Chapter 14: A Trap Within a Trap

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“Ahhhh! I’m dying of curiosity!”
“Livestream system! I want to file a complaint—what is it that our esteemed viewers are not allowed to hear?”
“@StarRing Live, your super-intelligent AI is really pulling this stunt and even selling us suspense!”

After Ye Sansang and Lin Shu spoke quietly, and the viewers confirmed they couldn’t hear the insider details, all the sadness vanished. The chat exploded with frantic messages.
Everyone began tagging @StarRing Live, demanding the platform step in and manage the super-intelligent AI.

Because Ye Sansang had abruptly ended her last livestream, many viewers sent gift data, prompting StarRing to assign a human administrator in addition to the AI moderator.
With numerous viewers tagging the official account, the administrator quickly responded and began interacting.

“Admin 176: The super-intelligent AI has determined some information must remain confidential. Let’s await good news patiently!”

Sadly, this explanation failed to calm the audience.
“The human and AI responses are no different.”
“This is hilarious—you guys only have the function to urge Sister Sang to go live.”
“I’m just waiting here; I want to know what Sister Sang is plotting.”

They were well aware of Lin Shu’s recent coldness in the holographic game, curious about what plan Ye Sansang had concocted to cause such a change.
Their curiosity was ignited, completely capturing the hearts of nearly 100,000 viewers in the chatroom.

They lingered in the livestream, bored with nothing else to do, and many began sending gifts.
Gifts of all kinds flew wildly across the screen, while the chat overflowed with people analyzing and speculating.

This caused Ye Sansang’s livestream popularity to skyrocket, placing her among the top 100 on StarRing Live. Moreover, she was among the top ten performers who earned spots in the beta test.

Such popularity drew attention to Ye Sansang’s presence, especially regarding the game dungeon she was currently playing, which intrigued many.

Ye Sansang paid no mind to this; she never once asked how many viewers were present.
Her sole focus was on strengthening Jiang Jiansheng.

During the wait, her emotions surged with unprecedented excitement.
The twisted thrill was like a surge of blood rushing from her heart throughout her entire body, making her hands tremble slightly with excitement.

A powerful urge to destroy blossomed deep within, occupying every thought.
It wasn’t about how many people she wanted to kill, but rather a form of emotional destruction. She was thrilled to see her plan come to fruition.

She longed for it desperately, like a fish on the verge of dying from thirst yearning for sweet rain.
She would say, “This game is very interesting.”

Soon after, when going out, Ye Sansang sensed she was being followed.
After a moment’s thought, she knew exactly who had sent the tail.

Wei Qingzheng was truly a competent detective, confident in his judgment. No matter how much she tried to clear suspicion, the other party wouldn’t give up just because of confusing circumstances.

If it were a teammate, Ye Sansang would be pleased.
But since it was an enemy, she was not happy.

Like a stubborn sticker, she needed to shake him off to prove their suspicion wrong. After all, it’s hard to shake off an undercover cop unless done deliberately.

If she couldn’t shake him, she’d only be able to carry out her plan in the afternoon.
But that’s work time, and the follower would surely tail her closely, making it difficult to execute the plan without arousing suspicion.

After considering this, Ye Sansang decided to use a decoy strategy.

Wei Qingzheng must be eager to uncover clues about the case, evident by his direct visit to her.

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She would exploit his weakness.
Since he wanted clues, she would willingly provide them.

Her gaze landed on Wang Zhi; it would be best to lure him away.
Looking at the time, it was almost closing time in the evening.

After dropping off her last passenger, she bought groceries and drove home.

The undercover observer followed in a car, trailing her all the way home, then parked out of her sight in an alley, watching the courtyard where she lived.

The courtyard was spacious. Although surrounded by self-built houses, the front gate opened wide enough to see half of the small yard.

Ye Sansang entered calmly, as if unaware of the follower’s presence.

Inside, she took the pork ribs she had bought, blanched them, and set them to stew.

The old-fashioned exhaust fan was turned on, faint steam wafting outward along with the scent of meat.

She also steamed rice in the electric cooker, then turned around and switched on the bulky old TV in the living room.

Once everything was done, she quickly changed clothes and climbed out through the back window.

Above the window was a wall; climbing over it led to the drainage ditch of the neighbor’s house.

She swiftly took a detour and left, hailing a cab to a public phone booth without surveillance.

Recalling the homicide team’s phone number Wei Qingzheng mentioned, Ye Sansang dialed without hesitation.

The call was answered quickly.
“Hello, Jiangcheng Homicide Team 3,” came the voice.

Ye Sansang, skilled in voice modulation, spoke in a deliberately higher female tone, “I have clues about Zhou Qiang’s murder. You all come to the riverside bridge underpass two days from now at six p.m. I’ll give you the key evidence. Remember to bring 500 yuan. No latecomers.”

