S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 5 Chapter 125

Screen Murderer 21 – An Unexpected Surprise

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Zhao Hu called to tell Bai Yutang that there was a situation.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang gestured to Qin Ou and Luo Tian, and everyone ran out together.

Bai Yutang asked Zhao Hu if someone had arrived.

Zhao Hu replied, "Two suspicious-looking people came to check things out. They seemed particularly interested in this room, appearing to scout the place. Moreover, the doctor and nurse who were helping us just now said that those two asked them about the situation. They told them what Dr. Zhan instructed them to say."

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao set up a trap mostly as a test of luck, but they didn't expect that they would really take the bait. It seems that their previous speculations were correct.

Bai Yutang drove to the hospital.

On the way, Zhan Zhao received another call, this time from the twins.

Upon answering the call, Zhan Zhao heard the twins somewhat helplessly say, "Look at the news..."

Zhan Zhao was puzzled and took out Bai Yutang's phone to check social media... A trending topic caught his eye – Wang Meiyun and Anna announced at the same time that they would represent the Dong Group and attend the Bai Group's film festival.

"Ah..." Zhan Zhao huffed, "No way?!"

The twins sounded helpless, "What should we do?!"

Zhan Zhao asked, "Can't we stop them from coming?"

The twins were in a dilemma at the moment.

The angel on their left was pulling their ears, "You mustn't let them come! The film festival will turn into a public fight!"

While the devil on their right was also pulling their ears, "What great publicity! Everyone will be paying attention! The film festival will be a big hit!"

The twins were both anxious and excited, repeatedly asking Zhan Zhao, "What should we do?!"

Zhan Zhao was speechless, "Why not give them their own show? A reality show about fighting for inheritance."

The twins stomped their feet in frustration, "We really want to see that! Genius planning!"

"What are you two up to?"

A voice came over the phone, it was Bai Jintang.

"Big Brother!"

The twins' call got cut off... they probably went to pester Bai Jintang.

Zhan Zhao also hung up the phone helplessly, furrowing his brow, "What on earth do these two women want?"

Bai Yutang found the situation quite amusing. If they really followed Zhan Zhao's idea and made a reality show about fighting for inheritance, the ratings would probably skyrocket... After all, there are too many people around with nothing better to do and eager for chaos.

Zhan Zhao asked Bai Yutang, "What do you think Big Brother will decide?"

Bai Yutang shook his head, "It's tricky. If he cancels it, many who are eager for gossip will hold it against the Bai Group, if he doesn't cancel it, there might be trouble and we'll get dragged into it."

"What should Brother do then?" Zhan Zhao was also concerned for Bai Jintang.

Bai Yutang wasn't too worried, "The real question is, what will the twins do?"

......

Sure enough, on the Bai Group's side, as soon as Bai Jintang heard about the situation, he immediately booked plane tickets. On the day of the film festival, he would take Gongsun to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and return after the polar night ends!

The twins lunged to grab his phone, "Don't dump this mess on us!"

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Ma Han stood by the window keeping an eye on things outside, while Zhao Hu sat cross-legged on the bed, holding two phones and watching the news conferences.

Anna's lawyer was attending on her behalf, while Wang Meiyun was represented directly by the Dong Group.

Ma Han watched outside while listening to the live broadcasts on Zhao Hu's phone.

He heard a reporter at the press conference ask Wang Meiyun, "Anna also said she would represent the Dong Group at the Bai Group's film festival, what are your thoughts on that?"

Zhao Hu put down his phone and opened a jelly to eat, shaking his head in admiration, "This is wonderful."

After listening to the question, Wang Meiyun smiled and replied, "If necessary, I can talk to her face to face in a civilised manner to clarify things."

"Tsk tsk," Hu Zi shook his head while holding a spoon, "aiya, I really want to see this. Big Brother's film festival will definitely be explosive!"

Ma Han was also speechless.

