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31.

"Mrs. Kim, do you perhaps know about a man named Huang Zhiren?" 

Eunbi gasps at the name and her brows furrow into confusion. "That... that's the name of the prosecutor who handled the Aphrodite Serial Killings... How do you know him?"

Renjun doesn't reply but gives Eunbi a blank stare.

"I asked you a question boy. Answer me!"

"My father." There's a slight tremble in his lips which goes unnoticed by everyone except Jieun. "My father was Huang Zhiren."

Jieun notices both Eunbi and Taeyong go stiff at the information. One look at Renjun, and she sees him struggling to keep his usual, collected demeanour.  

"How can this be..." Eunbi glances from Jieun and Jisung to Renjun with sadness in her eyes. "You kids... What cruel fate..." She motions Renjun to come closer and he silently moves over to Jieun's side and kneels down.

Jungwoo looks around the room and decides to voice out the question that is on everyone else's mind. "Mom, what is this Aphrodite serial killings?"

"That..." Eunbi glances over to Taemin who gives an encouraging smile to her. 

Eunbi takes a deep breath. "It all started on valentine's day... Back in 2016, when Jimin and Kai had just been promoted, a series of killings suddenly broke out throughout Neo City." 

"Kai?" Jeno let out a confused tone. "Ah Mrs. Kim often calls dad by that nickname." Jisung replied. "Uncle Jongin?" Jaemin adds and Jisung nods.

Eunbi clears her throat. "Not just me, everyone who's close to him calls him that. Anyways, where was I?"

"The serial killer..."

"Yes, the victims were always women." Eunbi looks at Taemin for further explanation.

Taemin walks closer to the center of the room. "I had newly joined at the time so I may not know the finer details but..." He takes out his police notebook. Flipping to the last page, he brings out an old, worn-out picture. "All the victims had apparently broken up with their boyfriends right before murder. To be specific, the victims had 'dumped' their partners. So, the case came to be known as Aphrodite serial killings."

"That's lame."

All eyes turn towards the exasperated voice. Haechan raises a brow challengingly. "What? The name is pretty lame."

Almost everybody sighs internally. Jaemin shakes his head in disbelief. "I almost disowned you if you hadn't clarified."

"Clarified what- You guys thought I was talking about the case!?"

"Well you have a track record..." Jeno starts but immediately falters as Haechan aggressively turns around. 

"Just how low do you guys think of me!! Are you guys really my friends?"

Jaemin rushes to calm Haechan down. "It's not like that, we all just misunderstood for a brief second. We just thought that you were mocking the killer nothing else." He gives a quick sidekick to Jeno beside him. "Right?"

Wincing in pain, Jeno simply nods. Haechan calms down but pouts regardless. "Should've said that in the first place. That's why I keep saying to think before speaking and not speak before thinking." He walks over to Chenle and clings to his side. "No one ever listens to me." Chenle goes along and comforts him. "Sorry hyung, if we hurt you. We all know that despite your annoying pranks, you have a caring heart."

Johnny awkwardly clears his throat. He glances at Taeyong and then Haechan. "Anyways, point is, no reason is justifiable to go on a killing spree."

Walking closer to Taemin, Johnny puts a hand on his shoulder. "So much pain and loss... at the end, it is just cruel for the victims and their families." Taemin's hand grips the photo a little tightly. "Excuse me for a minute." With that he abruptly leaves the room.