Cat 233: Damned Curiosity

Chapter 233: Damned Curiosity

The wretched system was always up to no good.

Yan Jiyun stopped fretting about the collar around his neck. If he ran into Jiuyé in person, he’d simply choose a high-collared shirt or wrap the collar with a piece of cloth to hide it from view.

From the system’s prompt, he drew one conclusion: Jiuyé was, apparently, an NPC. His suspicion that Jiuyé was actually Qi Feng dropped by five percent. What had been a ninety percent certainty was now eighty-five.

The system notifications had left him muddled. Was Jiuyé really just an NPC, with no connection at all to Qi Feng?

He’d have to keep watching—maybe it was just tied to the master-pet system.

But the most pressing task wasn’t confirming Jiuyé’s identity. He had to complete the mission first. The eight-day window was nearly halfway gone; it was now the afternoon of the third day. If he didn’t hurry, they’d all be trapped when the scenario ended.

Transformed back into human form, his clothing was no different from any employee in the building: well-cut suit and tie. He headed straight down the stairs to the ground-floor restroom. The leather of the collar was slim, like a thick necklace—as long as no one saw what was written on the tag, no one would know.

But even if others were oblivious, Jiuyé wouldn’t be fooled. He had to keep the tag covered: no one could see it.

After leaving the restroom, he circled the reception desk and, feigning shyness, asked the front desk girl for a bottle of glue and a sheet of carbon paper, which he then used in the bathroom to paste over the gold tag.

He scrutinized the result in the mirror; it was barely adequate. Later, he’d find a piece of black cloth to cover it properly.

As Yan Jiyun exited the restroom, he heard familiar footsteps approaching from the elevator.

Jiuyé coming downstairs?

He quickly ducked his head and strode toward the exit, coincidentally passing Yang Er, who had just entered.

Yang Er, realizing he’d just brushed past an unfamiliar face, paused in confusion and turned to ask the receptionist, “Which department is that guy from? I’ve never seen him before.”

The receptionist answered blankly, “No idea. He said he was new.”

Yang Er frowned. “We haven’t been hiring lately—where’d the newcomer come from?”

He recalled the downcast, preoccupied look of the man and felt certain he wasn’t an ordinary employee. He hurried outside in pursuit, but there was no one in sight.

Jiuyé asked him, “Rushing about at the company entrance like that—what’s the matter?”

Yang Er replied, “Jiuyé, I just saw a suspicious man coming from our offices.”

Jiuyé: “Just remember what he looks like.”

Yang Er hadn’t seen clearly, but the receptionist had a good look; she could sketch, and with a few deft strokes, produced a drawing of Yan Jiyun, which she handed to Jiuyé and Yang Er.

Jiuyé glanced at it—he didn’t recognize the person, but his gaze lingered on the stranger’s neck for two seconds. Something about the necklace looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t recall what.

Meanwhile, Yan Jiyun slipped quietly out of Jiuyé’s company and made straight for Jiangnan’s premier dance hall. He and Gu Wenzhu had arranged—if he failed to appear the previous night, they’d rendezvous at the hotel opposite the dance hall.

It was less than two kilometers from Jiuyé’s company; a quick tram ride took him there.

He went to the desk and gave Gu Wenzhu’s name; the clerk said Gu had left a message and directed him to the room.

Yan Jiyun wasted not a second, darting straight up.

Jiangnan Town was no mere backwater. With a hundred-odd players, each with their own identities, finding another player wasn’t easy.

He entered Gu Wenzhu’s room. Gu, in the chamber of commerce, was preparing to leave for a meeting when the missing Yan Jiyun suddenly appeared.

“Quick, come in! We waited last night as long as we could, all the way till the dance hall closed.” Gu Wenzhu saw him looking unharmed and dressed in clean clothes, and realized his worries had been unnecessary.

Yan Jiyun didn’t waste words. “There wasn’t much to discover with Liu Rongzhi—she seems to be just a rather cunning courtesan. But I did uncover something else. I’m convinced someone deliberately instigated that fight between Liu Jinghao and Chen Qin. I visited the Chen house, and tested Chen Qin; his leg has been fine all along, so he’s faking the limp. I suspect he may be connected to Liu Jinghao’s death.”

Gu Wenzhu asked, “So you have a plan?”

Yan Jiyun replied, “Mission One is to watch over the spirit. I think we should try to send the true culprit to the funeral hall—right now, everyone has already come to pay respects, except for Chen Qin.”

Gu Wenzhu: “That makes sense. And for this, He Yuanle is best suited; after all, he’s in the Chen household.”

Yan Jiyun: “Exactly. That’s the first issue. Now for the second.”

Gu Wenzhu: “Go ahead.”

Yan Jiyun: “You’re a member of the chamber of commerce, right? There’s another meeting this afternoon?” He’d learned as much from Jiuyé; specifics were unknown, but the president would be meeting some important local figures. If Gu Wenzhu participated, Yan Jiyun could tag along.

Gu Wenzhu nodded. “Yes, to discuss future river shipping business with an important figure from Jiangnan.”

Yan Jiyun: “But isn’t Jiangnan Town nearly isolated? We can’t leave.”

