In an adult store named Happy Peak on Tingtang Road in Jiangcheng, a high - school girl stood there, bewildered and pale - faced.
"Nine thousand and nine hundred yuan for the full - service package. For the preliminary investigation, a deposit of one thousand yuan needs to be paid first." I sized up the girl while smoking a cigarette. Her small face looked greenish under the contrast of her school uniform. She was thin, yet her chest was quite prominent.
Under my gaze, the girl felt very uneasy. "One thousand... I only have seventy yuan on me. Can I pay the rest when I have the money?"
"Seventy yuan is fine. Put the money on the table and you can leave. I'll get back to you in three days."
"You... aren't you a scammer, are you?" The girl was skeptical. The seventy - yuan note in her palm had been soaked by her sweat.
"Once entrusted, one should be loyal to the task. Truthfulness, efficiency, integrity, and confidentiality are the tenets of our line of work. What you just said is questioning my professional ethics." I snatched the banknote from the girl's hand and waved her away.
I'm sure many people will misunderstand me after reading this and think I'm a jerk who bullies minors and abducts young girls. In fact, that's not the case. Everything I do is to help her.
My name is Gao Jian. I'm the owner of this adult - product store. Of course, being an owner is just a disguise. My true identity is a private detective.
Our agency handles all kinds of cases, such as searching for people or corpses, dealing with business espionage, cracking down on counterfeits and safeguarding rights, conducting extramarital affairs investigations, and providing assistance in various non - litigation cases.
Back to the point. The girl who came to seek help just now is named Xia Qingzhi. She's a student at No.1 High School in this city.
The reason she showed up here is also due to an incredible incident.
"My brother Xia Chi went missing a week ago. I suspect he's been murdered." As soon as she entered the door, the girl looked flustered and frightened.
"You should report a criminal case to the police." What money could a high - school student have? I just glanced at her and lost interest.
"Reporting to the police is useless. I've tried everything. No one remembers my brother's existence. There's no information about my brother even in the household registration investigation. He's like he's vanished into thin air, and all traces of him have been erased."
"You mean the memory of your brother only exists in your mind?" The girl didn't seem to be lying, and that's the scariest part.
"Yes. Everyone has forgotten my brother, but I'm the only one who remembers..."
I lit a cigarette and took a deep puff.
If what the girl said is true, then there are only two possible reasons: a supernatural and paranormal event, or the girl suffers from severe schizophrenia and there's a perverted personality of her brother hidden within her.
"Did your brother have any abnormal behavior before he went missing?" At this moment, only by following her words could I get more clues. I wasn't in a hurry.
"One night a week ago, my brother was invited to an interview for a certain live - stream platform and never came back." As she spoke, the girl took out a very ordinary card from her pocket. It was crumpled, similar to those small advertisements for fixing sewers or selling fake medicine on roadside railings.
"Do you want to become a star that attracts public attention? Do you want to have the adoration of hundreds of millions of fans?"
"Become a contracted anchor of the Netherworld Show and open your own live - stream room."
"As long as you have the courage, talent, and time."
"You can turn all your dreams into reality while sitting at home!"
"Netherworld Show. That's a rather unique name." After studying the card repeatedly, I became even more suspicious that this was a prank by a naughty kid. Leaving aside the name of the company for now, look at the back of the card. The interview time for this live - stream platform is from 12 p.m. to 3 a.m., and the interview location is Room 444, 4th basement floor, No.44 Dark - lamp Road. This string of time and location numbers doesn't seem to be for normal people at all.
"You also think I'm making this up?" The girl's reaction at that time was on the verge of despair. I could see disappointment and panic in her eyes.
"No. Before investigation, no one is qualified to draw a conclusion." Even if it was just for the dozens of yuan on her, I had to say this, because my agency hadn't received any cases for two months. Moreover, with the emergence of the self - service condom machine, the income of the adult - product store has been getting worse and worse. If this goes on, I won't even be able to pay the rent.
So, I accepted this seemingly prank - like entrustment, which led to the scene at the very beginning.