After hanging up, she smiled slightly, glanced around, then quickly crossed the alley to another street and took a cab away.

If her guess was right, the team would arrive at this phone booth within ten minutes.

She chose this spot deliberately; Wei Qingzheng’s sharpness meant he would identify Wang Zhi among Zhou Qiang’s acquaintances.

As the next target of the murderer, Wang Zhi would surely receive close protection.

As for Jiang Jiansheng, based on her investigation, he hadn’t yet been marked as a target.

Because he and three others only crossed paths during their escape from Lin City; otherwise, they were mostly strangers. Unless the police knew the four were fleeing together, they wouldn’t investigate Jiang Jiansheng.

This was a trap within a trap. The opponent thought the decoy would draw away the police around Wang Zhi, but her real target was to divert the tail following her.

The homicide team wasn’t large. Since the early 2000s saw a surge in cases, departments were overwhelmed. Other colleagues were busy, so no one else could be dispatched.

With no one else available, the focus must be sharp.

When the murderer made the call, Ye Sansang was right under the police’s watchful eyes. Retreating without suspicion and surveilling the undercover cop was normal.

If she didn’t retreat, she felt she’d be in serious trouble.

This was a backup plan she didn’t want to use unless necessary.

No one could stop her—if there was a problem, she would solve it.

Back in the room, Ye Sansang and Jingjing stood face to face with Lin Shu beneath the bedroom window.

Turning on the TV was their signal; Lin Shu must have just spoken to her. Now she said again, “Your ribs need some salt. We’re out of salt at home. Go buy some.”

This was a way to get her out, maintaining the illusion that Ye Sansang was home to the people surveilling outside.

Ye Sansang nodded, dusted off her clothes, and stepped out.

Some self-built houses operated small shops on the first floor. Calm and composed, she passed through the alley where cars were parked and bought a packet of salt at the shop.

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Seeing dried Sichuan peppercorns, thinking they’d be useful for cooking, she weighed out some and took it with her.

Back home, Ye Sansang added the purchased radish to the rib soup.

The aroma of meat spread about five or six meters with the fan’s breeze.

The two chatted occasionally about people or things encountered at work, behaving like an ordinary married couple.

The car left after eight in the evening.

Ye Sansang wiped down her taxi, seemingly indifferent to the car’s departure, only a slight smile playing in her eyes.

Her curiosity returned, wondering when Wei Qingzheng would realize this was a decoy.

As for Jiang Jiansheng, that cunning old fox...

Before this case progressed further, Ye Sansang had to temporarily pause the game.

Even after time-skipping, it was now time for her to wake from sleep.

Fading the memories of in-game killings caused no unpleasant side effects; the process was brief, which pleased her.

Why was she back? Because her doctor was due for a follow-up today.

A young, handsome psychiatrist.

Ye Sansang didn’t want to admit he was a professional, but normal people didn’t think as strangely or fearlessly as she did.

Compared to her, their thoughts were fragile, like dodder vines.

Human death was normal to her, no different from killing ants.

After breakfast, the doctor arrived.

Dressed in a fully buttoned white coat and wearing thin silver-framed glasses, he stood opposite Ye Sansang’s bed. “Two days without seeing you. You seem much better mentally. Is the medication effective this time?”

“No, it’s that I’ve found more interests in life,” Ye Sansang said, her slender pale fingers playing with her long black hair, her black pupils fixed on the doctor, a hint of happiness in her expression.

Su Xu gazed at her and smiled, “Can you tell me what those interests are?”

When a psychiatric patient mentions newfound interests, it’s a sign doctors watch closely.

Ye Sansang shook her head, “You’d better not pay too much attention. I’ll take my meds on time, so there’s no need for further visits.”

“You still refuse to admit you’re ill,” Su Xu said sternly.

Ye Sansang shook her head, “For me, whether I admit it or not makes no difference. I’m willing to cooperate with your treatment. If that’s good for you, that’s enough.”

Su Xu stared at her, then said thoughtfully, “You seem to have gained some patience.”

“Yes,” Ye Sansang replied, “I am more patient with you.”

With emotional awareness and feelings, she decided to be more patient with these people.

Su Xu’s eyes flickered slightly. After a while, he said, “I hope you maintain this state so you can be discharged soon. I won’t disturb you further; I’m leaving now.”

Ye Sansang watched him leave, her eyes indifferent.

Sometimes, she wanted to advise him not to say insincere things—she could see right through them at a glance.

The caregiver came in, beginning her usual day.

Perhaps because Ye Sansang had warned her, the caregiver had fewer little habits, which pleased Ye Sansang—they knew when to behave.

As usual, she went out for some fresh air.

Spring rain drizzled lightly, the fine droplets falling on her hand. Ye Sansang was satisfied with the results so far.

During her midday rest, Ye Sansang estimated the time and put on the gaming neckband.