Insights Chapter 1: The New Medical Examiner

Interpretations

Fatally Destined Medical Examiner

Insights of the Medical Examiner

 by Qingyun Xiaoshi

Chinese Information:Original:《绝命法医》by 清韵小尸

Printed: 《解语》by 清韵小诗

Title explanation: There are two different titles for this novel. The web title, “Fatally Destined Medical Examiner,” (绝命法医) and the printed title,  “Interpretations,” (解语) . We decided to combine these two titles into one to call it “Insights of the Medical Examiner.” 

Year: 2022

Genre: BL, medical, gore, death, detective, investigation, hiding true identity, scars, rough past, gangs, murder, cults, death of loved ones, orphans, military, 

Novel Status in Country of Origin: 162 (Complete)

~~~~Brought to you by ExR~~~~

SUMMARY:

After several years, Shen Jun climbed over the mountain of blood and corpses and was finally able to meet the one he longed for.

Medical Examiner Shen Junci, upon his arrival at the Penang City Bureau, becomes a member of the newly formed Special Criminal Division. Despite his handsome and aloof appearance, Shen Junci is a top-notch medical examiner with a skillful and compassionate demeanor, he is hiding extraordinary techniques. The captain of the Special Criminal Division, Gu Yanchen, is pulled from the Logistics Department by the current director, Ding, and possesses exceptional marksmanship and solid detective abilities. 

Upon the first glance at Shen Junci, Gu Yanchen feels a sense of familiarity, which Shen Junci repeatedly denies. As they become colleagues and later neighbors, their relationship evolves into the best partnership. During the process of solving cases together, Gu Yanchen gradually unveils the secrets hidden by Shen Junci. The entire city of Penang is stirred up, gradually forming a hurricane. Beneath the dust of time lies the everlasting light forged by blood and life. 

“If you want to defy the darkness, I am willing to be the most accurate gun in your hands.”

 

Volume 1: City of Sin

Chapter 1: The New Medical Examiner

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Addis Note: click to read¹

(TW: death of a baby, blood, autopsy, gore, neonaticide, infanticide)

In the morning, the sun rose on the horizon. The first rays of sunlight entered the bustling city, reflecting light and shadows on the glass of tall buildings. A new day began. The city was noisy, and birds and insects could be heard everywhere. Residents in the housing areas opened their curtains to let sunlight into their rooms.

Vehicles formed long queues on the overpasses, and the street corner mall advertising screens began flicking. Horns, the sound of wheels on the road, and the hustle and bustle at the intersections accompanied the changing colors of traffic lights. 

People of all ages hurried in different directions. As people moved about, the entire city of Penang came to life. It was a large city accommodating millions of residents. The western part of the city featured farmland and vast green areas, the northern part had mountains rich in minerals, the southern part embraced the trendy internet economy, and the eastern coastal area was a traditional trading hub.

One side faced the sea, offering convenient transportation, while the other leaned against the mountains with peaks and ridges. Those with some knowledge about feng shui knew that this place had excellent geographical and environmental conditions. 

During the morning rush hour, a taxi traveled on the road. The talkative driver continuously complained to the passenger in the back seat, “Ah, the city’s administration in Penang, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s all surface glamor. It looks shiny and impressive, like an international metropolis, but look at these roads. They’ve patched them layer after layer, making them bumpy and uncomfortable if you drive fast. It gets congested during rush hours and turns into a river when it rains. Subway Line 4 has been under construction for many years, blocking several roads. It still hasn’t opened. They used to vigorously develop industry, taking over good farmland in the north and building many factories. Later, they said it caused pollution, and one by one, they started shutting them down. I remember a few years ago, the sky was just gray. The price of vegetables is soaring, and if it keeps going, we won’t be able to afford eggs.”

In the back seat was a very handsome young man in his twenties. He was tall and somewhat slim, with slightly pale skin. His hands were placed on his knees, his long fingers intertwined, quietly listening to the driver.

