S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 3 Chapter 42

Ghost Murderer 10 - Dinner Party

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“Dinner party?” Zhao Zhen picked up the phone and listened to what Li Ying said before frowning, “Almost forgot, and ah…Bai Jintang is getting better? He’s going to the banquet?”

“Can’t help it, he is the boss and he said he wants to go. There are many big stars going, all from his performing arts company. You're the big name that will be unveiled today, so you can't afford to not be there.”

The corners of Zhao Zhen's mouth twitched. When Li Ying mentioned that unveiling, why did she sound like he was attending to entertain the clients…

“You wear something nice, do not come in a shirt and jeans. They are very sexy but you aren’t going to flirt with the girls and have it be written up by the media! Also, you are not allowed to hook up with Bai Chi after you come. You don’t want to harm him, right?” After saying that, Li Ying hung up the phone.

Zhao Zhen's eyes twitched as he put down his phone and muttered under his breath, “Women. Fortunately Chi Chi is a man.”

“Hmm?” Bai Chi came over and looked at him. He was examining the books that the motherly police officers had glued together for him, and sighed in admiration, there are still many good people in this world.

At this time, they saw that Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang had returned.

“How was it?” Everyone felt strange when they saw them hanging their heads.

“Don't even mention it. Nobody was there, how can we find them?” Zhan Zhao was a bit speechless.

The group looked at each other, all feeling suspicious.

“I'll go and find a change of clothes.” Zhao Zhen said as he stood up and turned to Bai Chi, “Are you going to your brother's dinner party later?”

Bai Chi thought for a moment and said, “Brother didn't ask me to go. I would rather finish reading these books.”

Zhao Zhen also knew that Bai Chi was very introverted and did not like to attend such dinners, but after thinking about it, he asked, “Then where are you staying?”

“Lisbon and I will go home first and wait for you.” Bai Chi replied.

Zhao Zhen thought about it and said, “Well… I'm going to send Lisbon back later, why don't you come with me?”

Bai Chi was a bit puzzled and asked, “What for?”

Zhao Zhen said, “Well… it's better for you not to leave my side for a while, there was a car that tried hitting you just this morning, I'm worried”

“Hmm… okay.” Bai Chi nodded, looking relatively obedient.

“Hoo…” Zhao Zhen exhaled, “Then I'll go change and get Lisbon.”

“I'll go too, I'm worried about you being alone.” Bai Chi took his gun and was ready to follow him. Zhao Zhen hesitated slightly before he walked by and said, “Chi Chi, where are you going? We're all going to the banquet later, and Yutang has to be dressed nicely”

“Oh… is that so?” Bai Chi looked at Zhao Zhen, and Zhao Zhen hurriedly said, “It's okay, you’re busy, I'll be back in a while.”'

“Then be careful.” Bai Chi instructed, seemingly very worried.

“Don't worry.” Zhao Zhen stroked Bai Chi's head.

Bai Chi smiled and walked away.

Zhao Zhen sighed with relief and was about to walk out, but he saw Zhan Zhao come up and whisper, “Are you having an affair?”

Zhao Zhen was so shocked that he hurriedly shook his head at him, and Zhan Zhao smiled mischievously.

Zhao Zhen sighed and looked at Zhan Zhao, “Your character is also this bad?”

Zhan Zhao followed him into the hallway and asked, “What are you going to do?”

“I'm going to change my clothes and get ready for dinner.” Zhao Zhen said, waving to Lisbon.

Lisbon sauntered over to him.

“Oh?” Zhan Zhao asked with a smile, “What else?”

“Well... I probably know who that person who sent those letters to me is and I want to go make sure.” Zhao Zhen said, shrugging, “Don't tell Chi Chi, there's no need to make him more worried.”

“Hmm, I understand.” Zhan Zhao thought for a moment and said, “Right, there is something that I need to tell you.”

“What?” Zhao Zhen looked at him.

Zhan Zhao moved over and whispered a few words in Zhao Zhen's ear.

Zhao Zhen frowned slightly and looked at Zhan Zhao with a raised eyebrow, as if asking – really?

Zhan Zhao nodded his head.

“I see.” Zhao Zhen turned around and walked away.

Zhan Zhao strolled back, met Bai Yutang, took him to the side, and whispered something to him. Bai Yutang frowned.

“Here are the outfits for tonight.” At that moment, Lu Fang came and handed out clothing to the group.

“Black?” Bai Yutang had a physiological aversion to black, “Why are we wearing black?”

“You’re pretending to be bodyguards. It's normal for Bai Jintang to have increased security when he's under attack, right?” Lu Fang said, “Besides, security guards are less likely to attract attention. Put on sunglasses and you’ll look just like the black super special police officers. Handsome, right?”

Bai Yutang frowned and said, “There’s no need for that, right? There are always one or two exceptions, I'll just stand in the corner.”

Lu Fang handed the two suits to Zhan Zhao and raised an eyebrow at him, as if to say - you handle this.

