Miss Forensics 我亲爱的法医小姐 Read Along: Chapters 41 to 50

[yuerstruly]

The link to the novel on JJWXC can be found here.

You can also follow the novel through the audiobook on Himalaya, though there may be slight changes and ommissions from the original.

Please feel free to post chapter summaries if I'm not getting to them by the planned schedule (one for every weekday Monday to Friday).

Discussion for Chapter 1-10 here.
Discussion for Chapters 11-20 here.
Discussion for Chapters 21-30 here.
Discussion for Chapters 31-40 here.

Comments

Chapter 41

[yuerstruly]

Song Yuhang returns to the station, and is dragged into participating in the athletic competition hosted by the police. She's just about beat everyone when Lin Yan makes a surprise appearance. Her not putting up a fight pisses off Lin Yan, who then beats her up out of rage. Song Yuhang nearly ends up going to the hospital and takes a break, and is spotted scouring the internet for advice on Lin Yan's temper. Lin Yan continues to be vastly annoyed as Lin Ge invites Song Yuhang on dates.

Re: Chapter 41

[laine4466]

Thinking a lot about how SYH searched terms like "怎么哄女孩子开心" as if she isn't one herself

The way the scene transitioned with Duan Cheng giving an innocent smile while saying he didn't see a single thing and the next sentence was everyone asking him deets for the tea is amazingly funny as well

Re: Chapter 41

[douqi]

I guess Song Yuhang isn't the kind of person who needs to be 哄'd?

Re: Chapter 41

[douqi]

Fighting as Sex really is their thing, huh. (I personally find them doing Fighting as Sex a lot sexier than them doing Sex as Sex)

I like the suggestion that Song Yuhang really did go and leave the rose from the last chapter in a place Lin Yan would see.

The scene where the junior officers are all demanding that Duan Cheng spill the tea was hilarious. I'm also mildly bemused that Lin Yan's declaration of 我...和男的差不离 didn't have the radfems screaming 'SHE'S A MAN TOO, THIS BAIHE IS SECRETLY A DANMEI'.

Re: Chapter 41

[hanlinacademic]

Fighting and getting physical is really their love language, huh.

Chapter 42

[yuerstruly]

Song Yuhang sets out for Lin Ge's birthday bash at the bar, but not before being bothered by her mom and sister-in-law about presenting herself better. When she arrives, her coworkers are already there. She sees Lin Yan in everyone's spotlight and keeps trying to talk to her about what happened, but Lin Yan pays her no mind. Lin Yan, though not a professional bartender, makes everyone drinks, and puts together one with a lot of hard liquor for Song Yuhang. Instead of declining, Song Yuhang tries drinking it all, which annoys Lin Yan to no end, leading to a reconciliation of sorts.

Re: Chapter 42

[douqi]

I like how Song Yuhang is so established as not actually having any friends that Lin Ge has to resort to inviting her colleagues to the party in order to give her some familiar people to talk to.

Ahahah Lin Yan's seemingly affectionate near-kiss and then: 'Fuck off.' Classic.

Poor Zheng Chengrui. Everyone else gets a custom cocktail with an auspicious/flirty name. His drink might as well be called 'liquid Ozempic special'.

The OOC effect is mutual: Lin Yan makes Song Yuhang reckless and law-breaking, Song Yuhang makes Lin Yan say cringe 肉麻 things.

Chapter 43

[yuerstruly]

As Lin Yan has no idea where Song Yuhang lives, she takes her back to one of her villas. We learn that Song Yuhang is a cute (?) drunk, and she, like many others, is really into Lin Yan's boobs. It turns out Song Yuhang has an allergy to alcohol and has rashes popping up all over. Lin Yan tends to her overnight to ease up the pain and loses sleep, only catching up on it when it's time to wake up. Song Yuhang carries her back to her bedroom so she can rest properly, but Lin Yan doesn't get much of it.

Re: Chapter 43

[douqi]

Why is drunk Song Yuhang so cute and earnest OMG.

Getting emotional at “林厌哪，不疼了。”

Amazing how high the sexual tension continues to ratchet up with every encounter. Taking my hat off to the author.

