【Ahhhh! I'm so curious!】
【Live streaming system! I want to file a complaint. What is it that we, the esteemed viewers of the live stream, can't hear?】
【@Star Ring Live, your super AI is playing games with us, keeping secrets!】
After Ye Sangsang and Lin Shu finished their whispered conversation, the live stream audience, unable to catch the details, quickly shifted from sadness to a frenzy of comments flooding the screen.
They started tagging Star Ring Live, demanding that the platform intervene and manage the super AI.
Since Ye Sangsang had abruptly ended her last live stream, many viewers had sent gifts, prompting Star Ring to assign a human administrator alongside the AI.
With the audience heavily tagging the official account, the administrator quickly responded.
【Administrator 176: The super AI has determined that certain information needs to be withheld. Let’s wait for good news!】
Unfortunately, this explanation did nothing to quell the viewers' curiosity.
【The human and AI responses are pretty much the same.】
【Lol, all we can do is urge Sister Sang to go live.】
【I’ll just wait! I really want to know what Sister Sang is planning.】
They were well aware of Lin Shu's recent coldness in the holographic game, and they were curious about what plan Ye Sangsang had concocted to bring about such a change.
Their curiosity was fully ignited, captivating the hearts of nearly 100,000 viewers in the live stream.
They stayed in the live stream, bored with nothing else to do, and many began sending gifts.
Various gifts flew across the screen, and countless people chatted and analyzed in the comments.
This caused Ye Sangsang's live stream to skyrocket in popularity, placing her within the top 100 on Star Ring Live. Not only that, she was also among the top ten with the best live stream data among those who had received beta access.
This level of popularity also drew attention to Ye Sangsang's presence.
Especially her current game dungeon, which made some people particularly interested.
Ye Sangsang, however, didn’t care about any of this. She hadn’t even bothered to check how many people were in her live stream.
Her mind was entirely focused on intensifying Jiang Jiansheng's situation.
As she waited, Ye Sangsang felt an unprecedented level of excitement.
The thrill of mischief surged through her like a hot wave, rushing from her heart to every limb, making her hands tremble slightly.
A strong desire for destruction grew in her heart, consuming all her thoughts.
It wasn’t that she wanted to kill anyone, but rather a kind of emotional destruction. She was excited to see her plan unfold.
She craved it desperately, like a fish on the verge of death longing for rain.
She had always said this game was interesting.
But soon, she realized she still had a problem to solve.
While out, Ye Sangsang sensed that she was being followed.
After a moment’s thought, she knew exactly who it was.
Wei Qingzheng was a competent detective, fully trusting his judgment. No matter how much she tried to erase suspicion, he wouldn’t give up investigating her based on mere appearances.
If he were an ally, Ye Sangsang would have been pleased.
But since he was an enemy, she wasn’t happy.
It was a tricky situation.
Shaking him off would confirm Wei Qingzheng's suspicions. An ordinary person, unless intentionally trying, would find it hard to lose a plainclothes officer.
If she didn’t shake him off, her plan was set for the afternoon.
That was during working hours, and her tail would be closely following her, making it difficult to execute her plan without raising suspicion.
After some thought, Ye Sangsang decided to use a diversion tactic.
Wei Qingzheng was undoubtedly eager for clues about the case, as evidenced by his visit to her.
So, she would exploit his weakness.
Since he wanted clues, she would provide him with some.
Ye Sangsang’s gaze fell on Wang Zhi. Why not use him as the diversion?
Checking the time, it was almost the end of the workday.
After finishing her last ride, she bought groceries and drove home.
The plainclothes officer following her drove her home, then parked in an alley where she couldn’t see, observing her courtyard.
The courtyard was relatively open, with some self-built houses around, but the front area was spacious, allowing a clear view of half the yard.
Ye Sangsang entered her home as if nothing was wrong, acting as if she hadn’t noticed the tail.
Once inside, she took out the pork ribs she had bought, blanched them, and started stewing them.
The old-fashioned exhaust fan was turned on, and a faint mist began to spread, carrying the smell of meat.
She also steamed rice in the rice cooker, then went into the living room and turned on the bulky old TV.
After doing all this, she quickly changed clothes and climbed out through the back window.
The window led to a wall, and climbing over it brought her to the drainage ditch of another house.
She then quickly made her way out, took a taxi, and found a public phone booth without surveillance.
Recalling the phone number Wei Qingzheng had mentioned for the Jiang City Major Crime Unit Three, Ye Sangsang dialed without hesitation.
The call was quickly answered.
“Hello, Jiang City Major Crime Unit Three,” came the voice on the other end.
Ye Sangsang knew how to disguise her voice slightly. Using a feminine tone, she said, “I have information about Zhou Qiang’s murder. Be at Linjiang Bridge at 6 PM the day after tomorrow, and I’ll give you the key clues. Bring 500 yuan. No waiting if you’re late.”
After saying this, Ye Sangsang quickly hung up, glanced around, smiled, and swiftly made her way through the alley to another street, where she hailed a taxi and left.
If her prediction was correct, they would arrive at the phone booth within ten minutes.
She had deliberately chosen this spot. Given Wei Qingzheng's sharpness, he would surely link Zhou Qiang to Wang Zhi.
