S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 2 Chapter 80

Password Murderer 18 – Episode

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After eating a meal, everyone was in a good mood. Gongsun suddenly became Mother Bai’s favourite son.

After dinner, Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao carried snacks and ate them on the sofa. Luban hadn’t seen them for a long time, and he licked his fur next to Zhan Zhao. Bai Jintang and Zhan Qitian talked about things such as business, investment, and finance on the side. Bai Yunwen walked over to Bai Yutang, and asked, “What are you busy with these days?”

“Oh, it’s still the haunted house case.” Bai Yutang shook his head.

Zhan Zhao suddenly had a thought and asked Bai Yunwen, “By the way, Uncle, do you know about the fire at Normal University fourteen years ago?”

Bai Yunwen was taken aback for a moment. He lit one of the cigars that Gongsun just gifted him, tasted it while nodding in satisfaction, and replied, “I have some impressions of the case… Well… Was there a student that was seriously injured?”

“Yes.” Bai Yutang said, “Dad, do you know it?”

Bai Yunwen thought for a while, then asked Zhan Qitian on the side, “Qitian, the Normal University fire case, do you remember it?”

Zhan Qitian thought for a while, “I remember the case, it was a mess at the time.”

“How messy was it?” Zhan Zhao asked curiously, hugging his pillow.

Zhan Qitian recalled the past and said, “The school told the builders that there were problems with the building structure, and the students accused the school of negligence. Regarding the safety of the students, the injured students sued the school. They also told all of their classmates, and the story appeared in major newspapers… But the day before the trial, they suddenly said that they wanted to settle out of court.”

“Huh?” Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao both glanced at each other in surprise, then looked at Zhan Qitian, “What is this? First, they make all of these issues, then they talk about reconciliation out of court?”

Zhan Qitian nodded, “At that time, the media attention was high because everyone felt that the burned student was innocent. On the other hand, they were worried that the school was putting pressure on him, making him give up on the idea of litigation. At that time, I was still working as a prosecutor and I went to meet that student personally. He was really burnt. I asked him if he wanted to file a lawsuit, and that if he didn’t understand, he could ask. However, he said he didn’t want to sue because the illegal electric appliance that caught fire was his… Well, if the school and other students sued him in turn, he may be even more miserable. At least now the school has promised to protect his life.”

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other. Zhan Zhao was curious and leaned in to ask “Dad, do you remember that person’s name?”

Zhan Qitian thought for a while and said, “Their last name was Chen. I don’t remember their full name.”

“Uncle, are you sure he could talk at the time?” Bai Yutang asked.

Zhan Qitian was taken aback for a moment and nodded, “Yes.”

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other, and they were a little puzzled.

“What’s the matter?” Zhan Qitian asked inexplicably.

“Chen Jianxian is now mute. If it wasn’t caused by the injury back then, it might be something that happened later, or he could be just pretending.” Bai Yutang pondered, “But what are the benefits from pretending to be mute?”

“You two should just eat. Can’t you think about the case later?” Bai Yunwen shook his head and asked Bai Yutang, “Old Bao should know about this case, why don’t you ask him?”

“Oh, we asked him about the case from seven years ago, now we are asking you about the case from fourteen years ago.”  Zhan Zhao said helplessly.

“Seven years ago?” Zhan Qitian thought for a while, “By the way, Normal University has a lot of fires. There have been three in just over ten years.”

“What?” Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang asked Zhan Qitian in unison, “Three fires?!”

Zhan Qitian was taken aback when he saw the two of them, “If I remember correctly, it is indeed three fires.”

“Apart from the fires seven years ago and fourteen years ago, what other fire was there?” Zhan Zhao hugged his pillow and sat next to Zhan Qitian, “Was it earlier?”

Zhan Qitian thought for a while, “Ten years… No, it was eleven years ago.”

“Eleven years?” Bai Yutang frowned slightly, “Was it the dormitory that was on fire?”

Zhan Qitian shook his head, “It was a staff dormitory.”

“Staff?” Zhan Zhao thought for a while, “Then it means that the teachers were caught in the fire. Was anyone killed?”

“There was.” Zhan Qitian shook his head, “’It was a courier.”

“What?” Zhan Zhao was surprised, “Why did a courier die?”

“There was gas leaking in a room in the staff dormitory building. The courier went into the building, and as he rang the doorbell, it exploded.” Zhan Qitian explained, “He died on the spot. It was very troublesome to fight the lawsuit at that time.”

“This is simply being hit by bad luck.” Bai Yutang shook his head helplessly, “The courier was only making a delivery.”

“En.” Zhan Qitian nodded, “At the time, it was found that the gas leak was caused by the aging of the gas pipes, and it was difficult to trace the cause. Some said that it was the school’s fault, while the school said that it was the manufacturer’s fault. The pipe was bought by a teacher at a hardware store and had been used for several years.

“He died in vain.” Bai Yutang was helpless.

“Really…” Zhan Zhao said, touching his chin, “Are the principals and teachers of Normal University squeezing toothpaste? All of these cases are hidden away.” (Angel: Squeezing toothpaste is a saying that means to pressure someone into something. In this case, he is suggesting that the principals and teachers are being pressured to not talk about these cases.)

“It’s not a glorious thing after all.” Bai Yunwen said, “Schools are all like this.”

“Hmm…” Zhan Zhao suddenly held his chin and leaned forward on the sofa in a daze, as if thinking of something.

"Cat, what's the matter?" Bai Yutang poked Zhan Zhao, "What did you think of?"

"Xiao Bai, what is the number of the dormitory room that was burned seven years ago?" Zhan Zhao asked suddenly.

"311." Bai Yutang replied

"Liu Fang's house number?"

