The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

The charts sent by the data analyst slowly scroll on the electronic screen, compressing five years of meteorological data into a series of fluctuating lines.

Jiang An noticed an abnormal fluctuation in the humidity curve from last summer, with three consecutive weeks of heavy rain records subtly echoing the erosion marks on the surface of the bones.

He suddenly turned around, the lab coat fluttering in a breeze: ”Senior, do you have a pen and paper? Preferably graph paper.”

”Hold on!”

Zhang Yean quickly walked toward the storage cabinet, the metal drawer rails emitting a piercing sound.

”Leftover from last year’s site surveying, the back can still be used.”

Taking the paper, Jiang An began his calculations.

When he transformed the chart data into differential equations, the pen tip tore two spots on the paper.

The lab suddenly fell silent, leaving only the rustling sound of a ballpoint pen against paper.

”The temperature decay coefficient λ needs correction...”

Jiang An muttered to himself as he drew a parabola, the still-wet formula slightly reflecting in the air-conditioned breeze.

Zhang Yean watched as he pushed his slipping glasses with a left hand, suddenly remembering what their medical school mentor had said: A top forensic scientist’s scalpel and math pen are equally sharp.

The two forensic assistants instinctively leaned forward.

The younger forensic assistant suddenly widened his eyes—Jiang An had just skipped three steps and directly wrote the integral result of the bone weathering rate.

They had only seen such mental calculation ability in the retired old professor at the forensic appraisal center.

10 minutes later, Jiang An lifted his head, his pupils shrinking into two black dots under the strong light: ”192.5 days.”

This figure sparked a subtle reaction in the laboratory.

The older forensic assistant suddenly coughed—it was him who had been responsible for registering those missing person files six months ago.

”Mr. Chen mentioned...”

Wan suddenly lowered his voice, ”The last time the deceased appeared in the surveillance footage was on the evening of May 18th.”

He took out his phone and pulled up the calendar, the sound of his fingertips sliding across the screen particularly clear in the silence, ”Today, it’s exactly 192.5 days.”

Jiang An gently nodded, the light of the data stream reflecting off his glasses.

His finger pointed to a correction factor at the corner of the calculation paper: ”Considering the temperature transmission delay two meters underground...”

About a minute later, he suddenly raised his head, his voice carrying a hint of shock that was hard to conceal: ”If we calculate based on 192.5 days, then his death should have occurred in the afternoon of May 18th.”

”May 18th?”

One of the forensic specialists wearing gold-rimmed glasses abruptly lifted his head at Jiang An’s words, a trace of astonishment flashing behind the lenses.

He instinctively moved to adjust his glasses, the frames reflecting a cold light under the lamps.

”This date...” his voice tightened slightly, ”I recall Mr. Chen mentioning that Luo Xi disappeared precisely on May 18th.”

Jiang An’s fingers which were flipping through the autopsy report suddenly froze, the paper trembling slightly between them.

His pupils contracted sharply, and countless possibilities flashed through his mind.

If the time of death matched the time of disappearance so perfectly, what did it imply?

A frightening hypothesis began to form in his mind.

Luo Xi very likely encountered misfortune on the day she went missing.

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Jiang An immediately pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly with urgency.

He quickly dialed Chen Biao’s number, the seconds before the call connected seeming to stretch infinitely.

”Hello, Biao.”

Jiang An’s voice was noticeably more hurried than usual.

”Hey! Jiang, how’s it going?”

Chen Biao’s hearty voice came from the other end, the background filled with the highway’s characteristic rushing wind sound.

”Are you guys on your way back?”

”Yeah, we’re on the highway, should reach the office in about forty minutes.”

Chen Biao’s voice carried the fatigue of a long journey, ”Is there something up?”

Jiang An took a deep breath, striving to keep his voice steady: ”I need to confirm, what was the exact time when the deceased Luo Xi left the school?”

”The time she left?”

Chen Biao clearly paused, then the sound of rustling papers came through the phone.

”Hold on, let me check the records...”

After a few seconds of silence, his voice sounded again: ”It was the afternoon of May 18th.”

”Why? Why ask about this all of a sudden?”

Chen Biao’s tone carried a hint of confusion, clearly puzzled by the unexpected question.

Jiang An tightened his grip on the phone, the knuckles faintly white from the force.

He could clearly hear the thumping sound of his heartbeat in his ears.

”Biao, based on our climate analysis of the skeletal changes and combined with Chuan City’s local climate characteristics, the time of death should be 192.5 days ago...”

He paused, allowing the number to settle in the air, ”Which is the afternoon of May 18th.”

The other end of the phone suddenly fell into deadly silence, even the background car noise seemingly disappeared.

After a few seconds, Chen Biao’s voice rose by eight degrees: ”What? Are you sure?”

Amidst the distinct sound of a body movement, it seemed Chen Biao had shot up from his seat.

”I’m sure.”

Jiang An’s voice was steady and firm, each word as robust as stone, ”This conclusion is based on the cross-verification of skeletal changes and climate data, the entire reasoning process has been rigorously verified.”

The phone conversation went silent again on Chen Biao’s side.

Jiang An could almost imagine the expression on the other side—brows furrowed, eyes heavy with contemplation, mind rapidly replaying all relevant details.

After a long pause, Chen Biao finally spoke, his voice low and serious: ”If... if your deduction is accurate, then Luo Xi’s time of death was indeed on the afternoon of her disappearance day...”

Suddenly, an urgent command rang out from Chen Biao over the phone: ”Mr. Wang, pull over immediately! We need to turn back right now! Instantly!”