S.C.I. (Volume I) - Case 2: Chapter 15

The Killer Training Camp 15: Breakthrough 

Mahan stared intensely at the computer screen. Soon, the second email arrived; its content was identical to the previous one.

He hurriedly opened Zhan Zhao's first email, which contained only three words: "Who are you?"

Although he didn't quite understand the reasoning, Mahan followed instructions, retyped the message, and sent it back.

What followed was nearly an hour of silence before the third email finally arrived, still with the exact same content.

Around midnight, the fifth email arrived. Mahan quickly opened Zhan Zhao's second letter, which read: "Clear away the waste that shouldn't exist." It was the final sentence from the opponent's email. Following the same procedure, he typed it out and sent it.

After that, the email was sent repeatedly, but Mahan didn't reply again. Instead, he sat in front of the computer, staring at the time display in the bottom right corner...

Although Zhan Zhao had told him he could rest after that, Mahan sat quietly until the sky gradually began to brighten—it was 5:30 AM.

Mahan opened the third email Zhan Zhao had prepared, which read: "The devil has awakened."

He sent it.

Two minutes later, a reply came from the other side. The attachment contained an image and a brief profile; the subject line was "Prey."

He opened the image to reveal a photograph of a middle-aged man.

Mahan picked up the phone.

That night, it wasn't just Mahan who didn't sleep; Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao had also spent the night lying stiffly on their respective halves of the bed, eyes wide open until dawn~~~

Bai Yutang felt a small sense of pride in himself. Not bad, Bai Yutang. You could endure even this. Just stop using the surname Bai; change it to Liu instead~~~

Zhan Zhao felt a small sense of relief. Fortunately, this white mouse has decent self-control. If he had insisted last night, I probably wouldn't have been able to escape either~~~ Xiao Bai, I’ve wronged you in the past. I always thought you were a hooligan, but I never expected you to be such a gentleman...

"Cat~~~ when will you let me do it?" Bai Yutang suddenly asked.

Thump! Zhan Zhao grabbed a pillow and smashed it at him. "Don't say that word!!"

Bai Yutang's voice was muffled behind the pillow. "What does it matter? We're going to do it sooner or later anyway."

~~Ignore~~

Bai Yutang pushed the pillow aside and sat up, looking at Zhan Zhao: "Cat, are you being sincere or not?"

Zhan Zhao sat up as well, glaring angrily: "What did you say, you dead mouse?" Then, he muttered under his breath, "If I weren't sincere, who would let you kiss them in the first place?!"

Bai Yutang was on the verge of losing his mind: "Cat, do you have any idea that I get impulses the moment I see you? Don't you get any impulses when you see me?"

Zhan Zhao blushed and glared: "Can you stop talking as if you're so justified?!"

Bai Yutang stared at Zhan Zhao for a long time, then suddenly reached out to undo the buttons on his pajamas.

"What are you doing?" Zhan Zhao exclaimed, clutching the pillow and retreating to the edge of the bed.

"Is it because you haven't seen it?" Bai Yutang asked earnestly. "I'll take it off and show you, then you can see if you get any impulses... Ah~~~"

Before he could finish, Zhan Zhao kicked him off the bed. "Dead mouse! Exhibitionist!" Zhan Zhao grabbed the pillow and threw it. "Is your brain stuffed with tofu?? What are you thinking about all day long~~~"

Bai Yutang lay on the floor with his shirt wide open, rubbing his hair: "Cat~~~ how long do I have to wait??"

Zhan Zhao hugged his quilt in the bed, feeling indignant, but his eyes couldn't help but dart over... *This mouse actually has an eight-pack...*

*Didididididid~~~* The phone rang at the perfect moment. Bai Yutang sat up, exchanged a glance with Zhan Zhao, and quickly picked up the phone. Sure enough, it was Mahan.

"Boss! There’s progress. He just sent me the prey," Mahan said excitedly.

"Prey?" Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao were surprised.

"I’ll forward a copy to you."

Zhan Zhao had already quickly opened the email. Bai Yutang leaned in close, and when they clicked on the photo, both of them froze. The middle-aged man... was Zhang Hua, the talent agent for Qi Le, whom they had met at M University.

They frowned as they looked at Zhang Hua’s photo. On one hand, it was because yet another unrelated person had become a target; on the other hand, this Zhang Hua was an employee of the Bai Corporation and was linked to Bai Jintang.

"Hello, Boss?" Mahan prompted when he heard no response. "Should I reply?"

Zhan Zhao snapped out of it and said, "No!"

"What’s next?"

