"There's another person following us?"
"Yeah! He follows from time to time. At first, I didn't notice. Later, when I paid close attention, I realized he was following that girl. I just have an exhibitionist streak, just wanted to scare those girls, not actually hurt them. Compared to me, he looks far more sinister. Does this count as me doing a good deed...?"
Ye Sangsang stood at the door, listening to the exhibitionist's description of the stalker.
So, there were two people following them?
Was it a psychopathic killer?
【Didn’t expect an unexpected catch.】
【There's another stalker. From what the exhibitionist says, this stalker is quite skilled, which explains why no one noticed him.】
【If we hadn't called the police on the exhibitionist, would the stalker have remained undiscovered?】
After listening, Ye Sangsang came to her senses and was about to leave.
The girl hadn't paid much attention to the interrogation room and hadn't heard any sounds inside. She walked a few meters before looking back and noticing Ye Sangsang hadn't followed.
"Let's go! Let's head back. It's so late..."
Ye Sangsang nodded and caught up with the girl's pace.
After the interrogation and returning to their rental apartment, it was already two in the morning.
Fortunately, they were two people, so they didn't have to fear anything.
Opening the door to her rented room, Ye Sangsang's phone rang.
It was the police station, calling to advise her to avoid going out alone and to try not to go out late at night, emphasizing safety.
Ye Sangsang agreed.
The police hadn’t mentioned the stalker, likely because they weren't sure about it yet and needed to review surveillance footage first.
Not telling Ye Sangsang was to prevent her from getting overly panicked.
After hanging up, Ye Sangsang cautiously opened the door to the bathroom to wash up.
Perhaps because her two roommates were night owls, no one complained about the noise.
After drying her hair and changing into her pajamas, Ye Sangsang began to ponder the two clues she had obtained on the first day.
1. A plot card suggesting Zhao Xinxin's death was related to Li Li, indicating Li Li shouldn’t be overlooked.
2. The highly skilled stalker, something even Zhao Xinxin didn’t know about, likely information revealed during the police investigation after her death.
Combining these two clues, it wasn’t hard to see that this wasn’t a case of a psychopathic killer; it seemed more like a premeditated murder being set up.
There was still no apparent motive for the killing.
Ye Sangsang furrowed her brow.
It looks like she’ll have to find a way to confront this stalker.
Additionally, Ye Sangsang picked up her phone.
The entire phone contained only work colleagues and clients; there were no notes related to family or friends.
The call history was also limited to work contacts—clients, colleagues, and bosses—with no other unfamiliar numbers or unmarked calls.
This situation either meant there were no calls from her hometown, Yun City, or everything had been deleted thoroughly.
Ye Sangsang’s first thought was that Zhao Xinxin had run away from home.
Perhaps due to gender discrimination or a bad living situation, after graduation, she had stayed in this city to work, got a new phone number, and severed all ties with her family.
This scenario is quite common in everyday life.
Ye Sangsang put down Zhao Xinxin’s phone and jumped the timeline to the next morning.
Another beautiful morning, Ye Sangsang woke up ten minutes earlier than usual.
The other two roommates went to work at ten in the morning and were still asleep at seven, so Ye Sangsang went to the living room.
She hadn’t had time to inspect the crime scene yesterday, so today she decided to check it out earlier.
Zhao Xinxin had died in the living room of the rental apartment, murdered by having her neck slashed, severing the carotid artery, leading to excessive blood loss.
In the photos, she lay crumpled beside the sofa, her hands instinctively covering her neck. Due to blood loss, her hands had released, her head tilted toward the sofa.
There were splatters of blood on the sofa and the ceiling.
The glass coffee table was spotless.
The time of death was between half past six and seven in the evening. The one who reported the crime was a roommate working at a coffee shop, who came home and found Zhao Xinxin already dead, then called the police.
The other roommate got off work at six in the afternoon but had gone out with friends and only later learned what had happened at the apartment.
Initially, the police ruled out the two roommates' involvement, as if they were involved, the police would have detected it.
Ye Sangsang looked at the scene and moved toward the sofa.
She sat on the sofa, turning to look at the person opposite.
They must have known each other, she saw the murderer take out a knife, and became frightened and stood up.
The knife slashed horizontally, cutting across the neck and severing the carotid artery. She widened her eyes, instinctively covering her neck.
Then she stepped back.
