Miss Forensics – Chapter 41

Volume One: First Scroll

Competition

A woman’s words are deceiving ghosts!¹

Lin Yan’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach trained under a disciple of Gracie², the founding father of Jiu-Jitsu, an authentic Brazilian. When the two sparred³, they naturally wouldn’t hold back. Lin Yan was weaker in strength but excelled in agility and tactical thinking.

BJJ has no fixed training routines; fighting is real combat. On the competition mat, it’s win or lose; against an enemy, it’s life or death.

She summoned every ounce⁴ of her energy to face her opponent, deliberately taking a blow while spotting an opening in his punch. She grabbed his wrist, yanked it down hard, and simultaneously elbowed his knee, successfully executing a takedown that flipped him onto the ground. Immediately following was a Rear Naked Choke⁵ as swift as lightning; her arm locked tightly around his neck, forcing him to submit.

But for some reason, there was a touch of new green on the windowsill, a solitary rose swaying in the wind. It definitely hadn’t been there a few days ago.

Lin Yan caught sight of it out of the corner of her eye. In that instant of distraction, the coach landed a heavy elbow strike on her abdomen. Lin Yan cried out in pain, and then her vision went black as she was flipped over, ending the match with a classic BJJ move: the Cross Armbar⁶.

Lin Yan was pinned securely, unable to move. She had no choice but to tap the ground, signaling surrender.

The coach released her and stood up. “Lin, you weren’t focused.”

Lin Yan smiled, rubbing her sore shoulder as she climbed up. The butler standing nearby handed her a white towel to wipe off sweat. “Miss, the analysis results are back.”

Lin Yan tossed the mineral water she took from him to her coach. “Thanks. Let’s call it a day. We’ll train again another time.”

---

She changed her clothes and appeared in the lab. Seeing her arrive, the staff immediately stood up and yielded the computer. “Miss, we compared the soil from the deceased’s fingernails with the water sample. They’re confirmed to be from the same body of water.”

“What about the diatoms⁷?”

The researcher slid the mouse a few times, bringing up the images for her to see. In the Ding Xue case, she had used the same method to determine the killer and the method of killing. Lin Yan wasn’t just a Forensic Doctor; she was also an expert in Forensic Botany. She could tell almost at a glance: the riverside where “Vulture” was found was the primary crime scene, and “Vulture’s” death was not a homicide.

This was utterly baffling⁸.

Lin Yan pondered for a moment. “Get the car ready. I’m going out.”

---

Over two months had passed. The police tape by the river had long been removed, replaced by a sign: “Deep Water. No Swimming or Fishing.”

Lin Yan stepped carefully on the slippery moss, walking down towards the spot where the body was discovered. She paced back and forth several times but found nothing. Searching wasn’t her strong suit. If Song Yuhang were here…

The thought of that name made her bite her lip slightly. Forget it. That person was currently all lovey-dovey with Lin Ge; how would she have time for this?

When she initially suggested Song Yuhang ask Lin Ge for help, she had naturally given Lin Ge a heads-up too. Who knew the two would actually turn their act into reality⁹!

Seeing that photo had made Lin Yan’s chest tighten. She didn’t know who she was angry with. Was she angry that Lin Ge was hitting it off with someone she disliked, or was she angry that Song Yuhang had hooked up with her cousin and was ignoring her? After tossing and turning most of the night, Lin Yan finally reached a conclusion: F%cking hell, she was never going to bother with those two again!!!

The butler saw her squatting motionlessly by the water’s edge and grew concerned. He walked over and draped a coat over her shoulders. “Miss, the temperature is dropping. We should head back.”

Lin Yan stood up. Anger was anger, but she deeply understood one principle: nothing ventured, nothing gained¹⁰.

She was determined to see just who this “ghost” behind the scenes really was.

“Let’s go. Back to Jiangcheng.”

The butler hurried after her for two steps. “Miss, the doctor said there are still two courses of treatment…”

Lin Yan turned around and looked at him, her expression slightly cold, without speaking. She had always been decisive, her word law¹¹.

The butler lowered his head slightly, submitting. “Yes, Miss. I’ll arrange it right away.”

---

The plan to visit Lin Yan in the provincial capital during her time off had fallen through again. Several burglary cases had occurred within her jurisdiction, keeping Song Yuhang run off her feet¹².

By the time she caught her breath, September was almost over. Following closely was the annual Jiangcheng Public Security System Grand Competition¹³. As the Criminal Investigation Captain, she definitely had to participate.

