1.3 The First World

Ryan tapped his finger on the wooden desk. The rhythm of the finger tapping is slow when his thinking is in its optimum state. But, when he's thinking is in a disordered state, or when Ryan is in a stress condition, the tapping becomes faster and annoyingly loud.

This tic is one of Ryan's bad habits that he cannot stop even after his soul changes its body. From his face, people usually cannot guess what is the man is thinking. However, his close friend and his coworker can gouge how deeper his thought trailed on based on the tapping of his finger.

Ryan's face frown in a deep concentration. He stared at the pictures of some women that scattered on the wooden desk with great interest. You must be assuming in your heart that he is contemplating something vital and worth anyone's attention, but, actually, no.

Ryan's mind is wondering about a useless matter. His thought is filling with nonsense. He pondered about the original's preference for a woman. Or on how many girlfriends Zhang Wei had. And the reason for their breakups, when all the women are so breathtakingly gorgeous. Nevertheless, Ryan's thoughts had trailed into forbidden direction multiple times when his gaze stared heatedly at their cleavages, curvy hips, and stunning figures. He almost drools!

The system wanted to smack its host's head with a baseball bat to keep his thinking in the pure and right direction.

(Host, you're a pervert. A lecherous old hag with an innocent face. I was wondering how many girls and women you had corrupted? You're despicable!)

{Whose are you calling a pervert?! I'm only appraising god's beautiful creation wholeheartedly. How can a system like you understand human desire?}

The white ball rolled its eyes in dismay.

But, seriously, how many former girlfriends the original had? If he searched around his memories, this woman in the picture in front of him was Zhang Wei's fifth girlfriend. Although, their relationship lasted for about a month before the couple breaking up eventually. The reason? Ahem. He should keep them a secret. It is a shameful and embarrassing thing as someone might question his manly aptitudes.

"What's wrong with Jane? Is she went missing? Or someone kidnapped her?"

"You do know her." Derrick Lee's stating the fact. "Don't tell me she is...?"

"Well, yes. Jane is the fifth one. My former girlfriend."

"Oh..." An awkward silence engulfed the surrounding. "Well, she is found dead, murdered by someone, this morning in a construction site outside the city."

Ryan choked on his saliva. He stared at Derrick in utter disbelief.

"Pardon? J-just now, you said his another...no, I mean, Jane is found dead? And she is murdered by someone?" Are you kidding me? Did this guy get cursed by some powerful witches? All the women who dated him get miserably murdered? What a tragic life! Is this a coincidence? Why would the thing that once happened to him in his original world also recurring in his current body? Is he the one who gets the curse, or-

"Unfortunately, yes. Jane sustained the same injuries as the first victim, with multiple stab wounds on her body. And, this is an important clue, the one we didn't close out to the public." Derrick Lee's slid a stash of pictures in front of him.

Ryan's eyes twitched in annoyance. This idiot, what is his purpose? Why is he showing a crucial clue to an outsider like him? How could he hand over such a precious picture to a possible murder suspect?

"There are weird initials carved on the side of their necks."

Ryan lazily checked the pictures. This one is not his case anyway. Why should he bother with them? And he had zero enthusiasm. Well, he is not an honorary member of a police organization right now. He felt less guilty because of that. But, the moment his sight fell on the initial J on the other side of the victim's neck, his eyes becomes wider. His calm facade fallen apart completely.

What? Why would this kind of thing appear here? In this world? This is just a simple coincidence, isn't it, everyone? Ryan scanned the pictures again and again. Impossible. No, no. Such an incredulous thing to-

"Mr. Zhang Wei? Did you recognized the initial?" Derrick Lee noticed Ryan's sudden change in behavior. His aloof attitude turned 360 degrees.

"You said both of the victims had this mark on the side of their necks? Are there only two victims? There's none before them?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure? 100% sure?"

"Well, I'm sure." Derrick Lee nodded his head to confirm Ryan's words. "These two women are the only ones with these peculiar marks. No one else besides them."

Ryan took out his smartphone from his jacket. He started dialing a familiar number on the phone. Zhang Wei is not an ordinary person and also not a simple doctor from a simple background family. He had a tremendous influence and a wide range of connections with distinguished people.

"It's me." His eyes showed dangerous glints. Ryan didn't care if the other saw it. He found that man, here, in this new world! "Could you track all of my former girlfriends' whereabouts in these past few months? Ah, yes, all of them, whether they are alive or dead. Thanks for your help. Goodbye." He ended the call.

"Are you perhaps suspecting someone? Did they targeting your former girlfriends?" Derrick Lee decided to ask as soon as Ryan finished his phone call with the other people.

Ryan gives out a smile, although the smile never reached his eyes.

"Probably. I'm just checking anyway. Better safe than sorry. If sir Lee wanted to check, let me tell you this first. I had ten exes. Two of them are already dead in 48 hours. And, that left with eight. I think the three of them are abroad. Either working or migrate over there. They had never set their foot in this country again. So, we can assume they are safe. Then, we move on over the remaining five persons. Do you perhaps wanted to investigate and record their names?"

Derrick Lee is motioning his chin towards Sarah. He is gesturing for her to note down every last bit of the information using his body language.

Sarah Lee understood her superior's order. She sat beside Derrick Lee and started to jot down all the words that came out of Ryan's mouth.

Sarah sometimes stops writing, her eyes peering on the handsome yet, innocent face of the man sitting in front of her. Undoubtedly, Dr. Zhang is a scrupulous masterpiece of the creator. Everything about him exuding manly charm stirring many desirable emotions within anyone's heart. The first time she laid her eyes on him, she couldn't help but be baffled.

Oh my god. Not only was the man had handsome countenance, with sword-like eyebrows, glassy brown eyes, and alluring pink lips. His fit and muscular body are hidden perfectly behind the navy blue shirt. I bet he had a six-pack under that outfit. Sarah mentally thought. Look at the cyan vein, which is bulging out from his milky, white complexion. No wonder he had many girlfriends. Although, why did they broke up faster than changing clothes?

Ryan felt a disturbing shiver raking down his spine. Umm, why did this girl looked at him like that?