn’t be with him, they cared deeply about his education. The family was financially stable but not wealthy. Last year, he performed exceptionally well and got into a good private high school. Despite the expensive tuition, his parents had gritted their teeth and sent him there.

Xu Mengshan was responsible for this lead. Being thorough and meticulous, even though they hadn’t found the person, he had arranged for interviews with Li Biran’s teachers and classmates. From what they learned, Li Biran wasn’t doing well at this “elite” school.

“Li Biran? I don’t know much about him. He barely talks to his classmates and doesn’t participate in activities.”

“I’ve never hung out with him. He has his circle and a few friends. We… heh, we don’t mix with them.”

“He always seems troubled, gloomy and doesn’t talk much. Like he lives in his world. He only hangs out with other poor kids.”

“Li Biran… he’s quite frustrating for us teachers. His entrance exam scores were decent enough to barely get in. However, he has a strong tendency to compare himself with others. We’re considered an elite school, with many students from wealthy, influential families. Li Biran doesn’t focus on his studies, and can’t integrate with his classmates. He often skips class, and his grades keep getting worse.”

“At least his aunt keeps him in line strictly. The last time she was called in, Xie Huifang gave him a harsh scolding right in my office. He’s somewhat afraid of his aunt, so his attendance improved afterward.”

“Biran is quite loyal. He doesn’t get along with his aunt. He misses his parents and says he wants to find them.”

“They don’t hang out with us, we don’t hang out with them. Why should anyone compromise? Li Biran just can’t accept it and keeps trying to mix with the others, but they ignore him. Honestly, I’ve lost respect for him too.”

“He must be at an internet cafe. Where else would he go?”

…

You Mingxu parked by the roadside facing a bustling commercial street. Shops lined both sides, with four or five internet cafes visible at a glance, not counting those on nearby streets.

Yin Feng put down the documents and said, “This is close to Li Biran’s grandparents’ house. He lived with them during elementary school.”

You Mingxu didn’t respond, calling her colleagues to coordinate. Earlier, patrol officers had spotted someone resembling Li Biran, but the street was too crowded to follow him.

“We’ll start with the internet cafes,” You Mingxu said.

As they got out and she headed toward the first internet cafe on the left, someone grabbed her arm. Yin Feng, slightly pouting with bright black eyes, shook his head.

You Mingxu: “What?”

Yin Feng pointed at the run-down, dimly lit internet cafe and said, “Too shabby. Li Biran wouldn’t consider it.”

You Mingxu snorted, saying, “Are we investigating based on guesses?” She ignored him and walked in.

Yin Feng bit his lip, stubbornly standing his ground. You Mingxu didn’t wait for him.

A few minutes later, You Mingxu came out, expressionless: “Next one.” Yin Feng quickly caught up, saying, “I’m not guessing. How can you say I’m guessing? Li Biran is vain and lonely, craving validation of his status. He’s been trapped in that school environment for a while, and at home, he faces the domineering Xie Huifang. Internet cafes are his only escape from reality—why would he want to be a ‘poor kid’ there too, hanging out with those who can’t afford better places? We don’t need to check these cafes. He wouldn’t even look at them, let alone stay.”

You Mingxu stopped and said, “Then where do you think he’d be?”

Yin Feng pointed to two distant internet cafes, saying, “The ones with the best environment and service. Even shallow youths feel prestigious sitting there.”

You Mingxu thought to herself, aren’t you acting like a youth too? She stayed silent, partly because Yin Feng’s reasoning seemed logical, partly because they needed to check all the cafes anyway and other officers were coming to help, and partly because hadn’t he once provided consultation for major cases? Even if he was mentally affected now, she wanted to see if his abilities remained accurate.

She walked toward one of the cafes he indicated. Yin Feng grinned and followed closely.

You Mingxu showed her badge and Li Biran’s photo to the cafe owner, who thought for a moment, eyes shifting, and said, “This… I don’t recall seeing him.”

Before You Mingxu could speak, Yin Feng said, “He’s lying.”

The owner froze as You Mingxu slammed her police ID on the counter: “We’re not here about underage internet usage—the local police will handle that later. This is a major case! If you don’t tell the truth, you’re coming back to the station with us!”

The owner quickly put on a conciliatory smile, saying, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, I remember now! Yes, he’s been here several times. Though I haven’t seen him these past couple of days. Feel free to look around, we’ll fully cooperate with anything you need!”

A few minutes later, You Mingxu and Yin Feng left that cafe and entered the second one.

Though smaller than the previous one, this cafe was even better decorated. The owner, a thin man in his forties wearing glasses, sat behind the counter.

You Mingxu briefly explained why they were there.