Ye Sangsang stood up, instinctively taking two or three steps back, stopped by the sofa's armrest, stumbling and almost falling.
Due to losing too much blood, this obstruction would have made her even more frightened.
Taking two steps out of the sofa, according to the timeline, she would no longer be able to control her injury, directly fainting and dying two seconds later.
Severing the carotid artery, even if you cover the wound with force, is useless.
Blood in the body is always circulating.
Severing the carotid artery is like cutting a high-pressure water pipe; the water immediately erupts.
In this kind of squirting state, even if a divine physician like Hua Tuo were to appear, it would be impossible to save her.
At best, it would delay death for two seconds.
From Zhao Xinxin standing up, instinctively avoiding the murderer, to falling, it was probably less than ten seconds.
Ye Sangsang then looked at the coffee table; it was spotless, indicating there might have been traces of the murderer’s fingerprints or DNA.
The room had been cleaned.
Ye Sangsang sat back on the sofa, coming up with three pieces of information:
1. It was evident that the murderer knew Zhao Xinxin.
2. The murderer had investigated and knew that both roommates were not home, targeting Zhao Xinxin deliberately.
3. They were in the living room at the time, discussing something.
They must have known each other; otherwise, Zhao Xinxin wouldn't have let the murderer in.
The two were not close; in such a shared rental apartment, if they were close, given Zhao Xinxin’s kind nature, she definitely would have taken the person to her bedroom.
Zhao Xinxin was full of kindness, but the murderer was full of malice. The background of this was hard to guess.
Ye Sangsang checked the time and went to wash up, preparing for work.
Zhao Xinxin had a young, healthy body, and Ye Sangsang, despite staying up late, felt energetic the next day.
On the bus, she even ran into Li Li.
Li Li had a striking look and a tall figure, and Ye Sangsang spotted her almost as soon as she entered the bus.
【Honestly, according to the plot card, I listed her as a suspect. Otherwise, based on my tendency to judge by appearances, I wouldn’t have suspected her for even a moment.】
【Yes, being killed yet still feeling she had no connection to her.】
【I’m curious how Zhao Xinxin’s death could be connected to Li Li. Did she deliberately get close to her, working together with the stalker?】
Ye Sangsang sat next to Li Li, and the chatroom’s comments kept rolling in.
In fact, if it weren't for the plot card, Ye Sangsang wouldn’t have considered Li Li as a possible murderer.
But the reality was cruel: Zhao Xinxin’s death indeed had some connection with Li Li.
"I was pretty drunk yesterday. Did I do anything embarrassing?"
Ye Sangsang was deep in thought when Li Li, a bit embarrassed, broke the silence.
She came to her senses, looking at her, and shook her head.
“Nothing. You were very quiet. The process of me asking for your address and sending you back went smoothly. But there’s something… I’m not sure whether to mention it or not.”
Li Li immediately asked, "What?"
Seeing Li Li's expression, Ye Sangsang hesitated slightly.
“Go ahead, tell me!”
"It’s just that you cried so hard last night. I want to give you some advice: there are plenty of good men out there; there’s no need to cry over any man… It’s not worth it…"
Her expression was a bit awkward, with concerns as she looked at Li Li.
Li Li was stunned for a moment before forcing a smile, her eyes flickering slightly as she said, "… Yes, it’s… right, it’s not worth crying over a man. I won’t anymore…"
Ye Sangsang turned her head, pulling a slight smile in a spot where Li Li couldn’t see.
The bus still had four more stops before reaching the company area, and this copy didn’t give her much time, so Ye Sangsang decided not to waste too much time.
"When I sent you back last night, there was a small incident."
She abruptly spoke.
【Ahhh, she's starting to test the waters! Senior Yi doesn't hesitate!】
【I’m curious—do Li Li and the stalker have any connection?】
【I bet 50 cents they’re related!】
The audience didn’t know this was already the second round of testing.
Ye Sangsang looked at Li Li, having already understood from Li Li’s expressions and words that her tears had nothing to do with romance.
Excluding these possibilities, what remained were matters of family and friendship.
And those three words—why.
It was a question.
Li Li had something suppressed in her heart, something she wanted to ask.
This question likely had something to do with Zhao Xinxin.
Ye Sangsang snapped back to reality and gazed at Li Li.
“What happened?” Li Li seemed to be lost in thought as well, taking a couple of seconds to refocus before probing about the incident.
