Chapter 10 Accidental Exposure
1. Discovered?
The night in Linzhou is always wrapped in a layer of wet neon gauze, with undercurrents surging beneath the hustle and bustle.
Ouyang Lanlan hurried back to her apartment. The sound of her high heels tapping against the sidewalk tiles was both distinct and intrusive on the relatively quiet sidewalk. She instinctively clutched her shoulder bag to her chest, her other hand clutching her phone tightly, her fingertips cold. Even with Qin Chuan watching from a distance, the feeling of being licked by invisible eyes lingered, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She didn't dare look back, only quickening her pace, as if that would shake off the sticky, cold fear that was following her.
She didn't know that at this moment, a silent "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" was taking place on the street.
She is the "cicada" who is restless and trying hard to move forward.
About thirty meters behind her, a blue electric scooter glided slowly, almost at a walking pace. The rider wore a black cap and a mask, revealing only a pair of eyes. Their eyes gleamed coldly in the shadow of the streetlight, like a venomous snake stalking its prey, precisely following her figure. It was Huang Qiang. His stalking was bold, almost provocative, seemingly unconcerned about being discovered. It was more like a cold assessment and pressure.
Behind Huang Qiang, further and more obscured in the darkness, another electric bike silently weaved between the shadows of trees and parked cars. Qin Chuan, wearing an ill-fitting, sourced delivery uniform, his helmet pulled low. His aura was restrained to the utmost, his entire attention focused on the blue figure in front of him. His muscles tensed, like a bow poised to draw, ready to respond to any unexpected situation. He was the "yellow bird," holding his breath, waiting for his opportunity.
A strange and fragile balance was formed between the three of them, as if an invisible string was stretched taut in the air, which would suddenly break with just the slightest external force.
This "external force" came unexpectedly.
A familiar black sedan passed in the opposite lane. The driver was Lin Jingliang. He had just finished working overtime and rubbed his brow wearily, his eyes unconsciously scanning the street. It was in this casual glance that he saw Ouyang Lanlan hurrying along the sidewalk. Just as he was about to slow down and consider whether to say hello, his attention was suddenly drawn to the furtive "delivery man" behind Ouyang Lanlan—the man's bicycle was moving in an odd pattern, driving slowly, and his eyes seemed fixed on Ouyang Lanlan in front of him.
Lin Jingliang's rage suddenly surged! This haunting security guard was still following Lanlan!
Without hesitation, Lin Jingliang swerved the steering wheel, and the car swerved to the side of the road, screeching to a halt. He flung open the car door and angrily ran towards Qin Chuan!
Qin Chuan's entire attention was focused on Huang Qiang, and he completely ignored Lin Jingliang charging from the side. That was until his arm was violently grabbed from behind, and a furious shout rang out in his ears: "What the hell do you want to do?! Why do you keep following Ouyang?! You pervert! You're not going to stop, are you?"
Qin Chuan's heart suddenly sank, and he secretly cried out in disbelief! He tried to break free, lowering his voice and saying anxiously: "Let go! You misunderstood! I'm not following her, I'm..."
"Misunderstanding! I saw it with my own eyes! I wanted to attack you last time at the company gate!" Lin Jingliang was so agitated that he wouldn't listen to any explanation. Instead, he held on tighter, trying to snatch Qin Chuan's handlebars. "Get off! You must explain everything today! Otherwise, I'm calling the police!"
The sounds of their tug-of-war and quarrel were particularly piercing in the silent night. Ouyang Lanlan, who was standing in front of them, was startled and turned back in shock. Seeing Qin Chuan and Lin Jingliang fighting, she froze for a moment, her face pale.
All of this fell into the eyes of Huang Qiang who was not far away.
He stopped the car, his eyes hidden under the brim of his hat, like the most sophisticated sensors, calmly scanning the sudden conflict. He saw Qin Chuan (the new, overly enthusiastic Northeastern rider) and Ouyang Lanlan meet; he saw the man driving the car stand up for Ouyang Lanlan; he heard words like "tracking" and "call the police."
At first it was just a brief moment of doubt, but soon these fragmented pieces of information were rapidly pieced together and reorganized in his extremely suspicious and logically distorted brain!
The Northeast rider who always appeared around him, the survivor from four years ago, the man who suddenly appeared...
I see.
It's not a coincidence at all, nor is it simple harassment.
This was a setup. A setup set against him.
They were in the same group. They recognized him. They were investigating him. That text message, that trap, that woman's stalking and fear, it was all a show for him!