Gu Wenzhu: “It’s true we’re trapped, but the plot still goes on, and the details might open our eyes—I think we can find clues that way.”

Yan Jiyun understood.

He listed the four great families of Jiangnan as he saw it, pointing out they still lacked information on the western district—the last of the big-name families, and most crucially, their real connection, if any, to the Liu family.

He said, “Now we just lack material on the west side.”

Gu Wenzhu replied, “We haven’t gone to the west at all, plus we’ve only been in the north and city center. We haven’t found Qiu Xi either. What if he’s there—and he’s found something—then combining all our information could make things a lot easier.”

Yan Jiyun nodded. “Right. After your meeting, we’ll hunt for Qiu Xi.”

He Yuanle returned with lunch. Yan Jiyun had already eaten, but watched the others dine, rehashing their plans as they did.

He Yuanle’s task was to find a chance at the Chen residence to bring Chen Qin to the Liu’s.

He Yuanle, eyeing his own thin arms and legs: “Sounds like this will take some finesse.”

Yan Jiyun turned to Gu Wenzhu: “Do you have any extra clothes?”

That afternoon, he would impersonate Gu Wenzhu’s assistant for the meeting. The only thing that worried him was being recognized by Yang Er, since they’d passed each other exiting Jiuyé’s company.

Gu Wenzhu had fully adapted to his role and had several changes of clothes. Yan Jiyun changed into them.

The three separated at the hotel entrance.

Yan Jiyun, disguised as Gu Wenzhu’s assistant, headed straight to the meeting.

The venue was the most expensive conference room in Jiangnan’s top five-star hotel.

Yan Jiyun wore a hat as he drove to the hotel. As he parked, he saw a very familiar car pull into the neighboring spot.

It would be impossible to forget such a car—the luxury vehicle with carpets he’d ridden in that morning.

Jiuyé, draped in an overcoat, stepped out of the car. His attendants removed his coat for him.

He was greeted by the president of the chamber, an effusive handshake met with Jiuyé’s gloved hand and cool, offhand words before he entered the hotel.

Gu Wenzhu, leaning on a cane, followed behind, with Yan Jiyun at his side, head bent, as if helping him walk.

The meeting was by invitation only for chamber members. Yan Jiyun’s disguise extended to darkening his face and even his neck. Not daring to look up, he managed to blend into the crowd—no one noticed anything odd; in this scenario, the underclass was invisible everywhere.

Meticulously disguised and exceptionally inconspicuous, Yan Jiyun sat on a bench outside the meeting room as an attendant once all assembled, quietly listening to the negotiations inside.

He wanted to find out if any chamber members were from the west side of the city.

He didn’t even need to ask. Gu Wenzhu’s social skills were excellent; he quickly struck up conversation with everyone except Jiuyé.

Yan Jiyun kept his head down while Jiuyé’s subordinates also waited outside; he dared not even glance up, not wanting to draw trouble.

But less than ten minutes into the meeting, the entire building suddenly shook with a thunderous rumble!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

An explosion?

From downstairs!

Yang Er ordered the bodyguards to investigate, then immediately pushed open the meeting-room doors to report to Jiuyé: “Jiuyé, there’s been an explosion!”

Jiuyé swept a glance over everyone present. “Protect the guests.”

Yan Jiyun shadowed Yang Er, shaking his head at Gu Wenzhu’s questioning look.

Jiuyé dominated both legitimate and underworld circles. With an explosion now, someone was clearly targeting the hotel’s guests.

He wanted to know: were the attackers after chamber members, or after Jiuyé himself?

Amid the chaos, Yan Jiyun noticed that neither the Liu family nor the Cheng family were present at today’s meeting.

The bodyguards returned to report: “Jiuyé, the main stairway’s been blown out. Power’s down; the elevators are dead. If we want to get out, we’ll have to climb down the exterior.”

The bosses of the chamber, all used to indulging themselves, quailed at the thought of descending the outside—might as well ask for their lives. Their wails and complaints pulled a frown from Jiuyé, and Yang Er barked out a sharp order.

“Quiet!”

“One more word and you’re going down first!”

Gu Wenzhu stepped in to mediate. “Let’s work together. Never mind why someone set the bomb—we should escape first and ask questions later.” He sized things up quickly and looked to Jiuyé. “Jiuyé?”

The cause of the explosion was still unknown—the only choice was to flee.

Jiuyé was decisive. “Out the window—there’s support below.”

The bodyguards opened the windows. Below, other bodyguards had thick blankets ready for a safe landing.

Yan Jiyun peered down covertly—everything was well prepared.

Herded by the bodyguards, the fatcat bosses shook with fear as one after another jumped down, some even pissing themselves in fright, but the glowering men above allowed no dissent.

Yan Jiyun was set on keeping a low profile with Gu Wenzhu when suddenly Jiuyé appeared at his shoulder and said, “That necklace on your neck is unusual.”

Yan Jiyun’s heart skipped. He deliberately looked left and right, then pointed to himself. “Me?”

He wanted to slap himself. He should have reined in that damned curiosity.

And that damned dog tag—when would he ever get it off!