False evidence

Chapter 77 Consultation
Upon seeing the car, Bai Jing realized what was happening.

We've both been drinking and can't drive. This place is extremely remote, so we probably won't be able to get a ride-hailing service.

"Snapped!"

A clapping sound came from behind me.

Jiao Tong came out and gestured to me, "I'll see you off."

"That would be best." I tossed him the car keys and let Bai Jing get in the car first.

I took out my phone and dialed a number.

The call connected, and Gao He's voice came through the receiver: "Have you rested enough? Then come to the station to find me."

I said, "Could you do me a favor?"

Gao He was silent for a moment, then said, "Have Sanqi tell me!"

I was taken aback: "I am Sanqi!"

"Are you Sanqi? Why does your voice sound like that?"

"I am Sanqi." Apart from a sore throat, I didn't really notice much difference in my voice compared to usual.

Gao He asked, "What do you want to do? Is it about work?"

"No," I quickly said, "Can I see Tong Xiangnan?"

"When?"

"If it's convenient, the sooner the better."

"I'll arrange it!"

Once in the car, I gave Jiao Tong an address.

Bai Jing immediately asked, "Why are you going to the detention center?"

I said, "Go see a psychologist."

“Tong Xiangnan?” Bai Jing nodded. “Although he is a pure materialist, his analytical ability is really strong. It’s not wrong that you thought of asking him for help.”

"I sought him out because I didn't have to pay for his consultation!"

……

When they arrived at the South City Detention Center, Gao He was already waiting there.

Jiao Tong stopped the car and gestured to me: 'I'll wait for you outside.'

I got into Gao He's car.

Gao He glanced at me from head to toe, his gaze finally settling on my neck:

"No wonder your voice has changed. What happened to your neck? Did someone choke you?"

"There was a slight mishap. Brother Gao, I'm really sorry to have troubled you this time."

"It's a good thing you called today. If you had called tomorrow, it would have been a real hassle to see Tong Xiangnan."

Gao drove the car through the gate and told me:

Tong Xiangnan was sentenced to two years and seven months and will be transferred to prison first thing tomorrow morning. It was quite a coincidence that I called him today; he was just thinking of asking Tong Xiangnan for more information.

Furthermore, after Fu Ansheng was apprehended, he confessed to everything. But that old fellow, who was completely illiterate, demanded that he undergo a mental evaluation.

I scoffed and said that Fu Ansheng wasn't mentally ill at all; he was a complete scoundrel, a despicable old man, and the kind of person who was extremely selfish and cunning.

In a private meeting room, I finally saw Tong Xiangnan again. His eye injury had healed, and he seemed to be in better spirits than before.

He first greeted Gao He and Bai Jing separately, then smiled and said to me:
“I was just thinking that Captain Gao would bring you here. Don’t ask me why, I just feel that we will definitely meet again. My intuition is always right.”

I got straight to the point: "Dr. Tong, I've run into some issues lately and have some questions I'd like to ask you."

Tong Xiangnan's gaze lingered on my neck for a moment, then he looked up and met my eyes: "Say three sentences. You don't need to say what you want to ask, just say three sentences."

After saying that, he turned to Bai Jing and asked, "How is the matter at the child's school going?"

Just as Bai Jing was about to answer, he pointed at me and said, "Don't worry about me, just speak, start now."

His sudden request caught me off guard. After thinking for a moment, I said:
"A train from Hubei to Guangzhou during the Republic of China era."

“The first sentence!” Tong Xiangnan held up one finger.

I continued, "In a thief's bedroom, there was a painting of a lady."

Tong Xiangnan extended his second finger.

"A fire broke out in an old house in Suzhou, killing two people, or even more, that very night. Within seven days, the family was scattered and its members perished."

Tong Xiangnan retracted his finger and looked at Gao He beside him: "You should have questions to ask, you go first."

Gao He raised an eyebrow at me: "Are you possessed by a jinx? How come you're running into dead people again?"

I shook my head: "Someone died, but that was at least eighty years ago."

Gao He said "Oh," and then said, "Then it's not my responsibility."

Tong Xiangnan stared at me for a full minute before suddenly asking in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

I couldn't help but frown: "What do you mean?"

Tong Xiangnan shook his head and looked at Bai Jing: "What has he been through during this time?"

Bai Jing knew him well, but she didn't seem quite used to his current way of speaking. After hesitating for a moment, she said:
"He has been through a lot, which cannot be explained in just a few words."

Tong Xiangnan nodded, then turned to me, his tone softening somewhat:
"To be honest, from the moment you came in and said your first words, I felt something was off about you. I asked you to say three random sentences just now to test your mental state. Before that, I asked Bai Jing a question, deliberately guiding you and giving you hints. The result was that the three sentences you said made me feel like—you are a different person."

"Hey, let me chime in!"

Gao He tapped the table. "Dr. Tong, isn't there a risk of misleading people with this test? If someone is at a point of confusion and uncertainty, drawing conclusions like this could potentially cause their mental state to deviate further."

"It seems that Captain Gao also has some knowledge of psychiatry, but to put it bluntly, you are an amateur, and I am the professional."

Tong Xiangnan stroked his right earlobe with one hand and asked Gao He, "What do you think he cares about most?"

Before Gao could speak, he suddenly turned to me and held up three fingers again: "The three things you should care about most are your studies, your finances..."

He suddenly laughed: "The last time we met, I had an injured eye, but if I'm not mistaken, you like that girl named Pei Xiaofan, right? You didn't mention anything about your studies, life, or relationships. This means that your mental state has deviated from normal. So, the test I gave you, while it can't correct your behavior, won't make you even more confused either."

I nodded: "Looks like I've found the right person."

Tong Xiangnan seemed somewhat smug, stroking his chin and smiling:

"You wanted to consult me, right? Let's begin. Don't worry, my sister Tong Liru did commit murder, but you helped her clear her name of any guilt that wasn't hers, and to some extent, restored her innocence. So, you are my benefactor. Even in my office, I won't charge you."

Without a moment's hesitation, I asked, "Is it possible for two people's consciousnesses to reside within a single person's mind?"

Tong Xiangnan's eyes seemed to pause for a moment: "Only laymen would ask such an unprofessional question. We industry professionals usually replace what you call 'consciousness' with 'mindset'."

Seeing his slow and deliberate manner, and his constant use of terms like "professional" and "industry expert," I couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly said, "From now on, I will treat you as my patient. The doctor only needs to ask you where you feel uncomfortable, not you to diagnose the symptoms. So, from now on, I expect you to cooperate with me. You will answer whatever I ask."

(End of this chapter)