Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 90 Public Opinion

Chapter 90: Chapter 90 Public Opinion

When Ren Wudao sent Bai Yanliang home, it was already seven-thirty in the evening.

"Thank you, Professor Ren." Bai Yanliang got out of the car and nodded in thanks.

Ren Wudao glanced at the ancient courtyard that was out of place with the surrounding buildings and smiled, "Aren’t you going to invite me in for a cup of tea?"

Bai Yanliang thought for a moment and nodded, "Well... please come in."

He could tell that this young medical professor seemed quite interested in him, though he was also somewhat guarded.

Ren Wudao thought similarly; he indeed planned to get to know more about his mysterious online friend, who happened to be his sister’s acquaintance.

Ren Wudao didn’t often find people he couldn’t gauge, but Bai Yanliang was one of them.

"By the way, this is Gao Fei’s house; I’m just his tenant." As Bai Yanliang opened the door, he explained to Ren Wudao, "Oh, Gao Fei is the young forensic doctor from today."

Ren Wudao nodded and followed Bai Yanliang into the courtyard.

However... as soon as he stepped through the gate, he suddenly shivered and instinctively glanced at the giant locust tree in the corner of the yard.

"Wait!"

Ren Wudao exclaimed.

Bai Yanliang turned back to look at him; Ren Wudao’s expression was somewhat unsightly.

"Mr. Bai, there seems to be someone in that tree."

Bai Yanliang’s heart skipped a beat, but he shook his head and said, "Professor Ren, you’re tired today."

Ren Wudao was momentarily stunned, looking at Bai Yanliang; he couldn’t discern any emotion from his expression.

Ren Wudao nodded and withdrew his gaze, "Alright... maybe I am tired."

He no longer looked at the locust tree, but Ren Wudao was sure that between the leaves, there were definitely a pair of eyes!

Ren Wudao took several deep breaths, adjusting his emotions. He was someone who believed in science, but Bai Yanliang’s attitude and his own eyes were telling him that the tree seemed quite odd.

Urban district, old courtyard... it should have been demolished long ago...

How has it been preserved until now?

As he pondered, Ren Wudao followed Bai Yanliang until a voice snapped him back to reality.

"Meow—"

As Bai Yanliang opened his door, Allen Allan Poe jumped over.

Bai Yanliang quickly caught it; the little guy was bandaged but still deftly climbed onto his shoulder, its small head constantly nuzzling Bai Yanliang’s neck.

"Good boy, are you hungry?" Bai Yanliang patted the little black cat’s head.

However, Ren Wudao’s expression suddenly turned fearful.

"Sorry, I have to leave now!"

He spoke while covering his mouth and nose and hurriedly fled from Bai Yanliang’s house.

"What happened?" Bai Yanliang, puzzled, held Allen Allan Poe and chased after him.

"Don’t come near me!" Ren Wudao exclaimed, eyes wide, his forehead covered in sweat. This was the first time Bai Yanliang had seen him so flustered.

"I’m allergic to cat hair; don’t let it get close to me!"

Bai Yanliang was stunned, holding Allen Allan Poe standing there, the little black cat in his arms looked up at him with black eyes sparkling like two gems.

"Mr. Bai, see you tomorrow..."

Ren Wudao seemed a bit unwilling but, seeing the little black cat, was filled with aversion and had to leave for now.

Bai Yanliang grasped the cat’s paw, waving goodbye to Ren Wudao, "Take care."

The gray sedan sped away, Bai Yanliang looked down at Allen Allan Poe, "Look, you scared him."

"Meow—"

...

The next day.

Gao Fei hadn’t returned until the early hours of the morning.

But Bai Yanliang had already received a message from Yang Wanlong early on.

"Nine-thirty in the morning, Ye City Police Station Jiangbei Branch, analysis meeting on the 2.11 headless female corpse case."

This was notifying him to attend the meeting.

After freshening up, Bai Yanliang rubbed the little black cat’s head, saying, "Don’t run around, don’t climb trees, wait for me to come home."

"Meow—"

One man and one cat communicated harmoniously, although neither understood the other’s meaning.

The Ye City Police Station Jiangbei Branch was not unfamiliar to Bai Yanliang; it was someone from the branch who had arrested him back in the day, and Yang Wanlong was also part of it.

By the time he caught a ride to the police station, many social vehicles were already parked there.

These days, if something happens, it’s hard to keep things under wraps; with the prevalence of self-media and the internet being so developed, although most people didn’t know what happened at the Yunhua Road street park yesterday, the police activities were plainly visible to passersby. Then, somehow leaked, the news that a headless female corpse was found on a park bench surfaced online and spread rapidly.

Nighttime is when public sentiment ferments the fastest, after all, people are off work and out of school, and by this morning, one tenth of Ye City’s population was aware of this incident.

This is a frightening number, placing a great deal of pressure on the police; if they don’t quickly manage the public opinion and solve this case, no one knows what terrible consequences might ensue.

"Find out for me! Where did this information get leaked from? Damn it..." Yang Wanlong cursed sharply. While the public has the right to know, what’s circulating online is almost entirely distorted from the truth, manipulated by bored or malicious individuals, making the Ye City Police Station a hub of filth, how could that not enrage the officer in charge, Yang Wanlong?

"Captain Yang, there’s another visitor..."

"No, no visitors! What visiting? Aren’t those media folks more capable than us?"

"He said... he has to say he’s Bai Yanliang..." the young officer glanced at the irate Yang Wanlong and relayed Bai Yanliang’s instructions nonetheless.

Yang Wanlong paused, suddenly turning his head, "Where is he? Bring him in!"

When Bai Yanliang was brought into the Jiangbei Branch, it was already a frenzy inside. Although Yang Wanlong had calmed somewhat facing Bai Yanliang, his face was still stern.

"Let’s go, the municipal leaders are here too, this time... we must catch that bastard!"

Yang Wanlong said through gritted teeth, then, seeming to recall something, handed Bai Yanliang a badge with his photo and name on it, along with four bolded characters: Special Consultant.

"Keep this safe. Currently, only you and Professor Ren have one in all of Ye City; don’t lose it."

Bai Yanliang was a bit surprised as he looked at the badge in his hand, which was identical to the one Ren Wudao presented yesterday.

"Uncle Yang, this... doesn’t seem appropriate?"

Yang Wanlong turned around, glaring at him, then looked around the room, "Who dares say it’s inappropriate? These years, you’ve provided countless insights for Uncle from the psychiatric hospital, solved so many cases. You may not have counted, but Uncle has! Take it!"

Bai Yanliang glanced at the badge in his hand and suddenly smiled.

A juvenile offender... having a day recognized by the police, it’s really... ironic.

When Bai Yanliang entered the conference room, Ren Wudao was already sitting at the table reviewing a file, along with him, there was Gao Fei, who hadn’t slept a wink and still seemed very alert, eyes bloodshot Lin Wan, and several senior officers.

A moment later, a middle-aged man with a square face entered the conference room, glanced at everyone, and said:

"The 2.11 headless female corpse case analysis meeting, now starts."