As night fell, the neon lights of the city flickered with a kaleidoscope of colors, and the bustling sounds of the streets gradually quieted. Inside the mall, warm lights and the hum of crowds still filled the air. Su Wanqing sat in front of a microscope in the forensic lab, the screen displaying fingerprint analysis data from a jewelry robbery case. Her fingers instinctively tapped the table lightly, her expression focused but tinged with an underlying tension.
At first glance, the jewelry robbery seemed ordinary: a group of masked thieves broke into a high-end jewelry store late at night and stole a large amount of jewelry. However, thorough investigation and forensic analysis revealed a disturbing detail. The method of the crime, the layout of the scene, and even the footprints left by the thieves as they escaped all struck Su Wanqing with a strong sense of familiarity. It was as though these details had once appeared in the depths of her memory, but she couldn't quite recall them clearly.
She suddenly raised her head, her brow furrowed, the unease in her chest surging, preventing her from finding peace. In that moment, scattered memories rushed to the surface of her mind. Images of the past began to form a blurry puzzle—blood, struggle, darkness, and the indelible nightmare she had once experienced.
"Wanqing, are you okay?" Lu Chenzhou's voice came from the door, breaking Su Wanqing's thoughts. He pushed open the door and saw her sitting there, staring blankly, clearly not present in the moment.
Su Wanqing didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the documents before her, as if she couldn't see Lu Chenzhou at all. Her heart raced, and her palms began to sweat slightly. The anxiety within her felt like a sharp knife, cutting through her defenses. "I'm fine," she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, "I'm just a little tired. It's nothing."
Lu Chenzhou didn't leave right away. He observed her carefully, noticing the subtle tension in her furrowed brow and the confusion flickering in her eyes. Though she said she was fine, he could see the weariness beneath her smile. He fell silent for a moment, then gently said, "You've seemed off lately. Is it the pressure from work?"
"It's nothing," Su Wanqing repeated, "Just a few things on my mind, but it's over now." She forced a smile, but it couldn't conceal the fatigue in her eyes.
Lu Chenzhou stared at her, suddenly realizing that her strange behavior might be connected to the jewelry robbery case. He recalled that she had shown similar reactions during previous investigations, but he hadn't paid much attention at the time. Now, her state seemed more concerning. He sighed softly and turned to leave the lab.
After he left, Su Wanqing remained seated, her thoughts turbulent. She knew she couldn't ignore these feelings any longer. Every time she faced this case, the inexplicable fear inside her grew stronger. It felt as though she had been transported back six years ago, to that dark night, to that unforgettable moment.
She forced herself to close her eyes, and memories began to surface with increasing clarity. She remembered undergoing extremely intense psychological therapy, the only way to face her nightmares. Every time she recalled those sessions, she could vividly feel the inner struggle and pain. She had broken down countless times in the psychologist's office, tears soaking the pillow, the despair feeling like sharp needles piercing her heart.
During that time, her fear had reached its peak. She couldn't stand the sight of blood, couldn't bear to hear any discussions about death. Even the slightest injury would send her into extreme anxiety and panic. Each traumatic memory felt like an unexpected storm, drowning her completely.
However, after countless treatments and adjustments, Su Wanqing gradually began to accept her fears and learn to coexist with them. She learned to control her emotions and put herself back on the front lines of justice. Despite always believing she had moved past that dark period, today, those memories resurfaced, strongly reminding her that the past version of herself still existed deep within her heart.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to wake up. No matter what, this jewelry robbery case could not be ignored. As a forensic expert, she had to remain calm and logically analyze every possible clue. Yet, the voice deep inside her continued to whisper that there might be a deeper secret hidden behind the case.
That night, Su Wanqing returned to the case files, carefully analyzing every detail. She noticed subtle clues: the similarities in the crime methods, the fingerprints left by the thieves as they escaped, and the distribution of blood stains at the scene. All these details made it impossible for her to shake the deep intuition that this case might be connected to the nightmare she had once lived through.
She decided to investigate further, starting to look into the case files from six years ago. The records Lu Chenzhou had retrieved did not link these two cases together, but her intuition told her this was no coincidence.
As the night deepened, the lab lights still burned brightly, and Su Wanqing's face appeared especially serene in the dim glow. She knew that she had to find the truth hidden behind these fragments of memory. No matter how painful, perhaps this was the only way to completely say goodbye to her past.
In her heart, she silently told herself, "As long as the truth comes to light, I will be able to relieve the burden on my heart."
As her thoughts expanded, Su Wanqing's resolve grew even stronger. She knew that the investigation ahead would be her final confrontation with her past.