Then, Wang Meiyun continued, "Of course, to avoid endless quarrels, we'll have a third party as a mediator... Hmm, how about Chen Jiayi?"

"Pfft..." Zhao Hu spat out the spoonful he was eating.

Ma Han also turned with a furrowed brow.

......

At the same time, at home, Jiayi, who was enjoying gossiping with Qi Le and Chen Yu while eating ice cream, also choked.

Jiayi's phone started ringing.

She opened WeChat.

Ma Xin sent a message, "Sis!!!!!!!"

Jiang Nan sent a message, "Sis!!!!!!!"

Both Qi Le and Chen Yu were startled, asking Jiayi, "What's going on? What should we do?!"

Jiayi dropped her ice cream, "Aaaahhhh! I'm so scared!"

Just as Jiayi was shouting, her phone rang again. She immediately picked it up and sure enough, it was from Ma Han.

Xiao Ma Ge asked her, "Do you want to go?"

Jiayi sent a crying emoji and replied, "I don't want to! I'm scared, I need to come up with a good excuse to decline, a very important reason."

After waiting for about three seconds, Ma Han replied, "Does getting married count?"

Jiayi's hand trembled and she sent a "?" back.

Ma Han replied, "Tell them you're busy, I'm marrying you that day!"

"Aaaahhhhh!"

Qi Le and Chen Yu were startled by Jiayi's sudden scream and they both looked at her.

They saw Jiayi hugging a cushion, pounding and stomping her feet, "Wang Meiyun! Goddess! Thank you and your whole family!"

Qi Le and Chen Yu leaned over to look at the content on the phone and also exclaimed, "Aaaahhhhh!"

At this moment, the phone rang again.

Jiayi quickly picked it up and looked, "The ring is in the drawer of my bedside table."

The three girls looked at each other, threw the cushion, and rushed straight to the bedroom.

Jiayi opened the bedside table and indeed found a red velvet ring box.

Carefully holding it out, she opened it and saw a beautiful and cool diamond ring inside, with the setting shaped like a bullet.

Jiayi looked at it and immediately closed it, holding it close to her chest.

The three of them looked at each other again, and once again, "Aaaahhhhhh!"

Qi Le and Chen Yu stomped their feet and shouted, "Xiao Ma Ge! Fuck!"

At that moment, Jiayi's phone rang again, it was her agent calling.

Jiayi answered, and before the other side could speak, she put her hands on her hips and said, "Let them go wherever they want to cool off! I'm busy, I'm getting married!"

Zhao Hu had picked up his spoon to wipe it, and as he refreshed the webpage, a new headline popped up – Chen Jiayi announces marriage to police officer boyfriend.

Ma Han's phone rang twice. When he picked it up, he saw a screen full of heart emojis and "I do" messages sent by Jiayi.

"Aaahhhhh!"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang had just reached the door of the hospital room when they heard a scream from inside.

Both were startled and quickly opened the door.

They saw Ma Han covering Zhao Hu's mouth. Zhao Hu was excited, "Who would have thought you'd be like this Xiao Ma Ge?!"

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao leaned over to look at the phone and immediately congratulated Ma Han.

......

In the Bai Group's office, just as the twins finally managed to snatch Bai Jintang's phone and hung up on the call to book the flights, a call from Jiayi's agent came through.

Answering the call, the agent exclaimed on the other end, "Boss! Jiayi said she's getting married and she announced it herself!"

The twins looked utterly dumbfounded.

Bai Jintang reached out, indicating – Give me back my phone!

The twins handed the phone back to Bai Jintang.

Taking the phone, Big Brother Bai calmly said, "Are they planning to have the wedding in Iceland? We'll all attend! Yes, on the day of the film festival! The company will foot the bill!"

The twins covered their faces and threw cushions at Bai Jintang.

......

The situation with the Bai and Dong groups was chaotic, while on the SCI side, everyone was in the hospital room, monitoring the situation outside.

