In the autopsy room, Forensic Investigator Qin had already placed the body on the autopsy table and was about to begin examining the body's surface features when he suddenly felt a burning gaze.
Turning around, he saw Mu Mian staring at him with bright, eager eyes.
He paused and said, "Mu, why don't you examine the body? Xue, assist her."
Chen Xue, who was also interning, subtly changed expression but quickly replied, "Alright."
Mu Mian started by checking the body's surface features. The victim had numerous abrasions on her body, which Mu Mian carefully photographed and measured the lengths of each wound with a ruler.
At first, Forensic Investigator Qin was impressed by Mu Mian's meticulousness at such a young age. However, when she spent half an hour on the seemingly trivial surface wounds, he started to feel that she might be overdoing it.
"Mu, the purpose of an autopsy is to determine the cause of death. We don't need to document every insignificant scratch in such detail."
"But every wound could be related to the cause of death," Mu Mian replied earnestly. "If we don't check every one of them, we might overlook important details."
Forensic Investigator Qin found himself unable to argue, especially when confronted with the sincere intensity in Mu Mian's eyes.
But did the frostbite scar on the victim's leg really have anything to do with the cause of death? Was it necessary to record its size so precisely?
As the formal dissection began, Mu Mian's pace quickened. She skillfully opened the victim's abdomen, where she found numerous claw marks, but unlike the previous victim, the tissue wasn't shredded beyond recognition.
Mu Mian examined the victim's internal organs and took samples.
Now, all that was left was to wait for the toxicology report.
However, Mu Mian and Forensic Investigator Qin were already confident that this victim's cause of death was likely the same as the first.
After completing the second autopsy, Mu Mian asked, "Forensic Investigator Qin, can I also perform the autopsy on the second kitten?"
"The second kitten? Oh, you mean the one found at the crime scene today. There's no need to waste time with an autopsy; we already know the kitten died from asphyxiation. It likely had difficulty passing through the birth canal, and its head was squeezed, causing suffocation."
Mu Mian insisted, "I promise I'll finish quickly."
Forensic Investigator Qin, appreciating the young person's willingness to work hard, said, "Alright, go ahead. I'll head back to write the report."
When Qin left, Chen Xue politely asked Mu Mian if she needed any further assistance.
Mu Mian shook her head, and Chen Xue left. Before leaving, she noticed Mu Mian, with a sparkle in her eyes, eagerly dissecting the kitten, a stark contrast to her usual downcast demeanor.
What a strange person.
Chen Xue couldn't help but shake her head. Although Mu Mian was highly skilled in dissection and meticulous in her work, she was more suited for research than being a forensic pathologist. Mu Mian got too caught up in unnecessary details.
When Mu Mian finished dissecting and then suturing the kitten's body, she suddenly realized how hungry she was. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was already past one.
She hurried to the cafeteria, only to find, as expected, that the lunch lady had already cleaned up.
Mu Mian froze. She was starving and needed food, but the social guidebook didn't offer any advice on how to handle this situation.
"Medical Examiner Mu, why haven't you left yet after lunch?"
Mu Mian looked up to see Xiao Zhang and Fang Rui approaching, with Xiao Zhang waving at her.
Fang Rui glanced at her, then looked away in disdain. He couldn't understand why Mu Mian always seemed to space out at random moments.
Mu Mian said nothing. Not eating on time made her uneasy, and she lacked the energy for social interaction at the moment.
Xiao Zhang approached the cafeteria window. Before he could speak, the lunch lady, who was cleaning up, handed him several lunch boxes, smiling kindly.
"Xiao Zhang, I'm glad you texted me to save you some food. Otherwise, you'd have missed out on today's braised pork!"
"Good thing I'm smart. Otherwise, I'd have had to settle for takeout," Xiao Zhang joked.
"The young lady hasn't eaten yet, has she? You and Captain Fang probably can't finish all this food. Why don't you share with her?"
Xiao Zhang suddenly realized, turning to Mu Mian. "Medical Examiner Mu, you haven't eaten! Come, come, join us. It's the perfect time to discuss the case."
Mu Mian hesitated. She had never eaten with anyone other than her family. But her growling stomach made the decision for her.
"Medical Examiner Mu, you don't have any dietary restrictions, do you?"
Xiao Zhang opened the lunch boxes, planning to offer her some of the delicious braised pork as a gesture of friendship.
"I'm not picky."
Mu Mian pointed to the dishes, "I just don't eat fatty meat that's too greasy, or carrots that are cut into chunks, or cooked cucumbers."
Xiao Zhang's face became awkward. "Uh, well, looks like there's nothing you can eat."
What a hassle! Fang Rui didn't indulge her. He scooped a bowl of plain rice, poured a few spoonfuls of braised pork gravy on top, and handed it to her. "Eat."
Mu Mian said nothing, simply taking the bowl and eating silently.
Xiao Zhang was astonished. So, Mu Mian only liked eating rice?
Halfway through the meal, Xiao Zhang couldn't keep still. "Medical Examiner Mu, any findings from the autopsy?"
Mu Mian put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "The killer is likely a doctor with clinical experience, someone who may have been one. And he really likes cats."
Xiao Zhang exclaimed, "How do you know he's a doctor?"
"How can you prove he likes cats?" Fang Rui was also curious. He had suspected the killer might be a doctor, given his poor dissection skills, but his ability to insert a cat into the victim's uterus suggested he had some medical background. He was particularly interested in Mu Mian's second conclusion.
"Would you like to know the answer?" Mu Mian's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Fang Rui. "I'll share it with you right now, but you have to promise me one thing first."
"I'm not donating my body to you!"
Mu Mian's expression immediately dimmed, and the rice in her bowl suddenly lost its appeal.
She pulled out her phone and showed Fang Rui some photos. "Do these prove anything?"