"But there truly are geniuses in this world, and appearance has nothing to do with profession."

Ji Lin changed the subject, projecting more than a dozen news screenshots from his phone onto the large screen behind him for the members of the special task force to see:

"The development of the scientific research field has been advancing by leaps and bounds recently. Because of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, we predict that the killers' next murder target will likely still be scholars and experts related to the field of hibernation technology."

"This is what I've summarized recently: scientists who have made significant breakthroughs or have significant potential in the field of hibernation research. Take a look, everyone."

Following Ji Lin's gesture, everyone in the task force looked up at the dozen or so scientists in the field of hibernation listed on the projection screen.

Some of these scientists had made breakthroughs in the field of hibernation equipment, some had researched maintenance drugs for use during hibernation, some had proposed innovative hibernation theories, and some had proposed new ideas for the recovery phase after hibernation awakening...

Undoubtedly, these scientists listed on the screen were all leaders in the field of hibernation. According to the task force's speculation, these people were most likely the next murder targets.

Lin Xian noticed that most of these scientists were from foreign countries, and only three were from China, but they all lived and worked in cities other than Donghai.

The male colleague next to him also realized this and asked Ji Lin, looking at him:

"But Ji Lin... most of these scientists are abroad, and their itineraries are not within our surveillance. If the murderers really want to kill them, we can't ambush them in advance. And there are too many of them... we can't possibly ambush them all!"

Ji Lin nodded:

"That's right, our police force is limited, and our authority is also limited. Except for Donghai, we don't have that much power to mobilize local police to cooperate. Moreover, such malicious incidents like 00:42 have only occurred in Donghai City so far, and the Donghai City government doesn't want this impact to escalate."

"But... our opportunities are also limited. Perhaps if we can't catch the murderers at the next murder scene, we will miss them forever and never find their clues again."

"Therefore, I have decided to split up."

After a pause, Ji Lin looked around and said seriously:

"I personally have a certain network and influence in foreign police circles. I have also helped foreign police solve many cases in the past. They all give me face and are willing to cooperate with my actions."

"So, in the future, I plan to split up. I will use my influence in foreign police forces to organize ambushes and capture operations abroad; and you will continue to stay in Donghai City to look for suitable opportunities to ambush the murderers. This time, we must not let the murderers escape again." ???

Ji Lin's words made all the team members widen their eyes, and then shout out:

"No, Ji Lin, what you mean is... you're leaving Donghai?"

"This, this is too sudden, isn't it?"

"Why go abroad at this time? Did you discover any clues?"

"Since Ji Lin has decided this, there must be a reason for it. He should have locked onto a certain scientist, right?"

Ji Lin's departure surprised everyone for a while, but after careful consideration, they felt that Ji Lin was not the kind of person who would give up halfway or desert at the last minute. There must be a reason for him to do so.

Sure enough...

Ji Lin nodded, stood up, and pointed to a photo of one of the scientists on the projection screen behind him.

It was an old man with white hair, working in a laboratory in Sakura Country. He was an academic giant in the field of cryogenic freezing in the early years, and now he has been entrusted with an important task by Sakura Country to serve as the leader of the country's hibernation project:

"This academic giant from Sakura Country has been traveling frequently recently. I think the murderers are very likely to list him as a murder target, so it is necessary for me to go to Sakura Country to see if I can use the power of foreign police to ambush in advance and capture the murderers."

……

So that's how it is.

Everyone nodded.

What Ji Lin said made sense.

Currently, in the whole world, there are so many possible murder targets. If the murderers commit crimes all over the world, what is the point of them guarding Donghai?

And overseas, apart from Ji Lin who has connections and influence, it would be a waste of time for others to go, and no one can replace Ji Lin to carry out overseas missions.

As for the investigation team staying in Donghai...

Ji Lin has left, but he has left a detailed work plan, and they only need to follow it step by step.

Only.

Lin Xian's thoughts were different from everyone else's.

He couldn't figure out what Ji Lin was up to.

Although Ji Lin's explanation to everyone was perfect, it was to go abroad to ambush the murderers, considering the possibility that the murderers could not always commit crimes in Donghai.

