Lin Xi’s thoughts were entirely built on the differences between a madman and a fool.

But in real life, many people call fools madmen, and sometimes even madmen fools.

The reason is that both madmen and fools are in a state of dementia.

However, the differences between madmen and fools are significant.

Lin Xi began to enlarge these differences, and the more she did, the more apparent the strangeness of Zhang Cheng’s sudden disappearance in the presence of Chen Xiao became.

Yet such an analysis only made Zhang Cheng’s issues more plausible.

As for everything else, it had no immediate effect for the time being.

As Lin Xi said, everything awaited the result of the bloodstain analysis on the suit.

If the bloodstain belonged to a member of the Jiao Family, there was no doubt that whether Zhang Cheng was the murderer or not, he would be deemed a suspect.

Lin Xi had to return first to verify her bold guess.

Chen Xiao stayed by the riverbank, waiting for the retrieval team’s results.

As hours passed and dawn approached, the retrieval team’s captain came over.

"Advisor Chen, we’ve been dredging all night without finding anything. Dawn is near, and there will be many people around. Besides, the water flow is so strong, continuing to dredge here seems ineffective."

Chen Xiao understood his point.

It was simply because no one could confirm whether Madman Zhang was in the river.

Continuing, passerby on the bridge and riverbank would inevitably speculate that something had happened here.

Rumors would be bad if they spread.

Chen Xiao looked at the fish-belly white sky and said, "Thank you for your hard work, let’s wrap it up for now."

"Alright, thank you too, Advisor Chen, go home and rest well." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Chen Xiao nodded with a smile.

Shortly after, the retrieval team packed up and left the riverbank before the sky fully brightened.

Chen Xiao didn’t stay in place and drove to Lin Xi’s house.

However, upon arrival, he found that his mother-in-law and father-in-law were already up.

As he entered the house, his mother-in-law presented a pot of freshly cooked porridge on the table.

Seeing Chen Xiao’s return, Han Meixiang said with some relief, "You’re back just in time. The porridge is ready. If you think it’s tasteless, I’ll have your father buy something else later."

It was only five-thirty in the morning.

Han Meixiang would not typically be up at this hour.

Yet now she had already prepared porridge.

When Chen Xiao was about to ask why, Lin Shanhu smiled and said, "It was Xiaoxi who called over an hour ago. She said you were busy upfront, and the countryside isn’t like the city where you can find breakfast anywhere, so she asked us to get up and make you something to eat."

This touched Chen Xiao but also made him scold Lin Xi.

"Calling you so early, she thought of me but didn’t consider you were resting."

"She’s our daughter, she knows our habits. If we’re not up at four, it’s around five, and after another nap, it’s dawn."

Chen Xiao nodded, and Han Meixiang served some pickles and a bowl of porridge.

"Xiaoxi is worried since you were up all night. We’re used to early rising, don’t worry."

"Thank you, Mom."

Han Meixiang shook her head and went back to housework.

Lin Shanhu started drinking porridge and asked, "What kind of case are you investigating that’s day and night?"

"A family of four, leaving just a five-year-old girl."

Lin Shanhu stopped drinking porridge: "How tragic?"

Chen Xiao affirmed.

He didn’t like discussing cases with his family.

First, talking cases with family wasn’t proper, and such gloomy stuff was better left unsaid.

Lin Shanhu sensed Chen Xiao’s reluctance and quietly drank his porridge.

After breakfast, Lin Shanhu reminded Chen Xiao to take a nap.

Though a sleepless one or two nights didn’t wear Chen Xiao out, he smiled and nodded when his mother-in-law echoed the suggestion.

After lying down for a short while, he heard Old Chen and his mother getting up.

The noise made Chen Xiao feel helpless.

This trip was to visit Lin Shanhu and Han Meixiang, but he and Lin Xi were busy with the case.

However, he felt reassured when he heard Lin Shanhu suggesting a trip to Yangguan County with Old Chen.

Perhaps elders find joy in different things.

With peace of mind, Chen Xiao closed his eyes to rest.

But unexpectedly, Wang Dahe called early in the morning.

"Hello, teacher, why so early?"

Chen Xiao asked with a smile, and Wang Dahe replied, "Chen Xiao, do you remember the content of my book ’Before and After People’?"

"I remember."

"You asked about the characters in my book before. And you came to me about Madman Zhang last night. Well... there’s a character a bit like him."

Wang Dahe finished, and Chen Xiao said puzzledly, "I’ve read your book, there’s no such character."

"I wrote about Zhang Madman before he went mad. Creation comes from life. My book features Tian Xingjian, not entirely based on him but partially so."

"He’s a high-IQ character who excelled academically. I shaped this character around the ’Before and After People’ theme. But I bet you didn’t read my book thoroughly, I kind of wrote the character into a nervous wreck!"

"I intended to make a positive, genius character. But I tried to deepen the role for the plot, and Tian Xingjian became neurotic."

Wang Dahe spoke with a hint of disbelief.

"It’s such a coincidence. The genius protagonist in your book had mental issues, and the real-life model, Zhang Cheng, became mad!"

"Yes, upon reflection, it’s unbelievable."

Listening to Wang Dahe,

lying in bed, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but sit up.

After a few seconds, Chen Xiao felt he needed to read ’Before and After People’ carefully.

Its protagonist is based on Wang Jun’s uncle.

And another character comes from the real Zhang Cheng.

Though Zhang Cheng’s madness was due to life changes, such coincidence requires attention.

Ending the call with Wang Dahe, Chen Xiao dressed and got out of bed, informed his in-laws, and drove alone to the Jiao Family again!