Solving the case: Combining the police dog's olfactory genes at the beginning

“Imitating portraits is no child’s play.”

The two turned around at the same time and saw that Officer Lin was already standing at the office door.

The renowned forensic artist from the city bureau was scrutinizing Luo Fei, while his apprentice, Xiao Li, followed behind him with a look of disdain.

"Officer Lin."

Luo Fei nodded in greeting.

"I just wanted to give it a try."

"Try?"

Xiao Li couldn't help but interject, his voice clearly laced with sarcasm.

"Which art academy did Officer Luo graduate from? The Central Academy of Fine Arts? The China Academy of Art?"

He deliberately dragged out the tone.

"Or do you simply 'enjoy drawing in your spare time'?"

Huang Xiao quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Officer Lin, Luo Fei was just joking. He wouldn't know anything about drawing portraits."

Officer Lin raised his hand to stop Huang Xiao, his gaze still fixed on Luo Fei.

Do you really think you can do it?

The atmosphere in the office suddenly became tense.

Luo Fei could feel the various gazes cast by his colleagues around him—curious, suspicious, and those waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

In the corner, Wang Hong lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously stroking the table.

Luo Fei knew that Officer Lin had failed in his previous attempt to create a sketch of the perpetrator, which put immense pressure on Wang Hong, who was in charge of the case.

"I don't mean to question anyone's abilities."

Luo Fei said calmly.

"I just felt that trying something new might lead to new discoveries."

Wang Hong raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Officer Lin has done his best; the eyewitness accounts are too vague."

"I know."

Luo Fei walked over to Wang Hong and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"But what if I can do it?"

Xiao Li chuckled.

"Pretending."

Luo Fei ignored Xiao Li's sarcasm and instead quietly brought up the system panel that only he could see.

In the shop, the [Super Painting] skill is priced at 1000 sin points.

He currently has 3444 points, which is enough to redeem.

"System, purchase the [Super Painting] skill."

Luo Fei silently recited this in his heart.

[Ding! 1000 Sin Points consumed to successfully exchange for the "Super Painting" skill. Remaining Sin Points: 2444]

In an instant, Luo Fei felt a warm current pour into his head and quickly spread throughout his body.

His fingers trembled slightly as a vast amount of painting knowledge suddenly flooded his mind: human anatomy, facial proportions, light and shadow, and sketching techniques. It was as if decades of painting experience had been crammed into his brain.

The feeling was both strange and familiar.

Luo Fei blinked, adjusting to the sudden change.

Within seconds, he felt like he was already an experienced artist.

Can I borrow paper and pen?

Luo Fei extended his hand to Xiao Li, speaking calmly.

Xiao Li paused for a moment, then reluctantly took out a pencil and a sketchbook from his bag.

"Here you go, don't waste our time."

Luo Fei took the tools, pulled over a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and placed the sketchbook on his lap.

The entire office fell silent, all eyes fixed on him.

Luo Fei's pencil scratched across the sketchbook, a faint smile playing on his lips. His gaze lingered on Officer Lin's face for less than three seconds before he looked down to continue drawing.

"Captain Wang, can I try now?"

Luo Fei asked without looking up, his hands continuing their work without pause.

Wang Hong stared at the sketch that was gradually taking shape under Luo Fei's pen, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.

In just five minutes, a face resembling Officer Lin's seven-tenths appeared on the paper, even the old scar hidden on his left eyebrow was accurately reproduced.

"you."

Wang Hong's voice was a little dry.

"Studied at a police academy?"

Luo Fei chuckled, flicked his wrist, and used the end of a pencil to lightly rub the eyes of Officer Lin's portrait, instantly bringing those slightly tired eyes to life.

"Just a hobby."

Officer Lin leaned closer to look, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

The portrait on the paper was so accurate that even the stubble he had forgotten to shave that morning was exactly the same. This was no amateur level at all.
"Let him give it a try."

Officer Lin suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of complexity.

"I also want to see if he can do what I can't."

In the reception room, Xiao Peng huddled in a chair in the corner, his hands tightly gripping a glass of water that had long since gone cold.

As soon as she saw everyone come in, she stood up immediately, her eyes reddening again.

"I'm sorry, I really can't remember."

Her voice trembled.

"It was too dark that day, and he came from behind."

Luo Fei walked up to her, but instead of taking out paper and pen, he pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, keeping an arm's length distance.

"Xiao Peng, what kind of milk tea do you usually like to drink?"

This unexpected question startled Xiao Peng.

"Huh? Jasmine Milk Green Tea?"

"With pearls?"

