Chapter 359: Exposing the Mole

Wang Haitao asked Chen Shi, “Mr. Chen, will you stay?”

Chen Shi smiled, “Mr. Wang, I’d like to talk to them privately.”

Wang Haitao understood, standing up, “I’ll grab another drink while you talk.”

With just their group, Chen Shi felt more relaxed. He asked KK and Sun Zhen, “Are you two really planning to run this agency?”

KK pretended to be serious, “It’s good to experience more while we’re young! When we’re old and bald, those experiences will be precious.”

Sun Zhen rolled his eyes, “I think I can use my skills. It depends on how much money we can make.”

“How much can you make coding all day?” KK asked.

“More than you can stealing and sneaking,” Sun Zhen retorted.

“Alright, enough!” Chen Shi said, “Actually, I was thinking the same. We can use the agency as our base. The equipment here will help us in our search for Zhou Xiao. You two stay and run it, but it has to be managed well. The shares are yours; if there’s no profit, you’ll be at a loss.”

KK handed Chen Shi a glass of juice, “Chen, aren’t you joining?”

“I can’t be a police consultant and run a detective agency. But if you have tough cases, I can help.”

“Help? Chen, you’re too modest,” KK said, patting Chen Shi’s shoulder. “You’re our leader, our anchor!”

Chen Shi laughed, clinking glasses with him, then looked at Gu You, “What about you, Ms. Gu?”

“I have my own practice, but like you, I’ll help when needed. We can’t slack off in finding Zhou Xiao. Every day he’s out there is a day of danger.”

Sun Zhen asked, “Ms. Gu, what grudge do you have against Zhou Xiao?”

Gu You hesitated, “I’ll tell you next time.”

Chen Shi suggested, “At the end of the month, let’s have a team-building event. We’ll gather and discuss our main task!”

KK clapped, “Team building sounds great. Let’s toast, comrades!”

The four clinked glasses. Chen Shi waved Wang Haitao over. When he sat down, Wang Haitao asked, “All settled?”

“Yes, Mr. Wang. I’ll shamelessly take the 80% share for these two to run the agency,” Chen Shi said.

KK grinned, “Mr. Wang, please take care of us.”

“If that’s your decision, then it’s settled. I’ll come by tomorrow to sign the contract.”

With everything decided, KK and Sun Zhen were excited, encouraging each other. Chen Shi remembered something and asked Sun Zhen, “Xiaochong, you mentioned finding a mole. Who is it?”

“It’s that Xiao Han’s mom. I found she has close ties with Mr. Gao since March. I checked her daughter’s school records. Guess what…”

“Just tell us!”

“Her daughter cheated in the art exams and was disqualified from this year’s college entrance exam.”

“Disqualified?” Chen Shi thought, “So she pretended to buy the exam papers to act as an accomplice. I’ll handle this tomorrow!”

The next day, as the tense college entrance exams began, Chen Shi received a thankful message from Mrs. Chen. She had learned her lesson and promised to accept whatever her son scored or let him retake the exam, no more shortcuts.

That morning, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue arrived at Xiao Han’s mom’s place, finding chaos inside as the couple argued. “You got us into this mess for money. Now those scammers are caught, and we’re in trouble!” the husband yelled. “I did it for our family, for Xiao Han’s tuition! You just sit and criticize!” she retorted. “Stop packing so much. Let’s just go!” he urged.

Chen Shi walked in. Xiao Han’s mom, packing, and her husband, stunned. Lin Dongxue showed her badge, “Ms. Xiao Han’s mom, come with us.”

She stammered, “Officer, let me explain. I didn’t mean to scam anyone. Those scammers said they’d give me a cut. I was just blinded by greed, but I haven’t received a dime!”

Her nerves broke under police pressure. Lin Dongxue said, “You can explain at the station.”

Xiao Han’s mom sat down and wailed.

After a melodramatic farewell, they handcuffed her and took her to the car. She cried all the way, complaining about her misfortune. “It’s not all my fault! If those parents weren’t so greedy, believing in getting the exam papers early, they wouldn’t have been scammed!”

Chen Shi replied, “People do have their own greed. It’s normal, but exploiting it to scam them is despicable. Ms. Xiao Han’s mom, stop crying. Own up to your actions. The police won’t pity your tears.”

She lowered her head, “Will my daughter’s exam next year be affected?”

Given the scale of the fraud, she might still be in prison next year, affecting her daughter. But Chen Shi lied, “This is your issue, not hers. Be a good example and take responsibility.”

She trembled, slowly lowering her head and crying silently.

After handing her over to the police, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue’s task was done. The police said the scammed money had been recovered and would be returned to the parents soon, along with a fraud prevention seminar.

Lin Dongxue said, “Crisis averted. Let’s eat!”

Chen Shi smiled, “What do you want?”

“Up to you.”

“How about your favorite grilled fish?”

Today, without someone like Wang Haitao secretly paying the bill, they could enjoy a meal peacefully. But they got stuck in traffic due to an exam convoy. Drivers, knowing the importance of the exams, let the convoy pass first.

Watching the joyful students, Lin Dongxue remarked, “Back during the exams, it felt like all hardships were over, and the future was golden. But it turned out to be brass. Being a student was the easiest time.”

“If you could go back to being a student, would you?”

“I would, but only if I could still meet you,” Lin Dongxue smiled.