Extra 2

A story about ‘voice’

(from Chapter 15) 

Jian Yao is lying in bed when Fu Ziyu calls.

“Your voice sounds funny.  Are you ok? Do you have a toothache?  Or is your face swollen because someone hit you?”  asks Fu Ziyu. 

Jian Yao tries not to laugh.  She has a whitening mask on her face. It’s hard to talk when you don’t want to open your mouth.

“Mask! What’s up?” She answers.

Fu Ziyu is amused.  He turns to Bo Jinyan and says: “Hey Bo Jinyan, she sounds like a sheep.  It’s kinda whiny but it’s cute. Do you want to listen to it?” 

Bo Jinyan answers :”Why would I want to hear her distorted voice?” 

By this time, Jian Yao has removed the thin piece of sheet from her face: “Hey, I didn’t answer the phone to get mocked.” 

——————

Even geniuses make errors of judgement.   Bo Jinyan realises this after he has a girlfriend.  

As you know, when a couple engages in a particular… sport, the woman often involuntarily murmurs some… strange sounds.

One night, after some vigorous ‘exercise’, they cuddle in bed. Jian Yao is using her finger to draw circles on Bo Jinyan’s chest.  He looks down and grabs her hand.  

“Actually…” He says in a plain voice: “I don’t mind if you use that type of voice to speak to me.”

Jian Yao is not sure what he is talking about: “What type of voice?”

Bo Jinyan gives her a sly smile.  

Jian Yao realises what he means now.  She blushes and retorts: “You mentioned before that you don’t like to hear my distorted voice. Why… ” 

Bo Jinyan answers seriously: “I have to take that statement back.  I just discovered, this level of distortion excites me.” 

Jian Yao: “….”

———————-

Link to the The strong man - http://lmfydx.blogspot.co.nz/p/strong-man.html

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Bo Jian

Bo Jian has been Bo Jinyan’s little pride since his birth.   

(Yes, you guessed right, their daughter’s name is Bo Yao) 

Most babies are born without eyebrows.  And because of the puffiness of their eyelids, some babies cannot open their eyes wide right away.  However, little Bo Jian has been a handsome boy right from the start of his life.  Just seconds after he has come out of his mother’s room, you can see his pair of black eyes looking around curiously.  

Bo Jinyan’s evaluation is: “This son doesn’t look too stupid.  Perhaps he will have an above average IQ and sharpness - a portion of his father’s ability”

Jian Yao is lying in bed. She is resting.  The birth process is a lot more tiring than she expected.  She is surprised: “Only a portion?”

Bo Jinyan lifts up her hand and kisses it, and says: “My dear.  You know that I love you to bits, but we cannot deny the truth.  The IQ of the next generation is an average of their parent’s IQ.  I am very sorry, but unfortunately our son can’t possibly be a genius.”

Jian Yao: “….. get out!”

———————-

However, as Bo Jian grows, they realise Bo Jinyan’s prediction is not very accurate.  

Even though it’s hard to identify all his talents and gifting at such a young age, it is evident that his son is more intelligent than other kids his age. According to Bo Jinyan, Bo Jian is not as smart as when he was a kid, but he still have to admit that ‘Bo Jian is good enough to be considered a genius”.

It’s true that the little man is gifted in a certain area.

For example…

One day, when Jian Yao gets home after work, she sees her son watching Japanese manga. She smiles at him and asks him” Zhi Zhi, are you hungry?  We will go for dinner once your father comes home.”

(Zhi Zhi is Bo Jian’s nickname.  ‘Shang Shang’ is Bo Jinyan’s daughter’s nickname.  “Zhi Shang’ means IQ in Chinese.)

Jian Yao has a warm smile on her face as she spoke to her son.  Bo Jian takes a quick glance at her, then turns back to watch TV.  And he says to her: “I noticed there’s frustration on your face. What has he done again?  Something childish that he is not aware of?”  

The ‘he’ Bo Jian refers to is obviously his low EQ father.

Jian Yao: “….. Don’t say that about your dad!  It’s something to do with a case we are working on.”

—————

Another example.

Bo Jinyan is sitting in the study looking at the pictures of three suspects.  He is trying to decide who the killer is…  

Bo Jian comes into the study to find a detective novel.  He takes a look at his father.  

“Oh, the killer is the person in the second picture.”  He says.

Bo Jinyan is concentrating on his work, he subconsciously answers his son: “Oh, you think so too.  You are my son indeed…” Then it dawned on him.  He lifts his head and frowns: “Bo Jian, who gave you permission to read my micro-expressions?”

Bo Jian ignores his dad and sings the theme song from his favourite cartoon as he skips out of the study.  (However, he is completely out of tune.)

—————-

One more example.

