Chapter 4: The Degenerate Paddy Frog

  I knew Lin Jie would say that, this guy is infatuated with Guan Tingting, but Guan Tingting doesn't give him any face, not even in front of Zhou's team.

  Liu Ermao and Duan Juan burst out laughing, while Lin Jie awkwardly crossed his arms over his chest, clenching his fists.

  I originally wanted to take the initiative, but looking at Guan Tingting's fierce appearance, I endured it again, so as not to be like Lin Jie and invite ridicule.

  Zhou's team thought for a moment and said, "Comrade Shen Shangyu's suggestion is very reasonable, but in my opinion, it's not necessary to pretend to be a couple or newlyweds. How about this, you all studied sketching and writing in college, so you can disguise yourselves as a group of university graduates going to Hei Quan Mountain Villa to paint and draw."

  He looked at us a few times and said: "This time, arrange Shen Shangyu, Guan Tingting, and Lin Jie to go together. Do you have the confidence to complete the task?"

  "Yes!" we hastily replied.

  Zhou's team equipped us with a recorder, military dagger, a series of painting tools and more, instructing us to pay attention to safety, be cautious in our actions, report back at any time, and then ordered us to set off immediately.

  I took the opportunity to send a text message to Qin Su'er, telling her: I'm going to Hei Quan Mountain Villa to investigate Yu'er's case, it will take about a week, you stay at home and take good care of yourself, don't make me worry.

  Then I dialed Tianji's phone number.

  The paddy field frog lazily replied on the other end of the phone: "I'm telling you, buddy, what's up again?"

  Damn it, this pheasant actually followed me onto the board, I seem like a jinx.

  I irritably replied: "Are you sick or something? You dare to speak to me like that just because I made a phone call to you?"

  Every time I lose my temper, Tianji always becomes timid. This time was no exception, his voice immediately changed, and he humbly replied: "Brother, I was wrong... isn't it okay to admit mistakes? What's the matter, you tell me?"

  "Shall we go to Hei Quan Mountain Villa for a holiday? Do you want to go or not?" I asked tentatively.

  "Who's that? Who are you with?" Tian Ji asked.

  "I'm with Guan Tingting and Lin Jie." I replied.

  "Going on vacation? What kind of vacation are you three going on? Don't tell me you're cheating me again?" Tian Ji didn't believe it.

  "Believe it or not, if you don't believe me then forget it. We'll go for a week, and set off after lunch on Sunday. If you're going, meet us at the entrance of Xiangxi Past Bar at 1 o'clock sharp. If not, then that's it." I hung up the phone as soon as I finished speaking.

  What the criminal police team is doing is originally not allowed to be told to others, but I always have an idea that no matter what occasion it is, as long as Tian Ji is there, I feel at ease.

  Damn it, he was actually waiting for us at the entrance of Xiangxi Past Bar. I invited him to get on the car, Tianji had a big bag behind his back, swollen and bulging, don't know what's inside.

  As soon as she got on the car, she had a flattering smile: "Ting Ting, hello!"

  "Hello!" Guan Tingting replied coldly.

  Lin Jie seemed still resentful of Tian Ji using his extremely smelly urine to pee on him, and he made a stinky face without saying a word.

  I saw Pheasant again with a flirtatious smile in the rearview mirror, and said to Lin Jie: "Officer Lin, what's wrong with you? You look unhappy. Who made you angry?"

  Damn it, this sentence is absolutely intentional, can't see that this little rascal still has a set, I secretly laughed in my heart, let's see how Lin Jie responds.

  Don't hit a smiling face, Lin Jie is just like a pesky paddy bird, it's hard to scold him no matter how annoying he is.

  As expected, Lin Jie squeezed out a smile and replied: "Tian Xiao Master, I'm not unhappy! Being with Tingting, how can I be unhappy? Tingting, what do you say?"

  Gu Tingting glared at Tian Ji with annoyance, staring at Lin Jie and replied coldly: "Hey, I'm telling you Lin Jie, stop dragging me into your business all the time, okay? What's it to you whether I'm happy or not?"

  Lin Jie was left with nothing to do, and he stared at Tian Ji with a fierce gaze, his eyes seeming to say, "It's all your fault."

  A look of triumph flashed across the face of the pheasant, and it made a big show of wiggling its eyebrows at my back. This cheap thing is really quite clever! I couldn't help but laugh to myself.

  Hei Quan Mountain Villa is about 70-80 kilometers away from the county town, and it takes about an hour to get there by car. The villa is nestled in the mountains and surrounded by water, located in the central part of the mountain range, integrating dining, accommodation, and entertainment, making it a summer resort paradise.

  At two o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived at Black Spring Manor.

  The four of us took our luggage off the car, put our painting bags on our shoulders, and walked into the villa with smiles, just like a group of university students who had just graduated.

  A charming woman walked towards them with a gentle gait and smiled, saying: "Everyone, are you looking for accommodation?"

  She said it was everyone, but her eyes were staring at me with a flirtatious gaze. I heard Guan Tingting, who was standing next to me, muttering under her breath: "Seductress..."

  I smiled and said, "Yes, we're here to stay. We are students from a famous art college, and have long heard that the Black Spring Manor has breathtaking scenery. We've come here specifically to paint and plan to stay for a week."

