Chapter 726: About the Moon, Who is the Thief? (Three Updates in One)
Dining room.
Xie Dingyuan: "Do you want more?"
Jiang Fuyue put down her fork and ate up all the tiramisu as dessert.
Hearing this, she shook her head: "That's enough."
"Then let's go."
"I'm going to the bathroom."
Xie Dingyuan nodded and took her coat. "I'll go check out first. I'll wait for you outside."
"good."
front desk.
Waiter: "Your total consumption is..."
Xie Dingyuan handed over the card.
"Please sign your name."
After paying the bill, he pushed the door open and went out. Just then someone came in and the two passed each other.
Xie Dingyuan didn't look around, and Lou Mingshen walked straight forward.
Suddenly, he stopped.
"What's wrong, Mr. Lou?" The person in charge felt a pang in his heart and wiped the sweat off his forehead nervously.
Lou Mingshen turned around and saw the revolving door of the restaurant moving, but there was no sign of the man.
"Nothing." He looked away and continued forward.
The person in charge breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed up: "Boss Wei contacted me again and kept asking to see you. This..."
Jiang Fuyue came out of the bathroom, walked across the hall and went straight out.
On the way, I passed a table and saw the waiter respectfully taking back the menu. "Okay, please wait a moment."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Lou Mingshen threw the paper towel away and caught a glimpse of a tall, slender figure leaving the revolving door. He didn't care and just looked at the person in charge opposite him and said casually, "I'm busy tomorrow. See you."
The person in charge was suddenly overwhelmed.
I screamed in my heart: Oh my God! Someone come and take this ancestor away!
…
Xie Dingyuan heard footsteps and turned around, and it was indeed her.
"Put on your clothes and don't catch a cold." As he said this, he shook out the coat in his hand and lifted it up.
Jiang Fuyue followed his movements and reached out her hand.
The man cooperated and put it on for her, and even fastened the buttons with his own hands.
"Thanks."
The two of them strolled along the garden. Jiang Fuyue looked at the retro corridor with lanterns hanging in front of her and suddenly felt inspired: "Let's go over and take a look?"
"good."
Walking through the garden and onto the corridor, a faint fragrance of sandalwood wafts in the air.
Jiang Fuyue raised her hand and touched the pillar beside her. "Rosewood?"
No wonder it smells so good.
It’s just such a large corridor with dozens of pillars, all made of rosewood. It really takes a lot of money.
"Do you two want to go in?" asked the staff member guarding outside.
Xie Dingyuan nodded.
Jiang Fuyue: "What's inside?"
"It's an exhibition hall that introduces the hotel's history. It also has a tea room and a coffee shop. They arrange two performances every week. There's one today. If you two are free, you can go in and take a look."
"What show?"
"Today's magic show starts in half an hour."
"Okay, thank you."
The staff handed each of them a mask, Xie Dingyuan was a lion and Jiang Fuyue was a fox.
They match well.
"Because it's a magic theme, in order to increase the mystery and create a magical atmosphere, everyone is required to wear a mask to enter."
After Jiang Fuyue put it on, she reached out and adjusted the angle for Xie Dingyuan.
"Is it straight?" he asked.
"So hot!" I almost forgot about his damn obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Xie Dingyuan was satisfied, and the two walked in hand in hand.
On both sides of the corridor are huge display racks, which contain the hotel's business licenses and various honorary trophies.
However, Jiang Fuyue discovered that the hotel's history was not long, only twenty years, and she didn't know why they had to follow the example of those century-old hotels and set up such an exhibition hall.
And it's not just a perfunctory or casual renovation. Judging from the layout and decoration, it's obvious that a lot of money was spent.
There is actually a tour guide——
"...Actually, our Laurel Villa used to be called Yaotai Mirror Villa. The boss felt that the word 'Villa' was too Westernized and didn't fit the overall style of our hotel, so he changed it to the current Laurel Villa. The laurel is elegant, and the villa is classic; the meaning is just right."
Someone asked: "Why is it called 'Laurel'? Is there any significance behind it?"
The tour guide said: "Because 'Yaotai Mirror' and 'Yuegui' have the same meaning."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"They all refer to the moon."
"Oh—I see! No wonder those lanterns outside are all about Chang'e flying to the moon, the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine, and Wu Gang cutting down the cassia tree. Does your boss have a special attachment to the moon? Hahaha..."
The man joked.
The guide smiled faintly, having obviously encountered similar teasing many times. "I don't know about that. I'll have to ask the boss. Next, let's look at this photo..."
There was a gate and a stone tablet with words on it, something like "Park". Due to some reflections when taking the photo, the first two words "Park" were not captured in the photo, only a white mass was seen.