Feng Jianguo had high hopes for her, expecting her to bring back a few more trophies. Song Yuhang could only manage a wry smile. “Director Feng, you know perfectly well my 50-meter pistol rapid fire on moving targets isn’t good…”

“I don’t care about that. It’s the total score that counts, not individual events. We’re the host unit! If we lose to those sub-bureaus¹⁴ below, how can I show my face?¹⁵“

Song Yuhang felt a headache coming on¹⁶. She saluted, intending to leave, but was called back again.

“It’s been so long. Haven’t you seen a psychologist?”

Song Yuhang fell silent, lowering her gaze to her right hand. The mark from the glass cut had healed, and the bite mark Lin Yan had left had also faded. Physical wounds heal, but the pain remained in her heart.

“I did. It was useless.”

---

Soon, it was the day of the finals. Combat in the morning, shooting in the afternoon. The combat competition used a ring defense system: one person defended the ring while others challenged. Whoever could stand till the end was the champion.

The small arena at the training base was packed solid¹⁷. Song Yuhang had already consecutively thrown three opponents. This was the last one, an old criminal police officer from a sub-bureau below, burly¹⁸ with broad shoulders, who had once placed third in the national public security system competition. Visually, his height and weight surpassed hers, making him one of the hot favorites to win this time.

Duan Cheng’s voice was nearly hoarse from shouting. “Hey, the strength difference is too huge, right? Think Captain Song can win?”

There was no air conditioning in the gymnasium. Fang Xin fanned herself with a paper fan. “It’s iffy¹⁹. Heard this guy was working out of town for years and just transferred back recently. Otherwise, they would’ve met long ago.”

Zheng Chengrui, being heavier, was even less tolerant of the heat. Sitting on the floor, he panted like a pug, pausing between words. “Not… not necessarily… Captain Song is a freestyle fighting expert… nationally ranked… Even the Armed Police wanted to recruit her, but Director Feng never let her go.”

Duan Cheng looked at him and chuckled. “Hey, I say, with your height and build, you could crush opponents too. Why didn’t you sign up?”

Zheng Chengrui rolled his eyes, too lazy to even respond. Fang Xin casually added, “Since when has our Technical Investigation ever placed? Combat’s no good, shooting’s no good. Maybe someday if the Ministry of Public Security holds a professional skills competition for trace evidence analysis, autopsy, cybersecurity, stuff like that, maybe we’d have a chance.”

It was the truth, amusing yet tinged with a hint of bitterness. The several colleagues from the Technical Investigation Department sitting around her all laughed.

“That’s true too. We’re just the ‘unsung heroes’!”

As they spoke, the atmosphere in the gymnasium reached a fever pitch, and the competition entered its white-hot stage. This competition used no-holds-barred fighting rules: no points for effective strikes; victory was only achieved when the opponent lost the ability to resist or actively surrendered.

“Captain Song! Captain Song! Go!!!” The men and women from the Criminal Investigation team shouted at the top of their lungs. Just then, Song Yuhang was lifted high overhead in a back suplex and slammed heavily onto the ground.

Song Yuhang didn’t let go of her opponent’s clothes. The moment she hit the ground, she wrapped her arms around his waist and drove her knee hard into his calf. His knees buckled. Song Yuhang seized the chance, kicked him in the abdomen, and leaped into the air. She executed a kip-up²⁰ to get back on her feet, grabbed one of his arms, circled to his side, wrapped her legs around his neck, and applied pressure, forcing him to submit.

Wasn’t that the move Lin Yan used to subdue her, the lethal BJJ Cross Armbar?

Everyone looked at each other in confusion: When did Captain Song switch to practicing BJJ?

But those were the rules of no-holds-barred fighting: whoever lost the ability to resist had to concede defeat. After struggling fiercely for a while, her opponent resignedly tapped the floor.

The entire arena erupted in cheers.

The referee helped both fighters up and grasped Song Yuhang’s arm. “Anyone else want to challenge?”

Whistles and cheers filled the arena, but no one else dared to step forward.

A newly arrived criminal police officer looked at Song Yuhang with admiration. “So amazing! Can female officers really reach this level?”

An older colleague beside him tapped him. “Do criminals hold back because you’re male or female? Once you join this team, we all share one name—Police!”

The referee scanned the crowd. Seeing no further challengers, he raised Song Yuhang’s hand, about to announce: “The winner of this combat competition is—”

Before he could finish, a scoffing laugh came from the gymnasium entrance, particularly jarring in the quiet atmosphere.

All eyes turned towards the sound. Lin Yan, dressed in a police uniform, leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, looking at her.

