Veiled Paths of the Forgotten Chapter 7

The car was parked outside a construction site under development in the suburbs of Wan City. It was dead silent and pitch dark.

Adrian Du originally wanted Ethan Zhou to continue sleeping in the car, but closing the car door woke him up.

Ethan Zhou yawned and looked at Adrian Du with sleepy eyes, with a little irritation in his eyes. Adrian Du had to make a "silence" gesture, gave up the plan of going to the meeting alone, and took Ethan Zhou around the construction site.

"How do you know it's here?" Ethan Zhou found that he had too many questions.

Adrian Du replied: "News."

"Is this a project developed by your company?" Ethan Zhou asked.

Adrian Du replied: "Buy it? I'll give you 20% off."

Ethan Zhou said: "The unfinished building is still 20% off, why not grab it."

Adrian Du was a little surprised: "You know everything?"

Ethan Zhou replied: "Look at the environment."

The rows of workers' dormitories converted from containers had no lights on, and carts were placed in a haphazard manner beside them.

Adrian Du did not dare to take the elevator at the construction site, fearing that the noise would alarm anyone, and walked up along the cement stairs poured inside the scaffolding. Everything was silent, the wind was whistling, and a light rain was falling.

"Brandon Yu owns 16 percent of Fumao Real Estate," Adrian Du whispered, "I suspect he is involved in both murders... this way."

Ethan Zhou did not ask Adrian Du why he wanted to investigate Brandon Yu. The current information was enough for him to judge many things: Adrian Du might be an undercover agent in Brandon Yu's company, collecting some important information.

"Which two?" Ethan Zhou asked.

Adrian Du said: "The first case was the suicide of his spouse. Nineteen years ago, he made a fortune with his father-in-law's assets and married the daughter of a scrap recycling center owner."

"I've heard of him," Ethan Zhou replied, "the 'big brother' he mentioned."

"After nine years of marriage, his first wife committed suicide by taking a large amount of sleeping pills due to depression," Adrian Du said, "and the couple's property was inherited by him."

"Um."

Adrian Du reached out and held Ethan Zhou's hand with his bare left hand. While carefully walking up the stairs without guardrails, he looked up and judged Brandon Yu's whereabouts based on the dim light at night.

"After getting the capital from his father-in-law, he gradually made a fortune. When the policy was favorable, he and two partners started to do real estate. There were many unclean things in the company's accounts. Later, there were problems with capital turnover, and it was urgent to go public and start financing. However, the financing goal was inconsistent with the ideas of one of the partners named Wang Ke. Wang Ke knew many secrets about the accounts. Brandon Yu admitted his mistake and wisely postponed the listing."

"But six months later, at the beginning of last year, Wang Ke kept a lover and rented a suite in Dongshan District. His lover's boyfriend showed up at his house and they started fighting. Wang Ke was strangled to death on the spot."

Ethan Zhou: "Do you suspect that Brandon Yu arranged all this?"

Adrian Du evaded the question: "After Wang Ke's death, Brandon Yu restarted the financing and listing plan."

"Which floor are you on?"

"It's still early," Adrian Du looked up at the rooftop and replied, "If you're tired, just take a break. There's still plenty of time."

"Where is the criminal?" Ethan Zhou asked, leaning against a square concrete pillar.

"They ran away," Adrian Du said. "The last time we heard about them, they went to Papua New Guinea and couldn't be caught. They hid their bodies in the refrigerator of the rental house and they found them more than a month later."

Ethan Zhou said: "This is unreasonable. How could a director of such an important position in the company be discovered only after disappearing for a month?"

Adrian Du used his fingers to pull aside some of the green gauze on the scaffolding and looked out, and replied: "Wang Ke rarely took care of the company's affairs in the later period. He was a hands-off boss most of the time and traveled around. He often had a one-way contact with Brandon Yu, and his lover used his mobile phone to send messages to the company and his family. In theory, Brandon Yu didn't find out, which was barely acceptable, but in reality, it depends on one's own opinion."

Ethan Zhou: "So you suspect that he killed his first wife first, and then killed a partner."

Adrian Du said: "These two partners were descendants of his father-in-law. This is indeed something he can do."

"Why did you take over this case?" Ethan Zhou asked, "Because his wife suffered from depression more than ten years ago?"

Adrian Du did not answer, but in the darkness, Ethan Zhou could feel his hesitation.

"Let's continue walking after we rest."

Finally, Adrian Du said.

The unfinished building had not yet been topped off and it was drizzling. Ethan Zhou had just climbed up the 26th floor of stairs breathlessly when he was grabbed by Adrian Du's strong hand. The two hid under the stairs between the 26th and 27th floors.

