Chapter 19: Starting with Habits

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The frantic pounding on the door—“Bang! Bang! Bang!”—felt like a death knell, sending a chill deep into one’s heart. Ye Sansan’s eyes flickered with sharp light. She gently set down her bag on the raised stone slab on the second floor and swiftly descended, shouting impatiently, “What’s going on? What is it?”

She loosened half of her waistband, fastening it back as she moved to open the door.

The wooden door was simple and creaked loudly as it swung open.

The moment she opened it, four or five burly men barged in.

Ye Sansan hurriedly tightened her waistband, looking at them in alarm. “What’s the matter? Who are you? I’m telling you, I have no money!”

The leader turned, his gaze falling on Ye Sansan’s expression and hands.

“Search her,” four big men immediately began turning the room upside down.

Ye Sansan looked at the leader with some anger. “Boss Wang, what’s going on? If you’re not willing, I won’t force you.”

Wang Zhi sneered at Ye Sansan, then turned, his gaze landing on the woman lying on the bed.

“She’s drunk,” Ye Sansan said naturally. “I like drinking, so I bought two bottles of beer, thinking she’d get drunk...”

Wang Zhi frowned slightly and pushed the woman harshly.

The woman whimpered softly.

Wang Zhi looked at Ye Sansan, his eyes showing less suspicion.

The search finished quickly; aside from some clothes and daily necessities, there was nothing else.

Wang Zhi put his hands in his pockets, tugged the corner of his mouth, then turned and left.

Watching the group leave, Ye Sansan forced a look of suppressed anger.

After they were gone, she stepped forward and closed the door.

[That was close.]

[After Wang Zhi was caught, he knew someone wanted to kill him. That’s why Sansan appeared on alert and came to search.]

[Fortunately, everything is normal. But seeing so many people around him, it’s hard to handle!]

Ye Sansan also realized how cautious the other side was. She muttered softly, “Looks like I need to find a way to lure them out of the urban village.”

She wasn’t in a rush, but the audience was.

“Ahhh, I’m so nervous! Based on previous info, Wei Qingzheng has already gone to Lin City! If he finds out the truth and comes back, Sansan will have a motive for murder!”

“I’m King Anxious, please, the mission must succeed!”

“Scratching my head like a monkey swinging on trees, howling all over the mountain in anxiety.”

The comment section went wild, as if interrupted by an ad at a critical moment.

Even the moderators joined the fun, posting messages in the comments.

Countless gifts appeared, almost covering the entire screen, making it hard to see the live stream content.

Large gifts were broadcast in loops on the Star Ring live platform, drawing an enormous crowd.

Among them were players who had drawn the “Criminal Files” Ye Sansan’s current level, stunned to find this version different from the ones they’d seen before.

Why did this version seem so long and have so much plot?

Previously, other streamers often failed at the Wang Shun segment or completed the murder but got caught.

The farthest anyone reached was completing the murder without being caught, but they couldn’t trigger the next mission.

Now, entering this live stream, they realized this level was much longer—the Wang Shun case was only the beginning!

“Waaah, the previous streamers lied to me! I thought that level had a bug, but it didn’t!”

“Online, can someone explain what’s going on now?”

“If it weren’t for using Sun Bin’s face, I wouldn’t believe this was the ‘Rainy Night Taxi’ level!”

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Though the veteran viewers were anxious, they were gentle, sharing the rough plot in bits and pieces.

Aside from explanations, the comments were filled with question marks and exclamation points.

After this incident, the live stream quickly rose to the top fifty in popularity, attracting 180,000 viewers.

They were all curious about the ending.

Ye Sansan had no idea she carried the curiosity of 180,000 people. She stripped the woman from the bed and put her into a robe.

She didn’t do much else but quietly ponder how to proceed.

She initially decided to report.

But before that, she needed someone to keep an eye on Wang Zhi; if he escaped, she’d have to spend money tracking him down.

The old lead was useless; the other side must know Wang Zhi, or he wouldn’t have known she was nearby.

Or perhaps, it didn’t have to be so complicated.

She thought of something, her eyes deepening with thought.

The only problem was this plan would take time and some luck.

But after some consideration, it was feasible.

Ye Sansan waited till dawn, sent the woman away, then left the rented house.

She needed to call to inquire about the situation in Lin City. The twists here added uncertainty to the progress.

Back home, Lin Shu made a phone call to their hometown.

At the village’s small convenience store, the clerk would call Sun Bin’s parents to pick up.

After a while, a hoarse voice answered, “Who’s calling? What’s the matter?”

“Where’s the young lady?” Lin Shu asked.

Silence fell on the other end. The voice, forced calm, came through: “Nothing... she’s just being naughty, went somewhere to play, we can’t find her.”

