This was clearly a trap, and as my senior sister admitted it, I felt a sense of relief.
"My clothes!"
"You took them off yourself. You were drunk yesterday and insisted on sleeping in my bed. I thought you wanted to sleep with me, but then you kicked me out and told me to sleep in your room, saying you just wanted to test how comfortable a round bed was. I was quite hurt; you're not even attracted to such a beautiful woman."
"What's this trap about?" I awkwardly changed the subject.
"Psychological suggestion. I gave you some hallucinogenic drugs."
I was dumbfounded. "Drugs? Is that something a girl like you should have?"
"Did you think Senior Sister was a good person?"
"Alright, alright. When did you give them to me?"
"The first bowl of porridge!"
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I was woken up by the alarm clock, and Senior Sister started her act, coaxing me to drink porridge. After drinking it, I passed out. She brought me back and, calculating the drug's effects, set the alarm again. The second time was a repeat of the current operation, but with a reduced dosage. I woke up faster, so by the time I woke up the third time, not only had the hangover lessened, but I was also much clearer-headed.
"Did you use me as an experiment? Who are you planning to deal with?"
"First, I need to tell you what I did last night."
"You drank so much, you didn't sleep?"
"It wasn't that I drank so much; you got drunk too quickly. Sometimes, one's alcohol tolerance can also be trained. Don't forget, in our country, there's something called a 'wine game.' I drank partly because I was upset about the 'Shadow' matter, and partly to stimulate my brain. But just as I was warming up, you checked out."
My face must be as red as a pig's liver right now. I looked at Senior Sister. "Drinking is in the past. The past doesn't represent the future, as Teacher Wang Ren taught us yesterday."
"Fine, then I'll tell you about the intel I gathered."
...
The so-called intel was an audio recording. Since it was Zhou Meijiao making the call and she was likely some distance from the lipstick mic, even with the volume at maximum, the other party was inaudible. Only Zhou Meijiao's voice could be heard.
"Is this really going to work? No... No, how could I not love you? After all, this is Fang Zidong's money. If I kill him, will I get the money? Oh, as long as I'm his legal wife, is that enough? Then I'll do it. Yes, let's see if I can use that fool Li Xiuhua. Okay, I'll call Li Xiuhua right now."
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Zhou Meijiao hung up the phone, and the recording ended.
"Do you know what PUA is?" Senior Sister asked me.
I shook my head. What was that? I had never heard of it.
Senior Sister explained that it was a pickup artist technique from America, commonly known as seduction psychology. It first appeared in the 1970s and its basic theories were refined through research in psychotherapy and human behavior. After Prince acquired the title of 'Shadow' in the 'Logical Paradox' organization, he intended to use this psychological trap to control Senior Sister and deal with Master. Senior Sister couldn't escape the emotional trap and chose to commit suicide.
'Shadow's' PUA emotional manipulation techniques are generally divided into five steps: Curiosity ~ Exploration ~ Fascination ~ Destruction ~ Emotional Abuse!
Based on Senior Sister's experience, she judged that Zhou Meijiao was currently in the third stage of emotional manipulation, fascination. At this stage, 'Shadow' would use suggestive language and high-pressure induction to control the victim. For example, the sentence Zhou Meijiao just uttered, "How could I not love you?" was 'Shadow's' psychological pressure. Zhou Meijiao was now blinded by love and was actively trying to please 'Shadow,' even willing to kill her husband to get his fortune.
Hearing Senior Sister say this, I felt that this psychological trap was similar to the scamming scheme of Leng Yan, but this was more potent and had a more direct objective. This couldn't be called deception; it was simply using psychological suggestion to control people.
"What do we do now?"
"Let's listen to the next intel."
The next intel was another recording, this time of Zhou Meijiao crying to Li Xiuhua. The content was shocking. In Zhou Meijiao's account, Fang Zidong was a mental degenerate. On the surface, Fang Zidong seemed filial, caring for his elders. But in reality, Fang Zidong would verbally and physically abuse Fang Yue whenever he was displeased. If Fang Yue resisted or talked back, Fang Zidong would drag her into the dog cage.
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"Didn't you buy that dog cage to get a husky?" Li Xiuhua asked in surprise.
"No, we don't have children, and neither Fang Zidong nor I like dogs, so why would we get a husky? It was meant for our father-in-law."
"You didn't intervene?"
Zhou Meijiao said with a sob, "How could I dare? Once, I did say something, and he dragged me towards the dog cage. I was so scared I was trembling."
"You can't keep this man; he's sick."
"Exactly. Do you know what he told me today? He said if Yu Rong doesn't cooperate, he'll kill the eldest son, and then the money will still be split in half."
"I'll kill him! How dare he!"
"Sister-in-law, do you think he wouldn't dare?"
Li Xiuhua remained silent. Zhou Meijiao pressed on, "Sister-in-law, please help me. As long as I can leave this house, I'll do anything you ask."
"This man is a pervert; he can't be kept alive. I'll help you kill him."
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"What are you talking about?"
"Might as well go all the way. While Yu Rong is coming over for dinner, let's put some rat poison in his food and poison him to death. Then we can blame it on Yu Rong, right?"
