S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 2 Chapter 24

The Innocent Murderer 24 – Leading the Snake Out of the Cave

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At night, there was a cool breeze on the country roads. In the fields on both sides, the green grass accompanied the fragrance of wild flowers. The sound of insects echoed and the sky was shining with stars.

"Cat... your dad is good at cooking, no wonder he raised you so well." Bai Yutang walked with Zhan Zhao on his back and admired.

"That's right." Zhan Zhao lay on Bai Yutang's back, holding a toothpick in his hand, resting his chin on Bai Yutang's shoulder. Holding his chin with one hand, he picked his teeth with the other. "It's so far, where did you park your car? How far away is it?"

"At the bottom of the mountain." Bai Yutang said helplessly, "If I parked too close, I was afraid your dad would find out."

"And you haven't been discovered yet?" Zhan Zhao continued picking his teeth with the toothpick. "It's better to park closer."

"I'm carrying you. I haven't even said that I'm tired, what are you complaining about?"

"Huh, too slow."

"Ah, I poked my gums!"

"You deserve it!"

"Dead Cat"

"Speed!"

......

As the two were fighting, they finally reached the car. Bai Yutang started the car and asked, "Cat, where do you want to go first? To interrogate Pang Ji and his son?"

"Hmm..." Zhan Zhao touched his chin, "It's late now, I can only talk to Pang Ji and his son. We can do something else tomorrow morning."

"Should I bring you back later?" Bai Yutang asked, it was just approaching midnight.

"Who said I want to come back?!" Zhan Zhao glared at Bai Yutang, "I want to go home."

Bai Yutang smiled openly. He started the car and drove to the hospital.

Both Pang Qing and Pang ji were seriously injured and stayed in the intensive care unit. Zhan Zhao couldn't help but sigh inwardly... Brother Bai, those shots were ruthless.

The police officer in charge of guarding them opened the door to let Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao in. Zhan Zhao refused to let Bai Yutang carry him and only asked him to support him.

In the ward, Pang Ji was still wearing a respirator and Pang Qing leaned there blankly. He looked up and watched the two coming in without speaking.

Zhan Zhao looked at the two for a while, then asked Pang Qing, "How is your injury?"

Pang Qing sneered, "As if you really care about it."

Bai Yutang disagreed, "Why are you being so rude? Cat really does care!"

Zhan Zhao looked at him and rolled his eyes – You still want to mess around?

Bai Yutang raised his eyebrows – I was telling the truth!

Zhan Zhao glared at him again and warned him not to talk nonsense. Then he turned to Pang Qing and said, "You want revenge, I can understand those feelings. But it's better for you to use your brain than to be used as a gun by others."

"What?" Pang Qing raised his head, eyes full of confusion.

"You know what I mean." Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, "Otherwise how do you think Pang Xiaoqin died?"

Pang Qing frowned, as if thinking about something, and his face changed colour.

Zhan Zhao nodded with satisfaction to Bai Yutang, "Let's go back."

Bai Yutang was a little surprised. He stared at Zhan Zhao and raised his eyebrows, as if to ask – You're already finished?

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly – I'm finished!

Bai Yutang frowned – What was the point of that?

Zhan Zhao smiled mysteriously – I won't tell you!

Helplessly, Bai Yutang helped Zhan Zhao out of the ward and returned to the car. Bai Yutang asked, "Cat, what are you plotting?"

Zhan Zhao smiled mysteriously: "Xiao Bai, do you have a bug in your car?"

"Huh?" Bai Yutang was surprised and laughed, "Cat, what do you want such a shameful thing for?"

"Go find one!" Zhan Zhao smiled, "I need one."

Bai Yutang sighed and called Jiang Ping. Sure enough, he had one there. The two went back to the police station to fetch it. After taking the bug downstairs, Bai Yutang asked Zhan Zhao, "Where do you want to use it?"

Zhan Zhao smiled, "The publishing agency on South Street!"

"Your editor's building?" Bai Yutang was taken aback, "Cat, you think it has something to do with your editor?"

"Qian Mingyue is a little strange." Zhan Zhao said, "Do you think she is too keen on making me famous? If it is only for sales, my books are already best-sellers and it's good to keep my sense of mystery. Is it necessary to be so serious?"