Brandon Yu has arrived.

Ethan Zhou looked up through the gap in the wooden board, and Adrian Du waved his hand gently.

"Don't do anything." Adrianji said in a low voice, kneeling on one knee, putting his arm around Ethan Zhou's shoulder, taking out the recorder and turning it on.

Ethan Zhou sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Don't you want to say something?" Adrian Du leaned close to Ethan Zhou's ear, their breath very close.

Ethan Zhou asked, "Aren't you recording?" Adrian Du replied, "I can erase it when I get back."

Ethan Zhou waved his hand gently. He still had many questions to ask, but he knew Adrian Du didn't want to hide it from him. In fact, Ethan Zhou was very happy to meet him again after so many years. Three years later, he was much more restrained than before. The reason was that Adrian Du was very sensitive. If he did it again, Ethan Zhou was afraid that he would be scared away.

"I'm almost asleep," Adrian Du said, "Talk to me to wake me up."

Ethan Zhou only said one sentence: "Will you leave again after you come back this time?"

This question was really very refreshing. Ethan Zhou could even feel that Adrian Du's hand on his shoulder tightened noticeably.

"Do you want me to stay?" Adrian Du said.

"That's what I've always hoped for." Ethan Zhou replied.

However, before Adrian Du could respond, footsteps were heard again and the blackmailer had finally arrived.

Adrian Du pressed Ethan Zhou's shoulder and quickly dodged behind another pillar. Two men came, and without noticing their pursuit, they climbed up the stairs above Ethan Zhou's head and reached the top floor of the 27th floor.

Ethan Zhou received a call. He took a look and saw that it was Liam Le calling. He hung up the phone, knowing that this was a critical moment.

Adrian Du put away the recorder, hid in the darkness, and went up to the uncapped rooftop on the 27th floor.

"This is the final touch." Brandon Yu pulled up his hood, hiding his face, and his gym bag was at his feet. He took a deep breath and said in the rain, "Where are the things?"

The leading man took out an envelope. Brandon Yu took it, opened the envelope, took out a USB flash drive and took a look at it.

"The money is in the bag." Brandon Yu replied, and was about to turn around and go downstairs when another man blocked the stairs.

At first the man said, "Don't be in a hurry to leave. Would you like to chat with Mr. Yu?"

Brandon Yu said: "Go back and tell your boss that if you want it again, we'll all be in trouble."

"Look at yourself," the man laughed, "how can you look like a CEO of a listed company? We are just following orders, smoking one?"

As he spoke, the man took out a cigarette and handed it to Brandon Yu. Brandon Yu hadn't smoked for a long time, but he still took it.

The man himself didn't smoke, but threw the empty cigarette box and matches on the ground.

Brandon Yu took two puffs and suddenly said, "I didn't kill Wang Kezhen."

"You were the one who introduced the little car model to me," the man said. "You already knew that he was dead."

Brandon Yu defended himself perfectly and said, "I really don't know."

The man said casually: "Then why don't you call the police?"

"I said I don't know!" Brandon Yu said angrily, "What is my relationship with him? Why would I do this?"

The man walked aside, touched his head, and said thoughtfully: "In addition to this record, he also talked about you with other people. Do you want to see it?"

Brandon Yu suddenly became nervous again. The man smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. It doesn't cost money. We always keep our word. We have already got a lot from you. This record is a gift."

As he spoke, the man took out another plastic folder and waved it towards Brandon Yu.

Brandon Yu asked cautiously: "With whom?"

"With your wife," the man said. "Ten years ago."

Brandon Yu: ...

The man seemed quite interested and said, "Brother, your shameful hobby covers a wide range of areas, even your brothers who made their fortune together with you are not spared."

Brandon Yu walked towards the man and stretched out his hand. The man who was guarding the stairs came over to prevent Brandon Yu from snatching it openly, but the man waved his hand to indicate that it was okay and said, "We have to keep the record in case of emergency."

Brandon Yu was about to explode with anger. Ever since he was targeted by this group of people, he had been blackmailed endlessly. He thought everything would end today, but he didn't expect there would be a sequel! Wang Ke watched as he seemed to have become a ghost, following him relentlessly.

"I didn't kill him." Brandon Yu panted and snatched the folder roughly. The man was polite and took out his mobile phone to light it for him. Brandon Yu's face changed when he saw it - that was the content of the text message ten years ago, and they even found it?

"Wang Ke didn't slander you, did he?" the man asked seriously, "I heard that you found a boyfriend today?"

Brandon Yu raised his head, his eyes filled with fear. But the next moment, the man said: "Okay, it's finally confirmed."

