The Novelist Forced to Become Famous

Chapter 363

"Brother, this is too terrible," Andrei said sympathetically.

Connor Lee, as an actor, started his performance on cue: "Now you understand why I kept it a secret."

"How regrettable," said Wu Lie, both being Asians working in Hollywood, sharing a kinship of sorts, he played along.

After the laughs, the investigation continued.

Suspect #4: [Chinese] Jian Jing (Role: Third son's fiancée)

Search results:

In the hidden compartment of her suitcase, there was an adoption certificate with some words blacked out. In the inner pocket of a coat in the closet, they found an expensive men's watch and a jade ring.

On the desk were stacked some strange books like 'Win a Man's Heart in 100 Days', 'Rules of High Society', and '101 Hidden Phrases to Understand Men'.

Among them was an out-of-place notebook, seemingly handwritten, with peculiar drawings.

The stationery showed signs of use.

"I revealed the writing on the stationery with a pencil," said Kumiko Terauchi, who searched Jian's room. She explained meticulously, "I discovered that Miss Jian had written a very mushy love letter, but the addressee was not her fiancé. Could you explain who this man receiving the letter is?"

With her persona laid bare, Jian Jing didn't mind clarifying: "I have three backup plans, a, b, and c. The watch is from a, the ring is from b, and the love letter is for c."

Min-cheol Park scrutinized her: "It seems my fiancée is not so pure."

"And who says I'm the only one who's not pure?" Jian Jing retorted.

"What was blacked out on the certificate?" Kumiko Terauchi politely asked. "Would you mind telling us?"

Jian Jing smiled, "I can only tell you that the answer is not difficult to guess."

Next was Min-cheol Park.

Suspect #11: [Korean] Min-cheol Park (Role: Third son)

Search results:

A stack of bills with huge expenses, a contact list with shockingly influential names, and several drawers of explicit videos.

Under the bed, there was a pot of ashes, with an unburned paper figure in the ashes written with the numbers 192111.

Under the pillow, they found a package of powdered drugs wrapped in yellow paper, with two characters "□□" written on it.

A box of tapes, playing Dan's voice:

"If you keep going like this, I'll disown you."

Min-cheol Park's voice answered: "It's just because you hate me, so why did you even have me?"

"I really regret not strangling you to death back then."

"It's not too late now."

Wu Lie said, "Did you record this?"

"No."

"Another tape," Jian Jing pondered. "Doesn't Xue-er have one?"

He shook his head.

Wu Lie said, "I'm more curious about the numbers on the paper figure. Is it someone's birthday?"

"It should be Dan's," said Wataru Kojima. "Based on the age, only he fits - do you hate your father?"

Min-cheol Park nodded.

"Why?" everyone asked curiously.

Min-cheol Park said calmly, "It seems to be because of my mother's death. When the third son was born, Dan's wife died from complications during childbirth. He believed the third son had caused his wife's death, so he neglected him. Although the child had wealth, he constantly faced his father's cold treatment, so he harbored resentment and tried to defy his father in every way."

Jian Jing realized, "So that's why you're with your fiancée?"

She had always found it strange that even a rich and spoiled heir would marry a girl of such lower status, but if it was to get back at his father, it made sense.

"Yes," Min-cheol Park confirmed her guess.

After the three couples, it was Dan's two sets of relatives.

Suspect #5: [Chinese] Wu Lie (Role: Brother-in-law)

Search results:

In his briefcase, they found the financial report of the law firm he founded - the financial situation was not optimistic, nearing bankruptcy.

Under the pillow were letters from an unknown woman frequently asking him for money. According to the bank records, he had been sending her money every month for seven or eight years.

In a drawer, carefully hidden, was a warning letter from the judicial department, sternly stating that he had previously instigated a client to threaten someone, violating the law. Any further infractions would result in the revocation of his law license.

"It seems your situation is quite dire," Min-cheol Park wrote in his little book. "Who is that woman?"

Wu Lie hesitated, then said, "She's my ex-girlfriend."

Jiang BaiYan looked up: "Ex-girlfriend? Blackmailing?"

"A child fell ill," Wu Lie explained. "She needed money for the child's treatment."

"But your financial situation is very poor."

"Yes."

The next suspect.

Suspect #10: [Chinese] Jiang BaiYan (Role: Nephew)

Search results:

A thick stack of business plans, all marked with an X.

A notebook filled with resentful words like "The eldest just puts on airs," "What's so great about him," "The third son is useless," "Why am I not as good as them," etc.

On the last few pages, Ran-er Kim's personal information was pasted, with a question mark and the word: Marriage?

On the bookshelf were many trophies - invention awards, poetry awards, football championships.

In a hidden compartment, they found some tapes.

"Whoa," Andrei gestured dramatically with his hands, speaking in a rough tone. "Looks like a puzzle has been solved."

Connor Lee said, "You sent these tapes to me and the third son?"

Jiang BaiYan made a face.

"How terrifying," Valerie joked. "Marrying Ran-er was also your plan?"

Ran-er Kim made an exaggerated expression: "I never imagined."

"Utilizing talents well, putting the capable in their place," Jiang BaiYan adjusted his glasses solemnly. "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier; a nephew who doesn't want to be heir is not a good nephew."

Everyone tried to stifle their laughter.

