Chapter Nineteen: Signals of a Brief Recovery

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Cai Kun’s words echoed in Le Dong’s mind. Seeing Hou Kui smiling at him downstairs, he suddenly pulled away from the railing.

“Old Cai,” Le Dong grasped Cai Kun’s greasy sleeve, his voice somewhat dazed, “are you sure he washed his hair last night?”

“Ha, would I lie to you?” Cai Kun patted his chest, the flesh trembling under his T-shirt. “The water was as black as ink. I even joked whether he had smeared shoe polish on his head…”

Before he finished, the grim face of Butler Ma suddenly appeared at the third-floor entrance. “What are you whispering about?” His gaze swept over the leather shoes in Cai Kun’s hand, his pupils narrowing. “Don’t disturb Boss Hu’s rest. If you have something to say, take it downstairs.”

Shooed away by Butler Ma, Le Dong gave him a long, meaningful look, deliberately took the leather shoes from Cai Kun’s hand, and tossed them onto the bed in his guest room right in front of Butler Ma.

Seeing Butler Ma’s expression remained unchanged, Le Dong felt somewhat disappointed. Holding Cai Kun’s arm, the two went downstairs, ignoring Hou Kui’s waving gesture, and headed straight outside.

“Snap—”

Flames leapt up as Le Dong inhaled deeply on his cigarette, scanning the villa’s surroundings with a grave tone.

“Old Cai, last night when you were with Hou Kui, did you notice any birthmark on his head?”

Cai Kun’s face froze for a moment; he scratched his head awkwardly and smiled sheepishly.

“I was too focused on finding the source, didn’t pay much attention. Later, when I went back to my room and thought about the conversation we eavesdropped on, plus drinking with Hou Kui, I was pretty dazed and didn’t notice…”

Cai Kun’s words made Le Dong start doubting his own suspicions.

Could it be that he was overthinking?

Le Dong thought silently, but he opened the image that hadn’t loaded before and gestured to Cai Kun. After staring at it repeatedly, Cai Kun finally realized.

“Oh, so you’re treating him like a murderer?”

“Shh!”

Le Dong glanced nervously at the villa, then lowered his voice.

“Old Cai, do you believe me?”

“Yes!”

“Last night when he came, I clearly remember a birthmark on his head. But after he washed his hair, it disappeared. That’s too much of a coincidence.”

Cai Kun pinched his chin and whispered, “So you mean…”

“I’m only suspicious now, not absolutely certain he’s the killer. But regardless of whether it’s him, we need to be cautious. Once we find the source, we leave immediately. Don’t meddle around in the villa—it’s too complicated here!”

Cai Kun nodded in deep agreement.

“Alright, I’ll keep an eye on him. But Dongzi, what do you mean by complicated…”

Le Dong had already hinted at his thoughts. After briefly outlining his analysis, he added,

“This Butler Ma might be setting a trap, aiming to eliminate Boss Hu. And Butler Ma could be the same type as Ma Wenwen. We might just be pawns in his game!”

Cai Kun was shocked. Clenching his fists, he looked around the villa and cursed, “Then we should just tell Boss Hu directly!”

Le Dong chuckled.

“Old Cai, do you think Boss Hu would believe a gambler like you, or the butler who’s served him for decades? Even if he trusts you, what proof would you have? Just guesses? Or this fuzzy, AI-synthesized recording I made?”

Seeing Cai Kun’s dejected expression, Le Dong couldn’t help but comfort him.

“We don’t have to worry about all that now. Let’s focus on finding the source in the next couple of days. Once we do, we leave the villa and let Ma Wenwen deal with it. Then our lives will return to normal—no matter who lives or dies!”

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Before Cai Kun could respond, a muddy Wuling Hongguang van pulled up outside the iron gate. A round-faced, chubby man jumped out from the driver’s seat, waving a bill on his phone at Le Dong.

“Brother, I’m here to deliver. Open the gate!”

Le Dong was a bit suspicious but stepped forward. His eyes were immediately drawn to the phone screen showing full signal strength.

Just as he happily reached for his own phone, a sharp reprimand came from behind.

“From Hongfu Hotel?” Butler Ma’s footsteps hurried over. The chubby man outside seemed to realize something and hastily put his phone down.

“You’re twenty-three minutes late from the scheduled time!” Butler Ma stepped forward, nearly poking the man’s nose with his finger. “Hmph, if you’re late again tonight, you’re out!”

The man looked aggrieved. While opening the van’s rear door, he grumbled,

“Nighttime is negotiable, but you called way too early this morning…”

“Enough nonsense! You two help unload!”

