Zheng Ruijun

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zheng Ruijun (郑瑞军)
Alias(es)	Old Zheng
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Special Case Investigation Unit, Yungu City Public Security Bureau
Occupation/Role	Team leader; peace officer and special-case investigator
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 19

Background

Zheng Ruijun leads the Special Case Investigation Unit of the Yungu City Public Security Bureau. He was occupied with other cases when Li Naijing first encountered Shen Xing, but joined the investigation after the Blood Pupil incident escalated. At Shen Xing's hospital bedside, he questioned him closely about the mangy dog and the Blood Pupil while remaining focused on establishing the facts of the case 19.

He has handled enough special cases to reject simple explanations for every anomaly. During the Skin Face case, he explains to Shen Xing that some incidents may involve ghosts, while others cannot yet be defined; he does not consider the physical, dried face skin to fit a conventional ghostly form 41.

Appearance

Zheng Ruijun is a thin, middle-aged man standing slightly over 1.6 meters tall. He appears unconcerned with grooming, with messy hair and a habit of smoking 31.

• Thin frame, though physically fit enough to endure an overnight stakeout 33
• Messy, often greasy hair 31 37
• Smokes cigarettes and routinely offers them during interviews 31
• Wears black rubber gloves when handling anomalous remains 40
• Uses a vintage 1982 Laojiang-brand watch 33

Personality

Zheng is calm, disciplined, and difficult to rattle under pressure. He approaches anomalies methodically, follows investigation procedures, and keeps control of the information disclosed to civilians in order to prevent panic 34.

His questioning is notably precise. After hearing Shen Xing's account of Song Xiaoyu, he focuses on whether she turned her head or her entire body, allowing him to identify the likelihood of an abnormal neck transformation 31. He can appear curt, cold, or heartless, but repeatedly prioritizes Shen Xing's safety and removes him from active danger when the Song residence remains unsecured 31 41.

Abilities & Skills

Special-Case Investigation

Zheng is an experienced investigator of anomalous incidents. Though he possesses strong mental fortitude and self-control, he remains an ordinary human rather than a superhuman 34.

• Notices subtle behavioral and environmental abnormalities, including Song Hao's artificial smile, the apartment's odor, and the abnormal conduct of the Song family 34
• Conducts prolonged surveillance alone, spending an entire night watching Song Xiaoyu's residence before checking property-management footage 33
• Maintains composure when directly confronted by possessed or transformed victims 36
• Understands that conventional firearms have limited reliability against anomalies and may endanger bystanders 36
• Treats Shen Xing as someone with unusually strong mental power and a possible attraction to anomalies 41

Static-Field Concealment

Zheng's golden fountain pen can generate a static electric field when pressed against his skin. The field makes entities lose track of him 36.

• Produces a tingling numbness and causes his body hair to stand on end 36
• Conceals him from An Lifen and Song Xiaoyu while they search the dark living room 36
• Must be replenished as the static sensation fades over time 37
• Cannot protect him when he is restrained and unable to press the pen against his skin 38

Anesthetic Delivery

The same fountain pen contains a retractable needle loaded with powerful anesthetic 36.

• The needle can be extended from the pen's hollow tip and used as an anti-anomaly weapon 36
• Its anesthetic is stated to be potent enough to sedate an elephant 36
• Investigators favor anesthetic tools over ordinary firearms because they improve the chance of subduing entities 36

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden fountain pen — Generates a static field for concealment and houses an anesthetic needle 34 36
• Black telescopic baton — Carried in his sleeve and drawn while escaping Song Hao and An Lifen's restraint 40
• Black rubber gloves — Used when examining anomalous shed skin and contaminated remains 40
• Police identification — Used to access residential surveillance footage during the Song family investigation 33
• Vintage Laojiang-brand watch — A 1982 model used during his stakeout 33

Relationships

• Li Naijing — Fellow Special Case Investigation Unit investigator. They jointly respond to Shen Xing's reports and divide responsibilities during the Song Xiaoyu case 19 31.
• Zhao Wenbo — Member of Zheng's investigation unit; arrives with Li Naijing after the Song family incident 19 41.
• Shen Xing — Civilian repeatedly involved in anomalies. Zheng interviews him, uses his observations in the Song Xiaoyu investigation, and gradually develops professional respect for his deductions 19 31 41.
• Song Xiaoyu — Subject of Zheng's investigation after her disappearance from Qiguang Orphanage and apparent involvement with the Skin Face anomaly 31 33 34.
• Song Hao and An Lifen — Song Xiaoyu's parents. Zheng identifies their abnormal behavior and is later attacked by them while concealed inside their home 34 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Blood Pupil Investigation

Zheng first meets Shen Xing in the hospital as the Special Case Investigation Unit investigates the mangy dog and Blood Pupil events. He leads the questioning and assesses Shen Xing's account alongside Li Naijing and Zhao Wenbo 19.

Skin Face Investigation

After Shen Xing reports Song Xiaoyu's abnormal behavior at Qiguang Orphanage, Zheng identifies the significance of her twisted neck and chooses to stake out her home while Li Naijing coordinates a search of the orphanage 31.

He spends the night monitoring the Song residence, confirms through surveillance footage that Song Xiaoyu returned home, and enters the apartment to investigate the family directly 33 34. Inside, he identifies Song Hao and An Lifen as abnormal, keeps the front door from closing by wedging it with a shoebox, and avoids consuming anything offered to him 34 35.

When the house goes dark, Zheng activates his static-field pen to evade An Lifen and Song Xiaoyu. He prepares to anesthetize An Lifen but loses the opportunity when Shen Xing knocks at the door 36. Later, Song Hao restrains him while An Lifen's odor disrupts his consciousness; both attackers collapse after Shen Xing locks the Skin Face anomaly 38 40.

Afterward, Zheng examines the shed skin, warns Shen Xing not to touch it directly, arranges reinforcements and an ambulance, and argues that the case cannot yet be conclusively classified as a ghost incident 40 41.

Notable Quotes

“To them, you have a special kind of attraction.” 31

“I've encountered more anomalies than you.” 41