Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 246

In a dim and dilapidated residence, the clock hand pointed to five o’clock.

A pair of bony hands trembled as they held the mouse, rapidly clicking on the hidden software icon buried deep within a folder.

After a moment, a crude image appeared on the screen.

It was the kind of low-resolution graphics seen in primitive pixelated games. Black background, red lines, and a simple square-shaped cottage in the center of the screen. In the bottom right corner, there was a cluster of golden flowers. The interior of the cottage appeared empty at first glance, but upon closer inspection, one could spot a pitiful silver coin in the corner.

Upon seeing this, a look of despair covered his face, and his trembling lips revealed rotten teeth.

He desperately covered his mouth and looked back down at the bottom corner of the screen. There, six lines of text written in the lingua franca of the United Nations filled the space, and among them was a line in Chinese:

Account balance: 1 bitcoin.

The occupant of the room stood up aimlessly and began walking. He bumped into the coffee table in the middle of the room, overturning it. The remaining white powder of a drug on the table dispersed into the air. He hurriedly crouched down to clean it up, but there was so little left that after a couple of licks, there was nothing left.

This caused him to stand up again, unable to resist gnawing at his own wrist.

The creaking of the wooden floor grew increasingly urgent, echoing the sounds of a distressed bed behind the partition. The entire space became more and more restless. Unable to bear it any longer, he walked to the table and picked up a syringe, intending to pierce it into his temple.

At that moment, a light tinkling sound came from the speakers.

He thought he was experiencing auditory hallucinations and searched aimlessly for the source of the sound. The room remained dark and chaotic, and he didn’t even notice the silver coin slowly descending from the ceiling of the cottage on the computer screen.

With the syringe pressed against his temple, he could end his own life with just a little force.

Suddenly, that small silver coin seemed to trigger something, and numerous shining silver dots fell from above. Those dots grew larger and larger, fluttering down like snowflakes and eventually turning into piles of silver coins at the bottom of the screen.

Likewise, six lines of text slowly descended and hovered above the stack of money.

The occupant of the room grinned, revealing bright red lips and teeth yellowed to the point of blackening. He laughed maniacally, silently.

Round Two: The target is still alive. The game continues.

……

In a glamorous and decadent bar, a blue-eyed girl with green hair lazily sat on the sofa. The expensive red wine in her glass was reduced to a mere trace.

This themed bar was entirely in a distorted gothic style. The soaring electronic music and the intertwining beams of cross-fading lights filled the air with the scent of alcohol and drugs. The haze of smoke drifted through the air.

The girl’s gaze wandered vaguely over her companions, and she reached out to pull a chubby middle-aged man beside her. With an air of sensuality, she bit down on his earlobe. Strange tastes of the wealthy were nothing out of the ordinary.

Onstage, the stripper had reached the most thrilling stage of the performance, and the sound system by the glass stage exploded. But in the next moment, the girl’s expression underwent a peculiar change. It was because her phone emitted a strange and eerie sound, both resembling agony and boundless pleasure. The girl leaned forward abruptly, grabbing her phone eagerly and tapping on an icon.

A crude pixelated image flashed on the screen. It was a vault, with countless coins piled up like mountains. However, soon a swarm of black bugs crawled in, devouring the coins with abandon. At the same time, the number below was fiercely changing— from eight digits to seven, then to six, five… until it became just two digits.

The black bugs disappeared, leaving only a meager few dozen coins in the vault, scattered haphazardly on the floor, looking extremely shabby—especially compared to before.

The man stared with wide eyes, disbelief evident on his face.

Prompts appeared in six different languages—

Round 2: The Target Is Alive. To be continued…

The girl grabbed her phone and slammed it forcefully onto the ground.

The carpet was thick, and the phone was of good quality, so it only bounced a few times before coming to a stop.

Beneath the pixelated screen, a clump of equally crude golden flowers swayed as if drifting with the wind.

……

In a luxurious building, a singer emerged from the recording studio, immediately surrounded by a group of people, showering him with attention and inquiries. The singer responded with a gentle smile, and the faces of those in front of him lit up with joy.

Five minutes later, the singer entered the restroom on the same floor. As soon as he closed the door, a look of extreme weariness appeared in his eyes reflected in the mirror.

He glanced disdainfully behind him, leaned against the sink, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Amidst the swirling smoke, a sudden sound resonated—a strange and eerie sound. The singer froze and took out his phone.

After a moment, he frantically ruffled his own hair, waved his hand, and forcefully smashed the phone against the mirror in front of him!

In the loud crash, the mirror shattered into pieces, and the fragments briefly reflected the last image on the phone—

Behind the six lines of text in different languages, in an empty and crude room, the only gold was the gently trembling petal below.

……

In an inconspicuous noodle shop in the city, the sky had completely darkened.

A ceiling fan hung overhead, whirring as it blew air. White porcelain tiles covered half of the wall, and a circle of tables was arranged facing the wall, separated by partitions.

Most of the customers were focused on their bowls of noodles, paying little attention to the content playing on the LCD TV. For the solitary office workers, having to share a table with strangers after a tiring day of work felt like torture. Therefore, despite the average taste of the food here, the owner’s layout was unusually considerate.

The TV was placed directly opposite the kitchen, broadcasting news of the police escorting a suspect.

“According to our sources, the criminal suspect Shen Lian was successfully captured by the Hongjing police this evening. The police spokesperson declined to reveal any details related to the case…”

The towering figures of the surrounding officers obstructed the view of the slender woman in the middle, her face covered with a black blindfold, making it impossible for the reporters to capture anything.

The volume of the small noodle shop’s TV was set very low, barely drowning out the sound of slurping noodles.

In the footage, the police car departed from the square of the Zhourui Building flashed away, while the reporters’ camera flashes seemed to illuminate the night sky.

However, the man sitting in the corner of the noodle shop didn’t raise his head to watch the news. His laptop was still open, and his fingers tapped on the keyboard, resembling an office worker diligently working overtime.

He lifted the vinegar bottle and poured some into his bowl, revealing a cuff of a shirt sleeve and slightly antiquated sapphire cufflinks.

At that moment, the owner happened to bring a bowl of spicy oil-splashed noodles. The busy customers finally looked up, casually glancing at the TV but paying careful attention to the owner. With a touch of humility and respect, the man asked, “How’s business been lately?”

The owner wiped his hands on the glaringly white apron and shook his head helplessly. “It’s been a disaster.”

The customer opened his mouth, slurping the noodles, and glanced at the computer screen, sighing with a hint of regret. “It’s truly unexpected.”

By that time, the owner had already walked into the kitchen and didn’t hear this remark.

Meanwhile, a new customer entered the shop, loudly requesting two bowls of spicy oil-splashed noodles.

In the partially open kitchen, a large pot on the coal stove floated with animal parts. The owner held an iron ladle and scooped up a spoonful of blood-red oil, pouring it over the noodles with a graceful and traditional elegance, creating a tantalizing sizzling sound that filled the space.

“But it’s not bad. Quite interesting,”

The owner murmured, bowing slightly, as if talking to himself or responding to something.

……

It was night.

Outside the Hongjing Police Station, the scene was bustling with cars and people, as if a market was set up. Whether it was due to the rumored effects of the medication or the significant activities in the city today, even small fights and altercations were more numerous than usual. What was even more terrifying was the continuous arrival of officers from various levels and investigators from related departments across the country who came to assist with the investigation. Even clerks like Zhang Xiaolong were forced to work overtime, handling reception and registration tasks at the front desk.