"No, I don't want to add it, my teeth aren't good."

Xiao Peng answered subconsciously, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

Luo Fei smiled and nodded, then took a small leather box out of his bag.

"I understand how painful it is to not remember what someone looks like. But human memory is a strange thing. Sometimes it's not that you really forget, but that you're just scared and hide it."

He opened the box and took out an old copper coin.

Would you mind if I helped you find it?

Wang Hong frowned.

"What are you going to do?"

"Hypnosis".

Luo Fei said calmly.

"It's a legitimate clinical hypnotherapy method, supported by published papers. It only takes ten minutes."

Officer Lin and Wang Hong exchanged a glance.

Wang Hong finally sighed.

"Okay, we'll wait outside. But we won't close the door completely, understand?"

Once only the two of them were left in the room, Luo Fei held the copper coin up in front of Xiao Peng's eyes.

"Look at it, and imagine you're walking home. What color was the sunlight that evening?"

The copper coin swayed slightly under the light, and Xiao Peng's eyes gradually became confused.

"Orange-red"

Are there any pedestrians on the road?

There was an old lady walking her dog.

Luo Fei's voice grew softer and softer, like a feather brushing against your ear.

"Then you heard footsteps. Which direction were they coming from?"

Xiao Peng's breathing suddenly became rapid.

"His steps were heavy, very heavy."

When he reached out to grab you, did you turn around? Even for just a moment?

He turned around; he was wearing a mask, but his eyes... his eyes.

Xiao Peng's hands began to tremble.

Luo Fei quickly sketched on his sketchbook.

What shape are your eyes? Are your eyebrows thick? Do you have any scars or moles?

"Small, like two slits, with a scar on its left eyebrow!"

Xiao Peng suddenly screamed.

"Help! He's going to grab me!"

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Wang Hong was the first to rush in, only to see that Luo Fei had already put away the copper coins and was calmly finishing a half-finished portrait on a piece of paper.

Xiao Peng blinked blankly, as if he had just woken up from a dream.

"It's okay, it's all over."

Luo Fei said softly, pushing a glass of warm water in front of her.

Wang Hong looked at Xiao Peng suspiciously.

Did he or she?

"I remember now!"

Xiao Peng suddenly grabbed Luo Fei's sketchbook and pointed to the portrait that had just been completed.

"It's him! The scar on his left eyebrow, and that disgusting look in his eyes!"

Officer Lin darted forward and snatched the sketch, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

The paper depicts the face of a man around forty years old, most notably a slanted scar above his left eyebrow and a pair of tiny, mouse-like eyes.

"This is impossible."

"She just said she couldn't remember her facial features," Officer Lin murmured.

Luo Fei packed up his paintbrushes, his tone indifferent.

"Fear can block memory retrieval, but the memory itself is still there. It just needs to be accessed in a different way."

Wang Hong grabbed the portrait, his fingers turning white from the force.

"Huang Xiao! Make copies immediately and distribute them, focusing on screening men with criminal records or scars on their eyebrows!"

Huang Xiao took the portrait with his mouth agape, his gaze shifting back and forth between Luo Fei and Officer Lin.

Officer Lin suddenly grabbed Luo Fei's hand.

"Come and learn portraiture from me! I'll take you as my last disciple!"

Luo Fei politely withdrew his hand.

"You're too kind. It's really just a hobby."

"amateur?"

Officer Lin pointed at the portrait, his voice trembling.

"Even the provincial forensic department couldn't find three cases of this caliber! Do you know how long this case has been stalled?"

Wang Hong patted Luo Fei hard on the shoulder, making him stumble.

"Well done, kid! I was blind before."

He took out his cigarette case, thought for a moment, and then put it back.

"Interested in coming to help out with the team? Like a special consultant?"

Luo Fei rubbed his shoulder, which had been slapped so hard, and smiled somewhat helplessly.

"I'm glad I could help. But..."

He lowered his voice.

"Don't include hypnosis in the report; the process is too complicated."

Wang Hong was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Alright! We'll say Officer Lin's sketching skills have improved by leaps and bounds!"

Officer Lin was studying the portrait when he heard this and looked up angrily.

"Bullshit! Do you think I, Old Lin, am the kind of person who would seek credit for something?"

He turned to Luo Fei, his eyes burning with passion.

"Just who are you, kid?"

Luo Fei had already slung his bag over his shoulder and was walking towards the door when he heard this. He turned back and winked.

"Just a random artist passing by. Contact me anytime if there's any progress."

Luo Fei stood in the office of the Criminal Investigation Team 1 of Qingyang Police Station, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze fixed on the suspect's portrait posted on the wall.