The tour guide said, "The hotel was originally a hot spring park. Because it was built on a mountain and rarely visited, it was abandoned halfway through construction. Twenty years ago, it was bought by an owner and turned into a hotel, which is how the Laurel Villa we see today came to be."
Jiang Fuyue stopped in front of the photo, so the two reflected words should be "hot spring".
Hot Spring Park...
Her eyes swept over the gate and stone tablet in the photo. This place...she seemed to have seen it somewhere.
Suddenly, the scene of standing on the top of the mountain overlooking the hotel during the day flashed through my mind. That angle...
Jiang Fuyue's eyes suddenly became cold, she remembered!
Back then, she, Lou Mingshen, and Lou Mingxin had been to this park and reached the top of the mountain!
Looking down from the top of the mountain, you can see the gate and stone tablet in this photo.
Laurel Villa...
A sneer appeared on Jiang Fuyue's lips.
At this time, the tour guide had already brought everyone to the only display case in the hall.
You can clearly see what's inside through the glass cabinet.
A calligraphy and a group photo.
The inscription reads: Beautiful scenery, pleasing to the eyes.
There is no name or seal in the lower right corner, only a time - Summer 2027.
The group photo was taken with a film camera.
Although it has begun to fade and turn yellow, you can still see the people and scenery on it clearly.
In front of the gate of the hot spring park, two young girls were leaning on a stone tablet. The one on the left was tall and fair-skinned. Although the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, there was always a sense of indifference between her eyebrows. However, she had an outstanding temperament, and any leaning movement revealed a sense of elegance.
In comparison, the one on the right is a bit inferior.
Her body proportions are not as good as the former's, and her facial features are not delicate enough, but fortunately she has an innocent smile and looks energetic.
There was also a back figure that appeared in the camera, right next to the two girls. It must have been at the moment when the shutter was pressed, as he suddenly turned around, so only a back figure was captured.
The young man had a tall figure, long legs and a narrow waist. Standing next to the two girls, he looked like a young poplar.
Someone asked: "Who is that in the photo? She is so beautiful..."
"Not beautiful, but a beautiful lady with a cool and elegant demeanor."
"See those three supercars parked in the back? Back then, being able to drive a LaFerrari, a McLaren, and a McLaren P1 was definitely a super-rich family."
"This person's wealth is definitely well-known in the imperial capital. Who could it be?"
"Hey, docent, can you tell us something?"
"Yes! This inscription and this photo are sealed so tightly and securely, and placed in the most conspicuous place. What is the deep meaning behind them?"
Well!
The guide said, "I'm not entirely sure, but it's said these two items hold special significance for the boss. They were his original intention in building this hotel, so they're placed in the most prominent position to show he's not forgotten his original aspirations. For example, the glass in this display case is bulletproof, and this combination lock uses a brand-new encryption algorithm..."
"Let's go. There's nothing good to hear from pretending to be mysterious." Jiang Fuyue pulled Xie Dingyuan around the booth and walked inside.
Inside was a small studio with seats arranged in a stairway. Not long after the two sat down, people from outside came in one after another.
Because the magic show is about to begin.
The magician in a black tuxedo walked onto the stage amid applause, and the show began with a close-up magic trick that caught everyone's attention.
Next is card magic.
The finale was the "Living Magic". The magician picked people on the spot and said, "Whoever the light hits, come up and help me complete the magic, okay?"
Everyone: “Okay—”
The white searchlight shone down from a high altitude, and after repeatedly moving around and whetting people's appetite, it finally settled down.
Jiang Fuyue slowly stood up under the attention of the whole audience.
The magician was surprised: "It seems that I am lucky tonight. I have chosen a beautiful lady as my temporary partner. Unfortunately, my boyfriend seems to be sitting next to me..."
This immediately caused a burst of laughter at the scene.
One audience member joked loudly: "It doesn't matter! You can just make her go away, and then she'll be yours!"
The magician was shocked: "My friend, your idea is very dangerous!"
"Hahahahahaha..." The atmosphere became even more lively.
Jiang Fuyue leaned over and whispered to Xie Dingyuan, "Don't worry, I won't be deceived by him."
After saying that, he left the audience and walked towards the stage.
Xie Dingyuan kept his eyes on her and thought to himself: No one can have this opportunity!
Jiang Fuyue did as the magician said, stood on the table, and stretched out a piece of black cloth to block the two of them.
Magician: "Now it's time to witness the miracle. Three, two, one!"
The cloth fell to the ground, the magician was still there, the table was still there, but Jiang Fuyue was gone.
Xie Dingyuan's pupils tightened.
Everyone was amazed——
"Really disappeared? A living person!"
"Oh my god! This is amazing! How did you do that?"
"Is there some kind of mechanism?"
"I suspect that beautiful girl is a shill. She can't really be missing anyway."
"Trust? Isn't this just a random choice?"