Ye Sangsang lowered her voice, “There’s a stalker in our neighborhood!”
“Ah? I haven’t heard about that!” Li Li’s expression remained natural, a look of puzzlement on her face as she looked at Ye Sangsang.
Ye Sangsang continued, “Yesterday, after I left you, I felt that stalker following me all the way to my apartment. Later, I thought I had to deal with this threat, so I hid in the bushes…”
She recounted everything that had happened at the scene the previous day, her eyes filled with anger.
As for the stalker’s identity, Ye Sangsang chose not to mention it, as she was certain there was a connection between the two.
Seeing Li Li’s reaction, it seemed she was unaware of the stalking incident.
Mentioning it would only reveal information to Li Li, which wasn’t wise. What Ye Sangsang needed to know was simply whether Li Li was aware of the stalking.
After finishing her story, Ye Sangsang looked at Li Li and patted her chest.
“It’s really terrifying, these people. The police even called me later, telling me to be careful.” She paused, “It’s so difficult. I looked into it and found out that the most they can do is detain someone for fifteen days. After that, they’ll be released…”
Her expression revealed a mix of anger and sadness. “I can’t help but feel both angry and sad when I think about how other girls in our neighborhood might encounter such people in the future. Why can’t they be sentenced to a year or two?”
“Ah, if he gets out of detention and still harasses you, just keep calling the police. If that doesn’t work, maybe consider moving. There’s always a solution!”
Li Li patiently comforted her, her eyes filled with indignation.
Ye Sangsang nodded, bringing the conversation to an end.
They soon arrived at the company.
Nothing much happened in the morning or the afternoon. Ye Sangsang tried to investigate more about Li Li, but she couldn’t access such information as just an ordinary designer.
She wondered if she could track down the person who had been stalking her.
At the same time, she needed to figure out one thing.
What exactly did Zhao Xinxin discuss with the assailant?
And what was Li Li trying to ask about?
After weighing her options, Ye Sangsang felt that she might have a better chance of obtaining information from Li Li.
According to the exposure incident reported to the police station, the stalker didn’t follow her frequently, and his physical characteristics were deliberately obscured.
Such a person would be difficult to catch, and there was no certainty he would continue to stalk her in the coming days.
After communicating with a client in the afternoon, Ye Sangsang left work at five-thirty sharp.
She actively approached Li Li and asked her to go home together.
Li Li was slightly surprised, as the two rarely commuted together. As a receptionist, she usually had to stay half an hour later than the design department.
Then she thought about how Ye Sangsang had been stalked the previous night.
Maybe she was scared and that’s why she wanted to go home together?
With this thought, Li Li nodded in agreement.
Ye Sangsang started asking casual questions, such as where Li Li was from.
“You must come from a place known for producing beautiful women, especially someone like you!”
Li Li blushed and responded with a smile, “I’m from Sichuan Province.”
Ye Sangsang continued to engage Li Li in conversation, touching on topics like the boys from the previous night and personal details.
In a company where colleagues gradually become acquainted and familiar, such conversations are inevitable.
When Ye Sangsang got off the bus, she had basically grasped one fact:
Li Li was lying.
She wasn’t from Sichuan Province; while she knew a bit about some regional characteristics, her knowledge was superficial.
And when it came to her family, her answers were vague.
Most importantly, Li Li never turned the conversation back to her own details.
This kind of talk usually involves a back-and-forth exchange. Normally, if one person shares something about themselves, the other should reciprocate with something about their own life, so that both parties understand each other.
A conversation becomes one-sided if one person keeps asking and the other only answers.
Unless, of course, one person already knows a lot about the other.
So, was Li Li afraid that Zhao Xinxin might discover her lies?
Sitting on the bed, Ye Sangsang couldn’t help but sigh. The game instance was indeed fair.
As players, they didn’t have detailed information about Zhao Xinxin. Entering a full-dive simulation without any memories, they started unraveling mysteries from the very beginning.
Zhao Xinxin, on the other hand, was unaware of her impending death, completely oblivious to everything around her.
The game subjected every character to equal torment.
At first, Ye Sangsang wondered why Zhao Xinxin’s character wasn’t set up as the victim.
Now, she was starting to realize that things probably weren’t that simple.
Two challenges now lay before Ye Sangsang: one, she had no clear starting point, and two, two days had already passed, and she still knew next to nothing about Zhao Xinxin.