“Jiangcheng Public Security Bureau, Technical Investigation Department, Forensic Doctor Lin Yan, here to challenge.”

“Forensic Doctor Lin, it’s her.”

“Forensic Doctor Lin, she’s back.”

“I heard she wasn’t…”

“Shh… Quieter. Want to get slapped by her again?”

“Can Tech Investigation beat Criminal Investigation? Isn’t she just asking for trouble?”

Some whispered, some spoke snidely.

These words sounded particularly harsh to the ears of the Tech Investigation crowd. Someone took the lead, shouting, “Forensic Doctor Lin, get her!”

The crowd was riled up. Duan Cheng’s spit nearly sprayed onto the person next to him. In an instant, the previously harmonious Jiangcheng Bureau had started infighting. The two hadn’t even started fighting yet, but the people below could barely contain themselves. It seemed the resentment had been simmering for a long time.

Lin Yan spread her hands. “Looks like Captain Song has no choice but to fight me.”

A hint of a smile touched Song Yuhang’s lips. She replied loudly, “Alright, I accept the challenge. But Forensic Doctor Lin, have your injuries fully healed? Do I need to give you a one-hand handicap?”

She meant it kindly, but it didn’t sound that way to Lin Yan’s ears. The composure and elegance the young lady had painstakingly maintained almost shattered in an instant.

She barely managed to swallow back the words “F%ck your mother”, grinding out through clenched teeth, “I hope you can still say that later.”

Ten minutes later, Lin Yan, changed into fighting gear, stood on the platform. Song Yuhang had also taken a short break. Two figures, one red, one white, stood on opposite sides of the ring. Under the referee’s instruction, they touched fists.

Song Yuhang lowered her voice. “Are your injuries healed?”

Lin Yan didn’t even spare her a glance, signaling to the referee that she was ready to start.

The whistle blew. Song Yuhang had no choice but to retreat. The match officially began.

Song Yuhang changed her earlier aggressive tactics, retreating step by step under Lin Yan’s relentless pressure. On one hand, fighting a BJJ practitioner up close offered little advantage; on the other, she was worried Lin Yan hadn’t fully recovered and didn’t want to hurt her.

Boos rose from the crowd below. Even Duan Cheng could see Captain Song was holding back. Lin Yan threw a punch. Song Yuhang caught it but didn’t retaliate, instead maneuvering her around and pinning her against the ropes.

“Wh… What’s going on here… Are they flirting?”

Duan Cheng stammered. Fang Xin smacked her lips. “It’s over, it’s over. Captain Song is done for.”

And sure enough.

Lin Yan had initially thought: have a fight, and this matter would be over. Firstly, Song Yuhang was her colleague and had saved her life. Secondly, she was the person Lin Ge liked. No matter how shameless Lin Yan was, she couldn’t possibly sabotage her own cousin’s lifelong happiness, right?

But Song Yuhang’s ease²¹, Song Yuhang’s deliberate avoidance, and the boos from the audience made her lose face considerably. Her pride took a huge hit.

She, Lin Yan, was at the very least a BJJ black belt. When had she ever needed someone to go easy on her like this?!

She, Lin Yan, had never been some delicate flower hiding behind a big tree for shelter. She didn’t need so-called care, so-called protection, so-called special treatment. That would only make her feel more humiliated!

“I don’t need you to go easy on me!” Lin Yan forced the words out through gritted teeth, simultaneously bringing her knee up towards Song Yuhang’s lower body.

Using the same old trick.

Song Yuhang’s pupils contracted. She released Lin Yan and took half a step back. Unexpectedly, Lin Yan’s move was a feint. As she raised her leg, her right fist slammed hard into Song Yuhang’s abdomen.

Song Yuhang was caught completely off guard. She doubled over, coughing, sweat dripping from her hair.

Lin Yan naturally wouldn’t give her a chance to breathe. A heavy elbow strike followed, smashing Song Yuhang hard onto the ground. As she landed, Lin Yan drove her knee into the vulnerable soft spot of her abdomen.

Attacked from both front and rear, Song Yuhang choked out saliva on the spot. Her internal organs²² felt like they were twisting in agony, and her ears were ringing.

She gritted her teeth. “Lin… Lin Yan… I…”

How could Lin Yan let her say the word “surrender”? Seeing her passively taking the beating without fighting back only made Lin Yan’s blood boil²³ even more. Without thinking, she brought her elbow down fiercely towards Song Yuhang’s head.

