Chapter 149: A Hundredfold Vengeance

Before the winter break, the final exam results were released. A group of students crowded around the school bulletin board, eager to see their rankings.

The school had drawn a line at 420 points, the passing mark. Wei Zeng Mary saw that she had scored 427, just passing. She threw her hands up in excitement, cheering, knowing she could survive the barrage of questions from her relatives during the New Year.

She continued scanning the list for Tao Yuanyuan’s name and finally found it at the top, ranked twelfth in the grade and second in the class.

Wei Zeng Mary was stunned and rushed back to the classroom. Tao Yuanyuan was sitting at her desk reading a novel. Wei Zeng Mary excitedly said, “Tao Yuanyuan, Tao Yuanyuan, do you know your rank this time? Twelfth in the grade, second in the class!”

“No big deal, the teacher already told me,” Tao Yuanyuan replied nonchalantly.

“Did you cheat? You’ve only been here a few months.”

“The exam was simple,” Tao Yuanyuan smiled.

“Simple? How does your brain work? You owe me a meal!”

“Sure, I’ll treat you to spicy hot pot later.”

A group of girls walked in. Wei Zeng Mary recognized the class president, Li Yantong, who had retained her position at the top of the class.

Li Yantong, radiant and exceptional in both looks and grades, walked over surrounded by her friends. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention. Wei Zeng Mary quickly stepped aside.

Tao Yuanyuan looked up from her book and saw Li Yantong smiling at her. “Tao Yuanyuan, I underestimated you. I didn’t expect you to rank second in your first exam.”

“Still not as good as you,” Tao Yuanyuan replied calmly.

“Haha, are you free? I’d like to invite you to karaoke.”

Tao Yuanyuan closed her book. “Sorry, I already promised to eat out with ‘Miso.’”

Seeing the transfer student openly refuse the class president’s invitation, Li Yantong’s friends started complaining, “How can you be so disrespectful?” “Li Yantong rarely invites others,” “Just because you ranked second doesn’t mean you’re better than Li Yantong.”

Li Yantong gestured for silence, showing her absolute authority within the group.

With arms crossed and a haughty tone, Li Yantong said, “People of similar status should stick together. You should hang out with us top students more. Associating with low achievers will only make you dumber.”

Tao Yuanyuan stood up. Though shorter, she looked up at Li Yantong with a composed demeanor. “It’s my choice who I befriend. Please don’t bother me… ‘Miso,’ let’s go!”

Tao Yuanyuan pulled Wei Zeng Mary’s hand and walked away. Wei Zeng Mary, grateful, said, “Tao Yuanyuan, you’re so good to me. You even rejected Li Yantong for me. I think I’m falling in love with you!”

“That girl is very vain. I don’t want to get involved with her.”

Wei Zeng Mary glanced back, worried. “Li Yantong seemed angry. Are you sure it’s okay to offend her?”

“I don’t care what she thinks, as long as she doesn’t bother me.”

Before the New Year, Chen Shi informed his team not to bother him with any cases. The “Good Samaritan” wanted to enjoy a relaxing holiday and unilaterally announced his winter break.

One day, Chen Shi took Tao Yuanyuan shopping for New Year’s supplies. She was eating candied hawthorn and complained, “School is such a boring place.”

“You say that after ranking second in the class?” Chen Shi said, picking out couplets.

“Kids my age are so childish. They try to act like adults and create hierarchies. Not everyone likes the social dynamics at school, but if you don’t play along, you get bullied.”

“Is someone bullying you?”

“Not yet.”

“School seems simple but is actually complex. My principle is to mind my own business and do my job well.”

“I want that too.”

“Just have fun during the winter break and forget about these things. What candy do you want?”

“I want milk candy!”

Chen Shi’s phone rang. It was Lin Dongxue. He answered, “Miss Lin, didn’t I say not to call me with cases?”

“This case needs you.”

“Your brother asked you to call, didn’t he?”

“You guessed it!”

“Sigh, I’m with a kid. I’ll be right over.”

Tao Yuanyuan looked up. “Can I come too?”

“Sure, but behave.”

Tao Yuanyuan saluted, “I promise!”

Chen Shi brought Tao Yuanyuan to the city bureau. The officers there were familiar with him, greeting him with nods, “Hey Chen!” “Chen, why did you bring a kid?”

“A relative’s kid, on winter break,” Chen Shi explained. “Where’s Dongxue?”

“Second floor.”

On the second floor, they heard a furious voice from a conference room, “I don’t want you on this case. I want Song Lang. Only Officer Song!”

Chen Shi stopped to look inside and saw an elderly man raging, while the officers looked embarrassed.

Lin Qiupu and Lin Dongxue approached. Lin Dongxue greeted Tao Yuanyuan, “On winter break?”

“Sister Lin,” Tao Yuanyuan happily hugged her.

“Why bring a kid here?” Lin Qiupu frowned. “It’s already chaotic. Don’t add to it.”

“Don’t worry. She’s very well-behaved… Captain Lin, what’s going on?”

“You saw. This old man is Lu Qixing, a well-known entrepreneur in Long’an. This morning, the district police found a car in the suburbs with a male corpse inside. The deceased is Lu Qixing’s eldest son, Lu Zhendong. Lu Qixing lost control and called the media, preparing to publish an ad demanding the killer repay the debt in blood. This one…” Lin Qiupu showed a photo on his phone of the yet-to-be-published ad with blood-red letters stating, “Whoever killed my son, I will exact a hundredfold vengeance! Sincerely, Qixing.”

“Fortunately, we stopped it in time. Otherwise, today would have been chaotic. The chief has promised to solve the case within seven days, but the old man insists on Song Lang leading the investigation and refuses to trust anyone else.”

“The rich really are willful… Who’s Song Lang?”

“You don’t know Song Lang?” Lin Qiupu was both surprised and disdainful. “He’s the most legendary detective in Long’an over the past twenty years and was once my mentor. Your skills don’t compare to a tenth of his.”

“There’s such a person? I’d like to meet him someday.”

“You can’t. He’s no longer around.”

“Then why call me? To impersonate Song Lang?”

“Just pretend to be him. The old man is a bit confused and probably doesn’t remember Song Lang’s face. Just say you’re him, solve the case quickly, and that’s it.”

Chen Shi pondered for a moment. “But I can’t take the case!”