Chapter 341: KK

The next day, Chen Shi told Lin Dongxue that he had some personal matters to handle and wouldn’t be going to the station.

At 9 AM, Chen Shi and Gu You set off together. Chen Shi said, “Something’s off. I thought about it all night. Are you really KK? I remember KK was a master locksmith, and Grandpa Ge was the psychology expert.”

“We learned from each other and eventually surpassed one another,” Gu You replied calmly.

Chen Shi was skeptical. After all, Gu You was just a girl back then. She couldn’t have called herself “Grandpa Ge.”

“I remember you taught everyone combat skills. You said the only martial art that could counter military and police techniques was Wing Chun.”

“Flattered.”

“Are you really a driver with a college degree?”

“I don’t want to lie to you. I have my secrets, which I’ll tell you later.”

“Fair enough, I have my secrets too.”

Chen Shi asked, “Have you been dating Old Peng recently?”

Gu You laughed, “I just feel a rational connection with him, but we haven’t been dating…”

They arrived at Baisha Square. Gu You looked around for half an hour before suddenly saying to Chen Shi, “That’s him.”

A young man with bleached hair was squatting on the ground, smoking a cigarette, and casting sneaky glances at passing women. Chen Shi frowned. He looked like a petty thief. How could someone like this be called “Grandpa Ge”? At least a con artist would suit the name better.

Suddenly, the young man jumped up like a hawk spotting prey and followed a girl, swiftly picking her wallet from her bag.

Chen Shi couldn’t stand it. Ignoring Gu You’s attempts to stop him, he walked over and tapped the young man on the shoulder. The young man turned around with hostility, “What do you want?”

“Give back the wallet you stole.”

“Who are you?”

“Police!”

“Oh, Officer…” The young man’s expression softened before he suddenly bolted.

Chen Shi swept his leg, causing the young man to fall with a cry. Chen Shi pinned him down. The young man begged for mercy as Gu You approached. He called out, “Grandpa Ge, help me!”

“What did you call her?” Chen Shi asked.

“None of your business!”

Gu You laughed, covering her mouth, “I lied to you last night. I am Grandpa Ge.”

“What about him…” Chen Shi pointed at the young man, feeling a sense of dread.

“He’s KK, the one you had an online romance with. The reason I didn’t meet you back then was because he’s a guy.”

Looking at the scruffy, mustachioed face, Chen Shi was stunned, feeling his heart shatter. The young man pointed at Chen Shi and asked Gu You, “Is he that Iron Snail?”

“That’s him.”

“No way!” The young man’s voice went up an octave. “Iron Brother, is that you?”

It took Chen Shi a while to recover. The young man stood up, excitedly saying, “It’s been years. Oh my god, is this a meetup?”

“First, return the girl’s wallet.”

“Hit me.”

“Huh?”

The young man pointed at his face, “Punch me!”

Chen Shi obliged, landing a punch on his face. The young man clutched his nose, “That was hard!”

He then limped over to the girl, returned her wallet, and chatted for a while. He came back grinning, “I told her I heroically retrieved her wallet. Got her WeChat and she said she’d treat me to dinner!”

“Scumbag!” Chen Shi said with disdain.

Half an hour later, the three of them sat in a nearby café. The young man’s real name was You Kangkang. He sipped on a milkshake, animatedly saying, “I failed my college entrance exams and was afraid my dad would kill me. I didn’t want to repeat a year, so I pretended to be studying at Long’an XX University. I even forged the acceptance letter. I kept up the act for four years, but the pressure was huge. I met Grandpa Ge online… You know, if I’d known you were a girl, I’d have chased you back then. I joined the group and found you all were highly educated. I didn’t understand most of what you discussed, but you needed my locksmith skills, and I felt great teaching college students. I played along, and then I met you. Why did you think I was a girl and pour your heart out to me? I had to keep up the act. Didn’t expect you to fall for me. Weren’t you new to the internet back then, falling for a catfish?”

“Stop talking about it,” Chen Shi said, holding his forehead.

“Darling,” You Kangkang nudged Chen Shi with his elbow, “Didn’t you say you’d go rowing with me if we met?”

“Is that a sexual innuendo?” Gu You asked.

“Seriously?” You Kangkang looked at Chen Shi in shock. “Didn’t know you were so dirty!”

“Stop it, just stop!” Chen Shi wanted to disappear.

“So, why did you find me?”

“I’m helping the police with a case. Here’s my badge…” Chen Shi showed his badge.

You Kangkang’s eyes widened, and he stood up, “I’ve got some business to attend to.”

“Sit down!” Chen Shi ordered.

You Kangkang sat down, his back straight.

“I don’t care about your petty crimes. Just don’t do it in front of me. I need your help with someone…”

After Chen Shi explained, You Kangkang slapped his thigh, “Another beauty. Why didn’t I pursue her back then?”

“Is that the point!?” Chen Shi said. “I need your help to use unconventional methods to find evidence.”

“What’s in it for me?”

Chen Shi had anticipated this. “Money.”

“How much?”

“Five thousand for this job.”

“I’m risking a lot working with the police. Considering the risk…”

“Four thousand!”

“Fine, fine, five thousand it is. After all, we had a thing back then!” You Kangkang patted Chen Shi’s shoulder. His sleazy voice gave Chen Shi goosebumps.

Such embarrassing history!

Chen Shi looked at Gu You and You Kangkang, “Have you two been in touch all this time?”

Gu You said, “KK looks unreliable, but he has a kind heart. I once asked him to find a runaway girl with psychological problems.”

“Kind my ass!” You Kangkang said, “I’m evil through and through.”

“Why didn’t Zhou Xiao corrupt you?” Chen Shi asked.

You Kangkang’s eyes darkened, “I disagreed with his ideas, like the world being fake, and order being a shackle. It was like a cult. I’ve been bad since I was a kid, stealing and whatnot. I know that even bad guys need limits. I like crime, but not killing. It’s not sustainable like cheating and stealing.”

“Do you know who Zhou Xiao is?”

“No. I didn’t attend the Lorraine Villa gathering. If I had, I’d either be dead or a murderer now.”

Gu You said, “Next, we should find Xiaochong.”

Chen Shi told You Kangkang, “Remember, don’t steal in front of me, or I’ll send you to the station. Don’t steal from me either, or I’ll kill you.”

You Kangkang shivered but then grinned, “Darling, you’re so fierce!”