A kind of rage at being deceived, fooled, and carefully plotted against, like boiling magma, instantly drowned out his usual coldness! This kind of anger was far more terrifying than pure murderous intent. It was mixed with a sense of shame at having his disguise exposed and a strong desire for revenge!
In the darkness, Huang Qiang clenched his grip on the handlebars tightly, his knuckles crackling slightly from the exertion. His chest rose and fell violently, but he quickly suppressed it. Only his eyes grew increasingly sinister and unfathomable, surging with a chilling wave of destruction.
He stopped watching the farce and suddenly turned the accelerator. The electric car silently turned around and, like a blue ghost, quickly merged into the darkness of another alley and disappeared without a trace.
He didn't even make a single extra sound, but his silent departure was more heart-wrenching than any roar.
Ouyang Lanlan finally reacted, rushed forward, and anxiously shouted to Lin Jingliang: "Senior Brother Lin! Let go! You really misunderstood! He is not following me! He is..." Her words were stuck in her throat and she couldn't tell the truth.
Lin Jingliang was confused by her reaction and couldn't help but loosen his grip.
Qin Chuan took the opportunity to break free, without bothering to explain. His anxious eyes immediately turned to the place where Huang Qiang had just been - there was no one there!
His heart sank instantly.
Exposed.
Completely exposed.
2. Important clues?
The atmosphere in the next few days was so strange and suffocating.
Huang Qiang still showed up at the station on time, taking orders and delivering meals, silent and taciturn, as if the events of that night had never happened. But the aura he exuded had changed. Where before, he had been pure, aloof, now there was an indescribable gloom, like the low pressure before a storm, so oppressive it was hard to breathe. He no longer completely avoided Qin Chuan, and occasionally even glanced at him. His gaze was no longer a blank scan, but a cold, scrutinizing, and cryptic inquiry.
This left Qin Chuan somewhat unsure. He didn't know whether Huang Qiang had discovered his acquaintance with Ouyang Lanlan that day, or if he hadn't. He had to be doubly vigilant, trying not to reveal any flaws, and desperately needed to find a breakthrough. However, beneath the surface of calm, the undercurrent was already surging.
At noon that day, there were not many orders at the station, and several riders gathered together to chat and brag. Huang Qiang rarely left immediately, but sat in his corner, holding a palm-sized black soft-cover notebook with badly worn edges, and wrote something with a very old ballpoint pen, his head down, his expression focused.
Qin Chuan's heartbeat quickened involuntarily. That notebook! He had vaguely seen Huang Qiang take it out once or twice before, and he keenly sensed that it should contain the evidence he needed. But the last time he was at Huang Qiang's house, he wanted to find the notebook, but he couldn't find it.
After a while, Huang Qiang closed the notebook, stood up, and walked to his locker, number 37, by the wall. The station rented lockers for delivery drivers to store their personal belongings. He opened the locker with his key and casually placed the black notebook on top of a pile of old newspapers inside the locker before taking out his water bottle to drink.
At this moment, Qin Chuan suddenly realized that this notebook had been hidden here by Huang Qiang. It turned out that the "most dangerous place" is the safest place, commonly known as "darkness under the lamp". No wonder he couldn't find it.
What was recorded there? A record of the crime? A psychological trajectory? Information about the next target? Qin Chuan had been a police officer for many years and had indeed seen many perverted serial killers. He liked to record the crime process in his own way.
Whatever it was, it was like bait, emitting a dangerous yet irresistible aura.
Qin Chuan forced himself to look away, pretending to look down at his phone, but inside, a huge storm was brewing. He was thinking about how to get the notebook. The lock wasn't hard to open, but the station was almost always occupied except from midnight to breakfast! Furthermore, the station was under surveillance, and two riders slept there at night, making it difficult to find a way!
He could also find a way to easily destroy the surveillance, but as a former policeman, he knew very well that doing so would no longer be considered walking on the edge of the law, but would have already crossed the line. Was there any need to "take the risk"?
The thought of taking risks was like a poisonous snake, entwining his mind. He desperately needed evidence, something that could completely nail Huang Qiang and put an end to it all.
3. Traps
Qin Chuan suppressed the urge to act immediately. He knew Huang Qiang's cunning and suspicion well. The fact that the notebook had been so easily revealed was probably a test. He couldn't just touch the cabinet, especially in a surveillance station.
A plan gradually took shape in his mind.
