Mad Detective
[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]
[TL: Spades]
[PR: Blitz]
[QC: Lumi]
Chapter 23 — The Overlooked Key
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Staring at the solemn, majestic gates of Qinshan City's Second High School, Zhao Yu's steps felt heavy, his resolve wavering.
Qinshan Second High wasn't just renowned locally, it was a top-tier school province-wide! Countless people fought tooth and nail to get in.
Zhao Yu never imagined Jiang Xiaoqing would be a student here! And she was in her third year of junior high, just a month and a half from the high school entrance exam!
Even more shocking, she didn't want her real dad at the parent-teacher meeting not because she was a bad student, but because she was too good!!
Jiang Xiaoqing was a straight-A student, never ranking below the top three in her grade's mock exams.
The girl had personality, too. She told her teachers the school's evening study sessions didn't suit her, preferring to study at home. Not daring to offend a star student, they got her "father's" approval, and she was excused.
But the teachers didn't know her "father" was fake. Even before Zhao Yu, she'd faked parental consent multiple times.
Skipping evening study, she hit internet cafes to hone her hacking skills, teaching herself to crack accounts. Yet, her grades never slipped, so neither school nor parents caught on.
Her talent and smarts left Zhao Yu both awestruck and humbled. Stepping into the school, he felt out of sync, heart pounding, forehead sweating. He'd faced rival gang turfs without this much nerves.
In that moment, he deeply regretted agreeing to play her dad.
With the Hand-Chopping Case so critical, he had zero interest in coming. But Jiang Xiaoqing's last-minute bombshell left this battle-hardened veteran speechless.
She'd said, "Think about it, we're in this together. If you don't cover for me at the meeting, my hacking will get exposed. If I go down, your profits are gone! And you might get dragged in, since you're, a cop!"
That checkmate left him no choice. Sure, he could deny everything and walk away, but that'd be cutting off his nose to spite his face.
With no other option, Zhao Yu grudgingly agreed to be "dad" for a day.
"It's fine," Jiang Xiaoqing reassured, seeing his reluctance, "It's just a parent-teacher meeting. All the parents will be there, you just sit and listen! If the homeroom teacher pulls you aside, just nod and mumble, don't spill that I skip evening study, okay?"
What could Zhao Yu do? He followed her inside.
After swiping in at the gate, Jiang Xiaoqing led him to the music building. The structure was old, with eaves and columns dating back to the '70s or '80s. The pebble-dash walls still bore faded yellow pentagrams.
To avoid disrupting classes, the meeting was held in the music building's auditorium, which could seat over a hundred, feeling a bit empty for a parent meeting.
The sign-in was strict, every parent had to scan a WeChat verification code. Thanks to hacker extraordinaire Jiang Xiaoqing, Zhao Yu passed without a hitch.
Since students didn't attend, Jiang Xiaoqing left for class after showing him in, blinking nervously at him several times before going.
Zhao Yu felt like a duck shoved onto a perch, picking a front-row seat and plopping down.
The bug in his head stayed active. Playing dad didn't mean neglecting his job, he kept tabs on Team B's moves.
So far, Qu Ping's team was still stumped, no new leads.
With time before the meeting, the auditorium had few parents. One, a woman in her 40s, spotted a piano on the stage and, struck by inspiration, began to play.
She was no amateur, delivering a smooth yet technically complex piece.
The crisp, elegant piano notes filled the auditorium, soothing the parents, who gathered below the stage to listen with delight.
Though rough around the edges, Zhao Yu had a soft spot for music. Leaning back in his chair, he was drawn in by the melody.
From his seat, he had a clear view of the stage, and soon, his gaze fixed on the woman's slender, pale hands.
Maybe the Hand-Chopping Case had him obsessed, but he found himself wondering, what would it take to chop off such beautiful hands?
Her hands moved swiftly, powerfully, striking notes that flowed soft and long, the melody rising and falling, captivating the crowd. Her skill was clearly exceptional.
When the piece ended, the parents were so entranced they paused before clapping.
"Hehehe, Shanshan's mom!" another woman below praised, "Who knew you were this good? Better than a pro!"
"Good? Hardly!" Shanshan's mom laughed, "I haven't played in years! But, not to brag, back in our day, a piano level 10 was way tougher than today's!"
"Level 10! We've known each other years, how'd you never mention it? Hiding your talent!" the woman teased.
"Hehe…" Shanshan's mom smiled, "It's not my job, why advertise? Honestly, this place just stirred memories. Twenty years ago, I competed in a piano contest right here, nearly got into the Capital Music Academy!
"This place may look old now, but back then, Second High's music auditorium was Qinshan's music mecca! So many talents came from here! Sigh, if I'd pushed harder, I might be living a different life now!"
"Hahaha, you kidder," the other woman said, "Your Shanshan's amazing! If you'd gone to the Capital Music Academy, where'd you find such a great kid?"
"True, hehe…"
Listening to their chat, Zhao Yu felt a spark, like he'd grasped something. He racked his brain, and suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, he shot up from his chair!
Holy crap!
Piano!
Piano!!
PIANO!!!
Could the key to the Hand-Chopping Case be, right here!?