Chapter 14: The Impossible Proof? Su Chen’s Sleight of Hand!

Chapter 14: The Impossible Proof? Su Chen’s Sleight of Hand!

The bugging device had been stealthily taken by Su Chen during his time at the police station using his deft skills.

According to the officer in charge of confiscated items, this gadget was discovered under the VIP table at an auction. It seemed someone intended to use it to eavesdrop and extract competitors’ bottom prices.

At the time, Su Chen reasoned that the expert team’s members were too scattered in their actions, making information gathering difficult. Thus, he decided to risk stealing this device to spy on them.

As expected, this backup move proved invaluable.

Now, Su Chen had a thorough understanding of the expert team’s next steps.

The situation instantly flipped; Su Chen once again took the lead in information over the expert team!

In the live streaming room, viewers were stunned as they realized what had just happened.

“Damn, this chain of traps within traps is so thrilling! When the expert team first made their plan and people said Su Chen was done for, I was the first to disagree!”

“Bullshit! I know that ID—you were the loudest back then, even yelling for Su Chen to run!”

“But I have to admit, I really didn’t see this coming. How did Su Chen anticipate the expert team’s plan to bug him? Or was it just a coincidence?”

“This isn’t coincidence. Usually, if you’ve committed a crime and the expert team moves in, they’ll immediately counteract. Their next move is crucial. Su Chen clearly has foresight!”

“When gods battle, it seems this reality show won’t end so easily this time!”

Backstage in the “Chasing the Killer” live studio, Chief Director Chen Qiming watched Su Chen on screen, feeling a chill down his spine.

He had truly uncovered a monster!

If Su Chen’s initial act of swapping staff was merely unconventional thinking, then after the bombing of the power distribution center and planting the bugging device, Chen realized Su Chen’s behavior could not be summed up as simple eccentricity.

This man not only possessed extremely high counter-surveillance awareness but also professional criminal skills.

Such a criminal was the hardest to deal with!

“But even knowing this, what can Su Chen do? After all, he personally bombed the power distribution center—that’s a fact he cannot change,” Chen Qiming murmured, turning to the staff beside him.

“How will he handle the expert team’s upcoming interrogation and the witness identification afterward?”

The staff shuddered under his gaze, thinking, I have no idea. If I had that kind of brain, I wouldn’t be working here.

Seeing no one could answer, Chen sighed deeply.

“Su Chen’s moves are unpredictable. We can only follow step by step.”

Everyone’s eyes turned back to the big screen.

On screen, after listening to the experts’ conversation, Su Chen pocketed the bugging receiver.

Then, he casually glanced toward the cash register of a snack and grocery store.

Behind the receipt printer hung a bunch of shopping receipts left by previous customers who hadn’t taken them.

“I planted the bomb at the power distribution center at 5:40 PM,” Su Chen mused as his gaze swept over the receipts.

Soon, he found one stamped 5:41 PM, indicating the shopper had just paid at that time.

He discreetly plucked the receipt and then slipped between the shelves.

“Ha ha sunflower seeds, little fish, mushroom power, boneless chicken feet...”

Minutes later, Su Chen bought exactly the same snacks listed on that receipt.

Viewers in the live stream were baffled.

What on earth is he doing?

Su Chen offered no explanation; he simply gathered the items from the receipt and walked straight to the cashier.

The young cashier girl, noticing his police uniform, paused for a moment, then smiled gently.

“Just got off work?”

“No, I’m on my way to work,” Su Chen smiled back.

He observed her briefly and deduced she was a student at Jinling University working part-time.

She seemed diligent, not sneaking peeks at her phone, and obviously unaware of the latest developments in the “Chasing the Killer” live show.

It seemed many in Longguo treated this variety show like a drama, which was understandable given everyone had work and little time to follow a non-stop live broadcast.

The cashier scanned each of Su Chen’s items.

“Here’s a bottle of water for you. Thanks for maintaining public order.”

“...Thank you.”

Seeing her sincere gaze, Su Chen accepted the shopping bag without refusal.

He chose to pay in cash instead of WeChat Pay since the latter would record the payment time.

“Thank you for your patronage. Have a pleasant day at work!”

After the purchase, the girl smiled.

The chat exploded with comments.