As soon as he finished speaking, Brandon Yu suddenly felt danger. Perhaps it was the murderous intent in the man's eyes, or perhaps it was the intuition generated by the moment of life and death.

He stepped back suddenly, but bumped into another man from behind. Then the man locked his arm, took a step forward, pressed his shoulders, and dragged him to the edge of the rooftop!

Brandon Yu: "Save..."

"Bye." the man said neatly.

Brandon Yu's pupils suddenly dilated, and half of his body leaned out of the rooftop, facing the concrete floor below the 27th floor.

When Ethan Zhou heard about himself, he became concerned, but he didn't expect the change to come so quickly!

But Adrian Du's reaction was faster than his. He suddenly appeared from behind the concrete house on the rooftop. He stepped on the rain, slid, stretched out his leg and hooked it. The two men immediately lost their balance. They never expected that there was someone here!

Brandon Yu rolled over and nearly fell down, but he held on to the edge tightly and flipped up.

A man immediately said: "There are others!"

"Go!" the leading man shouted.

Adrian Du put one hand on the ground and suddenly kicked the leading man away. Brandon Yu suddenly hugged the man from behind, pushed him away, rushed forward, grabbed another man and kicked him!

Ethan Zhou rushed to the top floor, and Adrian Du said, "Go back!"

"Adrian Du?!" Brandon Yu said in shock.

Brandon Yu rushed forward, swung up the bag, and swept it across. As soon as Ethan Zhou reached the roof, he heard a scream. Before he could see what was happening, the man was hit by Brandon Yu's shoulder and fell off the roof, screaming in fear.

At that moment, Ethan Zhou's blood seemed to solidify. Adrian Du immediately grabbed Ethan Zhou and took him aside.

Brandon Yu staggered and grabbed the bag full of cash, and then a "bang" sound came from downstairs.

Ethan Zhou: ...

The four people on the rooftop fell silent at the same time. The follower who had come over slowly retreated and then staggered away down the stairs.

None of the three tried to chase after him. What would have happened if they had caught up?

Brandon Yu's voice was trembling: "He...fell to death?"

Adrian Du did not answer, standing in the rain like a ghost. Ethan Zhou hid behind Adrian Du, his mind full of thoughts: Someone is dead?! What should I do now?

This was the first time in his life that he witnessed a murder scene with his own eyes. The chill instantly enveloped his whole body. Every pore and every inch of skin was feeling the fear that came before death. The rain was icy cold and flowed down Ethan Zhou's collar, making him shudder.

"Just now...who pushed him?" Brandon Yu's voice trembled uncontrollably.

"You," Adrian Du picked up the plastic folder on the ground, stuffed it into Brandon Yu's arms, patted his shoulder, and replied, "You pushed him out."

Brandon Yu said, "He was standing next to me just now, and I... accidentally bumped into him." Then he reacted instantly, "Who else? The one behind you, who are you? Come out and let me see you? Adrian Du, why are you here?"

"You would have died if I hadn't come," Adrian Du replied coldly, "Didn't you see that they were trying to push you down just now?"

Brandon Yu finally came to his senses and panted, "When did you follow me? Why didn't I notice you? Who... who are you?"

Ethan Zhou replied: "Me."

Adrian Du glanced at Ethan Zhou, thought for a moment, and said, "He predicted that you would be in trouble tonight, so he asked me to go back to the company to see you."

Ethan Zhou thought to himself: Hey! Can you be serious?

The moment Brandon Yu saw Ethan Zhou, his whole body seemed to collapse, and he knelt on the ground with his hair soaked.

Adrian Du said calmly: "We just arrived, we didn't see or hear anything, so we left."

"Xiao Du," Brandon Yu said, "wait...wait."

"The rain will flow down the stairs and wash away your footprints," Adrian Du said. "Don't take the stairs anymore. Take the elevator down."

Brandon Yu took a deep breath and tried his best to calm down. Adrian Du glanced at the empty cigarette boxes and match boxes on the ground, pressed the construction site elevator with his gloved right hand, took off his suit jacket, spread it on the ground, and stood on it with Ethan Zhou.

Brandon Yu looked at Adrian Du, but Adrian Du still looked indifferent. Ethan Zhou looked at Brandon Yu and then at Adrian Du.

The elevator continued to go down.

"Mr. Yu," Adrian Du said, "I'm going to take a day off tomorrow."

"Sure." Brandon Yu said, "You... just rest at home for a few days, and I'll arrange for you to go abroad?"

"No need," Adrian Du said lightly, "I didn't push the person down."

"I'll find a solution right away." Brandon Yu replied.

Brandon Yu's mind was full of what the blackmailers had done, and he didn't even notice that Adrian Du was being unreasonably calm, which was very different from his usual assistant status.