Chapter 44

[yuerstruly]

After spending the night at Lin Yan's and with no spare clothes to wear, Song Yuhang ends up in Lin Yan's clothes, which are a bit too tight for her. The fitting reminds Lin Yan of Song Yuhang's jacket that has been left at hers, and much to Song Yuhang's dismay, Lin Yan digs it up and returns it. Song Yuhang starts making breakfast so she doesn't have to make eye contact with Lin Yan, but the latter isn't having any of it. The kitchen banter results in Lin Yan standing in the corner like a sad wet cat until the food is done. When Lin Yan's butler shows up, he is very shocked by her eating "peasant" food. Though, in her words, it's not that she likes it; she's just curious. On the other end, Ji Jingxing shows up at the station because Song Yuhang didn't go home the previous night, and is befuddled at the image of Song Yuhang and Lin Yan showing up together. While settling into work, Fang Xin notices that there's a mark on Song Yuhang's neck, and asks if it's a hickey left by Lin Yan. Lin Yan is furious (is she?). That is a RASH. She can barely sit down when they are called to head out again, this time concerning a body found in a bathtub. The deceased is a female student who lives alone, and was only discovered by her downstairs neighbor who had felt blood dripping onto his neck as he got ready for work. Lin Yan and the crew get to work, in the process finding the girl's phone and an unsent text for her mother.

Re: Chapter 44

[douqi]

much to Song Yuhang's dismay, Lin Yan digs it up and returns it
Song Yuhang: I just like the idea of leaving something of mine at her place. NO I WILL NOT REFLECT ON WHY.

Song Yuhang starts making breakfast so she doesn't have to make eye contact with Lin Yan
Also wonder how much of it is to do with the fact that Lin Yan is running around in just a towel (ans: a lot).

Everyone who sees them (the butler, Ji Jingxing unwillingly, Fang Xin extremely willingly) instantly shipping them is extremely hilarious.

The description of the blood dripping onto the downstairs neighbour is nicely creepy (and also cinematic, I can see how it would look on a screen).

Re: Chapter 44

[hanlinacademic]

What are you doing, Song Yuhang!! If you start prepping food and halfway through slicing a tomato you change your mind about cooking, why would you just dump the tomato in the trash? That'll be a waste of a perfectly good tomato!

Re: Chapter 44

[douqi]

I mean, considering that Lin Yan is the queen of food waste...

Chapter 45

[yuerstruly]

Fan Lin's mother is called in first, and she is accompanied by her husband. They both express sadness but keep going on about the could'ves, should'ves, would'ves. Song Yuhang reveals to the mother that Fan Lin has been on depression medication, and this is their first time hearing about this. Song Yuhang talks to the dad later, but he doesn't appear to be close to his daughter and cares more about his business than anything else. Though there are some striking similarities between Fan Lin's and He Miao's case, there isn't enough evidence to propose dissecting the body, and the family currently is against the idea. While Song Yuhang sets off to Fan Lin's high school, she tasks Lin Yan to dig through the files of suicide cases. At the school, Song Yuhang witnesses a recurring object—the image of a beluga whale. Back at the office, Song Yuhang and Lin Yan go over the case while having lunch. Lin Yan picks up a shrimp and dangles it in front of Song Yuhang, who thinks it's for her to eat, only for it to be a demand from Lin Yan for her to peel it. Song Yuhang peels the shrimp, and Lin Yan eats them. Lin Yan feeds one to Song Yuhang, and Fang Xin, Duan Cheng, and Zheng Chengrui walk in on them. The two panic, and Song Yuhang grabs for water, then starts choking when Lin Yan points out that the glass she drank out of isn't her own.

Re: Chapter 45

[douqi]

So many terrible parents and abandoned children in this novel :( Which I guess is (or will prove to be) the point, but still.

Lin Yan is SO MAD at not being able to dissect any body she wants. And there's the law vs justice argument again.

The Lin/Song food scene added much needed hilarity. My headcanon is that Fang Xin starts writing a fic called 我和死对头相亲相爱了.

Re: Chapter 45

[hanlinacademic]

My favorite part of the food scene is how Lin Yan ran off with the food!

Re: Chapter 45

[douqi]

AND (it's implied) polishes off the food and washes the container.

