Chapter 102: Testing and Suspicion
As Fang Xiaocao stared at the WeChat message from Zhi Qi, her hands trembled.
Cold.
So cold.
“Could it really be her…”
She murmured, her lips quivering.
As an orphan, Zhi Qi had been her closest thing to family throughout childhood. Now, facing the betrayal of someone she trusted the most, she felt suffocated.
Fang Xiaocao took deep breaths, trying to ease the pressure in her chest. Her heartbeat slowed as she forced herself to remain calm.
“Just a suspicion… I haven’t found any real proof yet.”
She reassured herself.
“If there’s doubt, I should test her.”
With that, Fang Xiaocao typed a message in response.
“Xiao Qi, what’s up?”
【Zhi Qi: Xiaocao, where are you?】
【Zhi Qi: I just went to your rented place and saw the door wide open. You weren’t home. Are you okay?】
Boom!
Fang Xiaocao felt like she had been struck by lightning.
“How does she know I’m staying at Xintiandi?”
She whispered, her mind racing.
“As far as I remember, I never told Zhi Qi where I rented my place. Not to mention the exact building and unit number.”
Zhi Qi’s suspicion level just skyrocketed.
“My place? Why were you at my place?”
She feigned ignorance.
【Zhi Qi: Of course, I was looking for you!】
【Zhi Qi: I had nothing to do today, so I thought I’d gather everyone and go out together.】
Zhi Qi’s response seemed natural, as if she hadn’t noticed Fang Xiaocao’s probing.
Fang Xiaocao frowned, contemplating whether someone else had leaked her address.
“Su Wanqing, Wen Shi, and Yun Luoshu all know I moved to Xintiandi.”
“If Zhi Qi was with them, then knowing my address wouldn’t be strange.”
She decided to test further.
“Everyone? Who else?”
【Zhi Qi: Su Wanqing, Wen Shi, and Yun Luoshu, of course.】
【Zhi Qi: Who else could it be?】
There were no apparent flaws in Zhi Qi’s response.
With Su Wanqing and the others in the mix, it made sense for Zhi Qi to know Fang Xiaocao’s address.
But Fang Xiaocao didn’t relax. Instead, she became even more vigilant.
Zhi Qi’s reply seemed reasonable, but something still felt off.
Su Wanqing and the others had only known Zhi Qi for a few days—how had they become so close?
If Zhi Qi wanted to invite her out, why didn’t she contact her directly first? Why go through the others?
Did Fang Xiaocao, who had known Zhi Qi since childhood, now rank below these new acquaintances?
That didn’t align with normal logic.
A close friend would reach out directly and bring along others—not the other way around.
“Oh, I see. I don’t live there anymore. I left yesterday.”
She casually lied.
Whether the mastermind was Zhi Qi or not, Fang Xiaocao had no intention of telling her about the attack by Dolphin last night.
And since the Tang City police hadn’t publicly disclosed Dolphin’s capture, she wanted to spread misinformation.
Even if the person behind the scenes could foresee future events, Fang Xiaocao needed to confuse them.
She wanted them to believe that when Dolphin attacked, she wasn’t even home.
Even if they knew Dolphin had been captured, they wouldn’t know the details.
No one would suspect that Fang Xiaocao herself was the one who took down Dolphin.
As for the bounty money that would be transferred to her account?
The underground bounty system had airtight confidentiality. Payments were anonymous, leaving no traces.
Even the bounty organizers feared being discovered by the dangerous assassins they dealt with.
If those notorious killers ever found out who was behind the bounty system, the entire organization would be doomed.
【Gua gua gua!】
Fang Xiaocao’s phone buzzed again.
She checked the message.
【Zhi Qi: Why didn’t you go back?】
【Zhi Qi: Did something happen?】
Her suspicion toward Zhi Qi deepened.
“Are you trying to test if I ran into Dolphin?”
She muttered coldly.
“Oh, nothing much.”
“The landlord told me that while I was out, a stranger entered my apartment.”
“He asked if it was a friend of mine.”
“I told him no, so he called the police.”
“The police checked and said the person was dangerous, so the landlord advised me not to go back.”
She smirked as she sent the message.
Another smoke screen.
She wanted to mess with the mastermind’s head.
To make them think Dolphin had been careless and got himself exposed.
She wanted them to believe that Dolphin’s capture had nothing to do with her—just bad luck on his part.
“Let’s see how you second-guess yourself now.”
She chuckled to herself.
【Zhi Qi: Where are you staying now?】
【Zhi Qi: We’ll come find you!】
Fang Xiaocao’s eyes narrowed.
“So eager to know my whereabouts?”
The suspicion in her heart deepened further.
She paused for a moment, then made a decision.
Time to test Zhi Qi.
“I’m at Phoenix Hotel.”
“Meet me in the lobby. We’ll drive somewhere together.”
She intentionally revealed her hotel.
After all, she wasn’t actually staying there anymore.
She hadn’t checked out yet—because she was using it as bait.
(End of Chapter 102)
