S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 5 Chapter 128

Screen Murderer 24 – USB Drive

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Bai Yutang drove towards the Bai Group.

In the car, Zhan Zhao had been excited when they finally found the USB drive, but now, he seemed to have calmed down.

Bai Yutang noticed Zhan Zhao furrowing his brows, holding his phone against his chin as if puzzled by something, so he asked, "What's up, Cat?"

"It seems like something is not quite right." Zhan Zhao muttered to himself.

"What's not quite right?"

"Mia said that Chen Gui had previously delivered goods to Zhao Jue's villa and even had a conversation with Bai Ye, right?" Zhan Zhao asked.

Bai Yutang nodded.

"But at the flower and bird market, Bai Ye didn't mention ever meeting Chen Gui." Zhan Zhao furrowed his brows, "Knowing Bai Ye's memory, even if they only met briefly, he wouldn't forget, would he?"

Bai Yutang nodded, "He shouldn't."

Zhan Zhao felt something was off, so he called Bai Ye to ask if the Chen Gui he saw at the flower and bird market had delivered goods to Zhao Jue's villa before and if he had mistaken him for Bai Yutang.

Bai Ye paused, seeming to recall for a moment, then said with some confusion, "I remember the person from the moving company... it's not the same person."

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang frowned – Sure enough.

Zhan Zhao asked, "Are you sure it's not the same person?"

"Mhmm." Bai Ye replied, "Now that you mention it, they do look somewhat alike, but they're definitely not the same person."

Zhan Zhao said Mia remembered that person and even said he was Chen Gui.

Bai Ye then asked, "Was Mia wearing contact lenses?"

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were taken aback, "Is that girl near-sighted?"

Bai Ye sighed, "Quite severely near-sighted."

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao immediately understood... Mia had seen someone from the moving company who looked a lot like Chen Gui, but hadn't actually seen Chen Gui himself, just his photo. So, she got it wrong?

"How coincidental." Bai Yutang found it rather strange.

Zhan Zhao asked Jiang Ping to check the employees of that moving company to see if there was someone who looked very much like Chen Gui.

Jiang Ping looked into it and said he didn't find anyone similar. However, that moving company had many temporary workers, and many of the movers worked for several companies at the same time.

Just then, Zhan Zhao's phone buzzed. Bai Ye had sent him clips from the surveillance video.

Eleven had installed a comprehensive surveillance system in Zhao Jue's villa and found the footage from the day of the move. Bai Ye captured a few clearer images of the person who had spoken to him at that time to show Zhan Zhao and the others.

Meanwhile, Bai Yutang's car had already parked in the Bai Group's garage.

As Zhan Zhao got out of the car, he looked at the photos... The person in the photos bore some resemblance to Chen Gui, but it was indeed not the same person...

Zhan Zhao extended his hand, seemingly wanting to look at the photos from a distance.

"Cat?" Bai Yutang pressed the elevator button, urging Zhan Zhao to come in.

Zhan Zhao stepped into the elevator, holding his phone, "These two really do look alike. It's even harder to distinguish when you look from afar..."

Bai Yutang glanced at the photo and also furrowed his brow, "Just now..."

"You think so too?" Zhan Zhao asked, "When we looked down from Xu Lie's building earlier, didn't that person look more like this one than Chen Gui?"

Bai Yutang nodded... If he didn't know about the other person, he'd think it was Chen Gui. But now, when compared side by side, it felt more like the other person.

Zhan Zhao asked Jiang Ping to check if Chen Gui had any brothers or relatives.

As the elevator reached the top floor and stopped, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang stepped out and saw two secretaries carrying tea passing by.

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang asked – Visitors?

The secretaries nodded.

Xiao Ding happened to walk from the other end of the corridor and waved energetically at them.

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked puzzled. At that moment, a secretary opened the door to deliver the tea, and Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang saw that sitting on the sofa were Wang Meiyun and two executives from the Dong Group.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang exchanged glances, why was Wang Meiyun here?

Xiao Ding rushed to an adjacent office and beckoned them over.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang approached, both asking, "Why is Wang Meiyun here?"

"She came to discuss cooperation." Xiao Ding spread his hands, "Wang Meiyun wants to produce a film and is looking for Xu Lie and Jiayi to star in it."

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang shook their heads – No way...

Xiao Ding smiled and waved his hand, "Discussing cooperation is just an excuse. I reckon it's because of the film festival... Wang Meiyun seems to be adamant about confronting Anna during the film festival. She wants to organise a television broadcast or something, she's probably asking if we're interested."

Both Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao were a bit speechless – No way, are they really going to have a reality show over inheritance disputes?

"How long has she been here?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"Not long." Xiao Ding glanced at his watch.

Zhan Zhao felt anxious, and Xiao Ding mentioned that Da Ding was with Bai Jintang.

Bai Yutang also said to Zhan Zhao, "If you're anxious, just go in and have a look."

Zhan Zhao rolled up his sleeves, "I don't care, I'm going in!"

With that, he hurried to knock on the door.

Opening the office door, Bai Jintang figured Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang would arrive soon, so when he saw the two peeking in, he nodded.

Wang Meiyun saw Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang and smiled slightly, "Dr. Zhan, Captain Bai, it's been a while."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang smiled and nodded at her – Indeed, the last time they met was in the interrogation room.

The Bai Group's sofa was quite spacious. Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang sat on two single sofas, one on each side.