Such a blank slate wasn’t a good thing. Behind it, she felt, there was a hidden secret that needed to be uncovered.
And this secret might not necessarily help with the case.
Ye Sangsang picked up her phone, trying to find a way to recover deleted call records.
However, there was no such feature. She was using an outdated tablet with no data preservation capability.
This was a first-time experience for Ye Sangsang.
Looking at the time, she decided to log out for a bit.
It was seven-thirty in the morning when Ye Sangsang logged out.
At the same time, she made up her mind that if no more clues surfaced, then she should try to attract the stalker’s attention.
Holding her phone, Ye Sangsang slowly stood up, leaning on the bed as she headed to the bathroom to wash up.
After regaining her senses, she checked the time on her phone.
She discovered that Ye Zhe had sent numerous messages, fiercely interrogating and cursing at Ye Sangsang. After skillfully blocking him, Ye Sangsang messaged Aunt Lin, telling her to keep Ye Zhe silent.
Otherwise, there would be consequences. Some of her father’s assets were managed by an overseas company.
If she took action, that money would vanish completely.
At that point, the financial lifeline they relied on would be severely diminished.
Ye Zhe immediately quieted down, his fear palpable.
Ye Sangsang smiled—Ye Zhe was celebrating prematurely.
In Zhongzhou Country, the death penalty still existed. With intentional homicide, intentional injury, and other charges stacked, and without her forgiveness, achieving the death penalty wouldn’t be difficult.
After her father’s death, all his assets would be divided. Ye Sangsang could secure half of the remaining immovable property.
The other half wouldn’t be safe in Ye Zhe’s hands.
His mother wasn’t someone to be trifled with. A gambling addict could act irrationally at any moment, plunging Ye Zhe into immense suffering.
Reflecting on all of this, Ye Sangsang looked at the blacklisted numbers deleted from her phone.
After a while, a realization dawned on her.
Perhaps the reason Zhao Xinxin ran away wasn’t as she had originally conjectured?
Maybe Zhao Xinxin simply deleted the call records? Maybe she didn’t want anyone to know?
With this thought, Ye Sangsang returned to bed, put on her device, and re-entered the game.
As the hyper-intelligent game system kicked in, Ye Sangsang opened her eyes.
She skipped the timeline to the third morning.
Taking out her phone, she called her supervisor.
“I need to go to a client’s place to measure the space I contacted yesterday, so I’ll be a bit late this morning,” she explained before lowering her head to search for Zhao Xinxin’s ID card.
She had previously fallen into a misconception, believing that the lack of call records and her inability to find them meant Zhao Xinxin had run away.
But what if that wasn’t the case?
As an investigator, one must always be skeptical.
As for why she didn’t take the day off, it was because Li Li was aware of some things, and taking leave might alert her.
Ye Sangsang quickly took a taxi to the telecommunications office corresponding to the phone number.
After presenting her ID card, and after the clerk verified her identity as the number owner, they provided her with all of Zhao Xinxin’s call records.
This wasn’t something that could be deleted from a phone.
Ye Sangsang obtained the call records for the past two months.
Glancing at the not-so-lengthy records printed on A4 paper, she began to scan for numbers whose area code belonged to Yun City.
Finally, at the bottom of the first page, Ye Sangsang spotted a number belonging to Yun City.
Ye Sangsang’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
【Ah! There’s a clue!】
【Sang-Sang, you suddenly logged back in, surprising me. It turns out you’re here to check the deleted call records.】
[I'm curious, why delete call history? Deleting text messages makes sense, but call history? Usually, people don't delete that. You can still figure out who you called in the past by checking the time and duration, even if there are no notes. Unless there’s a special reason...]
[Unless they hate the person or are hiding something.]
Ye Sangsang looked up just in time to see this comment on the live stream. She sided with the latter option.
Xinzhen Zhao wanted to hide her connection with this number.
By combining this call record with the phone's call history, it was easy to identify the number Ye Sangsang had seen, which originated from Yun City.
Ye Sangsang took a taxi back to her rental place, entered her room, and took out her phone to dial the number.
She was completely calm now, listening carefully to what was being said on the other end of the line.
"Dud... Dud... Dud..."
After three rings, the call connected, but no one spoke for a long time.
Ye Sangsang wasn't sure who was on the other side, so she hesitated to speak.
"It's not the agreed time. Why are you calling?"
