The Detective is Useless (GL) - Chapter 13

When she reached the exit, a corridor appeared before her—just as Liu Yu had said. Looking up, she saw a surveillance camera mounted high above.

Tian Sisi watched the camera slowly rotate from left to right. After observing for a while, she seized the moment when the camera turned away from her to dash toward its direction, sticking close to the wall as she hurried along beneath it. When the camera began turning back, she slipped quickly into a blind spot near the lobby, where the camera couldn’t capture her.

She looked back up at the lens and grinned mischievously, deliberately stepping into view to wave at it.

Avoiding the corridor cameras wasn’t that hard, but what about the ones in the lobby? Tian Sisi yawned, too lazy to think further. She simply walked straight through the lobby and headed into the open café beside it to rest.

After sitting down, she ordered a cup of coffee and, out of boredom, began watching a little girl at the next table tapping away at a laptop. The girl looked troubled.

Peeking over, Tian Sisi saw that the girl was on a mystery puzzle forum—playing a “situation riddle.” The thread had dozens of replies, and the girl kept scrolling up and down between the puzzle and the clues other people had asked for, frowning as she grew more and more frustrated.

“So people still play Sea Turtle Soup these days?” Tian Sisi chuckled, casually sliding into the seat beside her. “A con man poses as a professional sommelier to scam money by selling expensive wine. An undercover detective tests him and realizes, from just one movement, that he’s a fraud. The question is—what did the con man do that gave him away? Easy one.”

The girl glanced at her but ignored the comment, busy typing her own question in the reply box.

Watching the girl peck at the keyboard awkwardly with two index fingers, Tian Sisi couldn’t help but stop her. “No, no—that’s already been asked. They confirmed the motion didn’t fit the proper wine presentation steps. If you ask whether it was the way he opened the bottle, that’s redundant.”

The girl glared at her. “Auntie, you’re so annoying!”

“A–Auntie?” Tian Sisi’s eyes widened. How could she call her that? She was only, what, ten years older at most? She should definitely be called big sister! And honestly, she thought she looked younger than her actual age!

The girl raised her voice: “Stop bothering me, Auntie!”

“The con man lifted the wine bottle while pouring—that’s the answer!” Tian Sisi said proudly, chin raised, arms crossed.

“You—!” the girl exclaimed angrily, then scrolled to the forty-ninth reply. Sure enough, the correct answer was just as Tian Sisi had said. “You ruined it! I hadn’t solved it yet! You’re a bad person!”

Tian Sisi only tilted her chin higher, wearing a smug grin. She wouldn’t have spoiled the riddle—if the little brat hadn’t called her Auntie.

After sulking for a while, the girl poked Tian Sisi in the waist, making her jump.

“But… why can’t you lift the bottle?” the girl asked.

Tian Sisi arched a brow, grinning slyly. “Call me big sister, and I’ll tell you.”

“Big sister, tell me,” the girl said sweetly, her tone completely different from before.

“In fine dining, servers are taught that after pouring wine, they should twist the bottle inward about fifteen degrees before lifting it away—so the wine doesn’t drip on the tablecloth or the guest’s clothes,” Tian Sisi explained. The girl still looked puzzled, so Tian glanced around, spotted a waiter pouring wine in the adjacent restaurant, and pointed. “Look, that man there.”

The girl followed her gaze. Sure enough, the waiter twisted the bottle before lifting it. The girl clapped her hands happily. “Big sister, you’re amazing!”

“Of course I am,” Tian Sisi said, grinning in triumph.

After finishing her coffee and helping the girl solve a few more puzzles, the girl’s mother arrived to take her away. With no one left to play with, Tian Sisi grew bored. She looked around and noticed a huge Rolex advertisement dominating the wall nearby.

Drawn in, she paid her bill and walked closer, admiring the image. “That’s a beautiful watch,” she sighed.

While Tian Sisi enjoyed her leisurely day, Jin Yunjue, Liu Yu, and the rest of the police were anything but relaxed. They were anxiously trying to piece together the puzzle: Who was the killer? How had they escaped? Where were they hiding now? What was the motive, the method—and the murder weapon?

“Brother Liu,” said Jin Yunjue, “do you think maybe we’ve been thinking in the wrong direction?”

“The wrong direction? How so?” Liu Yu asked.

“Why was the victim even at the hotel?” Jin Yunjue paced. “You said he was a well-known rich playboy. I haven’t been in this city long, but even I’ve heard of him. Now tell me, would a guy like that—loaded, a womanizer—take another man to a hotel room? Unless he liked men?”

“Well…” Liu Yu glanced at his subordinates. They shook their heads. “All the gossip mags and tabloids had photos of him clubbing or making out with women. Never heard a word about him liking men.”

“Exactly!” Jin snapped his fingers. “If he doesn’t like men, then the person he took to the hotel was probably a woman.”

“Maybe it was business? It was a business suite—” Liu began, then stopped himself. “No, that makes no sense. Two men doing business late at night? And the intel team says he didn’t even have a real job…”

“So the person in that surveillance clip could very well be a woman,” Jin said, rubbing his chin. “Let’s play the footage again.”