Regardless of whether the passenger was getting bored, the driver continued, “Also, in the western part of the city, it’s vast and sparsely populated. In the evening, there are all sorts of street vendors, even those doing… Well, us taxi drivers don’t dare to go there at night, afraid of being robbed. In the small park at night, men and women are wandering around, and there are even many unlicensed taxis… I can tell you’re visiting Penang for the first time, carrying a suitcase. Are you here to tour or to visit your girlfriend?”

“No, I’m here for work,” the young man finally replied to the driver’s questions. His voice was pleasant, with a slightly cold tone. “Are we there yet?”

“Ah? Just a bit further, I heard there was a change in leadership last year, and there were some reforms. I believe the former leader should have stepped down long ago.” The driver sighed, “I still miss the days when Lin was in charge a few years ago. He was a true public servant, falling ill while on duty. So many people attended his memorial service. I realized the city’s public order differs depending on who’s in charge. Tighten the reins a bit, and things improve. Loosen them a bit, and problems arise endlessly.” Speaking up to this point, the driver glanced at the young man. “Your destination is the Changhe Intersection, right?”

The young man replied, “Drive past the intersection and stop about thirty meters ahead.”

The driver stopped, started the meter for the young man, and turned to him, “Young man, I was just talking casually earlier; don’t take it seriously. The public order in Penang is excellent; there’s no problem.”

The young man said, “I think what you said makes sense.”

After paying, he went to the trunk to get his belongings. In addition to his suitcase, he carried a small potted plant, a pot of mint, with shoots growing, emitting a faint fragrance. After passing through the gatekeeper’s check, the young man went to the personnel department to complete the formalities. He took out a work schedule and several documents from his backpack and handed them over.

The staff checked his graduation certificate and various documents, retrieved information from the system, and the name on the documents read Shen Junci. His profession was a medical examiner, and today was his first day reporting to the City Bureau. The young man had a pale and handsome appearance with a somewhat aloof temperament. The personnel officer couldn’t help but look at him a few more times, then lowered his head to look at the work schedule.

The specialization written on it was quite unusual, and the personnel officer couldn’t resist asking, “Special Criminal Division, what department is this responsible for?” He had worked here for many years but had never seen this specialization.

Shen Junci’s head tilted slightly, and a small shadow formed at the edge of his eyelashes in the sunlight. He avoided the personnel officer’s gaze, seemingly not good at socializing. “It’s newly established, founded by Director Ding. Normally, I would work in the medical examiner department.”

The full name of the Special Criminal Division was the Special Criminal Case Investigation Department, a newly established unit with few members, considered a specialized investigation unit within the Penang police force. The Special Criminal Division had just been formed, and it was normal for the personnel at the lower levels to be unfamiliar. The salary and contract terms had been determined long ago.

Shen Junci was transferred from the provincial bureau, and the leadership gave him ample reporting period. He delayed his entry until the last few days.

After completing the entry procedures, the personnel officer handed him the work ID and access card, kindly reminding him, “The medical examiner department is in Building 3 at the back of the courtyard, the Forensic Investigation Identification Center. Turn in your computer and office supplies at the Logistics Department later.”

Shen Junci thanked him and left the personnel center.

Today was the last day of the Penang City Bureau’s rehearsal, and except for the duty personnel, the detectives in the courtyard were all called to the training ground behind for drills, making it quite empty. Shen Junci walked to the entrance of the medical examiner’s office, and a message from Director Ding arrived, saying that someone from the medical examiner department would meet him. He was told to tidy up and wait until he finished the drill activities; then, he could come for a conversation.

The Penang City Bureau’s Forensic Investigation Identification Center was completed eight years ago. It had three floors, equipped with facilities at the highest domestic standards.

As Shen Junci approached the medical examiner’s office, a young medical examiner stopped before him. “Are you Medical Examiner Shen?”

“That’s me,” Shen Junci nodded.

