Everyone's been reborn, so who would bother finding a wife on their own?

Chapter 210 Dentistry

Two weeks later, Song Wentao and Zhang Xuejuan sat on the sofa with the TV on, broadcasting local news.

The host was wearing a dark suit and had a serious expression. Behind him, on the screen, were three photos: two men and one woman, of different ages and appearances, with no connection to each other.

"Our reporter learned from the district public security bureau that there has been no breakthrough in the highly publicized series of disappearances. The police stated that a special task force has been established to investigate the case, and the public can rest assured."

The host paused for a moment, then continued, "As of now, three people are still missing. Their families are emotionally distraught and are appealing to anyone with information to come forward."

Zhang Xuejuan frowned. "It's been so long, and we still haven't caught them."

Song Wentao didn't speak, staring at the TV screen.

The camera cuts to a family member of a missing person, a woman in her forties with swollen eyes, who says to the camera, "Please, everyone, help me."

Zhang Xuejuan sighed. "Is things not very peaceful outside right now?"

Song Wentao put down the remote control. "Don't scare yourself. Just avoid going to places with few people."

Song Huan came out of the room wearing a dark gray hoodie, zipped up to her chest.

The TV presenter's voice came through: "No breakthrough in the serial disappearance case."

He couldn't help but glance at the screen.

Those three photos have resurfaced, showing two men and one woman, supposedly screenshots from surveillance footage.

Zhang Xuejuan turned to look at him. "Where are you going?"

Song Huan touched her face, pressing her left cheek with her finger; it felt a little sore.

Another wisdom tooth has grown in; I'm going to get it pulled.

Song Huan's tone was filled with deep hatred; he was now sworn enemies with his wisdom teeth.

Zhang Xuejuan stood up.

"It's a bit chaotic outside, be careful."

Song Huan nodded, glanced at the TV again, and turned to leave.

The hospital lights were still so white.

Song Huan lay on the chair, the overhead light shining on his face, dazzling his eyes.

The doctor was the same one as last time, wearing a mask with only his eyes showing.

He made Song Huan open her mouth, looked at herself in a small mirror, and tapped the tooth with tweezers.

"It can be pulled out." He pushed the tool over; it was metal and reflected the light.

"Do you want anesthesia? It'll be a bit more expensive than before, three hundred yuan."

Song Huan glanced at the tool cart, which had several rows of syringes on it, with thin needles covered with plastic.

"What's the difference?"

The doctor smiled, but the smile was hidden behind his mask; only his eyes could be seen curving slightly.

"It's imported from the US, and it works better than the domestic ones. After you get it, you won't feel anything in your entire chin."

Song Huan paused for a moment, something stirring in her mind.

Anesthetic, anesthesia...

He opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

But it felt like some kind of memory box had been opened in my mind.

He recalled some details of the case from his past life.

The killer appears to be a dentist.

The three victims had all had their teeth extracted by him.

He anesthetized them with an overdose of anesthetic, and then...

Song Huan's eyelid twitched.

He shut his mouth and looked at the doctor.

The doctor was waiting for his answer, holding a syringe in his hand.

"Okay, let's use apples to anesthetize it then," Song Huan said.

……

After having her tooth pulled, with cotton in her mouth, Song Huan left the dental hospital and hailed a taxi.

The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. There was blood in his mouth and his cheeks were bulging. Without asking any questions, he stepped on the gas.

Xiao Yunqing's door was opened after several knocks.

Xiao Yunqing, dressed in pajamas with her hair down, rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"What's wrong? I'm taking a nap."

"Where's your dad? Is he home?" Song Huan's voice was muffled, with cotton in her mouth.

Xiao Yunqing looked at him, stunned for a moment, "Are you bleeding? Why is your whole mouth covered in blood?"

"I just had a tooth pulled." Song Huan wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, which was indeed a little red.

Xiao Yunqing stepped aside, went inside, changed his shoes, and sat on the sofa.

Xiao Yunqing poured a glass of water and placed it in front of him.

"My dad hasn't been home for several days; he's been spending the nights at the bureau. Even when he does come home, he just sleeps for a bit and then leaves again."

