Chapter 693: The Arrested Writer

After the Shu Shifang case concluded, Long’an City enjoyed a period of peace. On the weekend of March 16th, Tao Yueyue hadn’t returned yet, so Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue were enjoying some leisurely time together.

Chen Shi lounged on the sofa with Lin Dongxue resting in his arms. Holding his phone, Chen Shi said, “Check this out. I downloaded an app that lets you watch videos on your phone. It has everything. It’s so convenient.”

“Are you even a modern person?” Lin Dongxue teased, laughing as she picked up a slice of apple from a plate and fed it to Chen Shi.

“What should we watch?” Chen Shi fiddled with his phone, opening a movie trailer. They then watched a funny video together, laughing not because the video was hilarious, but just to share a moment of joy.

While browsing videos, Chen Shi stumbled upon a segment called “Web Novel Roast.” He clicked on it, and a bespectacled host appeared, saying, “Hello, friends! Recently, a hit detective novel has been trending on a certain website, sparking unprecedented discussion on major forums. The author, Xin Bai, started serializing ‘Detective Abyss’ last March, and it’s garnered over a billion views.

“The story? A super detective is about to arrest a master criminal when a lightning bolt strikes them both. Fans of web novels know that when lightning strikes in the opening, something big is about to happen. Sure enough, the detective and the criminal swap bodies. Talk about starting with a bang!

“The protagonist finds all his allies pointing their guns at him, feeling utterly betrayed. Survival instincts kick in, and he runs. Meanwhile, the criminal, now in the detective’s body, uses police resources to set traps, knowing he must kill the protagonist to live freely as a cop. This sets off an epic, thrilling chase with constant twists and turns.

“The main plot is gripping, and the side cases are equally imaginative, keeping readers on their toes. Unfortunately, the author has no shame. Once the novel gained traction, he started slacking off, dragging out updates, and even spreading rumors about an impending finale. Fans were shocked, as many plot threads were still unresolved. Later, it turned out to be a false alarm. The author just didn’t want to write, but the editor wouldn’t let him quit.

“The author pulled some wild stunts, like abruptly turning the protagonist into a superpowered being in chapter 400, fighting villains in the streets for ten chapters before revealing it was all a fever dream. Who knows how many hate messages he got for that? In chapter 476, the protagonist inexplicably hooks up with a female side character in an explicit scene spanning thousands of words, clearly an attempt to get his book banned. This chapter was removed, but many readers sought it out on forums and pirated sites.

“The author’s reluctance to write is evident in his writing. In a recent case, he named a character ‘Yearning for Freedom’ and another ‘Imprisoned Heart.’ In chapter 505, he drew a Morse code line reading ‘Come save me,’ causing fans to roll their eyes. Despite his antics, the novel’s popularity only grew, becoming a hot topic. Life is truly unpredictable…”

“There’s actually a book like this? I want to read it,” Lin Dongxue laughed.

“I’m already reading it!”

“This one?”

“Yeah, it’s quite interesting. The author seems knowledgeable about criminal cases. My favorite part is guessing the culprit. I always get it right… Enough watching, let’s eat!”

“All you think about is food. It’s only four in the afternoon.”

“I’ll take you to a place with fresh oysters. They serve them raw. I saw online that you can eat fresh oysters with sparkling wine… Supposedly an aphrodisiac!” Chen Shi grinned mischievously.

“Let’s go then!” Lin Dongxue was eager. Spring had just begun, and enjoying fresh oysters in this season sounded delightful.

She noticed a small tin can on the windowsill. Inside, a plant had sprouted from the mysterious seeds they found at Xu Fa’s place. “It’s growing,” she said.

“Yes, but we still don’t know what it is. We’ll find out when it blooms.”

After dinner, Lin Dongxue received a message in the team group chat. “There’s been a car accident on Shuli Road. That’s not the main point. A severed limb fell out of one of the cars. My brother and his team are already handling it.”

“The killer is unlucky to have an accident while disposing of a body. I’ve heard of worse luck, like a guy who injured himself while dismembering a body and got caught at the hospital.”

Another message came through, making Lin Dongxue raise her eyebrows. She showed it to Chen Shi: “Guess who it is? The web novelist Xin Bai.”

Chen Shi’s eyes widened. “Shuli Road is just ten minutes away. Let’s go!”

They quickly jumped into the car and headed there. When they arrived, they saw several police cars surrounding the scene. Peng Siyue and his team were cleaning up the remains from the car. A middle-aged man with black-rimmed glasses, wrapped in a blanket and handcuffed, was sweating profusely but seemed strangely excited, muttering to himself.

Chen Shi had met Xin Bai once before, but hadn’t read his book at that time. Now, seeing him again, he was thrilled to meet the author he had been following.

“Xin Bai, alive and in person. This is amazing,” Chen Shi said excitedly.

“My brother’s here. Don’t ask for an autograph or anything.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t ask for an autograph… I’ll ask for a signed photo!”

“Get out of here!” Lin Dongxue laughed and playfully punched him. She examined Xin Bai, whose appearance was a paradox of handsome and sleazy, suggesting he might have a future as a comedian if not a writer.

“Thank you, officers!” As they approached, they heard Xin Bai saying, raising his hands and looking up, “This is great. I don’t have to write tonight!”

Lin Qiupu was taken aback, mocking, “You won’t have to write ever again.”

“Really? That’s fantastic!” Xin Bai’s excitement was genuine. “Thank you for arresting me. You’re all such good people!”