Chapter 476: Coherent Argument

Even if they couldn’t catch up with her, the chances of surviving a two-story jump should be pretty high.

Meng Yuxi clapped her eyes on Tan Mo. Should the latter have any abnormal movements, the former would launch herself toward the person-in-question to stop her immediately.

Meanwhile, Meng Yuxi waved her hand at Jin Yuelin, signaling the latter to come closer in haste.

Jin Yuelin responded to the instruction without hesitation.

Just as the both of them were overflowed with anxiety, Tan Mo could be seen lifting her smartphone and snapping a few photos.

The two let out a sigh of relief at the sight of it.

Right then, Tan Mo moved to the left and took several pictures. She then went to the right side and did the same.

She took a collage of photographs as she stood on different angles of the dormitory’s balcony.

At that, Meng Yuxi asked, “Tan Mo, why are you taking photos from this place?”

“Judging from the second photo’s perspective in that article, it’s obvious that it was taken from here.” Tan Mo showed the photos she saved from the article to Meng Yuxi and Jin Yuelin.

“Look at this. You can see the garden that is at the opposite.” Tan Mo enlarged the photo and pointed her finger to the opposite of their dormitory.

“As you can tell by now, this one was taken in the morning that day when I was about to come up from downstairs.” Tan Mo added, “I was determining the angle and position this picture was taken.”

“But we can zoom in when taking photos. Wouldn’t it be harder to determine the position then?” Jin Yuelin queried.

“You can use the photo’s noise level, imaging, perspective, and many other aspects to determine if it was zoomed in,” Tan Mo clarified. “Please note that there is a big difference between a photo taken at its widest angle up close and one that was digitally zoomed.”

“Obviously, we’ll need a more detailed and professional comparison. But we can do the basic stuff by ourselves,” Tan Mo stated. “Also, the person of interest must be using a smartphone with a lower camera resolution and mid-range quality lenses. Plus, the color rendering was slightly off compared with real life.

“From these few points, we can conclude that the image pixels would be lower if the author were to zoom in digitally. Considering the image’s crispness, I can say that it was not zoomed. Otherwise, it won’t have such a low noise level.

“Secondly, this may not necessarily be true, but I suspect that the author is a person with average financial capability. Of course, we couldn’t deny that they could be a rich kid living a frugal lifestyle, or someone who owned a flags.h.i.+p phone but gotten themselves a cheaper spare phone for photography purposes. Still, I couldn’t believe that a distinguished Beijing University student would stoop so low as to aspire to be paparazzi.”

Jin Yuelin and Meng Yuxi were dumbfounded upon hearing that.

What a sharp-tongued woman.

Still, Tan Mo’s a.n.a.lysis made sense to them.

After listening to her breakdown, it seemed to them that they wouldn’t need to break a sweat to smoke the perpetrator out.

“Nevertheless, I’m inclined to think that the author is someone who has an average financial capability. This person should be relatively thrifty, not someone who pursues material possessions. We can reduce the target range by determining our suspect’s financial condition. Even with average financial conditions, I believe most of them can still afford smartphones that are priced between 3,000 and 5,000. Although not everyone will change a new phone every year, replacing a new one once every two to three years isn’t considered extravagant.”

Pressing her forefinger against her chin, Tan Mo continued, “We should target people whose smartphones were priced around 2,000. That’ll reduce the number of potential suspects even more.

“Additionally, this person must have loathed me for a long time. Hmm, let me think. I don’t remember making enemies with anyone here at Beijing University. If I really had to come up with some names, there would only be two people.” Tan Mo added, “The first one would be Qin Muxiao. No dispute here. As for the second one, that person is…”

At that, Tan Mo turned around and peered at Lin f.u.xi with a smirk.

Noticing the stare, Lin f.u.xi took a few steps backward instinctively and remarked, “Why are you looking at me?”

“Well, for one, you seem to hate my guts,” Tan Mo sn.i.g.g.e.red. “This is just a sound argument.”

“How could you point the finger at me when you don’t even have proof? What would others think of me if word got out? How do you plan to compensate me for the accusation I’ll be suffering from?” Lin f.u.xi bellowed.

“Don’t sweat it. I won’t say a word to anyone before I get solid proof.” A wide smile remained on Tan Mo’s face. “We’ll look for evidence with coherent reasoning and focused targeting. It’s just like how the police handle their cases. I’m mimicking them. I mean, you can’t go wrong with that, right?”

Lin f.u.xi was at a loss for words.

“Good. That’s what you said. So, stop blaming me before you get the proof,” Lin f.u.xi warned coldly. “If I hear anyone spreading rumors about me, I’ll a.s.sume that it’s your doing.”

Those were the exact words Meng Yuxi told her the other day.

If she heard any negative rumors about Tan Mo, Meng Yuxi a.s.sumed it was Lin f.u.xi’s doing.

Lin f.u.xi learned and applied the very thing that was used against her.

“I swear I won’t say a word, but this is an outdoor balcony where many students in our dormitory can hear our conversation. So, the others will spread the words even if I don’t,” Tan Mo replied innocently.

“That’s none of my business. I don’t care who spread the words because they came out of your mouth first. These people only get to circulate the rumor because they heard it from you. That’s equivalent to you spreading it yourself. And that’s on you.” Lin f.u.xi no longer spoke softly and carefully like she always did.

At that moment, she looked like nothing but a shrewish person.

Tan Mo blinked her eyes upon hearing that. Her lips were curled into a smile as she taunted, “Well, you may say it’s my responsibility, but what can you do to me?”

“Huh?” Lin f.u.xi was stunned.

“Nothing much. I’m just curious as to what you’re planning to do,” Tan Mo responded. “How do you plan to deal with me? Tell me so that I’ll be prepared.”

“Why, you little!” Lin f.u.xi was burned with vexation. “You’re such a bully!”

Tan Mo remained smiling and thought, ‘It looks like she was just saying it. It’s not like she can come up with anything now.’

If it were the usual Lin f.u.xi, she would lash out and go off obtrusively to show everyone she was being bullied.

After her true personality was spread through word of mouth, even students who weren’t from the Department of Finance knew a thing or two about her.

Since then, most people stopped consoling her no matter how many times she ran away in tears.

Well, naturally, there were exceptions.

After all, attention seekers and hypocrites sp.a.w.ned like weeds regardless of time and era.

However, this time, Lin f.u.xi remained in the dormitory despite being “wronged.”

Tan Mo raised her brows at the sight of it. She would be out of her mind if she stopped doubting Lin f.u.xi after witnessing the person in question’s suspicious behavior.

Through Lin f.u.xi’s reaction, one could presume that she was determined to snoop on further information at the cost of “enduring humiliation.”

Tan Mo stopped teasing Lin f.u.xi and said, “To be frank, I have to exclude Qin Muxiao from the list, despite that we have a beef with one another. Though she would find every chance she could to do me a mischief, she’s rich. Thus, her smartphone camera quality won’t be this bad.”

Jin Yuelin and Meng Yuxi were rendered speechless.

Could a suspect be absolved with such logic?

Absolutely.

“What if… Maybe she hired someone to do the job?” Lin f.u.xi retorted. “Just as you said, as a rich family’s daughter, she doesn’t need to dirty her hands. She can totally pay someone to do it for her!”