Sure enough, Bai Yutang noticed that someone was indeed watching them.

Zhan Zhao called in the doctor and nurses to help with their act.

The doctor and nurses wheeled in a medical examination cart. After a while, Bai Yutang and the doctor went out. The doctor said they were out of danger and could be transferred to the police station.

Bai Yutang thanked the doctor.

After that, Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao stayed behind with Qin Ou and the doctors to stage a scene of transferring the patient.

Ma Han and Zhao Hu quietly slipped away through a side door and, as instructed by Zhan Zhao, drove to the flower and bird market.

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao hurriedly came out, got into the car, and drove away.

Not long after their car left, another car started following them.

At the rear, Luo Tian, who was waiting at the hospital entrance, told the two, "Looks like they've taken the bait!"

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang nodded.

Looking in the rearview mirror, indeed, a silver-grey sedan was following them.

Zhan Zhao had designed this "plot."

If the key to Boss Wang and Xiao Liu's murder was someone looking for that USB drive, then the murderer must have searched Xiao Liu and Chen Gui when they killed them. They obviously didn't find the USB drive then. So, they would think the USB drive must be hidden somewhere. If the police managed to save Chen Gui and he knew where the USB drive was, he would surely tell the police. The police would then go and retrieve it. This would be their best chance to find the USB drive.

Where was the most logical place to hide that crucial USB drive? 

After much thought, Zhan Zhao believed the flower and bird market was the most likely spot.

The intersection of Boss Wang, Boss Liu, and Chen Gui's lives was precisely at the flower and bird market.

The other side likely thought the same way. So, as long as Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang drove in the direction of the flower and bird market, the people tailing them would undoubtedly notify others to head to the flower and bird market to search first.

......

Was Zhan Zhao's estimation accurate? Absolutely.

Zhao Hu and Ma Han arrived at the flower and bird market first. The shop next to Boss Wang's flower shop sold orchids, and they had even asked them to close early.

The owners of the orchid shop were very cooperative. Not only did they make a considerable profit from Zhan Zhao's order today, but they also became the designated orchid supplier for the Bai Group, landing a super big client.

At this moment, Zhao Hu and Ma Han stood in front of the two doors of the shop, peeking out.

Soon after, Zhao Hu clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Ma Han immediately rushed over to look through the door crack with him. They saw a person appearing at the door, pretending to be a customer, looking around. Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, he took out a key and unlocked the door of Boss Wang's shop.

Ma Han and Zhao Hu exchanged glances – They recognised this man! Secretary Zhang from the Dong Group! He was holding something wrapped in a plastic bag, but they weren't sure what it was.

Zhao Hu smirked, "Okay, sneaky kid!"

The two were not in a hurry. Ma Han and Zhao Hu waited for Secretary Zhang to enter the shop, once he was inside, they informed Bai Yutang and then stepped out.

Gently pushing the door open, they saw Secretary Zhang rummaging through the place. Instead of entering, they hid just outside the door, watching.

After searching for a while without finding what he was looking for, Secretary Zhang checked his watch and clicked his tongue in frustration,

Then he opened the plastic bag, took out a bottle of kerosene used for lighters, unscrewed the cap, and began sprinkling it around. After that, he pulled out a lighter.

But before he could ignite the lighter, a hand reached over from behind and handcuffed him.

Ma Han took away his lighter while Zhao Hu restrained his hands behind his back and handcuffed him.

Secretary Zhang was pushed out by Ma Han and Zhao Hu.

As soon as they stepped out, they ran into Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao.

Secretary Zhang seemed to understand and smiled, looking as if he had accepted his fate.

Ma Han used three evidence bags to separately pack the lighter, the bottle of kerosene, and the flower shop keys.

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao also smiled at Secretary Zhang, "Let's discuss this back at the station."

‿︵‿︵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: April 21, 2024 by Angel

Edited: October 10, 2024 by Angel