"Would you like to go and take a look?" Ethan Zhou asked.

The elevator reached the first floor. The ground was full of mud and water, and there were footprints of workers everywhere. The man who fell to death was just 20 meters away.

"No," Adrian Du said, holding Ethan Zhou's hand all the time, "There's blood on the ground, it's easy to leave footprints if you go over there."

These words were naturally said to Brandon Yu, but Adrian Du was really worrying too much. Even if Brandon Yu had the courage, he would not dare to check it out rashly.

Brandon Yu quickly put away the plastic folder and asked, "Are you driving?"

"It's parked outside the construction site, far away." Adrian Du said politely, "Where's Mr. Yu?"

"Take my car back?"

Brandon Yu had become a frightened bird, as if at this moment Adrian Du had become the boss and he was the follower.

"No thanks." Adrian Du said, "Good night, Mr. Yu."

They walked two streets, and the moment Ethan Zhou sat in the passenger seat, he began to breathe heavily.

"Are you scared?" Adrian Du started the car, turned around, glanced at Ethan Zhou, took off his gloves, put the car in gear, and touched Ethan Zhou's forehead.

"Should we call the police?" Ethan Zhou answered after taking a breath.

"No," Adrian Du said, "I didn't kill him."

Ethan Zhou said: "This is joint liability!"

Adrian Du bowed his head and sent a message, saying, "Someone will go to clean up the mess."

Ethan Zhou turned around and glanced at the glowing screen on Adrian Du's phone. He saw that the chat contact was "Boss". Adrian Du only sent two words: "Are you asleep?"

Ethan Zhou thought: Adrian Du must have an organization.

"But there were only three of us present at the time!" Ethan Zhou said, "Is there any evidence? It's useless for me to be a witness."

Adrian Du took out a recorder, showed it to Ethan Zhou, and raised his eyebrows.

Ethan Zhou: ...

Adrian Du turned off the recorder and said, "Brandon Yu admitted it himself."

Ethan Zhou was still suspicious, and suddenly turned around and asked: "Have you killed anyone?"

"No." Adrian Du said politely, driving away from the suburbs, "Note, we didn't kill anyone tonight."

"Why are you so calm?" Ethan Zhou asked in disbelief, as if he had met a completely different Adrian Du. But when he thought about it carefully, the original Adrian Du seemed to be like this too.

Adrian Du was driving attentively. Ethan Zhou said, "Fingerprints, footprints... You handled the crime scene too carefully. You were a little too calm..."

Ethan Zhou wanted to say "You are so calm that it scares me a little", but after thinking about it, he didn't say it out loud.

"With you by my side," Adrian Du said, "I have to stay calm."

Ethan Zhou: "Where did you learn it?"

Adrian Du replied calmly: "It was just a training course. I only studied for three months. I learned it and I'm still using it. I'm sorry."

Ethan Zhou: ...

At this moment, a phone call suddenly rang in the car. Adrian Du signaled Ethan Zhou not to speak and answered the Bluetooth speaker. There was a steady middle-aged man's voice on the other end.

"What?" the man said.

Adrian Du said: "The contents of the safe were taken, and Brandon Yu killed someone on the construction site."

"Tell me what happened."

Adrian Du was driving the car and recounted the whole story in a very organized manner. The man interrupted halfway through and asked, "Are you the only one in the car?"

Adrian Du said calmly, "Yes." He then started from the ambush of Brandon Yu and recounted the whole process.

The other side just said: "Got it."

Adrian Du said, "Please go to the usual place to collect the things and deal with the murder case. I need to take a day off tomorrow."

"What are you asking for leave for?" the person on the other end of the phone said, "Go back and monitor Brandon Yu."

"Sleep," Adrian Du said, "I haven't slept for three days."

The other end didn't say anything else and hung up the phone. Ethan Zhou was in a very complicated mood. He watched the car drive into the city. At 5:20 in the morning, the rain stopped. Adrian Du rolled down the window and threw the document bag that Ethan Zhou took out of the safe out while driving. It fell into a roadside trash can with great accuracy.

"What now?" Ethan Zhou asked.

"Send you home." Adrian Du replied.

Ethan Zhou said: "Come to my house, I'll sleep with you for a while."

Adrian Du didn't answer, so Ethan Zhou asked again: "Where do you live?"

"The dormitory is arranged by the company." Adrian Du answered casually.

"live alone?"

"I have a roommate, a little boy."

Ethan Zhou did not ask any more questions. Adrian Du thought for a moment and said, "A bit like you back then." He gestured and added, "Only a little bit, just a tiny bit."

"Which point?"

"There's never enough money at the end of the month."