"Mahan, do you remember the second state I told you about the other day?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"I remember! The one between normal and abnormal, leaning towards being ruthless?" Mahan recalled.

"Excellent!" Zhan Zhao praised him slightly. Mahan was truly an excellent sniper; his psychological resilience was on another level. "Maintain that state when you go to the club. The other side might contact you, and then you’ll have to improvise. Just remember to maintain that state."

"Understood!" Mahan hung up the phone.

Bai Yutang immediately called Jiang Ping to have him investigate information regarding Zhang Hua.

"What now?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"Zhang Hua fits the role of the 'middle link' we theorized yesterday perfectly," Bai Yutang mused. "He knows Qi Le. Now, we just need to prove he has a connection to Jia Zhengyan and Pang Yu."

Zhan Zhao nodded. "I want to go to Jia Zhengyan's house to investigate."

Bai Yutang smiled: "Cat, we’re thinking the same thing."

The two turned to look at each other, only to be startled by how close they were from crowding together to look at the email—their shoulders were almost touching.

Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang, a hint of apology in his eyes... "I... am not ready yet..."

Bai Yutang watched him quietly, shaking his head with a smile. "Cat, it's okay. I can wait." He reached out to gently pinch Zhan Zhao's ear, watching it gradually turn red. "You don't need to force yourself; just take your time. I won't do anything rash. Don't worry."

Zhan Zhao felt a lump in his throat, his heart softening. He leaned in, planted a shallow kiss on Bai Yutang’s lips, and then ran off, blushing, to wash his face and brush his teeth.

Bai Yutang wandered into the kitchen in a daze to cook porridge, sighing as he looked at his reflection in the mirror-like, clean ceramic tiles. *Bai Yutang, oh Bai Yutang, you deserve to be unsatisfied. Who told you to play the romantic hero!!* As he fried eggs, he hummed, "From now on, only tofu, no side dishes~~~"

……………………………………

Gongsun walked leisurely through the morning streets with his hands in the pockets of his snow-white trench coat. He had been cooped up at home for the past two days, eating and sleeping. His fever had long since broken, and he felt no pain, but he was forced by Bai Yutang to take three days off work (otherwise, a certain mouse might be killed by his own older brother).

Having nothing to do, he decided to go for a stroll. Fortunately, the weather was nice today, but... looking at Bai Jintang, who had just "coincidentally encountered" him for the eighth time in half an hour, Gongsun was completely speechless~~~

This time, no matter how thick-skinned Bai Jintang was, he felt a bit awkward, so he simply followed behind Gongsun, accompanying him on his walk.

Fifty meters behind them, the twins, dressed in trench coats and wearing sunglasses, followed stealthily.

"What’s the situation?" Da Ding asked.

"Something’s wrong! The atmosphere is completely off!" Xiao Ding shook his head.

"Something must have happened during the few days we were away on business!!" Both twins looked suspicious.

"Did you notice the little red mark on Gongsun's neck?"

"Of course I noticed it. I also noticed the anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medication on his desk."

"Could it be~~~" The two Dings exchanged a look, their eyes glowing with green light.

"The boss must have used force!!"

"Dammit! He actually did it while we were gone!!"

"Is that why Gongsun is ignoring the boss?" Da Ding rubbed his chin.

"Tch~~~" Xiao Ding was dissatisfied. "The boss is like this, too. Why did he become so indecisive? If she says no once, do it twice; if twice doesn't work, do it three times. After XXOO, then OOXX, then XOXO, then OXOX—I don't believe he couldn't handle Gongsun... Ah!"

Da Ding gave him a headbutt. "You brat, where did you learn that kind of stuff?? Of course, things like that should be based on mutual affection!! Doing all that J-ing back and forth—are you a sadist??"

"Ah! Gongsun entered the subway station! The boss followed him in."

"Speaking of which, has the boss ever taken the subway?"

"No~~~ he probably doesn't even have change..."

"Gongsun..." Bai Jintang followed behind, feeling a bit anxious. *How does one buy a subway ticket? His Gongsun is about to go in.*

Gongsun ignored him and walked quickly forward~~~ *I knew you'd never taken it.*

With no other choice, Bai Jintang shouted to the people behind him: "Come out already!!"

Da Ding and Xiao Ding had to step forward nervously and buy their boss a ticket with change... Bai Jintang turned and chased after him.

Unfortunately, they hit the morning rush hour. The people in the subway were packed like sardines in a can.