  The woman hastily said: "Welcome...... welcome......". After finishing, she led the way in front, with her buttocks twisting like a water snake. Tianji's eyes were fixed straight ahead.

  The lady arranged four rooms for us, 201, 202, 203, and 204, all on the second floor. As soon as we opened the window, the beautiful scenery of Heishan Villa's Black Mountain was in full view.

  I lived in room 204, and when the woman left my room, she batted her eyelashes and said coquettishly: "Handsome guy, my name is Xiao Cui, if you need anything, just look for me." After that, she threw a flirtatious glance at me and walked away with a swaying butt.

  Damn it! Still Xiao Cui? Does she really think she's that enchanting fox spirit? I spat at her back fiercely. She really looks like a "chicken"!

  I closed the door, lit a cigarette, gently pushed open the window and carefully observed the surroundings. The Black Spring Villa was nestled in the valley of the Black Mountain, surrounded by dense bamboo forests. A gentle breeze blew through, causing the leaves to rustle softly, making it a perfect place for relaxation and leisure.

  However, as soon as I stepped into the manor, I had a bad premonition, and there was an inexplicable eerie feeling. Where exactly this eeriness came from, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Dammit, could Black Spring Manor be haunted too?

  Just thinking about it, I broke out in a cold sweat. That despicable Tian Ji had once cursed me, saying I was born with a ghost-attracting fate, wherever I go, I'd encounter ghosts, wherever I live, there would be ghosts - could his words have come true again?

  However, one thing is certain, that when we entered the mountain villa, it seemed that there were no guests at all. Throughout the entire mountain villa, apart from seeing that fox spirit Xiao Cui, we hadn't seen a single living person.

  What's wrong with this mountain villa? Where have those endless tourists gone? Is this a dragon gate inn, a black shop?

  It's not ancient times now, there aren't that many black shops. I couldn't help but laugh at my previous idea.

  Suddenly there was a knock at the door, I thought it was a pheasant, opened the door and took a look, it turned out to be that charming little fox spirit Xiao Cui. She had come to call us down for dinner.

  I took a look at the time and it was only four o'clock in the afternoon. The dinner at Black Spring Manor wouldn't be this early, would it?

  Xiao Cui noticed the doubt in my eyes and smiled: "Handsome, it's like this. The circuitry in the mountains has aged, so there have been power outages these past few days, which is why we've had fewer guests. We've moved up our meal time."

  It turned out to be like this, I nodded and walked out of the room.

  When the four of us walked down the stairs and into the dining hall, another table in the dining hall was already filled with five or six people. Xiao Cui was also there, probably the boss and staff of Hei Quan Manor, several of whom were wearing work uniforms with the four characters "Hei Quan Manor" printed on them.

  "As soon as the four big characters 'Hei Quan Mountain Villa' entered my line of sight, my heart couldn't help but thump with a 'thud'. Damn it, were those two people who kidnapped Liu Xiao'er that night sitting here right now?"

  I thought so, but my face absolutely didn't show it. Smiling, I swept a glance at the people sitting by that table, then led Guan Tingting, Tian Ji, and Lin Jie towards another table already filled with food.

  A man in his fifties, wearing glasses, stood up and greeted us: "Ladies and gentlemen, hello! I am Li Dahu, the boss of Hei Quan Mountain Villa. Welcome to stay at Hei Quan Mountain Villa. All staff members of Hei Quan Mountain Villa will serve you wholeheartedly. We hope you have a happy meal and a pleasant time here!"

  Li Dahu wore a humble smile on his face, just like an elegant and courteous elder.

  I seemed a bit moved and replied: "Thank you, Mr. Li, for troubling your mountain villa."

  Li Dahu waved his hand and replied, "Nonsense, you are our benefactors, how can we trouble you? The dishes are almost cold, hurry up and eat, okay?"

  I didn't stand on ceremony anymore and invited Tianji and others to serve rice and dishes.

  The dishes are exquisite and the taste is also good, seemingly more delicious than those in Xiangxi Past Bar in the county town.

  The pheasant was helping Guan Tingting to pick vegetables, Guan Tingting neither accepted nor refused, Lin Jie's eyes spouted fire, that was the angry flame of jealousy.

  I lightly kicked him with my foot, hinting that Tianji should be more restrained. Unexpectedly, Tianji was not polite at all, and he picked up a piece of meat and put it in my bowl, saying: "Brother, you have an opinion if I don't pick dishes for you, right?"

  I'm so frustrated I don't know whether to laugh or cry, is this guy really clueless or just pretending to be stupid?

  Lin Jie put down his chopsticks and said: "I'm full, I'll go back to the room first, you guys eat slowly!"

  Lin Jie's attitude really annoyed me, we're not out here to have fun, we're here on a case, and this kind of behavior will ruin things. I decided that after dinner, I would first teach Tian Ji a lesson, then go talk to Lin Jie.

  Unexpectedly, Guan Tingting also put down her bowl, gave Tianji a white eye, and said to me: "You eat slowly, I'm full too."

  This cheap person is really cheap, can't get along with Guan Tingting, and offended Lin Jie. This time I invited him to come together, was I wrong?