At this moment, a subtle "four-way negotiation" was forming in Bai Jintang's office.

Bai Jintang and Da Ding sat on one long sofa, facing Wang Meiyun and the two Dong Group executives on another long sofa. There were two single sofas on each side, with Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang each sitting on one side.

After everyone was seated, they all stared at each other.

Bai Jintang leisurely sipped his tea, while Da Ding discussed business with Wang Meiyun, "Xu Lie is still filming a movie, it won't be finished until the second half of the year. Jiayi is even busier, she's getting married, so she's postponed all work for the next six months."

"What about Jiang Nan?" Wang Meiyun asked next.

"Jiang Nan is currently rehearsing a play, and her work schedule is light this year, she's focused on resting and adjusting." Da Ding said with some regret, "Everyone seems to be busy."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang silently exchanged a knowing glance – Jiang Nan must be busy dating Bao Sir, spending her time making snacks to feed him... they seemed quite sweet together.

The subsequent conversation was mostly between Wang Meiyun and Da Ding. Bai Jintang leisurely sipped his tea, appearing disinterested.

After chatting for a while, Wang Meiyun also asked Zhan Zhao about Anna's situation.

Zhan Zhao naturally played dumb.

Bai Yutang, meanwhile, was observing the office – Where was that moth orchid? Wasn't there supposed to be a moth orchid on his brother's desk?

But at this moment, apart from a photo frame and a crystal skull on Bai Jintang's desk, there were no other decorations.

After sitting for a short while, Wang Meiyun got up to leave.

Once they were gone, both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang turned to Bai Jintang, "Brother! The flower..."

Bai Jintang walked over and pushed on the decorative wall behind his office chair, and the wall slid open.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang glanced inside – Oh my god, there was a room behind the wall with quite a large bed.

Bai Jintang picked up the golden-edged white moth orchid from the table beside the bed and placed it back on the corner of his desk. He then took out a plastic bag containing a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao quickly took it from him and hid it in his pocket, while curiously asking Bai Jintang, "Brother, why do you have a bedroom in your office? You've never stayed overnight at the company, you always go home to sleep..."

Bai Jintang smiled faintly.

Zhan Zhao felt it was a bit extravagant, a study or something would have been more practical... But before he could voice his opinion, Bai Yutang pulled him away.

Da Ding shook his head and went out to discuss the film festival matters with Xiao Ding.

Having successfully obtained the USB drive, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang drove back to the SCI office.

In the car, Zhan Zhao browsed the news. Wang Meiyun seemed to be under constant scrutiny lately. Pictures of her entering and leaving the Bai Group were taken, and the media were speculating about her purpose at the Bai Group.

The film festival topic was also trending. Despite people's dissatisfaction with Wang Meiyun, the public's interest in gossip was high, they wanted to see the drama unfold.

Back at the SCI office, Zhan Zhao handed the USB drive to Jiang Ping.

Jiang Ping opened it on his computer.

Under everyone's expectant gaze, Jiang Ping clicked open the folder on the USB drive, but...

The drive was empty, there was nothing inside.

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were surprised.

Bai Chi asked Jiang Ping, "Is it hidden?"

Jiang Ping shook his head, "This USB drive is new, never been used."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang frowned – What was going on?

Zhan Zhao called Bai Jintang, who said he found it beneath the roots of the moth orchid and suspected someone must have placed it there. He hadn't touched it since removing it.

Zhan Zhao asked him to look again.

After a moment, Bai Jintang said there was nothing else.

Zhan Zhao told him to pull out the orchid, but Bai Jintang refused, saying the flower resembled Gongsun and was off-limits.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang exchanged glances. At that moment, Gongsun walked past the door wearing the white coat, seemingly heading downstairs to the restaurant for a drink.

"That's odd..."

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were puzzled.

They had initially thought that Chen Gui and Xiao Liu might have hidden the USB drive in the moth orchid next door.

But upon further thought, it seemed unlikely. If the USB drive was indeed important, hiding it in a flowerpot next door was risky. What if it got sold? Even in urgent situations, it wouldn't make sense to hide it in a flowerpot. Wouldn't it be safer to hide it behind the wall or under the floorboards where it wouldn't be moved?

"Could it be some kind of trade?" Bai Yutang asked, "After receiving the money, they inform the other party to buy a white moth orchid from that specific shop in the flower and bird market..."

However, no matter how they thought about it, everyone felt that this kind of transaction was unreliable with too many uncertainties.

"And putting that flower in the Brother's office seems purely coincidental!" Zhan Zhao scratched his head.

Just then, the elevator door chimed open and a woman in a white coat stepped out. She was a forensic officer from the identification department, holding a tray as she walked in and said, "Captain Bai, we searched Xu Lie's home and found something that doesn't belong to him, apart from his clothes."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at the tray the woman held out and were stunned.

On the tray was an evidence bag containing an identical USB drive.

At the same time, Zhan Zhao's phone rang.

Answering the call, it was Bai Ye.

Bai Ye said that he and Eleven had reviewed all the surveillance footage from the moving company on that day. They discovered that the person who spoke to him had hidden something in the gap between the bricks in the corner of the wall when they weren't paying attention. So, he went to check...

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang asked together, "You didn't find a USB drive, did you?"

On the other end of the line, Bai Ye nodded, holding a small USB flash drive in a plastic bag, "Exactly, he hid a USB flash drive here."

‿︵‿︵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 23, 2024 by Angel

Edited: October 16, 2024 by Angel