The next morning, the station was bustling with people, a busy time. Suddenly, Qin Chuan let out a low, frustrated growl in front of his rented express locker. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to attract the attention of several nearby riders.
"Fuck! Who the hell is so ungrateful!" He slammed the cabinet door hard with an ugly look on his face.
"What's wrong, Brother Chuan?" A rider who was quite familiar with me came over and asked.
"Damn it, it looks like someone broke into the cabinet!" Qin Chuan pointed at the fresh, tiny scratches near the keyhole, which he had deliberately made with his key, and said angrily, "The two Changbai Mountain roses I put in there, and a bag of sun-dried day lilies my mom sent me from my hometown, are gone!"
"What? Lost something?" This question immediately resonated with several riders nearby. Although they were worthless items, the feeling of having their sense of security shattered was very uncomfortable.
"Is there really a thief? He stole from our place?"
"Look what's missing!"
"I told you this broken cabinet isn't safe!"
For a moment, the station was abuzz with discussion. Huang Qiang also stopped what he was doing and looked over here, a glimmer of light flashing in the depths of his eyes, which was extremely quick and hard to grasp.
"Call the police, Brother Chuan!" someone suggested.
Qin Chuan waved his hands, pretending to be magnanimous but helpless, saying, "Why call the police? Two packs of cigarettes and some local specialties aren't worth bothering the police. It's just annoying!" He raised his voice and said to the people around him, "Everyone, check your lockers. Don't keep valuables here anymore. It's not safe here!"
His words were like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples. Many riders subconsciously checked their locker doors.
Huang Qiang stood there with no expression, but after a while, he silently walked to his cabinet No. 37, opened it with the key, looked inside, and then locked it silently.
Qin Chuan took it all in from the corner of his eye, sneering inwardly. The bait had been cast, now it depended on whether the fish would bite or not.
Sure enough, when Huang Qiang got off work that evening, Qin Chuan noticed that he hadn't left empty-handed as usual. Instead, he was carrying the slightly worn black backpack he rarely used. The backpack looked heavier than when he arrived. Qin Chuan's heartbeat quickened slightly—he might have moved the notebook!
Huang Qiang rode his bike, slowly and leisurely, towards home. Qin Chuan followed from a distance, keeping a safe distance to avoid being spotted. He saw Huang Qiang return to the residential building in the urban village, climb the stairs, open the door, and enter the house.
The lights come on.
Qin Chuan hid in the shadows across the hallway, feeling the excitement of his plan coming to fruition. The notebook had been taken home. While there were risks there, it offered him greater scope for maneuver and greater secrecy than at a surveillance and personnel station. He seemed to have already seen the key evidence recorded in the notebook.
However, he didn't know that he was walking step by step into a more dangerous trap carefully set by Huang Qiang.
Huang Qiang, who was upstairs, drew all the curtains tight as soon as he entered the house. Then, he walked to the window and looked through the gap in the curtains coldly in the direction where Qin Chuan might be hiding downstairs, with a cold, cruel smile on his face.
Of course he noticed the scratches on the lock; they were so deliberate, almost as if he was afraid no one else would notice. The Northeastern man, assuming he was clever, had played a crude thief-crying-snatch trick, his sole purpose being to force him to move his valuables back home.
Okay, as you wish.
Huang Qiang took out the black softcover book from his backpack and threw it casually on the table. Then he walked into the locked room inside and took out a small bucket of lubricating oil and an old brush that he had prepared long ago.
He pushed open the window, leaned out, and climbed down a little. Outside the old wall, the rusty drainage pipe stretched like a vertical, dark tunnel in the night. Carefully and silently, he evenly applied a layer of transparent, viscous lubricant to the section of pipe that Qin Chuan had most likely grasped during his last climb. The oil was barely visible in the dim light, but it felt incredibly slippery to the touch.
After doing all this, he returned to the house and closed the windows, as if nothing had happened. He even deliberately did not lock the latch of the inner door, but just left it ajar.
Now, all we have to do is wait. Wait for that self-righteous "hunter" to fall into the trap.
The next day, Huang Qiang went out as usual, but he did not go far. Instead, he lurked in a nearby corner where he could observe the entrance of the building, like a dormant spider, guarding his web.
Sure enough, not long after, he saw Qin Chuan appear. Wearing a hat, Qin Chuan walked hurriedly, observing his surroundings vigilantly, and quickly slipped into the building.
The muscles on Huang Qiang's face twitched, revealing a cruel expression that was almost joyful. Here it comes.
