Xu Sichen quickly sent over Martina’s hotel address. Lu Linjiang noted the location was good, only about two blocks away. He didn't even need to drive; he simply walked over. The hotel was a local Jinghai chain with a rather clunky, rustic name: Xiyun Hotel. It had been in business for over a decade and did well due to its prime location.
With two consecutive cases having occurred in hotels, Lu Linjiang instinctively rubbed his nose as he walked into the Xiyun, feeling a primal sense of resistance. Xu Sichen had included the room number in the message, so Lu Linjiang went straight to Martina’s floor. He checked the time; based on her previous appearances on surveillance footage, she should be awake by now. Casting aside any hesitation, he knocked on the door.
Lu Linjiang knocked three times and waited, but there was no sound from within. Considering she was mute, he politely knocked three more times, yet the room remained silent. A sudden unease gripped his heart. Just then, a hotel waiter passed by. Lu Linjiang stopped him, flashed his badge, and asked, "Can you get someone to open this door?"
The waiter, who had just finished a room service delivery, was momentarily stunned to be stopped by a police officer demanding a door be opened. "This... I’ll have to ask for instructions."
Lu Linjiang glanced behind him. "Hurry up, don't dawdle."
The waiter nodded blankly, hesitating for a few steps, suddenly unsure of what to do. Seeing him spinning in circles like a headless fly, Lu Linjiang was about to grab him to calm him down when the door to Room 1205 opened.
Martina stood behind the door, dressed entirely in black, her beautiful eyes silently fixed on Lu Linjiang. Lu Linjiang and the waiter remained frozen in their positions, staring at her in surprise. Lu Linjiang was the first to react, letting out a long sigh of relief. "You finally opened up."
The waiter, having received a needless fright, stared at the two of them dully for a moment before finally regaining his professionalism. "Well then, I’ll leave you to your chat. I’ll get back to work."
Once the man had left, Lu Linjiang asked politely, "May I come in?" He used sign language as he spoke. Martina stood in a silent standoff with him for a moment. Just as Lu Linjiang thought she would refuse, she suddenly stepped aside, clearing the way.
Lu Linjiang entered the room, his mind filled with questions.
The room was kept very tidy. Lu Linjiang cast a suspicious glance at the bed, then back at Martina—the bed clearly hadn't been slept in. The blankets were still perfectly arranged by housekeeping, with only a slight indentation on the edge where someone had sat.
He scanned the room and gestured toward a chair. "May I sit here?"
Whether it was because she hadn't rested well or because she hadn't adjusted to the jet lag, Martina’s reactions were half a beat slow. Lu Linjiang had to ask twice before she slowly nodded.
"May I ask, who exactly were you looking for at Micro-Universe?" Lu Linjiang placed the printed photograph on the table. "The manager of Micro-Universe handed this matter over to me. If you’re willing to talk, things might progress more efficiently."
Martina sat down very slowly on the edge of the bed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a smartphone. Lu Linjiang watched as she opened an app and typed out a line: *I’m looking for Jiang.*
Lu Linjiang realized she could understand Chinese but seemed unable to express herself in it. Recalling that letter with the "impressive" handwriting, this wasn't surprising. "I know you’re looking for 'JIANG,' but the question is, who exactly is this 'JIANG'? Do you have his full name?"
Seeing her unmoved expression, Lu Linjiang suggested, "Or a photo would work."
This time, Martina did not hesitate. She opened the nightstand drawer, took out a black clutch bag, and pulled out a photograph, handing it to Lu Linjiang. He took it and saw a photo of Jiang Langmin giving a presentation somewhere.
In the photo, Jiang Langmin looked more youthful than he did now, but that elite aura between his brows hadn't changed much. Lu Linjiang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Jiang Langmin?" He watched Martina nod, then asked, "Why are you looking for him? I asked him the other day, and he said he doesn't know you."
Martina lowered her head, staring motionlessly at the phone in her hand. After a long silence, Lu Linjiang heard the synthesized voice from the phone: *I adore him and want to see him.*
Lu Linjiang: "..."
Obsessive fans were not a rare species in Lu Linjiang’s line of work. They followed their targets like shadows, appearing around them at all times, doing everything possible to attract attention—the extreme ones might even harm their idols.
