Chapter 564: The Professional’s Cognitive Pitfall

Listening to Lin Xi’s words.

Chen Xiao wasn’t too surprised.

This is a reverse thinking that a detective often possesses!

But such thinking usually needs to be triggered when one is very calm and rational.

Because once a person acknowledges a fact, they tend to not want to stir things up, as if settling into a comfort zone.

So Lin Xi was reminding Chen Xiao.

And this reminder made Chen Xiao immediately think of another possibility.

"Honey, if we analyze according to your reminder, what do you think could make Zhu Nianying suddenly leave Shencheng City, putting aside her matters at the clinic?"

"Excluding other social connections of Zhu Nianying, there’s only one possibility left—someone from her hometown came!"

Chen Xiao’s eyes narrowed.

Even though Chen Xiao hadn’t delved very deeply into the investigation of the case, he only thought about it in passing.

However, after Huang Zhao said he had visited Zhu Nianying’s hometown, Chen Xiao only considered this angle after Lin Xi’s reminder.

It’s obvious that this is a very possible possibility.

Why did Zhu Nianying come to Shencheng City?

Because her family married her off to an old man much older than her for a few thousand yuan.

That sum of money was only paid back after Huang Zhao went to Zhu Nianying’s hometown.

In other words, from the time Zhu Nianying came to Shencheng City until the incident, this money had not been paid off.

If we follow Lin Xi’s speculation, that sum of money now seems especially conspicuous.

"Hmm, I did overlook that aspect all along, but honey, you reminded me."

Chen Xiao’s mind had long developed a habit of drawing inferences from one instance.

So when Lin Xi proposed this possibility, Chen Xiao also thought of another possibility.

Lin Xi was instantly intrigued: "Go ahead, what else?"

"Tell me, is there any possibility that Zhu Nianying is still alive?"

Lin Xi on the other end of the line fell silent immediately after hearing this possibility.

Lin Xi’s silence lasted for a long time before she gave an answer:

"Before the truth is revealed, any possibility is possible."

"Exactly, that’s what I’m thinking now. For a whole six years, if Zhu Nianying is still alive, what possibilities could it lead to?"

"If she’s still alive, then it involves another kind of case attribute."

"You’re talking about captivity, right?"

"Exactly! If it’s this possibility, then for you, there are still two possibilities. One: She encountered a random criminal suspect, and she hasn’t been free until now!"

"Two: The most common one, she met someone she trusts the most!"

When the second possibility was spoken, a name already emerged in Chen Xiao’s mind.

This person is no one else but... Huang Zhao!

Around the time of Zhu Nianying’s incident, Huang Zhao was undoubtedly the person she trusted 100%.

But if it were Huang Zhao, then the situation would be contradictory.

The reason Chen Xiao came to investigate the missing person case was because of Huang Zhao’s invitation.

Without Huang Zhao, Chen Xiao wouldn’t even have come to Shencheng City.

As for Dragon Cauldron’s involvement in Li Hai’s matters, Chen Xiao would surely pin all his hopes on Guo Qing.

But the key is, who would ask someone to investigate themselves after doing something?

Chen Xiao thought this possibility was too low.

In any case, that possibility is almost impossible.

Chen Xiao didn’t reply but pondered internally.

On the other end of the video, after saying these words, Lin Xi was also repeatedly asking herself if this possibility was really possible.

But as a criminal policeman, it’s often the impossibles that become possible in cases they’ve encountered many times.

However, Lin Xi wondered whether conjuring this possibility was the normal thought process after an incident?

No matter if it was Chen Xiao or Lin Xi.

At this moment, they suddenly felt they were facing a professional challenge.

Whether as a criminal policeman or a detective, at the end of the day, they are doing the same job.

When engaged in this work, they will encounter moments of indecision.

Chen Xiao had already felt that the deeper he thought, the more he would contradict himself.

He might even start showing signs of self-doubt.

Thinking of this, Chen Xiao immediately spoke up: "Honey, do you think we might be going down the wrong path?"

Upon hearing Chen Xiao’s voice, Lin Xi paused for a moment, then smiled wryly:

"Thinking too much?"

"Each time, regardless of whether it’s you or me, the number of cases we’re dealing with is neither too many nor too few. It’s precisely because of past experiences that I know the truth in many cases is often unexpected!"

"So when a new case arises, we apply past experiences to judge current cases! But on closer thought, these actions are not subtraction, but addition!"

"Indeed, if we apply too much past experience, we are in fact complicating things. However, I always feel that investigating Zhu Nianying’s disappearance might benefit from considering your past experiences to come up with different insights!"

Chen Xiao never thought his wife’s words were an obstacle to him.

On the contrary, ever since his rebirth, Lin Xi had often opened up his thinking and played a role at crucial times.

So Chen Xiao thought they shouldn’t continue discussing the case with Lin Xi.

If they continued, both of them would start having doubts.

So Chen Xiao quickly changed his tone to a relaxed one and said with a smile: "Honey, how long do you think I should stay in Shencheng City this time?"

"You haven’t been there long, have you? Why, are you thinking about coming back?"

"Yes, I just feel more at ease doing things with you by my side."

"You’re just not by my side, or I would want to show you in a mirror how fake you look!" Lin Xi snorted coldly.

Chen Xiao chuckled.

But soon, Lin Xi’s expression became serious:

"Hubby, when you first told me, I wasn’t in favor of you going. But later, you mentioned Dragon Cauldron, so I didn’t stop you. In fact, missing person cases like Zhu Nianying’s are very difficult to investigate, sometimes even impossible to trace!"

"And if news of your collaboration with Qi Wei gets out, assuming Qi Wei has a bad relationship with her two brothers, this case could potentially become a means for them to make accusations!"

Anytime.

Lin Xi is Chen Xiao’s wife.

Lin Xi’s heart is always primarily concerned with Chen Xiao.

Moreover, this wasn’t happening in Dongzhou, so Lin Xi’s attention would only be on Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao seriously considered Lin Xi’s words.

It was precisely because he considered them that Chen Xiao suddenly felt this night shouldn’t just pass quietly!

"Honey, as someone investigating a case, when a case occurs, shouldn’t we not trust anyone?"