SES Chapter 120 Part 1

Chapter 120

They split into two groups.

One group would try to get hold of the video, while the other would track down any of the eyewitnesses to confirm their theory about the blood.

Wan-San immediately volunteered for the first group. He argued that getting the video would require wit, and since he was directly involved, he’d be more convincing.

For safety’s sake, they paired him with Yan Hongsha, another involved party with a higher combat value.

Hongsha wasn’t thrilled. “When you were framed, you didn’t even squeak, but then you secretly had Fatty Cao steal things for you? Hypocrite.”

Before Wan-San could defend himself, Cao Yanhua was already protesting, all flustered:
“I told you, I found them! Found them!”

Hongsha grinned ferociously. “Do you think I’m stupid? Four in a row? Fatty Cao, are you planning to get rich by finding things? Not embarrassed to say it—you’d make the headlines in ‘Touched by China.’”

Wan-San calmly patted Fatty Cao’s shoulder. “Brother Cao, relax. Why waste your breath matching wits with Red Two-Burn here? You’re just looking for grief.”

Hongsha exploded. “What’s wrong with my IQ?!”

Wan-San stayed serene. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Mu Dai kindly reminded her, “Hongsha, he just called you ‘Two-Burn.’”

Hongsha was furious. “Why the hell am I a fool now?!”

Fatty Cao joined in on Wan-San’s side. “Two-Burn girl, repeat after me: huo—third tone—huo.”

Luo Ren, unruffled as ever, picked up a glass of water and fanned the flames:
“Hongsha, when words don’t work, just use your fists. Play to your strengths.”

The next moment, Fatty Cao was dodging around the room like a rabbit, shrieking as his voice cracked:
“It was Brother San who said it! Stop coming at me! What did I even do? I just corrected your pronunciation—”

The chaos had Mu Dai laughing so hard her stomach hurt.

Luo Ren and Fatty Cao made up the second group. Since Mu Dai couldn’t risk showing her face, she had to stay behind at the hotel to wait for updates.

That arrangement left her dejected. Hiding every day, only allowed out for the occasional “airing out,” and the hotel TV programs were as barren as a desert.

She grumbled, “I feel like a bird trapped in a cage.”

Fatty Cao, busy as he was, still found time to answer:
“Little Master, look at me—I’m a free little bird.”

He spread his arms and “flew” out the door.
“Brother Luo, I’ll wait for you downstairs!”

Hongsha chased after him, shouting:
“Fly? With that gut? What bird is that supposed to be?”

And just like that, everyone went their separate ways. Wan-San followed them out.

When Luo Ren finally got up, Mu Dai was still on the couch, legs tucked under her, clutching a pillow. She dropped her chin into it, her little face half-buried, looking like a wronged child.

Luo Ren smiled and ruffled her hair.

She complained, “You’re all leaving. I won’t know what’s going on, and I can’t even turn my phone on…”

After a moment’s thought, Luo Ren handed her his phone.

Mu Dai took it, eyeing him. “You’re just giving it to me like that? What if a pretty girl or some secret lover calls you?”

The joke suddenly jogged Luo Ren’s memory. His eyes flicked to the phone.

She caught the glance immediately, whipped the phone behind her back, and shot him a look that screamed: Don’t even think about taking it back.

Luo Ren brushed her nose with a finger. “Little rascal, what do I have to be afraid of?”

On the way, Luo Ren asked Fatty Cao with a wry smile:
“Do you know Murphy’s Law?”

Murphy’s Law? Sounded like Newton’s cousin or something. Was Brother Luo trying to show off his education?

Cao didn’t want to give him the chance. “I’m not familiar with the physics world.”

Luo Ren explained:
“You’re waiting for the bus. It takes too long, you give up and walk away—then the bus shows up.”

Cao’s eyes went wide. That’s Murphy’s Law? How the hell did Murphy know what happened the last time I waited for the bus?

“You’re in line to buy tickets. The other line always moves faster. You switch, and suddenly the first line speeds up.”

Cao was dumbfounded. He knows about my ticket-line disaster too? Murphy must be my long-lost twin.

Luo Ren went on,
“Murphy’s Law reminds us not to ignore low-probability events. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And if you’re worried about something happening, chances are—it will. So…”

So Mu Dai… very likely… would end up getting a call.

Wan-San was so worked up that his chest was heaving, eyes rimmed red. The clerk at the reception desk handed him a tissue.
“Don’t get so emotional. Take your time.”

Hongsha stood by the window, staring outside. The street was packed with cars—whooshing past one after another, like the string of crude curses racing through her head.

Then Wan-San’s voice broke the air.
“I can’t sleep. I didn’t sleep a wink all night. Every time I closed my eyes, it was nightmares.”

Hongsha thought: Bullshit.

The clerk nodded sympathetically. “Understandable. Anyone who witnessed something that gruesome would need time to recover.”

Wan-San blew his nose. “Especially since you were there last night. You know, those people kept saying I was the one who pushed him. Honestly… it’s got me a little shaken.”

Hongsha felt like someone had poured an entire vat of vinegar straight down her throat, her stomach twisting with sourness. Shaken, my ass!

The clerk looked embarrassed.
“We’ve already given those people a stern talking-to. Testimonies are important—they can affect how a case is judged in the end. Their behavior was, frankly, out of line. Good thing we still have the surveillance footage. Of course, you have to understand, everything happened so fast. They might really have been mistaken…”

Wan-San said earnestly, “I only have one request.”

His voice was heartfelt.
“Can I watch the video again? Just once more, all the way through. I just want to see it clearly, so I can put my mind at ease.”

There was a pause. Then the clerk said, “It’s a bit against the rules, but given the circumstances, it’s reasonable. Please wait here—I’ll make the arrangements.”

Once the clerk left, Yan Hongsha turned back. The man who had been sitting at the table a moment ago—speaking so earnestly, claiming to be tormented by nightmares—was now slouched in his chair like a rag doll, legs kicked up high.

He shrugged at her, casual as anything. “Survival skills.”

Hongsha sneered. “That’s what you call survival skills?”

“Sure. The point is to get what you need while staying comfortable. Fatty Cao can pull off a little sleight of hand to scare people straight, so why get red in the face arguing? One mouth against four—aren’t you just wearing yourself out? Same with Luo Ren—he can fight, so let him handle the tough scenes while I stay in the back. Charging headfirst isn’t loyalty—it’s stupidity. Come on, Two-Burn…”

He straightened, crossed one leg over the other like some old man, and wagged a finger.
“Two-Burn, I can see you’ve got a streak of loyalty. You stuck your neck out for me last night, so let me give you some advice—don’t be so bullheaded. You’re too single-minded.”

Hongsha snorted. She had no interest in hearing Wan-San’s petty, scheming brand of “wisdom.”

She said coolly, “Maybe I’m out of step with the world, but I stick to my principles. Right is right, wrong is wrong. Things aren’t as murky as people make them out to be—the world is black and white. That ‘gray area’ you all love to talk about? It’s not the situation that’s gray—it’s people like you who stir the water until it’s muddy.”

“There’s a saying, maybe it sounds cliché, but I believe it: everything should be as clear-cut as paying back a debt you owe. If everyone respected that, if everyone followed it, if everyone carried that measure in their hearts, things wouldn’t be nearly so complicated.”

Wan-San curled his lip. This girl’s hopeless.

Wait—hold on. Why did a couple of her lines sound so familiar?

The door clicked. Wan-San instantly slipped back into character—elbows on the table, head bowed, hands wringing together.