S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 1 Chapter 98

Shadow Murderer 06 – Hint

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Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were led out of the office by the director to visit the orphanage. As it was being renovated, it looked a bit chaotic, but it was still pleasing to see that the original dilapidated premises had been given a new look. The director diligently told the two about what the new housing was like and what areas were available for the children to play... Bai Yutang listened while looking back at Zhan Zhao behind him, who hadn't said anything since he had received a text message earlier, as if he had something on his mind.

Soon, the three walked to a courtyard at the back of the premises, where several children were sitting around, reading books, playing games, drawing and having a good time. A few volunteers were looking after them. The children were not badly dressed and were all clean and tidy – it was an orphanage in a big city after all.

When they saw the director bringing someone over, the children were a bit formal. When the director told them that these two were policemen, the children looked at the two with curious eyes. At this point, a little girl suddenly asked Bai Yutang, "Are you a policeman? Then can you get rid of that very mean dog outside the courtyard?"

Bai Yutang was stunned and turned his face to look at the director, "What dog?"

The dean was a bit bewildered and replied, "The family outside that courtyard has a dog, a puppy, which is very fierce. Sometimes they play around the edge of the courtyard and they get chased around by it."

"Oh~~" Bai Yutang smiled and nodded. Raising his eyes, he did see a very small white dog outside the railing of the courtyard wall not far away. Judging by its size, it should be able to get between the railing of the courtyard, and it was currently sleeping on its back by the wall.

"Why don't they keep the dog on a leash?" Zhan Zhao asked, "What if it bites a child?"

"It's useless to talk about it.” The director waved his hand, "I've already told the construction team to build a wall so that it can't come over.

As they were talking, they saw a small figure appear outside the courtyard, looking in through the railing.

Bai Yutang was startled by his cold eyes. The child, all covered in black like a small briquette, was lying at the edge of the yard looking at the children inside.

"Who's that?" Zhan Zhao also saw him and turned his face to ask the director.

"I don't know, this little guy often comes up here and plays until dinner time and then leaves. He never talks to me, but plays well with the children. Everyone calls him the Little Loach."

"Little Loach?" Bai Yutang lost his smile, "That's quite an image."

They saw the child called Little Loach look inside and wave to a little girl with braids sitting on the outskirts of the courtyard and take out a brand new doll from behind. The little girl immediately ran over to him happily, being careful not to wake up the puppy as she walked to the wall.

When she reached the wall, Little Loach handed the doll over from the other side of the railing, and the little girl took it with a smile. The two of them were just about to talk for a while when they heard a fierce barking sound.

At that moment, Bai Yutang already wanted to say goodbye with Zhan Zhao to leave. When he heard the dog barking, he turned around and saw that the dog had woken up at some point and was barking ferociously at the two people standing not far away from him.

Little Loach didn't seem to be afraid of it and kicked it. The dog was rather small and fell to one side with a whimper from his kick. But he soon got up again and barked even more fiercely.

The little girl on the other side of the wall was a little frightened and stepped back with her doll in her arms. When the dog saw that she looked afraid of him, he scurried through the middle of the courtyard railing and pounced on the little girl.

The children in the yard all screamed, and Bai Yutang rushed over to help her chase the puppy away, but at that moment, he saw an unexpected scene.

He saw Little Loach behind the courtyard wall fiercely reaching through the railing, grabbing the puppy by the neck and dragging it back, ignoring the puppy's screams, reaching out and grabbing both of the puppy's hind legs and tearing it in two...

Everyone in the courtyard was frozen. Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao stood frozen in place, watching the young boy fling his hand in disgust and throw the bloody puppy's corpse to the ground, the front of his shirt covered in blood.

"Yah~~~" the children in the courtyard all shrieked in shock, and the little girl standing by the wall was so frightened that she turned around and flung herself at Bai Yutang, who had already walked behind her, wailing.

Little Loach gave Bai Yutang a cold look and turned to leave with quick steps.

"Wait a minute!" Bai Yutang gave the little girl to Zhan Zhao who ran up, and quickly chased after him, flipping over the wall and taking another look – that Little Loach, his trail was gone! After taking a few steps forward, he saw that there were intricate alleys in front of him and it was impossible to tell where he had run off to, so he had to turn back.

The volunteers and the director were busy coaxing the frightened children, so Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao left with a few doubts.

When they got into the car after leaving the orphanage, both of them kept their heads down. Starting the car, Bai Yutang felt that the atmosphere was a bit dull, so he smiled at Zhan Zhao: "What's wrong Cat, are you scared?"

Zhan Zhao raised his head and rolled his eyes, "How is that possible..."

"Then what's wrong with you?" Bai Yutang drove back to the police station and casually asked, “You’ve been weird since earlier."

Zhan Zhao was a little hesitant, but as usual, he wouldn't lie to Bai Yutang. Before he could open his mouth his face reddened, "I, I want to go back first."

Bai Yutang was a little puzzled. Seeing that he looked uncomfortable, he frowned and asked, "You're not feeling well?"

"You can take me home." Zhan Zhao said in a quiet voice, "Then you can go back to the police station and go about your business."

Bai Yutang was silent for a moment. Holding the steering wheel with one hand, and using his free hand, he touched Zhan Zhao's forehead.

Zhan Zhao was stunned and slapped his hand away, glaring at him, then saw Bai Yutang smile, "It's good that you're not sick." After saying that, he turned back and went home.

After sending Zhan Zhao home, Bai Yutang drove off in his car without asking him why again.

When Bai Yutang left, Zhan Zhao was uncomfortable sitting at home. There was still some time before six o'clock, but as he waited, he was restless. However, what was on his mind was not Zhao Jue, but Bai Yutang.