"Netherworld Show..." In recent years, live - stream platforms have been extremely popular. Some people stream food, some stream games, and some show off their charm to seduce innocent losers. All these are understandable, but just from the name, it's impossible to guess what the main content of the Netherworld Show is.
"Could it be streaming the daily life of the dead?"
Shaking my head and smiling, I urged Xia Qingzhi to leave. If a high - school girl stayed in my adult - product store for too long, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. After all, she's under eighteen.
As Xia Qingzhi lifted the thick curtain made from a military overcoat and was about to go out, she bumped into a woman exuding feminine allure.
"S - sorry." Presumably realizing that an adult - product store wasn't a place for her, Xia Qingzhi covered her face with her schoolbag and fled like the wind.
"Do you even sell to high - school students?" The woman's voice was very pleasant. I vaguely felt it was somewhat familiar.
"Whether to buy or not is someone else's freedom. I have no right to interfere." The woman in front of me was indeed a beauty. Her delicate and fair ankles were on high - heeled sandals, her calves were taut, and the lace hem of her skirt fluttered in mid - air. Although it was a loose - fitting long dress, it couldn't hide her proud curves. She had an excellent figure and demeanor, but she was wearing a mask and sunglasses, so I couldn't see her face clearly.
However, I was already used to it. People who come here usually have their own secrets. If they don't want to reveal their identities, I won't force them. Harmony brings wealth. As long as they pay, everything is fine.
The woman was fashionably and appropriately dressed, wearing all - brand - name clothes. The bag in her hand was probably a Louis Vuitton from Paris. Just this one bag was worth my entire year's rent.
"I wonder what you need, miss? Due to poor management, this store is about to be transferred. All products are on a clearance sale at a 20% discount."
"Sorry, I don't need anything. I'm just here to look for someone." As she spoke, the woman took off her mask and sunglasses. "Gao Jian, we haven't seen each other for five years, and you haven't changed a bit."
The moment I saw that face, the cigarette butt in my hand fell to the ground. "Ye Bing?"
She was my first love. Back in the police academy, her and my comprehensive scores always ranked first and second.
However, later, I was expelled from the police academy because I was involved in a series of homicides, while she successfully completed her studies and, with the help of her new boyfriend, was recommended for further study abroad.
"After five years, you've really transformed from a sparrow into a phoenix. You're truly a goddess." I lit another cigarette and looked at the curling smoke. "You changed your phone number and cut off all contact with me. I thought you'd been in a plane crash and sunk in the Pacific Ocean."
"Hasn't five years been enough for you to get rid of your sharp tongue? I admit I did wrong, but I don't regret it." The beauty smiled. She was mature and confident, and every move of hers could arouse a man's impulse.
"Really? Then what are you back for now? Don't tell me you want to rekindle our old relationship and relive the passionate days?" I stared brazenly at Ye Bing's curvy figure.
"I came here today wanting to have a good talk with you, but looking at your current situation, it doesn't seem necessary anymore."
She didn't respond but took out a bank card from her purse and placed it on the table. "There's a hundred thousand yuan in this card as an apology for my leaving without saying goodbye back then. Gao Jian, we're not young anymore. It's time to move on from the past and face reality."
"Three days later, my wedding with Young Master Jiang will be held at Century Xinyuan. If you have time, you can come. After all, I've just returned to the country and don't have many friends in this city."
Ye Bing's tone was as if she was recounting an ordinary thing. I caught a hint of deep - hidden disdain and disappointment in her eyes. At that moment, I was completely speechless.
There was no anger, no pain, no hysteria. I just took a puff of my cigarette. "Take the card back. I'll be there on time in three days."
I didn't know when Ye Bing left. I just finished a pack of cigarettes and felt a burning sensation in my lungs.
There's nothing to complain about. Her bank card alone was worth more than all my assets. Instead of getting angry to no avail and inviting others' disdain, it's better to focus on the task at hand.
I placed the small advertisement left by Xia Qingzhi next to my computer. This was the only case I'd received in two months. Although the client was a minor and might have mental problems, I absolutely couldn't mess it up. Because I needed the money.