Chapter 194: Chapter 182 The Story Ends (Part 1) Chapter 194: Chapter 182 The Story Ends (Part 1) “Ah, so you were plotting against me… hehehe.” Chen Xiao twisted his neck back and forth as if racked by spasms as he spoke, “You know, I really hate it when people treat me like a fool and play me for a laugh. Hmm… My memory’s not so great, I’ve forgotten what happened before. But I do remember those four annoying people, a woman who only knew how to scribble nonsense all day, an old fart who was always in and out of the elevator, a third-rate writer who never finished his sentences, and, oh yeah, a shorty who pretended to be cool but was just a four-eyed loser…”

He closed his eyes, seemingly straining to recall the faces of these people, but the more he talked… the happier he seemed to become, with the corners of his mouth splitting wider and wider, until the scars that couldn’t quite seal pulled slightly apart at the edges…

“However… you seem to fall short by quite a bit…” His eyes suddenly flew open, staring at the man opposite him whose aesthetic was stuck in the last century. He measured a small distance with his index finger and thumb, “So, let’s get down to business and talk about this story…”

“The drunkard witness killed a vagrant, and the actual eyewitness was Chief Paine. Afterwards, Paine took advantage of Andrew’s psychological issues to make him believe he was the murderer, then used the drunkard as bait… turning him into the killer… hehehe, how perfect!”

But what if, Andrew… you already knew what was going to happen?

Hehehe…

It seems like the story is about to take another turn…

A man who constantly held others’ secrets and even caused them to lose their families would always be on guard, so the moment he saw the vagrant’s body, he knew Paine was going to plot against him.

After that meeting in the bar, he was even more sure of it, because even he could spot the drunkard’s false testimony, so how could Chief Paine not? Fortunately, Mr. Andrew had already installed cameras in his apartment… Remember that plastic bag? Actually, it contained video recorders, portable pinhole cameras, tapes, films; all evidence that could prove Chief Paine sneaked into his apartment, holding a blood-stained weapon, and creating false scenes. Andrei saw it all clearly… and he kept a complete record of it.

That’s how he turned the tables, letting the other think he had taken the bait. After the conversation at the bar ended, Andrew secretly met with the drunkard, promising to help him escape Paine’s threat, even framing Chief Paine as the murderer. Under such temptation, the drunkard had no chance of refusing…

After all that, just as you said, there was murder, scheming, framing, counter-scheming, and counter-framing; the two had a ball. That last phone call really was from Chief Paine, but what awaited him was an ending beyond his expectations. Andrei took advantage of the other’s desire to finish him off, turning him into the murderer, while he himself became a celebrated detective… This…”

He paused, but the implication was clear as if he wanted to say, “This… is the real truth of the story!”

Then… the sound from the television lazily rose, “Ay ay ay, a very cunning plan within a plan, but still incorrect! Next, the narrative power shall be exchanged…”

And Yuto, sitting opposite, let out a long breath… “Phew~~ That was close, as expected~ Whether it’s being deceived or deceiving me, it’s all an act… A tough opponent indeed, but luckily, I’m acting too. I intentionally let you know I was deceiving you so that you would deceive me, and then I would deceive you in return! The characters in the story deceive each other, and the listeners deceive each other as well; it’s all so fascinating. But in the end, it seems I’ve won the bet! Hahaha!”

He said, laughing.

Suddenly!

“Wait a minute!” Chen Xiao interrupted lightly, “Don’t rush… I’ve just narrated the story, but I haven’t asked the question yet~~”

The television interjected, “Oh, right, you can indeed ask a question now. So, please go ahead!”

“Of course, I want to ask a question…” Chen Xiao said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “But before I ask… I haven’t finished telling the story yet!”

“Huh?”

“Nani?”

Both the television and Yuto were taken aback.

“Mr. Chen, you want to continue the true narrative of the story? According to the rules, that’s not allowed… because…” the television said.

Chen Xiao waved his hand dismissively, “Because if wrong, I have to pass the narrative right, right? Got it, got it, don’t panic~ I just felt like mentioning it, it doesn’t count! You don’t need to tell me whether my narration is right or wrong. Oh, and by the way.” He glanced at Yuto again, “If you find the story I tell credible, you can move right on over there, and even win because of it with no problem!”

As he spoke, Chen Xiao even pushed his phone across to the other side, “Here, this is all the questions and the answers, feel free to flip through~”

Yuto was completely dumbfounded… What the hell was this, had he given up after feeling like he had lost?

But Chen Xiao ignored the expression of the man and the household appliance, continuing on his own, “So, let’s talk about the fifth twist… Andrew’s file only mentioned he had mental symptoms… So what exactly are his mental symptoms, and… does Paine really exist? Oh oh, that’s not the question I’m going to ask, just thinking out loud!” Chen Xiao quickly added, “Could it be that Chief Paine doesn’t exist at all, that he’s just a character created by a patient with split personality… Or perhaps, Chief Paine is Andrew himself, just like that famous novel ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, with one personality committing evil deeds, and the other helping to hide the truth. In fact… the one who killed the vagrant and the witness is none other than himself!”

The television displayed an expression as if to say, “It gets more and more exciting, but I won’t tell you whether this answer is the final truth, and even if it were, the winner wouldn’t be you!”

“Ah ah! I said, that’s just me talking to myself, you don’t need to tell me whether I’m right or wrong…” Chen Xiao said a bit unhappily, “Now, please don’t interrupt me again…”

He said this and it seemed like he was about to continue.

“So, let’s dig a little deeper into this brain teaser. Did the corpse really die at the start of the story, or had he been dead for a long time… And maybe it’s not Chief Paine who doesn’t exist, but Mr. Andrew himself…”