Zhan Zhao took the suits, coughed, and looked at Bai Yutang, “Do you think you're not handsome enough? Are you not afraid that reporters will take a picture of you and put it in tomorrow's newspaper saying that you are the newest potential artist signed by the Bai Group? Are you not afraid of walking down the road with a bunch of people looking for your autograph and a bunch of girls waiting to touch you and scream in your ear before photoshopping your headshot onto Schwarzenegger's body?”

Bai Yutang reached out and took the suit, saying, “I'll wear it, don't say anymore!”

Zhan Zhao smiled and turned around as Lu Fang gave him a thumbs up.

Rather strangely, the clothes had names on them, and surprisingly, everyone's sizes were perfect. They fit well, as if they were made to measure.

“Was that what the measurements were for last time?” Zhan Zhao asked Lu Fang.

“En, considering that you may need some uniform clothing while you handle these cases, we had some custom made for you. The main reason is that there was a lot more funding last year and an additional clothing budget this year, so I am having some made for you, in case there is an emergency.”

“En.” Everyone nodded, and Bai Yutang asked him with some difficulty, “There are no other styles that are too exaggerated, right? If you have money, donate it to the people affected by the disaster.”

Lu Fang shrugged, “The outfits are still being ordered.”

“I want one!” Ma Xin suddenly raised her hand and came over to say, “I strongly request military uniforms.”

The group was helpless, and Lu Fang teased her, “Xin Xin, does it matter if you reveal your nature so early?” He asked while glancing at Luo Tian.

Ma Xin gave Luo Tian a cross look, and Luo Tian had an innocent expression.

“Let's go to the cafeteria to eat first, then gather and go to the dinner party.” Bai Yutang looked at his watch and instructed, and the group dispersed in a flurry.

Bai Chi slowly walked downstairs, seemingly distracted. Zhan Zhao walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, asking, “Chi Chi? What's wrong?”

“Nothing.” Bai Chi shook his head and looked at Zhan Zhao, “I'm a little worried about Zhen… I keep feeling like he's acting weird. “

Zhan Zhao smiled faintly and said, “He's been in the limelight recently. He's very popular, so he' s afraid of being photographed by the media and causing trouble for you.”

“Is that so?” Bai Chi asked.

“Mhmm.” Zhan Zhao nodded and patted him on the shoulder, sighing secretly. Zhao Zhen was still slightly like Zhao Jue in some ways, very difficult to deal with.

Inside the office of Bai Jintang's Bai Group.

When Gongsun woke up from his nap, he felt dizzy and was a bit uncomfortable. It was normal for him to stay up this late, but he had never felt this kind of sadness. It was probably because he was worried about Bai Jintang that he had not slept well for several nights then laid on the sofa for too long and had caught a cold.

When Gongsun got up, he felt light-headed and found that a suit jacket had been draped over his body. He picked it up and looked at it; it was Bai Jintang's.

Sitting on the sofa in a daze, he saw a burnt out cigarette on top of the coffee table in front of him; Bai Jintang should have stayed here for a while.

Gongsun inexplicably wiped his lips, it seemed as though he had just been kissed, the feeling was the same as it used to be every morning when he woke up… or was that an illusion?

Thinking of this, even though he was tired and uncomfortable, Gongsun threw away the suit jacket somewhat grumpily, stood up, walked familiarly to the cupboard and opened the door, taking out a bottle of wine and a glass. Pouring a glass of wine, he took a sip, felt a little more awake, and put the glass down.

“Is that how you wake up?”

A familiar voice came from behind him, and Gongsun turned back to look at him.

Bai Jintang was standing in the doorway with a cup of coffee and a snack, “I didn't quite feel like waking you up, you were sleeping so soundly, but we're going to be late. If you want something to eat, change your clothes and we’ll go to the dinner party.”

“What dinner party?” Gongsun was a bit lazy and had forgotten about the dinner party. He took the coffee, wanting to drink it, but Bai Jintang reached out and blocked the rim of the coffee cup and handed over a cake, “Eat this first.”

Gongsun didn't want to drink the coffee anymore.

Bai Jintang came over and smiled, “Want me to feed you?”

Gongsun frowned slightly. He put the coffee cup down, took a step back, leaned back against the wine cooler and drank the remaining bit of wine from the glass.

Bai Jintang watched as a drop of red wine traced from the corner of his mouth across his chin and slid down his neck into the collar of his shirt... Inexplicably, there was a primitive impulse running through his blood, his heart burned, and his eyes turned sharp.

Gongsun drank his wine and looked at Bai Jintang. Seeing the look on his face, he picked up the corner of his mouth and smiled slightly.

Bai Jintang was taken aback. Gongsun’s smile contained a sense of mischief, some clarity, and an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

Bai Jintang was a little frustrated. Before he lost his memory, was he being dominated by this man?

Just as he thought of this, he saw Gongsun reach over and gently lift his chin, whispering, “It’s like this.”

After he said that, Bai Jintang felt a slight heat on his lips…

Afterwards, he only knew that he had no control over his limbs and mind, and an inexplicable impulse completely controlled him. When he was able to think freely, there was already a faint taste of wine in his mouth, and an unsatisfaction in his heart.

Gongsun reached out and pushed him away. Putting down his glass, he walked over to the sofa and asked, “Where are the clothes?”