The summer night was still hot. People came and went in the front hall, but there was a silence in the air that was completely different from the heat. Footsteps were subdued, conversations were rare, and the police officers in their uniforms had solemn and serious expressions, as if mourning something.

Zhang Xiaolong was well aware of what all this was about, and it felt like something was stuck in her throat, making it difficult for her to speak. Fortunately, she was busy and could temporarily avoid thinking about these matters. She directed a department head from the Drug Administration who had arrived overnight to the relevant office, and just as she did, the telephone rang. She hurriedly picked up the receiver, taking out a notepad to jot down the information conveyed over the phone.

At the same time, another phone started ringing. Zhang Xiaolong had a pen and paper in her hand and was still recording when she suddenly didn’t know what to do. Just as she was feeling quite distressed, a hand reached out and effortlessly answered the phone for her.

Thinking it was a colleague helping out, Zhang Xiaolong continued to lower her head and write down the information from the phone call. She wrote two lines and suddenly felt that the voice beside her wasn’t quite right. The male voice sounded too relaxed and pleasant, even with a hint of bored leisure. This made the policewoman, who had been serious all day, feel uncomfortable.

“Well, you should contact the Environmental Protection Bureau directly.”

The other end of the line was quickly hung up, and Zhang Xiaolong even heard a protesting voice from it.

She suddenly looked up and saw a completely unfamiliar young man standing in front of her, smiling meaningfully.

For about three to five seconds, Zhang Xiaolong was completely taken aback, displaying a normal stunned reaction upon seeing a handsome young man.

The young man was dressed in a simple black shirt, matching trousers, and leather shoes of the same color. His tie was slightly loosened, secured by a sleek silver tie clip in the middle. Although this young man appeared a bit disheveled, his clothing and the expression on his face when he nodded were elegantly appropriate.

Zhang Xiaolong opened her mouth, intending to ask a question like “Who are you”, but, to her surprise, before she could speak, the person introduced himself.

“Hello, I’m the new psychological consultant for the Hongjing Municipal Bureau.”

Su Fengzi’s voice was loud, and many people around heard it, casting incredulous glances at them.

Once again, Zhang Xiaolong felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her first reaction was anger. Why did they bring in a replacement so soon after something happened to Consultant Lin? This was going too far and showed a lack of consideration.

She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions, and picked up the office phone to find someone. She dialed two numbers but suddenly realized something was off. How could the Criminal Investigation Department find a replacement for Consultant Lin so quickly?

She looked up in shock, glanced at the person in front of her, and cautiously asked, “May I ask who you are and where you were transferred from?”

The young man seemed to have anticipated that she would ask such a question. He took out a cardholder from his pocket and pulled out a card, placing it on the table and pushing it towards her.

Zhang Xiaolong lowered her head somewhat slowly and saw that the card was written in simple Song font: [Renowned Writer: Su Fengzi.]

Below were densely packed words arranged under quotation marks, which she realized were the titles of his works, mostly something like <The General’s Spoiled Empress—Don’t Run Away from the Overbearing President>.

The policewoman was immediately enraged but still had to suppress her anger and explain to the person politely, “Sir, the police station is busy with official matters. This is not the place for jokes.”

The young writer named Su Fengzi remained unfazed and continued to push the card toward her with a polite yet non-negotiable attitude, saying, “Call Xing Conglian and read him the contents on the card.”

In reality, Zhang Xiaolong could have refused, but at that moment, she felt that the person in front of her was somewhat familiar, which made her, inexplicably, pick up the phone.

She briefly explained the situation at the front desk, but the captain on the other end of the line fell into silence.

Zhang Xiaolong couldn’t help but prompt him, and it was only then that Xing Conglian said, “Tell him to wait,” before hanging up.

Although the captain’s instructions weren’t particularly clear, it seemed like he wanted the other person to stay. Zhang Xiaolong hung up the phone, and the young man was already carelessly leaning on the front desk, his phoenix eyes raised slightly as he casually scanned the lifeless lobby. His gaze was probing, yet he had shed the carefree attitude, appearing gentle and profound.

Xing Conglian arrived quickly.

When he and his team came down from upstairs, everyone in the lobby raised their heads, and the atmosphere cooled a few degrees.

“Captain Xing…”

Voices from other officers greeting Xing Conglian intermittently sounded.

Wang Chao froze on the stairs, pointing at Su Fengzi with an expression as if he had seen a ghost, but his eyes were red.

At this moment, the young man finally looked up and glanced at the stairs, his first words being, “What’s going on? Did Lin Chen die?”

Su Fengzi’s words instantly silenced the entire lobby. All eyes turned toward him with restrained expressions that were filled with anger. But the young writer seemed oblivious.

The first one to react was Wang Chao. The young man quickly ran down the stairs and pointed his finger at Su Fengzi, cursing, “What the hell are you talking about!”

Su Fengzi looked at Wang Chao’s pointing finger, reached out to shake his hand, and then casually ruffled Wang Chao’s hair, leisurely saying, “Tsk, since you didn’t hit me, it means Lin Chen hasn’t played himself to death yet. He really has some ability.”

Wang Chao was even more furious. He pushed Su Fengzi’s hand away, but his language skills were no match for Su Fengzi’s. He could only sulk in anger.

“Please respect Consultant Lin!” Zhang Xiaolong had been watching from the side and couldn’t help but speak up.

“How am I disrespecting him?” Su Fengzi didn’t even look at her directly, casually asking.

“You said Consultant Lin died!” Zhang Xiaolong said seriously, realizing that her words didn’t hold much weight in the current situation. But after everything Lin Chen had done, his successor turned out to be this kind of person, which left Zhang Xiaolong with a lump in her throat.

“That’s because all of you are wearing mournful faces, as if Lin Chen is already gone.” Su Fengzi slightly bowed and pinched Wang Chao’s cheek, saying, “Why are you crying?”

“So, you mean we should be happy?” Another officer who had been silently standing by spoke up. “When Consultant Lin made that kind of exchange with his life to ensure the survival of the suspect, are we supposed to be happy about Consultant Lin’s self-sacrifice?”

Su Fengzi pondered for a moment and questioned the other person. “What’s your name?”

Probably assuming that Su Fengzi was here to take over Lin Chen’s position, the officer stood at attention and answered, “Zhang Xingguo.”

Su Fengzi raised his thumb slightly and pointed casually at the officer who stood like a rock, asking Zhang Xiaolong, “Who is he?”

Zhang Xiaolong replied solemnly, “He’s Deputy Captain Zhang, who has received two individual second-class merits and one collective third-class merit*.”

*Clarity: These are basically medals awarded to individuals and units in the Chinese military. The reward levels are divided into 5 levels (going from high to low): 1. Honorary, 2. First-class merit, 3. Second-class merit, 4. Third-class merit, and 5. Regular awards. || To be awarded a second-class merit, he must’ve made important contributions, while a third-class merit means he made outstanding achievements or great contributions.

“Oh… a hero, I see.” Su Fengzi’s voice was relaxed and abrupt. “So, Zhang Xingguo, after being a police officer for so many years, what’s the most dangerous situation you’ve encountered?”

This question left Zhang Xingguo in silence.

“Deputy Captain Zhang has handled the 721 major gang robbery case!”

“Was it dangerous?”

“We seized 22 firearms on the spot, with over a thousand rounds of ammunition,” Zhang Xiaolong answered.

“Oh, then Zhang Xingguo, when you faced the suspects with a gun, did you make sure you could survive?”

“No,” the middle-aged officer broke his silence and spoke again.

“Then why did you risk your life to do these things?”

Zhang Xingguo saluted once again and answered, “It’s my duty.”

