S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 6 Chapter 31

The Card Murderer 31 – Surprise Attack

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Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang went to the amusement park with Zhao Jue, Bai Ye, and Mia to look for a potential informant, Boss Tu.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Jue and Zhan Zhao, the two "veterans", completely messed up and ended up scaring Lao Tu to death.

Bai Yutang and Bai Ye pinched his philtrum and patted his chest, but after a good while of fussing, Lao Tu simply rolled his eyes back, he looked like he was about to stop breathing altogether.

"No good, he needs to go to hospital!" Bai Ye and Bai Yutang called an ambulance and carried Lao Tu downstairs together.

Zhan Zhao had never caused such a major incident in his life and was clearly flustered, trailing behind them and watching nervously.

Mia hesitated for a moment with the teddy bear and rabbit in her arms, then decided to chase after them with the bear.

Zhao Jue clicked his tongue and looked rather speechless.

The group bustled down to the ground floor, where the ambulance arrived and took the old man away straight away... Soon, they reached the hospital and rushed him to the emergency room for treatment.

Yang Fan shook his head as he read the test results. "Goodness, the man nearly had a heart attack, what kind of stimulus did he receive? Just look at these numbers, they shot up like a rocket!"

Bai Yutang and Bai Ye both turned to look at Zhao Jue and Zhan Zhao.

Zhao Jue, thick-skinned as ever, had his hands in his pockets and a look on his face that said, "It's none of my business."

Zhan Zhao, on the other hand, was relatively thin-skinned. He stood there scratching his head in reflection.

After a round of emergency treatment, Lao Tu's condition finally stabilised. He was moved to a ward for observation, and Yang Fan warned everyone – Do not agitate him. Another scare like that and the old man might not make it.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were a little troubled. Judging by Lao Tu's reaction, it was clear he knew who that woman with the bandages was. This could be their only lead. What now? Were they just not going to ask him?

Bai Ye thought it was probably the sudden shock earlier that had frightened him so badly. Now that he had at least some mental preparation, it shouldn't be that bad... Later, he would have Zhao Jue and Zhan Zhao wait outside the room, and he would do the questioning himself, trying his best not to upset Lao Tu.

Bai Yutang thought that sounded like a good idea.

Normally, Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue would have had something to say about that, but given today's situation, they kept unusually quiet.

After being resuscitated, Lao Tu had regained consciousness. Once he was settled into the ward, the doctors began to examine him.

The others waited outside.

Mia tugged on Zhao Jue's sleeve and pointed at her throat, signalling that she was thirsty – she wanted to go get a drink.

Zhao Jue and Zhan Zhao both fancied some water as well.

Bai Yutang went downstairs with Mia to buy drinks.

......

Finding a vending machine in the hospital lobby, Mia bought drinks while Bai Yutang stood by helping to carry them, his mind elsewhere.

Why would a single photo of the bandaged woman frighten Lao Tu to such an extent? Was it something terrifying about the photo itself? That didn't seem likely...

Just then, an elderly lady walked past in front of him. Bai Yutang found her face familiar. When he looked up, he realised it was Liu Jing's mother.

That reminded Bai Yutang, Liu Jing was still in the hospital. He wondered whether she had woken up yet. There were officers stationed at the door of her ward; if she'd woken up, they should've been notified... Since there hadn't been any word, she was probably still unconscious. Bai Yutang frowned – Hopefully she hadn't ended up in a vegetative state...

Auntie Liu had probably come down for a meal. She walked along with a sigh.

At that moment, four young people approached from ahead, some carrying a basket of flowers, some holding fruit. Upon seeing Auntie Liu, they greeted her. "Auntie!"

Auntie Liu looked up at them with a slightly puzzled expression.

"We're here to visit Jing Jing, we're her colleagues from the publishing house," the group introduced themselves.

"Oh..." Auntie Liu nodded. "That's very kind of you. Jing Jing hasn't woken up yet."

"We'd like to see her."