Song Yuhang caught the movement in her peripheral vision. She felt that Lin Yan’s reaction speed had become even faster after three months of rest, while she herself, having fought four consecutive matches, was already exhausted. She had intended to yield, but Lin Yan simply wasn’t giving her the chance to surrender.

If that blow landed, she’d be lying here waiting for an ambulance. Song Yuhang smiled wryly. She took the hit squarely on her back, grabbed Lin Yan’s waist, and tried to push her back for an over-the-shoulder throw.

Lin Yan was practically hoping for close-quarters grappling. When it came to hand-to-hand combat, nothing could beat BJJ. She relaxed her body to minimize potential damage. The world spun. When Song Yuhang threw her, she didn’t let go, even cushioning the back of Lin Yan’s head with her hand, just like that rainy night.

Lin Yan bit her lip, an inexplicable mix of emotions in her eyes—resentment, confusion, and a hidden trace of grievance.

Song Yuhang smiled, sweat trickling down her cheeks. “I surrender. Let’s stop fighting…”

Before she could finish, Lin Yan abruptly clenched her jaw, locked on a Triangle Choke²⁴ around her neck, straightened Song Yuhang’s arm, and pressed it towards her own chest. The force generated by the leverage could almost instantly snap an adult’s neck.

Amidst the intense pain, Song Yuhang somehow still had the presence of mind to register where the back of her hand was pressed—against a patch of warmth and softness. The tactile sensation… felt good.

She wanted to struggle but couldn’t move. Her fingertips only managed to hook a piece of soft fabric—Lin Yan’s belt.

The referee blew a sharp whistle and ran over to separate them. Lin Yan’s eyes were red at the corners, furious, panting heavily.

Song Yuhang wasn’t much better off, her face bruised. When she fought others, it was friendly sparring; they had restraint and wouldn’t aim for the face.

Lin Yan was different. Vicious heart, even darker hands. Honestly, if the referee hadn’t blown the whistle in time, Song Yuhang would have already been sent off in an ambulance due to asphyxiation.

She was just furious. Furious why Song Yuhang wouldn’t fight back!

Furious that she sent a baffling message that piqued her interest, and crucially, then retracted it!!!

Furious that she and Lin Ge were turning pretend into reality, when wasn’t it just a short while ago in the hospital that she said she had no feelings for Lin Ge?!

A woman’s words are deceiving ghosts!

She didn’t know how to ask about these things, so she decided to resolve it in the most primitive way. Her connection with Song Yuhang began with that fight on the rainy night, when they started to enter each other’s inner worlds. This time, using the same method to end everything would be fine.

Lin Yan’s thinking was that simple. If they had fought properly today, she would have accepted the outcome, and the matter would be closed. But Song Yuhang didn’t give her that chance. She beat Song Yuhang half to death, yet Song Yuhang still just smiled and asked, “Are your injuries healed?”

“Where did I hit you?”

“Does it hurt?”

It made Lin Yan feel like she owed her something.

Just as she was about to speak, whistles came from below. A few mischievous police officers took the lead in teasing, “Forensic Doctor Lin has a nice figure.”

The crowd roared with laughter.

Lin Yan looked down, her face flushing red. The standard taekwondo uniform worn for the competition was loose and large. With the belt pulled loose, her black camisole underneath was exposed.

Song Yuhang looked innocent, swallowing hard. “Lin… Lin Yan, listen to my explanation…”

The sight of this face just annoyed Lin Yan; she wanted to eat her alive²⁵. Without thinking, she raised her hand to slap her.

Song Yuhang held out the belt to her, tightly closing her eyes, waiting for the blow to land. But it never came.

She opened her eyes to see the person before her, lips trembling, eyes red-rimmed with a glint of moisture. Whether from anger or something else…

“Pervert!²⁶” She snatched the belt from her hand, pulled her clothes tight, but the curse lacked force. Amidst the crowd’s whistles, she turned and stormed off the platform.

Duan Cheng covered his face. Oh my god, he couldn’t bear to watch.

Feng Jianguo was about to explode with anger. “This—is this flirting or a shrew’s street brawl?!²⁷“

---

However, thanks to Lin Yan’s beating, Song Yuhang used her injured arm as an excuse to withdraw from the afternoon shooting competition. She didn’t care about these empty titles; participating in the competition was mainly for the excitement. Besides, when it came to shooting, she really…

As she thought this, the webpage in front of her was still open, her mind already wandering²⁸.

Duan Cheng walked past her desk and placed a file down. “Yo, Captain Song, surfing the web…”

“How to make a girl happy?”

