Chapter 671: Sense of Involvement

Chen Shi looked at Ai Ying and asked, “So, the person who directed Chang Juan to provide us with details about the case is one of these shareholders? You must know who that person is!”

Ai Ying looked troubled. “I can’t say anything about this. It involves other people’s privacy. We have agreements with Chang Juan and among ourselves not to disclose anything.”

Lin Dongxue scoffed, “You guys sure have a lot of ‘fun.’”

“It’s not fun. You wouldn’t understand,” Ai Ying retorted.

Chen Shi turned to Chang Juan, “How did your parents die?”

“They were murdered. My mother was raped before she died…” Chang Juan recounted this with an eerie calm, the kind that comes after one has shed all their tears.

“Is the murderer the same person involved in this case? Is that why you agreed to help one of your shareholders in solving the case?”

“I don’t agree or disagree…”

“Oh, I forgot that part!” Lin Dongxue smiled wryly. Chang Juan couldn’t decide her own actions; she was like a living puppet.

Ai Ying suggested, “Let Chang Juan go back. I want to talk to you both alone.”

Before Chen Shi could respond, Chang Juan got up and left on her own. Ai Ying lit a cigarette, and Lin Dongxue teased, “Feeling at home, huh?”

“Am I a criminal?” Ai Ying retorted.

“Alright, what do you have to say? How did you become one of her shareholders?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“At first, I heard about this and thought it was just some kind of publicity stunt or something sleazy. But when I learned her parents were murdered, I realized it was like a disguised donation. She would repay her donors in some way. Since there was no precedent for this, she posted it as a donation on a forum. I had some spare money at the time, so I bought some of her ‘life stocks.’ Later, we were added to a shareholder group. Initially, everyone found it novel. We could decide someone else’s daily life—it was fascinating. Some shareholders even suggested she perform strip dances in chat rooms or meet strangers. I thought, how could a young girl make such decisions without getting exploited by these old men?

“But things turned out unexpectedly. Decisions made by over a hundred shareholders through voting were actually quite mundane, like choosing her clothes for the day, what book to read, or where to work—nothing outrageous. Maybe it’s what they call the ‘moderation effect.’ Those with bad intentions sold their shares when they couldn’t have their way. Eventually, only a few of us were left, about a dozen sincere people.”

“Do these ‘sincere people’ know each other?” Chen Shi asked.

“No, we’re just online friends. We don’t know each other personally. Over time, we got to know each other a bit though. Can I tell this my way? Don’t interrupt me.”

“Go ahead,” Chen Shi agreed.

Ai Ying took a drag from his cigarette and continued, “At first, it felt like a game. We’d have a meeting each morning to decide Chang Juan’s activities for the day. If I was busy, I’d let others decide. We watched her life unfold daily, gradually becoming like a group raising a daughter. We genuinely wanted her to be happy and made sensible decisions for her. We helped her move past her parents’ murder, get into college, and grow from a pampered girl into an independent graduate student. I feel a great sense of accomplishment.”

“This ‘independence’ seems questionable,” Chen Shi noted. “Isn’t she just more dependent on others now?”

“That’s her way of life, and it’s ours too. She’s living well—she’s motivated, disciplined, and has a well-planned life,” Ai Ying replied.

Lin Dongxue thought this lifestyle sounded joyless, but it was Chang Juan’s choice. Perhaps she found comfort in it. Some people prefer to follow and execute plans.

“What have you personally gained from this?” Chen Shi asked.

Ai Ying’s expression turned somber. “There was a time when she was my spiritual support. After my business failed, I felt hopeless. Watching her helped me regain my confidence and will to live.”

“Wait, you’ve met her in person? Was that decided in the ‘shareholders’ meeting’?” Chen Shi interrupted.

Ai Ying chuckled, “I only have 13% of the shares, not much decision power. But since her daily activities are public, it was easy to find her. She agreed to spend time with me once she knew I was a shareholder.”

“That’s pretty despicable, taking advantage of a girl who doesn’t know how to refuse,” Lin Dongxue said.

Looking embarrassed, Ai Ying admitted, “I know. I once had inappropriate thoughts about her and even considered using the ‘shareholders’ meeting’ for my own desires. But I realized that wanting to possess her was wrong. We may decide her actions, but her life is still her own. She isn’t anyone’s property. Since then, I’ve had a special feeling for her. That’s why I’m here now. I couldn’t stand the way you interrogated her, so I came to ‘retaliate,’ and got caught.”

“You’re not the only one with these thoughts, right?” Lin Dongxue asked.

Ai Ying nodded, “Her life is shaped by our decisions—her relationships, education, personality, everything. It’s a unique feeling, like raising a daughter. Given how gentle and lovely she is, many shareholders developed feelings for her. One shareholder even tried to take her home, but others intervened. To ensure her safety, we started monitoring her life in real-time with this device.” He pointed to the collar around his neck.

Chen Shi thought of Tao Yueyue. Raising and teaching her brought a sense of involvement.

Imagining Chang Juan’s life being controlled by these people, the immense sense of involvement and immersion was unparalleled. It was a dangerous game, yet miraculously, nothing had gone wrong.

Chen Shi returned to the main topic, “Who first suggested she pose as Chunqin to assist the police? I hope you can tell me, or at least give us a clue. It’s a matter of life and death—we need to know the truth!”

After a long silence, Ai Ying finally said, “The one who suggested it is called Brother Thirty-Nine.”