Qin Chuan skillfully used a tool to open Huang Qiang's door, slipped in, and quickly closed it. A faint smell from the room, a mixture of dust and a strange aroma, hit him. His target was clear—that black softcover book!
He quickly scanned the living room and soon saw the notebook on the table. He suppressed his excitement, walked over and picked it up, and opened it impatiently -
However, just as his eyes fell on the contents of the notebook, he suddenly heard clear, unhurried footsteps coming up the stairs! And they were heading straight towards this door!
Huang Qiang is back?! How did he come so fast?!
Qin Chuan's heart suddenly skipped a beat! Without taking a closer look at the contents of the notebook, he subconsciously stuffed the notebook into his arms. The first thing he thought of was not the door, but the familiar escape route - the balcony!
He rushed into the inner room like lightning, passed through the half-open door, and went straight to the balcony. His footsteps had reached the door, and the sound of the key being inserted into the lock was clearly audible!
Qin Chuan did not hesitate, turned over and grabbed the cold drainpipe with both hands accurately, pressed his body against the wall, and slid down quickly!
The upstairs door opened and Huang Qiang walked in. He didn't immediately check the inner room, but slowly changed his shoes, poured water, and made normal household sounds, as if he was enjoying a game of cat and mouse.
Qin Chuan held his breath and moved down little by little. However, just when he reached about the third floor, his right hand suddenly grabbed the next pipe joint.
The place where I touched it was so slippery that I couldn't even hold it!
It's oil! Thick lube!
"Oh no!" Qin Chuan's heart was shaken! But it was too late! His body instantly lost its support and fell down violently!
In this critical moment, his instincts and strong core strength, cultivated over the years, saved his life. At the moment of falling, he exerted force on his waist and abdomen, twisting his body forcefully in the air while desperately stomping his left foot against the wall in an attempt to slow his fall. He fell to the ground in an extremely awkward position!
"Bang!" A muffled sound!
Although he did his best to cushion the impact, the immense force still sent a piercing pain through his right ankle! He groaned, nearly fainting from the pain, cold sweat instantly covering his forehead.
He didn't dare to stop. He endured the severe pain and crawled to his feet. Dragging his injured right foot, he staggered into the intricate alleys next to him at the fastest speed and disappeared.
Upstairs, Huang Qiang slowly walked to the balcony and looked down at the deserted ground below and the obvious oil stain on the drainpipe. His face was expressionless, only a hint of bloodthirsty, cruel pleasure flashed deep in his eyes.
Although the expected sound of a heavy object falling to the ground was not heard, the dull impact and the hurried footsteps of people fleeing were enough to explain the problem.
The prey was injured.
4. Dialogue
The next day, Qin Chuan limped to the station. His right ankle was so swollen that he could only barely wear loose shoes. Every step he took tugged at the nerves, causing sharp pain. But he tried his best to maintain composure, even with his usual, slightly tired smile.
As soon as he entered the door, he felt a cold gaze sweeping over and landing on his feet.
Huang Qiang was resting against the wall, fiddling with his phone. When he saw Qin Chuan come in, he put his phone down and walked over with a perfectly fake look of concern on his face.
"Brother Chuan, what's wrong with your foot? It was fine yesterday." He looked Qin Chuan up and down, his eyes like a searchlight. "Did you fall?"
Qin Chuan sneered in his heart. As soon as he got home yesterday, he took out the notebook and couldn't wait to open it -
The content inside made him stunned for a moment, and then a surge of anger rushed from his feet to his head!
The book wasn't a criminal record at all! It was a blank diary, with only a few scribbled lyrics on the last few pages. It looked like Jay Chou's "Besieged on All Sides":
"As I was walking, out of nowhere, several dogs rushed out."
"I thought to myself, when will I adopt so many dogs?"
"It seems like it's telling me some conspiracy... a talking dog."
"Dog, dog, you need me to light your way home."
"Even if you're not my opponent, you can still be my dog... la la la..."
Qin Chuan's pupils suddenly contracted! This wasn't a clue left by negligence at all; it was Huang Qiang's naked demonstration and declaration! He had long known that Qin Chuan and the others were investigating him. He knew Ouyang Lanlan's address, and he might even be planning his next move!
This book itself is a carefully designed trap used to confirm suspicion and provoke!
