Reborn in 97, I solved a cold case at the Municipal Bureau

Chapter 407 Xiao Bing is lying

If Xiao Bing is the murderer, then he must know far more information than the average person. He would either deliberately conceal it to clear himself of any wrongdoing, or he would accidentally let slip some information.

At the same time, Zhou Yi could also observe his reactions while he spoke to see if he was lying.

There is a professional technique called micro-expression theory.

This thing didn't exist in 1997. During interrogations, experienced police officers would rely on their experience to determine whether a suspect was lying.

Around 2003, a team from the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published the first experimental paper in China, studying the characteristics and recognition of micro-expressions.

Later, the department introduced the micro-expression theory from the United States and opened experimental courses in some criminal police academies.

Subsequently, with the development of technology, facial micro-expression capture and analysis gradually became more systematic and began to be piloted in first-tier cities to assist criminal investigation work. It is said that it can accurately capture expressions such as pupil tremors and slight lip pursing at a level of only 0.2 seconds.

Although micro-expressions cannot be used as evidence, they have indeed helped criminal investigators break through investigations in many cases.

Zhou Yi had not specifically studied this technology, but on the recommendation of a colleague, he watched a foreign TV series called "Lie To Me".

Although the TV series was overly fantastical, Zhou Yi watched it many times because, based on his own criminal investigation work, he found that many of the techniques in it could indeed be found in reality.

“Teacher Xiao, just tell us what you hear, it’s fine. It’s actually a help to us, because we really don’t know how the news about this case is spreading outside.” Zhou Yi said with a forced smile, “After all, no matter how much the news is flying around, it won’t reach our ears.”

Xiao Bing nodded and said, "Okay, but I don't know if what I said is true or false, since I only heard it from the office."

Zhou Yi gestured for him to proceed.

"They said the female student who was murdered was from the School of Accounting?" Xiao Bing said, glancing at Zhou Yi and then at Chen Yan.

Zhou Yi remained calm and composed.

Seeing that the two didn't react to her question, Xiao Bing could only continue, "I think her name was Xu Liu, a freshman. She said the school arranged for teachers and students to identify the body, and everyone who went was terrified. Apparently... they only saw a head."

As Xiao Bing finished speaking, a hint of fear and regret appeared on her face.

Zhou Yi had been observing him closely, and when he stopped talking, she asked, "Is there anything else?"

"And another thing is that everyone is guessing who the murderer is."

"Oh? How did you all guess?"

"Sigh, it's all just baseless speculation. Some say she met some shady people outside, others say she got into a fight and was retaliated against," Xiao Bing said seriously. "Some people like to talk about these things, but I don't like to hear them. I think no matter what, people should be respected and their deaths should be respected. We shouldn't make up stories about them."

"Besides, Officer Zhou, you will definitely get to the bottom of this. Everyone has their own expertise, so we have to trust you professional police officers."

After hearing what Xiao Bing said, Zhou Yi realized that Xiao Bing was not someone to be trifled with.

He didn't reveal any flaws, and the information he provided was minimal and superficial.

Moreover, he never used himself as the subject from beginning to end, always saying "they said," thus absolving himself of any responsibility.

Either he really was just repeating hearsay, or he was extremely cautious, knowing that saying too much would lead to mistakes and avoiding revealing any flaws.

Moreover, this last seemingly flattering remark actually put the ball back in Zhou Yi's court.

But Zhou Yi didn't notice that he was acting like he was lying.

He decided to take the initiative.

"Teacher Xiao, do you know this victim, Xu Liu?" Zhou Yi asked.

Xiao Bing shook her head and said, "I don't know her. I teach French, and the only required general education course in the School of Accounting is College English; there is no French course."

"What about general elective courses?"

Public elective courses are a special case because they are open to the entire university and are not restricted by major.

At Hongda University, first-year students can register for two general elective courses each semester, and the registration information is recorded in their student records.

In her previous life, based on the records, the task force also included the teachers of the two public elective courses that Lu Xiaoshuang took in the core investigation scope.

In this life, the task force also included the elective course teachers chosen by Lu and Xu in the core investigation scope.

However, among the elective courses that Xu Liu enrolled in, there was no French course, but rather an International Business English course.

Xiao Bing shook her head again: "There is no such student. Not many students actually sign up for my elective courses. After all, they are not as instrumental as English, so I am sure there is no Xu Liu."

Zhou Yi took Xu Liu's photo out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

Xiao Bing's gaze immediately fell on the photo.

"Teacher Xiao, could you please check if you've seen the person in the photo in or near the school?"

Xiao Bing looked up and asked, "This must be Xu Liu, right?"

Zhou Yi nodded.

Xiao Bing sighed softly, "Sigh, still so young..."

"Think back carefully."

Xiao Bing looked at the photo for a while, then shook her head: "I can't say for sure that I never met this classmate at school, after all, the school is so small. But I really don't have any impression of this classmate Xu."

As Xiao Bing spoke while looking at the photo, Zhou Yi watched him but didn't notice any subtle movements or micro-expressions.

