By the time lunch ended, the strange atmosphere from the cafeteria had mostly faded.
Most students had already moved on to their afternoon classes, although Ryan and Sophia were still talking about what had happened with Lily as we walked back to the science building. The three of us climbed the stairs together, our footsteps mixing with the noise of students coming and going between classes.
Ryan was the first to speak.
"I still don't know what to think about that."
Sophia adjusted the strap of her bag.
"Neither do I."
I glanced at them.
"You two are still talking about Lily?"
Ryan looked at me as if the answer should have been obvious.
"Of course."
"It's over."
"It was weird."
Sophia nodded.
"Very weird."
We reached the second floor and slowed down as we approached our classroom.
Sophia lowered her voice.
"I don't know if I'm being unfair, but I feel uncomfortable around her."
Ryan immediately nodded.
"Same."
I looked at them.
"What exactly makes you uncomfortable?"
Sophia thought for a moment.
"I don't know how to explain it. She's always so nice."
"That's a strange reason."
"I know."
She frowned.
"But that's exactly why I can't explain it. She never says anything obviously wrong. She doesn't insult anyone. She doesn't even fight back when people confront her."
Ryan gave a quiet laugh.
"That's the problem."
Sophia looked at him.
"What?"
"Every time something happens, she somehow ends up looking like the innocent one."
He lowered his voice further as we entered the classroom.
"Think about what happened at lunch. That girl came over angry because she thought Lily was flirting with her boyfriend. Lily didn't really deny most of what she said. She just kept saying she didn't understand, that she was sorry, that she didn't mean anything by it."
Sophia nodded slowly.
"And then everyone started feeling sorry for her."
"Exactly."
I placed my bag beside my chair.
"Maybe she really is innocent."
Ryan looked at me.
"You believe that?"
"I didn't say that."
I pulled out my notebook.
"I said maybe."
Sophia sat down beside me.
"I don't know. She just feels... practiced."
Ryan pointed at her.
"That's the word."
"Practiced?"
"Yeah. Like she already knows what to say whenever something happens."
I glanced toward the doorway.
Lily wasn't there.
I turned back to them.
"Whether she's pretending or not, it doesn't matter."
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
"Because it's not my business."
Sophia smiled.
"That's very you."
I ignored her.
Before Ryan could continue, Professor Adams entered the room carrying a stack of papers under one arm. The conversations around the classroom gradually died down as everyone returned to their seats.
Professor Adams placed the papers on the desk and looked over the class.
"Good afternoon."
The room answered him with a tired chorus of greetings.
He smiled.
"You all look thrilled to be here."
A few students laughed.
"I'll try not to make your afternoon worse."
Ryan whispered beside me, "He's lying."
Professor Adams picked up a marker and turned toward the whiteboard.
He wrote several words across it.
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY DEBATE
Underneath, he wrote:
Can pathological findings alone establish the cause and manner of death?
My eyes moved over the question.
Finally, something interesting.
Professor Adams turned back toward us.
"Today we're going to have a debate. I'll divide the class into two teams. One team will argue that pathological findings can establish the cause and manner of death when the findings are sufficiently clear and properly interpreted. The opposing team will argue that pathology alone cannot establish the manner of death and must be interpreted alongside investigative evidence."
A few students began whispering.
Professor Adams started assigning teams.
I didn't pay much attention until I heard my name.
"Max Smith."
I looked up.
"Yes, Professor?"
"You're leading Team One."
Ryan turned toward me with a grin.
"Of course."
I ignored him.
Professor Adams continued calling names until half the class had gathered around one side of the room.
Then he started assigning the second team.
"Shen Yichen."
I looked toward the windows.
The student sitting near the back raised his head.
I recognized him immediately.
The bookstore.
He was the same person who had come in several times to buy forensic pathology books. I had seen him around campus since then, although we had never spoken.
Shen Yichen.
So he was taking this class as well.
I had assumed he was only focused on his graduating requirements, but apparently he had taken this course either as an elective or as a catch-up requirement.
Professor Adams continued.
