Profiler (Fang Mu Eastern Crimes Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

ounce of his strength. Several students covered their mouths and stole a laugh. Even more shot looks of astonishment in Meng Fanzhe's direction.
    For the rest of class Meng Fanzhe seemed to hide from his classmates' eyes—head down, diligently taking notes. However, he was clearly no longer as anxious as before.
    But what exactly was he afraid of?
     
    Professor Song turned out to be a merely average lecturer. During the break, several students sneaked off while the professor was out smoking a cigarette (of course, none of his own graduate students dared move an inch). When Professor Song returned to find that the class had shrunk by several students, he grew enraged, grabbed the attendance sheet, and once more began to take roll.
    Fang Mu noticed that Meng Fanzhe, who moments before had been calm, now seemed to drop once more into an abyss. A mixture of despair, nervousness, and hatred played across his face. And as his name drew closer and closer, Meng Fanzhe actually began to shake.
    Fang Mu continued to quietly observe Meng Fanzhe, all the while taking note of the names being read.
    "Wang Degang."
    "Here."
    "Chen Liang."
    "Here."
    " Chu Xiaoxu."
    "Here."
    Fang Mu knew who was next.
    "Meng Fanzhe."
    Just as the word "Meng" left Professor Song's mouth, Fang Mu suddenly clapped Meng Fanzhe on the back.
    "Hey!"
    Surprised, Meng Fanzhe involuntarily turned toward Fang Mu; just then, the word "Fanzhe" filled the air.
    Without thinking, Meng Fanzhe said, "Here."
    This time Professor Song did not pause, but continued down the list.
    Meng Fanzhe was stunned for an instant, but then his expression quickly returned to normal. After wiping the sweat from his forehead, he turned to Fang Mu and, somewhat awkwardly, asked, "What's the matter?"
    Fang Mu thought for a moment. "What time is it?"
    Meng Fanzhe glanced at his watch. "It's nine-o-five. Oh," he hastened to add, "nine-o-five and thirty-eight seconds."
    Fang Mu laughed, and for a split second Meng Fanzhe's face went red, as if someone had just seen right through him.
     
    Fang Mu stuffed himself at lunch, to the point where he felt a bit drowsy. Checking his watch, he saw that there was less than an hour before his afternoon class, so he hustled upstairs to the rooftop balcony, hoping to catch a breeze.
    By the time he reached it, Fang Mu found someone already there.
    It was Meng Fanzhe.
    He was sitting on the low cement barrier at the edge of the roof, his legs dangling casually over the side. His eyes were fixed on something in the distance and he seemed to be deep in thought.
    Not wanting to be seen, Fang Mu was about to quietly leave when Meng Fanzhe suddenly stood up.
    The barrier was no more than eight inches wide. Meng Fanzhe stood carefully atop it, his heels and toes hanging off either side. Teetering, he spread his arms wide, took a deep breath, and, using what seemed to be all of his determination, looked down.
    Fang Mu held his breath. It was a seven-story building! What could he see down there?
    Button-sized people milling about? Cars like a child's toys? Or the earth that he seemed prepared to fling himself toward at any moment?
    But no—Fang Mu could not call out to him. The sound of his voice would surely surprise Meng Fanzhe, who could easily fall as a result. 
    Fang Mu carefully stepped forward. In that moment, the sound of his shoe sole rubbing against the sandy roof seemed as loud as thunder.
    Meng Fanzhe's body began to sway even more violently. He was about to lose his balance!
    There was no time to think. Fang Mu rushed forward, grabbed Meng Fanzhe around the waist as tight as he could and hauled him backwards.
    Meng Fanzhe gave a short cry of surprise, and then he and Fang Mu fell back onto the balcony.
    "What are you doing? You wanna die?" Fang Mu yelled, looking angrily at where the skin had scraped off his elbow from the impact.
    "I—I'm sorry," Meng Fanzhe mumbled as he sat on the ground. He was still badly shaken.
    Seeing Meng Fanzhe's ashen face,