Chapter 1: The Girl's Commission
Jiangcheng, Tingtang Road. Inside an adult store named "Peak of Joy" stood a high school girl who looked panicked and pale.
"The full package is nine thousand nine hundred, and a thousand deposit is required for the initial investigation," I said, smoking a cigarette as I sized up the girl. Her face, as small as a palm, looked innocent against the backdrop of her school uniform. She was thin, but her chest was unexpectedly full.
Under my gaze, the girl looked uncomfortable. "A thousand... I only have seventy on me. Can I pay the rest later when I have the money?"
"Seventy is seventy. Put the money on the table, and you can leave. I'll get back to you in three days," I said.
"You... won't be a scammer, will you?" The girl looked skeptical, her seventy yuan already damp with sweat in her palm.
"I'm entrusted to do a job, and I take it seriously. Truthfulness, efficiency, honesty, and confidentiality are the principles of our trade. Your question just now is questioning my professional ethics," I said, grabbing the money from her hand and waving her off.
At this point, many people might misunderstand me and think that I'm bullying minors or luring young girls. But that's not the case. Everything I did was to help her.
My name is Gao Jian, and I'm the owner of this adult store. Of course, being the owner is just a disguise. My real identity is a private detective.
Finding missing people, investigating suspicious deaths, corporate espionage, fighting fakes and protecting consumer rights, marital affairs investigations, and various non-litigation case assistance—my firm handles all of it.
Back to the point, the girl who came to seek help earlier is called Xia Qingzhi. She's a student at our city's top high school.
The reason she showed up here was because of a bizarre incident.
"My brother, Xia Chi, has been missing for a week, and I suspect he's been murdered," the girl said, looking panicked and frightened as soon as she walked in.
"For criminal cases, you should report it to the police," I said, glancing at her without much interest. High school students don't have much money.
"It's useless to report it to the police. I've tried everything. No one remembers my brother's existence, including in the household registration records. He's just vanished into thin air, and all traces of him have been erased," she said.
"You mean to say that the memory of your brother only exists in your mind?" The girl didn't seem to be lying, and that was the scariest part.
"Yes, everyone has forgotten about my brother. Only I remember..."
I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
If what the girl said is true, then there are only two possible explanations: a supernatural or paranormal event, or the girl suffers from a severe schizophrenic episode where a twisted personality of her brother is hidden within her.
"Did your brother show any unusual behavior before he went missing?" I asked, trying to get more clues by following her narrative. I wasn't in any rush.
"A week ago, my brother was invited to an interview for a live streaming platform, and he never came back," the girl said, pulling out a wrinkled, ordinary card from her pocket. It looked similar to the small ads for fixing pipes or selling fake medicine on the roadside fences.
"Do you want to become a star with millions of fans admiring you?"
"Become a contracted streamer on the Underworld Show and start your own live broadcast."
"As long as you have courage, talent, and time."
"You can turn all your dreams into reality just by sitting at home!"
"The Underworld Show, that name is quite unique," I said, examining the card repeatedly. I was even more suspicious that this was a prank by some mischievous kid. Leaving aside the company name, I flipped the card over. The interview time for this live streaming platform was from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., and the interview location was Room 444, Basement Level 4, No. 44 Wudeng Road. This series of numbers and locations didn't seem like they were meant for normal people.
"Do you think I'm making this up?" The girl's reaction was close to despair. I could see the disappointment and fear in her eyes.
"No, no one is qualified to jump to conclusions before investigating," I said, even though I mostly did it for the few dozen yuan she had given me. My firm hadn't had a case for two months, and with the emergence of self-service condom dispensers, the adult store's income was also decreasing. If this continued, I would soon be unable to pay the rent.
So, I accepted this seemingly prank-like mission, which led to the scene at the beginning.
"The Underworld Show..." In recent years, live streaming platforms have become popular. Some stream food, some stream games, some stream lewd content to attract lonely male viewers. All of these are understandable. But from the name, "The Underworld Show," it's completely unclear what its main content would be.
"Could it be streaming the daily lives of the dead?" I shook my head and chuckled, urging Xia Qingzhi to leave. Having a high school girl stay in my adult store for too long might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, especially since she was still under eighteen.
As I lifted the thick door curtain made from a military coat, Xia Qingzhi bumped into a woman exuding feminine charm as she was about to leave.
"Sorry, sorry," Xia Qingzhi said, perhaps realizing that an adult store wasn't the right place for her. She covered her face with her schoolbag and fled.
"You sell stuff to high schoolers too?" The woman's voice was pleasant, and I vaguely recognized it.
"I have no right to interfere with whether or not others buy something," I said, looking at the woman in front of me. She was indeed beautiful, with delicate and pale ankles peeking out from her high-heeled sandals. Her calves were taut, and the lace skirt floated in the air. Despite the loose fit of the dress, it couldn't hide her impressive curves. She had a great figure and elegant demeanor, but her face was hidden by a mask and sunglasses.
However, I was already accustomed to it. People who came here often had their own secrets. If they didn't want to reveal their identity, I wouldn't force them. Harmony brings wealth. As long as they paid, everything was negotiable.
The woman was dressed fashionably and appropriately, wearing all name brands. The handbag she carried was from Paris' Louis Vuitton, which alone cost more than my annual rent.
"So, beauty, what can I do for you? My shop is about to close due to poor management, so all products are on sale with a 20% discount," I said.
"Sorry, I don't need anything. I'm just here to look for someone," the woman said, removing her mask and sunglasses. "Gao Jian, it's been five years, and you haven't changed at all."
At the sight of her face, the cigarette in my hand fell to the ground. "Ye Bing?"
She was my first love. When we were in police college, our combined scores always ranked first and second.
However, later on, I got involved in a serial murder case and was expelled from the police college. She, on the other hand, successfully completed her studies and was sent abroad for further studies with the help of her new boyfriend.
"Five years haven't been enough for you to drop your sarcastic habit? I admit I did wrong, but I don't regret it," the beautiful woman said with a smile. She was mature, confident, and every move she made could arouse men's impulses.
"Is that so? Then why are you back now? Are you thinking of reigniting our old flame and reliving the passionate days?" I stared unabashedly at Ye Bing's curvaceous figure.
"I came here today to talk to you properly, but seeing your current situation, it seems there's no need," she said, taking a bank card out of her purse and placing it on the table. "This card has 100,000 yuan in it. It's my apology for leaving without saying goodbye five years ago. Gao Jian, we're not young anymore. It's time to move on from our memories and face reality."
"Three days later, my wedding with Jiang will be held at Shiji Xinyuan. If you have time, you can come. Since I've just returned to the country, I don't have many friends in this city," Ye Bing said in a casual tone, as if she was narrating a mundane matter. The deep-seated disdain and disappointment in her eyes were captured by me, and for a moment, I was speechless.
There was no anger, no pain, no hysteria. I just took a puff of my cigarette and said, "Take the card back. I'll be there on time three days later."
I didn't know when Ye Bing left. I just finished a whole pack of cigarettes, feeling a burning sensation in my lungs.
There was nothing to complain about. She casually handed me a card that exceeded my entire net worth. It was better to focus on the task at hand instead of getting angry and achieving nothing.
I placed the small advertisement left by Xia Qingzhi beside my computer. This was my only job in two months. Although the client was just a minor who might have mental issues, I couldn't afford to mess it up. Because I needed the money.