"You're leading Team Two."
Yichen gave a small nod.
"Understood."
That was all.
He stood and joined his assigned group.
There was no unnecessary conversation, no attempt to make friends with the people around him. He simply opened his notebook and began reading through the instructions.
I turned back to my own team.
Professor Adams gave us fifteen minutes to prepare.
Everyone immediately began discussing the topic.
One student looked at me.
"So, what exactly are we arguing?"
"That pathological findings can establish the cause of death and, under appropriate circumstances, contribute substantially to determining the manner of death."
Another student frowned.
"But isn't the manner of death usually determined with the investigation?"
"It is."
I picked up a marker.
"That's why we have to distinguish cause from manner."
I wrote on the board.
Cause of death: the injury or disease responsible for the death.
Mechanism: the physiological process that produces death.
Manner: the classification of how the death occurred.
"The autopsy can establish the medical cause in many cases. The manner may require additional information about the circumstances surrounding the death. We shouldn't confuse the two."
The students around me nodded.
One of them asked, "So what exactly should our argument be?"
"That pathology isn't isolated from the rest of forensic investigation. It's one of the foundations of it."
I paused.
"And if the pathological findings are definitive enough, they can narrow the possibilities considerably."
The student beside me started writing.
I glanced across the room.
Yichen's group seemed to have reached a similar stage of preparation.
He was listening to one of his teammates explain something, then occasionally correcting a point in their notes. His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, but he was paying attention to everything.
Professor Adams eventually called everyone back to their seats.
"Time."
The classroom became quiet.
He stood at the front.
"Team One will begin."
I stood.
I had spent years working with medical cases. Pathology was not my specialty, but I had worked alongside pathologists often enough to know the importance of tissue findings, gross examination, microscopic examination, toxicology, and the clinical history surrounding a case.
Compared with neurosurgery, this wasn't particularly difficult.
It was simply another part of medicine.
"Pathological findings are among the most important forms of evidence in determining the cause of death," I began. "Through examination of the body, a pathologist can identify injuries, disease processes, hemorrhage, organ damage, toxicological findings, and other physical changes that may directly explain why a person died."
I turned slightly toward the board.
"But cause and manner of death are not the same thing."
I wrote the three terms again.
"The cause identifies the disease or injury responsible for death. The mechanism describes the physiological process that led to death, while the manner classifies the circumstances surrounding it. Because of that distinction, pathological findings may establish the cause while additional investigative evidence is required to determine the manner."
I looked at the other team.
"Our argument isn't that a pathologist can reconstruct an entire crime scene from an autopsy table. Our argument is that pathological evidence can be decisive in establishing what happened to the body, and in some cases, that information can strongly support the determination of manner."
Professor Adams nodded.
"Team Two."
Yichen stood.
He didn't need his notes.
"Pathological findings are important, but importance should not be confused with sufficiency."
His voice was steady and controlled.
"A body can tell us that a person died from a particular injury. It cannot always tell us how that injury came to exist."
He looked toward our side.
"Take blunt force trauma as an example. An autopsy may demonstrate skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema, and other injuries that explain the cause of death. But those findings alone cannot tell us whether the person fell, was struck by another person, or sustained the injuries in an accident."
I listened.
That was a fair argument.
Professor Adams looked at me.
"Response."
I stood again.
"That's true."
Several students looked surprised that I had agreed so quickly.
"But it doesn't contradict our position."
Yichen's eyes moved toward me.
I continued.
"The pathological examination determines the medical cause of death. The fact that the circumstances surrounding that injury require additional evidence doesn't diminish the value of the pathological findings."
Yichen replied almost immediately.
"Unless the question is whether pathology alone can establish both cause and manner."
"Then the wording matters."
"It does."
"Because no competent medical examiner would interpret an autopsy report without considering the circumstances of the case."
Yichen looked at me.
"Then you're agreeing with our argument."
"No."
I shook my head.
"I'm saying your conclusion is too broad."
His expression remained unchanged.
"How?"