As the next target of the killer, Wang Zhi would definitely be under Wei Qingzheng's close protection.
As for the Linjiang Bridge matter, he would likely think it was a smokescreen by the killer to divert attention from Wang Zhi.
As for Jiang Jiansheng, based on her investigation, he wasn’t yet on the radar.
Because he and the other three, apart from their connection during the escape from Lin City, were practically strangers. So unless it was known that the four had fled together, the police wouldn’t investigate Jiang Jiansheng.
This was a double-layered plan. Wei Qingzheng thought the diversion was to pull the police away from Wang Zhi, but in reality, her goal was to shake off the tail following her.
The Major Crime Unit was short-staffed. With the surge in cases at the turn of the millennium, all departments were overwhelmed, and resources were limited.
With limited personnel, priorities had to be set.
When the killer called, Ye Sangsang was under the police’s “watchful eyes.” Once she was cleared of suspicion, it was natural for the plainclothes officers to withdraw.
If they didn’t, Ye Sangsang felt she might have to “fall ill.”
This was her backup plan, one she didn’t want to use unless absolutely necessary.
No one could stop her. If there were obstacles, she would overcome them.
Returning home, Ye Sangsang faced Lin Shu, who was quietly standing by the bedroom window.
Turning on the TV was their signal. Lin Shu must have communicated with her earlier, so now she said, “Your ribs need some salt. We’re out of salt. Go buy some.”
This was a cue for Lin Shu to take a walk, reinforcing the earlier conversation and giving the impression to the tail that Ye Sangsang had been home all along.
Ye Sangsang nodded, brushed off the dust, and walked out.
Some houses in the self-built neighborhood had small shops on the ground floor. She calmly walked past the alley where the car was parked, went to the shop, and bought a pack of salt.
Seeing some dried Sichuan peppercorns, she thought they might be useful for cooking, so she bought a small amount and brought them back.
At home, Ye Sangsang added the radishes she had bought to the pork rib soup.
The aroma of the meat spread through the exhaust fan, filling the air within five or six meters.
The two of them chatted casually, occasionally discussing people or things they encountered at work.
They acted like an ordinary couple.
The car left after 8 PM.
Ye Sangsang wiped down her taxi, seemingly oblivious to the car’s departure, though a faint smile flickered in her eyes.
She was curious again, wondering how long it would take Wei Qingzheng to realize this was a diversion.
As for Jiang Jiansheng, that cunning old fox, she already had a plan to deal with him.
But before this case, Ye Sangsang needed to take a break from the game.
Even with the time jump, it was time for her to wake up from her sleep.
Diluting the memories of killing in the game had no unpleasant side effects, and the process was over in an instant. This efficiency left her quite satisfied.
The reason she returned was because her doctor was coming for a follow-up visit today.
A young and handsome psychiatrist.
Ye Sangsang didn’t want to admit that the doctor was professional, but ordinary people indeed didn’t have thoughts as strange as hers, nor were they as fearless.
Compared to her, their thoughts were as fragile as dodder vines.
Human death felt normal to her, no different from killing ants.
After finishing her breakfast, the doctor arrived.
Dressed in a buttoned-up white coat and wearing silver-framed glasses, he stood opposite Ye Sangsang, who was sitting on the hospital bed. “It’s been two days. You seem much more spirited. Did the medication work this time?”
“Not really. It’s just that I’ve found more interest in life,” Ye Sangsang replied, her slender, pale fingers playing with her long black hair. Her dark eyes fixed on the doctor, a hint of joy in her expression.
Su Xu gazed at her and smiled. “Can you tell me what interests you?”
A psychiatric patient claiming to have found new interests was something worth paying attention to, from a doctor’s perspective.
Ye Sangsang shook her head. “You shouldn’t focus too much on it. I’ll take my medicine on time, but there’s no need for us to meet.”
“You still refuse to admit that you’re ill,” Su Xu said sternly.
Ye Sangsang shook her head again. “To me, whether I admit it or not makes no difference. I’m willing to cooperate with your treatment, and that’s good enough for you.”
Su Xu stared at her, pondering for a moment before saying, “You seem to have gained a bit more patience.”
“Yes,” Ye Sangsang replied. “I’ve become more patient with you.”
Having developed emotional awareness, she decided to be more patient with these people.
Su Xu’s eyes flickered slightly. After a moment, he said, “I hope you can maintain this state. It’ll help you get discharged sooner. I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll take my leave now.”
Ye Sangsang watched Su Xu leave, her eyes filled with indifference.
Sometimes, she even wanted to advise him not to say things he didn’t mean, as it was too easy for her to see through.
The caretaker came in, marking the start of her usual day.
Perhaps because Ye Sangsang had warned her, the caretaker had cut down on many of her little antics. Ye Sangsang was pleased with her compliance.
As usual, she went out for some fresh air.
The spring rain fell softly, the fine droplets landing on her hands. Ye Sangsang was satisfied with the result.
During her noon break, Ye Sangsang estimated the time and put on her gaming neck ring.
Entering the game, she opened her eyes to a body that moved freely.
Time automatically skipped forward. Ye Sangsang picked up her tools and, after confirming there were no followers, set off.