Bai Jintang took a while before walking over and reaching out to pull Gongsun over.

“Stop it,” Gongsun pushed him back, “don't touch me until you remember.”

“You just kissed me.” Bai Jintang said.

“I'm allowed to touch you, you're not allowed to touch me!” Gongsun was justifiably unreasonable.

Bai Jintang laughed, shook his head, and forcibly grabbed him again. Gongsun closed his eyes, and for a long time, nothing moved, there was only Bai Jintang's palm pressing against his forehead.

Gongsun opened his eyes and saw Bai Jintang frowning slightly, whispering, “It's hot.”

Later, Gongsun held a thermometer in his mouth as he changed, and by the time the thermometer was taken out, the private doctor had arrived.

Looking at the thermometer, the doctor frowned.

Gongsun said, “It's okay, it's just a cold, just give me a shot to reduce my fever.”

The doctor, who was a bit old and had white hair, looked at Gongsun, glared and said, “Are you the doctor or am I the doctor? Sit down!”

Gongsun was taken aback, and Bai Jintang smiled slightly, seeming to appreciate his embarrassment.

Gongsun sat down somewhat discouraged and looked at the doctor.

The doctor seemed to be quite competent, combining Chinese and Western medicine. He checked Gongsun's pulse and said, “Your body needs to be treated carefully, what kind of work do you do? How did you end up like this?”

Gongsun opened his mouth to say that he was a forensic doctor, but he guessed that the doctor would say, “How can you be a doctor and still not care for yourself?” So he decided to shut up and not mention it.

The doctor prescribed him some medicine, took out his medical kit, and said, “Start with an IV drip.”

“An IV drip?” Gongsun wanted to argue with him, but the doctor glared at him.

Gongsun could only sigh and lean back on the sofa, allowing the doctor to stick the needle in him and then hang the IV bag up. He didn’t allow him to move around too quickly, saying it would take at least two hours.

Gongsun got a bit depressed and asked Bai Jintang, “How much longer before the dinner?”

Instead of answering him, Bai Jintang asked the doctor, “Is there anything else wrong with him other than the cold?”

“Well, it's mainly fatigue syndrome and poor health.” Said the doctor. Looking at the wine, coffee, and cakes on the table, he frowned, “Eat less of this rubbish, eat and drink more soup and water.” After saying that, he took his kit and left.

Bai Jintang shrugged and looked at Gongsun, “Did you hear that?”

Gongsun didn't say anything, reaching over and grabbing the suit jacket beside him to cover up, as he was somewhat cold from the IV.

At this time, Xiao Ding knocked on the door and said to Bai Jintang, “Big Brother, it will start in half an hour.”

Bai Jintang nodded and said, “Postpone it for an hour and a half, and by the way, go buy me some hot Chinese food and water.”

“Huh?” Xiao Ding's eyes widened at him, “There are dozens of stars, dozens of media outlets, hundreds of reporters, and a bunch of rich people there, and you're making them wait for an hour and a half?”

Bai Jintang looked up at him, “You want me to say it twice?”

Xiao Ding shuddered, closed the door and ran away, yelling, “I hate it, it’s so scary!”

Feeling that he was not very reliable, Bai Jintang called Da Ding and asked him to bring some Chinese food, preferably with hot soup.

Gongsun looked at him and Bai Jintang smiled faintly, “I haven't eaten either, seeing you makes me hungry.”

……

An hour later, the hall was filled with celebrities, all of whom were waiting anxiously. Xiao Ding and Da Ding arranged for many people to give speeches, and also made a small award ceremony.

No one knew whether everyone was unhappy or not, but Bai Jintang's reputation was known to everyone, so they all just smiled.

Bai Yutang looked around, walked up to Zhan Zhao, and whispered, “Brother is really good, how can he be this late?”

Zhan Zhao looked around, “Gongsun isn’t here either.”

Bai Yutang squinted at him, “Cat, are you thinking something indecent?”

Zhan Zhao looked up.

As they spoke, they saw Bai Chi standing in the doorway with a somewhat anxious expression.

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao, “Zhao Zhen hasn't arrived yet?”

Zhan Zhao nodded and took out his cell phone to show him a text message from Zhao Zhen – I'll be there later, don't worry.

“Has he sent it to Chi Chi?” asked Bai Yutang.

“Yes,” Zhan Zhao said, “Chi Chi just told me.”

“Late… an hour late?” Bai Yutang raised an eyebrow.

Zhan Zhao sighed, “What can you do? He's Zhao Jue's nephew, it's normal for him to be a little unreliable. Anyway, I’m sure there won’t be any accidents.”

“So sure?” Bai Yutang looked at him.

“Absolutely!” Zhan Zhao's eyes narrowed, “He’s more resilient than a cockroach!”

“Ah-choo…” Somewhere far away, Zhao Jue sneezed and reached out to pet the white Persian cat in front of him, “Bad-mouthing me again, huh?!”

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

The bit where Zhao Zhen told Bai Chi to stay with him and then immediately told him to stay with the team really confused me, but I couldn't find anything majorly wrong with the way it was translated when I went back and looked at it again.  🤷🏼‍♀️

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

Translated: November 4/5, 2021