But in Lin Xian's imagination, Ji Lin was the murderer!

He was clearly crying "stop thief" and playing a cat-and-mouse game with himself under the guise of catching thieves. What was going on with this sudden withdrawal?

Suddenly.

Ji Lin looked over, smiled at Lin Xian, and looked around:

"Everyone, although Lin Xian was invited by me, through this period of time working with Lin Xian, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of Lin Xian's level. The solving of many old cases during this period was jointly deduced by me and Lin Xian. His keen insight and analytical ability are obvious to all."

"In addition... the most important thing next is to screen out the most likely murder targets of the murderers in advance and then ambush in advance. On this point, I think Lin Xian, who has personally experienced the crime scene twice, should have more awareness and trustworthy intuition than me. Therefore, during the time I am away from Donghai, I hope everyone can refer to Lin Xian's opinion more when determining the murderer's murder target. I believe he will not let everyone down."

After listening to Ji Lin's words, the other team members nodded without any doubt.

In their opinion, Lin Xian was indeed a very trustworthy person. He has performed very well during this period, assisting his colleagues in solving many cases, and he is also a highly respected figure in everyone's mind.

……

"Are you really leaving?"

In the double dormitory where the two had lived together for more than ten days, Ji Lin was packing his personal belongings, and Lin Xian leaned against the wall, looking at Ji Lin:

"There are also many scientists coming to Donghai during this period. Aren't you afraid of missing out?"

Ji Lin was very surprised, stopped his movements, and looked at Lin Xian:

"I thought you would be happy that I was going on a business trip. Isn't it a good thing for you to regain your freedom?"

He smiled:

"From tomorrow on, no one will restrict your freedom. You can go home at any time, go out at any time, and go out to play at any time. What are you going to do on the first day of freedom? Are you going to take a vacation?"

"Tomorrow?"

Lin Xian picked up his phone and looked at the date:

"There really is something to do tomorrow. I'm going to celebrate a little girl's birthday."

Ji Lin looked up:

"How do you know so many little girls?"

"No, no, this time it's a real little girl." Lin Xian smiled:

"A fourteen-year-old girl, a patient. I'm going to the hospital to celebrate her birthday."

"You're really kind-hearted."

Ji Lin continued to pack his clothes:

"So kind and so good."

He zipped up the zipper, and walked outside with the suitcase.

"When will you be back?" Lin Xian asked, looking at his back.

"It won't take long. I'll be back when I catch the murderer or rule out the risk of that academic giant."

Ji Lin turned around and looked at Lin Xian:

"If you can catch the murderer in Donghai in advance, I will definitely come back to congratulate you. Anyway, it will be no later than my birthday, I will definitely be back before my birthday on May 3rd. I'm still waiting for your birthday gifts."

Lin Xian was really amused.

Even at this time, he still cared about his crappy birthday.

"Is birthday so important to you?"

"Of course." Ji Lin nodded affirmatively:

"Because... didn't I make an appointment with friends?"

"Chu Anqing?"

"And you." Ji Lin replied.

……

……

The air suddenly became quiet.

The distance between Lin Xian and Ji Lin was only two or three meters, but their eyes met, as if separated by an insurmountable galaxy.

"Goodbye, Lin Xian."

Ji Lin turned his head back, pulled his suitcase, and walked away.

Lin Xian stood in place, without going out.

He did not see Ji Lin off.

He just stood in the room, listening to the sound of the suitcase wheels gradually fading away, then stopping, and then a ding, the elevator door opened.

After that...

There was no more sound.

"Goodbye."

Lin Xian said in a low voice.

He never thought of attending Ji Lin's birthday party, nor did he ever think of preparing a birthday gift for him.

From the current point of view, the suspicion of Ji Lin, Ji Xinshui, and Zhou Duanyun can never be cleared.

A life for a life.

This cat-and-mouse game can only end with the death of one party. There is no tie, no draw, and no other result except life and death.

Perhaps Ji Lin really regarded himself and Chu Anqing as friends in his heart.