Bai Yutang thought for a while, "That's right, but she doesn't seem to be directly related to this case... Ah!"

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao, and said, "Someone ordered her to make you famous!"

Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows, "This woman is quite capable, not like the kind of person who is at the mercy of others. I believe that someone is blackmailing her!"

"So, once she accomplished her job, she will report to that person." Bai Yutang nodded, "Okay, Cat, it makes sense that I'm looking for a bug."

"Also, have Jiang Ping monitor Qian Mingyue's phone." Zhan Zhao laughed, "As long as she is here, we will definitely gain something this time!"

Bai Yutang asked as he drove, "Then how will you get her to take the bait? Are you really going to hold a book signing event?"

"No way." Zhan Zhao smiled slyly, "Isn't there one already set up for us? I want to meet the members of my book club!"

"Oh..." Bai Yutang nodded, "Sly Cat!"

When they reached the publishing house, Zhan Zhao poked his head out and looked up. It turns out that the lights were still brightly lit inside.

"Qian Mingyue seems to be working overtime." Bai Yutang said.

Zhan Zhao unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car. "I heard that she is the president of this publishing house. Of course she has to work hard for herself."

When the two went upstairs, they saw the door to the editing room. Through the crack of the door, they saw Qian Mingyue immersed in reviewing a manuscript. For some reason, she looked tired. 

Zhan Zhao knocked on the door gently and opened it.

Although they knocked on the door first, Qian Mingyue jumped when the two entered. After seeing Zhan Zhao clearly, Qian Mingyue smiled. When she saw that Zhan Zhao was followed by Bai Yutang, her face turned pale again, probably because she remembered the last time Bai Yutang came to look for her. Seeing that the expression on her face changed in an instant, Bai Yutang laughed.

"Xiao Zhan." Qian Mingyue hurriedly stood up with a smile. She was a little surprised when she saw Zhan Zhao being supported by Bai Yutang, "You, what's wrong with your foot?"

"It's okay." Zhan Zhao smiled, "I just suffered some injuries at work."

"Why are you so careless?" Qian Mingyue hurriedly moved a chair over for Zhan Zhao to sit down, "Aren't you working a clerical job? How is a clerical job so dangerous?"

Zhan Zhao smiled and sat down. Qian Mingyue told Bai Yutang to sit as well and went to pour tea.

"By the way, you came to me so late. What's the matter?" Qian Mingyue asked cautiously, taking a look at Bai Yutang.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other – Qian Mingyue seemed to be particularly afraid of Bai Yutang, and it shouldn't be for the things that happened last time.

"Oh, we happened to pass by. Seeing that the light in your office was on, we stopped by to talk to you about something." Zhan Zhao smiled to try to get her to relax as much as possible. 

Qian Mingyue seemed to relax gradually, and asked "Well, what's the matter?"

"I want to start a book club." Zhan Zhao said.

With a clang, Qian Mingyue's cup was smashed, and her hand was scalded by boiling water, making her jump.

"Book... book Club?" Qian Mingyue was surprised and delighted, "Really?"

"Mhmm." Zhan Zhao nodded, "What's the problem?"

"Oh, no problem! You didn't want one before, but now you suddenly do…" Qian Mingyue was obviously a bit suspicious. 

"Of course, it's not for profit." Zhan Zhao said, "It's just that I can't work lately. I'm not busy, so I wanted to meet some of my readers. You can choose the members of the book club. Not too many though, ten or twenty is enough. However, the media cannot be notified!"

"Ok... okay, okay!" Qian Mingyue nodded quickly. Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao could clearly see the joy on her face.

"Then we won't bother you anymore." Bai Yutang helped Zhan Zhao stand up. After helping put the chair back, he said, "Farewell."

"Uh, you don't want to drink a glass of water before leaving?" Although Qian Mingyue said that, she had already put down her cup to take the guests out. Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang knew that Qian Mingyue was really anxious.

They didn't stay any longer and left.

Sending the two to the stairs, Qian Mingyue suddenly stopped Zhan Zhao, "Xiao Zhan."

