Insights Chapter 112: Fish Tank

Chapter 112: Fish Tank

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Bai Meng saw off Deng Anlu, leaving her phone number and asking her to contact her anytime if she remembered anything. Gu Yanchen’s phone suddenly beeped, it was a message from Lu Ying, [Captain Gu, it feels like someone has been in the room here, it’s been cleaned up nicely, but we found this near the mirror cabinet in the bathroom, in the ceiling, and behind the TV.]

The wire is slightly thicker than usual. Those positions are all very strange, not what ordinary household appliances would leave behind.

Gu Yanchen frowned and replied, “Understood.”

Lu Ying asked, “How should we handle this?”

Gu Yanchen said, “Cut it and bring it back for examination.” Then he asked, “What about the Coconut Guest Renting website, have you seen their manager?”

Lu Ying sighed, “Ah, don’t mention it, I don’t know if they got wind of something, but they’ve disappeared. Even the former staff left some false information.”

Gu Yanchen said, “If you can’t find anything else, you can call it a day for now.”

Shen Junci checked his phone and said, “It seems like it’s time to get off work, are you working overtime?”

Gu Yanchen shook his head, “No overtime, I’m going to pick up something.”

Shen Junci said, “Alright, I’ll wait downstairs for the medical examiner.”

When Shen Junci went back to the medical examiner’s office to pick up something and came downstairs, Gu Yanchen’s car was already parked downstairs. They drove back together. When they reached the entrance of the community, Gu Yanchen stopped the car.

Usually, Gu Yanchen would drive in.

Shen Junci looked at him somewhat surprised, “Aren’t you going home? Is there another task?”

Gu Yanchen said, “No, it’s just some personal matters, you go ahead.”

Shen Junci didn’t get out of the car, “Personal matters that even I can’t know?”

He turned his head, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked meaningfully at Gu Yanchen.

Gu Yanchen was stared at for a few seconds and immediately caved in, “I feel like those girls might be under surveillance. I thought of a source I met when investigating Xu Chenghuang’s case in the past, he sells those monitoring devices, so I thought I’d go see if he knows anything.”

They needed to coax information out of him. If they went there with police officers in an official capacity, they might not get anything, so he planned to go alone at night.

“Cases usually require two officers present, your injury has just healed a bit, and you want to go alone?” Shen Junci adjusted his seatbelt, “Do you sense danger?”

Captain Gu, being an expert in interrogation, quickly detected the trap in the medical examiner Shen’s implication. The implicit meaning behind the medical examiner Shen’s words was: Is it dangerous for you to go alone when your injury has just healed? Or, if it’s not dangerous, why don’t you take me? So, no matter how Gu Yanchen answered, both answers would be wrong.

Captain Gu responded quickly, “Then come with me, it’s good to have someone to watch my back.”

The medical examiner Shen was very satisfied with this answer. It was past six in the evening, the peak time for getting off work, and the streets were crowded. Gu Yanchen skillfully drove through the streets, and finally arrived at a slightly noisy street in the eastern part of the city. His driving skills were excellent, he saw a small opening ahead, and smoothly parked the car into it.

After getting out of the car, Gu Yanchen looked around. It had been several years since he had been here, but it looked largely the same. At least a few familiar shops were still there.

Shen Junci looked around and found it intriguing. “What kind of businesses are these shops running?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “This area in front of you is Penang’s largest underground black market. Many of the things sold here are on the fringes.”

Then Captain Gu went on to provide Shen Junci with a detailed explanation. From the outside, this street doesn’t seem unusual, but behind each shop, the range of operations is quite different. From pirated books, audio-visual materials inappropriate for children, cheating devices for exams, to smuggled wildlife, foreign drugs, and even a few shops secretly trafficking guns.” In conclusion, Gu Yanchen said, “There’s a clear road in the light and a hidden bridge in the dark. As long as you have money, you can buy anything here.”

Shen Junci asked, “Hasn’t this place been raided?”

“How could it not? This street has been raided countless times by the police. Whenever there’s a hint of trouble, they all shut down collectively, but as soon as things calm down, they pop up again like mushrooms after rain. Moreover, many of the businesses here operate as family units, with grandpas and grandmas working together. They even bring people into residential areas. Once you’ve made a purchase, you become a regular customer and can exchange contact information for future transactions anytime.”

