Chapter 25: New Friends

Lu Yuan did not reply to the message.

One must be cautious when dealing with people in the real world. Besides, the killer who murdered An Shi remained at large; what if this person was the killer?

Lu Yuan tucked his phone back into his pocket.

I should focus on making money first. If I don't earn some cash soon, I won't even be able to afford a meal.

Just as Lu Yuan was about to step out, a familiar figure blocked his path. Lu Yuan sighed, feeling helpless. "Captain Wen, why are you here again?"

This is a psychology clinic, not a police station conference room. What is the meaning of her showing up here every single day?

Wen Ke looked a bit embarrassed. "I came to treat you to a meal."

That works!

That is perfectly acceptable.

Lu Yuan had only been drinking coffee earlier not to stay alert, but simply to save the cost of a meal. Since someone was offering to pay, it was a stroke of luck.

Lu Yuan's attitude instantly became warm and friendly. Seeing this, the corner of Wen Ke’s mouth twitched. He really was a practical man!

Lu Yuan was not picky about food, so they found a nearby breakfast shop. Lu Yuan was famished, while Wen Ke clearly lacked an appetite.

"Stressed about the case?" Lu Yuan asked casually.

Wen Ke glanced at him and lowered her head to rub her temples. "I pulled another all-nighter. Unlike you, you look quite well-rested."

Lu Yuan was momentarily stunned. When he was lost in his dreams, he certainly didn't look well. However, he improvised a lie on the spot: "Ever since I realized that I wasn't the one who committed the murder, my mood has improved significantly."

Wen Ke hesitated. She actually wanted to tell him that An Shi was already dead. But saying such things early in the morning felt wrong. Besides, Lu Yuan only believed he hadn't committed the crime because he assumed An Shi was still alive; if she told him the truth, it might only trigger more guilt in him.

Among the evidence the police had gathered so far, nothing explicitly pointed to Lu Yuan, so he could not be treated as a suspect. If one had to be forced to find evidence, there was only one thing: Lu Yuan’s fingerprints were on the fruit knife.

From a police officer's perspective, case resolution requires hard evidence and leads. But from a woman's intuition, Wen Ke felt that Lu Yuan had a deep connection to the two murders in the Villa District 14.

Thinking of this, Wen Ke couldn't help but probe: "Lu Yuan, the police have been searching for a long time and haven't found An Shi. What if... he’s dead?"

She wanted to observe his reaction.

Lu Yuan paused, a flicker of shock crossing his eyes, followed immediately by panic. "You don't think I did it, do you?"

Wen Ke sensed Lu Yuan’s agitation and quickly waved her hands. "If—I’m just saying if. We haven't found him yet, so it’s just a hypothesis."

Lu Yuan’s emotions settled slightly. "Captain Wen, please don't say such terrifying things. It took me so long to adjust my mindset."

"Just making conversation."

"I have nothing better to do anyway."

Wen Ke was genuinely curious about Lu Yuan’s thoughts.

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment. "Before the person is found, anything is possible. If An Shi is indeed dead, it must be inextricably linked to Zhuo Yan’s death."

Wen Ke nodded. That was exactly what the police thought. Because the bodies of both Zhuo Yan and An Shi were discovered within Villa District 14, her colleagues at the station all agreed that the cases should be handled together.

"If An Shi is dead, who do you think is the most likely culprit?"

"His patients," Lu Yuan replied without a second thought.

Lu Yuan spoke with a calm expression: "Working as a psychologist is actually much more dangerous than being a doctor in a regular hospital. We frequently encounter people with mental health issues—they might be volatile, schizophrenic, or, more likely, have antisocial personalities."

"People with psychological problems are prone to extremes and are capable of shocking acts. Once they cannot be cured, they project their resentment onto the doctor."

Wen Ke fell into thought. That made a lot of sense.

She asked instinctively, "Have you ever encountered such patients?"

Lu Yuan gave her a strange look. "Captain Wen, my little clinic hasn't had a single patient in months. Do you think that’s an appropriate question to ask me?"

Wen Ke offered an awkward smile.

"I have things to do today, so I won't keep you chatting, Captain Wen." After finishing breakfast, Lu Yuan was eager to leave.

"Where are you going? I'll drive you." Wen Ke was quite forward.

Lu Yuan often saw shadows of Tang Wen in Wen Ke, which left him momentarily dazed, so he agreed to let her drive him.

When the car stopped at a job fair, Wen Ke looked surprised. "You’re looking for a job?"

As Lu Yuan unbuckled his seatbelt, he replied offhandedly, "The clinic isn't working out, so I have to change paths. Otherwise, I’ll be left with nothing to eat."

So he was short on money. That made sense. With a clinic that didn't even have a single patient, he obviously had no income.

"Thank you for the ride." Lu Yuan thanked her sincerely. He liked Wen Ke well enough—perhaps part of that fondness stemmed from Tang Wen, but there was no denying that Wen Ke was a good person.

Watching Lu Yuan walk away, Wen Ke suddenly called out, "Any interest in joining the police department as an auxiliary staff member? It's an administrative role, no field work required."

Lu Yuan turned back to look at her, hesitating for a long time. "Am I eligible?"

Wen Ke smiled. "I can't just hire you directly, of course. You'll need to pass an exam first."

Auxiliary staff positions were state-funded but not official civil service roles, yet they still required testing and screening. The application window for the current exams had already closed, but with Wen Ke’s help, she could still submit an application for him. However, Lu Yuan would have to put in the effort to pass the screening himself.

"You're a top student; an exam like this shouldn't be hard for you," Wen Ke teased, the image of Tang Wen flickering through her mind.

Truth be told, she didn't know why she was helping Lu Yuan. Perhaps it was just an impulsive, subconscious urge. Or perhaps it was for the sake of Tang Wen, her college classmate, that she wanted to give him a hand.

"How long until the exam?" Lu Yuan asked.

Wen Ke estimated the date. "In half a month. Do you have enough money to live for another two weeks? Do you need me to lend you some?"

Lu Yuan’s gaze was complex. "Why are you being so good to me?"

He and Wen Ke had no history. In fact, before the murder of Zhuo Yan, they had no contact whatsoever.

Wen Ke leaned against the car window, flashing a bright smile. "You're a good person, and you're Tang Wen’s classmate. If I can help, I will."

Lu Yuan was silent for a long time.

So that was it...

After all these years, he still owed a debt of gratitude to Tang Wen.

"Thank you. I will study hard for the exam." Lu Yuan thanked her earnestly. This opportunity was not easy to come by. If it weren't for Wen Ke, he wouldn't even have had the chance to sign up.

"If you really want to thank me, treat me to a meal once you pass." Wen Ke winked, showing a playful and cute side.

Lu Yuan laughed along with her.

It seemed he had a friend.