"You're treating 'pathology alone cannot answer every question' as though it means 'pathology cannot establish the relevant findings.' Those aren't the same."
The room became quieter.
I continued.
"If a patient dies from a massive intracranial hemorrhage caused by a documented traumatic brain injury, the pathological findings can establish the cause of death. Whether the injury resulted from an accident or an assault is another question."
Yichen nodded slightly.
"And that second question requires investigation."
"Correct."
"Then we're not actually disagreeing."
"We are."
He raised an eyebrow.
I pointed toward the board.
"You're arguing that pathology has limitations. I'm arguing that those limitations don't make it insufficient. Every diagnostic field in medicine has limitations."
That drew a few murmurs from the class.
Yichen looked at the board.
Then back at me.
"Fair."
He paused.
"But there is another problem."
"What?"
"Postmortem findings can be influenced by circumstances after death."
"Of course."
"Temperature, environment, decomposition, body position."
"Yes."
"Which means even pathological interpretation requires context."
I nodded.
"Obviously."
Ryan leaned toward Sophia.
"Why does this feel like they're arguing about something they already agree on?"
Sophia whispered back, "Because they are."
I heard them but ignored it.
Yichen continued.
"Take postmortem interval estimation. Rigor mortis, lividity, body temperature, decomposition. None of these should be treated as an exact clock."
"Agreed."
He looked at me.
"Then you agree that pathological findings cannot always provide a definitive answer."
"I agree that some findings are estimates."
I picked up the marker.
"That's different."
I wrote beneath the previous terms:
Interpretation ≠ certainty
"Medicine isn't mathematics. We work with probabilities, patterns, clinical history, and multiple sources of evidence. A finding doesn't become useless simply because it isn't absolute."
Yichen looked at the board.
Then he said, "That's reasonable."
I put the marker down.
"Good."
Professor Adams finally stepped in.
"Excellent. Now we're getting somewhere."
He turned toward the class.
"This is exactly why forensic pathology requires more than memorizing lists of findings. You need to understand what the findings can establish, what they cannot establish, and how they interact with the rest of the investigation."
The discussion continued for another thirty minutes.
We moved from blunt force trauma to sharp force injuries, toxicology, postmortem changes, and estimation of the postmortem interval. Every time Yichen challenged one of our points, I answered. When his team presented a strong argument, I acknowledged it and found the part that needed clarification.
It wasn't difficult.
Pathology had never been an intimidating subject to me. As a neurosurgeon, I had spent years studying anatomy, disease processes, imaging, surgical pathology, neurological injuries, and the physiological changes that followed trauma. I might have specialized in the brain and nervous system, but medicine had never allowed me to remain ignorant of everything outside my specialty.
Still, Yichen was good.
Not because he knew more than me.
Because he knew exactly where to press.
When the debate finally ended, Professor Adams looked at both teams with a satisfied expression.
"Good work."
Everyone began packing their things.
Ryan leaned toward me.
"Remind me never to debate you."
"You wouldn't last five minutes."
He looked offended.
"I could."
"No."
"At least give me ten."
I looked at him.
"Five."
Sophia laughed.
Ryan shook his head.
"I hate both of you."
Across the classroom, Yichen was packing his things as well. He didn't look toward us, and I didn't pay much attention to him.
The classroom slowly emptied after Professor Adams dismissed us.
Chairs scraped against the floor as students gathered their notebooks and continued discussing the debate. Ryan was still complaining about Professor Adams deliberately putting the strongest students against each other, while Sophia was taking pictures of the notes on the board.
I closed my notebook and placed it inside my bag.
The debate itself hadn't been particularly difficult. Pathology was only one part of medicine, and although it wasn't my specialty, years of medical training had made the subject familiar enough. I had spent most of my career dealing with the human body, disease, trauma, and the consequences that followed when something went wrong.
What caught my attention was the other person leading the debate.
Shen Yichen.
I had seen him at the bookstore before I knew his name. Now I knew he was a graduating senior and apparently one of the better students in the department.
Nothing about him seemed particularly unusual.
At least, not yet.