The medical examiner appeared quite youthful, with short hair and large eyes, giving off a sunny and talkative vibe. Meeting Shen Junci, he nervously extended his hand, “Hello, Professor Shen. My name is Qi Yi’an, and I’m your assistant medical examiner. I look forward to working with you.”

The medical examiner profession often followed a mentorship system, where an experienced medical examiner mentored a junior one. The person before Shen Junci was likely assigned to him by the City Bureau.

Shen Junci nodded in acknowledgment.

Qi Yi’an noticed that his mentor seemed reserved and didn’t talk much. Trying to break the ice, he said, “My name is quite interesting; it forms the character ‘钱.’ Some people even gave me a nickname. Instead of calling me medical examiner Qi, they call me investigator Xiao Qian.”

He had a positive impression of his mentor but sensed a bit of aloofness. Qi Yi’an took charge of Shen Junci’s suitcase and the pot of mint. Qi Yi’an observed a faint fragrance emanating from Shen Junci. It was peaceful and pleasant, reminiscent of the scent of the mint he was holding. there were other subtle notes mixed in.

Once in the office, Qi Yi’an spoke a lot, and Shen Junci finally spoke up, “I’m not good at managing people. Just treat me as a work partner. If you find it uncomfortable in the Special Criminal Division, you can change departments anytime.”

The words seemed to suggest a possible withdrawal. Qi Yi’an thought he might have done something wrong, failing to meet his mentor’s expectations. Looking at Shen Junci’s expression, he couldn’t be sure. Taking it as a precautionary measure, Qi Yi’an responded with a quiet acknowledgement.

Shen Junci asked him, “How long have you been here?”

Qi Yi’an replied, “A little over two months. I’ve been helping out in the medical examiner department during this time.”

Having been here for a while, Qi Yi’an was familiar with both the medical examiner department and the criminal investigation side. He had also assisted in some operations. After a brief chat, Qi Yi’an went to the Logistics Department to help Shen Junci collect computer equipment and office supplies. After setting up the system, he gave him a tour of the Medical Examiner Identification Center.

As the name suggested, the center was divided into two main sections: medical examiner and evidence identification. Evidence identification included physical evidence, trace examination, evidence storage, prohibited substances, trace evidence, and judicial document identification. Forensic investigators were divided into two main sections: forensic examination and medical examiner identification.

Forensic examination primarily involved post-mortem examinations, with specialized branches for traffic incidents, accidents, and criminal cases. Forensic investigator identification focused on forensic outpatient services, handling examinations related to injuries, paternity, and mental health.

There were several laboratories in the building, including a chemical analysis room, a routine examination lab, a DNA examination lab, and a toxicology lab. Every department and section needed for modern criminal investigations were present, making it extremely comprehensive. Even the autopsy room had many facilities equipped with large ventilation devices. One side of the room facing the corridor had large windows, providing a view of the autopsy area from outside.

Due to the City Bureau’s rehearsal, many medical examiners were not in the office that day. Additionally, those on field assignments were not present. Only two medical examiners on duty were in the criminal autopsy office.

The two medical examiners were named Cheng Gong and Wen Wan. The older male, Cheng Gong, had three years of work experience, while Wen Wan, the only female in the group, had seven.

Qi Yi’an introduced them, and Shen Junci exchanged greetings with them. Cheng Gong expressed his welcome with workplace pleasantries, complementing, “With a professional like Doctor Shen joining our team, our work in the City Bureau’s medical examiner department will be much more efficient.”

Shen Junci humbly responded, “I have limited knowledge; please guide me in the future.”

After the two left, Cheng Gong quietly asked Wen Wan, “Is he going to the Special Criminal Division?”

Wen Wan nodded, “I heard he was transferred from the provincial bureau.”

Initially, Director Ding had recruited members internally for the Special Criminal Division within the Criminal Investigation Division. It was a department directly supervised by the leadership, and most personnel in the City Bureau were unwilling to join. Especially in the medical examiner department, which was already understaffed with heavy workloads, who would want to move to a new department with uncertain prospects and immense pressure? At that time, there were no volunteers for the transfer.