Chapter 46

[yuerstruly]

Using a bathroom break as an excuse, Lin Yan breaks away from the team to dig up Chen Chunan's file. In it, she finds a bunch of paperwork, but no photo, which is out of the norm. She also notes down the name of the examiner that performed the autopsy, Li Bin, to dig up more information about what happened all those years ago. She returns and continues working, and to everyone's surprise, stays for overtime for the first time. At some point, she falls asleep and is haunted by the shadow of Chunan. When Song Yuhang comes back to pull Lin Yan out of her nightmare, Lin Yan denies having one and avoids answering the question "Who is Chunan?" After looking through all the suicide cases in past recent years, it's deduced that over a thousand cases do not have a clearly listed reason for suicide, with large overlap in themes of "ocean," "whale," and "being set free." With so many anomalies in place, Feng Jianguo opens a new case, giving the investigation team a month. Lin Yan is not included in the team, and to get Song Yuhang to put her in, eats in the cafeteria for the first time, even continuously putting meat on her plate. Lin Yan continues badgering Song Yuhang to join, and after much persuasion, Song Yuhang agrees, on three accounts, the third being unknown for the time being.

Re: Chapter 46

[douqi]

Lin Yan's description of the serial killer's technique reminded me a lot of a certain Golden Age mystery novel Highlight for spoilers! *by Agatha Christie* (I don't name the novel in the spoiler but I do name the author, so beware). Also very cute the way Song Yuhang admires her (rare) show of professionalism in that moment.

Lin Yan badgering Song Yuhang about joining the team was just CLASSIC. I can definitely visualise the scene as described — everyone in the canteen turning to stare at them, Lin Yan going “宋余杭，宋警官，宋队” in her most 撒娇 voice, everyone in the canteen noisily clearing the throats. I also love seeing Song Yuhang turn the tables on Lin Yan in these kinds of scenarios.

Chapter 47

[yuerstruly]

The investigation team visit the families of the deceased to gather more information about the deceased. Zheng Chengrui is able to get his hands on one of the victim's computer, but is hit with an encrypted chatroom he is unable to hack. The device self destructs, and they hit a temporary dead end. On the other end, Lin Yan follows Song Yuhang. At some point, she feels tired, and because she wore heels out, gets a blister. Demanding they rest, Lin Yan drags Song Yuhang to Milan Bar for food and drinks. While waiting for their order, Song Yuhang disappears, then comes back with bandages and helps her put them on. "A friend?" No, according to Lin Yan, when questioned by Bai Ling. Before they can really dig into their food, Song Yuhang receives news of a new case. The victim this time is the boy she bumped into at the school the other day. With more cases, Lin Yan starts dissecting the bodies, and does so for 6 hours straight. Zheng Chengrui and the others discuss ways to get into the chatroom before it self destructs by searching for clues on forums. After Lin Yan finishes up, she comes up and is greeted with her special meal of century egg porridge, courtesy of Song Yuhang, while everyone else gets a typical bento. She's scolded by Song Yuhang for not wearing more clothes in public after finishing up her work, and we're left to wonder if it's for Song Yuhang's sanity or for Lin Yan's safety.

Re: Chapter 47

[douqi]

The novel's biggest unsolved mystery so far: when will Lin Yan learn to wear sensible shoes?

Even random teenagers in bars ship them! Bai Ling's misguided yet so earnest hero-worship of Lin Yan is sweet. I wish horrible things weren't in store for her in the near future, as the ominous last line of the section at the bar suggests.

The description of the chatroom's whale graphic was pretty creepy. I imagine you could make it look very gruesome on screen. Also... does it seem kind of convenient that Zheng Chengrui just so happened to trigger the self-destruct on the chatroom?

Chapter 48

[yuerstruly]

The investigation team sets off to learn more about where Wu Wei was and what he was doing the day he died. It's noted that he got an excused absence and headed out to eat, so they begin tracking down the car he entered. We cut to a mysterious man who has found his next victim and a woman that doesn't want to help him anymore, but has clearly been involved in past cases. Later, Bai Ling is corned by a group of me, then "saved" by Beluga. On the other end, Lin Yan heads out and is monitored by Duan Cheng. Without Song Yuhang to keep a close eye on her, Lin Yan jumps into the water to find Wu Wei's phone, which was never found at the crime scene. Furious by the news, Song Yuhang comes over, then throws Lin Yan into the car and bites her neck like a dog. We later get a confession from Song Yuhang and a rejection from Lin Yan, but Song Yuhang appears to not have realized she has been rejected.

