Chapter Eleven: Girlfriend

“Oh? What do you mean by that? Tell me quickly!” Yan Xue turned around eagerly at his words.

She was naturally outgoing, and Kang Ge was also the type who could quickly become friends with anyone. After their earlier banter, the two of them seemed to have grown much closer, and now, discussing matters related to the case, Yan Xue’s enthusiasm was at its peak.

Kang Ge shrugged as he drove. “There’s no such thing as perfection in this world, nor is there a perfect person. Everyone has their flaws, though most people don’t mind if theirs are exposed. Like you said earlier, even Xu Wenrui’s mother was bothered by something as trivial as her son not being well-liked, and tried to cover it up.

I think it’s not enough to attribute this merely to a parent’s blind adoration. Clearly, she’s aware of some problem with her child, but she’s afraid to dig too deep. One flaw could pull out a dozen more, and then the reputation of Xu Wenrui as the model child would be ruined.”

“Yes, I don’t doubt that. But you said Xu Wenrui might have a split personality. How did you arrive at that?” Yan Xue still felt unconvinced.

“It’s actually quite simple,” Kang Ge replied, giving her a profound glance. “To put it crudely, even something as minor as gas—if you force yourself to hold it in, you might end up with some health problem. How much more so with flaws in one’s character! If someone pretends to be perfect day after day, with no way to vent, constantly suppressing their true self, it would be a miracle if nothing went wrong. As the saying goes, if you don’t die from holding it in, you’ll go mad from holding it in!”

Yan Xue burst out laughing. “That’s not how the saying goes! It’s ‘If you don’t perish in silence, you’ll go mad in silence.’ Who says it’s about holding it in?”

“Hey, there’s no difference! Silence is just holding everything in without saying a word. Same meaning, same effect!” Kang Ge waved his hand grandly. “Don’t be so literal, girl! You need vision. Don’t get tangled up in the details!”

Yan Xue couldn’t help but shake her head, hand to her forehead. Her new partner’s style was the complete opposite of the mild-mannered Chen Jiabao. Though Kang Ge appeared steady at first glance, he never played by the rules and was unpredictably lively.

Yet, even if his words were somewhat absurd, the reasoning behind them was spot on.

There is no such thing as a flawless, eternally positive person. Everyone has a darker side, some negative emotions. As long as these are expressed and released through healthy means, they quickly dissipate, and life remains on track.

But if someone suppresses all negativity, wearing a mask of perfection, then the repressed side of their nature becomes like a grass seed beneath an asphalt road—growing wild where no one can see, until one day it finds a crack and bursts forth.

“All right! Let’s go, then! Let’s uncover Xu Wenrui’s hidden side!” Perhaps influenced by Kang Ge’s easygoing mood, Yan Xue was more relaxed than usual as they headed to the scene. She even made a fist-pumping gesture, her voice brimming with boldness.

The campus of K University was located in the far suburbs of W City. Although it was the most distant from the city center among the local universities, it was also the most prestigious. The grounds were vast, and the campus was beautifully designed—so much so that people joked there was a scenic spot every ten steps. Even if exaggerated, the reputation was well-deserved.

Moreover, K University boasted the best dormitories in the city’s university circle and the most delicious cafeteria food, as well as a full range of facilities that made the campus feel like a small city unto itself. Students hardly needed to leave for the city center; all their needs could be met right there.

No wonder K University students were famous for their high happiness index.

Of course, aside from their well-being, their academic scores were also outstanding. Anyone who made it into K University was considered top-tier in W City, envied and admired even beyond the city’s borders.

At this time of year, all students had already returned for the new semester. Seniors were facing graduation internships, but most hadn’t left yet as they still had classes to complete. The campus was bustling with life.

Yan Xue and Kang Ge arrived just at dusk, and since it was the weekend, the campus was crowded. Yan Xue wondered whether they’d be able to find Xu Wenrui’s counselor at this hour, but Kang Ge led her straight to the campus supermarket and bought a bag of fruit.

“Are you here for an investigation or just visiting a friend?” Yan Xue asked, puzzled.

“More or less the same, really. We’re just here to chat.” Kang Ge grinned, shaking the bag in front of her. “This is our key prop for today!”

Curious, Yan Xue didn’t press further, deciding to see what he had in mind. She followed him as he made inquiries that led them to a male dormitory building.

Xu Wenrui had lived in this dorm before his death—information Yan Xue had gotten from his parents. However, his parents only knew the building, not the specific room, since he’d switched rooms at some point.

Carrying the fruit, Kang Ge swaggered into the dormitory and went straight to the reception window. Without waiting for the staff to question him, he greeted the dorm manager—a woman in her fifties—with a beaming, affable smile.

“Auntie, good evening! Sorry to disturb you during your meal!” His tone was polite but carried a natural warmth, his face radiating enthusiasm.

The manager, caught mid-meal, was about to set down her bowl and stop him, but the young man’s friendly, respectful demeanor made her hesitate and soften.

“Oh, it’s fine,” she replied, peering at Kang Ge and then at Yan Xue behind him. “Are you one of the boys from this dorm? Girls aren’t allowed in the male dorms, you know.”

“Auntie, you flatter me! I’m not a student here—I graduated years ago! But my brother-in-law is. I’m just here with my wife to bring her little brother some food,” Kang Ge explained, gesturing to Yan Xue as if to introduce her.

With his spirited looks, expressive eyes, and warm manner, Kang Ge was exactly the sort of young man elders liked. The dorm manager’s attitude softened further. “I see. So do you want to register your details and go up yourself, or shall I call him down?”

“Well, you see, my brother-in-law is out at the moment. I only found out when I called and asked him to come down. He told me to leave the things with his roommate. Could you perhaps call their room and ask someone to come down?” Kang Ge sighed with mock helplessness.

“That’s doable, but these students rarely use the landline in their dorm anymore. Most just unplug it and use their mobiles. I can try, though. What’s his name and room number?”

“Xu Wenrui, and the room is…” Kang Ge gave the name readily, but paused at the room number and turned to Yan Xue. “Honey, do you remember which room your brother mentioned on the phone?”

“How would I know? Weren’t you the one who called him? After you hung up, I asked you his room number, but you told me to focus on driving and that you’d remember it! Now you’ve forgotten completely?” Yan Xue’s response was quick and natural.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry! I’ll just call Xu Wenrui again,” Kang Ge said, pulling out his phone as if to dial.

“Oh, your brother-in-law is Xu Wenrui?” The dorm manager’s face lit with recognition. “I know which room he’s in! I’ll call his roommate to come down.”

“Wow, so my brother-in-law is famous?” Kang Ge played the surprised relative.

The manager picked up the phone and dialed. “Famous indeed! Not long ago, he sneaked a girl into the dorm. If someone from another room hadn’t overheard a female voice and told me, I wouldn’t have known. And he’s something else—when I went to check, there was a girl in the washroom doing his laundry in a huge plastic basin, while he sat at his desk with his legs crossed. Most boys are attentive to their girlfriends, but he had it the other way around!”

“When did this happen?” Kang Ge feigned astonishment. “Our family didn’t know a thing—not even that he had a girlfriend! That boy keeps secrets well!”

“Oh, it’s been a while now—maybe close to a year! Next time you see him, tell him: that girl was polite, so I let it slide, but if it happens again, I’ll report it directly!” The manager was about to complain further when the phone connected. “Hello? Room 423? Someone come down—Xu Wenrui’s family is here with something for him!”