In desperation, Director Ding started recruiting medical examiners from outside. Eventually, seeking help from the provincial bureau, they brought in this young medical examiner.

Wen Wan reviewed Shen Junci’s application file. He was 27 years old, with mediocre academic performance during college. After graduating, he took a year off before working for three years, and his resume was not particularly outstanding.

The Penang Medical Examiner Center elite mostly graduated from prestigious public security universities. Looking at these two individuals who graduated from well-known institutions it made Shen Junci’s alma mater seem less impressive.

Cheng Gong wondered, “Since he’s going to the Special Criminal Division, we may not interact much with him. By the way, has the Captain for the Special Criminal Division been decided?”

Wen Wan replied, “There’s news. I heard it went to Captain Gu.”

Cheng Gong was puzzled, “Captain Gu? Which one?”

Wen Wan said, “That one, the logistics Captain Gu.”

Cheng Gong was surprised, “The logistics guy is becoming a detective?”

Wen Wan explained, “He and I joined the City Bureau around the same time. He started in the criminal investigation division and was personally trained by Director Lin when he was still in charge. It was like raising his son, emphasizing special training. He was quite competitive, solving a series of cases, including the one involving Xu Chenghuang.”

Cheng Gong finally connected the dots, “I know about Xu Chenghuang’s case. It took almost a year to solve.”

“After Director Lin passed away, he moved to the Logistics Department shortly after. He was responsible for managing police dogs, procuring police supplies, and coordinating training new personnel in various sub-bureaus. He became a small leader in the logistics department. Recently, Director Ding wanted to establish the Special Criminal Division and felt that the existing captains were unsuitable, so he thought of him. After a conversation with Director Ding, the decision was made.”

Cheng Gong questioned, “But he’s been away from the front line for several years. Is he capable?”

Wen Wan replied, “These days, they’ve been training. Personal achievements have been revealed. Do you know who’s in first place?”

Cheng Gong was astonished, “It can’t be Captain Gu, right?”

“Moreover, he broke the record in the 100-meter speed shooting,” Wen Wan continued. “Today, in the armed police drill, I heard Captain Gu drew the boss card. This time, it’s going to be an interesting show.”

Shen Junci didn’t go to the City Bureau’s cafeteria at noon. Instead, he took Qi Yi’an to a restaurant outside, insisting on treating him to lunch. Doctor Shen sat at the table with a proper posture and ordered the dishes. While they ate, Qi Yi’an silently prayed, hoping to learn a lot from his highly skilled mentor.

Having recently joined, Qi Yi’an had his own plans and aspirations for this job. He genuinely loved medical examiner work; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen this profession against his family’s opposition. After lunch, Qi Yi’an accompanied Shen Junci to the medical examiner lounge.

A lounge was essential since medical examiners often had night shifts and worked beyond eight hours. The infrastructure at the Penang City Bureau was decent, with sofas, coffee tables, and other simple furniture in the lounge for medical examiners to rest. Resident medical examiners even had their beds.

As the Special Criminal Division was a separate department, the lounge was shared by Shen Junci and Qi Yi’an. The room was small, and Qi Yi’an’s bed was neatly arranged. He offered to help Shen Junci, but Shen Junci insisted on doing it himself. Qi Yi’an didn’t press further and sat on a chair, chatting with Shen Junci.

Shen Junci was well-prepared. He took out a box of incense, selected one, and lit it using a lighter, placing it in a small holder. By now, Qi Yi’an finally understood the source of the pleasant fragrance emanating from Shen Junci. In the glow of the flame, the incense quickly turned ash white, releasing a thin thread of fragrant smoke.

The medical examiner building usually had a somewhat mixed scent – the smell of bodies, blood, formaldehyde, and even the natural human odor – which even the largest ventilation systems couldn’t completely eliminate.

But now, the room was filled with the scent of incense. The fragrance gradually intensified, penetrating everything else, even imbuing the clothes and walls with a pleasant aroma, inducing a calming effect.

