Only Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng remained in the detention room, which felt empty and quiet. As he languished alone, he couldn't help but envy the young men who had been bailed out.
After assisting Dǒng Zhòngyǎ Wén Càn with their performance yesterday, Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng had hoped to successfully sign with a management company through Dǒng Zhòngyǎ Wén Càn's introduction. He had indeed been recognized and affirmed by the company, as he learned from Dǒng Zhòngyǎ Wén Càn.
Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng had originally scheduled a contract signing with the manager, but now it seemed all his efforts would be in vain. The thought of his bright future in the entertainment industry potentially being ruined filled him with a sense of desolation.
Recalling the cause and effect of the situation, Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng felt a pang of regret, regretting his own lack of thoroughness.
When Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng encountered Qīng Lù'ér in the corridor of the third concert, his friends were engrossed in discussing the scene earlier that day where a group of women had fought over him on the tour bus.
"You're going to come back empty-handed today." Just as his friend was gloating, Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng saw Qīng Lù'ér approaching. His eyes sparkled, and he turned to her, saying, "Qīng Lù'ér, are you holding my fan board?"
"Mhm! Yes!" Qīng Lù'ér replied in a low voice. She didn't look back at Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng, simply following the other team members towards the seating area.
After watching Qīng Lù'ér walk away, Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng gave a wicked smile and turned back to his friend, banteringly whispering, "Isn't this precisely today's prey?"
"Oh!" His friend, with a knowing smile, pointed at Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng and added, "I think it's doubtful! If you can catch this prey, I, your humble and romantic friend, will admit defeat, hahahaha!"
When the concert ended, several team members arranged to have a celebration banquet with the fan club on the tour bus.
After the Kāi Kǎi Band and their fan club had made arrangements, as they were walking towards the choir's dedicated vehicle, Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng received a text message from his friend: "Your prey is about to slip away. Pick another one! Hahahaha!"
Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng looked back at the tour bus. His friend leaned out the window, whistled at him, and put on an expression of someone who enjoys watching drama unfold. He then pointed in the direction Qīng Lù'ér was heading.
Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng looked in the direction his friend indicated and saw Qīng Lù'ér walking away in the distance.
His friend's schadenfreude ignited Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng's competitive spirit. He told his friend, "You guys have fun. I'll be right back."
"Which girl have you set your sights on now?"
"I'll be right back."
Just as Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng was about to leave, Mùmù seemed to sense something. He frowned and tugged at Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng's sleeve, saying, "Let's go to the celebration banquet together! The concert was very successful today, and it won't be right if you're missing."
"Don't worry about it. I'll be back at the celebration banquet after I'm done. You guys have fun first."
As Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng left, he happened to run into Yīnyīn's car. Yīnyīn also held a high opinion of this rising star.
Taking advantage of Yīnyīn's good impression of him, Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng approached her car and said, "Sister Yīnyīn, can you help me chase a girl? I've had a crush on her for a long time. You're going my way anyway, why not give us a ride?"
"Of course! Let me see what girl has captured your heart so completely. I might as well help you achieve your wish!" And so, Yīnyīn's car drove Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng and the persuaded Qīng Lù'ér towards their school...
Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng thought about how he had used a tranquilizer dart to incapacitate Qīng Lù'ér, only to be intercepted by his roommate and cousin who emerged out of nowhere and recorded the evidence. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel deep resentment towards the two meddlers, his emotions remaining unsettled for a long time...
"That kid must hate us. The real show is yet to come!" Lìng Shíxiǎn said happily to Chéng Xǐ.
Chéng Xǐ and Lìng Shíxiǎn arrived at the parking area. Just as they got into the car and were about to start it, they saw Qīng Lù'ér and her sister in front of them.
Qīng Lù'ér got into a car accompanied by her sister. Lìng Shíxiǎn watched them drive away. Casually, he said to Chéng Xǐ, "If you hadn't been so impetuous, and if the deed had been done, the chain of evidence would be even more perfect."
Hearing this, Chéng Xǐ couldn't believe Lìng Shíxiǎn could say such a thing. He felt a fire building up inside him. Chéng Xǐ decisively opened the car door and got out.
"Hey, don't be stubborn, get in the car."
"You go ahead. I'll go back by myself. I want to be alone for a while."
"Go back by yourself, don't make a fuss. It's cold out here. You're taking a joke too seriously. Let's go together."
"You go ahead!" Chéng Xǐ replied in a low voice.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Chéng Xǐ any further, Lìng Shíxiǎn impatiently drove off ahead.
Stepping out of the monitoring camp, Chéng Xǐ walked towards the campus.
The pale pink sky of Return Layered Season appeared exceptionally light and warm, but the breeze in the air carried a distinct chill.
Chéng Xǐ walked silently, observing the bare, leafless trees by the roadside. He pondered that a heavy snowfall might be imminent.