“What to do when a girl is angry?”

“What kind of gifts do girls usually like?”
…

A whole page of search results was clearly visible. Song Yuhang hastily stood up, trying to block the screen with her body, but accidentally knocked over the water cup on her desk. Chaos ensued, a flustered mess.

Song Yuhang pressed her forehead. Under Duan Cheng’s increasingly suggestive gaze, a rare blush crept onto her face. She directly shut down the power, wiped the water off the desk with tissues, and only then felt she could speak normally.

“Is there something you need?”

“Nothing much. Forensic Doctor Lin asked me to deliver this file.”

Song Yuhang picked it up, shook the water off, and flipped through a couple of pages casually. “Why didn’t she come herself?”

She appeared expressionless, but secretly, her ears perked up.

Duan Cheng smiled. “She’s holed up in the pathology lab. Said after Captain Song signs it, no need to bring it back to her. Just send it directly to the archive room for filing.”

So, she was still angry.

Song Yuhang nodded, putting the folder down. “Alright, you can go back.”

Duan Cheng took a couple of steps but was called back again.

“Um… what you just saw…” Song Yuhang wasn’t good at lying or threatening people, her gaze shifting uncertainly.

Duan Cheng beamed like a flower. “Rest assured, Captain. I didn’t. See. Anything.”

---

When he returned to the Technical Investigation office, it immediately exploded.

“Really? You really saw Captain Song searching for that stuff?”

Everyone’s gossiping souls²⁹ were burning fiercely.

“Could it be fake!” Duan Cheng gulped down some water and started shooting the breeze³⁰. “You didn’t see how flustered she was! I’ve never seen Captain Song like that. Tsk tsk tsk, Forensic Doctor Lin is really something. A ‘housewife killer,’³¹ appeals to both men and women³².”

Lin Yan was currently practicing on a rabbit on the autopsy table, making a swift incision.

“Can’t be, right? Isn’t Captain Song with her cousin? It’s normal for a sister-in-law to try and please her little sister-in-law, isn’t it?”

“Ah, she’s about to escape misery and marry into wealth. If it were me, I’d try to please her too.”

Fang Xin scoffed. “You? With your looks? Captain Song has talent and looks. First, see if you can even take one punch from Forensic Doctor Lin before talking.”

“Sigh, what a pity the one who found the rich lady’s wallet wasn’t me.”

“Sigh, what a pity Forensic Doctor Lin isn’t a man. Rich and cool…”

Before she could finish, the door to the autopsy room was suddenly pushed open with a shua sound. Everyone instantly fell silent, turning back to busy themselves with their work.

Lin Yan walked out, hung her white coat on the rack. Although the autopsy room had soundproof glass, it was close by, so no one knew how much she had heard. Everyone felt a bit apprehensive, especially the young female officer who had just spoken.

Lin Yan glanced at the crowd pretending to work hard—Duan Cheng was even holding his book upside down. A sarcastic smile touched her lips. She walked up to the female officer who had just spoken and snatched the coffee she was drinking.

“Lin… Lin-jie…” The officer stood up, flustered and uneasy.

Lin Yan tilted her head back, downed several gulps of coffee, wiped her lips, and looked at her with a wicked smile. “You’re right. Apart from not having that thing down there, I’m pretty much the same as a man. However, not just any trash can enter the Lin family door. If you want to marry rich, first take a piss and look at yourself.”

With that, she slammed the empty coffee can hard onto the table. When she released it, it was already dented.

Lin Yan picked up her bag and turned to leave. As she walked down the corridor, Song Yuhang happened to be coming out of the Criminal Investigation office door, holding her phone to her ear, talking to someone, with her other hand in her pocket, heading towards the locker room. Looked like she was also preparing to change and leave work.

Enemies meet on a narrow path. Song Yuhang had already seen her. Switching the phone to her other hand, she reached out to stop her. “Lin…”

Lin Yan caught sight of the two characters flashing on her brightly lit screen: Lin Ge.

Without a second thought, she flung Song Yuhang’s hand away and walked straight ahead without looking back.

Pfft!³³ And just moments ago, I was even speaking up for her. Putting romance before friendship!³⁴

Song Yuhang looked utterly bewildered, wanting to call after her again. “Lin…”

From the phone, Lin Ge’s gentle voice came through: “Then it’s settled. See you at Milan Bar at eight tonight. Lin Yan will be there too. I’ll come pick you up then.”

---

LP: Re-translated on April 15, 2025

Re-reading while re-translating, these two sure are so gay for each other early on!

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