The video of the suspect leaving the scene played once more. Liu Yu watched closely but still couldn’t make anything out.

“But that silhouette… really does look like a man,” Liu said.

It was true—the height, the posture, the gait didn’t seem feminine.

“Still, something feels off. For instance, look at that briefcase,” Jin pointed. “Would a man really carry that style?”

Liu gestured to replay the clip. Staring intently at the suspect’s bag, he said, “We’re only seeing the side. Hard to tell. But personally, I’d never use a design that narrow on top and wide at the bottom.”

“What if it isn’t a briefcase at all?” Jin suggested.

“Not a briefcase?” Liu blinked. Another mystery within the mystery.

Meanwhile, Tian Sisi had moved on from the ad board to a fancy French patisserie on the corner.

She leaned over the glass display case and sighed. “These macarons are exquisite!”

“Of course—they’ve been recommended by the Michelin three-star guide,” the clerk said proudly, eyes carrying a hint of disdain, as if thinking, Look at her outfit—she probably can’t afford a single one.

“Then give me one of each pure flavor. None of the mixed ones,” Tian Sisi said breezily, pulling a crumpled wad of bills from her pocket. A bank draft slipped out from between them. She blinked. “Oh, so that’s where it went. No wonder I couldn’t outbid Sun Lili for that Monet piece yesterday.” She deliberately refolded the draft with great care and tucked it away.

At the mention of Sun Lili—a famous heiress—the clerk’s attitude changed instantly. Noticing the six zeroes on the draft, she thought, Maybe she’s one of those rich types pretending to be low-key. Smiling brightly now, she said, “Right away, please wait a moment.”

Tian Sisi smirked. Society really is shallow, she thought. Good thing I always come prepared.

“That hotel sure gets a lot of rich people. I saw plenty of Hermès bags,” she mused, glancing toward the entrance. Her gaze caught on the Rolex ad again. “That Datejust model—the white-gold one with fifty-two diamonds around the bezel. They’re promoting it everywhere, but I haven’t actually seen anyone wearing it.”

“You mean the one with gold hands and a gold stripe through the bracelet?” the clerk asked, still wrapping the macarons.

“Yeah, that’s the one. Doesn’t seem that popular among the socialites lately.”

“I wouldn’t say that! I just saw a woman wearing it last night. Looked great on her. Though honestly, I think you’d have to be tall and commanding like her to pull it off,” the clerk said.

“Really?” Tian Sisi pursed her lips. She wasn’t tall, but she was sure she could wear it with just as much style.

“Your macarons, miss.” The clerk handed over the elegant box.

“Thanks!” Tian Sisi admired the packaging—thick paper, premium printing. Even the box costs a fortune, she thought. Then she turned to leave but paused. “By the way, that woman you mentioned—was she a dancer?”

“A dancer?” The clerk looked puzzled. “No idea. But she was with a rich man. He seemed to have made her angry—kept trying to coax her while she bought desserts.”

“See? Never make a woman angry. You can’t always talk your way out of it,” Tian Sisi said with a sly smile.

As she left the patisserie, she noticed a crowd outside the hotel. Reporters had arrived, and now even the main entrance was cordoned off—only staff and guests could enter. Clearly, someone had tried to suppress the news, but word had already leaked that the young tycoon was dead.

Tian Sisi strolled lazily to the barricade. From the reporters’ chatter, it sounded like they still didn’t know how the man had died—whether it was suicide or murder. The crowd grew thicker.

Then came the sound of sharp, clicking heels. Tian Sisi turned toward the noise.

It was a stylish woman, maybe only a few years older than her, walking somewhat stiffly as if trying to keep her heels quiet.

“So lively, huh? What happened?” Tian Sisi sidled up beside her, craning her neck curiously.

The woman glanced at her and replied softly, “No idea…”

“Wow, you’re really photogenic! Ever thought about modeling?” Tian Sisi said brightly. The woman was indeed beautiful—the type any man would find attractive.

The woman frowned but forced a polite smile. “Uh… not interested.”

“Your Kelly bag is gorgeous! That orange shade really pops,” Tian said, even reaching out to touch it admiringly.

“Thank you.” The woman instinctively stepped aside, putting space between them.

Tian drew her hand back and looked down. “And your shoes—beautiful! The carved pattern on the toes is so elegant. You really keep them polished. Such good taste! No wonder you’re not tempted by modeling—you already look like one.”

“Thank you,” the woman said again, awkwardly.

Seeing her discomfort, Tian didn’t back off. “No gossip worth hearing anyway. Let’s talk fashion instead! Don’t be fooled by how casual I look—I know my brands. I think the new CELINE Luggage bag would suit you, the micro smile tote in calfskin and suede—the color combo’s lovely, kind of like your orange Kelly.”

“Is that so?” the woman murmured, barely listening, her eyes fixed anxiously on the hotel entrance.

Understandably so—being approached by a chatty stranger would make anyone uneasy.

“By the way, beauty, got a boyfriend?” Tian asked suddenly.

“What?” The woman flinched, startled. Who is this weird woman?