A hoarse woman's voice came from the phone.
Ye Sangsang paused, almost unable to tell if it was a man or a woman. She hesitated for a moment before quietly calling out, "Mom, I miss you..."
She was gambling, and the odds of winning were high.
Such intimate conversations were usually only between mother and daughter. If it were relatives or friends, they wouldn't speak like this.
At the same time, Ye Sangsang also felt that the way the voice spoke and the language habits were somewhat familiar to her.
“Miss what? Remember! You've already cut ties with the family; don't call again. You stubborn girl, always not listening to advice!”
Ye Sangsang was stunned when the voice suddenly raised its tone, then softened a bit toward the end.
Ye Sangsang thought for a moment and spoke in a low voice, "I know..."
"That's good, then. Don't call again in the future. Mom is doing just fine and doesn't need your concern. Don't keep calling."
After a pause on the other end, the call was abruptly hung up just as Ye Sangsang was about to say something.
Ye Sangsang was momentarily stunned, then took a deep breath.
[Scratching my head? This development is different from what I imagined.]
[Zhao Xinxin doesn't seem like she ran away from home; it's more like she was kicked out and isn't allowed to return.]
[Is her murder related to this? Even back in 2015, college students were valuable. Kicking a college student out doesn't make sense!]
The live stream's discussion grew more intense, with more questions arising.
Ye Sangsang thought about it and found the situation behind it becoming increasingly intriguing.
It wasn't hard to guess—Yun City wasn't a small town.
Leaving one's hometown to develop elsewhere and being forbidden from contacting family were enough signs that Zhao Xinxin had something those people wanted to know.
Whether it was Li Li or that stalker, they were all targeting Zhao Xinxin to get answers to their questions.
If they were driven by hatred, then failing to get answers could easily lead to venting that anger through murder.
Zhao Xinxin's mother also knew this, even refusing to acknowledge any contact with her daughter.
This proved that both of them were aware of the deep-seated hatred those people held against them.
Ye Sangsang was truly curious—what kind of deep-rooted hatred would drive them to this extent?
Should she just confront the truth?
Maybe directly interrogating Li Li or even restraining her for questioning.
But without evidence and considering Zhao Xinxin’s character, she wouldn’t do such a thing.
Ye Sangsang contemplated how to avoid this fatal attack while uncovering the true mastermind behind it all.
Active offense didn’t align with Zhao Xinxin’s character.
Being purely defensive and avoiding the attacker seemed cowardly.
Ye Sangsang was stuck between the two, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, Ye Sangsang's eyes lit up.
There were more paths than just these two. She hadn’t even uncovered the full truth behind this yet!
Deferring the risk of being murdered, Ye Sangsang decided to focus on uncovering the truth first.
Ye Sangsang continued interacting with Li Li. She had progressed quickly with a young man she met online, affirming their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend in just two days.
The young man, Jiang Feng, was a programmer at a local company, earning a respectable income and being gentle and cheerful.
On the night they confirmed their relationship, Li Li invited Ye Sangsang to her place.
She cooked dinner for them to celebrate the official start of their relationship.
Ye Sangsang naturally agreed to the invitation.
After tidying up at home, she went to a nearby fruit shop and bought some seasonal fruits.
When visiting someone’s home, it was proper to bring along a small gift.
In the summer season, watermelon and grapes were essential and she also picked up some apples that kept well.
While choosing, she noticed that the apples in Zhao Xinxin’s fridge were different from those in the shop.
Ye Sangsang directly asked the shop owner and learned that Zhao Xinxin was buying the cheapest apples available.
The bread and milk in her fridge weren’t chosen because they were good for her but because she was saving money.
A ten-yuan loaf of bread could weigh more than a pound, and discounted milk nearing expiration was very cheap.
Living in a shared rental and commuting to work.
It was clear she was saving money to establish herself in the city.
Ye Sangsang assumed it was because Zhao Xinxin loved her mother dearly and wanted to bring her to the city as well.
At the moment, this was the only reason Ye Sangsang could think of.
After Ye Sangsang finished asking and picked her fruits, she paid and started walking toward the neighboring residential complex.
Looking ahead, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Because in reality, Zhao Xinxin never realized that wish before her death.
Ye Sangsang walked more than ten meters when a figure squatting by the roadside under a tree slowly stood up and followed her closely.