"I see," Connor Lee said. "You want to be the heir."

Jiang BaiYan said with a grunt, "Mm-hmm."

Then came the relatives of the former wife.

Suspect #7: [Russian] Andrei (Role: Former wife's brother)

Search results:

Gambling debts, gambling debts, gambling debts. Owing a massive amount of debt. A drawer full of gang threats and gruesome photos. Inappropriate magazines, a pile of collection notices.

From head to toe, he reeked of being broke.

A knife was hidden in the cabinet.

"You're just a scoundrel," Ran-er Kim summarized.

Suspect #12: [Japanese] Wataru Kojima (Role: Nephew)

Search results:

The most eye-catching thing in the room was the photographs - on the desk, walls, and bed, piled with different pictures. On the shelves were various cameras, camcorders, and photography collections of all kinds.

The walk-in closet had been turned into a darkroom, lined with film rolls.

In contrast, his wallet only had a few bills, and his bank statement showed he had almost no savings.

The photography association sent a letter saying his previous photos had won a major award, hoping he would attend the award ceremony.

"Nothing else?" Jian Jing asked in surprise.

Raj and Ishikawa, who searched his room, shook their heads.

She suddenly became interested, scrutinizing Wataru Kojima carefully: "Kojima-kun, you don't seem to have any issues at all."

In a deduction game, unless one drew the detective role, every suspect would have some issues, big or small, to ensure fairness and entertainment.

But this nephew's identity, at first glance, seemed to be just that of a poor photography enthusiast with no apparent motive for murder.

"No, I also have a motive for murder. But if the clues were found so easily, it would be too perfunctory," Wataru Kojima said frankly without avoiding the subject. "For my own amusement, I have adjusted the evidence that should have been presented to you all at this stage. I hope you will make more of an effort to uncover my clues."

The other guests: "..."

Min-cheol Park sneered and looked at him, "Kid, you're quite arrogant."

"Too exaggerated," Xu Zhizhi laughed in agreement.

"Since it's an intellectual game, we should give it our all," Wataru Kojima turned to Jian Jing. "Don't you agree, Miss Jian?"

Jian Jing blinked, "What?"

"Just now, I asked Miss Terauchi for evidence about you," Wataru Kojima raised the paper bag in his hand and took out the altered adoption certificate.

He held the paper facing the camera for the others to examine.

"Although the adoptive parent's name is blacked out, if you look closely, you can see a slight roughness at the bottom right corner of the 'Wang' character in the birth parent's signature box, as if something had been smudged. I think the most important thing in this evidence is not who the adoptive parent is, but the identity of the birth parent - Miss Yu."

"What?" The others took turns examining it, "It's true, it looks a bit rough."

Wataru Kojima asked Jian Jing, "You did this, didn't you?"

"Yes," Jian Jing admitted frankly. "No matter what game it is, defense and offense are equally important. Consuming others' time and effort is how one gains an advantage - is that what you mean?"

Wataru Kojima said, "Of course. Weren't you thinking the same thing?"

"If I completely denied it, it would make me seem like I dare do something but not own up to it," Jian Jing smiled slightly but said, "To be honest, I didn't see anyone as a competitor. For a detective, a puzzling case is the greatest challenge, and everything else is just an adjustment."

She shrugged, "Whether you believe it or not, I actually did it out of boredom."

Wataru Kojima frowned.

--

On the live streaming platform, in the comment section:

[The game has only been on for 6 hours, and there's already so much tension!]

[I don't like the little bird, he's so smug.]

[This is how an intellectual game should be played. It's too boring if the clues are discovered so easily.]

[This guy has an eye for talent, he saw through Jian Jing's strength right away.]

[Speaking of which, they're both mystery writers.]

[What's so great about that? Is Jian Jing really that impressive?]

[Wataru Kojima has only one comic work, but he's the heir to the XX Group.]

[Yes, the heir to the group that sponsors that brand. If his comics don't sell well, he'll just inherit the billion-dollar family business.]

[Protect our golden phoenix princess!]

[Wah, my little white-haired boy is getting some air time.]

[I ship the golden phoenix CEO x little princess!]

[Those must be industry insiders up ahead.]

[Hiding their interests, hiding.]

[Stop bringing that romance stuff into an intellectual show.]

[Shipping people is so disgusting!]

[You go die!]

...

Ten minutes later, a group of accounts were banned.

--

Regardless of the storm raging outside, the investigation continued on the isolated cruise ship.

Suspect #3: [India] Raj Sharma (Character role: Doctor)

Investigation results:

On the bedside table is a group photo of the younger Dan, Linnaer, Ishikawa, and Dr. Sharma. They were all students who graduated from the same university.

The desk is filled with medical journals, especially ones about the brain. The medicine cabinet contains many common items, including some legal but potentially lethal drugs if taken in excessive amounts.

A letter from his mother, saying she often dreams of his father covered in blood, looking at her sadly. She went to ask a fortune teller, who said this is because the deceased cannot rest in peace, which is why he frequently disturbs the living.

"Dear son, when will you finally uncover the truth about your father's death?" the letter asked.

After hearing the contents of the letter, Min-cheol Park said meaningfully, "It seems the older generation has its own stories too."

Raj said, "Yes, and they're quite fascinating."

"Then let's hear the other two's stories quickly," he said.