“Oh, so risking your life is your duty, but Lin Chen doesn’t have his duty?”

Zhang Xingguo was momentarily at a loss for words and could only say, “Consultant Lin is not a front-line officer.”

Su Fengzi finally stood up straight, looking at Zhang Xingguo and seemingly addressing everyone. “Even if he’s not a front-line officer, I know that negotiation experts often say, ‘Let me exchange this hostage in your custody.’ Do they have a hundred percent certainty that they will survive when they say those words? I don’t think so. The same thing happens every day. Why does it make Lin Chen appear particularly worthy of respect and make you all so uncomfortable?”

“But, but A’Chen Gege is different!” Unable to hold back any longer, Wang Chao shouted loudly.

Seeing the teenager reach into his pocket, take out a candy, tear open the wrapper, and swiftly stuff it into his mouth, Zhang Xiaolong couldn’t help but pinch his face and laugh. “Young man, you’re so good at getting caught up in trivial matters. Is it because you don’t have a girlfriend?”

Although Su Fengzi was teasing, the entire hall fell into silence once again, with no one speaking.

Su Fengzi glanced at Xing Conglian, who was standing in a high place, and then looked at everyone present. He said, “If any of you wouldn’t make the same choice as Lin Chen, please step forward.”

Seconds ticked by, and Zhang Xiaolong looked up. In the vast hall filled with dozens of people, not a single person moved.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 245

Lin Chen’s voice exploded in Huang Ze’s ears, causing him to experience a brief ringing sensation. He even suspected that he was having auditory hallucinations or some kind of mental illness.

Lin Chen actually dared to make such a proposal to let Shen Lian live?

Numerous thoughts surged in Huang Ze’s mind. He wanted to yell and curse at Lin Chen through the earpiece channel.

But he knew that the person sitting on the bench by the window wouldn’t listen to any of his opinions. Even if he yelled, there was no guarantee that both Lin Chen and Shen Lian could hear him.

The channel once again filled with noisy and chaotic dissuasive voices, but Shen Lian’s gentle voice overpowered everything in the next moment.

The woman was indifferent and even said without hesitation, “Why should I watch you turn into a lunatic? What benefit does it bring me?”

The channel instantly fell silent, and everyone felt relieved for the first time because of Shen Lian’s words.

However, “what benefit” was obviously completely different from the wording of “no benefit”.

“You’ve been studying psychotropic drugs your whole life. Don’t you want to see what kind of monster I become when I have an episode?”

Lin Chen shattered their sense of relief with very concise words.

Lin Chen’s voice was gentle, with a hint of charm. His hand slowly enveloped Shen Lian’s tightly held vial, looking into her eyes as he continued, “You’ve been waiting all this time, patiently lurking, never giving up until the last moment. Why are you giving up so quickly now?”

“Give up on what?” Shen Lian countered. “Life has no meaning for me.”

“Is that so?” Lin Chen looked at Shen Lian. “Then why didn’t you die after almost being raped by Chen Jianguo, why didn’t you die after the death of the old beggar, why didn’t you die after being driven away by Duan Wanshan? Why do you have to die now?” Lin Chen slowly pulled out the fine tube from Shen Lian’s hand, though slowly. It was very determined. “Don’t say such things like life has no meaning for you. You are a psychopath. You don’t have such a strong sense of sacrifice. Personal interests are above everything for you. It would be better for you to keep an eye on everything yourself. Are you really sure that after you die, your group can fulfill your wishes?”

Shen Lian suddenly raised her eyes, and a terrifying smile appeared on her face. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, if people don’t act for their own sake, heaven and earth will exterminate them.”

Shen Lian’s fingers suddenly loosened, and Lin Chen held the ampoule bottle in his hand.

“Consultant Lin is indeed a skilled negotiator.” The woman changed her posture and crossed her legs. “But how can you guarantee that after you take my medication, I won’t immediately tear up the contract?”

Lin Chen remained close to Shen Lian, but only shook his head, appearing confident. He didn’t continue the conversation with Shen Lian but presented another irresistible benefit. “If you don’t think about it, what will happen when all the patients’ families know about our deal?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian’s eyes flickered. “Please clarify, Consultant Lin.”

Lin Chen also crossed his legs as Shen Lian did and said calmly, “Your hands are covered in blood, full of evil deeds. All the victims’ families wish for your death, and you have chosen this path for yourself. However, the police saved you. Aren’t you curious about the public’s reaction when they find out about our deal?”

He pointed his finger towards the commercial square across the building and the crowds gathered there. Looking down from a higher level, one could probably understand what a vast array of beings meant.

The square was filled with people, and most of them would casually glance at the large screen on the high-rise building. Starting from six o’clock sharp, the news anchor on the two-story-tall screen had been broadcasting hourly news. When Shen Lian sat with Lin Chen, she had also seen her name displayed on the screen, and the feeling was truly amazing. The only thing she was slightly dissatisfied with was that so many people below were unaware of the explosive news happening behind them in the heights.

When she thought about it, Shen Lian admitted that she was truly tempted.

The sun had descended further, and the golden-red color had become even deeper and more magnificent, even carrying a sense of grandeur.

Lin Chen’s clear and calm voice sounded in her ear. “They would say that it’s not worth exchanging a criminal’s life with police officers. They would also say that it’s unacceptable for the police to bow down to criminals. They will make moral judgments and evaluate the proposal I made to you. Such evaluations might force me to stand on your side. Don’t you want to see it?”

That voice was clear and pleasant, and Shen Lian greedily looked at the screen. Then she suddenly snapped back to reality, looking at Lin Chen. “Consultant Lin, you really refuse to be at a disadvantage.”

At that moment, Lin Chen had already poured out the liquid from the entire ampoule bottle. There was a small red cut on his finger from snatching the glass bottle. He gazed at the crowd in the distance, gently swaying the small bottle on his finger. For a moment, the bottle balanced perfectly on his finger.

“That’s the kind of contract it is,” Lin Chen said. “I take the medication, and you stay alive, going into detention. I guarantee that you can see the latest updates on all events every day. If you die, you won’t see anything.”

……

In that instant, Huang Ze felt as if he had become Shen Lian. Lin Chen’s words were enticing, both in tone and content.

But he immediately snapped out of it, becoming extremely flustered. His palms were sweating, and a chilling sensation filled his muscles.

He took two steps back, then lowered his footsteps and walked to the other corner, afraid that Shen Lian would agree to the insane agreement with Lin Chen one second too late. He breathed heavily into the earpiece. “Xing Conglian!”

Then he realized that Xing Conglian had remained silent from the moment Lin Chen made that proposal, and the channel was dead silent.

Just then, a high-frequency noise splattered through the earpiece, causing everyone to gasp in cold air.

Soon after, Shen Lian’s gentle voice came through, “Hello, hello, sorry, I’m not very good at using this.”

A woman in black clothes, wearing an earpiece, asked with a smiling face. “Hey, what do you all think of Lin Chen’s proposal?”

She crossed her legs, displaying a victorious posture.

“You have three seconds left to save him,” the woman said.

Huang Ze clenched his back teeth tightly, almost biting them off.

“Three…”

Shen Lian’s voice carried a bright smile.

“Two… Hey, why is no one speaking up?”

Huang Ze clenched his fist and looked in the direction where the two were. He took a deep breath and was about to shout, ignoring everything.

At that moment, Lin Chen spoke up. “They won’t refute the decision I’ve made.”

