track

The next morning, Zhao Dongchuan arrived at the magazine office as scheduled and discussed some specific details with Zhang Jian again.

The two talked as they walked down the corridor.

As they walked, a graceful figure appeared ahead. It was none other than Miss Xiao Fei, whom he hadn't seen in a day. She was wearing a floral mini-skirt and long stockings, revealing a section of her fair, lotus-root-like calves in between. As she moved, her skirt fluttered, making her look beautiful and captivating.

Passing men couldn't help but glance, wanting to look but not daring to stare, while women were filled with envy and jealousy.

Xiao Fei had already seen him. As she approached, she greeted them.

"Hello, Teacher Zhang, Mr. Zhao!"

"Xiao Fei!" Zhang Jian responded with a smile.

"Hello!" Zhao Dongchuan also smiled slightly.

The three then strolled around the small garden outside the office building.

Zhang Jian was eager to get to work and soon went upstairs to busy himself, leaving only Zhao Dongchuan and Liu Yifei.

The two discussed current events and good novels.

Unbeknownst to them, both stopped talking and walked in silence.

Zhao Dongchuan, remembering his system mission, asked, "Xiao Fei, I've noticed these past two days that the colleagues in the office seem to be somewhat prejudiced against Zhang Jian… I wonder if you've noticed anything!"

"Oh, I'm not very clear about that. We're in the administrative department, and we don't see much of their department!" Xiao Fei said.

"Oh, I see!" Zhao Dongchuan nodded.

Seeing that Zhao Dongchuan seemed to take this matter seriously, Xiao Fei thought for a moment and said, "Well, I heard from others that an editor named Shi Jian isn't on good terms with him and often trips him up. Oh, and there's also a Han Xiaoyan who occasionally speaks ill of him behind his back…"

"Shi Jian… Han Xiaoyan…" Zhao Dongchuan repeated the two names. Good, he'd noted them down. He'd find an opportunity to investigate later.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Fei asked softly, seeing Zhao Dongchuan muttering.

"Nothing, thank you!"

"Thank me for what? If you really want to thank me, when your book is published, remember to give me 50 signed copies… No, make it 100…" Xiao Fei said with a laugh.

"Alright, as long as you can carry them, however many you bring, I'll sign them all!" Zhao Dongchuan declared grandly.

Before long, the two returned to the office building.

Zhao Dongchuan walked towards the editorial office, and Xiao Fei returned to the administrative office.

Entering the office, Zhao Dongchuan greeted the editors with a smile and found a secluded spot to sit down on a stool.

Zhang Jian asked curiously, "Little Zhao, what are you doing sitting here?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to sit for a while and rest. I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

"No, no, not at all. You rest well for a bit!" He then went back to his work.

With his extraordinary observation skills, Zhao Dongchuan soon figured out who the two people Xiao Fei mentioned were.

Shi Jian was the man in the Zhongshan suit who had previously challenged Zhang Jian, and Han Xiaoyan was naturally the female editor wrapped in a scarf and wearing a floral dress.

It was them after all! Zhao Dongchuan inwardly complained!

Through his observations, Shi Jian outwardly appeared to be a gentleman, but in reality, he would subtly disparage Zhang Jian in his words from time to time. Han Xiaoyan, on the other hand, enjoyed gossiping and talking about others' shortcomings.

These two, one wanting to be a Cao thief and the other jealous of others' beauty and instigating others, unknowingly influenced everyone's behavior.

Zhao Dongchuan was deep in thought!

After work that day, Zhao Dongchuan declined Zhang Jian and Liu Yifei's invitations and left the magazine office alone.

In reality, he hadn't left but was eating at a small shop nearby.

With his eyesight, he could clearly see the people coming and going after work from this position.

After a while, the target appeared!

Shi Jian, looking like a high-ranking intellectual in his crisp Zhongshan suit, rode his bicycle towards West Street.

Seeing this, Zhao Dongchuan slowly paid for his meal and then also rode his bicycle, following far behind.

By now, he had already put on his system glasses and changed his identity.

When Shi Jian stopped his bicycle and entered a courtyard, Zhao Dongchuan also dismounted and pushed his bicycle, pretending.

After confirming the house number and address, Zhao Dongchuan returned to the guesthouse.

He planned to visit Shi Jian that evening to see if he could gather any information.

Around seven or eight in the evening, Zhao Dongchuan put down his book, left the guesthouse, put on his system glasses, and walked towards Shi Jian's house.

Taking advantage of no one being around, Zhao Dongchuan activated his Lightness Skill and used his Breath Concealment Technique, moving as if no one was there.

Entering the courtyard, Zhao Dongchuan found a spot closer to the bedroom and sat down.

This Breath Concealment Technique was very peculiar; as long as he didn't make a sound, he could lower his presence, making people unable to sense him.

He naturally didn't need to hide, but he chose to go at night because the dark night was good for getting things done!!!

Of course, the main reason was that he wasn't sure if using the Breath Concealment Technique during the day, in front of people, would lead to him being discovered.

The sound of a man and woman talking came from inside the house, mostly about everyday family matters.

Through their conversation, Zhao Dongchuan learned that Shi Jian's wife was pregnant during this period and would occasionally complain about Shi Jian's frequent business trips.

"It's all for work!" Shi Jian said softly to his wife.

"In a few days, I have a seminar, and I'll be back later than usual. So, why don't you ask your mother to come over and help for a few days? Don't work too hard!" He said, gently stroking his wife's round belly.

Zhao Dongchuan listened for a while, felt it was uninteresting, and then got up and left.

This continued for several days without any results, making Zhao Dongchuan wonder if he was going in the wrong direction and should first deal with Han Xiaoyan.

These past few evenings, besides visiting Shi Jian's house, he had been subtly hinting to Zhang Jian to communicate more with other colleagues and not always work alone.

More communication could resolve misunderstandings and also broaden one's horizons.

Zhang Jian remained noncommittal, only nodding silently. Zhao Dongchuan estimated that it would take him a while to change.

Just as he was thinking of a different method to scare Shi Jian and make him abandon his 'Cao thief' ambitions, he discovered a peculiar situation.

That day, Shi Jian left work as usual but didn't head towards West Street. Instead, he turned towards Jiefang Road. At a corner, he even took out a scarf to half-cover his face, looking timid and afraid of being seen.

Zhao Dongchuan suddenly became curious. Where was Shi Jian going?

He followed from a distance and saw him turn into a small alley, where his figure disappeared.

Zhao Dongchuan quickly followed. At the corner where Shi Jian vanished, he saw a small door, only about a meter high. Most people would have to bend down to enter.

He looked left and right but found no place to hide.

"He must have gone in. I'll see!" With that, Zhao Dongchuan leaped, his feet lightly touching the ground, and with a few flips, he was on the rooftop.

He observed carefully from the rooftop. Before long, he noticed figures moving in the southwest direction, and faint whispers could be heard.

He quickly used his Lightness Skill and glided towards that area.