During one of Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao’s wedding anniversaries, Bo Jinyan says to Bo Jian: “Today, you and Bo Yao will be staying with Uncle Fu Ziyu.  Your mother and I are working on a very important case.  We will need to work through the night.  We can’t be disturbed.”

Bo Jian looks at his father and says: “Oh cut it out, dad.  I know you want some private time with mom.  Your micro-expressions is filled with the same look that male animals have when they are aiming to attract females for mating.”

Bo Jinyan answers without shame: “Ok.  You know the reason why you need to leave the house.   Just do what you are told.”    

  

Jian Yao blushes: “…. Shut up!  Both of you….”

———————-

That’s right, Bo Jian is a natural when it comes to reading people’s micro-expressions.  When he was ten, Bo Jinyan brought him to the Department of National Security Polygraph Examination Office. 

His test results are amazing.  Ordinary people will maintain their micro-expression between 1/25 seconds to 1/5 seconds.  Most humans can only recognise longer and clear facial expressions, but Bo Jian is able to recognise expressions maintained for only 2/25 second.  That’s as quick as a computer!  

Jian Yao is very proud of her son.  Bo Jinyan is proud of him too, of course, but he is also a little uncomfortable.  This is because the expert in the Polygraph Examination Office told Bo Jian he can visit the office whenever he wants to: “You can give us some advice when you visit.” 

Bo Jinyan was invited to help the FBI when he was fifteen years old.  But his son is only ten years old!

Even though he is uncomfortable that his son is invited to be a counsel at a much young age than him,  he resigns to the fact that in the area of micro expressions, his son shows more talent than him.  After all, if it’s not for his superior genes, his son would never have this ability.  So, it’s partly his achievement too.     

He enthusiastically designs a comprehensive ‘psychological crime investigation training program’ for his son.  He is determined to train him up to be a top class detective, just as what he did with his wife.

 Much to his surprise, Bo Jian refused: “I am not interested.  I am only interested in micro expressions.”

Bo Jinyan is stunned.  Then he laughs mockingly: “You will never become a top class detective if you only rely on micro-expressions.”

Bo Jian thinks for a while, then he answers his father: “You missed one important point.  An ‘ordinary’ genius like you will need to grasp the skills in all areas of investigation.  But I am the genius of geniuses in micro-expressions.  This will be enough for me to become a top class detective.”  

Bo Jinyan smiles coldly.  What?  His son says he is only an ‘ordinary’ genius?

What a joke! 

“You are shallow and naive.  I won’t discuss this with you any further.” He says: “But truth will reveal itself.  You will find out in time who is the genius of geniuses.”

——————

One month later. 

Bo Jinyan invites his ‘unfavored’ son along to an interrogation. 

It’s the first time he is involved in a real interrogation. But Bo Jian is very confident of himself.  He says arrogantly to his parents: “Give me ten minutes.  I will find out the truth from reading his micro-expressions.”

Jian Yao watches as her son walks into the interrogation room.  Bo Jinyan has a cunning smile on his face.  

———————

Ten minutes later. 

Bo Jian looks at the suspect.  He can’t read the suspect’s micro expression on his face.   He is shocked.  How can this be?  The speed of how fast he can recognise an expression is 2/25 second.  Why can’t he read this man’s micro expressions?

Then Bo Jinyan walks in.  

In all honesty, Bo Jinyan rarely works on such simple cases.  However, he is making an exception this time.  His deductions are so detailed and accurate that the suspect is completely taken by surprise.  He mutters: “How did you know that?  Are you a fortune teller?  I admit… I admit… Yes, I killed him…”

Bo Jian stands in the room, flushed with shame.  

From that day onwards, he is a changed boy.  He is no longer boastful of his own abilities.  He accepts his father’s training and diligently takes on the comprehensive training.  

Both Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao are glad to see the change in attitude in Bo Jian.

One evening, when the couple is in bed, Jian Yao says to Bo Jinyan: “Jinyan, you are amazing.  You have successfully persuaded the little man to build a solid foundation and learn a range of skills and techniques.  Well done.”  

Bo Jinyan smiles: “Well of course.  I am the father.  He is my son.”

Jian Yao can’t help but laugh.  She is a little puzzled too: “That suspect is able to hide his feelings so well.  Even Bo Jian can’t read his micro-expressions.” 

Bo Jinyan gives her a quick glance: “My dear, no one can hide their feelings that well.”

Jian Yao: “Huh?”

Bo Jinyan smiles: “Ok, it took me a whole month, searching cases from all over the country, to find a suspect with paralysed facial muscles.  He is my son.  How can he outdo me?  It’s just a simple trick. Ha ha…”

Jian Yao: “….”

Bo Jinyan, you went to such great lengths just to prove to your son you are smarter?  You are so childish!