He strolled casually, his long hair covering his eyebrows and eyes, his entire body wrapped in a sunscreen jacket.
Glancing briefly at Ye Sangsang’s back, he pretended to check his phone while actually maintaining a distance as he followed her.
The moment he slightly raised his head, his pitch-black eyes were fixed intensely on her. With the shadow of his hair, he looked like a demon come to claim a life.
[Ahhhh! Someone's following our little Sis!】
[Wow, this guy looks creepy! What an intense vibe!]
[Ugh, Super AI, you love freaking us out! You knew little Sis usually doesn't watch the live stream, yet you switched the perspective just to scare us!]
The live stream was filled with complaints as Ye Sangsang headed to Li Li’s place with the fruits, completely unaware of the person following her.
After all, who would suspect someone casually walking far behind them as a threat?
At ten meters away, not to mention with the obstructions of trees and streetlights on the road, it was unlikely anyone could discern who it was.
The security at Li Li’s residential complex was lax, probably due to the high number of renters.
The main entrance was wide open, so Ye Sangsang looked around and walked straight in.
Once at the building entrance, she set the fruit down to press the elevator.
Upon arrival, she stepped inside and pressed the floor Li Li lived on—15th floor.
After the elevator started its ascent, the person following her stood at the elevator entrance.
He just stared as he watched the rising floor numbers, only pressing the call button once the elevator stopped at the 15th floor.
Ye Sangsang, meanwhile, had exited the elevator and knocked on Li Li’s door.
"Coming!"
After the cheerful voice inside, Li Li opened the door and smiled at Ye Sangsang.
Ye Sangsang crouched down to pick up the gifts and walked in.
"You didn’t have to bring anything. What’s the point of gift-giving between us?"
"It’s just some fruit, not a proper gift."
Li Li stepped aside to let Ye Sangsang enter, then closed the door.
Three seconds after closing it, the elevator door opened, and the dark figure stepped out.
There were four apartments in a row, so he pressed his ear to each door to carefully listen before ultimately pinpointing Li Li’s apartment.
After catching faint voices from inside, he stood there motionlessly.
A long while later, he turned and left.
Ye Sangsang sat on the sofa in the living room as Li Li and her boyfriend Jiang Feng cooked in the kitchen.
The kitchen was on the left side of the entrance and was separated by a glass sliding door.
Ye Sangsang leaned back slightly, clearly observing the two busy in the kitchen.
Both were focused—one chopping ingredients while the other stirred and fried.
Extremely coordinated.
Ye Sangsang stood up and walked to the balcony.
It was an ordinary balcony, except perhaps the high floor made the winds strong.
Her relaxation grew as she did.
Beyond the balcony, there were countless buildings, high and low, with a touch of green next to them.
Quickly, Ye Sangsang’s expression faltered.
Her gaze quickly locked onto a familiar building. Looking from there, it aligned with Zhao Xinxin’s residential complex, specifically the direction of her apartment’s balcony.
If one had a telescope, they could even observe Zhao Xinxin's every move.
However, the floor she lives on is relatively low, and the distance makes it difficult to see clearly from here.
At this moment, Ye Sangsang felt as though someone was watching her.
She turned her head, but saw no one.
Li Li and the others were busy cooking as usual.
Ye Sangsang raised an eyebrow and moved towards the living room.
Sat down, and under Li Li's invitation, turned on the TV to watch.
It was a regular domestic drama, the kind focused on family ethics.
Not long after, Li Li and the others brought out the dishes, and Ye Sangsang helped serve.
Soon, the three of them sat down.
"Oh, I forgot to get the soup ladle!" Li Li said instinctively after sitting down.
Jiang Feng stood up immediately, "I'll go get it."
Ye Sangsang placed the chopsticks she was holding down and looked up as Jiang Feng walked into the kitchen, pulled open the storage drawer, and retrieved the soup ladle to return.
She didn't keep her eyes on him the entire time; instead, she turned to chat with Li Li,
mainly praising Jiang Feng's cooking, saying the dishes were delicious and suited her taste.
Li Li smiled and urged Ye Sangsang to eat.
The dining table featured the usual four dishes and one soup: mushroom soup, stir-fried vegetables, steamed bass, braised pork, and cold noodles with cucumber strips.
Except for the cold noodles, none of the other dishes contained any chili peppers, aside from the decorative chili strips.
"Thanks so much for going out of your way not to use chili peppers just for me, Li Li. You're so kind!"
