Chapter 22: Kidnapping and Body Disposal, All in One Go!

Chapter 22: A One-Stop Shop for Kidnapping and Body Disposal!

"Boss, hurry up with the grill, we’re starving," Su Chen said casually, while silently pulling his hand back.

Hearing this, the barbecue restaurant owner chuckled and pointed at the clock Su Chen had just adjusted. "Don't you worry, my place is famous for being fast. Look, it's 10:20 now; I guarantee you'll have the lamb within ten minutes. If you haven't started eating by 10:30, this meal is on the house!"

Just as Su Chen expected, the gazes of the two police officers beside him, Zhao Long and Wang Ping, followed the owner’s finger and locked onto the clock at the front desk.

*Just like that, I’ve gained three witnesses.*

This was a precise temporal trap. Su Chen had specifically checked walking times on a map app earlier, from the south gate of Jinling University to this barbecue joint. If everything went according to plan, the young girl should arrive around 10:20. At that moment, the owner and his colleagues could provide an alibi for Su Chen, testifying that they were all together ordering food.

After a moment of thought, the three of them nodded at the owner and smiled. "No need for the free meal, just bring the meat out fast."

"You got it!" the owner replied.

Leaving the counter, the three men found a table against the wall and sat down. Before long, the barbecue was served. The three chatted and ate happily, while Su Chen kept a secret watch on his phone for messages.

The live stream audience, however, was confused.

[What is Su Chen doing? First gaming, now eating—has he gotten cocky?]
[I’m getting anxious. Su Chen, wake up! Officer Duan’s surveillance system will be repaired in a few hours; you’ll be exposed by then!]
[Su Chen, you can't start slacking just because you’ve had the upper hand so far. Run, or come up with another plan!]
[Does anyone know what’s going on? Can someone explain his next move?]
[Who knows? We’re all just as confused as you are...]

Just as the viewers were complaining and Su Chen had barely taken a few bites, his phone rang. A new message had arrived from Guo Yutong:

[Dad, I’ve reached the car, but there’s no one inside... The parking spot is quite secluded.]

*...Of course it’s secluded. That’s the whole point of sending you to an empty place,* Su Chen mused to himself.

He stood up and said to Zhang Long and Wang Ping, who were busy devouring skewers, "You guys keep eating, I’m going to use the restroom."

Zhang Long, his cheeks bulging with a slice of steamed bun and lamb, nodded. "No toilet in the shop, just turn right outside. Be quick, the next batch is coming right up!"

Su Chen waved a hand. "It’ll only take a minute or two."

He exited the "Little Pawn" barbecue house and turned right, but instead of heading toward the public restroom, he ducked into a secluded alleyway on the opposite side.

***

Meanwhile, the camera feed in the live stream suddenly shifted to Su Chen's car. As the camera panned, a pretty girl with short hair came into view, featuring delicate, distinct facial features and fair skin. In an instant, she captured the attention of all the viewers.

[Why did the camera switch? I only want to see Su Chen... wait, this girl is beautiful!]
[Damn, the production team understands me. Keep the camera here! Give the director a bonus!]
[What’s the meaning of this? Why give her screen time for no reason? Is there a hidden mission?]
[I don’t know. Su Chen just left, wonder what he’s doing.]
[Maybe he’s running away. I don’t know why he’d choose to run while eating, but that’s the most likely scenario.]

Just as the audience was speculating, they were shocked to see Su Chen appear in the same frame as the girl. The chat froze; the viewers were too stunned to type.

Guo Yutong spotted the man in the police uniform walking toward her. *Finally,* she thought. Seeing the uniform, a sense of security returned, and she offered a faint smile. She raised her hand to greet him, but the moment she saw his face clearly, her smile froze.

It was a face she knew all too well. She had been watching the live stream just an hour ago.

Su Chen! The perpetrator from the "Chasing the Killer" show!

Guo Yutong was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted and turned to run. But it was too late. Su Chen had already aimed his police-issued stun gun at her and mimicked the action of pulling the trigger.

He smiled. "Young lady, you’ve already been knocked out."

*Have I already been taken out by him? I... I’ve been tricked?!*

Guo Yutong looked at the gun in Su Chen’s hand, struggling to process the sudden turn of events. "But... it was my father who sent me the message. How did you end up being the one here?" she asked timidly. For some reason, Su Chen exuded an invisible pressure—perhaps the weight of a brilliant mind over an ordinary person.

Su Chen put the gun away and said blandly, "It’s simple. I hacked into your father’s—Director Guo’s—phone. Naturally, I could lure you here."

*Sim...ple?* Guo Yutong gasped. "My father’s phone has a security firewall set up by Uncle Duan."

Su Chen paused for a moment, then smiled. "I was wondering why it was so difficult to crack. So, it was Officer Duan’s handiwork."

Guo Yutong was left completely speechless. At that moment, hidden production staff swarmed in.

The leader of the crew in black pulled out a card and addressed her. "Miss, we are from the official 'Chasing the Killer' production team. We regret to inform you that, within the context of the show, you are now a person who has been incapacitated."

"You have two choices:"
"One: You may choose to participate in the show and follow the perpetrator's next move. We will, of course, ensure your safety and privacy."
"Two: You may choose to withdraw, and we will have an actor take your place. However, you must sign a non-disclosure agreement and not reveal the perpetrator's identity to any show guests."

Faced with these two options, Guo Yutong fell silent. She had her studies to worry about, but her intuition told her that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It wasn’t just because of the show’s unprecedented popularity—it was also because of the man playing the role of the killer.

"We hope for your answer soon," the staff member prompted.

Guo Yutong looked up. "I’ll join the show."

The viewers finally snapped out of their stupor, and a massive wave of messages flooded the screen.

[Holy crap, this is how it plays out?!]
[Su Chen is so bold! Does he think blowing up a power substation wasn't enough?]
[He’s definitely not an ordinary person. If it were me, after committing such a huge crime and being interrogated by an expert panel, I wouldn't even think about re-offending.]
[What is this now? Kidnapping? Murder? The nature of this crime is even more serious than the previous ones!]
[Damn, the person Su Chen kidnapped is the daughter of the Public Security Bureau Chief. This is insane!]
[He is directly provoking the Jinling Police. I’ve never seen a criminal this arrogant!]

The uproar caused by Su Chen’s actions spread across the entire internet instantly. The popularity of the live stream surged even higher. It was now common knowledge. However, thanks to the production team’s information filters, the expert panel remained oblivious to the event.

***

Meanwhile, at the Jinling Public Security Bureau, in the Chief's office, Director Guo, a man with a stout build, sat in his leather chair sipping green tea. Opposite him sat a thin man, Luo Ming, the president of the most famous detective association in the country, the Shenghan Association.

Luo Ming took a sip of tea. "The Jinling police’s 'Chasing the Killer' live stream has been handled remarkably well."

"You're too kind," Director Guo chuckled. "Speaking of which, although the reports say the show is exceptionally popular, I’ve been buried in work tonight and haven't had a chance to watch it yet."