I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

The living room was quiet for a few seconds.

Shu Zi slowly raised her head, met Shen Yihuai's gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then smiled softly:

"Reporter Shen is indeed very observant."

She pulled the note from her sleeve, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it to the center:

"This note was indeed forged by me, and the account book was not burned by the accountant. I sneaked into the kitchen and burned it when no one was looking."

"I originally wanted to frame her because I knew she had tampered with the accounts, and Manager Zhao was investigating her."

"If she is suspected of burning the account books, coupled with that note, everyone will point the finger at her."

"But I underestimated Reporter Shen's observation skills. Fortunately," she smiled at Shen Yihuai, "you've been poisoned and rendered mute."

Shen Yihuai: "..."

[Hahaha, Zizi's finishing blow was brilliant! Shen Yihuai deduced the truth, but was silenced as a result.]

[Shu Zi confessed! She forged the note and burned the account book, but! She only admitted to framing someone, not to poisoning them!]

So Shu Zi's plan was: frame Fang Yutong → divert attention → escape unscathed. If it weren't for Shen Yihuai, she would have succeeded.

No, she succeeded, because the game is over.

Su Yanhuan opened her mouth, then closed it again, and turned to look at Director Liu:

"So, Director Liu, what exactly happened? Is Miss Nian Tang the murderer?"

Director Liu clapped his hands with a smile, his tone tinged with pride:

"Was the murderer really Miss Nian Tang—?"

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his gaze slowly turning to Gu Yan, who had remained silent.

"Boss Gu, aren't you going to say anything?"

???

All eyes immediately turned to Gu Yan.

Gu Yan leaned against a pillar, chuckled slowly, and then spoke:

"The poison wasn't administered by Nian Tang."

【? ? ? ? 】

【? ? ? ? ? ? 】

【Clam?】

Shu Zi looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

Gu Yan didn't look at her. He took out the silver pocket watch from his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it to the center.

"The pawn ticket is real. Three years ago, Zhao Baoshan pawned my pocket watch, not because he was short of money, but because I left it at the scene that night and he found it. He knew I was there at the time."

"I was there the day Shen Nian jumped. I saw Zhao Baoshan force her to the window. She didn't want to jump; he pushed her."

He looked at Shu Zi:

"Shen Nian and I have been friends for many years. After her accident, I have been investigating. I know why you came to the Paramount, so I approached you."

"So this afternoon, before you went to see him, I went to his office first. The poison on the rim of the cup was applied by me."

"I know you burned the account books, forged notes, and framed the accountant. I didn't stop you because I know you always have to do something to feel at ease."

"But you shouldn't have to take the blame for this. Zhao Baoshan deserved to die anyway."

After Gu Yan finished speaking, no one in the living room said a word.

Su Yanhuan was stunned for several seconds before turning to look at Director Liu:

"Director Liu, is this...is this true? The murderer is Boss Gu?"

Director Liu smiled and nodded, holding up the script in his hand:

"Congratulations everyone, this is the real ending. The real culprit is Boss Gu, and Miss Nian Tang is an accomplice and a smokescreen."

"The murderer's camp wins! Boss Gu successfully concealed his identity until the end, and Miss Nian Tang's self-sacrificing acting skills also played a crucial role."

[Gu Yan is the real culprit!! I jumped right off the sofa!!]

So Gu Yan knew Shu Zi's purpose from the beginning, and he's been secretly helping her all along?

Shu Zi thought she was taking revenge on her own, but little did she know that Gu Yan had been paving the way for her all along.

[The murderer's camp wins! Gu Yan and Shu Zi teamed up to deceive everyone! Shen Yihuai deduced Shu Zi's identity, but not Gu Yan's, ultimately falling short.]

[Director Liu's script is absolutely brilliant, with three plot twists: first Fang Yutong, then Shu Zi, and finally Gu Yan. Everyone is acting.]

[MVP of the Match: Gu Yan. Best Smokescreen of the Match: Shu Zi. Most Unfortunate Player of the Match: Fang Yutong (Scapegoat). Most Unjustly Accused Player: Shen Yihuai (Poisoned and rendered mute)]

Jiang Yunyou took off his glasses and rubbed his temples: "Oh my god, I can't take it anymore, my mind is still foggy."

Su Yanhuan sat in her wheelchair, remained silent for a long while, and then slowly exhaled: "Fine, I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

She turned to look at Shu Zi:

"But Sister Zizi, when you just admitted to being the murderer, did you genuinely believe you were the murderer, or were you just acting to cooperate with Gu Yan?"

Shu Zi closed her fan, tilted her head, and winked at Su Yanhuan: "Guess."

Su Yanhuan rolled her eyes: "Guess what? I won't be able to sleep tonight."

[Jiang Yunyou: My mind went blank. Audience: We were blank too, who can handle this plot twist?]

[Shuzi's wink was too much! And then she said "guess what," I bet you were just showing off your relationship!]

[Su Yanhuan: Guess what? Translation: I've given up thinking, do whatever you want.]

Su Yanhuan then turned to Han Jingxue: "Sister Han, have you guessed that the murderer is Boss Gu?"

Han Jingxue shook her head:

"I guessed it was Nian Tang; I thought she did it."

Su Yanhuan was puzzled: "Then why didn't you expose her just now?"

Han Jingxue was silent for a moment, then spoke:

"Because my sister was also bullied by Zhao Baoshan. After the incident, she couldn't stand the gossip and left Shanghai alone. We haven't heard from her since."

"And my apprentice, he died at my hands."

"So when I guessed that the murderer was Nian Tang, I chose to remain silent, because if I had to do it all over again, I might do the same thing as her."

She paused for a moment, then added, "I just didn't expect that the killer was someone else."

[So that's how it is. No wonder Han Jingxue didn't expose Shu Zi; it's because she understood Shu Zi's motives and even agreed with her actions.]

Her silence wasn't because she hadn't guessed it, but because she also wanted Zhao Baoshan dead.

[Han Jingxue's character is much more complex than I imagined. On the surface, she is a gentle and kind female manager, but in reality, she harbors hatred in her heart.]

She guessed that Shen Yihuai might know the truth, which was why she poisoned him to make him mute.

The most brilliant thing about this notebook is that everyone has their own secrets, everyone has their own hardships; there are no purely evil people, nor purely good people.

Zhao Baoshan deserved to die, but those who killed him weren't acting out of justice, but out of revenge.

Shopkeeper Han remained silent because she had experienced the same pain.

Gu Yan took the blame for Shu Zi not because he wanted to be a hero, but because he understood her unwavering conviction.

The accountant was greedy, but she burned the account books only to protect herself.

This is not just a murder mystery game; it's about a group of people caught up in the chaos of a world where fate has brought them together. Everyone makes different choices, and there's never just one truth.

[...Although, but, who told her to be so greedy?]