Re: Chapter 48

[douqi]

BAI LING NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Poor kid.

Of course Lin Yan has an international swimming qualification, of course she does.

So the bite scene is cinematic — I can see Song Yuhang clapping a hand over Lin Yan's mouth, then cutting to Duan Cheng standing nervously outside the rocking car — but I do wonder why the author chose not to show us the actual biting or the main characters' immediate emotional responses. On my first read of the novel, it struck me as odd to have that distance, and it's striking me the same way now. Especially since it's functionally a confession (leading to Lin Yan's rejection and Song Yuhang's not-understanding of the rejection leading to an actual verbal confession).

Fighting as Sex, confirmed. Also me @ Lin Yan: STOP THAT RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY, I WILL NOT HAVE THIS SELF-LOATHING.

The description of Song Yuhang as a stepped-on cat was funny, partly because she's definitely a dog person and not a cat person.

Re: Chapter 48

[hanlinacademic]

ugh I hate this rape plot. I wonder how Beluga manufactures his other victims' suicides though - I have a hard time imagining he does this for all his victims?

Chapter 49

[yuerstruly]

The team thinks they've got a lead by phishing on a forum, only for it to be traced to a random man who was just curious about who would be stupid enough to actually commit suicide. After regrouping, they deduce the specific characteristics of the suspect, slimming the prospects down to 68. According to Lin Yan, the dead bodies all contained GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), which is often found in medicine and food. With that in mind, Song Yuhang starts searching for places that sell food. Lin Yan and the others set off to interrogate each family, with the last one being a suspicious woman that catches the attention of Lin Yan. Meanwhile, Bai Ling arrives at school, looking out of it, and dismisses it when asked by classmates and teachers.

Re: Chapter 49

[douqi]

only for it to be traced to a random man who was just curious about who would be stupid enough to actually commit suicide
My first instinct was to wonder who has this much free time, but this is definitely something that would happen.

Aww Song Yuhang feeling mildly bereft at Lin Yan no longer doing the sexy cigarette-lighting thing. But the flirting continues! Initially via a raised middle finger!

Me @ the irrepressibly happy Song Yuhang: You've really got it bad huh.

Once again, poor Bai Ling :(((((((

The text tells me Song Yuhang looks much fresher and more energetic after a few hours' rest. I circle Song Yuhang's conversation with Lin Yan and draw an arrow pointing directly at it.

So the mysterious evil people are somehow managing to get hold of evidence from the police. Hmm.

For all her inner protestations about how unfit a romantic partner she would be for Song Yuhang, Lin Yan certainly isn't making a huge effort to make her rejection in the last chapter final. I KNOW she must have her fair share of ruthless, brutal breakups under her belt.

Chapter 50

[yuerstruly]

The suspicious woman reports to the mysterious man about her meeting with the police, which all sounds to be typical protocol. During work, Lin Ge calls Lin Yan, and asks her to visit for the Mid Autumn Festival. Lin Yan isn't particularly interested, then spends time convincing Lin Ge to give up on Song Yuhang, an attempt misunderstood as disliking her as an in-law. Song Yuhang overhears their conversation as Lin Yan doesn't go out of her way to keep the phone call private. The investigation team continues to search for who Wu Wei could have gone with, but the suspect turns out to be someone who died twenty years ago. They call the village he was in, but there doesn't seem to be much to gain from, except for the fact that where he is from matches up with the information Lin Yan gets about Li Bin.

Re: Chapter 50

[douqi]

The references to what happened in That Scene in the Car from Lin Yan's perspective is again making me wonder why the author chose not to depict that from either of their POVs. It's such a pivotal moment.

Another Lin Yan classic: 太难了，不如杀了她 (about Song Yuhang and the Feelings she's stirring up in Lin Yan).

Re: Chapter 50

[hanlinacademic]

I'm caught up T.T