Around lunchtime, after walking for a while, Chéng Xǐ felt a bit tired and hungry, so he followed a sign into a chain restaurant.
While waiting for his food, Chéng Xǐ watched the ceaseless flow of people outside the glass window, observing their laughter and conversation. He thought to himself, "Are they truly happy?"
Yesterday, around lunchtime as well, Lìng Shíxiǎn had texted Chéng Xǐ asking him to bring back a large takeout order and many snacks.
The text specifically instructed Chéng Xǐ to deliver it secretly. After arriving at the designated spot, he was to check if anyone was present and only text his cousin if the coast was clear, so his cousin could come out to collect the items.
Following Lìng Shíxiǎn's instructions, Chéng Xǐ arrived at the residential area opposite the campus. Seeing that no one was around, he texted his cousin that he had arrived.
Shortly after, the gate of a nearby villa opened, and a round head, turning left and right, poked out from beside the gate. Chéng Xǐ recognized the cautious person before him as his cousin.
His cousin urged him forward warily, saying, "Hurry up and come over. Don't let anyone see you."
Chéng Xǐ followed his cousin closely, tiptoeing into the room his cousin had rented.
The apartment Lìng Shíxiǎn rented had no ventilation except for a small window opening to the outside. Presumably for lighting, the wall facing the living room was made of thick glass.
Lìng Shíxiǎn didn't seem to need much light; he preferred to conceal himself. The curtains in the room were tightly drawn, with only a narrow gap through which one could slightly glimpse the living room.
"What are you doing? Acting like a thief," Chéng Xǐ asked, looking confused as he entered his cousin's room.
"Our detective agency got a big case. If I can close this one, I'll be set! Little cousin, hahaha..."
"Is your mission to sneak around and stay cooped up in the bedroom?"
"Exactly! Let me show you this." As Lìng Shíxiǎn spoke, he produced a communicator and said, "There's a secret surveillance device hidden under the base of the flowerpot in the living room. It can monitor what's happening in the living room, and my communicator can display the surveillance feed."
"Why are you doing all this?" Chéng Xǐ frowned, indicating his confusion.
"Let me tell you, this apartment was originally rented by someone named Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng..."
"Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng sounds so familiar. Our school also has a musical prodigy named Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng."
"That's right, he's the musical prodigy from your school. We're currently investigating him." As Lìng Shíxiǎn spoke, he was unwrapping the takeout. His slightly sturdy build, weakened by hunger, desperately needed replenishment.
"This guy is talented, no doubt, and has many girls chasing him. But I've heard from friends privately that his character isn't great. He plays with many girls he dates and doesn't take responsibility."
"Exactly, he is that kind of person. Indulgent in pleasure, extravagant and debauched, yet heavily in debt. I recently found out he was in financial straits, so I seized the opportunity to meet him at the apartment he rented. I posed as a rich young master and offered a high price, and he rented this bedroom to me.
Hmm... are these chicken wings delicious? Want a bite?"
"No, I've already eaten."
Perhaps the food brightened Lìng Shíxiǎn's mood. While eating, he chatted enthusiastically with his cousin, casting aside all the confidentiality clauses for detectives.
Lìng Shíxiǎn naturally felt at ease with his cousin, whom he had known since childhood. After being confined in the room for so long, he spoke voluminously: "I had already investigated the floor plan of this villa beforehand. The bedroom I'm in offers excellent observation conditions, otherwise, why would I have spent so much money to rent it!
Initially, the detective agency rejected my proposal, saying the rent was too high. Alas... I think my idea is correct! You have to stick to what's right. You can't catch a tiger without a cub.
Fifty percent of this rent is from my own pocket. If it succeeds, all the effort will be worth it. If it fails, I'll be waiting to drink the northwest wind!
Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng is cunning. He also installed surveillance in the living room, but I hacked his network. Now, the control and modification rights of his surveillance are all in my hands."
"Is that legal?"
"Legal, legal. This guy is scum of the scum. He's organized a band named 'Kāi Kǎi Band' with a group of people. This person, relying on his talent, specializes in harming young girls.
I secretly heard that the person who hired our detective agency is a big boss. This big boss's daughter likes Mùmù, another member of the 'Kāi Kǎi Band'. However, after a celebration banquet, she was drugged and assaulted by Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng.
The big boss's daughter couldn't stand it and wanted revenge, aiming to ruin Jǐn Chéng Yì Fēng's most prized future. So they found our detective agency, and if we succeed, the commission will be huge!
Now several of us are watching this guy from different locations. Once we get evidence that will make his downfall irreversible, this case will be successfully completed."
"When the big boss's daughter was assaulted, why didn't she report it? Wouldn't that also be evidence?"
"You don't understand. This is a family that places great importance on reputation. The big boss also cares about appearances!"