She sat down beside him, looking at his still slightly swollen face. "Why did you suddenly come to see him?"

Song Huan picked up the water glass, but didn't drink from it, and put it down again.

"I just went to get a tooth pulled, and the dentist asked me if I wanted anesthesia. I suddenly remembered something."

Xiao Yunqing looked at him and waited.

He thought for a moment, then began, "The killer in that series of disappearances might be a dentist. Those three victims may have all had teeth extracted by him. He used an overdose of anesthetic..."

He didn't go on.

Xiao Yunqing frowned. "How did you know?"

Song Huan opened her mouth, but she couldn't very well say that she had seen it in the newspaper in her past life.

He rephrased it, "I've read some books on criminal psychology, and many serial killers choose methods related to their profession to commit their crimes. Dentists have anesthetics, operating rooms, and tools. And the victims are completely unprepared."

Xiao Yunqing was silent for a moment, then said, "That's just a guess."

Song Huan nodded. "It's just a guess, but the police don't have any leads anyway. Why don't you call Uncle Xiao and tell him? That's one possible approach."

Xiao Yunqing bit her lip, stood up, walked to the landline, picked up the receiver, and dialed.

The phone rang several times, then I answered it.

It was noisy on the other end; people were talking, and there were sounds of documents being turned over.

"Dad," Xiao Yunqing said in a low voice.

"Little Cloud? What's wrong?" Xiao Haifeng's voice came through the microphone, hoarse and tired.

Xiao Yunqing recounted Song Huan's guesses, speaking slowly, as if reciting a text.

After I finished speaking, there was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

Xiao Haifeng sighed.

"You and Song Huan are in your final year of high school now, so you need to study hard. Don't worry about Dad's affairs, Dad will handle it."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Try to walk with Song Huan to and from school these next few days, remember that, don't worry your dad."

He was about to hang up after saying that.

Xiao Yunqing held the microphone and opened her mouth.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side and took the microphone away.

Song Huan held the microphone to her ear.

"Uncle Xiao, I'm Song Huan."

Xiao Haifeng was stunned for a moment.

"Little Song?"

Song Huan's voice was very steady, not like someone who had just had a tooth extracted.

"Uncle Xiao, I just had a tooth extracted, and the dentist recommended an imported anesthetic. It suddenly occurred to me, have you looked into private dental clinics?"

Xiao Haifeng remained silent.

Is it possible that the three missing people all visited the same dental clinic?

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

Xiao Haifeng's voice changed; it was no longer the same tone he used to coax his daughter.

Why do you think that?

Song Huan took the cotton ball out of her mouth, picked up the steamed bun, and threw it into the trash can. "Because when I had my tooth pulled, I was lying in the chair with my mouth open, the light was on, and the doctor came over with a syringe. At that moment, I couldn't move. I suddenly felt that if the doctor wanted to do something, I wouldn't be able to escape at all."

"Moreover, dental care is very expensive. I also learned about the situation of those three missing people. They are all ordinary wage earners with low wages, so they can't afford to go to regular hospitals for dental care. Therefore, they can only go to nearby private dental clinics."

"Uncle Xiao, although the three of them live in different places, they can be seen as forming a triangle, and there must be a private dental clinic in the middle of this triangle!"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Then Xiao Haifeng said, "I understand."

No problem, just waiting.

Song Huan handed the microphone back to Xiao Yunqing.

By the time Xiao Yunqing took the call, the call had already ended.

She looked at Song Huan, who was leaning back on the sofa with her cheeks puffed out, like a hamster with its mouth stuffed full.

Xiao Yunqing looked at him for two seconds, put the microphone back, and then went back to her room, taking out a new wad of cotton from the cabinet where the medicine boxes were kept.

Song Huan tore off a small piece and took a bite.

……

(Finished reading? Don't go!)

(Have you forgotten what day it is today? Hehe, the author wishes everyone a happy 520! Whether you're spending it alone or with someone, remember to eat well, sleep well, and love yourself!)

(Three extra chapters are included!)