The group said they were there representing the company, and Aunt Liu said she would take them upstairs.

As they walked towards the ward with her, Auntie Liu asked, "I don't think I've seen you before, are you from a different department?"

All four replied that they worked on the floors above and below and were well-acquainted. They also asked if Liu Jing's father was currently with her.

Auntie Liu nodded and said, "He is..."

......

The group passed right by Bai Yutang.

He frowned slightly. Are they really from the publishing house? I haven't seen them at the publishing house... Gao Min didn't come with them?

For some reason, Bai Yutang had a strange feeling about the group. Just then, Mia suddenly poked him.

Bai Yutang turned around.

Mia was holding her teddy bear's paw and pointed at the basket of flowers one of the young men was carrying, then she made a gun gesture towards Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang was slightly startled and looked at her seriously – Are you sure?

Mia nodded.

Bai Yutang sensed that the situation was not good. He handed all the drinks to Mia and told her to head back first, he was going to follow them.

But Mia, holding the drinks in her arms, followed him anyway.

These people were carrying guns to Liu Jing's room, any fool could guess what they were planning. This was a hospital, a place full of people. Bai Yutang glanced at Mia, who was following him, and shook his head...

Mia pointed to herself and made a couple of hand gestures, saying – I can follow them without being noticed, they'll recognise you.

Mia then pointed to the staircase, signalling to Bai Yutang – You take the stairs, I'll go up with them in the elevator.

Before Bai Yutang could refuse, she had already run ahead.

There was nothing Bai Yutang could do... But Mia's reasoning was sound, if he followed them directly, they would most likely spot him.

By now, Auntie Liu had already led the group into the elevator, and Mia squeezed in as well.

As the elevator doors closed, Bai Yutang had no choice but to run upstairs.

......

Mia, holding the teddy bear and a bunch of drinks, had just squeezed into the elevator. But as soon as her grip loosened, the drinks all fell to the floor.

Mia crouched down to pick them up.

The group entering the elevator with Auntie Liu consisted of three men and one woman. The woman crouched down to help Mia pick up the drinks, appearing particularly friendly.

But Mia noticed her hands, her knuckles were extremely thick, and her body was lean. She had clearly undergone specialised training... These four were likely professional assassins.

They were all highly alert. Mia's mixed-race features were very distinctive, and she was a very rare type... Her sudden appearance in a hospital like this was somewhat suspicious.

The other three also lowered their heads to look at her.

Until Mia lifted her head, revealing the lower part of her face that had been hidden beneath her high collar...

When they saw the obvious burn scars on her chin, the three finally let go of their suspicions.

Auntie Liu, seeing such a pretty young girl with injuries on her chin and neck, felt a pang of sympathy and looked at Mia again.

Mia stood up, smiled sweetly at the group, and handed each of them a bottle of drink as a thank you.

Auntie Liu took a bottle and thanked her, and Mia responded with hand gestures.

That made Auntie Liu feel even more sorry for her – She can't even speak!

The four assassins, on the other hand, looked a bit awkward. Now they were holding something extra, moreover... if they threw the bottles away later, they'd leave fingerprints.

But Mia had timed it perfectly, by the time the four of them hesitated, the bottles had already been stuffed in their hands.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

The four followed Auntie Liu out and turned to the right.

Mia waved to Auntie Liu as she got out, then turned and walked off to the left.

When Auntie Liu saw that the two officers who had originally been stationed at the door were nowhere to be seen, she frowned – How could they abandon their post like that?

The four assassins scanned their surroundings. The female assassin glanced back and sensed that something was off... Where is that young girl?

This corridor was very long, and in just the blink of an eye... she had vanished?

The other three also noticed that the corridor was nearly empty, perfect for making a move.

Auntie Liu pushed open the door to the hospital room and saw that Father Liu was gone too. Only Liu Jing lay on the bed.

Auntie Liu became a little annoyed – Where has that old fool run off to...

Just then, Auntie Liu suddenly felt someone shove her hard from behind, and she stumbled forward, falling into the room.