Just then, they heard a door open. Li Xiuhua's voice boomed, "Zidong, you're back!"
"Sister-in-law, you're here!"
...
I sighed helplessly. These two women were each more ruthless than the other. Li Xiuhua appeared foolish, but she had a dark heart. Zhou Meijiao looked cunning, but she wasn't all that smart either.
"Did they go to buy rat poison?"
"They did!" Senior Sister replied.
"Who bought it?"
"Li Xiuhua bought it. She even tested it on a stray cat. More meticulous than I imagined..."
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"What about Eldest Brother Fang Zixu?"
Senior Sister smiled. "Let's keep listening!"
The last recording was a conversation between Eldest Brother Fang Zixu and his wife, Li Xiuhua.
"Is the dosage enough? Tomorrow, we'll get rid of the second brother, and that Yu Rong too."
"I bought the medicine!" Li Xiuhua said, slightly worried. The rat poison was bought by her.
"Go a little later tomorrow. Don't get involved in the cooking. What's there to be afraid of with rat poison? Yu Rong and the second brother ate Zhou Meijiao's food, and they're dead."
"Okay!"
"Why is the second brother so ruthless? He kept your father in a dog cage."
When Li Xiuhua asked this, Fang Zixu's cold laughter came from the recording. "That's because I'm not raising him. If I were, I'd also lock him in a dog cage."
...
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This family deserves to die. I really wanted to take these recordings to the police. But then I thought, this kind of eavesdropping couldn't be used as evidence. If I took it to the police, I wouldn't be able to explain myself clearly.
"Senior Sister, how are you going to deal with her?"
Senior Sister took out a tool resembling a stocking and put it over her face. It was about the size of a duck egg. I couldn't help but laugh. "Senior Sister, are you planning to go rob someone?"
"Have you ever had a dream?"
"Who hasn't dreamed?" I retorted.
"In your dream, have you ever felt like you wanted to see someone clearly, but you just couldn't?"
"Yes!"
"I've made all the arrangements yesterday, and I've found the person. Uncle Master will go to the Fang family for lunch. Before that, let's help Fang Zidong have a dream. Let's go!"
"It's only a little past eight."
"What eight? To use you as an experiment, it's already half past ten. Check your phone."
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This trick was quite effective, messing with my thoughts. Senior Sister and I drove to the designated location. Senior Sister saw Fang Zidong's car and skillfully opened the door with a set of tools, then hid inside.
A moment later, Fang Zidong returned. He got into the car, unaware that Senior Sister was hiding in the back seat. I walked over and knocked on the window. He looked at me in surprise. Senior Sister used this opportunity to ambush him, covering his mouth with her hand. Her drug was potent. Fang Zidong struggled a few times before passing out.
"Let's carry him out."
The man was unconscious and heavy. Senior Sister and I strained with all our might to move Fang Zidong to the designated spot.
...
When Fang Zidong woke up, the entire room was white. He groggily pushed the door open, and a voice reached his ears, "Zidong, you're back!"
"Mm!"
"Hurry up and eat. We're all waiting for you."
Fang Zidong was groggy. Several figures appeared before him, their faces indistinct. He recognized their clothes and body shapes. At this moment, two people grabbed him, and he couldn't move at all. Thus, Fang Zidong could only watch as another version of himself sat down at the table.
"These are all your favorite dishes: braised fish, lamb ribs, and braised sauerkraut."
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Zhou Meijiao's voice listed the dishes. The fake Fang Zidong, who was eating, suddenly clutched his stomach and collapsed. He gasped weakly, "Poison... there's poison..."
...
Fang Zidong woke up again in the room with white sheets. He felt anxious and pushed the door open. A familiar voice immediately reached his ears, "Zidong, you're back!"
"It's happening again."
The two people who were waiting nearby rushed over and held Fang Zidong down. Fang Zidong yelled, "Let me go, let me go! They're going to poison me to death!"
No one at the table could hear his cries. The fake Fang Zidong collapsed again.
...
Fang Zidong woke up. He heard me knocking on the car window. He subconsciously looked behind him, but didn't see the hands that suddenly grabbed his mouth and nose as he expected.
"Second brother, why are you sleeping here?"
Fang Zidong's face was extremely grim. He ignored me, started the car, and drove away.
...
Senior Sister and I followed behind in the car. We soon arrived at the Fang residence. Once within range of the eavesdropping equipment, Senior Sister and I began to receive sounds through our earphones, faint but audible.
Just then, a door opened, and Li Xiuhua's penetrating voice called out again, "Zidong, you're back!"
"Sister-in-law, are you cooking with Zhou Meijiao?"
"I'm not involved. Today's meal is all made by sister-in-law," Li Xiuhua replied, sounding a little flustered.
"What are you making?"
"Meijiao, Zidong is back, what are you cooking?"
A moment later, Meijiao's voice came through the earphones, "Everything you like: braised fish, lamb ribs, and braised sauerkraut."
...
I lay back on the car seat, looking up at Senior Sister as if she were a deity. Senior Sister reached out and high-fived me. "Dog eat dog, a mouthful of fur. We're in for a good show!"