B U G Arc
Exam God 03
Does that mean the best course of action for now is to make it to the final examination hall?
“This BUG, it has its own thoughts.”
Wan Yan said, her eyes slightly cold.
Whether it was the previous slumber of non-exam personnel, the so-called erasure, or the new citizens, none of it is without conspiracy.
In the midst of their conversation, the two had already arrived in the courtyard, where they saw the lifeless body of little A lying there.
Even though it’s autumn now, there are still plenty of mosquitoes around. Flies swarmed around the corpse, and the bloodstains on the ground had dried up, giving off an exceptionally gruesome and nauseating appearance.
Xin Lan and Wan Yan, however, remained remarkably calm. There were lights in the courtyard, providing enough visibility to see Xiao A’s face. Wan Yan crouched down and locked eyes with Xiao A.
Xiao A was just as described in the notebook, with eyes wide open, refusing to close them.
Xiao A had jumped from the third floor. Logically, nobody would choose the third floor for a suicide.
At that distance, the third floor at most results in broken limbs, with very few instances of immediate death. However, Xiao A landed headfirst and collided with a large rock, causing a fatal head injury.
Xin Lan reached out and touched the back of Xiao A’s head, indeed feeling a raised bump.
As Wan Yan withdrew her hand after Xin Lan finished touching, she naturally took out a tissue and wiped Xin Lan’s hand.
Xin Lan raised an eyebrow but didn’t refuse.
After wiping Xin Lan’s hand, Wan Yan tossed the tissue into the trash can.
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“Xiao B, Xiao C, and Xiao D are all in the main hall.”
Tong Zhizi said from nearby.
“Alright, let’s go ask some questions.”
Xin Lan nodded, and she and Wan Yan returned to the main hall.
Regarding the matter of authenticity, Xin Lan felt it should be relative to this case rather than all statements, or else it would be too easy to test.
Xiao B, Xiao C, and Xiao D stood in the main hall, their names displayed above their heads, like in-game IDs, which was somewhat surreal.
Xiao B was a girl with a ponytail, while Xiao C and Xiao D were both boys.
Based on the provided conditions, Xiao A was cheating on Xiao C with Xiao B, but was also caught kissing Xiao D in a corner.
Xiao B wanted to push Xiao A downstairs, leading to an argument with Xiao C. In Xiao B’s room, there was a bloodstained piece of clothing. Xiao B and Xiao D were seen holding hands while taking a stroll.
If we overlook that bloodstained garment, this undoubtedly seems like a melodramatic story, with the blame squarely on Xiao B.
Because Xiao B and Xiao D were a couple, but Xiao D was having an affair with Xiao A. However, Xiao A was already cheating on Xiao C, so Xiao B and Xiao C had a quarrel, parted ways, and Xiao B, in a fit of anger, attempted to push Xiao A downstairs. Failing in the attempt, later that evening, Xiao B knocked Xiao A unconscious and pushed them down, causing them to hit that rock, all staged to look like a suicide.
It appears so, but we can’t rush to conclusions just yet.
“I’m a police officer here to investigate this matter. Could you tell me what happened on the night of the incident?”
Xin Lan looked at the three individuals standing there, jostled her police badge, and placed it in her pocket.
Xiao B: “Why would she do something so foolish, so desperate? Maybe she was just too exhausted, so… so that’s why…”
Xiao C: “I don’t know why she would do this. Just last night, we were all drinking together, and then suddenly this happened.”
Xiao D: “I live farthest from her, and I didn’t really talk to her last night. Then, this morning, this incident occurred.”
Everyone present exchanged glances, and the first liar emerged.
So, Xiao D could be excluded from the list of truth-tellers.
“Do you all believe she committed suicide?”
The three of them nodded in agreement.
Xin Lan raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Wan Yan.
The ones telling the truth and the ones lying both nodded.
Xin Lan’s gaze circled around B, C, and D, making distinctions in her mind.
Tong Zhizi couldn’t hold back and also asked,
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“Putting aside why Xiao A would want to commit suicide, why were you trying to push Xiao A down the stairs yesterday morning?”
Xiao B, upon hearing this, widened her eyes in astonishment.
Xiao B: “How could I ever push Xiao A? She’s my best friend. I saw her about to fall that day, so I just grabbed her to stop her from falling. How could it be about pushing her?”
Xiao D chimed in, “Yeah, you must have seen it wrong. Xiao B would never push Xiao A; they’re the best of friends.”
Xiao C, on the other hand, remained silent for a moment.
Tong Zhizi pressed on, “Alright, let’s say that yesterday morning you didn’t intend to push Xiao A but wanted to save her instead. What about the bloodstained clothing in your room?”
Xiao B’s gaze turned slightly cold, and her voice carried a hint of irritation: “I accidentally nicked myself and got a small cut. That’s how the blood got on the clothes. What’s it to you?”
Xiao B: “You’re not seriously suspecting me of killing her, are you? We’ve all said Xiao A committed suicide, even though I don’t know why she would do such a thing.”
Tong Zhizi stared at Xiao B, seemingly ready to pin the blame on her.
Wan Yan spoke up at the right moment, breaking the deadlock between Tong Zhizi and Xiao B.
She looked at Xiao B: “You were her best friend?”
“Of course!”
Then she turned her gaze to Xiao C.
“Are you the person Xiao A was cheating with?”
“What are you talking about?”
Xiao C widened his eyes and immediately denied it.
She looked at Xiao D: “You never kissed Xiao A.”
“We were just friends! Stop making baseless claims, okay?”
Both Xiao C and Xiao D appeared quite upset, while Xiao B looked very surprised.
Wan Yan understood and didn’t press further. Instead, she looked at Xin Lan.
Xin Lan said: “Please recount what happened on the night of the incident without leaving out any details.”
Xiao B explained: “Xiao A is actually quite sensitive and prone to emotional breakdowns. She was in a bad mood this time, so we went out with her to cheer her up. Yesterday morning, she seemed distracted and almost fell down the stairs. Later, we went out to see the sights, and in the evening, she insisted on drinking with me. She got drunk, and I left. Then the next day, I woke up and found out about her.”
“When she jumped in the middle of the night, didn’t you hear any noise?”
Xin Lan locked eyes with Xiao B.
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“I was quite intoxicated myself, so I didn’t hear anything.”
Xiao B shook her head.
Xiao C: “I talked with her for a while yesterday, but then she had an emotional breakdown and started drinking with Xiao B. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I didn’t intervene. Then she had this incident, and I should have helped her calm down.”
Xiao D: “We were all with her yesterday when we went out, but later on, I went off to do my own thing. In the middle of the night, I heard a sound, but I thought it was something falling, so I didn’t pay much attention and went back to sleep. Then the next morning, they told me about Xiao A’s situation.”
“What about you? Did you hear any sounds in the middle of the night?”
Xin Lan looked at Xiao C.
“Maybe I was just sleeping deeply; I really didn’t hear anything.”
“Then why did you argue with Xiao B that night?”
“We didn’t argue.”
Xiao C denied it vehemently.
“Are you too afraid to admit it? Didn’t you notice that Xiao A was in a bad mood?”
“Alright, I have no issues. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.”
Xin Lan stepped aside, knowing this wasn’t a test she alone could pass.
Wan Yan also moved to the side, leaving the stage to Tong Zhizi, Chen Hong, and Feng Ye.
“Have you made up your mind?”
“You have too.”
They simultaneously wrote a number and filled it in on the back of a card.
Xiao B.