Now, facing Huang Qiang's hypocritical greetings, he sighed and waved his hands: "Damn it, don't mention it, I'm so unlucky. After delivering the last order last night, it was too dark and I couldn't see the stairs downstairs clearly. I missed a step and sprained my ankle. I'm old and useless." He spoke vaguely on purpose, complaining about the weather and his luck.
Huang Qiang nodded in sympathy, but his eyes held no trace of sympathy. Instead, they held a knowing, mocking look. "Be careful then. Our job depends on our legs and feet. Is it serious? Have you checked it out?"
"It's okay, it's just a minor injury. It will be fine after two days of rest." Qin Chuan moved his ankle with pretended ease, and immediately gasped in pain. His acting was a bit exaggerated.
"Oh," Huang Qiang responded, and suddenly seemed to remember something, his tone becoming more "concerned." "By the way, Brother Chuan, did you go to the alley behind our building yesterday? That's where I live."
Qin Chuan's heart suddenly tightened, but he remained expressionless: "No, what's wrong?" He knew that the moment when the truth would be revealed might be coming.
"Tsk, that's weird." Huang Qiang frowned, looking confused. "Just yesterday afternoon, the drainpipe outside my balcony was greased by some unscrupulous person. It's so slippery! I even saw a gecko fall down last night! I thought it was a neighbor's prank, or a mischievous child."
He paused, his eyes fixed on Qin Chuan's face, as if appreciating the subtle changes in his expression. His tone became more meaningful: "If someone accidentally climbs the pipe from there, tsk, it's three or four stories high. Falling from it is no joke. They will definitely be half-dead. Brother Chuan, tell me, how vicious is the heart of this bad person?"
Qin Chuan's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He knew it all! Not only did he know he was investigating him, he was also likely aware that he had sneaked into his house and escaped through the pipes last time. The mysterious notebook clues and lubricant were all his malicious plots, just like the perverted trick he used in junior high school to make a simple sulfuric acid with boiling water and jam and pretended to throw it on someone. This conversation was a naked provocation and declaration!
The air seemed frozen. Two men stood face to face, one feigning concern, the other forcing composure, but their gazes clashed in the air, a flash of swords already visible.
Qin Chuan knew it was pointless to continue pretending. Huang Qiang was simply admiring his struggling form. He took a deep breath and met Huang Qiang's gaze. The fatigue and disguise on his face gradually faded, replaced by the cold, sharp look of a former criminal police officer.
"Yeah," Qin Chuan said slowly, his voice lowered with a barely perceptible hoarseness, "He's quite vicious. But sometimes, God sees things. The bad guys tried their best, but they still couldn't succeed, right? On the contrary, my own shameful past is about to be exposed."
His words were almost too explicit. He was telling Huang Qiang: I know your trap, and I know your past, too.
The fake smile on Huang Qiang's face finally faded. He no longer concealed his anger, his eyes like poisoned ice cones, staring at Qin Chuan intently, his mouth curled downward in a cold arc.
There was no more conversation between the two, but silent hostility and murderous intent had already spread, blocking out the noisy surrounding sounds.
They all knew it.
The game is over.
The disguise is torn.
From this moment on, Ouyang Lanlan, Qin Chuan, and Huang Qiang were all clearly put on the poker table.
Next, it will no longer be a secret competition and temptation, but a naked, life-and-death contest.
Qin Chuan dragged his injured leg and turned to get his takeout box, not even glancing at Huang Qiang. But every one of his senses was heightened to the extreme, alert for any possible attack from behind.
Huang Qiang didn't move either, just stood there, his cold eyes following Qin Chuan's back until he walked out of the station.
He slowly took out his cell phone from his pocket, and the screen lit up. On it was a photo he had just taken of Qin Chuan limping towards the street corner.
He lowered his head and began to delete the photos slowly, one by one.
Instead of deleting it, he dragged it into an encrypted album named [Prey].
There was already another photo inside - the silhouette of Ouyang Lanlan walking into the apartment building.
After doing all this coldly, Huang Qiang slowly squatted down, his eyes fixed on the spot where Qin Chuan had just crushed the cigarette butt. Wearing the thin gloves he'd used to pick up bottles, he carefully wrapped the cigarette butt, which contained Qin Chuan's saliva DNA, with two pieces of waste paper, as if it were a treasure, and put it in his pocket.
Finally, a genuine, twisted and satisfied smile appeared on his face.
The mantis thought it saw the cicada, and the oriole thought it was hiding well.
However, they didn't know that the identities of the hunters had already been quietly exchanged.
The cold game has entered a new round.
(End of Chapter 10)
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