"Do you really believe it?"
Chattering and talking at once.
The magician walked around the stage twice and moved the wooden table used as a prop to prove that there was no mechanism.
Then spread your hands and show them to the audience.
"It's really gone."
"Should we transform the person back next?"
"Of course! It's all a routine."
Sure enough, the magician picked up the black cloth on the ground again, pulled it open and shook it, then jumped onto the table nimbly. The cloth hung down, blocking the audience's view.
"Next, it's time to witness another miracle. Three, two, one!"
The cloth fell to the ground, and the whole audience was in an uproar the next second. The smile on the magician's face suddenly froze, because -
Jiang Fuyue did not show up!
It looks the same as it did before the black cloth fell, without any change.
"Shit! Did the car flip over?"
"Luckily, I was recording it with my phone and captured it all. If I post it online, it's sure to go viral!"
"Where are the people? They're not going to be like those TV shows where they watch magic tricks and then there's a murder incident, right? It's scary!"
"I think the magician himself was panicked. The moment he opened the black cloth, he was completely stunned, wasn't he?"
"Looks like it wasn't just my illusion. The magician's pupils were filled with shock, hahahaha... He must have been thinking: Where are the people? Who am I? Where am I? What happened?"
"Car rollovers are more interesting than magic tricks."
"Come on, let's start a game and see if the gambler can figure it out."
"Ten dollars, it will definitely come true!"
"Twenty, become out."
"One hundred, I bet I can't change it."
“…”
There was a lot of discussion in the audience, and the magician on the stage picked up the black cloth and prepared to make a second attempt.
It's just that he no longer has those fancy lines in his mouth, and his eyes are less confident, not as at ease as before.
"Look—it's starting to change!"
"You may not believe this, but I can't even blink right now."
When the black cloth was raised and lowered, the stage was still as strange as before. When Jiang Fuyue did not appear, the audience fell silent for a moment.
The magician on the stage could no longer hide the shock in his eyes.
At this moment, a figure suddenly stood up in the audience, and the lights immediately shone on him. Who else could it be but Jiang Fuyue who had been transformed?
Wow——
“He’s actually in the audience, not on the stage!”
"Amazing! This operation caught us off guard."
"I was almost fooled by the magician's expression. He pretended to be quite convincing."
“A magician who can’t act is not a good actor.”
"You scared me! I really thought it couldn't be transformed!"
"Oh my god, this, this, this...how did this happen?"
"I was stunned by what I saw."
“…”
The magician asked Jiang Fuyue to return to the stage. The two faced the audience and bowed at the same time to complete their curtain call.
The performance ends here.
Xie Dingyuan and Jiang Fuyue walked out with the crowd.
After returning to their residence, they washed up, said good night to each other, and fell into a deep sleep.
Both of them were tired, and they slept particularly soundly.
It was not until the next day that we learned that the hotel exhibits had been stolen, and what was missing were the inscription and photo placed in the display case!
The police came that night, checked the surveillance footage and analyzed the scene, but unfortunately found nothing.
The exhibition hall's alarm system was not triggered, the bulletproof glass of the display cabinet was intact, and even the combination lock was opened through normal means. There were no signs of violent damage at the scene.
Police: "Are you sure it was stolen? And not taken out by an employee and put somewhere else?"
"Or maybe, you have information asymmetry within your organization, and you didn't even know someone with access to the password had taken it?"
The hotel manager was woken up in the middle of the night. His hair was messy, his shirt was wrinkled, his expression was annoyed and irritable, he was extremely anxious, and there was a pile of cigarette butts at his feet.
Hearing this, he replied firmly: "Comrade police, it's impossible! Only the boss has the password. I just asked him, and he didn't take it."
"And if it's the situations you just mentioned, why can't we find any surveillance records?"
The police also remained silent.
"If it was really stolen, then it's very likely that someone you know committed the crime. I suggest you first conduct an internal investigation of your employees, and then we will continue to follow up, taking a two-pronged approach."
"Okay! I'll arrange it right away!"
The whole hotel was in chaos that night.
"So, have you found out?" Jiang Fuyue put down the spoon, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and asked the middle-aged woman who was having breakfast at the next table.
"How can it be that easy? Without the surveillance, I guess it will be another unsolved case in the end."
Another woman at the same table said, "But I'm confused. This calligraphy isn't the work of a famous artist. It could fetch millions. The photo itself is even less valuable. Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?"
"I heard the hotel manager didn't sleep all night last night. The scene was worse than losing a living person."
"It's actually kind of odd to have those two things locked up in a bulletproof, fireproof case like that, don't you think?"
"The tour guide said that last night. It's because the boss thinks it's of great significance."
"That's problematic too! Think about it, shouldn't something of great significance to you be kept close to you? Or kept safe at home? Why put it on display for so many people to see? And with bulletproof glass and combination locks... just to prevent thieves from getting in on it."