“Oh, how cowardly. Sacrifice yourself and make millions of families happy. Tsk tsk.” Shen Lian pursed her lips. “But honestly, Lin Chen, your proposal is really intriguing. It’s indeed better to stay alive than to die, allowing me to easily manipulate all of you in the palm of my hand! But do you know why any negotiation expert would say never to compromise with terrorists? It’s because they easily take advantage. For example, right now, if I want your entire team to take the poison, otherwise, I’ll commit suicide, do you think they would agree?”

“Shen Lian.” Lin Chen elongated his tone. “Maintaining balance is the key to continuing the game. You do have value, but not that much value.”

Shen Lian raised an eyebrow. “I’m a psychopathic killer. I don’t know the meaning of boundaries!”

Lin Chen raised his hand again, calmly informing Shen Lian. “Now, as soon as I let go, you will be immediately shot, and your head will explode. Your brain matter will flow out, and you will quickly lose your life. But in that final moment before death, you will deeply regret not agreeing to my proposal.”

Shen Lian turned her head. She didn’t expect the person who had seemed somewhat compromising a second ago to suddenly become so ruthless. Lin Chen’s demeanor remained gentle and calm, but his pitch-black pupils were filled with an icy coldness.

“Okay, okay,” Shen Lian raised her hand with a smile and slapped it against Lin Chen’s, readily saying, “One!”

……

Xing Conglian had been staring at Lin Chen’s raised hand, not paying much attention to the expression on his face.

Lin Chen’s wrist was slender, and his fingers appeared slightly long and delicate. The sunset passing through his fingers had a perverse and strange beauty.

If that hand were to come down, he would not hesitate to pull the trigger. But throughout the entire time, that moment never occurred.

He saw Shen Lian and Lin Chen slap their hands together, saw Shen Lian start rummaging through her bag, and saw Lin Chen’s gaze deepen as he looked at him.

The earpiece was still on Shen Lian’s ear, so Lin Chen wouldn’t hear anything he said at the moment.

During this silent time, Xing Conglian had even prepared a long string of confessions. He wanted to tell Shen Lian through the entire channel that Lin Chen was his lover. He would say that he didn’t want his lover to lose control, that he himself had more value, and that he could take Lin Chen’s place. This was what any romantic or heroic person would do.

But those words only ran through his mind once before being decisively rejected. Reason was clear, telling him that he couldn’t do it.

In fact, he could completely follow Huang Ze’s advice and pull the trigger, killing Shen Lian. But his reasoning was clear, telling him that he still couldn’t do it.

Therefore, at this moment, he could only watch helplessly as Shen Lian took out a small vial containing pure white powder from her bag.

In the instant he saw the medication, all of Lin Chen’s expressions froze. It was only at that moment that Xing Conglian was very clear that Lin Chen didn’t have complete confidence in what was about to happen, and he was also afraid.

But in the next moment, Lin Chen completely restrained all emotions, as if fear or any similar emotion had never existed within him. He extended his arm, placing it in front of Shen Lian, and pleaded, “Please control the dosage. If I die, no one will uphold the agreement with you.”

There was only a smile on Shen Lian’s lips. She opened the ampoule and sucked the liquid into the syringe, injecting it into the vial of pentobarbital. Then she slowly drew out the mixed liquid, and finally shook the syringe.

Shen Lian said, “You seem very confident, but I won’t show you any mercy. If you haven’t found a solution before we finish researching, this liquid might turn you into a lunatic for the rest of your life. Or maybe it won’t take effect quickly, but it will make you restless, not knowing when it will strike.”

“I know,” Lin Chen said. “Please do as you wish, according to your preferences.”

A small amount of the transparent liquid splashed out from the needle. Lin Chen gazed at the medication, and in the next moment, the needle harshly punctured his vein. Even Lin Chen himself trembled with pain.

Shen Lian slowly pushed the plunger with her hand, her excited voice echoing in everyone’s ears through the channel.

“Consultant Lin, how noble you are. But don’t you think your spirit of sacrifice will make others feel embarrassed?”

Lin Chen looked at Shen Lian and replied, “First of all, it’s not noble. Nobility refers to being far beyond ordinary people. But in reality, whether it’s inside this communication channel, this building, or even the entire planet, most ordinary people sitting next to you would be willing to make the same choice as me, to fight for a glimmer of hope for others.”

Two-thirds of the liquid in the syringe had already been pushed in.

Shen Lian shook her head with a smile. “I don’t even know where your confidence in human nature comes from.”

“It’s not confidence, but determination,” Lin Chen said. “It’s the determination of people like us to defeat people like you.”

Lin Chen’s voice wasn’t loud, and it even sounded somewhat distant to Xing Conglian. The strong wind suddenly howled in the high altitude, relentlessly pounding against the window frames.

But in that moment, Xing Conglian felt that all sounds had disappeared and all distances had turned into nothingness. Even his previous anger and helplessness seemed to fade away completely because this was probably the most powerless but proudest moment of his life.

……

Lin Chen sat on the bench, and the last rays of sunlight vanished into the outskirts of the city.

It wasn’t until Shen Lian abruptly pulled out the needle that he realized the transaction had been completed. The plunger had been pushed quickly, but he hadn’t felt any pain from beginning to end.

It was very quiet around him, and the city in the distance exuded a beautiful sense of haze. The only regret he had now was that he had listened to Shen Lian’s arrangement to remove the earpiece. At such a moment, he really wanted to sit here with Xing Conglian and say something.

He wanted to say that he was starting to panic about what he would become, that he loved him, that he was grateful, and that in that brief moment just now, Xing Conglian had shown him more respect for his personality and for his life-and-death choices than anything else.

He looked at the tall building in the distance and nodded gently.

Thank you, really, thank you very much.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 244

The black high heels stepped out of the elevator into the brightly lit corridor.

Bright floor tiles, bright sunset, bright floor-to-ceiling skylight.

The waltz on the square had reached such a height that it was difficult to discern the complete melody. However, the saccharine tune became even sweeter due to the playful wind, evoking memories of things like syrup on a child’s lips, cherry blossoms falling from branches in spring, and the graceful curves of a woman’s legs.

Their meeting seemed ordinary, without any tension in the air.

Lin Chen stood with his hands in his pockets, stopping at the corner. Someone happened to walk past the corner and stopped in their tracks.

“Miss Shen Lian, hello,” Lin Chen said calmly.

There were more than twenty tiles between them. The woman standing opposite him had a serene expression. When she saw him, there was neither a smile nor anger on her face; she appeared like a ghost.

However, in that moment, Lin Chen was keenly aware that she didn’t belong to this civilized society. She was a hybrid created by evil and abhorrence, with no regard for human life.

But Lin Chen also understood that Shen Lian’s current attitude was just her own, and it didn’t affect the stability of the sniper rifle aimed at her. This gave him time to carefully assess his opponent.

Shen Lian had fair skin, slightly wide-set eyes, and delicately arched eyebrows that exuded a gentle and faint sense. She wore a black dress, and her jet-black hair cascaded lightly over her shoulders. Her hand, adorned with black leather gloves, lightly held a black bag, and the pointed tips of her black high heels firmly pressed against the line dividing the floor tiles. Despite being on the run, she appeared unruffled, as if she was attending a banquet rather than about to kill. Of course, for someone like Shen Lian, killing was more exhilarating than attending a banquet.

Shen Lian remained silent. Her gaze was gentle, her feathery lashes flickering, as if piercing through him and aiming at the void behind him. Of course, what was behind him wasn’t emptiness but a door.

In the next moment, Shen Lian continued to move forward. The tips of her high heels lightly tapped the ground, followed by her heels landing elegantly, as graceful as a swan. Only death could make her stop.