In the end, he was so anxious that he took out his mobile phone and dialled Bai Yutang's number, but strangely enough, no one answered. Did he not hear? He dialled a few more times, but there was still no answer... Something was wrong.

Zhan Zhao panicked. He shut the phone and rushed to the door, pulling it open and almost screaming in shock... He saw Bai Yutang, who was supposed to have gone back to the police station, leaning against the wall opposite the door with his arms crossed, looking at him with a smile.

"You!” Zhan Zhao eventually calmed down, then glared at him fiercely and tried to close the door, but unfortunately Bai Yutang stepped forward and blocked the door with a raised hand, then squeezed in and closed the door with his backhand.

"What's wrong?" Reaching out, he pulled Zhan Zhao in front of him, "Don't you have something to say to me?"

Zhan Zhao stared at him for a moment, then took his phone out, opened the text message from earlier and handed it to Bai Yutang to read.

After reading it, he handed the phone back to Zhan Zhao. Bai Yutang lowered his head and kissed him on the forehead, saying, "Be careful, I'll keep watch nearby, call me if anything happens."

Zhan Zhao nodded, the gloom on his face disappeared and his heart instantly calmed down.

Afterwards, the two of them ate their dinner and got ready, and six o'clock was almost here. Zhan Zhao got up and walked towards the cafe across the street from the apartment building.

When he entered the cafe, he saw Zhao Jue wearing a black sweater, sitting at the innermost seat. Seeing Zhan Zhao enter, Zhao Jue tilted his head, smiled at him, beckoned, and pointed to the chair opposite his own.

Zhan Zhao walked over calmly and sat down opposite him.

Zhao Jue did not say anything, but cocked his head and looked at Zhan Zhao carefully. At the same time, Zhan Zhao was also looking at him.

After not seeing him for a long time, Zhao Jue seemed to be younger again. Except for the faint wrinkles at the corners of his mouth, the man in front of him looked like he was in his thirties... Zhan Zhao suddenly felt that he seemed to be the same as his own father, with no signs of age visible on him. His hair was much longer than when they met before, and it was tied casually at the back of his head, with the tips hanging down to the side of his shoulders.

After silently sizing each other up, Zhan Zhao was the first to speak, "Looking for me for something?"

Zhao Jue picked up his coffee and took a sip and waved to the waiter, then asked Zhan Zhao, "How about some coffee? It's on me."

Zhan Zhao shook his head and said to the waiter, "I'll have a glass of water."

Looking at the water that the waiter brought over, Zhao Jue looked at Zhan Zhao with some resignation and whispered, "This coffee is very good."

Zhan Zhao looked at him for a moment and said, "I don't have a good stomach, I can't drink coffee."

Zhao Jue raised his eyes and smiled, "So that's how it is. You’re just like Qitian, stomach problems must be hereditary."

Hearing Zhao Jue mention his father, and remembering that they had mentioned him earlier, Zhan Zhao frowned slightly and asked, “What's the matter?"

Zhao Jue did not answer, but said with some complaint, "I told you to come alone."

Zhan Zhao smiled, "I did come alone."

"Hmm~~" Zhao Jue stretched out a finger and wiggled it, "I feel that the little tiger of the Bai family is around here."

After a moment of silence, Zhan Zhao nodded, "I'll tell him everything."

"Wow~~" Zhao Jue lowered his head and took another sip of his coffee, saying quietly, "He's so good to you."

"What is it exactly?" Zhan Zhao looked at Zhao Jue, "It's not like you're just asking me out to talk about family matters, right?"

“Save the number I texted you with earlier." Zhao Jue gently stirred the coffee in his cup with a silver spoon, "Call me when you need help."

Zhan Zhao stared into Zhao Jue's eyes for a long time before asking, "You think I need your help with something lately?"

Zhao Jue smiled and nodded, "At least this time, you will definitely need my help."

"What do you mean?" Zhan Zhao frowned and thought for a moment, then said with understanding, "I see... you have something to do with this case, and catching the culprit would be good for you, but not immediately, right?"

Zhao Jue hesitated for a moment, then leaned over the table and laughed silently, as if he had heard something particularly funny. After laughing for a while, he stopped, sat up straight and stared at Zhan Zhao, "You and Qitian only look alike, but nothing else."

When he heard this, Zhan Zhao did not get annoyed, but came forward and asked in a quiet voice, "Then who do you think I am like in nature? You?"

Zhao Jue's eyes widened as he looked at Zhan Zhao's face in front of him, and asked him in a soft voice, "Aren't you?"

Sitting back down, Zhan Zhao shook his head and said lightly, "Is there anything else you want to say? If not, I'll take my leave."

"Wait a minute, sit for a while before you leave." Zhao Jue reached out to shake Zhan Zhao's hand, but touched the air. Zhan Zhao withdrew his hand, stood up and prepared to leave.

"What if I said..." Zhao Jue saw that Zhan Zhao was going to leave and was a bit anxious, so he suddenly said, "I didn't harm anyone back then?"

Zhan Zhao stood still, turned back and stared at Zhao Jue for a moment, then smiled and said, "Don't you use that trick on me. I believe that you didn't harm anyone, because in your eyes, the ones you harmed weren't even considered people, were they?!" After saying that, he pressed the money for tea under the cup and turned to leave.

Zhao Jue looked dazedly at Zhan Zhao's departing back, stunned for a long time before clutching his stomach and laughing silently, laughing while saying to himself, "Such a bad character and still saying he's not like me... really bad boy."

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Translated: September 30, 2022 by Angel

Edited: October 27, 2022 by Angel