However, Gongsun's misfortune was someone else's lucky break! Bai Jintang, who had caught up to Gongsun at the last moment and squeezed into the subway with him, was pleasantly surprised to discover that the subway was the most humane transportation tool in the world~~~~

To protect his treasure from being squeezed, Bai Jintang pulled Gongsun to the subway window, braced his hands against it, and shielded Gongsun within his embrace.

Gongsun, who had intended to avoid him, had no choice but to turn his back and face the window. However, the man’s warm breath was still by his ear, and the familiar body heat and embrace made him involuntarily recall that night he couldn't bear to remember... He inexplicably felt a chill, and his shoulders trembled uncontrollably~~~

Bai Jintang sensed Gongsun’s suppressed fear, pulled back slightly, and said softly: "Gongsun... I’m sorry."

Gongsun was stunned. This was the second time Bai Jintang had apologized to him, but it was the first time he had said the words "I am sorry."

The twins, who had somehow squeezed behind the two of them, seized the opportunity and gave Bai Jintang a hard push...

Bai Jintang cooperated perfectly and lunged onto Gongsun...

"Ah!" Gongsun was so startled he stiffened, emitting a short, startled cry as he looked at Bai Jintang with a touch of fear.

Reaching out to hug Gongsun, who had begun to tremble involuntarily again, Bai Jintang held him tightly and whispered in his ear, "Don't be afraid. I won't ever do it again. I won't ever do it again. Don't be afraid."

Slowly, Gongsun regained his calm. He turned his head and glared at Bai Jintang, who immediately let go and stepped back obediently~~~ but the smile on his face widened... *Gongsun glared at me~~~~~*

The twins in the distance bit their handkerchiefs. For the first time, seeing their boss—who was usually used to having his way and bullying others—get thwarted like this, they had one word: *Refreshing!!*

All morning, Bai Jintang followed Gongsun as he strolled through the commercial streets of S City.

Gongsun didn't seem to have a destination or anything he wanted to buy; he just wandered from shop to shop, looking here and there, seemingly in a good mood.

In the display window of a nearby craft shop stood a row of crystal animal figurines. Bai Jintang was immediately attracted by a kitten and a little mouse sitting side by side. *Aren't these Yutang and Xiao Zhao?*

"Gongsun! Wait a moment!" Bai Jintang called out and pointed at the window. "Look, who does that look like?"

Gongsun wanted to maintain his serious demeanor, but he couldn't help but be amused. These little figurines—one baring its teeth and the other with a raised tail~~~ they looked exactly like them!!

"Wait for me here; I'll go buy them." Bai Jintang walked quickly into the shop, paid for the items, and emerged, only to be stunned.

He saw Gongsun standing at a crosswalk, talking to a man he didn't recognize. The man suddenly reached out as if to pat Gongsun on the shoulder...

By the time Bai Jintang reacted, he had already rushed over, grabbed the man by the collar, and pinned him against a lamppost.

"Ah~~~ you, what are you doing..." the man screamed in terror.

"Bai Jintang!" Gongsun shouted in extreme anger when he realized what had happened. "Are you insane?!"

"He wanted to touch you!" Bai Jintang retorted confidently.

"I... I was just... asking for directions!" the man stammered.

"...!..." Bai Jintang froze, hesitating.

"Let go immediately!" Gongsun stepped forward to pull Bai Jintang away and hurriedly apologized to the man, who was so terrified he ran away as if his life depended on it.

Bai Jintang stood there feeling somewhat dejected. Gongsun turned back to look at him, frowning: "Do you have childhood violence issues? Can't you resolve things properly?"

"I..." Bai Jintang whispered, "I thought he wanted to lay a hand on you."

Gongsun sighed helplessly: "If you still want to see me, get rid of that habit!" With that, he turned and walked away.

Bai Jintang stood blankly on the spot. What did Gongsun say just now? He said if he still wanted to see him... that meant...

"Wait for me!!" He hurriedly chased after him, running to Gongsun's side: "I’ll change! I’ll change! But sometimes I can't control myself. Can you stay by my side and stop me whenever it happens?"

……………………

The twins behind them continued to bite their handkerchiefs. This wasn't their wild-wolf boss at all; he was practically a large dog wagging its tail~~~ Gongsun—I surrender!!... *A modern-day tale of taming the husband!!*

On the subway ride back, Bai Jintang still thoroughly enjoyed the crowding, shielding Gongsun tightly.

Leaning close to his ear, Bai Jintang said in a low, gentle voice: "Gongsun, forgive me, alright... I will change!"

Gongsun remained silent, standing in place and letting Bai Jintang move a little closer without pulling away.

Room 206 of Building 10, Rainbow City, S City, was Jia Zhengyan's home. As a bachelor, all he left behind were simple furniture and a house full of books.