At that moment, a red light broke through the air and pierced Shen Lian’s chest.

Shen Lian lowered her head slowly, and her footsteps momentarily paused.

Lin Chen realized that there were still 12 tiles between him and Shen Lian.

The communication channel was filled with intense inquiries, and the footsteps approaching from a distance grew more frequent. It would take less than 10 seconds for the elite team that had emerged from the corner to successfully capture or kill Shen Lian. Everything would go smoothly and simply, and they would soon be able to go home.

Shen Lian lifted her bag, lightly resting her hand on the clasp. It was a subtle movement that typically indicated she was about to draw a weapon.

Even though victory was within sight, Lin Chen suddenly reevaluated Shen Lian’s attire and felt a chilling sensation.

He seemed to see a chess game at its most exquisite moment, with the crucial black piece about to reach her position.

He raised his hand abruptly.

Time stood still in that instant.

……

Over 400 meters above, the wind was unpredictable.

Xing Conglian was crouched on a makeshift desk, and due to Lin Chen’s simple gesture, his earpiece was filled with a flurry of tense inquiries.

“What is Lin Chen doing? Why did he suddenly abandon the operation?” Huang Ze exclaimed.

The deputy team leader said, “Xing Conglian, do you have confidence in this?”

The strong wind cut across his face like a knife, and Xing Conglian’s fingers remained on the trigger. Through his scope, he only saw Shen Lian’s figure, but he was well aware that, a kilometer away, the person standing in front of Shen Lian was someone else.

Xing Conglian slightly tilted his head and uttered four words to everyone on the communication channel:

“Stay calm. Don’t panic.”

……

Time lasted only for a few brief seconds.

Shen Lian’s action of placing her hand on the clasp was incredibly delicate, but it flooded Lin Chen’s mind with countless thoughts.

Shen Lian looked beautiful today. A psychologically disturbed person who wanted to die in a beautiful way in her final moments—no problem with that.

But the dress she wore was too conspicuous.

Being overly conspicuous indicated that Shen Lian wasn’t afraid of being discovered. Of course, she held the medicine with confidence and without fear, and that was also not a problem.

However, the problem was that just a moment ago, in the instant when she knew the sniper rifle was aimed at her, Shen Lian acted without hesitation.

She even wanted to open the bag, making a dangerous move that anyone would have shot her without hesitation upon seeing it.

This indicated that Shen Lian was seeking death.

Shen Lian wanted to die at the hands of the police. Why?

Lin Chen realized that he didn’t know the answer. An uncontrollable chill ran down his spine.

……

Shen Lian’s footsteps came to a halt.

She lowered her head slightly, but there was no blood splatter, as she had expected. She could still see everything with her eyes, indicating that she hadn’t been shot in the head and was still alive.

Her hand rested on the clasp of her bag, and with her peripheral vision, she saw the reflection of the gun barrel behind her. She lifted her head again, finally focusing her gaze on the person in front of her.

It must be said that the sunlight was just right today, casting a calm and natural glow on the young face bathed in the evening sun, radiating with the vitality of life.

That was Lin Chen, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe him as someone whose name was well-known and heard everywhere.

This made Shen Lian squint her eyes slightly, and she couldn’t help but take a deep breath of the surrounding air.

In fact, after Lin Chen had pondered so much, it was now her turn to think about many things. In the end, all she did was nod in acknowledgment to him.

“How does it feel to be alive?”

Suddenly, she heard him ask such a question.

Shen Lian recalled someone once saying that Lin Chen always asked questions that made you really want to answer them. Even if you sewed your mouth shut with a needle and avoided any eye contact with him, he could still guess this or that, making him incredibly difficult to guard against. He was truly annoying.

So it was practically a golden rule not to say anything to Lin Chen.

Shen Lian continued forward, taking two steps, and the number of tiles between her and Lin Chen was reduced to 10.

……

Xing Conglian remained motionless, as if he had returned to a moment in the Dana Rainforest.

In his mind, he could vividly recall the scene when his heart pounded explosively upon seeing Lin Chen through the scope. But now, his heartbeat was no longer racing, but rather calm.

“Wang Chao,” Xing Conglian whispered.

The communication channels, intricately connected like a spiderweb, instantly filled with the anxious and helpless voices of the young teenager. “Boss, there’s a riot at Yongchuan University in the third cafeteria. It’s said that students got into a fight over queuing issues, and the situation on-site is quite severe. Mr. Su was dining in the cafeteria at the time!”

Xing Conglian’s breath hitched, but he didn’t say anything. The communication channels erupted in an instant.

Those who could speak now were the ones who had the authority to act.

“Shen Lian is here. Why is there a riot at Yongchuan?” someone asked in the channel.

“Could Zhourui’s drugs not only target the middle-aged and elderly? What’s going on? Shen Lian has an accomplice, and there are others poisoned at Yongchuan University?”

“Wait, let’s clarify first. Is the riot at Yongchuan University really related to Shen Lian?”

The questions kept coming, creating a noisy and chaotic atmosphere. Xing Conglian knew very well that these voices would reach Lin Chen’s ears as they were, and all the pressure would fall directly on his shoulders.

The distance between Shen Lian and Lin Chen was getting shorter.

Someone else spoke up, saying, “Captain, the distance between Shen Lian and Consultant Lin is too close. Consultant Lin might be in danger.”

Huang Ze shouted, “Xing Conglian!”

……

Of course, Lin Chen could hear those voices in the channel.

He heard many people’s subconscious questions, the warnings about his safety, and even the nervousness in Huang Ze’s voice when he called out Xing Conglian’s name.

But in the end, those voices became completely unimportant because Xing Conglian said two words: Trust me.

Although the tension was overwhelming now, and the woman in front of him was like a puzzle, and the time he had to solve it was incredibly short, Lin Chen suddenly felt relaxed and serene because of those two words from Xing Conglian.

With one hand in his pocket, his other hand remained suspended in the air, not coming down. He didn’t speak; he was waiting for Shen Lian to speak.

Finally, Shen Lian stood still in a position five tiles away from him and spoke up.

“Consultant Lin, what are you doing here?” Her tone was different from what Lin Chen had imagined. It was surprisingly… very straightforward.

“I’m waiting for you,” Lin Chen replied.

“Why are you waiting for me?” Shen Lian asked in return.

“I have a question I want to ask you.”

“Have you watched too many movies?” Shen Lian asked curiously. “Do all the villains have to candidly express their thoughts and feelings before they die? Why should I answer your question?”

However, Lin Chen wasn’t angered by Shen Lian’s frank words. He shook his head slightly and told her, “Actually, this is a normal psychological phenomenon. People always like to show off, especially the side that has the advantage. In the end, they can’t help but boast in front of their opponents. After all, time is running out.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian looked down at the red dot on her chest, then turned to look at the guns pointed at her. She said, “So, Consultant Lin, what do you want to boast about?”

Lin Chen shook his head again. “The one who has the advantage right now is clearly you. I’m standing here just to listen to you speak.”

Lin Chen’s voice was calm and gentle, and Shen Lian suddenly smiled. In that moment, she looked like the dealer who had finally revealed her winning hand in a gamble, overwhelmingly dazzling.

Tilting her head slightly, Shen Lian looked around as if by chance she spotted a bench by the floor-to-ceiling window.

She said, “I think you have bad manners. Why don’t you invite me over to sit?”

Lin Chen nodded. “I apologize for my rudeness.”

He finished speaking and made a gesture of invitation, slightly bowing and pointing to the wooden bench Shen Lian had looked at earlier.

