The phone in front of Da Huang rang. He picked it up. "Hello, yes, this is the Youth and Internet Hotline. Oh, you want to share a story with me, go ahead... So, I think I understand. You have to die to save your girlfriend, right? But you'll be resurrected after you die, although your lifespan will be shortened. You're twenty-five now but look forty-five... Am I right? Then you shouldn't be calling our hotline. How about you write a novel online, or maybe invest in a movie... You want me to recommend a movie title? Call it 'I'll Wait for You at the End of Time'... Alright, I can't talk anymore, the line is busy, please excuse us. Goodbye."
After he hung up, the phone rang again. Da Huang picked it up. "Your dog is lost? Then you can post a 'lost dog' notice in the Jingwan Bao newspaper... It's not that we won't help you. I can deeply empathize with the terrible feeling of losing a dog. However, our magazine hasn't been published yet. It's only being spread online, and its influence isn't as great as Jingwan Bao's... Alright, thank you for calling again."
As soon as he put the phone down, it rang again. Da Huang took a deep breath, shook his head with a smile, indicating he couldn't help.
"I finally know what a hotline is, and why so many people get scammed. I'm just leaving a phone number online, with no physical office. They really think I'm a legitimate magazine publisher."
Da Huang muttered to himself, then immediately picked up the phone, his voice changing to be enthusiastic and full of energy: "Hello, this is the Youth and Internet Magazine hotline."
I finally understood why Old Ghost had been monitoring them for two months. These people were all talented individuals who could excel at anything they did. From Lina's police statement, I could tell she was no simple person. While reporting the search for Leng Yan as a victim, she was simultaneously devising her own plan to find him.
Anyone who had seen Lina could tell she wasn't ordinary. First of all, Lina was a certified psychologist and a renowned psychologist abroad. Furthermore, Lina's father was a successful businessman, and she had no concept of money since childhood.
For such a person to be scammed out of over three million yuan was almost unimaginable. Moreover, after being scammed, this woman was solely focused on finding Leng Yan. What exactly did she want to do?
...
Just as I was once again lost in thought about Lina's identity, Da Huang waved at me, holding his hand over the phone. I looked at Da Huang in surprise. Da Huang lowered his voice and said, "The fish is biting. She wants to visit our magazine office."
"Tell her we're undergoing renovations."
After speaking, I sent a text message to Chang Dachun: "Is the room ready?"
"It's ready, officer."
I admired Chang Dachun's efficiency. He was the best logistician, capable of handling anything, and at a reasonable price!
After receiving confirmation, I made an 'ok' gesture to Da Huang. Da Huang smiled and nodded, then removed his hand from the phone. "Yes, Ms. Lina, you've visited our website and know we're a new magazine. We're currently renovating, but if your story is exciting, we can arrange a special interview for you on short notice... You need the address? Okay, it's in Xidan, in an office building, E Building, room 1012!"
...
That evening, we held an impromptu meeting because of tomorrow's interview with Lina. Everyone was very excited. I roughly outlined the process, then explained the specific details to Lin Han. She only needed to have brief interactions with Lina twice. After I had repeated the details several times, Lin Han became a bit annoyed. "Uncle Police, don't you trust me?"
"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have you doing something so dangerous. Remember, Lina is an excellent psychologist. She has received professional education in psychology."
Lin Han pouted and blew a strand of hair from her forehead. "You just want to say I didn't go to college."
"I didn't either."
Lin Han stared at me in disbelief. "You didn't go to college, how did you become a police officer in Beijing?"
"Just like you, I dropped out in my third year of high school and drifted for two years."
"We're in the same year?"
I nodded. Seeing my confirmation, Lin Han gritted her teeth, looking like she'd been tricked. "You're just a younger guy, why do they all call me Lin Meimei with you?"
"What month is your birthday?"
"November!"
"Mine is in May, more than half a year older than you."
"No way, that works too!"
...
I don't know if what I'm doing now is right. But I can't always act like a stiff police uncle. I look mature and my mind is developed, but I really can't stand people my own age calling me Uncle Police every day. Besides, Lin Han isn't like a naive college student. She's spent two years in society, her appearance is striking, and she can switch between professional and student personas seamlessly. When we first met, she looked like a mature woman in her thirties. When she got home, changed into shorts and a t-shirt, removed her heavy makeup, and opened her laptop to laugh and joke, she transformed back into her innocent student self.
Tomorrow's first meeting with Lina was something I had planned for a long time. I was afraid that Lin Han's part might go wrong. Her role is crucial and will have important implications later.
...
Around nine the next morning, Lina arrived as scheduled. Several workers who were painting the walls also arrived around the same time. Chang Dachun was arranging things: "Can you open the window when you paint that room? My nose is bothering me. Alright, thank you!"
After making arrangements, Chang Dachun, wearing a mask, pretended to see Lina and walked over with a smile. "Are you Ms. Lina? Hello, I'm the editor-in-chief here. My name is Chang. I apologize, we're renovating, and my nose is bothering me, so I'm wearing a mask. Here's a new one, would you like it?"
