Chapter 19: Telephone Scams—Lured into the Trap!

Chapter Nineteen

The time was 8:20 p.m.

At Jinling University, School of Architecture, Teaching Complex Building No. 1.

It was currently the break between classes, about to start the final evening self-study session.

In the corridor outside the study room, two young girls stood by the window, their graceful figures catching the fading light.

“Yutong, have you been watching that variety show lately, ‘Chasing the Killer Live’? I declare it my absolute treasure among all shows!”

The girl in the white dress pulled out her phone and waved it in front of Guo Yutong’s eyes. She had an oval face, her skin smooth and fair, with delicate and sweet features. When she smiled, two small tiger teeth peeked out.

That smile was a scene in itself, prompting many boys her age nearby to steal glances covertly.

The other girl, Guo Yutong, was a bit more refined in appearance. Her jet-black hair framed her fair, heart-shaped face, with thin, rosy lips and large, expressive eyes.

Unlike most women, her nose was not petite but rather straight and prominent, lending her features a striking three-dimensional quality—exquisite and beautiful, like a finely carved sculpture.

“Of course I’ve watched it, Xiaoyue. The show’s so popular,” Guo Yutong replied.

“Lots of people online are discussing the killer, even predicting his next move. Foreigners on YouTube are following it too,” she added.

“Aren’t you curious where he got all that knowledge and those strange skills from?” Xiaoyue asked.

“I didn’t think about that; I just watch for the looks!” Zhao Xiaoyue said, snapping screenshots wildly in Su Chen’s live broadcast room.

“I declare he’s my first real-life husband on the entire internet, ranking fiftieth… well, the previous forty-nine are all two-dimensional characters,” she joked.

“I really don’t get you. Even with money, you can’t spend so recklessly,” Guo Yutong rolled her eyes at her best friend.

“You don’t understand, the two-dimensional world is so charming, hehe…” Zhao Xiaoyue grinned mischievously and leaned closer, lowering her voice to whisper, “By the way, Yutong, your dad is the police chief of Jinling City, right? Do you have any inside information? What exactly is Su Chen up to? If nothing else, just give me his WeChat ID.”

“The show’s information is strictly confidential. How would I know?” Guo Yutong pinched her friend’s oval face, thinking to herself, even if she added Su Chen on WeChat, could this silly girl really compete with someone as clever as him? She’d probably end up sold out and helping him count money.

As for Su Chen’s next move, she was curious too. Logically, since he had already blown up the power distribution center, the police couldn’t use surveillance cameras to track his movements.

Wouldn’t the best course be for him to escape immediately while the police’s "Sky Net" system was down and unable to view past footage? Otherwise, once the system was restored, it would be the day he got caught.

How could Su Chen still have the leisure to sit inside the police bureau playing games?

“I’ll tell you, Su Chen is apparently somewhere near our school’s police station. Maybe he’ll come kidnap me! Yutong, I’m so scared,” Zhao Xiaoyue said, though her expression showed no fear—if anything, a hint of excitement.

“We’re just a boy and a girl…” she began.

“Stop! Enough!” Guo Yutong interrupted, pulling her friend back from such fantasies. She knew her too well.

“Su Chen has two police colleagues with him. He couldn’t possibly kidnap anyone. It’s just not feasible.”

She analyzed further, “Besides, if you’re going to kidnap someone, you need to pick the target, do surveillance, time it perfectly. Su Chen doesn’t have time for all that. And even if he did, people aren’t fools—would anyone cooperate with him to get kidnapped?”

“One small slip-up, and he’d be exposed. That would be too costly for him.”

“Sounds very reasonable,” her friend gave her a thumbs-up.

Just then, the gentle chime of the class bell rang out, signaling the start of the last evening session.

Around them, the students of the architecture department, weary but dutiful, gathered their books and swarmed into the classroom.

Zhao Xiaoyue, however, secretly stuffed her books into her bag.

“Yutong, I forgot to tell you—I’m going to skip this class just a little. If there’s attendance, remember to check in for me,” she said.

“What are you up to?” Guo Yutong asked, puzzled.

The young rich girl slipped against the tide of students, turning back to wave at her.

“Today’s the birthday of my thirty-sixth paper-husband, Lu Zeyan. I need to log in and celebrate with him. I’m planning to order a deluxe gift pack! Won’t be walking home with you tonight!”

More spending on virtual goods… Guo Yutong smiled helplessly.

She waved back at Zhao Xiaoyue, turned, and was about to enter the classroom when her phone vibrated in her pocket.

Someone sent me a message… Guo Yutong wondered, pulling out her phone to see two new WeChat notifications from her father.

“Daughter, there’s been a situation at home. Don’t stay at school tonight. Come home.”

“Your mother and I are indisposed, so we’ve arranged for a brother to pick you up in a police car.”

“What happened? Why can’t you explain it clearly on WeChat?” Guo Yutong thought anxiously.

Then a sudden suspicion rose in her mind.

Could someone be impersonating her father to send her these messages?

With a sense of premonition, she immediately opened the “Chasing the Killer” livestream killer’s room.

There, Su Chen was still at the Jinling City Police Department, sitting at a computer desk. The screen showed a game interface.

Her doubt gradually dissolved.

Yes, Su Chen was playing a game now. Though she didn’t know why, it was clear he hadn’t sent the messages.

Guo Yutong smiled quietly, thinking she had overthought things.

She checked her message inbox again—the two WeChat messages indeed came from her father’s account.

“Dad, as the head of Jinling’s police, his phone is protected by multiple layers of security,” she considered.

“And those security codes were personally written by Uncle Duan Yu, reputed to be the best in the world.”

“So there’s no way anyone could hack Dad’s account.”

Guo Yutong opened her phone and replied:

“Okay, Dad. Is that brother picking me up at the university gate?”

The reply came quickly:

“No, you can’t park at the university gate, and a police car would be too conspicuous. That brother doesn’t have his own car either.”

“Go to the university commercial street. Once inside, near the right side, at the entrance of the Xiaozu barbecue shop, the car will be parked there.”

Reading this, Guo Yutong’s previously eased mind grew suspicious again.

Why choose such a strange place?

No, just to be safe, she had to confirm.

Since class was in session, she couldn’t make a call, so she typed:

“Okay, Dad, but could you send a voice message? I just want to confirm it’s really you sending these messages.”

After sending, no immediate reply came.