The evening sunlight bathed the wooden chair in a brilliant glow, with a potted flower nearby, reminding people of many words associated with flames.

Shen Lian walked over slowly, sat down at one end of the bench, and elegantly placed her handbag by her side. Then she patted the empty space next to her.

It meant: Come and sit with me.

In Lin Chen’s earpiece channel, there were, as expected, voices of dissuasion, and some suggested restraining Shen Lian. The following team members could clear Shen Lian’s handbag in a matter of seconds, rendering it harmless. These were all things they had prepared in advance.

Lin Chen glanced at the woman’s back on the bench, sighed almost imperceptibly, and then walked over and sat down obediently.

“Aren’t they annoying?” Shen Lian pointed to the device in his ear and asked bluntly.

“They can be,” Lin Chen replied.

“Then take it off.”

Looking at Shen Lian’s lustrous black hair, Lin Chen earnestly said, “Even if I take it off, they can still hear it. There are also bugs under the chair you’re sitting on, so if we want to keep our conversation private, we need to do a lot of work.”

“Why are you so troublesome?” Shen Lian said. “If they hear it, they hear it. It’s not a big deal.”

Lin Chen didn’t say anything more. Like an officer surrendering his weapon to a criminal, he took out the transparent and tiny earpiece and placed it on the wooden board between them.

Shen Lian didn’t spare another glance at the item. In the next moment, she opened her handbag with swift and forceful movements, sounding like a warrior drawing her sword. The sound reverberated through the quiet corridor.

Shen Lian unexpectedly glanced at the heavily armed SWAT team at the far end of the corridor, then looked at her own chest. She was still alive.

All these actions were captured by Lin Chen’s eyes. The opening of the bag revealed a gap, and he peered inside, seeing vials emitting a cold gleam. Even though he couldn’t hear any sound from the channel now, he was certain that Xing Conglian must be ordering all departments to remain calm.

“What’s the matter, Miss Shen?” Lin Chen asked with concern.

Shen Lian brushed away the nonexistent dust from her chest and said, “Consultant Lin, you’re putting yourself in a passive position. Now that I know you won’t kill me, I can rush through that door and kill everyone in this building!” Shen Lian raised her voice, her eyebrows furrowing in anger, and she appeared extremely fierce.

Lin Chen remained unresponsive, breathing steadily and maintaining a calm gaze as he looked into Shen Lian’s eyes.

In the next moment, Shen Lian burst into laughter, a wildly crazy laughter that shook the heavens, exuding a sense of unrestrained freedom, like a true madwoman.

Shen Lian laughed for a long time, during which she patted Lin Chen’s back twice heavily. While laughing, she shouted, “Hahaha, you’re great! I really like you!” When someone like Shen Lian said she liked someone, it definitely wasn’t a good thing. In the meantime, the woman pulled out a dozen vials from the opened bag and placed them on the bench with a resounding thud. She cheerfully said, “Let me treat you to a drink!”

…..

Those things were tiny needles encapsulated in transparent vials, each containing about 10 ml.

In the hospital, when getting an injection, the nurse would take out one vial, break the slender glass bottle neck by hand, draw the liquid with a disposable syringe, mix it with powdered medication, and then inject it into the patient. It was roughly something like that.

Under the evening sun, the liquid inside the small vials shimmered with a touch of golden hue. Looking through Xing Conglian’s scope, the liquid in those twelve vials emitted a deadly gleam.

Shen Lian picked up one vial, pressed her thumb against the narrow neck of the vial, and with a crisp sound, skillfully broke it open.

Xing Conglian’s heart rate finally uncontrollably sped up, as he saw Shen Lian handing the vial to Lin Chen.

Although Lin Chen had removed his earpiece, he could still clearly hear his calm and distinct voice.

Lin Chen asked, “Is this for me? What is it?”

“Glucose,” Shen Lian’s tone carried a hint of sweetness.

Everyone knew that what a killer carried with them couldn’t possibly be glucose. Urgent voices resounded in Xing Conglian’s earpiece channel once again.

In his current position, he could choose to pull the trigger directly, but at that moment, he saw Lin Chen look up and deliberately cast a deep glance in his direction.

Lin Chen’s gentle yet affectionate gaze made Xing Conglian’s finger stiffen like never before.

He watched as Lin Chen unhesitatingly took the vial and was about to drink from it. However, Shen Lian interrupted him and asked, “Have you ever played Russian roulette?”

Lin Chen paused for a moment and answered, “No.”

“It’s a life-or-death game. Each person points a gun at their own head, and there’s only one bullet inside. Whoever gets shot dies.” Shen Lian pointed at the twelve vials between her and Lin Chen and said, “Here, there are twelve vials, but only one of them contains a potion that can turn a person into a beast.”

Shen Lian’s voice caused all the listeners on the channel to involuntarily gasp for breath.

Then came Lin Chen’s voice.

He said, “Okay.”

“Lin Chen, have you gone crazy? Don’t you care about your life anymore!”

Huang Ze stepped out of the office door and blurted out.

However, once the words were spoken, the communication channel fell silent, and regret followed in the next second.

At this moment, Wang Chao spoke up. “Lao Huang, we all care about A’Chen Gege’s safety. Now is not the time for you to be stubborn.” The young man’s voice sounded very nervous, and there weren’t many things that could make Wang Chao nervous. “There has been an attack in Meichuan City, which is very close to Yongchuan… The scene is… extremely horrifying…”

The entire communication channel fell into a complete vacuum, as if it were a void universe devoid of sound.

Huang Ze clenched his fist, allowing himself to slowly recover from the moment when he was soaked with cold water. He finally realized why Lin Chen had to agree to Shen Lian. This woman seemed unarmed and posed no threat at all, but she held the most crucial and deadly thing—the lives of many ordinary people.

Among these people, Lin Chen’s teacher happened to be included.

Upon hearing Lin Chen’s prompt acceptance, Shen Lian nodded. She casually took out a vial, broke the bottle neck, pressed her thumb and index finger together, lightly holding the vial, and said, “Cheers?”

“Cheers.”

Under the evening sun, the two slender vials touched each other, emitting a soft sound of “ding”.

……

“Why are you so compliant?”

Even though he knew it might be a dangerous substance, Lin Chen swallowed the potion without hesitation, which Shen Lian couldn’t understand.

“Because I have a teacher.” Lin Chen tilted his head slightly and looked at Shen Lian.

Speaking of which, Lin Chen’s eyes weren’t particularly attractive, but his pupils were very dark. In that instant, Shen Lian inexplicably felt a chilling sensation, as if her entire thoughts were being read.

However, Lin Chen quickly averted his gaze, looking towards the distant sky, and said, “My parents passed away, and I don’t have any older relatives. But there isn’t any overly tragic story behind it; it’s just a normal case of death from illness. My teacher, who was also my mentor during university, is someone who can be described as having excessive sympathy. Perhaps because he himself hasn’t enjoyed the joys of having children and family, he treats every student as his own child.”

“Why should I listen to you talk about this?” Shen Lian asked.

“Because my time may be running out,” Lin Chen replied. In the midst of speaking, he casually took out another vial from the remaining ten, lightly tapped it against the empty vial in Shen Lian’s hand, and quickly consumed the liquid inside with one gulp. This caused Shen Lian’s fingers to twitch involuntarily, but she quickly suppressed it.

Lin Chen seemed oblivious to this and continued, “That’s how my teacher is, and his wife is even more terrifying. She is the gentlest woman I have ever seen in my life, still very youthful at sixty-something, and she loves everything pink. She enjoys cooking, gardening, taking care of the weak, and watching us read and hold meetings in her study, where she prepares tea and is pleased when we praise her for her ingenuity.”

