Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

This photo of the victim is exceptionally delicate, with outstanding features, slightly upturned corners of the mouth, and charm in the eyebrows and eyes.

Qian only stared at this familiar yet strange photo, and she thought she finally knew where the familiar feeling came from.

Noticing she had been staring at this page, one of the joyful duo craned their neck to take a look.

"Qian is looking at this too; when we first got to know the information, I was deeply impressed by this woman. It really makes one lament beauty’s unfortunate fate."

This woman was the earliest victim; it’s been several years since the assault. Yesterday, we briefly reviewed the victim’s information on the big screen during the meeting. At that time, Qian hadn’t thought much about it.

It wasn’t until yesterday evening, after having barbecue with the second brother’s family, and upon seeing the close-up information today, that she finally understood where yesterday’s sense of familiarity came from.

"Does anyone know about this woman’s current situation?" Qian asked.

Realizing her excessive focus on this victim, Apiao also came over for a look.

"The information is provided by brother departments; for the protection of the victim’s information, we haven’t gathered much. According to the perpetrator’s confession, this victim was his first target; she was his secretary and was assaulted during a business trip, and later resigned."

Compared to other crimes committed by the suspect, this case is relatively insignificant. People were particularly impressed by this woman due to her exceptional appearance, comparable to a celebrity.

"If she had bravely reported back then, perhaps there wouldn’t have been subsequent murders later on. There is indeed a theory in our research that crime exhibits inertia."

After a simple analysis, Apiao added a phrase.

"Of course, she is relatively fortunate not to have been harmed life-wise."

His intention was to shift the focus to the other individuals.

Qian just stared at the photo and finally said a sentence after a long while.

"No, a life was lost."

The life lost is still within Yu’s family.

"Qian, what did you say?"

"Nothing."

After finishing a day’s work, Qian went home with Yu Minglang.

Although Yu Minglang didn’t know what Qian had experienced today, he could sense something was off from her grave expression.

"Qian, what’s wrong? Did you face difficulties at work or did seeing the suspect give you psychological barriers about the crimes he committed?"

Qian first shook her head, then nodded.

"Xiaoqiang, do you still remember when the second brother found Panpan? Did the family check into Panpan’s background?"

Yu Minglang didn’t know why she suddenly asked this but answered honestly.

"At that time, the second brother hadn’t divorced Wang Xiaohong yet. Wang Xiaohong came to see the second brother, and after a quarrel, the second brother didn’t want to return to the hostel, so he visited the airport late for night training. On his way back, he saw a small box by the roadside and picked it up."

"Was the second brother the only one who passed by at the time?"

"Yes, that spot is quite secluded, and the second brother was lured back by Wang Xiaohong’s false claim of a serious illness, so he was the only one who passed by."

Thinking now, it seems fated for the second brother to have found Panpan. Panpan was a lucky child; it was frigid that day, and the child was only wrapped in a thin blanket. If he had missed that only time window, Panpan might have frozen to death.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s a form of destiny.

Yet such destiny now ended up becoming an unsolvable issue for Qian.

"Did our family not investigate the child’s background?"

"We investigated, but since the parents abandoned the child intentionally, we wouldn’t have found anything even if we tried."

Nowadays electronic surveillance isn’t entirely in place; only major roads have it, even less so years ago. Where to investigate?

The birth records from major hospitals were checked too, but there’s nothing.

Panpan could have either been abandoned after being brought from out of town or delivered at home locally, finding the child’s family is like finding a needle in a haystack.

"From there to here, it’s just about an hour’s drive; they could’ve driven from there, passed the airport, and deliberately abandoned there, not wanting to dispose in a busy area because even at night it’s frequented."

The answers to all the mysteries unraveled logically.

"Qian, do you know something?"

Yu Minglang heard her talking to herself; could Qian indeed know Panpan’s background?

"This situation is difficult now."

Yu Minglang rarely saw Qian with such a solemn expression; could there be something even Qian can’t resolve?

"Qian, did you find Panpan’s relatives? Are you worried they’d take the child back? If so, don’t worry, we can negotiate with their family. Since they abandoned the kid back then, we can’t just give the child back. The child definitely needs to stay with us."

Qian shook her head and showed an unprecedented grave expression.

"Xiaoqiang, let me put it inappropriately. Suppose our children have an inherent, unavoidable genetic defect. What would you do?"

"Regardless of any defect, they’re our children, of course, we can’t abandon them."

"What if they’re not our own children?"

Yu Minglang was stunned, then connected her implications, showing disbelief.

"Qian, did you find out Panpan has some congenital defect?"

It couldn’t be; the child undergoes annual check-ups and is perfectly healthy.

Yet Qian gravely nodded.

"More horrifying, Panpan might probabilistically possess antisocial personality traits, specifically a conduct disorder. We’ll know more after the assessment."

"What?!"

Having studied criminal psychology, Yu Minglang naturally understood its implications, and his expression turned equally grave.

...

"Dear Panpan, go play outside," Qian put away the scales in her hand and spoke to little Panpan in front of her.

"Aunt, are you unhappy?"

A sensitive child pays great attention to adult micro-expressions; though Qian maintained a smile, in her eyes he saw something utterly different from usual.

"I’m fine; Aunt just doesn’t feel well today, now go play."

After calming little Panpan outside, Qian’s smile instantly faded away.

Looking at this obedient child gave her a profound sense of unspeakable sorrow.

"What’s the result?" Yu Minglang had always stayed by Qian’s side.

Since Qian discovered this matter, he deliberately brought her back to the Yu family, and today, just as second brother took elder Yi out, Mrs. Yu was alone with Panpan, providing Qian the opportunity for a test.

"Not very optimistic, do you want the truth?"

"Speak."