Though the temperature in Jiang City in December is not as volatile as in the northeastern region, it’s still quite perplexing. Especially since it just snowed a bit yesterday, and today the sun is out, with a breeze blowing. You say the sun is useless, but it’s still hanging overhead; you say it’s useful, but it provides no warmth—just decoration.

The chilly weather drove the three of them into the university’s teaching building. Fortunately, it’s a university, and the three weren’t chased after by the dean as they would have been in high school.

That’s how university is; you have classes while I don’t, so even during regular school hours, there will still be students wandering the halls.

Even on weekends, there are a few unlucky ones with classes. Who said it gets easier in university?

Of course, for someone like him, who just wants to get a diploma, it’s quite relaxed. He can even skip classes and sit in an internet café all day.

On the second floor of the A-block teaching building in Zone C, the three of them sighed in relief at the stairway corner. Fortunately, the university facilities were good, with proper heating. As they entered, they immediately felt alive again—Li Zijun stopped stomping her feet, and Du Qiang stopped stuttering.

"This is so reckless, so reckless. Coming here, I realized that Captain Lin really set us up. And my mentor, this task seems simple but is actually impossible to start. We can’t just go directly to her, right? It feels like we might as well join the main team. How can the three of us blend into the crowd?" Du Qiang spoke, holding the window sill with a face full of helplessness.

Even as of yesterday, he didn’t have this realization. Their task was very simple: investigate the so-called rumors, with their breakthrough being one of the two key figures everyone discussed yesterday—Ke Yao.

As for the professor, since he was school leadership, and they still held the deceased’s photo with him, Lin Chengcai and the police were responsible for investigating that side.

The man’s identity in the photo was already uncovered yesterday. He was Professor Jiang Maoxue from the Chinese Department at Jiangcheng University. This is undeniable with both evidence and reasoning.

Upon saying this, both he and Li Zijun cast glances akin to looking at a fool.

"Hey, what do you two mean? If we don’t go directly to Ke Yao, what do we do?" Du Qiang spread his hands in dismay, feeling rather unnerved under their look.

In response, Li Zijun sighed and said, "Before, Captain Zhao and Su Qing said you have 90% of your brain as new, kept for value. I didn’t believe it, but now I do. You don’t use even a bit of your brain?

This matter has blown up so big that everyone at school knows. Can’t we just ask around?

Moreover, if we directly approach Ke Yao now, do you think she’ll tell us the truth?"

Upon hearing this, Du Qiang protested, "Why not? Isn’t Su Su here? A human lie detector, can’t even nab a college student?"

"You’re overthinking. I can tell if she’s lying, but how does that help our case? This kind of thing needs to be understood from a third-party perspective for better credibility. Students gossiping, though they add their assumptions, it’s still a lead. Once we have a good idea, then we confront her. Otherwise, if we go to Ke Yao now, and she knows nothing, what can we do? It’ll just alert them," Su Qing immediately explained her view.

"Third-party? Students? Do we just go up and ask them? We need a pretext, right? Otherwise, they’ll think we’re idiots!" Du Qiang said, frowning.

Indeed, with such incidents, it’s obvious that class advisors would have received orders from above to forbid students from discussing in groups, posting on Moments, or on social media.

This is a regular operation, every time something happens at a school. They use a uniform statement, telling students not to speak carelessly and ruin the school’s reputation while downplaying the impact appropriately.

Even if it’s hard to cover up, they try. Whether it’s stolen earphones or seat-hogging incidents, these are dealt with the same way.

This time it involved a death, and the police intervened immediately.

Hearing this, Li Zijun frowned. It’s indeed difficult to find a breakthrough. They knew students would discuss it, but they didn’t know anyone, which was frustrating.

If they showed their badges, of course, it would make students talk, but how juicy the information would be is unknown. She then turned to Su Qing and asked, "Do you have a good idea?"

Su Qing: ???

"Not now, sis. We discussed the whole afternoon yesterday and even slept on it. Don’t you have any plan?"

Li Zijun replied, slightly embarrassed, "I... I’m not so good at this. On-site investigation is more my forte."

Upon hearing this, even Su Qing felt overwhelmed. What’s this? How reckless?

Then she took a deep breath and, after much thought, she spoke, "Well, actually, I do have an idea."

"What idea?"

"Tell us quickly!"

Their eyes lit up, and they asked in unison.

"The beauty trap—Captain Lin taught me."

"Beauty trap? No way, kid, you’re not thinking of having Sister Li..." Du Qiang widened his eyes, incredulously, as if hearing something unbelievable.

Even Li Zijun’s gaze turned somewhat dangerous. Work is work, but if it required her to compromise, she’d have to reconsider whether she could knock out this junior with one punch.

"Don’t look at me like that. It’s not what you think. Let’s split up later: Sister Jun, you and Qiangzi go to the back door of the school, head to the cybercafé when you see one. Sister Jun, sit next to the male students. Your identity is a senior who graduated last year and is working nearby. Pretend to ask these juniors. With your looks, no boy can resist. At key moments, you can even offer them water to boost goodwill, and then it should be easy to ask anything. Remember to check various cybercafés and ask multiple targets for cross-reference."

Hearing this, their eyes lit up immediately. It was indeed a good idea.

Cybercafés are crowded with boys, and Li Zijun would surely find something there.

"Wait, what about me? Do I need to use a male beauty trap? Where are the girls? Are you going to send me to the nearby mall?" Du Qiang hurriedly asked.

Li Zijun: →_→

Su Qing: →_→

A male beauty trap, how could he even mention that? Does he have no self-awareness?

"Ahem, Sister Jun, are you hungry? If you are, you can grab a bite too!"

"Sure, I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable standing here too."

Seeing the two of them chatting away and ignoring him, Du Qiang felt insulted:

"Hey, are we three not part of the same family? Why do I feel like the two of you are isolating me?"

"We’re not!" *2

Du Qiang: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

"Says you’re not isolating me, but you two are speaking in sync. We’re like Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu. Ever seen Liu Bei and Zhang Fei isolate Guan Yu and not include him in conversations?"

Upon this, Li Zijun pondered and clasped her hands in front of her: "Second Brother, since you feel this way, you can pay for the machines and drinks! I believe as a man, this is your duty."

Su Qing also clasped his hands: "Me too!"

Du Qiang:...

"Come on, that’s nonsense. While the two of us are off to gather info in the cybercafé, what are you doing? Don’t tell me we’re working while you’re just lounging around?" Du Qiang dared not reproach Li Zijun, so he aimed his grievance at him.

In response, Su Qing was unfazed and took out her phone: "I’ve already arranged to have lunch with one of the deceased’s roommates. With beauty traps, the male version is on me. Second Brother, if it doesn’t work out, can you cover the meal?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Du Qiang: o(▼皿▼メ;)o

"You two, do you think I’m a sucker?"

"No~ we’re~ not~!" *2

Du Qiang:...

[For the first time, Dull-headed Du Qiang felt the malice from the sibling duo, feeling his self-esteem was trampled to pieces.]

...