"No, thank you!"
"Xiao Lin, bring a cup of tea."
A moment later, Lin Han arrived with a cup of tea, muttering, "I'm a reporter, not a receptionist. Why should I be doing things like serving tea and water?" After speaking, Lin Han glanced at Lina, her brow furrowed. Without another word, she placed the paper cup in front of Lina and turned to leave.
Chang Dachun said awkwardly, "She just graduated from college and hasn't been working long. She's not very satisfied with the magazine's working environment, please excuse her."
"It's fine!"
The room was equipped with cameras and recording devices, all openly visible. Since it was the interview studio, these were not out of place at all. I observed Lina through these electronic devices. She was just as I imagined, with sharp eyes, and she had already discreetly assessed her surroundings.
Chang Dachun didn't rush to start the interview. Instead, he took a copy of the printed magazine from a stack and handed it to Lina. "This is our magazine sample. Please take a look."
The magazine was titled "Youth & Internet," with a vibrant, upward-looking young person on the cover, and some prominent headlines. Upon opening it, besides an introduction to the magazine, there were five sections: Illusionary World, Special Recommendation, Internet Club, Masterpiece Reading, and Heart-to-Heart Window.
"I'd like to feature your special interview in 'Special Recommendation.' This magazine will be released in November and will include a beautiful gift. If sales are good, you'll surely become popular."
Lina smiled. "Editor Chang, I don't want to attract attention for the wrong reasons. But I hope to share my experience of being scammed to prevent other women from falling victim."
"Thank you for sharing."
Lina's story was about the process of reporting to the police. She was a blogger, a travel blogger. Because Lina had traveled to many places, she had visited well-known attractions both domestically and internationally. Therefore, Lina's blog was very popular.
Leng Yan appeared as a fan of her blog. Initially, Leng Yan only left comments on the blog, and later left his QQ number. This is how Lina and Leng Yan became friends. This time, Leng Yan used a new tactic. He immediately started chatting with Lina about being cheated on by his ex-girlfriend, which ignited their conversation.
Lina said she had never told anyone about her experience working as a psychologist abroad. After returning to China, she planned to travel around the country first, and then open a professional psychological counseling agency in Beijing.
During this time, Lina admitted she had been somewhat neglecting her goals, immersed in the beauty of China, seemingly forgetting her goal of becoming a psychological counselor.
A man discussing his experience of being cuckolded immediately brought Lina back to work. She happily chatted with Leng Yan, treating his situation with a professional attitude. To this day, Lina admits that Leng Yan was a master of psychology. Through constant conversation with Lina, Leng Yan gauged her psychology and successfully molded himself into the ideal image of her dream lover.
Afterward, Leng Yan frequently left comments on Lina's blog, bold and full of sweet nothings.
"Thinking of you during work hours has become a 'burden' for me."
"I long to hold you at night and smell the perfume in your hair."
In addition to this, Leng Yan was skilled at creating travel guides. Whenever Lina visited a new place, Leng Yan would thoughtfully provide a guide, not one copied from the internet, but a personalized online guide from Leng Yan himself.
As their relationship deepened, Leng Yan began to casually discuss collecting and investing, and would share auction websites.
...
From what is currently known, every victim has been linked to an auction. The cautious Lina had also had suspicions about this auction. She checked the website. It was almost the best collection website in China, and the first to use images and gold coins for pre-auction hype. Lina had attended an auction at this place before: Xing Sheng Auction House in Beijing, a legitimate auction house with a high registered capital.
...
The subsequent experiences were almost identical to those of other victims. They would first help the victims make money, and while gaining their jealous trust, they would then have the victims take expensive antiques abroad, disappearing thereafter.
...
After the interview, Lina walked into the elevator, and Lin Han entered at the same time. She went downstairs with Lina, and then glanced at Lina a few times intentionally or unintentionally. Lina was very elegant and offered a kind smile.
"You're here for an interview, right?" Lin Han asked.
"Mm."
"Don't expect them to help you find someone. This magazine office is a scam."
"Are you talking about the scale? It's a bit small, but for a startup, this scale is acceptable, especially since it's just an online magazine."
"If you don't want to listen, then so be it. It's not me who's being scammed."
In my plan, Lin Han's lines were limited to these few sentences. She was to test Lina, and then they would part ways.
I waited upstairs for Lin Han to return. At that moment, Fatty called me, sounding anxious. "Lin Han got into the same taxi as Lina."
"Where did they go?"
"I don't know yet. I'm following them."
What I feared most has happened. In the initial contact, Lin Han was only supposed to have brief interactions with Lina. Then Da Huang was to make tentative inquiries, and finally, Fatty was to take candid photos to uncover Lina's true intentions.
Now everything is in disarray. Could it be because I mentioned the age issue with Lin Han yesterday, and she took it upon herself to engage more deeply with Lina? She looks mature, but she's still a child, isn't she acting impulsively?