Jangxia Tongzhi double-checked the video recording, set the camera aside, and sent a message to Yoko Kinoshita.
It would be a while before Kinoshita got off work.
With nothing else to do, Jangxia stared in mild boredom at Yuko Ikezawa.
Normally, when he knocked someone out, he knew what he was doing—he could even estimate how long they'd stay unconscious.
But that hit on Yuko Ikezawa earlier? Pure reflex. She startled him, and he swung on instinct.
Which meant… she could wake up at any moment.
And sure, she had no combat power to speak of, but if she started freaking out and making a scene, it would be a pain.
Jangxia thought about it, picked up Ikezawa's fallen scarf, and used it to tie her up.
Then he grabbed a napkin and draped it over her face.
Wearing a mask indoors was ridiculously hot, and he wanted to take his off too. But just in case Ikezawa woke up suddenly, he didn't want to risk being recognized. At least this way, if she came to, all she'd see was a blank white napkin.
Perfect setup, really.
Jangxia settled back onto the sofa and waited for Yoko Kinoshita to arrive.
…
Kinoshita Yoko stepped into the apartment building and saw Jangxia's message while waiting for the elevator. She was a little surprised.
To be honest, since Jangxia hadn't contacted her again after they'd parted in the car that day, she figured she'd been ghosted.
She hadn't expected him to not only remember the case—but to catch the stalker so efficiently.
Kinoshita Yoko was deeply moved.
She hurried upstairs, let herself into the apartment, and headed toward the kitchen to make him a cup of tea. But just then, her eyes fell on a very human-shaped lump on the couch.
She froze. The relief on her face instantly evaporated.
—The "captured stalker" was lying on the sofa.
But this didn't look like the big burly guy she had imagined. Judging from the figure and outfit, this was clearly a fashionably dressed woman.
Her clothes were wrinkled, like she'd been roughed up, and she lay there completely still.
Her face was even covered with a white cloth.
Kinoshita's heart, which had just relaxed, leapt into her throat again.
This… this stalker…
She might be dead.
It was admirable for young people to be serious about their work, but still—why would he go as far as murder?!
…
Jangxia walked over to the coffee table, picked up the camera, and was about to hand it to Yoko Kinoshita so she could review the footage.
But when he turned around, he found her staring at him with an expression of heartbreak, clutching her chest as she whispered:
"Go. I won't tell anyone I saw you."
Jangxia: "…?"
What's that supposed to mean? Use me and toss me aside?
Yoko Kinoshita didn't notice the shift in his expression.
She dug out her wallet and fished out all her cash—plus a slim little dagger she kept hidden inside.
She pinched the bundle of bills, then frowned. It clearly wasn't enough. She grabbed her checkbook and pen.
Kinoshita bit the pen cap off and was about to start writing when she suddenly paused and muttered to herself:
"Wait. He's underage, right? And technically, the stalker broke into the apartment first. Also, I did hire him, and all he did was… maybe go a bit overboard. If we run away now—"
She frowned deeply, clearly regretting not paying more attention during law class.
"Wait," said Jangxia, catching on. He pointed at the bundle on the sofa. "She's not dead."
Kinoshita Yoko: "?!"
She hesitated, then walked cautiously over to the sofa and touched the "corpse's" neck.
…Warm.
There was a pulse.
…She was actually alive!
Yoko Kinoshita let out a long breath and collapsed onto the couch, giving the "corpse" a small shake.
Now that she hadn't dragged a minor into a murder case, her conscience felt much lighter. She finally had the energy to focus on other details.
Like...wait a second. She recognized this outfit.
Wasn't that her aggressive-tempered coworker?
Jangxia chimed in, "Her name's Yuko Ikezawa. You should know her." Then he handed over the camera. "Check this out. I caught something very useful."
Kinoshita took the footage and watched it closely.
At first, the video creeped her out. Ikezawa's expression in the footage made her scalp tingle.
But by the end, she actually felt a little sorry for her.
Still—wow. That was one solid takedown.
Kinoshita filled out a check for double the original fee and handed it to Jangxia. "Thank you. You've been a huge help."
Jangxia accepted it without fuss. Payment for work done—that's just how it should be.
Although, to be honest, what he wanted wasn't money.
He glanced at Kinoshita's wrist.
The ghost baby clinging to it shivered silently, then scooted closer and hugged her arm tighter.
Jangxia suppressed his hidden motives and handed over the video footage to Kinoshita.