Shen Junci then started to make the bed, taking a pillow from his luggage. He neatly arranged the bed sheets sent by the administration and laid out his own. The sheets were deep blue, and the high-quality silk shimmered in the sunlight.

In comparison, Qi Yi’an felt like his bed resembled a pigsty.

As Shen Junci finished organizing, he asked, “Who is in charge of the Criminal Medical Examiner Department here?”

Qi Yi’an quickly responded, “The head of the department is named Lu Cun. There are two medical examiners, Wen Wan and Cheng Gong, and another intern, Song Qiancheng.”

While Shen Junci continued arranging, he asked, “Do you want to rest?”

Qi Yi’an was momentarily stunned.

Shen Junci, stifling a yawn with his hand, said, “I want to take a short nap. If you want to as well, we can rest together.”

Only then did Qi Yi’an realize the situation. But which leader invites subordinates to nap together on the first day of work? Qi Yi’an felt awkward, hesitated momentarily, and stammered, “Uh, I’m not tired. Teacher, you go ahead and rest. I’ll go sit in the office for a while.”

After leaving the lounge and sitting in the office, Qi Yi’an was still in a daze. He finally understood that his internal struggle stemmed from this peculiar situation. He had been here for two months and had learned more about the office dynamics. In the City Bureau, work was extremely demanding. Although there was a one-hour lunch break, the medical examiner lounge was rarely used for napping during the day.

The reason was simple – the leaders in the medical examiner center were very strict. Taking a nap in the lounge during working hours could easily lead to suspicions of slacking off. Therefore, the City Bureau generally used the lounge during night shifts. Occasionally, if someone had to work overnight and couldn’t endure, they might rest briefly on the tables.

This unwritten rule was comparable to big companies’ infamous 996 working culture. While not a strict rule, everyone followed it. If someone deviated, they would be seen as an oddity. Thinking about this, Qi Yi’an rubbed his forehead…

He felt that Shen Junci must be unaware of the situation. He would need to bring it up later to avoid gossip from others tactfully. A sudden burst of crying and commotion came from outside the office…

In the middle of the day, only Qi Yi’an and the two medical examiners on duty were in the medical examiner’s offices. When they heard the disturbance outside, all three leaned out to see what was happening.

As soon as the door opened, the noisy quarrel became clearer. It sounded like an older woman and a younger person, mixed with crying.

An elderly lady was shouting hoarsely, “Unfortunate for our family…”

“Marrying into your family was a disaster. It’s eight lifetimes of bad luck.”

“Damn it, who the hell do you think you are? Dare to bully my sister!”

“Officer! There’s been a murder!”

“Let go, damn it! The police haven’t spoken yet, and you’re acting like you’re in the right.”

Some detectives were trying hard to maintain order. “This is the medical examiner building; don’t cause a scene here. Leave the body here and wait for the results.”

Qi Yi’an saw several police officers outside, holding back a group of people. The commotion involved relatives, with aunts and uncles crowding the corridor. The detectives managed to persuade them to leave.

Cheng Gong asked, “What’s going on? Where’s Captain Shao?”

A young police officer responded, “Captain Shao is still in a meeting and is on his way back. He should be here shortly.”

Qi Yi’an recognized the officer speaking. His name was Yu Shen, and he joined on the same day as Qi Yi’an just over two months ago.

As the police officers managed to clear the scene, Yu Shen wiped his sweat and handed them a coroner’s request form. “This came from the county. It’s minor, not too complicated, just that the family is difficult.”

Wen Wan noticed the scratches and blood on Yu Shen’s wrist. “You’re injured… go get that treated.”

Qi Yi’an smirked, “With those scratches, did you practice Nine Yin White Bone Claw or something?”

Yu Shen looked at his wrist and sighed, “This family is from a nearby village. I had a little scuffle with them over this…” He then handed over a plastic bag. “The body is in here. Please examine it.”

The bag seemed heavy, with a bit of soil inside.