"...1102" Bai Yutang thought for a while, "The fire eleven years ago...could it be just a coincidence?"

Zhan Zhao nodded, "Qiao Weiming's pen name?"

"..." Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao, "The Eleven Sins."

"Is it just a coincidence?" Zhan Zhao tilted his head and thought for a while, "But I can't see any specific connection."

"Qiao Weiming?" Zhan Qitian smiled, "Do you also know this person?"

"Dad, you know him too?" Zhan Zhao looked at Zhan Qitian.

“He visited the jail many times, and it took him a long time to be able to meet one of the serious prisoners. Most of the people in the court recognized him.” Zhan Qitian said, “I have seen this man once or twice. He is humble on the surface, but is very conceited and self-righteous.”

Zhan Zhao looked up at Zhan Qitian, “Dad, it’s rare to see you express dissatisfaction with someone.”

Zhan Qitian shrugged, “Those prisoners are severely sentenced, and their lives are not worth promoting. The strong are not necessarily the ones who can harm people, and the ones who can save people are not necessarily sought after.”

……

After eating, everyone went home. Before leaving, Mother Bai stretched her hand out and pulled Zhan Zhao, asking him in a low voice, “When will you call me mother?”

Zhan Zhao flushed with embarrassment and quickly ran away. As he entered the elevator, he was still wondering how the psychological endurance of those two mothers were so strong.

When they left, the four were divided into two cars, and Bai Jintang and Gongsun left first. Zhan Zhao said that he wanted to go for a drive, so Bai Yutang drove him around the city.

“By the way.” Zhan Zhao leaned his chin on his hand and asked Bai Yutang while staring out the car window, “Did you know that this time, Gongsun called your mother first, and the two chatted all afternoon before your mother forced your father to have this dinner?”

Bai Yutang was taken aback when he heard it, then smiled and shook his head, “Gongsun is very serious, and Brother’s temperament is just right for him.”

“You’re right.” Zhan Zhao sighed, looking thoughtfully at the night view outside the car window.

“Cat, what are you thinking about?” Bai Yutang asked with a smile, “So sad?”

“I suddenly thought of Zhao Jue.” Zhan Zhao said.

“Huh?” Bai Yutang was stunned, “Why did you think of him? Then again, he really is fascinating, and we really don’t know where he went this time.”

“Everyone does things for a reason.” Zhan Zhao said, “Take a guess, why did Qiao Weiming buy a house behind the cemetery?”

… With a ‘screech’, Bai Yutang slammed on the brakes and the car stopped on the side of the road.

The momentum pushed Zhan Zhao forward, but fortunately he was secured by the seat belt. He turned to look at Bai Yutang in surprise, “What are you doing?”

“Cat, if you die, I can’t die, I must live by your grave.” Bai Yutang blurted out.

Zhan Zhao was taken aback, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Bai Yutang touched his chin, “An analogy.”

Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang, “You mean, the reason why Qiao Weiming lives next to the cemetery is the key to this case?”

“En.” Bai Yutang nodded and asked, “Maybe he is guarding someone.”

Zhan Zhao thought for a while, then shook his head, “Xiao Bai, Qiao Weiming is a person who will be attached to himself, but not necessarily others.”

“English.” Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao helplessly. (Angel: The author uses Chinese, but I changed it to English so it made sense.)

“I have read his book. He is more hostile, more obsessed with things, and he is a little unwilling… In short, there are many people who think highly of themselves but are trapped by the world. A dead man is so persistent.”

“Speak more vernacularly.” Bai Yutang reached out to help Zhan Zhao pat the dust off of the collar of his suit. (Angel: Vernacular language is an expression or mode of expression that occurs in ordinary speech rather than formal writing. Basically, Yutang is telling him to speak more casually so it’s easier to understand.)

Zhan Zhao thought for a while, “If the lover dies, then this kind of person’s love and desire will become like water. The only thing that makes him fanatical is probably everything about his lover. But when we went to Qiao Weiming’s house, there were no warm and peaceful memories. Qiao Weiming gave me the feeling that he was still very enthusiastic. It seemed that he was looking for something. The only thing that would make him enthusiastic should be a living person, not a dead person.”

“You mean, he lives next to the cemetery to see the living?” Bai Yutang was taken aback, “Is there someone who often goes to the cemetery that makes him so persistent?”

Zhan Zhao shook his head, “I’m not sure about this, but… the kind of faint heart that is like water, I have seen it in someone.”

Bai Yutang was taken aback and turned to look at Zhan Zhao, “You mean Zhao Jue?”

Zhan Zhao shook his head again, “Zhao Jue is a little bearish, but not to that extent. He is a fox, and the emotions that he expresses are those that he wants us to see. As for what the key is, I can’t see through it. The person I am talking about doesn’t hide anything.”

“Who is it?” Bai Yutang asked.

“If we go to the cemetery now, you should be able to see them.” Zhan Zhao whispered.

“Now?” Bai Yutang raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhan Zhao, “Cat, it’s almost twelve o’clock. Are you sure we are going to the cemetery to see the living?”

Zhan Zhao couldn’t laugh or cry, and he stared at Bai Yutang, “Hurry up, let’s go!”

Bai Yutang raised his eyebrows and smiled as he started the car. Zhan Zhao suddenly asked, “If I die, will you really live next to the cemetery?”

Bai Yutang leaned over and whispered, “En… The tombstone next to yours, the one on the left.”

Zhan Zhao laughed. He leaned forward and kissed the corner of Bai Yutang’s mouth, then touched his chin, “Hurry up and drive, you won’t be able to see them if we are too late.”

Bai Yutang nodded and started the car.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

First it was Mother Zhan, now it's Mother Bai. Their mothers clearly love this couple (✿◡‿◡)

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

Translated: May 3, 2021