So far, Xiao Bing's performance has been very natural.

Could it be that he really knows nothing?
No, it seems we need to give him a push. "I understand. It's normal that Teacher Xiao hasn't taught this student before and doesn't recognize him. If you remember anything later, please feel free to provide us with any clues."

As Zhou Yi spoke, he put away Xu Liu's photo, seemingly preparing to end the conversation.

But Chen Yan knew it wasn't that simple.

More importantly, Xiao Bing remained seated and did not move.

Zhou Yi changed the subject and said, "Teacher Xiao, have you heard that another student from the School of Accounting has also gone missing, and that he is in the same major and roommate as Xu Liu?"

Xiao Bing was slightly taken aback: "Really? I don't have that."

Lu Xiaoshuang's situation is different from Xu Liu's.

After Xu Liu's head was discovered, the unavoidable issues were identifying the body and the investigation surrounding her; these things could not be kept secret.

However, Lu Xiaoshuang's disappearance from noon on the 30th to May 1st occurred during her holiday period, and no one except Zhou Yi noticed it.

After rescuing the person from the mine on the night of the 1st, the school and family were not notified. It was only after the special task force was established and the murder weapon with Lu Xiaoshuang's fingerprints was discovered that Wu Yongcheng suggested that, for the sake of the case's confidentiality, only the school leaders were informed, and the school arranged for a counselor to give Lu Xiaoshuang a long leave of absence.

Although Lu Xiaoshuang's request for a long leave at this time might arouse suspicion among those around her, at least apart from her counselor and Mo Youyou, no one else would care too much.

Therefore, theoretically, no one should strongly link Lu Xiaoshuang's "leave of absence" with Xu Liu's murder. Even if someone occasionally thinks of it, there is no way to verify the information.

It's normal that Xiao Bing, who isn't in the same college, wouldn't know.

However, the problem is that Xiao Bing's micro-expressions have changed.

Zhou Yi noticed that he was blinking much faster than before.

In micro-expression analysis, this is a reaction indicating that a person is starting to feel nervous.

Zhou Yi continued, "And you also know the person who went missing."

"I know her?" Xiao Bing was startled, then thought for a moment and asked, "It's not Lu Xiaoshuang, is it?"

Zhou Yi observed that when Xiao Bing said this, her eyes quickly moved to the right.

This puzzled Zhou Yi. Micro-expression analysis says that when a person lies, their eyes will move to the upper right because the left brain becomes active when making up a lie.

But what's the point of lying about this?
Zhou Yi neither denied nor admitted to the issue concerning Xiao Bing.

"How long has Lu Xiaoshuang been missing?" Xiao Bing asked.

"Teacher Xiao, when was the last time you saw Lu Xiaoshuang?" Zhou Yi asked in return.

"Noon on the 30th."

Xiao Bing's answer made Zhou Yi's heart skip a beat.

"What time exactly? And where?"

"It was downstairs in Teaching Building No. 6. I had just finished class and was heading back to my office when I ran into Lu downstairs," Xiao Bing said calmly. "I didn't check the exact time, but my class ended at noon."

"What did you talk about back then?" Zhou Yi leaned forward and asked in a deep voice.

Seemingly sensing the pressure emanating from Zhou Yi, Xiao Bing involuntarily leaned back and said, "I didn't say anything, just greeted him. Oh, I also casually asked if I'd seen you recently, Officer Zhou. Lu said you were away on a business trip."

After saying that, Xiao Bing reached out and scratched the tip of his nose.

At the same time, his eyes quickly moved to the right.

Zhou Yi was immediately alarmed; Xiao Bing was lying!
When a person lies, their face becomes flushed with blood, causing their nose to swell and itch. As a result, they will subconsciously touch their nose to relieve this sensation.

Before this, Xiao Bing had never touched his nose, but when he mentioned what he had said to Lu Xiaoshuang, he touched his nose for the first time.

This proves that it is true that he saw Lu Xiaoshuang at noon on the 30th, and he did not hide it.

But he may have lied about what he and Lu Xiaoshuang actually talked about!

Moreover, Zhou Yi seemed to have realized that his rapid eye movements to the right twice in a row were not signs of lying.

Instead, he was looking at something on his right.

Chen Yan also noticed this reaction.

He was standing to the side, keeping a distance.

While Zhou Yi was questioning him, Xiao Bing focused all his attention on Zhou Yi and began to look around, mainly looking for things related to the modus operandi of the case: a knife, oil, and a pot.

He noticed it the moment Xiao Bing's eyes moved for the first time.

But he found it a bit strange, because from this angle, Xiao Bing was looking at him.

He assumed it was a reaction from the other person who was nervous.

The second time, Xiao Bing's gaze was focused on herself.

But something doesn't quite feel right.

Suddenly, he and Zhou Yi both understood.

Xiao Bing wasn't looking at Chen Yan.

Instead, it was the door to the inner room that Chen Yan had blocked!
(End of this chapter)