Geng Youfeng’s words caught Chen Xiao by surprise as well.

However, thinking of Xie Yan’s style of handling cases, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but laugh and say:

"Did he simulate hanging in each of your homes?"

"Yes, in my house, it was in the room where Zhu Mao hanged himself. Zhu Mao was in the middle, and Officer Xie tied the rope on the other side. At that time, he didn’t let any of us enter the room, and the officers accompanying him kept counting the time. It was only when it took too long that they rushed in."

"When I went in, it was like a nightmare to me. His face had turned color, his tongue was protruding, just like... just like Zhu Mao at that moment."

Hearing these words, the scene appeared vividly in Chen Xiao’s mind.

For the police handling the case, there was nothing special about recreating the incident in the most similar form at the most suitable crime scene.

Yet for the family members of the deceased who had just experienced the death of a loved one, the reappearance of the scene was still somewhat cruel.

But from Geng Youfeng’s description, Chen Xiao also felt that Xie Yan’s behavior was too risky.

Reconstructing the scene is a very effective investigation method.

However, when faced with a life-threatening crisis, one cannot still maintain a clear mind to analyze the situation at the time of the incident.

In fact, in Chen Xiao’s view, such reconstruction is very likely to backfire.

Under Geng Youfeng’s guidance, Chen Xiao arrived at the room where Zhu Mao hanged himself.

But the room had already been renovated.

This was not to cover anything up but because those who are alive always need to look forward, otherwise facing pain every day would not lead to a good life.

At this moment, Geng Youfeng also said with emotion, "Ever since Zhu Mao’s hanging, I haven’t dared to enter this room for several years in a row. Later, it was my father-in-law who decided to renovate the inside."

Chen Xiao nodded slightly, but after thinking for a moment, he still asked, "Could you roughly describe to me what Officer Xie did at that time?"

"That day, I stood outside the door and saw. At that time, when he had been inside for too long and no one answered when called, the officers waiting outside just rushed in. The door was open, and I saw him hanging there, in a very dangerous situation."

As he spoke, Geng Youfeng pointed to a direction inside the room.

"Okay, I’ll stay in here for a while," Chen Xiao said and proceeded to walk into the room alone.

Geng Youfeng’s face changed slightly, just as she was about to say something, Lin Xi spoke: "It’s okay, big sister, don’t worry."

Seeing Lin Xi voluntarily closing the door, Geng Youfeng no longer said anything.

The room was quiet.

Chen Xiao even pulled the curtains to make the room as dark as possible.

However, without a bed in the room, Chen Xiao squatted on the floor and silently closed his eyes.

He actually did not quite understand Xie Yan’s actions.

He knew that many detectives use scene reconstruction and case simulation techniques.

But each time the simulation leaves the person far away, which is a very abnormal behavior.

At first, Chen Xiao thought it might be a unique habit of Xie Yan, but this habit almost killed him, causing Chen Xiao to have some doubts.

He quietly meditated.

Under the Power of Construction, the scene described by Geng Youfeng became clearer.

Xie Yan, who was not tall and somewhat obese, seemed to be standing by his side.

Chen Xiao turned his head, his eyes still closed, but in the scene under construction, his gaze seemed to meet Xie Yan’s.

Just as their gaze met, Xie Yan’s body had already moved to beneath the rope.

With the help of a stool, Xie Yan grabbed the rope and put his head through it.

Soon, Xie Yan’s face started turning red gradually, and eventually, his eyes began to fill with blood, his tongue protruded, and saliva flowed constantly.

But for some unknown reason, Xie Yan’s image suddenly shattered and fell apart at that moment, making it impossible for Chen Xiao to capture it again.

Chen Xiao tried several times, but ultimately he could only open his eyes helplessly and call out: "Xiaoxi."

Lin Xi opened the door: "What’s wrong?"

"Go to the car and bring me paper and pen as well as the easel, they’re in the trunk."

"Alright."

Lin Xi quickly went and returned, handing over the sketch paper and pen, along with the easel that Chen Xiao habitually prepared.

Once Chen Xiao set up, Lin Xi shut the door again.

Geng Youfeng watched, puzzled: "Miss Lin, is Advisor Chen going to draw?"

Lin Xi nodded: "Yes, like that Officer Xie, he also has some peculiar habits. But unlike him, Chen Xiao likes to draw."

In fact, Chen Xiao doesn’t particularly like drawing.

As someone close to him, Lin Xi is very sure that Chen Xiao isn’t yet capable of drawing a criminal suspect.

He’s trying to draw some lines, and those lines reflect known details of the case.

Chen Xiao sat in front of the drawing board, holding the pen and sketching away, while analyzing in his mind simultaneously.

"Of the three, first Lian Da died, then Zhu Mao, followed by Chang Guan. All three deaths occurred just a day apart, and Lian Da’s death was initially treated as a suicide, without even reporting it."

"It wasn’t until Zhu Mao’s death that a few rumors started, and finally with Chang Guan’s death, the police got involved. The one who got involved was Xie Yan."

"After Xie Yan started the investigation, he began to look for the cause of the three deaths. He was certain there was something suspicious about their deaths because when Lian Da died, Zhu Mao and Chang Guan weren’t present; when Zhu Mao died, Chang Guan still didn’t show up, and finally, Chang Guan also died!"

"While alive, they claimed to have a life-and-death friendship, and regardless of that, when someone suddenly dies, their friends typically rush to the scene. But through Xie Yan’s investigation, he found that their deaths seemed prearranged, coincidentally leading to the discovery of Lian Da’s fall into the water the night before his death."

As Chen Xiao thought, this time he was not drawing a portrait.

He drew the lake.

Drew three figures on the shore.

Also depicted three figures falling into the water.

Like drawing a comic.

Finally, the paper showed images of three men hanging themselves in different scenes.

Chen Xiao observed and paused his pen temporarily.

"Falling into the water might have to do with being drunk, but why did someone claim to have seen strange shadows by Yang Lake that night? Also, on the day of Lian Da’s death, it seemed like someone was knocking on their window."

"Right, I almost forgot about this detail. Who saw the shadow by Yang Lake? Why didn’t Xie Yan investigate? Was it because deep down he believed it to be just hearsay? If so, then why isn’t the reason for the window banging explained in the files?"

"Was someone outside banging, or was it Lian Da himself?"

Chen Xiao eyed the drawing and eventually marked a tick over the lake.

He felt the deaths of the three were cloaked with the Yang Lake Phantom, which might not be a coincidence.

Just like Xie Wensheng sacrificing himself to guide public opinion for Chen Xiao’s maximum benefit in the Yang Lake Phantom Case! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

And how Yang Lake Phantom is a sharp tool to guide public opinion?

In murder cases, the use of superstition, mythical, and ghost stories is never uncommon!