Despite the absence of key surveillance footage, the recordings from adjacent cameras were still intact. Jian Yunchen was determined to examine the nearby surveillance videos, hoping to clarify several critical points that held great significance for him.
As he reviewed the footage, he soon spotted Mo Sao's figure on one of the recordings. Mo Sao had been the first to arrive at the scene, but her presence there was no mere coincidence. Through the footage from various angles, Jian Yunchen observed that she had been watching the stairway intently, where Jian Yunao and Jian Yiling had been arguing. His brow furrowed deeper, and his gaze darkened with realization.
Once he finished watching the recordings, he asked, "Who is in charge of the surveillance footage?"
The surveillance system at Jiayun Mountain Resort was locally stored and physically managed, completely offline. To steal or destroy any footage, someone would have had to be physically present at the hotel; remote hacking was not an option.
A young man in his twenties stepped forward. He was unassuming and appeared rather timid, becoming noticeably anxious as he was called over to Jian Yunchen. "Um… I'm currently the supervisor for the surveillance footage, but I've only been in this position for a week…"
"Who was in charge before you?" Jian Yunchen inquired, his tone firm and commanding.
The hotel manager, standing nearby, chimed in, "He resigned last week quite unexpectedly. I had no choice but to promote someone urgently to take over his position."
"Get me his contact information and home address," Jian Yunchen ordered.
"Right away," the manager responded, complying without hesitation. He quickly provided Jian Yunchen with the requested information.
With the documents in hand, Jian Yunchen wasted no time in having a friend investigate the former supervisor's background. The response he received, however, was less than satisfactory: the man had moved out of Hengyuan City shortly after resigning and had changed his contact information. With him no longer in the city, locating him in the short term would prove difficult.
Yet, even with the limited information available, Jian Yunchen could already tell that there were orchestrated forces at play behind this so-called "accident."
---
After finishing her last exam, Jian Yiling stepped out and opened her phone to find an influx of messages from the assistants at the research institute. The institute had dedicated personnel to manage and facilitate communications with external contacts, referred to as "assistants" within the organization.
The messages appeared urgent, prompting Jian Yiling to respond, "What's going on?"
The reply came almost instantly: "Finally, you replied! I have a case here, and the other party is strongly hoping you can take it on."
Jian Yiling hesitated, recalling that she was set to formally start her position next month. This month was meant to be a time for her to settle in, not to take on new responsibilities.
"I'm aware of that. I'm not suggesting you need to perform the surgery this month," the assistant clarified. "You can review the case and decide if you're interested. If you are, we can arrange for the procedure to take place later. The conditions they're offering are quite favorable, and I've evaluated this case as having a significant level of difficulty, which could greatly enhance your reputation."
The assistant was diligent in screening cases transferred to the research institute; not just any patient was accepted. Only those deemed to have research value or significant representation would be selected.
"Why?" Jian Yiling asked, seeking clarification.
Her exceptional performance in the surgical assessments had garnered recognition from the research institute, with relevant evaluations uploaded to her professional profile. The assistant explained that the research institute prioritized cases that would not only challenge the candidates but also provide substantial opportunities for growth and advancement in their surgical careers.
Understanding the weight of such an opportunity, Jian Yiling considered the implications. The prospect of taking on a complex case could indeed set the stage for her professional growth. As she pondered her options, a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursed through her, knowing that each decision she made would shape her future in ways she had yet to fully comprehend.