I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Chapter 341 Who is he?

Back at the newspaper office, Zhang Wanqing sorted out her investigation and prepared to write a report. As she sat at her computer, her fingers tapping gently on the keyboard, the passage from Liu Xiang's diary kept resurfacing in her mind.

"I know he's among us. He's been watching us from behind, waiting for his chance. I have to be careful and find evidence. He won't let me go, just like he won't let anyone else go."

"Who is he referring to?" Zhang Wanqing whispered to herself.

Zhang Wanqing's mumbling was quiet, but it was remarkably clear in the quiet office. Her fingers paused on the keyboard, and she looked up through the window at the night sky outside. The night was as dark as ink, and tiny stars twinkled in the distance, as if telling a secret.

Zhang Wanqing's mind replayed the day's events. From Wang Qiang's disappearance, to the hidden cabinet found in the lab, to Lin Hao's evasive response. Each detail felt like a piece of a puzzle, yet even when put together, the whole picture remained unclear. She felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if she were enveloped in darkness, unable to find a way out.

Zhang Wanqing felt a chill, as if a pair of eyes were watching her from the darkness. She shook her head, trying to dispel the uneasy feeling, but the feeling of being watched only grew stronger. She stood up, walked to the window, opened the curtains, and looked out. The street was sparsely populated, with the occasional car rushing by, leaving a blur of light and shadow.

"Wanqing, are you still working overtime?" Fu Siyuan's voice came from the door, interrupting her thoughts. He walked into the office with a cup of hot coffee in his hand and placed the coffee on Zhang Wanqing's desk.

"Well, I'm sorting out today's investigation." Zhang Wanqing raised her head and forced a smile. "This case is too complicated. I always feel like we've missed some important clue."

Fu Siyuan nodded and sat down in a nearby chair. "I feel the same way. Lin Hao's reaction is indeed strange. He must know something, but he's unwilling to say it."

"Do you think he is the murderer?" Zhang Wanqing frowned, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"It's hard to say." Fu Siyuan sighed. "He looks very ordinary, and as a counselor, he has a lot of contact with students. If he is the murderer, then he is hiding it very well."

"Maybe he's just protecting someone," Zhang Wanqing whispered, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. "Or maybe he's afraid of something himself."

Fu Siyuan was silent for a moment, then nodded. "It's possible. Let's go find him tomorrow and see if we can dig out more information from him."

Zhang Wanqing nodded, then lowered her head and continued tapping away at the keyboard. Her fingers danced across the keys, but her thoughts remained a jumble. She tried to connect all the clues, but each one felt like a kite with a broken string, impossible to grasp.

"I know he is among us." This sentence from Liu Xiang's diary resurfaced in her mind. She suddenly felt a chill, as if a pair of eyes were watching her in the darkness.

Just then, Zhang Wanqing's phone suddenly rang. She picked up the phone and saw it was an unfamiliar number. She hesitated for a moment, but still answered it.

"Hello, hello." Zhang Wanqing's voice was a little cold.

"Reporter Zhang, this is Lin Hao." A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, with a hint of urgency and panic.

"Lin Hao?" Zhang Wanqing frowned. "It's so late, what's the matter?"

"I...I want to tell you something." Lin Hao's voice trembled. "I know something about those drugs."

Zhang Wanqing's heart tightened, and she immediately sat up straight. "Tell me, what do you know?"

"I...I can't tell you over the phone." Lin Hao's voice lowered. "Can you come to school? I have something important to tell you."

Zhang Wanqing was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Wanqing immediately contacted Fu Siyuan and Li Wei. The three of them quickly rushed to the school. The campus seemed particularly quiet in the night, with only a few street lights flickering in the darkness. They arrived at Lin Hao's office and found that Lin Hao was already there waiting for them.

"Lin Hao, what do you know?" Zhang Wanqing asked directly, her eyes fixed on Lin Hao's.

Lin Hao lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then raised his head, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "I know where those drugs came from."

Lin Hao's office was filled with a faint smell of tobacco, a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. He sat at his desk, his hands clenched tightly, a look of nervousness on his face. Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei stood before him, staring intently at him, waiting for him to speak.

"I was the one who put those drugs there." Lin Hao's voice was low, but every word was like a bombshell, leaving the three people stunned.

"What did you say?" Zhang Wanqing's voice trembled. She couldn't believe her ears. "Did you put those drugs there?"

Lin Hao nodded. "Yes, I put those drugs there. But I'm not the murderer, I swear."

"Then why did you put those drugs there?" Fu Siyuan asked, with a hint of urgency in his voice.

Lin Hao took a deep breath, then slowly said, "Because I know that those drugs are related to Liu Xiang's death. I have been investigating this matter, but I have never found conclusive evidence. I put those drugs there to attract your attention, and I hope you can help me find the truth."

"Why did you do this?" Zhang Wanqing's voice was filled with doubt. "Why didn't you just tell us?"

Lin Hao shook his head. "I can't. If I tell them, they'll kill me. They've been watching me, and I know they won't let me go."

"Who are they?" Li Wei's voice was low and powerful. "Who are you referring to?"

Lin Hao looked up, a hint of fear in his eyes. "It was an organization. They had been researching that drug, hoping to use it to control people's emotions and behavior. Liu Xiang discovered their secret, so they killed him."

"Organization?" Zhang Wanqing frowned. "Are you referring to an organization in school?"

Lin Hao nodded. "Yes, they are among us. They have been secretly observing us, waiting for an opportunity. I have to be careful and find evidence. But they will not let me go, just like they won't let anyone else go."

"Do you know their identities?" Fu Siyuan asked, with a hint of urgency in his voice.

Lin Hao shook his head. "I don't know their specific identities, but I know they are among us. I've been investigating, but I haven't found any solid evidence."

"So what clues do you have now?" Zhang Wanqing's voice was filled with anticipation. "Have you found anything suspicious?"

Lin Hao was silent and did not respond to Zhang Wanqing's words.