The room looked as if it had been ransacked. The lock I was looking for had been brutally destroyed, its cylinder severely damaged and deformed. Was the intention merely to break the lock, or was there some other motive? I couldn't tell at that moment.
After entering, I saw several large characters written on the wall in red paint: Liu Ran, pay back the money.
Who was Liu Ran?
Jiang Keyang's wife was named Guo Jing. How did someone named Liu Ran suddenly appear?
Just as I was about to investigate further, the police arrived. The commotion had caused a neighbor to call the authorities. To avoid any trouble, I called Da Zhou. Da Zhou contacted someone, and soon he arrived with his men. After examining the scene, he asked the question that was on my mind: "Who is Liu Ran?"
...
Because of my involvement, I also became a suspect. However, Da Zhou brought me to the interrogation room and left me there. I was tired and fell asleep on the table. When I woke up, I saw a haggard-looking Da Zhou preparing to pour instant coffee into a mug. Seeing me awake, he asked, "Do you want some?"
"Sure!"
The taste of instant coffee was nothing to rave about, but it was勉勉强强 enough to keep me awake. After a few sips, I said, "Is it finally my turn?"
Da Zhou laughed heartily, "They've already determined you have nothing to do with this matter?"
"So quickly?"
"It involves the family of Professor Wang Ren. Higher-ups have called, demanding that the public opinion be calmed down as soon as possible, to prevent any offspring issues from causing unnecessary work pressure for Wang Ren."
"Then what is all this about?"
"Then let's talk about Liu Ran first."
Liu Ran was the person in charge of the Bai Xue Club. His mother was Qiao Sa, the "Poison Queen" arrested in the Northeast eight years ago.
Because of his mother's drug trafficking business, Liu Ran lived a life of luxury from a young age, like a spoiled rich kid. Despite his poor academic performance, his mother sent him to study abroad.
Later, when Qiao Sa was arrested, Liu Ran's family experienced a huge upheaval, and he ran out of money for his studies. He returned from abroad and drifted around Beijing. After staying in Beijing for a while, Liu Ran realized a phenomenon: his dissolute friends all liked to frequent nightclubs and pick up female college students there.
Female college students might sound like a synonym for purity and chastity, but that wasn't always the case. Some female college students would do anything for money.
This phenomenon stirred Liu Ran's emotions. He used the little money Qiao Sa had left him to start his own plan. Initially, he only posted part-time job information on campus websites, forums, and bulletin boards. This information quickly attracted a large number of college students, both male and female. Although they seemed to have different personalities, Liu Ran saw a common trait in their eyes.
It must be that Liu Ran's relationship with Guo Jing was exposed, which is why someone went to Guo Jing's house to find Liu Ran. This part is clear, but there's something I still don't understand. No matter what kind of dirty business Liu Ran was involved in, he seemed quite business-minded. Such a person shouldn't be short of money. Judging by Da Zhou's description, it would be more logical for Liu Ran to be the one writing red paint on someone else's wall.
"Who does Liu Ran owe money to?"
Judging by Da Zhou's demeanor, he didn't intend to hide anything from me. After all, I had revealed my identity as a red informant during Wang Zeyyi's death to prove Wang Zeyyi's innocence. Moreover, Da Zhou was Wang Zeyyi's former assistant, and they had a deep bond. Wang Zeyyi's words would make Da Zhou go through fire and water. Based on my speaking up for Wang Zeyyi, Da Zhou already considered me one of his own.
When Da Zhou heard my question, he let out a helpless laugh, "Actually, I don't quite believe it myself. But have you considered that writing on someone's wall in red paint is a bit like a cliché from Hong Kong movies? And there are no organized crime syndicates in our country; even if there were, they've been cracked down upon. So, where would there be such blatant, malicious forces?"
"Then where did these people come from?"
"Liu Ran's people."
"His people?"
"Yes, they are all employees he hired."
In the process of setting up the club, Liu Ran hired not only women but also men. These men were Liu Ran's followers. Under Liu Ran's command, a group of thin boys would register on websites and social media platforms, impersonating different girls to interact with potential clients. Once a transaction was successful, they would receive a corresponding reward.
Of course, those with handsome features, a height of 180 cm, and a sunny disposition would also provide special services to female clients, just like the top-tier girls. In addition, there were some strong, unattractive individuals who served as enforcers.
By recruiting young men and women and exploiting their greed, Liu Ran formed this unique prostitution and drug-related chain. Since they never conducted transactions at the club, the vice and drug enforcement agencies never had evidence to arrest them.
...
"Is Liu Ran in arrears with wages?"
"Most of the sexual services are completed in hotels, with a fifty-fifty split and dedicated collectors. The dark side has always had specific accounts. Moreover, Liu Ran has a principle inherited from his mother: he does not touch drugs and does not traffic drugs. In the past month, Liu Ran disappeared. These people not only didn't get their money but also ran out of supply. That's why, upon learning that Liu Ran had a mistress named Guo Jing, they broke into Guo Jing's home. Since no one was home, they took some valuables and wrote 'Liu Ran, pay back the money'."
The entire process made sense. But to me, it felt like someone had meticulously orchestrated it. This was a trap. Many people acted according to their own intentions, but in reality, they had all become pawns. Was I included in this? I was being led by the narrative, unable to understand many things and make judgments.
Liu Ran had been missing for a month, yet I saw him at the mall yesterday. And he was with Jiang Kexin. Following that, Jiang Keyang was implicated by his sister. Then, at the request of Professor Wang Ren, I went to Jiang Keyang's house, only to find his lock pried open, with Liu Ran's name written for debt, leading to the collapse and destruction of the entire club after neighbors reported it.
"Captain Zhou, how did we find out about Liu Ran's situation?"
"The criminals dug their own graves. Those who wrote 'Liu Ran, pay back the money' acted as a group, believing Liu Ran wouldn't dare report it to the police. But they didn't expect that this incident would disturb the neighbors, and someone called the police. When we found them, they were gathered together, indulging in drugs."
"Did you find the neighbor who made the meritorious report?"
"No."
...
I finished my coffee and remained silent.
Da Zhou lit a cigarette in the interrogation room. Looking at me in silence, he asked curiously, "Tang Nan, do you think something is not quite right?"
"Everything seems logical, but I have two questions. First, Liu Ran's subordinates were driven mad by drugs and broke into Guo Jing's house. According to their behavior, just opening the door would suffice. Why destroy the lock to such an extent?"
"I hadn't considered that. What's the other point?"
"Liu Ran, who has been missing for a month, why was he shopping with Guo Jing?"