Lin Chen's reaction surprised Miao Yunfei. She said, "Yes, his name is Qi Hongyuan. Why? Do you know him?"
"I had a high school classmate named Qi Hongyuan. We were close. Not sure if it's the same person."
"Oh?" Miao Yunfei's interest peaked. She had a photo of Qi Hongyuan on her phone and showed it to Lin Chen.
The photo showed a man sitting on an iron chair, handcuffed. Lin Chen's pupils contracted—this was indeed his high school classmate Qi Hongyuan.
After rebirth into this parallel world, some of Lin Chen's relatives and friends remained unchanged. He had the same memories from the other world.
"No way. How could he be a murderer?" Lin Chen frowned, staring repeatedly at the man on screen.
In high school, Lin Chen had several close friends, Qi Hongyuan among them. His family was the wealthiest among their circle. His parents were businessmen and gave him plenty of pocket money. Qi Hongyuan often treated Lin Chen and others to meals.
"Why impossible? Just because you know him?" Miao Yunfei scoffed.
The bus shelter serial murders had caused greater social impact than the previous Donglin University dorm dismemberment case.
Miao Yunfei's task force had worked hard for days to catch Qi Hongyuan. Naturally, she was displeased hearing Lin Chen deny his guilt.
"We were classmates. Back then, he was timid and afraid to fight. How could he commit so many murders?" Lin Chen shook his head, finding it hard to believe this was the same person.
"People change. Being timid in high school doesn't mean it lasts a lifetime. Besides, Qi Hongyuan has mental illness—there's something wrong with his mind," Miao Yunfei said, tapping her head.
Lin Chen was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Where is Qi Hongyuan now?"
"For what?"
"I want to see him!"
…
Minutes later, Lin Chen sat in a police car driven by Miao Yunfei. As they drove, Lin Chen asked, "Why are you sure Qi Hongyuan is the murderer?"
Miao Yunfei recounted the details of the four bus shelter murders and the victims' hanging.
Afterward, she muttered, "We wanted your help before, but you weren't interested. Now suddenly you care?"
Lin Chen ignored her sarcasm. After understanding the case, he asked why the police believed Qi Hongyuan was the culprit.
Miao Yunfei explained the investigations.
The crime scenes were in suburban areas with incomplete surveillance coverage.
In footage near the second murder, a suspicious male figure appeared.
About 172 cm tall, wearing a baseball cap obscuring his face, clad in a black jacket, with a sturdy build estimated at about 90 kg.
This figure appeared on cameras near the victims after their deaths.
He was also seen near the third and fourth murder sites.
His presence at all three crime scenes late at night, with odd clothing, made him highly suspicious—potentially the killer.
Police investigated this cap-wearing man and screened nearby residents for mental illness.
After days of interviews and investigations, leads emerged.
Using hospital electronic medical records, police identified suspects and questioned them at their homes.
Several mentally ill suspects were cleared, leaving a patient named Qi Hongyuan as the focus.
Qi Hongyuan suffered from Intermittent Persecutory Delusion Disorder—a chronic illness characterized by systematic, organized delusions.
Its prevalence is about 0.03%, affects adults mid- to late-life, and shows no gender difference.
Patients believe they are persecuted, deceived, followed, poisoned, slandered, or conspired against. They become extremely cautious and defensive.
Police learned Qi Hongyuan's family was once wealthy but lost his parents in a tragic car accident years ago.
This trauma severely affected him. Since then, his mind alternated between clarity and paranoia, thinking people wanted to kill or harm him.
After his parents' death, a maternal cousin aunt cared for him, renting a cheap apartment and delivering meals daily.
Neighbors reported Qi Hongyuan often shouted at night, pleading for his life or threatening others.
He also carried a knife and patrolled hallways vigilantly, frightening neighbors with his strange behavior.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]