“Is it a body part?” Taking the bag, Wen Wan looked inside, and her expression changed dramatically. She seemed petrified.

Cheng Gong leaned in, and even he fell silent. Qi Yi’an, curious, also peered into the bag. It contained the body of an infant, tiny, wrinkled, with the umbilical cord severed. There was also a placenta beside it, and the body was covered in a lot of soil as if freshly unearthed.

Before anyone could speak, Wen Wan closed the bag and regained his composure. He asked Yu Shen, “What exactly happened?”

Yu Shen explained, “Do you know Dongxiang Village next to Xia County in Penang? Two days ago, a woman named Zhao gave birth to a premature baby at home. Before they could take her to the hospital, she delivered a baby girl. While the daughter was still unconscious, the mother said the child died and buried her in the backyard without consulting anyone. After a while, the family received a message and rushed to see their daughter, only to realize something was wrong. They reported it, and the police dug up the baby’s body.”

Cheng Gong frowned, “Doesn’t Xia County have its own medical examiner? Why bring it to the City Bureau?”

Yu Shen replied, “The child was premature, and the county’s medical examiner said it was too small for examination. The two families fought, and the case got transferred to us.”

Cheng Gong asked, “So, is the wife suspecting her mother-in-law of killing the baby?”

Yu Shen nodded, “The husband wasn’t home at the time. Only the wife and mother-in-law were present. The wife delivered quickly, then fell into a weakened state, passing out. She claimed to have heard the baby cry and believed the child was born alive but taken away and killed by her mother-in-law. The mother-in-law insisted that the baby was born dead, never cried, and dismissed the wife’s claims as hallucinations. Both sides are sticking to their stories, so the wife’s family dug up the infant’s body for a police examination.”

The circumstances surrounding the birth and life or death of the child had become a real mystery.

Seeing the medical examiners staying silent, Yu Shen asked, “Is it difficult to investigate?”

Wen Wan said, “It’s possible, but we must perform a hydrostatic test. Since it’s a premature baby, it might be challenging. Let us study the case.”

In addition to various tests, lung float, and gastrointestinal flotation were the best ways to directly determine live births and stillbirths. ²

The three medical examiners took the baby’s body, and Yu Shen handed over a requisition. “It’s best if we get results today. The family brought many people; if this drags on, they might cause trouble for our department.”

Cheng Gong took over the baby and took it to the autopsy room on the side. He placed the baby’s body on the autopsy table. The body was only a tiny mass due to the premature birth, not much bigger than a kitten.

Cheng Gong carefully examined the body, then turned to Yu Shen, “It’s quite challenging. Today, some medical examiners are on external duty, some are in training, and Medical Examiner Liu took leave. We are understaffed here. Should we freeze the body and wait until the activities are finished?”

Yu Shen urged, “Please, Medical Examiner Cheng, think of a solution. If we delay this further, I’m afraid the family will cause a stir.”

From a medical examiner’s perspective, bodies change over time, so the sooner they examine it, the better.

Cheng Gong hesitated, “Then let’s give it a try…” He turned to Wen Wan, “Wen-Jie, should you do it, or should I?”

Wen Wan hesitated, “My eyesight isn’t great. Why don’t you handle it, Little Cheng?”

Cheng Gong took a deep breath, flexed his hands, and said, “Alright, I’ll do it. Qi Yi’an, help with the documentation.”

Qi Yi’an, who had been interning here for a while, was proficient in recording tasks. Seeing them starting their work, Yu Shen left the autopsy room. Qi Yi’an set up the camera, and Wen Wan arranged the necessary tools. Cheng Gong changed into protective gear, disinfected himself, and approached the dissecting table.

“Body length, 40.5 cm; sitting height, 27.7 cm; weight, 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)…”

Later came the measurements of the head circumference, chest circumference, abdominal circumference, bitemporal diameter, anterior fontanelle diameter, anterior fontanelle gate diameter… Various data were measured, and Qi Yi’an was busy recording on the side.

