First Time Facing a Corpse

At the crime scene, a chaotic yet orderly picture unfolded. The police officers in blue uniforms were like diligent worker bees, tirelessly gathering every fragment of the truth.
The forensic team, clad in white lab coats like angels, bent over the dried pool of blood, searching for traces left behind by the perpetrator or the victim.
Despite living amidst the bustling prosperity of the city, where money and fame reigned supreme, those who bore the responsibility of protecting the people still had to face the darkness of crime day and night, working relentlessly to pursue justice.
In modern society, human life seemed to have lost its priceless value from the beginning. Just a small friction in life, a fleeting conflict in the workplace or family, was enough to sow dark thoughts of destruction in people's minds, cold scenarios of how to deprive another of life.
But no matter how the perpetrator disguised themselves as a genius of deception, no matter how sophisticated their schemes were, the net of heaven was vast, and though wide-meshed, it let nothing slip. The police, with their persistence and sharp professional skills, would follow every trace of crime to bring the culprit to justice; it was only a matter of time.
He who sowed the wind would reap the whirlwind. Once hands were stained with innocent blood, even if one fled to the ends of hell, the charge of murder would still cling like an inseparable shadow.
Theory and practice, like two sides of a coin, always went hand in hand. Xi Yi, the forensic intern, had worked hard in the lecture halls and diligently in the laboratory, but she had never actually faced the coldness of a corpse lying before her eyes.
In Xi Yi's heart at this moment, the atmosphere was gloomy, heavy like dark clouds before a storm. She was not afraid of that cold form, nor did she have the habit of handing out cheap pity. What troubled Xi Yi's mind was what she was about to face, the tasks that a small, nameless intern like her might be assigned.
"Lord Buddha above, please bless me." Xi Yi prayed silently, whispering under her breath: "Don't let me touch the corpse... no, that's not it. Don't let that smelly woman make me do anything to that cold body. My only goal is to get the internship signature, graduate peacefully, and then live my days quietly. Just waiting for the Black and White Impermanence to take me away."
"Tathagata Buddha, please protect me. Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha."
While Xi Yi was immersed in her chaotic whispers, a police officer ran over in a hurry from afar, stopping in front of Zuo Jingying, who was crouching beside the corpse, carefully picking up a tissue fragment with medical forceps.
"Forensic Doctor Zuo, I have just received information from the victim's family. They have agreed to an autopsy. We will bring the body back to the bureau immediately."
Hearing this, Zuo Jingying stood up, her movements swift. Hidden behind her white medical mask, no one could see the subtle smile playing on her lips. If eyes were often compared to the windows of the soul, then Zuo Jingying's eyes were a deep abyss, a mysterious black hole where no one could read her true thoughts or emotions.
Zuo Jingying looked at the officer and spoke coldly: "Alright."
Receiving the forensic captain's approval, the other officers quickly brought over a stretcher, carefully moved the body, placed it into a cold black body bag, and quietly carried it to the vehicle.
Only then did Zuo Jingying turn to look at her small student whom she had "taken in" not long ago.
Her indifferent eyes swept over Xi Yi's anxious appearance. Zuo Jingying reached out to remove her mask, revealing her beautiful face, and asked casually: "Is this your first time seeing a dead body?"
It was a brief question, but it hit the nail on the head, piercing straight into Xi Yi's anxious state of mind.
The question was like a silent confirmation; the speaker had already noticed the confusion and fear hidden behind the other's attempt to remain calm. But even though Zuo Jingying already knew the answer, she still wanted to ask directly to confirm the other's honesty.
A person in old, worn, and faded clothes stood opposite a person in neat, expensive attire. Inside those rough clothes was a naive soul who had never experienced such horrific scenes. Meanwhile, the one draped in luxury and power was an experienced forensic doctor who had faced and "spoken" with countless cold corpses.
Xi Yi raised her head, looking straight into the sculpted, beautiful face of the person opposite her, and replied flatly: "Yes, Forensic Doctor Zuo, it's my first time."
If it was about work, Xi Yi always maintained a respectful and polite attitude; she was not someone who didn't know right from wrong. If Zuo Jingying didn't deliberately make things difficult, Xi Yi wouldn't be so idle or foolish as to seek out trouble for herself.
Seeing Xi Yi's proper attitude, even though the two had engaged in quite a few fiery verbal battles earlier, it didn't change Zuo Jingying's deep-seated prejudice.
Arrogance was deeply ingrained in Zuo Jingying's blood, like an indispensable ornament. Just because of Xi Yi's polite attitude, she wouldn't forget the "eyesore" fact that a poor, untalented person had suddenly appeared in the police bureau.
"When I work in the future, you had better not come near. Keep as far away as possible," Zuo Jingying said coldly, as if issuing a decree. "Do whatever you want, I won't interfere. But if you dare to bring trouble or mess up my work, don't blame me for being ruthless."
That was exactly what she wanted! Thinking this, Xi Yi clasped her hands together, faced the sky, and joyfully expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Tathagata Buddha, for blessing me. I am deeply grateful."
A mocking smile flashed across her lips as Xi Yi thought to herself. Do I really care about those cold corpses? Whoever marries you in the future will probably have the bad luck of death energy transferred from you to them. What a smelly person.
Without replying to Zuo Jingying, Xi Yi turned and walked quickly toward a nearby police car, casually opening the door and sitting inside, leaving Zuo Jingying standing there with a dazed and slightly annoyed expression.
To have such an attitude and still want to become a police officer, how pathetic. Zuo Jingying evaluated silently, her cold gaze following the small figure huddled inside the official vehicle.