But Lin Xian did not.

Not even for a moment.

He could not be friends with the murderer who killed Xu Yun and Tang Xin.

A blood debt can only be repaid in blood.

……

"Xiang Yue, happy birthday!"

April 1st, Donghai University Affiliated Hospital, 17th floor, in Zheng Xiangyue's ward.

The burning candles on the cake were blown out by Zheng Xiangyue. She giggled, straightened the birthday princess hat on her head, and made a pious wish.

"This is your birthday gift."

Lin Xian took out a huge tin foil bag from behind him, beautifully packaged, with a huge pink bow tied at the mouth. It seemed to contain a huge gift, even bigger than Zheng Xiangyue's body!

But the weight did not seem so heavy, and Lin Xian could easily lift it up.

"Wow! So big!"

Zheng Xiangyue excitedly pounced on it! Soft and fluffy, her whole body sank into it:

"Brother Lin Xian! Can I open it now!"

"Of course you can." Lin Xian smiled and said: "This is your birthday gift, it naturally belongs to you."

Zheng Xiangyue excitedly tore open the bow and peeled off the colorful tin foil, revealing the original shape of the soft toy inside:

"A huge Leine Cat!! I've never seen this kind before!"

Zheng Xiangyue widened her eyes, unable to imagine that there was such a large Leine Cat toy in the world! She tried several times to pick it up... but because her arm span was not enough, she could not use her strength. Finally, Zheng Chenghao hugged her and the oversized Leine Cat toy together on the bed.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Lin."

Zheng Chenghao looked at Lin Xian and thanked him sincerely:

"Xiang Yue has always liked Leine Cat toys very much, and I have bought her a lot... but I have never seen one as big as the one you brought today, and none of the first supermarket toy stores sell it."

"Because this is itself not for sale, there are only two in the world." Lin Xian explained with a smile:

"When we first designed this toy, the factory directly made two samples for our company to see, but in the end, considering that the cost was too high... our boss didn't want to sell things too expensive, so we temporarily canceled this plan."

"The Leine Cats on the market now are all small-sized. This large-sized prototype was already out of print before it was even released. I took it for Xiang Yue from the warehouse."

"Wow! There are only two in the world!"

Zheng Xiangyue hugged the oversized Leine Cat and rolled around, extremely happy:

"Then who has the other one?"

"The other one..."

Lin Xian recalled the oversized Leine Cat toy that Chu Anqing won in the lottery at the mx company's celebration banquet, and touched Zheng Xiangyue's head and said gently:

"The other one is in the hands of another little princess, you are all little princesses."

Zheng Xiangyue giggled, hugging the Leine Cat and refusing to let go, loving it very much.

After the three finished eating the cake and cleaned up, Lin Xian prepared to leave.

"Mr. Lin, how did you get to the hospital?" Zheng Chenghao asked.

"I took a taxi."

"Then I'll take you back."

Zheng Chenghao smiled and pointed to the parking lot outside the window:

"My taxi is parked in the parking lot. I skipped work today to celebrate Xiang Yue's birthday. It's time to go to work. I'll take you back to the company first."

Lin Xian nodded.

That's right.

Zheng Chenghao usually drives the day shift taxi, and now it's his working hours.

The two said goodbye to Zheng Xiangyue and went to the parking lot.

Zheng Chenghao opened the car door, and Lin Xian got into the passenger seat.

"Mr. Lin, where do you want to go?"

"Go to the Donghai City Public Security Bureau." Lin Xian replied.

Ji Lin has already left Donghai, and what follows is even more busy work... especially since he has just taken over many things and is still in the adaptation stage.

Zheng Chenghao started the car, then took out a mask from the storage compartment and put it on, and then took out sunglasses and put them on.

Seeing this scene, Lin Xian sat up straight:

"Do you usually cover yourself up so tightly when driving?"

"There's no other way..."

Zheng Chenghao smiled bitterly and pointed to his right face:

"You know, my right face is full of scars. I'm afraid of scaring the customers..."

"……"

Lin Xian did not speak, and nodded lightly:

"Okay."