Butler Ma cut him off with a tone thick with frustration, then pushed Le Dong and Cai Kun to help.

As they pushed, Le Dong put away his phone and opened the iron gate, but his mind buzzed with questions.

Just moments ago, when he checked his phone, the signal was full, but almost instantly, it turned into a red cross.

From the conversation, Le Dong found it strange that Butler Ma and this delivery guy only contacted each other when there was signal—and as soon as Butler Ma appeared, the signal vanished again.

Unless… the signal disruption was Butler Ma’s doing!

Carrying boxes of paper flowers from the van, Le Dong’s suspicion grew.

“If he really cut off the signal… his intention must be to isolate us from outside contact, or maybe trap us here forever!”

Le Dong thought anxiously, his palms sweating uncontrollably.

He carefully looked up to find Butler Ma, but scanning around, he realized the butler had disappeared without a trace.

“Brother, come help with the last box.”

Suddenly, a voice interrupted Le Dong’s search. He looked up and took the box from the chubby man.

“By the way, brother… does your phone have signal? I need to make a call.”

The man instinctively reached for his pocket, then seemed to recall something, glancing fearfully toward the villa and smiling awkwardly.

“Sorry, I don’t have signal either.”

Hearing the expected answer, Le Dong said nothing more. Rising, he watched as the man locked the van’s rear door, his eyes thoughtful.

He remembered Butler Ma’s parting words—there would be more deliveries tonight.

If so, Butler Ma must have coordinated the delivery time. If Le Dong could get hold of the man’s phone, he’d know exactly when the signal would appear!

With signal, they could identify the killer’s true identity, send news to his wife, and most importantly, inform Ma Wenwen. If they couldn’t find the source later, Ma Wenwen would have to come in person.

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Le Dong wasn’t worried about whether the man would notice if his phone went missing.

Because no calls could get in from outside or out from inside. Even if the man got a replacement SIM card, it would take time. Hopefully, it would last through the night…

With that thought, Le Dong quietly approached Cai Kun and whispered, “Bump him.”

“Huh?”

“Pretend to slip and bump into him. I’ll get the phone!”

Cai Kun blinked his small eyes twice, then suddenly exclaimed “Ouch!” as he lunged at the van. The two-hundred-pound meat mountain hit the man, causing him to stagger backward. Le Dong took the chance to steady him, skillfully slipping his fingers into the loose work pants pocket.

“Sorry, brother!” Cai Kun dusted off invisible dirt. As the man cursed and shoved him away, Le Dong had already withdrawn his hand.

After the van left, Cai Kun still didn’t quite understand Le Dong’s plan.

“The signal’s probably Butler Ma’s trick. Since the guy is delivering tonight, we can take his phone and wait for Butler Ma to contact him. When the signal’s on, we can notify Ma Wenwen.”

Cai Kun suddenly understood and hugged Le Dong, praising him repeatedly. After Xiao Zhang and Hou Kui left the villa, the four of them moved all the boxes into the living room. It was already past eight o’clock.

At the dining table, Butler Ma skillfully arranged breakfast between the table and the tea stand, then glanced toward the altar.

There, Boss Hu respectfully replenished the incense on the altar, then took Master Zhao by the arm and headed to the dining table.

“Master Zhao… last night, the commotion at my father’s spirit hall was even louder.” Boss Hu lowered his voice. Le Dong, pretending indifference, drew closer. “There’s no signal on this phone either. Do you think it might be connected to my father…”

Master Zhao flicked his duster dismissively. “Boss Hu, rest assured. Your father values peace. Once the auspicious time on Wednesday arrives…”

“Oh, Master Zhao, do I really have to stay for every ritual before the grave relocation?”

“Boss Hu, as the only son, if you’re not present, it might disturb your father’s spirit. Aren’t you afraid…”

“Master Zhao, enough. I understand…”

Boss Hu looked depressed, hurriedly took a few mouthfuls of food, then, after scanning the table, suddenly lost his temper.

“Where is that wretched Gao Yufen? It’s so late, and she still hasn’t gotten up. The Hu family has wasted so many years teaching her!”

Standing nearby, Butler Ma responded immediately.

“Boss, please wait. I’ll go call her.”

Muttering, Boss Hu waved his hand. After Butler Ma left, he lost his appetite and paced outside to clear his mind.

After a while, footsteps sounded on the stairs, prompting Le Dong, who was nibbling on a bun at the tea table, to look up instinctively.

There appeared Madam Hu, taking small steps downstairs. But what puzzled Le Dong was that Madam Hu looked… somewhat off today.