The phone behind Chen Xiao was still ringing.

But it took him a while before he turned around to pick up the phone and answer it.

"Honey, why aren’t you answering the phone? Where are you now? Is everything okay?"

Lin Xi rarely encountered Chen Xiao not answering the phone.

So, as soon as the call was connected, her tone was exceptionally tense.

Chen Xiao took a deep breath and replied, "It’s nothing. I just drove and saw something in the water, so I went to check it out first."

"Something in the water? What is it?"

"It looks a bit like that Barbie backpack that Madman Zhang always carries. You should get the Yangguan police to contact the salvage team."

As Chen Xiao spoke, there was a moment of silence on the other end with Lin Xi.

A couple of seconds later, Lin Xi agreed and seriously instructed:

"Just wait by the shore. I know your nature makes you want to go in and check, but... I forbid you, understand?"

Chen Xiao was quite good at swimming.

In the current weather, going into the water didn’t seem to be a problem either.

But in the middle of the night, the icy river water was most likely to cause cramps.

That’s why Lin Xi reminded him in advance, and after listening, Chen Xiao nodded and said, "I know, it’s pointless for me to go in now."

"Okay, wait for me, I’ll be right there."

Saying that, Lin Xi hung up the call.

Chen Xiao drove the car to the riverbank. Luckily, there were some residents not far away, and fortunately, there were several meters long drying bamboo poles at the doorway.

Using the bamboo pole, Chen Xiao managed to fish the backpack out.

At the moment he saw the backpack up close, Chen Xiao’s heart sank to the bottom.

It was indeed the pink backpack that Madman Zhang carried even when he slept.

Chen Xiao glanced at the surrounding streetlights.

He was somewhat grateful that he had driven close to the bridge, and luckily, when he turned his head, he happened to see where the backpack was floating.

Otherwise, if someone else had found this backpack, they probably wouldn’t have connected it to Madman Zhang.

But how can he be sure of Madman Zhang’s location just by determining the backpack’s position?

Did he really fall into the water?

If he truly did fall in.

Did he fall on his own, or was it due to external force?

Chen Xiao had many thoughts at this moment.

But for now, all his thoughts could not be verified.

Sitting alone on the quiet riverbank, he repeatedly asked himself:

Is Madman Zhang really related to the case?

No one could prove that what he drew on Chen Xiao’s car was Jiao Yue.

The assumption it was Jiao Yue was merely a convenient connection made by Chen Xiao and Lin Xi.

They intentionally linked everything together.

Logically analyzed, it was still uncertain whether Madman Zhang was related to all this.

Soon, Lin Xi arrived with Captain Zou Hao of the county criminal police team.

It was Chen Xiao’s first time meeting Zou Hao, who came forward and extended a handshake:

"Advisor Chen, we’ve finally met."

Chen Xiao nodded, "Let’s talk later, let’s have the salvage team start their work first."

"Understood, I already briefed them on the way here. But this area of water is flowing, and in this season the current is not slow, it might be hard to find."

As Zou Hao said, Chen Xiao seriously replied, "We only found the backpack Madman Zhang often carried, and can’t yet confirm if he fell in. However, Captain Zou, please remind the salvage team about this, but don’t tell them these details yet. Just have them carry it out as a regular salvage operation."

"Of course, I’ll go arrange it first, we can talk later."

Zou Hao went to brief the salvage team.

Lin Xi stood next to Chen Xiao, frowning:

"Chen Xiao, what do you think?"

"Right now, it’s pointless to think about whether he fell in. We need to think ahead about what’s next. There are only two scenarios: either Madman Zhang’s disappearance is coincidental, or it’s related to the case, because I found that suit that wasn’t completely burned." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Lin Xi nodded silently, and Chen Xiao continued, "If it’s a coincidence, then the odds are that Madman Zhang’s body will surface in the river because that backpack is his life. But even if we find him in the river, we can’t be 100% sure it’s coincidental."

"So, the question is why did Madman Zhang have this change? Why did he disappear when I went to the kitchen? In the mind of the person burning the suit in the stove, it should have been completely burned, so Madman Zhang’s disappearance doesn’t make sense! Unless... "

"Unless he’s afraid of you!" Lin Xi picked up Chen Xiao’s words.

"Just like when Chen Xianzu was afraid of Han Zai, and faked his death to avoid surveillance. But the current situation is different. Rather than fear, it could be to cover something up."

Lin Xi nodded, "The events can’t be that coincidental, only when coincidences instill fear do results like this occur. Otherwise, Madman Zhang’s disappearance wouldn’t make sense."

"Even though it’s possible someone may have died again, Madman Zhang’s disappearance actually clarifies a lot about the organ-harvesting case."

Chen Xiao remarked, looking at Lin Xi, who responded, "I know what to do next. The key is to determine if the blood on the suit belongs to the Jiao family. If it does, then everything will make sense, and we just need to focus on Madman Zhang."

Chen Xiao also nodded in agreement, and with his thoughts wide, Lin Xi continued, "If we focus on Madman Zhang, then those close to him will be heavily involved. And the only person close to Madman Zhang now is Xiong Nan, right? But still, many things feel forced."

"Since it feels forced, don’t overthink it for now. Take one step at a time and verify each one. This case is chaotic, chaotic enough to be confusing. But the main reason for the chaos is the killer’s unclear and weak motive."

Lin Xi squinted as she saw Zou Hao walking over and said, "I have a very bold idea, and only if that idea is verified can everything be linked together."

Chen Xiao looked puzzled, and Zou Hao instinctively asked, "Lin Group, what’s your idea?"

Lin Xi took a long breath and said, "Why do people call Zhang Cheng a madman? Instead of... an idiot? A lunatic?"

Zou Hao frowned, while Chen Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he gave a thumbs up: "I understand your thought."

"What do you mean exactly?" Zou Hao was confused.

Lin Xi replied, "A madman acts crazy, an idiot is just foolish, intellectually disabled. But many madmen are no different from idiots at times, except that idiots rarely have violent emotions, whereas madmen can transform into someone else at any moment!"

"No one has been with Madman Zhang 24/7, so no one can confirm what sides of him exist when unobserved!"

Chen Xiao added a remark to Lin Xi’s words: "That’s why, after sleeping, Madman Zhang disappeared! Even though he only slept for less than twenty minutes!"