Light in the Darkness Chapter Thirty-Nine The Second Victim

Jiang Li and his companions climbed into Chen Yufeng’s car and were taken to his home. The summer heat was at its peak, and the barbecue restaurants lining the streets buzzed with customers. The group casually picked a riverside eatery, and Chen Yufeng ordered most of the dishes. They ordered two cases of beer, enjoying the riverside scenery as they launched into spirited discussions about life.

Meanwhile, in a residential complex in Jin Hai City, a storm brewed within a family.

“How could you be so foolish? These questions are so simple and you still got them wrong.” The father’s voice rang out, harsh and grating. His son had just started his first year of high school and had recently taken a minor exam. Because his scores were less than ideal, he was now being lectured.

“Look at Uncle Zhang’s son; he’s always ranked first in every exam. Uncle Zhang never has to worry about a thing. And you? Compare yourself to him, and look at yourself.” The boy lowered his head, silent in the face of his father’s words.

He didn’t understand why he always had to be measured against others. Excellent people lead excellent lives, and everyone strives to be better. The saying, “No comparison, no pain,” is a traditional mindset rooted in a certain generation.

“Dad, am I really so worthless in your eyes?” After a long silence, the boy suddenly looked up at this unfamiliar father and spoke calmly, his words falling into the sea without causing a ripple.

The father was taken aback by his son’s question. His words, it seemed, had inflicted invisible wounds.

At that moment, the boy’s mother returned from work and immediately noticed the test paper on the table. The glaring score of 130 out of 150 stabbed sharply at her heart.

“You... Every day, your father and I work so hard for whom? For you! And all you can manage is such a paltry score.” The mother trembled with rage, her words faltering.

Expressionless, the boy closed his eyes, letting his mother’s angry accusations wash over him. He couldn’t understand why the desire for a son’s success meant forcibly imposing dreams that were never his own.

Parents always try to make up for their own regrets through their children, but those dreams are not his.

As she spoke, the mother’s tears flowed freely, while the father sat silently, chain-smoking.

“Tell me, are you not ashamed? Out of 150 points, you scored only 130.” “That’s your highest. Math... only 100. English, 90. The rest, 60, 70... you... you—” With that, the mother angrily flung the test paper into the boy’s face.

The atmosphere grew heavy, and outside, a gentle rain began to fall, mirroring the boy’s inner turmoil.

“I don’t understand why I always have to be compared to others.

I don’t understand why things you never had must be forced upon me to achieve.

I don’t understand why, in your eyes, I’m even more useless than useless.

I don’t understand why you can talk about my flaws all day, but when I ask, can you name a single virtue I possess?

I don’t understand why, just as I regain a bit of self-confidence, I receive not praise but merciless blows.

I don’t understand why, in front of my classmates and teachers, you enumerate my faults without considering my dignity.

I don’t understand why, in your eyes, everything I do is wrong. Even when I get something right, it never earns a single word of praise.

All day long, it’s about how hard things were in your era. Always your era was so tough. Online, people say our generation—born after 2000—is hopeless, the ‘lost generation.’

Now they mock those born after 2010. What did we do to deserve that? ‘Post-2000s have no common sense,’ ‘post-2000s don’t take work seriously.’

Aren’t you tired? Why cling so tightly to one flaw?

Does one person’s lack of common sense represent all of us born after 2000?

Do you know how badly our generation is maligned? Actually, I hear those born in the '90s are the most criticized.”

The boy recited his confusion in a calm, flat voice.

A sharp slap rang out, landing hard on his cheek, turning it crimson, as red as blood.

Blankly, the boy held his swollen face, staring at his closest kin, who now seemed as terrifying as a demon.

“You dare talk back? Go to your room and study!” his mother continued her tirade.

Wordless, the boy returned to his room, sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

He knew in his heart that nothing he said or did could change anything. His parents’ beliefs were ingrained, and all efforts were futile. Like trying to wake someone feigning sleep. He used to have a sparkle in his eyes, but somewhere along the way, that light faded.

His parents now felt like strangers, and disappointment with the world crept in.

“Life isn’t worth it...” he murmured.

At one in the morning, Jiang Li and his friends, full and tipsy, began to toast one another. The long-held tension from their brush with terror was finally cast aside. No evil spirits haunted them, nor did they have to fear for their lives at every moment.

Tonight, the four felt unusually relaxed and at ease. The prolonged horror had nearly made Jiang Li and Mo Han forget they were ordinary young people.

Jiang Li rose to use the restroom. As he emerged, he spotted a lonely figure by the river in the moonlight—a man, judging by his build.

Something felt off to Jiang Li. The man stood dazed, gazing at the sky. A sudden thought struck Jiang Li: Was he about to take his own life?

His worry proved justified. The figure suddenly climbed over the stone railing.

Seeing imminent danger, Jiang Li raced over, and at the critical moment before the man could leap into the water, he seized his arm tightly.

Chen Yufeng, Mo Han, and Wei Gaoqing waited for Jiang Li’s return.

“Why is Jiang Li taking so long in the restroom? I’d better check on him.” Mo Han, knowing that the Ghost Record had specified no evil spirits in this case, still felt uneasy. Even if there were no ghosts this time, who could say others might not meddle during their mission?

“Yeah, he’s been gone a while. I’ll come too,” Chen Yufeng said, rising to join Mo Han.

Wei Gaoqing silently followed them.

“Jiang Li? What’s wrong?” Mo Han was the first to spot Jiang Li outside the stone railing, gripping something with force.

Chen Yufeng reacted quickly. Running to Jiang Li’s side, he glanced down and saw Jiang Li holding someone’s arm.

Understanding immediately, Chen Yufeng didn’t hesitate. He climbed over the railing and, together with Jiang Li, pulled the would-be jumper back to safety.

Once rescued, they realized it was only a student, about fifteen or sixteen years old.

Jiang Li and his friends brought the boy back to their table, gently inquiring about his situation and reassuring him that the world was beautiful and not to lose hope.

Finally, they called the boy’s parents, who successfully took him home.

An hour later, Jiang Li’s group returned to Chen Yufeng’s house. After washing up, they drifted into sleep.

The night passed without incident. At five in the morning, Chen Yufeng was startled awake by the shrill ring of his phone.

Bleary-eyed, he glanced at the caller ID and instantly became alert.

It was Officer Xiao Song, known for her sharp instincts. Sensing trouble, Chen Yufeng hurriedly answered.

“Hello, Captain Chen. At four this morning, another case occurred near your home.”

“The victim is a sixteen-year-old high school student. It looks like suicide, but I feel there’s more to it. Like the previous case, there are no external wounds.”

“Except for some unknown white powder at the scene, there’s nothing else.”

“Looks like suicide, no external injuries. White powder...”

—Headache. I haven't figured out how to plant the clues for solving the case yet...