The face he drew himself is now spreading throughout Jiangcheng via the internet.

"Luo Fei, well done this time."

Wang Hong patted him on the shoulder, his voice carrying a rare hint of approval.

"I didn't expect you to have this skill."

Luo Fei nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

When he was first transferred to the team three months ago, Wang Hong looked at him with suspicion. What real skills could a "connected person" parachuted in from the provincial department have?

"Captain, the system screening results are in."

Huang Xiao walked over quickly, her ponytail swaying gently with her movements.

No matching record found.

Wang Hong frowned.

"No prior criminal record?"

"Yes, that means we might be dealing with a first-time offender."

As Huang Xiao spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward Luo Fei.

Ever since she witnessed Luo Fei's ability to accurately reconstruct the suspect's appearance based solely on the victim's vague description, she has developed a strong interest in this seemingly cynical man.

Luo Fei noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow with a smile.

"I might misunderstand if Officer Huang pays so much attention to me."

"Stop being so narcissistic."

Huang Xiao rolled her eyes at him, but her ears felt slightly hot.

"I'm just curious, how do you manage to paint portraits so realistically?"

"talent."

Luo Fei shrugged, deliberately drawing out his words.

"Just like Officer Huang's natural beauty, it's all a gift from God."

"enough."

Wang Hong interrupted their bickering and said seriously.

“Since the system has no record of it, we will release the portrait to the public and solicit clues from citizens. Huang Xiao, contact the media immediately.”

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in the top-floor office of the Wuzhou International Building in downtown Chengdu, a crisp slap broke the afternoon's tranquility.

"You bitch! Who gave you permission to touch my table?"

Liu Shao Cong grabbed the girl's hair and dragged her to the ground, his eyes filled with a morbid excitement.

The girl covered her head in terror.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Liu, I just wanted to wipe the table."

"Wipe the table?"

Liu Shao Cong sneered and kicked the girl hard in the stomach.

"I think you're trying to steal something, aren't you?"

The girl curled up in pain, her forehead hitting the corner of the coffee table, blood streaming down her cheek.

Liu Shao Cong stared at the bright red stain, his breathing quickening. Just as he was about to make another move, the office door was pushed open.

"Master."

Li Shang stood at the door, impeccably dressed in a suit, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses cool to the point of being almost cold.

He glanced at the girl on the ground, his tone indifferent.

"Did I make you angry again?"

Liu Shao Cong released his grip and straightened his cuffs.

"That bitch has dirty hands."

Li Shang walked up to the girl and looked down at her.

"Do you know you're wrong?"

"Yes, I understand."

The girl answered, her voice trembling.

"Get out."

Li Shang said softly.

"Remember, nothing happened today."

The girl felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and staggered to her feet before fleeing outside.

Li Shang closed the door, and his expression turned serious as he turned around.

"Master, something happened."

Liu Shao Cong waved his hand impatiently.

"What could be more important than disciplining my servants?"

"Qingyang Police Station released a sketch of the suspect."

Li Shang took out his tablet and brought up the news page.

“She looks almost exactly like you.”

Liu Shao Cong stared at the screen, his pupils suddenly contracting.

The facial features of the person in the painting are exactly the same as his, and even the tiny scar on his left eyebrow is accurately reproduced.

"How is this possible?"

His voice began to tremble.

"Didn't they say they couldn't remember what those girls looked like?"

Li Shang pushed up his glasses.

"Looks like the police station has a talented artist."

He paused.

"However, so far only the victim of the first molestation case has identified you. The police do not have direct evidence pointing to you in the latter two cases and the girl in the hospital."

Liu Shao Cong slammed the tablet to the ground.

"So what? With this sketch, the police will find me soon enough!"

"calm."

Li Shang's voice remained steady.

“I have contacted our people at the police station and temporarily suspended the order for an immediate arrest. But you must immediately cease all activities, including…”

He glanced meaningfully at the remaining bloodstains on the ground.

"These are private entertainments."

Liu Shao Cong irritably loosened his tie.

"What about the girl in the hospital? What if she wakes up?"

"This is precisely the most dangerous point."

Li Shang took a step closer.

"But you absolutely cannot act rashly now. The police have already set up a cordon at the hospital, and taking any rash action will only lead you into a trap."

"I can talk to Director Zhang! He took so much money from us."

"This time is different."

Li Shang interrupted him.

“The media has already taken notice of the series of indecent assaults and intentional injuries, and Director Zhang dares not openly cover it up.”

He lowered his voice. (End of Chapter)