I looked toward the door.
He had already left.
"Cub."
[Yes, Host?]
"Tell me about Shen Yichen."
There was a short pause.
[Please specify the information you require.]
"Everything important."
The familiar blue panel appeared in front of me.
[Character Information]
Name: Shen Yichen
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Nationality: Chinese-Canadian
Occupation: University Student
Year: Graduating Senior
Major: Forensic Science
Current Status: Student
Original Plot Role: Second Male Lead
Future Status: Major Antagonist
I stared at the last two lines.
"Major antagonist?"
[Correct.]
I frowned.
"Continue."
The information on the panel changed.
[Shen Yichen: Original Character Profile]
Shen Yichen was born in Toronto, Canada, into the Shen family, a wealthy Chinese-Canadian family with extensive business interests in North America and Asia.
The Shen family originally established its fortune through medical equipment manufacturing before expanding into biotechnology, pharmaceutical distribution, private healthcare, and investment.
Because of the family's business connections, the Shen name carried considerable influence within both the Chinese and Canadian business communities.
Yichen's father, Shen Wei, currently serves as chairman of the Shen Group.
His mother, Lin Meiying, is a former physician who later became involved in the family's healthcare and biotechnology division.
Yichen is their only son.
He was raised under strict expectations.
Unlike many wealthy heirs who were given freedom to pursue whatever they wanted, Yichen was expected to maintain the family's reputation and eventually take responsibility for part of the family business.
From an early age, he was taught several languages and received extensive education in science, mathematics, history, and business.
His parents were rarely affectionate with him.
They provided everything he needed, but emotional warmth was not something commonly expressed in the Shen household.
As a result, Yichen grew into a quiet and highly disciplined person.
He rarely talked about his personal life and disliked unnecessary social gatherings.
Although his family expected him to eventually enter the business, Yichen developed an interest in medicine and forensic science.
His interest began after witnessing a case involving the unexplained death of a family acquaintance during his teenage years.
The incident left a strong impression on him.
He became interested in determining how deaths could be investigated scientifically and eventually chose forensic science as his university major.
Despite his family's influence, he refused to rely on connections to advance his education.
He entered university through his own academic achievements and consistently ranked among the top students in his department.
His professors considered him intelligent, disciplined, and exceptionally observant.
His classmates often described him as difficult to approach.
He rarely participated in unnecessary social activities and had very few close friends.
However, those who knew him well understood that Yichen was not cruel or arrogant.
He simply had little patience for people he considered superficial.
I slowly read through the information.
So that was the reason he carried himself that way.
He wasn't some spoiled heir who had never experienced anything outside his family's protection.
He had simply grown up in a family where expectations mattered more than affection.
"Cub."
[Yes, Host?]
"His family is quite powerful."
[Correct.]
"Why is someone like that studying forensic science instead of joining the family business?"
[That information is included in the original plot.]
The panel changed again.
[Original Plot: Shen Yichen]
Yichen initially intended to continue his education in forensic science before eventually joining his family's healthcare division.
His parents opposed his decision at first.
However, his academic performance eventually convinced them to allow him to pursue his chosen field.
During university, Yichen became known for his exceptional academic performance.
He received several scholarships despite being from a wealthy family and repeatedly rejected offers to have his family's connections arrange internships for him.
His goal was to establish a career based on his own abilities.
He was originally expected to graduate with one of the highest academic rankings in his department.
However, his life changed after meeting Lily Xin.
I stopped scrolling.
There it was.
Lily.
I already knew where this was going.
"Continue."
[First Meeting]
Shen Yichen first encountered Lily Xin during their university years.
At the time, Lily was already gaining attention because of her appearance, personality, and growing popularity as an idol trainee.
Unlike many people around her, Yichen initially showed little interest in her celebrity status.
Their first meaningful interaction occurred after Lily encountered difficulties with one of her university projects.
Yichen helped her because she needed academic assistance and because he considered it a simple matter.
Lily gradually became comfortable around him.
She began approaching him more frequently for help with assignments and university activities.