This premature baby looked not full-term, but if they were born normally in the hospital, they could have survived. Qi Yi’an had his own judgment on this infant corpse; the chest was slightly larger than the abdominal circumference, with traces of birth tumors and scalp hematoma. It was likely to have been a live birth.

It can only be said to be very likely at the moment. The infant’s corpse had been buried, and something might have happened during the burial process, affecting the assessment. In addition, a major taboo in identification was not to confuse live birth with viability. The key was still the lung float test.

After the initial measurements, it finally came time for dissection. Cheng Gong held his breath and made the first incision from the chest and abdomen. The tiny body on the operating table was like tofu, cutting through effortlessly.

The soft baby skin was like a semi-transparent thin paper, revealing small organs. The sternum was delicate, and the blood vessels were as thin as hair strands. Cheng Gong’s dissecting knife cut through the abdominal cavity, and the intestines protruded a bit like a tangled bunch of wires.

Both lung float and gastrointestinal floatation were precise tests. The organs must be ligated and cut before being placed in water to observe floatation. There could be no room for error; a slight mistake could render the results useless. It became even more challenging to determine whether the child was born alive or stillborn.

After that first incision, Cheng Gong hesitated, unsure how to proceed with the second cut. He felt that the sensation differed from his previous dissections, and he began to doubt himself. “I… I guess I can’t do this. The body is too small, and it has been buried for two days. My hand might tremble, and mistakes could occur. I’ve only done the floatation test twice on babies weighing seven to eight pounds. With this infant being so small, I’m not confident.”

Dissecting a premature baby was as challenging as a major surgical procedure. It tests different eyes, hands, and skills, making it extremely difficult. Qi Yi’an and Cheng Gong both seemed hesitant. Qi Yi’an asked, “CAn Nanyone else perform the autopsy?”

Wen Wan had already informed Director Lu, and she had also shared the pictures with the group. She shook her head and said, “Director Lu says he can’t do it. His eyes are giving him trouble, and he’s asking others.” 

With the knife in hand, Cheng Gong looked up and asked, “Is there anyone else in the City Bureau who can handle this delicate work?”

“What about Dr. Liu?” Wen Wan suggested.

“But isn’t he on vacation?” Cheng Gong urgently asked. “Distant water can’t put out a nearby fire.”

Wen Wan looked at the furrowed brows in the group and said, “There aren’t many with experience in infant dissection. Some in the group suggest we seek external help if we can’t manage.”

Apparently, other medical examiners were unwilling to take on this challenging task. Cheng Gong was already nervous, and hearing this almost discouraged him. He coughed a few times and said, “What a joke! Bringing in another medical examiner from the province? Besides, it’s already opened up. Forget it; I’ll do my best on my own.”

With determination, he prepared to treat the baby’s body under the knife like dissecting a small animal. In school, he had dissected some laboratory animals, all with great precision. But this was different; it was an infant, once a lively and small life.

With a determined expression, Cheng Gong lowered his head to continue, but his hands trembled even more. His fingertips were shaking, and it seemed like the cut might go awry. Wen Wan, watching from the side, was on the edge of her seat, almost about to speak.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind and held Cheng Gong’s hand. The hand was very steady, and Cheng Gong’s dissecting knife was stopped. Qi Yi’an looked up and was surprised to see that it was Shen Junci, who should have been taking a nap.

They had been so focused that they hadn’t noticed him entering. Qi Yi’an, upon seeing him, expressed surprise, “Teacher, you’re awake?”

“I was woken up a while ago.” Shen Junci replied, he seemed a bit grumpy, perhaps because of just waking up or facing a corpse. His face showed no emotion, and even his voice sounded stiff. Shen Junci skillfully put on gloves and a mask, saying, “Let me try.” 

Under the shadowless lamp, his eyelashes were long and distinct. Shen Junci’s features were beautiful; he put away the smile on his face as if the politeness from earlier was just a mask. His exquisite and focused expression on his handsome face made him seem different, radiating a cold aura that kept people at a distance.