Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Missing Wife

Seeing the empty floor above, Jiang Li sighed. It seemed the dream was affecting her, making her paranoid.

After Jiang Li left, a figure emerged from a blind spot, watching her retreating form with icy eyes.

Back home, Jiang Li tidied up a bit. Before bed, she lay down, her heart filled with unease. ’What will I dream about this time?’

Jiang Li slept soundly until dawn. She stared at the familiar ceiling, still in a daze. She actually hadn’t had any of those terrifying dreams.

For an entire month, Jiang Li didn’t have any more of those bizarre dreams, allowing her tense body to finally relax.

During that time, Ji Qinghe called her several times to check in.

Once she learned there were no more dreams, she didn’t call as often.

Just when she thought everything was back to normal and was about to start looking for a job, the dreams returned...

"No! I was wrong! I was wrong! AHHHHH!"

"Don’t hit me... I’m begging you..."

A woman’s voice, trembling with fear, was punctuated by shrill screams.

Jiang Li froze, then looked down to see that *she* was the one grabbing a woman by her long hair, dragging her. The woman was only wearing a flimsy nightgown.

The nightgown was spattered with blood, and her exposed skin was covered in gruesome injuries.

She dragged the woman into a room and shut the door.

When she turned around, the woman was cowering in the corner, trembling all over and muttering, "I was wrong."

A cold laugh escaped her lips as she stepped forward and grabbed the woman by the throat.

The woman struggled for air, her sharp nails digging bloody scratches into her attacker’s arm. This only fueled Jiang Li’s fury, and her grip tightened.

When the woman finally stopped struggling, a wave of panic washed over her, followed by an immediate sense of release.

As she watched the scene unfold, a sudden knock echoed from behind her.

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!"

The jarring sound jolted Jiang Li from her dream.

Gasping for breath, she clutched her head. She’d had the dream again.

Jiang Li grabbed her phone from the bedside table. She hesitated for a few seconds, but decided it would be safer to just go to the police station.

She quickly got ready and headed out.

"Hey, miss, what’re you going to the police station for?"

The driver turned to look at her curiously, noticing she looked pale.

"You can tell me, miss. Did someone give you trouble?"

Jiang Li clutched her bag, feeling awkward. "No, I’m just going to see my sister."

"Oh, I see. That’s good."

Jiang Li forced an awkward smile and turned to look out the window. Only when the driver didn’t press further did she finally relax her grip.

She had social anxiety, which had caused her a lot of trouble at work. Eventually, she’d quit to focus on her art, taking commissions online to make a living.

"We’re here, miss."

Jiang Li snapped out of her daze, paid the fare, and got out. As she walked inside the station, she was surprised to see a familiar face.

Zhao Shuo was taking a statement. Jiang Li found a seat to the side and waited quietly.

"Officer, my wife went out to buy groceries the day before yesterday and never came back. I’m at my wit’s end."

"Please, you have to help me find my wife. Her parents and our child are so worried."

Hearing this, Jiang Li looked up at Zhao Qinghe.

’What a coincidence.’

"Mr. Zhao, please try to stay calm. Can you give me a more specific timeline?"

Zhao Qinghe nodded. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hands were clasped anxiously. Beside him, an elderly couple clung to each other, weeping.

"Her mom said that after lunch yesterday, she mentioned she was going out to buy groceries, and she never came back."

"I’ve asked around at the market and spoken to all the neighbors. No one knows anything."

Zhao Qinghe unlocked his phone and glanced at the screen.

Zhao Shuo happened to glance over and saw what looked like their wedding photo on the screen.

Zhao Shuo asked a few more specific questions to get a clearer picture of the situation.

Zhao Qinghe was an orphan; the "parents" he referred to were his wife Xu Wan’s. The couple had been married for ten years and had a seven-year-old son in first grade.

"Officer, you have to find my daughter," Mrs. Xu pleaded, her eyes red from crying.

"Alright. We’ll notify you as soon as we have any news."

"Thank you for your help, Officer." Zhao Qinghe stood up. His eyes flickered with surprise when he saw Jiang Li in the corner, and he gave her a slight nod.

"Mom, Dad, you haven’t slept all night. Let’s head home for now. You can take something and get some proper sleep."

Zhao Qinghe led the elderly couple out of the station.

"Qinghe, do you think Nannan will be okay? If I’d known, I would’ve gone to the market with her."

"Mom, Wanwan will be fine. Don’t worry."

Zhao Qinghe comforted the elderly couple in a soft, gentle voice, and it was clear they relied on him heavily.

Jiang Li watched them leave, then turned to find Zhao Shuo looking at her.

"Miss Jiang, are you here because you’ve discovered something new?"

Zhao Shuo spoke as he directed a colleague to start the search.

Jiang Li brought her gaze back to him and nodded.

Zhao Shuo immediately had someone summon Ji Qinghe and Zhou Tiancheng.

Jiang Li looked at the three of them and began to describe what she had dreamed the night before.

"The woman was dressed in casual clothes, and there were household items around, so it was probably at home. Domestic violence... murder."

Jiang Li rested her hands on her knees, her heart aching as she recalled the woman’s horrific condition.

"Oh, right. I just heard Doctor Zhao say his wife is missing."

"Could it be related to him?" Jiang Li ventured.

The timing was just too much of a coincidence. She’d barely had the dream before Zhao Qinghe showed up to file a report.

"Yes, we’ll have to investigate thoroughly."

Ji Qinghe replied. Noticing the bag Jiang Li had brought, she realized she was planning to stay at the station until this was resolved.

"Jiang Li, we’re going to get to work. Let us know if you need anything."

"Okay." Jiang Li gave an embarrassed smile.

"Don’t worry, just make yourself at home," Ji Qinghe said before leaving.

Jiang Li took out her phone to order some food. While waiting, she thought for a moment, then pulled out her tablet and opened a drawing app.

"CLACK CLACK CLACK!"

A series of footsteps approached. Jiang Li looked up to see Lu Xingye leading a group of people toward her.

"Hello, you must be Miss Jiang Li."

Jiang Li nodded, looking completely baffled.

"Hello. I’m Fan Zhenkai, the head of the detective division."

"Oh, hello." Jiang Li scrambled to her feet.

Lu Xingye glanced at her tablet and his expression immediately froze. ’This is... incredibly gory...’

"It’s like this, Miss Jiang. I’ve heard you have a... unique ability. And that you were instrumental in solving the recent serial murder case and taking down that crime ring."

"I was hoping I could ask you for a favor. Would that be possible?"

As Fan Zhenkai spoke, he sized up Jiang Li. ’She looks so ordinary,’ he thought, ’not at all as miraculous as Lu Xingye made her sound.’

Jiang Li looked at them, troubled. "I’m sorry."

Fan Zhenkai’s expression stiffened, and the faces of the officers behind him darkened as well.

"Miss Jiang, as long as you’re willing to help, we can agree to any conditions you name."

"Um, I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s just that..."

Before Jiang Li could finish, a man’s voice suddenly cut her off.