“That sounds scary,” Shen Lian said as she finally took out a vial, broke the bottle neck, and drank the liquid in one go.

Then, Lin Chen calmly picked up a small vial but didn’t immediately break the bottle neck.

“What’s wrong?”

“Now, my teacher lies on a hospital bed with an uncertain fate because of your medication. Before I met you, his wife cried and asked me what was going on,” Lin Chen lowered his head and chuckled self-mockingly. “I thought I knew what was going on, but now… ‘I don’t know’.”

“What do you want?” Shen Lian asked.

“Answer me one question, and then I’ll continue playing your game.” Lin Chen didn’t wait for her consent but immediately followed up. “Is there a corresponding antidote for the drug you developed?”

Shen Lian didn’t expect Lin Chen to be so direct. “You went on and on with all the preamble, but in the end, you ask this?” Shen Lian laughed. “You know I won’t give you the answer.”

Lin Chen smiled and revealed a meaningful smile. He broke the glass neck and raised his cup to her. “Thank you, I already know the answer.”

Lin Chen’s confident smile left Shen Lian speechless. She suddenly felt that sitting down and talking with Lin Chen was a mistake.

The next moment, Lin Chen unexpectedly took out two new vials at once, broke the bottle necks recklessly, and was about to drink them in one gulp.

Shen Lian glared at him and also took out two vials. “Why are you so greedy?”

In an instant, there were only three vials left in the box.

……

In front of the surveillance screen, Wang Chao’s heart was pounding. There were originally twelve vials, but by the time he realized it, only three were left.

It seemed that A’Chen Gege and Shen Lian hadn’t gone mad, indicating that the poisonous vial mentioned by Shen Lian should be among the last three ampoules.

He was panting heavily and couldn’t even utter words like “What should we do?” or “Boss, save A’Chen Gege.”

He turned around and saw the chemist in the laboratory glancing at the screen and then engrossed in some calculations.

“Why aren’t you nervous at all?” Wang Chao asked.

“Do you have Shen Lian’s medical records?” At that moment, Mr. Xiao Zhan suddenly looked up and asked him.

……

By the floor-to-ceiling window, Lin Chen opened two vials at once, like a generous drinker, and decisively finished both vials in one go.

The two glass vials fell to the marble floor with a loud crash, shattering into fragments.

In the midst of speaking, he was about to reach for another vial on the chair, but Shen Lian couldn’t hold back anymore and slapped his hand away.

Lin Chen looked at Shen Lian and asked, “What? Is there something wrong?”

“Don’t you understand ‘ladies first’? Are you trying to die first?” Shen Lian blurted out.

Lin Chen lowered his brows and looked at the vial of liquid by his side as if he was looking at his lover. He asked, “Didn’t you say that one of them will cause madness?”

“You’re courting death,” Shen Lian said.

Lin Chen didn’t delve further into it but instead made a polite gesture.

Shen Lian took out two vials, but she said to Lin Chen, “You took one less just now. This is for fairness. The last vial is yours.”

……

Shen Lian’s actions were blatantly obvious. It was equivalent to saying that the last vial was the poison, and all her talk about it being a similar neurotoxic drug was a complete lie. This was a deadly poison, and he should drink it.

In the high altitude, the voice urging him to shoot once again filled Xing Conglian’s ears. The voice came from Huang Ze.

“Why aren’t you taking action, Xing Conglian?”

“Just wait a little longer.” After saying that, he extended his hand, lowered the volume of his earpiece, and continued to calmly observe what was happening in the distance.

……

Shen Lian opened the third-to-last vial and drank it all in one breath.

“You asked me a question earlier, and I have a question as well. I’ve been curious, and if you answer truthfully, you can use one of the vials in your hand and exchange it for another one,” Shen Lian said.

“That’s too cheap for me,” Lin Chen said.

Shen Lian seemed reluctant to argue with him and asked directly, “The police officers outside my house that night—were they really there to arrest me?”

“Yes,” Lin Chen added slowly, “Your company probably found out that we had located you, and that’s why they connected the dots and found you. Before that, you had been hiding perfectly.”

Shen Lian quickly finished the vial in her hand and sneered, “Where exactly are my flaws?”

The setting sun in the distance resembled blood as Lin Chen uttered words, “Duan Wanshan.”

Shen Lian suddenly raised her voice. “He’s back?”

Lin Chen abruptly stopped speaking, picked up the last vial from the bench, and didn’t answer.

Shen Lian bit her lip suddenly. Just hearing that name made her engage in intense contemplation. “No, it’s impossible. He can’t be back. It’s been too short a time, and you couldn’t have contacted him so quickly in such a short time. So why were you able to quickly eliminate Duan Wanshan as a murder suspect?!”

Among the entire communication channel and the entire territory of China, there were only three people who knew the answer.

Lin Chen was contemplating.

Xing Conglian remained silent.

Even Wang Chao seemed to have a premonition, and his nerves were so tense that he couldn’t even breathe.

At this moment, everyone finally heard Lin Chen’s answer. He said, “Because he’s my friend.”

Shen Lian forcefully broke the vial, seemingly taken aback by this answer. She angrily retorted, “So what?”

“I have good judgment of character, and I’ve always believed in my friends. Therefore, he wouldn’t kill Tan Kang over an academic dispute.”

There was a brief moment of silence, lasting about two or three seconds.

Suddenly, Shen Lian burst into mad laughter, her laughter resounding through the air, to the point where she couldn’t even stand up straight. “Hahaha, what did you just say?”

Shen Lian found Lin Chen’s words extremely amusing. She couldn’t believe the current situation she found herself in. It was all because someone was Duan Wanshan’s friend and had great faith in him?

……

Shen Lian’s laughter didn’t bring any relief to the police officers inside and outside the building. Her piercing and resolute voice was filled with a murderous intent.

At that moment, a voice suddenly came through the channel, overpowering Shen Lian’s laughter.

Xiao Zhan had taken Wang Chao’s earpiece at some point and shouted into the microphone, “Shen Lian is attempting suicide! We can’t let her drink the last vial!”

However, communication channels naturally had a propagation delay, not to mention the interval between human thought and giving orders.

In the footage, Shen Lian had already lifted the tiny vial to her lips, her fair and slender wrist shining like jade. There was a hint of anger and relief in her eyes.

But all the police officers who heard those words fell into a momentary daze. Even if Xing Conglian gave the order now, he couldn’t stop her in time.

Lin Chen didn’t have an earpiece, so they couldn’t transmit the message to him in such a short amount of time. Everything seemed to be too late.

Suddenly, a hand appeared from below and swiftly grasped Shen Lian’s wrist.

Shen Lian was startled, and after two seconds, she realized that her wrist was tightly held. The hand was fair and symmetrical, with calluses between the knuckles that indicated long hours of writing, making it look robust and powerful.

The last vial in Lin Chen’s hand had fallen to the ground at some point, and the liquid mixed with broken glass flowed on the marble floor.

“A’Chen Gege!” Wang Chao couldn’t help but shout at the sight of the hand that suddenly prevented Shen Lian.

The young man’s voice filled the channel and brought everyone back to their senses.

It was only then that they realized that even in a critical moment, Xing Conglian didn’t pull the trigger.

……

Shen Lian’s gaze shifted slightly downward and fell upon the person’s face, finally recognizing who had stopped her at the last moment.

Who else could it be? At this critical juncture, only Lin Chen could react in time.

Lin Chen’s eyelashes were long and trembled slightly in the sunset. Then his eyebrows lifted slightly as he gazed at her.

