Plan

Chapter Fifteen: Plan

There were too many mysteries, but fortunately, there was still enough time.

Bai Yanliang remembered clearly that the time limit for this mission was seven days.

After seven days, even if they failed to solve every mystery, as long as they were still alive, they could return safely to Mist Gathering.

"We must have overlooked a lot of crucial information. After lunch, let's split up again while it's still light out," Xu Zhi'an said tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Wait, there's one more thing I haven't mentioned." Feng Xinghan looked down at his notebook and spoke quickly.

"According to Yingcheng Daily, Zhang Wen also submitted a notice to be published tomorrow. I used a few methods to get hold of it in advance."

Feng Xinghan did not explain exactly how he had obtained the information. He merely stared at his notebook and said, word by word, "Zhang Qiao."

He looked at the other four and closed the notebook. "The newspaper said Zhang Wen requested that information about a woman named Zhang Qiao be published tomorrow. It's also a missing-person notice."

"Zhang Qiao? Who's that?"

Li Yuejun's confusion was undisguised.

She was not the only one. The others looked just as bewildered.

Bai Yanliang thought for a moment before finally deciding not to hide this information any longer.

He raised his hand. "I know."

"You?"

Everyone turned to look at him.

Bai Yanliang nodded and repeated, "I know Zhang Qiao. She's Ding Lei's younger sister-in-law. Some time ago, she came to Yingcheng on her honeymoon with her newlywed husband, and then... she died."

"She died?!"

Xu Zhi'an's eyes widened, and he cried out in his hoarse voice.

"How do you know she died? Did you actually see her die—" Li Yuejun was about to continue when she realized Bai Yanliang was looking at her.

"Do you remember the ghost you saw?"

Bai Yanliang's tone was calm, and his manner gentle, yet Li Yuejun felt an uncomfortable pressure. She nodded instinctively.

"What ghost?" The other three were confused by Bai Yanliang and Li Yuejun's exchange. From the sound of it, there seemed to be another ghost in this hotel?

"Zhang Qiao. She sleeps under my bed."

Bai Yanliang dropped another bombshell, leaving nearly everyone speechless and short of breath.

"Y-you... what did you say?!"

Bai Yanliang did not answer the meaningless question and simply continued.

"Earlier, I went back to the room where I woke up. I wanted to get a good look at her face, so I memorized her features, sketched her portrait, and asked around the hotel. A staff member told me her name was Zhang Qiao, and that she was Ding Lei's younger sister-in-law."

"Wait! You mean... there's a ghost under your bed?" Even Feng Xinghan, a burly man, spoke with a slight tremor. As he asked, he felt a chill burrow up his back.

"Yes. Ms. Li has seen her too." Bai Yanliang nodded, then looked at Li Yuejun.

To his surprise, Li Yuejun was staring at him without blinking, her expression filled with disbelief and fear.

"Y-you went back to find her? Just to see her face clearly?" Li Yuejun could not imagine what it would be like to look for a ghost beneath her own bed. Was he insane?

Bai Yanliang nodded lightly, then shifted his gaze to Jiang Li and the other two. "That isn't important. What matters is her identity. She's Zhang Qiao. But... she's already dead. She's now a ghost hiding under my bed. So... why does Zhang Wen intend to publish a missing-person notice for her? What is her relationship with Zhang Qiao? And... what role did Zhang Wen play in these two disappearances... no, more accurately, one murder and one disappearance?"

Bai Yanliang's analysis made a great deal of sense, but that did not stop everyone from looking at him more and more strangely.

Lost in thought, Bai Yanliang clearly failed to notice. In fact, even if he had noticed, he probably would not have cared.

"Fine. In that case, let's split up again. We'll meet back here at six this evening. As for lunch, just grab something quick. Time is of the essence." As Feng Xinghan spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Bai Yanliang. When he saw no objection from him, he inexplicably felt relieved and continued, "That Boss Ding, Ding Lei, still hasn't appeared. According to the staff, today is Sunday, and Ding Lei won't come to work until tomorrow. He must be hiding many secrets."

Everyone nodded, finally settling the strange feelings Bai Yanliang had stirred up in them.

As everyone gradually dispersed, Bai Yanliang suddenly called out to Li Yuejun.

"Ms. Li, please wait!"

Li Yuejun turned back to him in mild surprise. At the same time, Jiang Li, who had been about to leave with her, also looked at Bai Yanliang.

"If possible, could you act with me this afternoon? I'm new, and there are some things I don't understand very well. In case I accidentally violate some taboo..." Bai Yanliang seemed a little embarrassed. He did not dare look either woman in the eyes as he spoke.

Li Yuejun was speechless.

You're afraid of violating taboos? You dared to go up and inspect a ghost closely, and now you're scared?

But Bai Yanliang did have a point.

Li Yuejun was a woman whose words often annoyed people, and her temperament had become increasingly capricious and unpleasant, but she was not bad by nature. So after hearing Bai Yanliang's explanation, she found herself in an awkward dilemma.

Jiang Li was a woman, and so was she. The two of them had already formed an unspoken understanding to act together.

Was she supposed to leave Jiang Li behind and go with Bai Yanliang? Li Yuejun hesitated.

In truth, although she had an excellent figure and was not unattractive, she was not a popular woman. This was the first time Li Yuejun had encountered a situation like this.

"Ms. Jiang, would that be all right?"

While Li Yuejun was still wavering, Bai Yanliang unexpectedly turned his questioning gaze toward Jiang Li. Li Yuejun had never anticipated that.

Moreover, it clearly caught Jiang Li off guard as well.

The androgynous woman said nothing. She merely turned and walked away, though her retreating figure seemed somewhat awkward...

Bai Yanliang watched Jiang Li silently walk off, then finally smiled at Li Yuejun. "Ms. Li, let's go."

Li Yuejun was not stupid. At that moment, she finally understood Bai Yanliang's intention.

She nodded. Amid the strange feeling in her heart, she also felt curious. Just as she was about to ask something, Bai Yanliang spoke first.

"Ms. Li, have you and Ms. Jiang been acting together the entire time? Have you never separated?"

Li Yuejun froze. Following Bai Yanliang's question, she thought back carefully. It seemed... they really had been together the whole time.

Seeing her expression, Bai Yanliang suddenly smiled. "Come to think of it, when I first saw Ms. Jiang, I mistook her for a man. But this time, I didn't. Whether it's her behavior or movements, she seems more like a carefree girl now."

Li Yuejun's expression changed. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as she stopped and looked at Bai Yanliang. "I remember now. When we were waiting for the elevator on the top floor, she went to the restroom. She came back very quickly."