He could probably sell this to Ikezawa's company or a rival, maybe make a small fortune.
But that'd be a hassle. Plus, he wasn't hurting for cash—his organization brought in some money here and there, and his parents had left him a decent inheritance.
Kinoshita stared at the tape, realizing how much this scoop could be worth.
She picked up her checkbook again and asked, "I can't just take this for free. How much would you usually sell a story like this for?"
"Just take it," said Jangxia casually. "I got it while working on your case. I won't sell it to anyone else. Do what you want with it."
Kinoshita was moved again.
She hadn't misjudged him. This was a genuinely decent kid—definitely salvageable!
Still, she insisted on paying him something. When Jangxia didn't budge, she decided to consult her agent.
Also, she needed her agent to deal with the stalker.
While she was making the call, Jangxia took out a tablet-sized device from his bag and brought up several connected surveillance feeds.
He tapped one and zoomed in.
…
Kinoshita finished her call and suddenly realized—it was lunchtime.
She thought about how long Jangxia had been here waiting and quickly stood up. "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll go make you something."
Jangxia glanced at the door. "No need to rush. There's still one more."
"One more…?"
Kinoshita was still smiling when the words sank in.
Her face instantly turned pale. "Another stalker?!"
Jangxia nodded. "Yeah…"
He was about to say "A very fat man" to give her a clue—probably her ex-boyfriend—and let her mentally prepare.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ikezawa's head tilting slightly in his direction.
Like she'd heard something interesting and was trying to listen in.
Jangxia silently stared at the napkin over her face. "…Really?"
Still trying to pretend you're unconscious just to eavesdrop?
He stopped talking and walked toward her.
Ikezawa's ears were still perked up.
But when she realized Jangxia had gone quiet, she panicked and tried to shrink into the sofa.
Too late.
Jangxia reached down, jabbed her neck with practiced precision, and knocked her out again.
He pulled back his hand, satisfied.
This time, he knew exactly how long she'd stay out. No more worrying about surprise wake-ups.
Yoko Kinoshita watched in stunned silence.
She had been terrified at the mention of "stalker number two."
But now, after seeing Jangxia take down one stalker with such ease, she wasn't so scared anymore.
…Strange.
She calmed down and looked at Jangxia, expecting him to continue the earlier conversation.
But he didn't say a word.
Instead, he walked to the entryway, stuck himself behind the door, and listened.
Then suddenly flung it open.
A fat man fell forward—he'd clearly been leaning against the door to eavesdrop.
Before he could regain his balance, Jangxia grabbed him by the collar and flipped him cleanly into the entryway.
Then shut the door behind him with a click.
Stalker No. 2 groaned, stunned, staring at Kinoshita's ceiling lamp, unable to stand up.
Jangxia locked the door, turned around, and nudged him with a toe—no response.
So he bent down, grabbed the guy's collar again, and dragged him effortlessly to the living room, stopping in front of Yoko Kinoshita—more specifically, in front of the ghost baby.
The ghost baby let out a dramatic snort—clearly cursing—and hugged Kinoshita's arm tighter.
He wanted her to scold this savage guy and let him experience the deep love between his parents.
But he was sorely disappointed.
Yoko Kinoshita looked at the man on the floor with nothing but fear, disgust, sorrow, and a hint of pure hatred.
Stalker No. 2 looked up at her with pleading eyes and reached out a tragic "Erkang" hand toward her.
Yoko flinched and instinctively hid behind Jangxia.
Then she pulled out her phone and called her agent again, asking, "How much longer?"
The agent was already downstairs—with a few bodyguards.
She rushed up, looked at the two miserable stalkers, looked at Jangxia, and after a pause, left the bodyguards at the door.
The fewer people who knew about this, the better.
And hey—since Jangxia was already here, he could substitute for the bodyguards.
Especially since that ex-boyfriend weighed two or three hundred pounds—more than her and Yoko combined.
If he went berserk, he could crush them both without even trying.
No way she'd face him alone without backup.
So—three-person play.
Jangxia took two steps back, out of the way, and sat down on the sofa to watch silently.
He'd already seen this whole scenario through fake "predictions" and was completely unfazed.
The ghost baby, on the other hand, was not so chill.
Its wide, stunned ghost eyes quivered in disbelief.
All this unresolved mess was finally spilling out into the open.
Glossary:
Erkang's hand – A melodramatic hand gesture from a famous Chinese drama, often used in parody to depict over-the-top desperation.