Chapter 412: Strange Surveillance

The security guards immediately backed down, saying, “No, no, no, we were just out for dinner, so we didn’t see it. Normally… normally, we’re always in front of the monitors.”

Chen Shi said, “Is that so? I want to take a look at the surveillance room.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. It’s hotel policy.”

“A policy that overrides the law? When the police are investigating, citizens are obligated to assist.”

The security guards exchanged nervous glances and agreed. After returning the painting, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue followed them to the surveillance room. The guards asked to tidy up first and let them in five minutes later.

The room was equipped with advanced and comprehensive equipment. On the sofa, a jacket barely covered a pile of playing cards, and there were beer bottles in the corner. Chen Shi smirked quietly.

Chen Shi requested to see the surveillance footage of the 22nd floor from July 14th. The guard brought it up, showing a boy in a red T-shirt and a girl exiting the elevator and entering the presidential suite around 8 PM.

Lin Dongxue excitedly said, “That’s the victim!”

“We can’t be sure yet… Can we copy this footage?”

“I’m afraid not. The hotel policy is very strict,” the guard replied.

“Then can we watch it here?”

“Sure.”

Chen Shi discreetly dialed Sun Zhen in his pocket, signaling him to start his operation, and continued watching the surveillance with Lin Dongxue. The boy left the presidential suite around 6 PM, wearing a black hoodie and a baseball cap.

Although his clothes were different, his build and posture were unmistakably the same. He was clean, without tattoos, and the low resolution of the camera made it hard to see his face. However, a shiny object, likely a necklace, was visible around his neck both when he returned at 8 PM and when he left at 6 PM.

Lin Dongxue searched on her phone and found a recent photo of Luo Zuyu on Weibo, where he was wearing a gold chain. She showed it to Chen Shi, “Does it look like the guy in the footage?”

This action indicated that Lin Dongxue and Chen Shi suspected the same person. Chen Shi subtly pressed her hand down and glanced at the staring security guards, saying, “We’ll discuss this later. Let’s keep watching the footage.”

They continued watching. When the two entered the room, a cleaning lady walked past in the opposite direction. Lin Dongxue said excitedly, “We have a witness!”

Up until 11 PM, it was quiet outside the presidential suite. Then a man in a suit entered the suite and stayed for about half an hour. The boy in the red T-shirt left alone but took the stairs instead of the elevator.

“Guard! Show me the stairwell footage.”

“There are no cameras in the stairwell,” the guard replied.

“What!?”

“No hotel has cameras in the stairwell. No one uses them.”

Chen Shi pondered. Something seemed off. He continued fast-forwarding the footage. About 20 minutes later, a boy in a black hoodie exited the stairwell and entered the presidential suite.

Chen Shi requested to see the lobby footage. At 11:30 PM, the boy in the red T-shirt left the stairwell and walked straight to the main entrance. Rewinding a bit, at 11:10 PM, the boy in the black hoodie entered the stairwell.

Lin Dongxue said, “What’s going on? It’s like a magic trick.”

“It’s probably a trick to exploit the stairwell’s blind spots.”

Chen Shi’s phone vibrated, signaling that Sun Zhen had completed his task. He thanked the security guards and left with Lin Dongxue.

Back in their room, Sun Zhen was working on his laptop. “I got all the footage and guest records you wanted.”

“Great job. Pull up the guest records.”

Sun Zhen displayed a list of guests. Chen Shi searched for the name of the person who checked into the 22nd-floor presidential suite on July 14th and found “Liu Deyang,” who checked out at 6 AM the next day.

“What’s going on?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Celebrities don’t register with their real names. Check which room Luo Zuyu is in now.”

Sun Zhen searched, “Nothing.”

“Just as I thought…”

Chen Shi flipped through the records, pointing out, “Strange. The presidential suites on the 23rd to 25th floors were all booked on the night of July 14th. They must be occupied by the same group, likely Luo Zuyu and his team.”

Lin Dongxue asked, “Should we pay them a visit?”

“Not now. Let’s wait until your brother gets a warrant.”

Sun Zhen said, “Is this really connected to Luo Zuyu? He’s in Long’an for a variety show and should be here for a while.”

“We have time. We’ll look into it tomorrow. Xiao Chong, let me see you out.”

“Already kicking me out? Alright, alright, I won’t disturb you two.”

As they left, Sun Zhen mentioned, “Chen Ge, isn’t Yueyue on summer break? She’s been hanging out at our office.”

“For fun?”

“She’s actually learning some tech stuff from KK.”

“That little rascal… I’ll talk to her later.”

“Chen Ge, aren’t you a bit too lax with her?”

“She’s not my kid. We’re independent individuals. As long as she grows up healthy, it’s fine.”

“Learning to steal won’t keep her healthy,” Sun Zhen said. “She should learn hacking from me. It’s more useful.”

“Pot calling the kettle black. Give me your phone.”

Chen Shi transferred 2,000 yuan to Sun Zhen as a fee. Sun Zhen pretended to refuse but then accepted it.

After seeing Sun Zhen off, Chen Shi went to the rooftop, pried open the lock, and called Lin Dongxue.

On the windy rooftop, Chen Shi used his phone’s flashlight to search for clues. Whenever they found something suspicious, he sprayed Luminol reagent. After a while, Lin Dongxue called out, “Over here!”

Chen Shi ran over. Lin Dongxue was using a UV light to illuminate a spot on the ground, revealing a bloodstain in the shape of an irregular cross.

“How did this bloodstain get here?” Chen Shi asked.

“Um…” Lin Dongxue thought, “Was something laid on the ground, and the blood seeped through the gaps?”

“Exactly! Let’s look around more.”

They found more bloodstains but couldn’t capture them clearly with the phone in the dark. Chen Shi made some simple marks, planning to have Lin Qiupu investigate further the next day.

At the edge of the rooftop, Chen Shi found a worn spot. He looked down, and Lin Dongxue grabbed him from behind, “Be careful not to fall.”

Looking down from there made them dizzy. Below, a row of presidential suite windows and buzzing air conditioners were visible. Chen Shi said, “All the rooms below are presidential suites.”

He stepped back, exhausted from the night’s investigation. Lin Dongxue asked, “Are we done?”

“Yes, let’s head back to the room, rest, and then… do something else?” Chen Shi smiled.

Lin Dongxue playfully punched him, “Let’s shower first!”