Chapter 113: The Doppelganger

Xu Miaohan's mother: "How is the girl supposed to eat these when she gets back?"

Father: "Oh, come on, I pinched them shut tight enough. Look at yours, they aren't any better. Last time, the girl clearly said she liked the dumplings I made."

Mother: "Nonsense."

Xiao Deng sat to the side, notebook in hand, observing their conversation without interrupting. He waited until Wang Feiyue appeared.

Wang Feiyue: "Detective."

Mother: "Look at you, bragging without even blushing."

Xiao Deng looked toward Wang Feiyue.

Wang Feiyue gestured toward the balcony: "May I have a word with you in private?"

Xiao Deng stood up, followed Wang Feiyue to the balcony, and closed the door behind them.

Wang Feiyue: "I told them Miaohan went away on a trip. We should try to keep up the charade for as long as we can."

As he spoke, Wang Feiyue glanced at the two elderly people, and Xiao Deng followed his gaze.

Xiao Deng: "When Xu Miaohan graduated from high school, was she accepted into a music conservatory?"

Wang Feiyue recalled for a moment, though he seemed uncertain: "It seems there was something like that. But she didn't go at the time."

Wang Feiyue: "Back then, besides the acceptance letter, Miaohan also passed the local teacher qualification exam. You know how it is—parents want their daughters to stay close to home and have a stable career. Plus, I had just started dating her at the time. Miaohan was very torn. She went away for a while to clear her head. When she came back, she had made up her mind to stay and become a teacher, giving up her dream of music."

Xiao Deng listened quietly, contemplating as he spoke.

Once he finished, Xiao Deng asked directly: "How long was she away?"

Wang Feiyue thought for a long time: "How long? Oh, right, a month."

While Xiao Deng was conducting his investigation at Xu Miaohan’s home, Wang Zixuan and his partner went to see Duan Peng to learn more.

Duan Peng: "According to the official supermarket records, Xu Miaohan went straight to working as a local teacher after graduating high school. However, a preliminary search online shows that the Capital Conservatory of Music did indeed admit a Xu Miaohan from M City."

Wang Zixuan, Hao Yingjun, and the others waiting nearby were quite surprised. There was this detail, too.

Duan Peng: "Not only did Xu Miaohan's mother go to study, but she also graduated four years later."

Wang Zixuan stood up, pondered for a moment, and said: "Let’s go to the medical station."

At the medical station, Dr. Bai used a scalpel to slice an earthworm in half. Wang Zixuan winced, finding it quite repulsive.

Dr. Bai: "As long as an earthworm is cut in half at the midsection, both parts can survive. It just takes time to recover. After being separated, they must be kept at a temperature of around twenty degrees and away from light. In about ten days, both halves will regenerate the severed parts. After a while longer, they will recover into two identical earthworms."

Wang Zixuan: "So, that means an earthworm spirit can create a clone?"

Dr. Bai: "Theoretically, yes. It just takes much longer once they have attained spiritual form, and the process is far more painful."

Hao Yingjun tilted his head and asked: "How long would it take?"

Dr. Bai: "About a month."

Back in the supermarket conference room, Hao Yingjun paced back and forth, deep in thought.

Hao Yingjun: "If Xu Miaohan wanted to create a clone, she would have to be ruthless enough to split herself in two, then spend a month recovering in seclusion, hidden from everyone."

Wang Zixuan held his cup, contemplating as he listened. He said: "Then let us proceed under the assumption that Xu Miaohan does have a clone."