In that instant, Lin Chen resembled the kind of white-shirted senior in university who attracted female students the most—clean and neat, but with certain moments that could make one’s heart skip a beat.

Shen Lian stared at Lin Chen for a long time. It was also the first time she had carefully observed him.

“Why?” Shen Lian asked.

“Because I don’t believe that you would allow yourself to become a crazed lunatic. So unless you were certain which vial among those twelve contains the poison, I wouldn’t risk playing this game with you,” Lin Chen said with a resolute tone, just like when he said, “I believe my friend wouldn’t kill.”

This made Shen Lian laugh coldly. “But how does that relate to you sabotaging my game now?”

“Because you’ve been deceiving me from the beginning,” Lin Chen said. “Since you’ve been deceiving me, I can only rely on hypothesis testing to deduce the true intention behind you coming all this way to play this game with me. Speaking of which, the intentions hidden behind complex actions are often very simple.” Lin Chen paused and continued, “We studied the formation of concepts and reasoning in psychology class during college. It happened to be a very cold day, so we were all studying at my teacher’s house, and we learned it very well.”

Lin Chen stared deeply at Shen Lian, who felt her hidden thoughts being exposed once again, causing an indescribable discomfort in her heart.

But Lin Chen didn’t give her a chance to speak. He slowly began, “When we drank the first two vials, I took the initiative to randomly select the third one. You had the impulse to stop me in that instant, but you held back. You see, instinctive reactions are always faster than thoughts.” Lin Chen continued, “If one of the twelve vials is poisonous, you must ensure that I drink the poison. But I didn’t follow the rules of the game, where you choose one and I choose one to drink. My assumption broke the pattern of your game. Therefore, based on this analysis, ‘Hypothesis One: Why did you want to stop me in that instant?’ You couldn’t possibly be genuinely worried that I would drink the poison, right?”

Shen Lian pursed her lips and refused to answer.

“In fact, in the process of reasoning, it always requires two factors: ‘because’ and ‘therefore.’ Because of Hypothesis One, I need to reanalyze the true purpose of this game, which leads to the derived Hypothesis Two. This is actually a very simple question, like two three-year-old children eating candy. There are a total of twelve candies, with one of them being milk-flavored, while the rest are tasteless. The more candies I eat, the higher the chance of getting the milk-flavored one, and you would stop me because the more I eat, the fewer chances you have to get the milk-flavored one. The same logic applies to the vials. So, the answer to Hypothesis Two is ‘quantity,'” Lin Chen said to Shen Lian. “By the way, I didn’t have this medical knowledge originally, but I almost died from penicillin desensitization, which made me realize the importance of dosage.”

……

Lin Chen’s voice transmitted through the earpiece lying on the bench, slowly reaching Xing Conglian’s ears. Through the scope, Lin Chen’s face was vividly clear. When he angered someone, Lin Chen always had an air of calm confidence, as if he held all the winning cards.

Mr. Xiao Zhan’s tone became weak again, “I… I didn’t realize that Consultant Lin had already guessed… I… I meddled too much.”

“What the fuck is going on with Shen Lian?” Wang Chao seemed to be shaking the chemist’s body with force.

“Shen Lian… Shen Lian has severe hyperkalemia* in her medical records, but she might also be allergic to some potassium medication. In any case, I suspect that those syringes are high-concentration potassium supplements. When Shen Lian reaches a certain concentration by taking this medication, she might have an instant cardiac arrest,” Xiao Zhan explained.

*A medical problem in which you have too much potassium in your blood. Too much of it can be dangerous and can cause serious heart problems.

But Xing Conglian could barely hear these voices. When he heard Lin Chen talk about death, his memories didn’t go back to the scene of Lin Chen lying in a hospital bed. In that moment, he found it extremely funny, realizing what Lin Chen was about to do, and it filled him with uncontrollable anger.

……

As if her thoughts had been suddenly pierced, Shen Lian suddenly wanted to withdraw her wrist, but Lin Chen firmly stopped her movement.

“Starting from the third round, I drank the fifth vial first, then took the sixth and seventh vials. In comparison, the number of vials you could drink decreased. And indeed, you were quite nervous, but you didn’t even notice it. You were only focused on getting more vials than me, or at least an equal amount, so you took the eighth and ninth vials at once. What interested me was that you cared that I drank one more than you did. So, in the end, I drank five vials and you drank six, clearly confirming my Hypothesis Two. You care about the dosage,” Lin Chen explained.

Finally, Shen Lian’s gaze was filled with murderous intent, and she looked at Lin Chen with intense hatred. “Consultant Lin, you’re truly clever. So is it fun for you to play me?”

“Sorry, but I’m really not playing you. It’s mainly because you have your guard up against me and refuse to be open with me, so I can only use hypothesis testing to infer your thoughts,” Lin Chen said sincerely.

“What thoughts?”

“I’ve said it before. I want to know why you proposed playing this game with me and how I can make you give up the idea of suicide through this game,” Lin Chen said. “You’re determined to die, and today you must die. But why did you choose such a complicated method to seek death? I thought about it, and it’s probably because you still have unresolved issues before your death. However, you use too many appearances to conceal your inner turmoil. That’s why I accelerated the pace of taking the medication, wanting to hear your lingering thoughts before you die.”

……

Huang Ze stood at a corner close to Lin Chen and suddenly felt very uncomfortable. “Lin Chen… This is very dangerous. Xing Conglian, if necessary, be prepared to shoot Shen Lian. We can find another way.”

“Sorry, Lin Chen won’t let me do that.” Xing Conglian spoke up. “This is a chess game. The on-site investigation report from the nursing home just came back. The victims had different injuries on their necks, indicating that Shen Lian had at least two or three accomplices. Moreover, all the key caregivers at the nursing home are missing. The evidence shows that Shen Lian, with her personal power alone, couldn’t have simultaneously poisoned multiple locations. She is merely a pawn placed before us to lure us into making mistakes.”

“Mistakes? Are you suggesting that the police should kill Shen Lian?” Huang Ze questioned.

“Otherwise, why would Lin Chen ask Shen Lian about the antidote at such a crucial moment? If such antidotes exist, what if Shen Lian is the only person in the world who knows the formula for the antidote?”

Huang Ze shuddered all over. “Can’t we capture Shen Lian alive, restrain her limbs, and isolate her from any dangerous items? In short, keep her alive?”

“First of all, Inspector Huang, your suggestion is illegal. Secondly, someone like Shen Lian, if they only want to die, will certainly be willing and able to die.”

“So how the hell is Lin Chen planning to keep this key person alive?” Huang Ze asked loudly. “Is it Duan Wanshan? Can Lin Chen make Duan Wanshan return to the country and make Shen Lian wait for a while?”

Huang Ze’s words made Xing Conglian feel sad, his fingers tightly gripping the trigger.

Just like Lin Chen, once they understood Shen Lian’s obsession, there was only profound despair.

Fate was indeed cruel.

……

However, in reality, Lin Chen wasn’t in despair. He said to Shen Lian, “I was thinking about whether Lao Duan could delay you for a while, but since you’re already prepared to die, then you don’t really care about him.”

“So, Consultant Lin, I truly have no attachment to this rotten world. Please stop blocking me, okay?” Shen Lian drawled, sounding bored. “Don’t you think that I will bite my tongue and end my life right in front of you?”

“I have a proposal,” Lin Chen suddenly interrupted her.

“Any proposal is meaningless to me…”

“You still have that medicine that can drive people crazy and turn them into lunatics. Use it on me and see how I can live with that. How about it?” Lin Chen asked.

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