Ye Sangsang praised with a smile, eating normally while pretending not to notice the slight tension in the couple's expressions.
Ye Sangsang acted as if she hadn't noticed, enthusiastically eating the food.
She wasn't afraid they had drugged the food, since they were eating the same meal. If anything happened, they'd all suffer together.
After dinner, Li Li went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Jiang Feng sat down beside Ye Sangsang.
Neither of them had much desire to talk, since they were essentially strangers.
After about half an hour, Li Li returned, and the atmosphere finally eased a bit.
"Eating all those dishes with chili peppers, today without them felt surprisingly good," Li Li said, rubbing her hands together on her knees as she spoke to Ye Sangsang.
Jiang Feng shifted his attention from the TV to Ye Sangsang, "That’s true. By the way, I heard from Li Li that you’re from Yun City, which is quite scenic. I haven’t used up my annual leave. You guys haven’t either, right?"
If you haven’t, how about we go on a road trip to Cloud City after a few days?
"That sounds great! You can’t imagine how amazing the authentic local knife-cut noodles must taste!"
Li Li looked at Ye Sangsang expectantly, hoping she’d agree.
"At that time, we’ll go visit your home, and you’ll be able to return to visit as well."
Facing their gazes, Ye Sangsang’s face showed a hint of difficulty.
"Is that inconvenient?" Li Li asked.
Ye Sangsang nodded, "I don’t really want to go back. Besides, the round-trip costs of fuel and tolls are too expensive. There’s no need for that; playing around locally is good enough."
Li Li and Jiang Feng exchanged a glance.
Ye Sangsang continued, "The knife-cut noodles shop beside our company is already quite authentic..."
The atmosphere grew tense, and Li Li pouted.
"You seem like you’re not welcoming us at all."
Ye Sangsang lowered her head, hiding the coldness in her eyes.
"No, it’s just… I don’t really want to go back. My old hometown isn’t as great as everyone thinks…"
"Did something unpleasant happen there?"
Ye Sangsang remained silent.
If she knew, there would be no need to probe like this.
“By the way, where in Yun City are you from, Zhao Xinxin? I have a colleague who is also from Yun City.”
The speaker was Jiang Feng, who looked curiously at Ye Sangsang.
This information was already in their records. Ye Sangsang directly answered, "Jingxi District, in Yun City."
If her expectations were correct, the main act was about to begin.
"Jingxi District? My colleague and I recently talked about Yun City and what’s famous there." Jiang Feng paused, "You know what he said? He said that apart from the local food, the only thing famous there is that random robbery-murder-rape case—apparently the culprit hasn’t been caught yet!"
Ye Sangsang’s pupils shrank in surprise as she looked at Jiang Feng, then forced a weak smile. "That… that really is…"
“Do you know about that case?” Jiang Feng continued, his eyes fixed on Ye Sangsang. “My colleague said that it’s practically a household story in Yun City now. People there even know it by heart.”
"I've heard about it too," Li Li chimed in. "From what I hear, the criminal was so vicious that people didn't dare to walk outside at night back then!"
The two of them alternated speaking, but their eyes were always on Ye Sangsang.
【Why are they looking at Sangsang?】
【Does Sangsang know something?】
【Curious. What does this case have to do with the role Zhao Xinxin?】
Ye Sangsang’s head lowered further; her lips pressed tightly together, refusing to speak a word. With a forced smile, she stood up and said, "It’s getting late; I’ll be heading out first."
The couple exchanged surprised looks, but Ye Sangsang had already stood up, grabbed her bag, and rushed out the door.
By the time they chased after her, she had already entered the elevator.
Ye Sangsang stood in the elevator, taking out her phone to search for information about the random robbery-murder-rape case that occurred in Yun City.
She underestimated the elevator’s signal; the page kept spinning, unable to load.
Deepening her breath, she waited until she exited the elevator before beginning her search.
Once outside, she held her phone with both hands and hurried toward the building’s exit.
Using the keywords, she began searching on the internet from 15 years ago on Qiandu.
The network connection continued to spin, until finally, the web page with highlighted search terms appeared.
She stretched out her hand, ready to click into the page to view it.
The next moment, a cold sensation brushed against her neck.
"Don’t move,"
A low, hoarse voice sounded beside Ye Sangsang’s ear, as if it had been a long time since the person had last spoken.
