NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 10:
Chapter 10: Surveillance
Manager Xie pretended to hesitate.
In truth, the surveillance had already been edited. There was nothing to fear.
But Shen Wuxiao had given him clear instructions—to help deepen the connection between himself and Lin Fan.
And that meant making Shen Wuxiao look good.
“Mr. Lin,” Manager Xie said, frowning with apparent difficulty, “in our hotel industry, there are certain rules regarding guest privacy. We can’t just show surveillance footage to anyone casually.”
“Most of our guests are either wealthy or influential. Some even have… special preferences. You know how it is—we can’t afford to offend people like that.”
He looked extremely apologetic.
Lin Fan understood the reasoning, but he had to take a look, no matter what. Even though he was fairly certain the footage might’ve already been tampered with.
Shen Wuxiao, on the other hand, looked annoyed. “Old Xie, aren’t you being a little too rigid?”
“Come on, it’s not like Brother Lin’s going to spread the footage online. He just wants to take a look, for personal reasons.”
“Master Sikong… this is really difficult…” Manager Xie still didn’t give in.
“Enough of this. Let’s talk in private.” Shen Wuxiao casually draped an arm over Manager Xie’s shoulder and walked him away.
Lin Fan didn’t know what Shen Wuxiao was planning but decided to wait and see.
The two men chatted a bit in the corner. At one point, Shen Wuxiao pulled out his phone.
Soon, a faint smile appeared on Manager Xie’s face.
Lin Fan was stunned.
A few moments later, the two returned.
Manager Xie now wore a completely different expression.
“Mr. Lin, please forgive me for what I said earlier—it’s just my job. I hope you understand.”
“I was being too rigid. I’ll take you to the surveillance room now. But you can only watch—no recording or photos, please.”
Lin Fan naturally agreed.
Manager Xie led the way, with Shen Wuxiao and Lin Fan walking behind.
Lin Fan couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Sikong, what did you say to him that made him change his mind so fast?”
Shen Wuxiao grinned and rubbed his fingers together. “Money. With money, is there anything in the world you can’t solve?”
“Let him show us the surveillance and gave him a few million. How could he say no?”
His tone was casual, exuding the air of a carefree rich heir.
Lin Fan was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected Shen Wuxiao to go that far.
Though Lin Fan had encountered many powerful and wealthy individuals, it was rare for someone to go to such lengths for a mere acquaintance.
If this had been someone who feared Lin Fan’s power and had submitted to him, it would’ve made sense.
But that wasn’t the case.
“Thank you,” Lin Fan said sincerely. “I owe you one for this.”
Though he wasn’t ready to fully trust this second-generation heir, Lin Fan was not an ungrateful man.
Shen Wuxiao smiled. “Brother Lin, you’re too polite.”
“Think of it as an investment. I trust my instincts—someone like you is destined for great things. Helping you now is helping myself.”
Lin Fan nodded with a faint smile. “No matter what, I’ll remember this favor.”
They arrived at the surveillance room.
Shen Wuxiao pulled out a chair and sat down. “Brother Lin, take your time. I don’t know anything about this stuff anyway.”
He pulled out his phone and began playing with it.
But he kept a close eye on Lin Fan’s reactions from the corner of his eye.
Lin Fan appreciated the subtle gesture.
Given the excuse he’d made—catching a cheating wife—it was considerate of Shen Wuxiao to pretend not to watch, saving his dignity.
To others, this was a matter of pride, but Shen Wuxiao still treated him with tact and respect.
Lin Fan sat in front of the surveillance monitor.
He was experienced in this kind of work.
He fast-forwarded the footage of the hotel’s main entrance, scanning carefully. He had assumed the surveillance would be wiped—but to his surprise, everything seemed intact.
He sped up the footage.
His eyes never left the screen.
Soon, something strange happened. The video was still there, but many faces were blurred or unclear, possibly due to deliberate processing. Most figures appeared to be guests arriving for some banquet.
As he watched, Lin Fan’s expression changed.
A man in plain clothes jumped out of a taxi and rushed into the hotel.
Even without a clear face, Lin Fan recognized him instantly.
It was his younger brother—Lin Chen!
Lin Fan quickly switched through different camera angles.
Lin Chen had entered the hotel, grabbed a waiter as if to ask something, then rushed down the corridor.
He passed several halls before stopping outside a large banquet room.
Oddly, he didn’t go in right away.
Instead, he adjusted his clothes and stood there, waiting for about three minutes.
Why was he so anxious earlier but then stopped to wait?
It didn’t make sense.
Something must’ve happened inside.
Then, suddenly, Lin Chen threw off his jacket and strode in as if determined to confront someone.
After that, he disappeared from view.
Shen Wuxiao, watching from the side, nearly laughed aloud.
So dramatic!
He thought Lin Chen had stormed in at a critical moment, but in reality, the guy had waited dramatically at the door before barging in.
So theatrical.
Lin Fan, however, wasn’t thinking about that.
He focused intently, slowing down the footage.
Soon after, another figure rushed in, followed by a large group.
Clearly, something serious had happened inside.
A while later, guests began fleeing from the banquet hall, running frantically and not daring to look back.
That’s when things became even more suspicious.
Based on Lin Fan’s estimate, at least two hundred people had gone in, but only half came out.
The last image on the screen made Lin Fan’s eyes widen in shock.
A young man in a suit walked out slowly. Behind him, the banquet doors shut tightly.
No one else came out.
Bang!
Lin Fan slammed the pause button.
The screen froze on the figure in a black suit and tie.
The man removed his corsage, threw it on the ground, and stepped on it.
Even without seeing the face, Lin Fan was certain—this was the killer.
Unfortunately, the footage had been edited. While it hadn’t been deleted, it had been tampered with to make facial recognition impossible.
Even Lin Fan could only confirm his own brother’s identity.
But… why did that silhouette seem so familiar?
Where had he seen that figure before?
Lin Fan closed his eyes, trying to remember, but it wouldn’t come to him.
What he never considered, not even for a second, was that the man in question was Shen Wuxiao—who was sitting just a few feet away.
To Lin Fan, there was no connection between the two. It didn’t even cross his mind.
“Brother Lin Fan, what’s up? Did you find anything?”
Shen Wuxiao walked over and pretended to examine the paused footage.
Then, pointing at himself on the screen, he grinned.
“Hey! Brother Lin, is this handsome guy the one who stole your wife?”
“His face is blurry, but that figure is solid. No wonder your wife couldn’t resist him!”