After entering the room, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang began searching through cabinets and drawers, targeting photo albums and diaries.

Zhan Zhao scanned the titles of the books on the shelves while Bai Yutang opened the computer.

"This teacher looks like he was quite upright," Bai Yutang said while checking the files on the computer.

"Yeah, he read a lot of books, mostly on educational psychology. His teaching notes were also very detailed; he seemed to care a lot about his students." While Zhan Zhao was searching, he found a somewhat aged photo album and started flipping through it. "It's a high school graduation photo."

Flipping through page by page, one of the photos caught Zhan Zhao's attention. It was a black-and-white picture of a female high school student. The girl in the photo looked somewhat familiar... *Who does she look like?*

He picked up the photo and examined it closely.

At that moment, a crisp metallic clinking sound came from the door, as if someone were using a chain...

Bai Yutang was startled and rushed to the door, but it wouldn't budge. He subconsciously realized someone had fixed it from the outside.

"Yutang... what..." Zhan Zhao walked closer, but Bai Yutang pulled him back by the arm.

Looking through the crack in the door, they saw a large amount of liquid pouring in, accompanied by the pungent smell of gasoline... Both of their faces went pale instantly. Bai Yutang suddenly noticed something odd about the layout of Jia Zhengyan's home... *Why was a gas tank placed at the door?*

"Cat. Run!" They rushed to the window only to discover it had anti-theft bars. By now, the fire was already burning in through the crack in the door.

Bai Yutang pulled out his gun and fired one shot at each of the four bolts securing the iron bars, leaped onto the windowsill, and kicked the anti-theft window off. "Cat! Get up here!"

Zhan Zhao took Bai Yutang’s hand and stood on the windowsill.

The second floor of a new residential complex was generally equivalent to the third floor because there were garages on the ground floor. The position they were standing in was nearly ten meters high.

Bai Yutang climbed onto the anti-theft window of the floor below first and reached out a hand. "Cat, come on!"

Zhan Zhao hesitated slightly. Bai Yutang hooked his foot onto the bars and stretched out both hands. "Come on, Cat!"

Stepping forward, Zhan Zhao jumped down onto the bars, and Bai Yutang pulled him into his arms. "Jump!"

"Huh?" Zhan Zhao was startled.

"Jump!"

Before he could react, Bai Yutang pulled him and jumped downward. This floor was only five or six meters from the ground. Before hitting the ground, Bai Yutang tossed Zhan Zhao upward, rolled, and caught him again~~~ quickly hiding by the wall.

With a massive "boom," the window of Room 206 flew out along with the immense blast of air, followed by a large volume of paper and books. The surrounding residents were startled and ran out one after another.

"Are you hurt?" Bai Yutang’s first priority was to check on Zhan Zhao in his arms. Zhan Zhao shook his head, his face pale.

Bai Yutang suddenly laughed: "Do you remember when we used to climb trees when we were kids?"

Zhan Zhao glared at him.

"You would often get up there and be too scared to come down, and I would always have to carry you down." Bai Yutang continued, "It’s the same now. Cat, what would you do if you didn't have me?"

Zhan Zhao gave the cocky mouse a fierce look. *This white mouse has been saying sweet things quite often lately~~~*

The two walked toward the car, looking somewhat disheveled. They had saved their lives, after all... The person who set the fire was genuinely trying to burn them to death.

Bai Yutang opened the car door. "This also proves that we are very close to the truth. It's just a pity that we didn't find any useful clues in Jia Zhengyan's house."

"Not necessarily." Zhan Zhao reached into his pocket and took out the old black-and-white photo to show Bai Yutang. "I only brought this one. Does it look familiar?"

Bai Yutang held the photo and scrutinized it for a long time. "Where have I seen her before?"

Zhan Zhao smiled. "At first, I couldn't recall either, but suddenly it flashed through my mind. Do you remember that woman who was talking to Gongsun at your brother's banquet?"

"Oh~~~" Bai Yutang had a sudden epiphany. "That female talent agent, what was her name again..."

"Her name is Fang Jing!" Zhan Zhao said. "Just like Zhang Hua, she's an agent!"

"Which means?" Bai Yutang smiled knowingly. "This is going to get interesting!!"

"That's right. It's going to get interesting." Zhan Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Don't you feel annoyed that we've been led by the nose throughout this case until now?!"

"Heh~~~ Cat, what scheme are you cooking up now?"

"Hmph hmph~~~" Zhan Zhao smiled slyly. "This time, it's our turn to play with them—that Killer Training Camp!”