"Huh?" Zhan Zhao turned around, looking at Qian Mingyue at the top of the stairs.

"Uh..." Qian Mingyue smiled slightly and whispered, "be careful."

Zhan Zhao nodded and was helped downstairs by Bai Yutang.

After going downstairs and getting in the car, the two drove away. When they left the parking lot, Zhan Zhao clearly saw Qian Mingyue at the window watching the two leave.

The car stopped when it reached the alley nearby. Bai Yutang took out the intercom connected to the wiretap, turned it on, and waited.

After Qian Mingyue watched the two of them leave and she returned to the room, she started breathing heavily. After a few deep breaths, she muttered to herself, "Great, God bless, God bless... "

She took out her phone and dialled someone.

Jiang Ping had been waiting in the office for a long time, and when he saw that the call was going through, he quickly followed it up.

"Hey... it's me." Qian Mingyue's voice on the phone came from the bug. "He... he said he wants to open a book club!"

"Yes... really, I didn't lie to you!"

"Huh? Notify the media?" Qian Mingyue seemed a little embarrassed. "He wouldn't let me..."

"Well, don't worry, I'll just do it... But you have to give me everything!"

"Okay... okay!" After speaking, she hung up the phone.

After that, Qian Mingyue was silent for a while and whispered, "Xiao Zhan, don't blame me. For you, being exposed to the public is not a bad thing, but for me, it affects the life of me and my family!"

After speaking, she took out her cell phone and started calling the TV station and several news magazines.

Bai Yutang put down the intercom and watched Zhan Zhao, "There is definitely something going on with her."

Zhan Zhao nodded, still thinking about the "careful" Qian Mingyue said to him just now. In any case, it is true that Qian Mingyue was forced to do everything and she can't be blamed.

When Bai Yutang saw Zhan Zhao's expression, he knew that his sympathy was overflowing again. He reached out and pinched his cheek, saying, "Don't pity her. Qian Mingyue doesn't know what she is doing. She is afraid of me, that means that what she is doing is against the law."

Zhan Zhao looked at him weakly, "Yes, you are so great, Captain Black Cat!"

"Captain Black Cat is you." Bai Yutang smiled and leaned forward. Just as he was about to kiss him, the phone rang. He saw that it was Jiang Ping so he quickly picked it up.

"Jiang Ping, how did it go?" Bai Yutang answered the phone and asked, covering his face.

"I traced it." Jiang Ping said, "The call was made to a cell phone, and the ID number used for the cellphone number was verified to belong to An Lingli."

"What?" Both Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao were shocked.

Jiang Ping said, "Captain, please don't make me do this in the middle of the night! When I saw An Lingli's name just now, I was so shocked that my hair stood up. If it wasn't for Ma Han and Zhao Hu in the lounge, I would have run away."

"Don't be such a scaredy cat and focus on your task." Bai Yutang shook his head and moved the phone towards Zhan Zhao, "Cat, do you have any more orders?"

Zhan Zhao said to Jiang Ping on the other end of the phone, "Jiang Ping, can you find the location of An Lingli's call?"

Jiang Ping said, "Yes, it is located in the area around T University."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other – As we expected.

"Also," Bai Yutang said, "you found the locations that An Lingli called afterwards right?"

"I found them." Jiang Ping replied, "It's all TV stations and newspapers."

"Tell Lu Fang to notify them one by one in the name of the police." Zhan Zhao said, "It's said that Zhan Zhao's book club has been cancelled and there is no need to report on it. Ask them to cooperate and stop mentioning this matter!"

"Understood." Jiang Ping put down the phone and did what Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang instructed.

"Cat, what do you want to do now?" Bai Yutang asked

Zhan Zhao yawned, "What else? Go home to sleep, wait for tomorrow, and check Uncle An's past in the morning!"

"Uncle An?" Bai Yutang wondered, "Cat, Uncle An at most concealed that his wife went crazy years ago. What else can there be? Why are you so keen to check his details?"

Zhan Zhao thought for a while and said, "If my guess is not wrong... Uncle An is hiding a big secret!"

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: March 18, 2021

Re-edited: December 21, 2023