Yichen initially regarded Lily as an ordinary classmate.
However, their repeated interactions eventually caused his feelings toward her to change.
He became increasingly attentive to her.
He remembered small details about her.
He made time for her despite his demanding academic schedule.
Although he rarely expressed his feelings openly, Lily eventually became one of the few people who could easily affect his emotions.
I frowned.
"Cub."
[Yes, Host?]
"How long does this continue?"
[The available plot information continues for several years.]
"That's unfortunate."
[Why?]
"Because I already know how it ends."
Cub didn't answer.
I continued reading.
[Relationship Development]
As Lily's career developed, she became increasingly surrounded by people in the entertainment industry.
Her popularity grew, and she began receiving attention from wealthy families, influential businessmen, celebrities, and university students.
Yichen remained one of the people closest to her.
He supported her privately and often helped her when she encountered problems.
However, Lily's feelings toward him remained platonic.
She viewed Yichen as a dependable senior and close friend.
Yichen eventually confessed his feelings.
Lily rejected him.
She explained that she did not see him romantically and that her feelings belonged to someone else.
Yichen initially accepted her rejection.
He withdrew from Lily and attempted to return his attention to his studies.
However, his feelings did not disappear.
As Lily's relationship with the male protagonist developed, Yichen became increasingly resentful.
He began believing that the male protagonist was taking advantage of Lily.
He convinced himself that Lily would eventually realize that the male protagonist was not suitable for her.
His concern gradually became possessiveness.
His protectiveness became control.
And his affection became obsession.
I stared at the screen.
"That's where he changes."
[Correct.]
"Why?"
[Multiple factors contribute to the character's change.]
The panel continued.
[Decline of Shen Yichen]
After Lily repeatedly rejected him, Yichen began distancing himself from his family and friends.
His academic performance remained excellent, but his emotional state deteriorated.
He became increasingly preoccupied with Lily.
He monitored her relationships and began interfering with people he believed were harmful to her.
At first, his actions appeared protective.
Later, they became deliberate attempts to isolate Lily from the male protagonist.
He used his family's influence to investigate people around her.
He began collecting information about Lily's schedule and movements.
When Lily discovered his actions, she confronted him.
She rejected him again.
This rejection became the turning point.
Yichen eventually abducted Lily.
His intention was not initially to harm her.
He believed that removing her from the male protagonist would give him an opportunity to make her understand his feelings.
However, Lily resisted.
The situation escalated.
His actions became increasingly dangerous, turning him from a second male lead into one of the major antagonists of the story.
I leaned back in my chair.
"So he's basically a tragic second male lead."
[That is one interpretation.]
"He falls in love, gets rejected, becomes possessive, then ruins his own life."
[That is an accurate summary.]
I rubbed my forehead.
"People really do make their own problems."
Cub remained silent.
I looked at the panel again.
There was one detail that bothered me.
"Does he already know Lily?"
[Yes.]
"Does he have feelings for her now?"
[The current timeline does not indicate that his romantic feelings have developed.]
I nodded.
That was important.
"So right now, he's just a senior."
[Correct.]
"And he hasn't done anything wrong."
[Correct.]
"Then I don't care."
The panel disappeared.
I closed my bag.
Shen Yichen might eventually become a villain, but he wasn't one now.
At present, he was simply a wealthy Chinese-Canadian student who happened to be good at forensic science and was trying to graduate.
I wasn't going to interfere with someone's life simply because I knew how their story was supposed to end.
Besides, I had my own mission to worry about.
"Cub."
[Yes, Host?]
"If he eventually becomes obsessed with Lily, that's his problem."
[Understood.]
"If he starts causing trouble for me, then I'll deal with him."
[Understood.]
I stood and slung my bag over my shoulder.
Ryan was waiting near the doorway.
"You coming?"
"Yes."
I walked toward him.
Behind us, the classroom gradually emptied.
I didn't give Shen Yichen another thought.
Not because I had forgotten what Cub told me.
I simply didn't see the point in treating someone like a villain before he had actually done anything wrong.