Lin Shu paused, then asked, “Is everyone at home well? How’s your mother?”

“All fine! Don’t worry, just focus on making money outside! Everything’s good here!” The hoarse voice lied convincingly, hiding the fact that the elderly were still searching for their possibly missing granddaughter.

Lin Shu went on chatting for a while, then passed the phone to Ye Sansan. Only after they spoke did they reluctantly hang up.

After the call, both wore serious expressions.

Wei Qingzheng had moved too fast, already investigating Sun family’s hometown.

Asking about the daughter was their code for checking abnormalities.

Asking about the mother, or the family’s situation, was their secret signal.

“No news” meant “something’s wrong,” and “something’s wrong” meant “no news.”

Clearly, they had to speed up...

Lin Shu closed her eyes. “If you can’t lure them out alone, I’ll act with you.”

How they’d work together and subdue a large group was a tangled mess in her mind.

Wang Zhi wasn’t dead, which stoked anxiety deep inside her, making her restless.

Ye Sansan sensed her tension and whispered, “Don’t be nervous. Relax, take a deep breath.”

She needed to calm her down first, as Lin Shu was already on edge.

Once Lin Shu relaxed, Ye Sansan picked up the medicine she had hidden in the cracks of the floor tiles and left.

She waited till afternoon but didn’t look for her informant. Instead, she wandered nearby until she found the busiest night market stall the landlady had mentioned, and volunteered as a free apprentice.

Who wouldn’t love free? The landlady, seeing her earnest expression, immediately agreed.

She started from the simplest task: threading skewers.

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Ye Sansan knew makeup. She applied fake stubble, wore a longer wig than before, darkened her complexion a bit, and added some eyeliner. Without close inspection, no one would recognize her as Sun Bin.

During her two days in the rented house, Ye Sansan didn’t just idle away; she modified the tools she needed and gathered information.

For example, she learned that this night market barbecue stall was popular locally.

Wang Zhi and his men had money, and having lived modestly in earlier years, they loved foods like barbecue and beer.

From the landlady, Ye Sansan learned Wang Zhi preferred home delivery.

Initially, Ye Sansan thought that plan was too convoluted and uncertain, so she hadn’t tried it. Now, forced by circumstances, she had no choice but to proceed.

Perhaps fortune favored Ye Sansan.

Though she didn’t get any orders the first day, the next day Wang Zhi’s henchmen came and ordered a large quantity for delivery.

Ye Sansan volunteered, saying she lived nearby and could deliver.

The shop was busy, and since she was diligent these days, they quickly agreed.

Ye Sansan quietly breathed a slight sigh of relief; her efforts to get closer to others and offer to take the hardest delivery work paid off.

An hour later, she carried grilled fish, a pile of skewers, and canned beer toward Wang Zhi’s place.

The distance was over three hundred meters in a straight line. She went to a secluded corner, set down the food, and pulled out a syringe.

She chose not to drug the food but injected the medicine into the beer.

She injected a small amount near the can’s opening. Though small, drinking one can would induce a state of intoxication.

From her observation, everyone there enjoyed drinking.

After preparation, she carried the items to the spot.

Ye Sansan acted naturally and calmly, without any panic or awkwardness. She cheerfully laid out the food and then collected money from the henchmen.

Wang Zhi spoke with her, and she responded smoothly.

Disguises are often seen through because people get nervous and stiff, their anxious expressions arousing suspicion.

Sure enough, Wang Zhi wasn’t fooled. Instead, he praised the shop for hiring a capable clerk.

After setting out the food and smiling, she pocketed the money and turned to leave.

The cramped room was packed with a dozen or so men.

After finishing, Ye Sansan told them she was going back and started toward the door.

“Wait!” Wang Zhi called out.

Ye Sansan turned. “Yes, boss?”

Wang Zhi pulled out a wad of bills from his bag and counted a few.

At the sight, a faint greed flickered in Ye Sansan’s eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Zhi handed her three twenty-dollar bills. “Buy me two more cases of beer, and keep the rest.”

Ye Sansan swallowed hard and quickly moved forward, playing up her role.

“Sure! Boss Wang is generous, may your wealth and business flourish!” She accepted the money and left, her smile unusually sincere.

Wang Zhi laughed heartily. “Sweet talker, when will you join me?”

[Sometimes I think Sansan is a genius—she’s not nervous at all!]

[If it were me, I’d be dragged away and questioned for panicking! Sansan’s psychological resilience is incredible.]

[That shout earlier? I thought she was caught; my legs went weak.]

Watching Ye Sansan leave the room, the audience finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Then they watched as she went to the landlady’s stall, bought two cans of beer, and calmly injected the remaining medicine into them in an empty alley.