"Hiss! That sounds so reasonable!"
Even Jiang Fuyue couldn't help but nod: "If he flaunts himself in public, it would be strange if he doesn't steal."
"Is it possible that the thief knew that these two items were of great significance to the boss, so he stole them in preparation for extortion?"
"That's really possible! After all, it's all about money and profit. No one would be so crazy as to steal these two things for no reason other than money, right? They might as well steal something else. A random pillar in the corridor would be worth more than this!"
While listening, Jiang Fuyue picked up the cup and drank some milk.
Well, it's another beautiful day.
After breakfast, she went out shopping with Xie Dingyuan.
No matter how chaotic the hotel is, it has no effect on them.
…
The air pressure in the room was low.
Hou Hao stood in the middle with his hands hanging down, his brows lowered, and he didn't dare to breathe too much.
As the silence lasted longer, more and more sweat appeared on his head, his back was already wet, and his shirt stuck to his skin, feeling cold.
Just like his heart at this moment, it felt like it was sinking into ice water.
finally--
The man spoke, but his voice was cold and deadly, "Have you found anything?"
"The police are still following up. Currently..." Hou Hao gritted his teeth, "There's been no results so far. The internal investigation found no problems, and all the on-site employees have been cleared of suspicion."
"So you're saying that the thing flew by itself?!"
Hou Hao's legs went weak and he almost fell down: "I'm not..."
"Useless thing!"
After cursing, the man stood up and walked out of the room. Hou Hao reacted and hurriedly followed him.
Soon Lou Mingshen arrived at the exhibition hall.
At this time, a yellow cordon had been set up at the gate and there was no one around.
The lanterns on the corridor were out, and there was a sense of desolation.
Lou Mingshen walked to the display case. Just as the police said, the bulletproof glass was intact and there was no sign of the combination lock being pried open.
"Are all the surveillance cameras broken?"
Hou Hao: "There are only a few in the exhibition hall."
"Turn up the surveillance in the corridor."
"Now?"
Lou Mingshen raised his eyes coldly.
Hou Hao's nerves tensed up: "I'll go right away!"
Fifteen minutes later, the surveillance footage captured by the three cameras in the corridor was sent to Lou Mingshen's mobile phone.
He fast-forwarded three times and finished it quickly.
The footage showed that the heaviest flow of people last night was between 9:00 and 10:30, and when the exhibition hall closed at 11:00, it was discovered that some items had been stolen.
In other words, the thief was hiding among the visitors!
Lou Mingshen: "What was on last night?"
"It's a magic show."
“How’s the attendance?”
"It was very high. The atmosphere was quite lively."
Lou Mingshen: "Pull up the surveillance footage at the studio entrance."
Hou Hao: "The police checked it last night."
"How do you say that?"
"No one was outside during the time the items were stolen."
"Not even one?!" His eyes were sharp and his aura was intimidating.
Hou Hao nodded firmly. "I was there when the police checked the surveillance footage yesterday. No one left the studio during the performance, not even to go to the restroom."
They locked down the possibility that there was a thief among the group, but none of them left the studio during the time when the things were stolen.
How can I steal then?
Lou Mingshen walked to the display case, raised his hand and touched the glass surface, and the cold touch passed through his fingertips to his chest.
Suddenly, he squatted down to check the combination lock. After entering a string of numbers, the cabinet door popped open with a click.
"Tell me, how can we open the cabinet door without breaking the combination lock?"
Hou Hao blurted out: "Of course there is a password."
"There is a password..." Lou Mingshen thought thoughtfully.
Hou Hao shuddered, realizing belatedly that Lou Mingshen was the only one who knew the password. Wasn't he just stroking the tiger's whiskers by saying that?!
I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Mr. Lou, I'm not doubting you. I'm saying that maybe the thief knew the password... not really... but maybe he guessed it right? Or maybe he's an old hand and knows how to crack it? Or maybe he used some other means, like eavesdropping or something..."
Never mind, he didn't know what he was talking about.
Hou Hao looked as if he had given up on saving people and was ready to die.
Who knew that Lou Mingshen didn't get angry at him?
He just looked down at the combination lock and murmured softly, "Do you know how to crack it?"
This set of encryption rules was invented by that person. Who else in the world would know it besides her and herself?
There was a look of confusion in the man's eyes, like a lost child.
Hou Hao thought he had seen it wrong. When he blinked and wanted to see more clearly, he found that Mr. Lou was still the same Mr. Lou, cold and ruthless, with a bad temper.
What confusion, what children, they are all illusions...
"Hou Hao, go check this person out." Lou Mingshen pointed to a certain spot on the surveillance screen.
Three updates combined into one, 6,000 words.
(End of this chapter)
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