Rebirth 2014: I, the King of Criminal Investigation

Chapter 762 A Brief Encounter

Is it an illusion?

Is it possible that the other person has a very common face, which is why you feel somewhat familiar with them?
Yu Dazhang stared intently at the drawing board in Xia Bin's hand, his mind racing as he tried to recall everyone he knew.

It shouldn't be an illusion.

As the figures on the canvas became clearer, Yu Dazhang found them increasingly familiar.

I'm sure I've seen this person before... he concluded in his mind.

However, the other party was not someone he knew well, but he must have had dealings with them before.

With Yu Dazhang's current memory, he can basically remember anyone he has ever had contact with.

Since he couldn't recall it, it proves that he didn't have a deep connection with this person.

It's probably someone he's only met once and had a brief conversation with.

The problem is, there are too many people like that.

For example, when you go shopping at the supermarket, you have a brief conversation with the cashier at the checkout, which counts as having interacted with them.

Such things happen everywhere in life, and even with the best memory, it's impossible to remember everyone you've ever met.

Another thing Yu Dazhang was certain of was that he did not know the other party's name.

If it's someone whose name he knows, he'll definitely remember.

"Who is the one?"

He muttered something to himself.

This feeling is very uncomfortable. It's like seeing an actor on TV by chance, and you can tell at a glance that you've seen them in other shows, but you just can't remember which role they played.

Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"What are you muttering about?"

Team Leader Xu stood beside him and asked softly:

"Have you thought of a new clue?"

In Captain Xu's eyes, Yu Dazhang is now completely absorbed in the case.

So much so that when Captain Xu spoke to him, he had to deliberately lower his voice, for fear of disturbing his train of thought.

"Where did all these new clues come from?"

Yu Dazhang raised his head and glanced at him:
"I just felt that the person Xia Bin drew looked a little familiar."

Hearing this, Captain Xu also looked at the computer screen, then frowned and said:

"Although the drawing is quite detailed, it's still just an outline. How can you tell it looks familiar?"

Everyone's ability to recognize images is different.

Some people seem to have a living GPS installed in their brains, knowing the way no matter where they go, while others are born directionally challenged.

The difference in the activity level of human nerve cells leads to differences in the ability to recognize images.

"If you look at it from a three-dimensional perspective, you can tell the difference."

Yu Dazhang explained:

"Just like an engineer looking at blueprints, adding contour lines naturally creates a three-dimensional feel."

Upon hearing this, Captain Xu blinked twice, clearly not understanding.

He had never actually encountered similar knowledge, so naturally he didn't understand what three-dimensionality meant.

"Could it be that you've mistaken me for someone else?"

Team Leader Xu still thought what he said was a bit unreliable. The painting wasn't even finished yet, and he already thought it looked familiar. It was impossible.

The figures on Xia Bin's drawing board are just ordinary portraits in his eyes, and he can't see any features at all.

Yu Dazhang thought for a moment, then suddenly asked a strange question:
Have you bought any cigarettes recently?

"I bought it," Captain Xu replied.
I just bought one the day before yesterday at noon.

He was a heavy smoker, smoking two packs a day when he was free, and three packs a day when he was on a big case and under pressure.

"Where did you buy it?" Yu Dazhang asked again. Without hesitation, Captain Xu answered:
“There was a supermarket downstairs from that three-star hotel. During the days we were staking out the hotel, I often went there to buy things.”

He was a little puzzled, wondering why Yu Dazhang would suddenly ask this, but he still answered truthfully.

After all, the two of them were acquaintances, and based on Captain Xu's understanding of him, he knew there must be a reason why he asked this.

"If you saw that supermarket cashier now, would you recognize her?" Yu Dazhang pressed.

"Of course!" Captain Xu was getting increasingly confused by the question.

"How long has it been? How could I possibly forget?"

"One last question." Yu Dazhang looked up at him:
What's the supermarket cashier's name?

He was essentially putting himself in Xu's shoes to see how Xu would react.

Sure enough, this question left Captain Xu completely stunned.

But he quickly realized what was happening:

"How would I know? Why would I ask someone's name for no reason?"

The words had barely left his mouth when he realized something, and he immediately changed the subject:
"I understand. You mean your impression of that person is like my impression of the supermarket cashier—not familiar, you can't even remember their name, but you can still remember what they look like."

No wonder he's a criminal investigator; his mind works really fast… Yu Dazhang nodded at him:
“That’s right, that’s what I mean, but my situation is a bit more complicated, it’s like…”

He thought for a moment, seemingly wanting to give an example, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin.

In the end, he decided to explain from Captain Xu's perspective:
Do you remember the cashier who sold you cigarettes two months ago?

This question completely stumped Captain Xu. He frowned, trying to recall, and after a long while, he shook his head and said:
"I don't remember. It's been too long. I can't even remember where I bought cigarettes, let alone the cashier."

After he finished speaking, his gaze towards Yu Dazhang suddenly changed, and then he asked in an incredulous tone:

"You're not trying to say that you met this person once two months ago?"

How can it be!

Team Leader Xu couldn't imagine what kind of person could have such a memory.

To still remember someone you've only met once after so much time has passed is practically the same as having a photographic memory.

You have to understand that their profession involves dealing with all sorts of people almost every day, making it nearly impossible to remember everyone.

In fact, Yu Dazhang couldn't remember everyone, but he could still recall the people he had met within a month.

But once this deadline is exceeded, he will be unable to complete it.

"I'm not sure either."

Yu Dazhang replied somewhat helplessly:

"I feel like too much time has passed because I can't remember."

Another hour or so passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Yu Dazhang ordered takeout, ordering more than fifty cups of milk tea and a lot of desserts, and also had several boxes of drinks delivered.

Qu Tuotuo earned more than 400 million yuan. He didn't say anything, but he was actually a little smug inside.

He felt empty inside if he didn't spend some money at this time.

Do criminal police officers also have the habit of drinking milk tea and eating desserts?
No, it has nothing to do with habit.

When the brain becomes fatigued, timely intake of sugar is the best way to relieve it.

Sugar is also the only form of energy that the brain can utilize.

Yu Dazhang ordered these desserts out of instinct, as if his brain was issuing a command to him.

When the items arrived, Captain Xu blushed and quickly offered to pay for them.

Everyone knew that Yu Dazhang's salary was definitely not comparable to that of Captain Xu, and that he should be the one to pay for the guest.

"Alright, don't be so polite with me."

Yu Dazhang held a cup of milk tea, gulping it down loudly, then said with a nonchalant expression:

"My salary is not high, but my fiancée earns over 100 million yuan a year."

(End of this chapter)