“Girl, I advise you not to wish him a pleasant day at work—you don’t know what he actually does!”

“Su Chen’s happy, but the experts sure aren’t.”

“Why is Su Chen buying these snacks? He just found out the expert team is going to interrogate him!”

“This move... no way, is he trying to create an alibi?”

“An alibi?”

“Not sure. Let’s wait and see.”

In the snack shop.

“Goodbye, I have to leave soon. I start at six, only ten minutes left,” Su Chen said deliberately, though it was actually a little earlier than the real time, which was at least 5:50 PM.

After bidding farewell, the moment Su Chen stepped out, his phone rang. The caller ID showed Bai Su.

“The expert team is fast. They’re already coming,” Su Chen muttered, answering the call.

On the other end, Bai Su’s voice was as gentle as ever, betraying no hint of suspicion.

“Su Chen, where are you?”

“Just wandering around the university town. What’s up, boss?”

Su Chen feigned ignorance.

Bai Su got straight to the point.

“Good timing. Could you come to the headquarters office? I have a document I want you to review.”

“Okay, give me a few minutes.”

Su Chen said, then got into the driver’s seat and started the car.

“Guys, this woman is terrifying. She’s clearly setting a test for Su Chen but sounds like she’s just chatting casually. No hint of anything unusual.”

“A classic tactic—make your opponent drop their guard, then strike unexpectedly. If Su Chen hadn’t already known the expert team’s moves, he might have been caught.”

“Finally, Su Chen’s facing the expert team head-on. How will he get through this interrogation? One slip-up and it’s over!”

“Why am I more nervous than him? Su Chen looks completely unfazed!”

“Mental toughness for real. If I had that, I wouldn’t have been caught by my girlfriend...”

“Dude, are you serious???”

While everyone debated, the live stream switched to the expert team’s office at Jinling Police Department.

Under the harsh fluorescent light stood a burly officer, his expression tense as he faced two experts with inscrutable faces: Duan Yu and Bai Su.

After a few silent seconds, the young officer looked nervous—not because he’d done anything wrong, but simply due to the pressure from Duan Yu and Bai Su.

This was the moment when psychological defenses were weakest and truths most likely to emerge.

“At 5:40 PM, what were you doing?” Duan Yu asked first.

“From 1 PM to 6 PM, I was at Jiangqiao District’s Third Bus Station, confiscating a batch of smuggled goods,” the officer replied honestly.

Duan Yu frowned.

“Think again.”

The officer’s face showed surprise and confusion, unsure what was wrong with his statement.

Did his words contradict the experts’ information?

After a moment’s thought, he hesitated.

“I... I went to check case files at the local substation in between...?”

Duan Yu glanced toward his colleagues outside the interrogation room’s glass.

The officer immediately contacted the Jiangqiao District Substation to verify.

“No issues.”

Seconds later, confirmation came through Duan Yu’s earpiece.

He turned back to the officer, Bai Su silently watching beside him.

“Are you sure?” Duan Yu asked again.

“Y-Yes,” the officer swallowed nervously.

Duan Yu and Bai Su exchanged a glance; she nodded slightly.

Meaning no signs of lying were found.

“You’re free to go.”

Relieved, the officer exhaled deeply and wore a look of ease.

He hurriedly left the cramped interrogation room, as if unwilling to stay another second.

Only Duan Yu and Bai Su remained in the small room.

“Most people have been checked. Still no breakthroughs,” Duan Yu sighed.

“What about the three you selected? When will they arrive?”

Bai Su showed no sign of discouragement, her gentle demeanor unchanged.

“Su Chen will be here soon. The other two took leave and will arrive later.”

Su Chen...

The image of the young clerical officer flashed through Duan Yu’s mind.

He recalled brushing past the mysterious suspect at the power distribution center. Although the suspect kept his head down, obscuring his face, his height matched Su Chen’s.

“Although he’s special, he’s just a clerk. His psychological endurance can’t compare to frontline detectives,” Duan Yu said.

“I’ll apply appropriate pressure, but not enough to traumatize him.”

“But if we confirm he’s a major suspect, we’ll initiate a special investigation.”

Bai Su shrugged without a word and turned to leave the interrogation room.

At that moment, Su Chen walked in carrying a large bag of snacks into the task force office.