But this Martina, aside from delivering letters to Micro-Universe for five consecutive days, didn't behave like a typical obsessive stalker in any other way.
Lu Linjiang cleared his throat. "He doesn't know about your... adoration, does he?"
Martina nodded slowly.
Lu Linjiang looked at her suspiciously. "When you were abroad before, didn't you think about going to see him?"
Martina seemed completely blindsided by the question. A flash of bewilderment appeared on her usually calm face. Lu Linjiang asked with a hint of amusement, "Is it that difficult to get from Argentina to Sweden? According to your passport records, you’ve been to Sweden before. Back then, you didn't think about going to Hughes to find Jiang Langmin?"
A trace of panic surfaced in Martina. She quickly typed on her phone: *I didn't have the plan until recently.*
Lu Linjiang gave a rare, genuine smile. "Alright." He made a mischievous suggestion: "Do you need me to arrange a meeting for you? If I’m there, Jiang Langmin would probably feel safe enough to come out and meet you."
Martina’s head snapped down instantly. Lu Linjiang assumed she was shy, but he missed the flash of terror that crossed her face.
*No, thanks.* After typing this, she seemed unable to find a suitable excuse. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time, but she didn't type another word.
Lu Linjiang: "Do you feel it’s... inappropriate?"
Martina nodded as if granted a royal pardon. Lu Linjiang didn't expose her. He simply asked once more, "Is there anything you need help with?"
Martina shook her head rapidly. She even instinctively started to stand up, but realized halfway that it was rude. She froze in an awkward half-standing position, looking at Lu Linjiang with a touch of helplessness for the first time.
Lu Linjiang took the cue and stood up. He pulled out his pocket notebook, tore off a piece of paper, and wrote down his number. "This is my phone number. If you need anything, please remember to contact me." He placed the paper on the table. "I won't disturb you further."
Martina’s taut nerves didn't relax until the door clicked shut. She sank onto the bed as if all her strength had left her, her gaze drifting to the note Lu Linjiang had left on the table.
She stared at the paper for a long time, but eventually, she opened her phone. Five minutes before Lu Linjiang had knocked on the door, she had received this text from Jiang Langmin: *I hope you passed the test of the diamond. If not, the contents inside are yours to keep. However, if you were cautious enough, you needn't worry too much. Good luck.*
Everything had been designed by Jiang Langmin. It was laughable—despite all her careful plotting, she had still walked right into his trap. Martina looked at her right hand. She had been debating whether to take a gamble; after all, she had been wearing a mask and gloves, and she had thrown the object away within three seconds of the liquid leaking out.
Martina tried desperately to recall the scene, but the suddenness of the event had left her in a state of panic. She wanted to comfort herself with the thought that the liquid shouldn't have touched her skin, but she couldn't be certain. Was Jiang Langmin just playing mind games, or would that liquid infect someone the moment it was exposed to the air?
Martina didn't know if she should bet her life. The tiny bit of courage she had managed to scrape together had vanished the moment Lu Linjiang knocked. Because at that exact moment, her phone had received a new message—*I hope the two of you have a pleasant conversation.*
Martina couldn't judge the relationship between Lu Linjiang and Jiang Langmin. The timing of the text and Lu Linjiang’s knock overlapped almost perfectly; she didn't believe it was a coincidence. Yet, she couldn't understand—if they were friends, why would Lu Linjiang come looking for her? Was it for the hidden cards she hadn't yet revealed? Or had Jiang Langmin simply exaggerated the facts, and he actually had no connection to Lu Linjiang, with everything being a mere threat?
In those few minutes, her mind had become a tangled mess.
Martina didn't know if she should take a risk, but Guzman’s example was still fresh in her mind. Although the police told them Guzman had likely died of a virulent infectious disease, only she knew that Jiang Langmin, who had been in contact with Guzman, absolutely had the ability to make him contract any infection silently.
In the end, she had decided to gamble and risked letting Lu Linjiang into the room. Martina had been cautiously looking for an opportunity to test Lu Linjiang. Just when she thought this policeman might truly have no special connection to Jiang Langmin, his words—"If I’m there, Jiang Langmin would probably feel safe enough to come out and meet you"—shattered all her hopes.
Martina gripped her hands tightly. Was she really going to fail before she had even begun?
***
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