The man who had been carrying the flower basket pulled a gun from inside it and raised his hand to aim at Liu Jing lying on the bed... Almost at the same time, the door slammed shut with a loud bang, slamming into him...

Caught completely off guard, the blow knocked the gun from his hand and struck him directly.

The three assassins behind him were startled by the sudden sound.

In that brief moment of hesitation, the door flew open, and Bai Yutang appeared. The two male assassins closest to the door were still holding the drinks and fruit basket and were just about to toss the bottles and reach for their guns to counterattack.

But it had already started with a surprise attack, and with that fraction of a second's hesitation, Bai Yutang's fists were already heading straight for their faces.

With two punches landing squarely on the bridge of their noses, both men doubled over clutching their faces. Bai Yutang followed up with a kick each, sending them flying.

The female assassin who was walking at the back was originally looking for Mia. When she saw the situation in front of her suddenly change, she instinctively went to grab the gun hidden in a gift box, but then she felt a light tap on her shoulder... As she turned, a teddy bear appeared right in front of her.

It was even flying straight at the female assassin, and she saw Mia appear behind it... Before she could even make sense of what was happening, the little girl in front of her spun and delivered a roundhouse kick... landing squarely on her cheek...

As the female assassin went flying, Mia caught the gift box in one hand and the teddy bear in the other.

On the other side, Bai Yutang grabbed the fruit basket and the flower basket, both of which contained guns.

The two on-duty officers who had been hiding in the neighbouring room rushed out, pulled out handcuffs, and restrained the three assassins lying on the floor.

At that moment, the assassin whom Bai Yutang had knocked over first was still by the doorway. Just as he managed to get to his feet, the bathroom door opened, and Liu Jing's father stepped out.

The uncle grabbed the assassin by the collar and, with a swift turn, hurled him over his shoulder... The assassin was flung straight into the corridor, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

Both Bai Yutang and Mia looked at the uncle who had just coolly yanked someone by the collar – Oh, Gao Min did say Liu Jing's father used to be on the provincial judo team, seems that wasn't a lie.

Looking at the four assassins now successfully subdued, Bai Yutang couldn't help but feel a lingering fear – If Boss Tu hadn't fainted from fright and been brought to the hospital, and if Mia hadn't come down for a drink just then because she was thirsty... Liu Jing's life might really have been in danger today.

Bai Yutang glanced over at Mia – Impressive!

Mia held up two fingers by her head in the shape of antennae – Like my dad! I've got radar too!

She held out her hand to Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang smiled and gave her a high five.

Bai Yutang then called Zhao Hu and Ma Han to come and escort the suspects.

Auntie Liu was extremely anxious, and she asked Bai Yutang, "Captain Bai, who are these people? Were they trying to kill our Jing Jing?"

"Jing Jing must know who the murderer is!" Father Liu grew increasingly angry. "Our girl is just an ordinary illustrator, what on earth has she gotten involved in to be treated like this!"

The couple were distressed by their daughter's suffering, and Bai Yutang, too, frowned at the four assassins on the ground.

Four assassins and four guns! All this firepower for an unconscious patient lying in a hospital bed? Is that really necessary?

And there was something else bothering Bai Yutang – Those four clearly had no need to involve Auntie Liu in leading them upstairs. And before going up, they'd specifically asked whether Father Liu was in the room as well... It really looked like they'd intended to wipe out Liu Jing's entire family... But why?

Just then, Bai Yutang's phone rang, it was Zhan Zhao calling.

Bai Yutang figured he was calling to check in after waiting a while, so he answered.

He was just about to update Zhan Zhao on what had happened when Zhan Zhao's anxious voice came through: "Yutang, Lao Tu has talked, he knows the identity of the bandaged woman. Guess who it is?!"

Bai Yutang was a bit confused – Guess? Is it someone I'd actually be able to guess?

‿︵‿︵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 22, 2025 by Angel

Edited: June 18, 2025 by Soojin