“I see…” Shen Junci watched, lost in thought, as a woman skillfully pulled out a stack of items from a baby stroller.

“At least the people here don’t deal with dangerous stuff, at least not poison. It’s an endless task, you can’t wipe them all out. So, the police’s attitude towards them has become one of containment, as long as nothing major happens.”

After getting out of the car and walking for a bit, Gu Yanchen took Shen Junci into a roadside mobile phone repair shop. Although the shop was advertised as a mobile phone repair shop, the walls and counters were filled with various electronic devices, including headphones, cameras, and even CCTV cameras.

A young man was in the shop, and when he saw them enter, he asked, “Are you here to buy a phone?”

Gu Yanchen didn’t flash his police badge. “Old acquaintance, I’m looking for Boss Liao.”

The young man recognized him, pressed a button, and opened a hidden door. Behind the shop was another world, a windowless warehouse. Gu Yanchen quickly led Shen Junci through the warehouse. Gu Yanchen opened a door and entered a dark room without windows. Hundreds of monitors flickered on the walls, as if countless eyes were watching the screens.

Gu Yanchen knew that from the moment he entered, he might have been seen. He hurried inside, fearing the other party might not want to see him and slip away. In the room, there was a chubby guy, slurping instant noodles. Seeing Gu Yanchen enter, he shrank back in fear, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and tried to leave from behind, but his bulky physique made it difficult for him to move quickly.

Gu Yanchen reached out and grabbed him. “Liao Qing, long time no see.”

The chubby guy forced an awkward smile. “Captain Gu, uh… Mr. Gu, long time no see…”

This chubby guy had crossed paths with Gu Yanchen during the Xu Chenghuang case investigation. Liao Qing was almost arrested back then because he provided a lot of information about Xu Chenghuang. He became an informant and avoided prison.

Considering that, this was their first meeting after that case.

Gu Yanchen waved his hand. “Don’t be afraid. My colleague and I are here to ask you some questions. Keep eating.”

Though Gu Yanchen said so, Liao Qing, the chubby guy, didn’t dare to relax. He sat there like a mouse facing a cat, feeling uneasy.  Meanwhile, Shen Junci stood by, carefully examining the surveillance equipment and computers.

The young man who was watching the shop peeked inside, and Liao Qing said, “Close the shop and put up a temporary closed sign.”

Gu Yanchen took out his phone and showed Liao Qing the photo Lu Ying had given him. “Did you sell this thing?”

After hearing Deng Anlu’s story, Gu Yanchen was convinced that those girls were being monitored. If they were under surveillance, Xia Tian’en’s disappearance and mysterious death should have been known to those people long ago. It’s likely the cleaners have been deployed again. The surveillance devices at home have been dismantled cleanly, leaving only a few stray wires. Even if they investigate, they won’t find anything.

Liao Qing took the phone and immediately recognized it as the surveillance cables from Bu’s shop. “It wasn’t sold from my shop. As you know, although I’m big, I’m not the only one in Penang.”

Feeling relieved that it’s none of his business, Liao Qing relaxed. 

Gu Yanchen noticed his expression and felt it wasn’t deceitful. Gu Yanchen asked, “Do you know anything about this?”

Liao Qing asked, “Where were these things found?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “In a rented house, through the Coconut Guest Renting.”

Hearing this, Liao Qing’s face changed color. “Are the renters young girls?”

Gu Yanchen nodded.

After hesitating for a moment, Liao Qing said, “I’ve heard some things. They came here wanting to purchase from me initially, wanting to place a big order for the latest and highest-quality cameras. I was afraid of trouble, so I didn’t sell them. This… don’t say it was from me.”

Gu Yanchen nodded, “I understand. You tell me, I’ll handle it as an anonymous tip.”

“The devices and customized furniture are all complementary. They’re hidden very well.” Liao Qing continued, “Have you heard of Fishing Masters?”

Gu Yanchen shook his head, “Is it a game? I’ve only heard of Fishing Master.”

Liao Qing reached for his phone and opened an interface that looked like a small game. He tapped on it and handed it to Gu Yanchen, “I’m talking about this.”

Gu Yanchen hadn’t seen this software before. He clicked on it a few times, but it required an account and password. Liao Qing took it back and entered one. Inside, there were several small video frames, resembling a video app or something similar. When scrolled down, there were dozens of them.

Shen Junci also leaned in to take a look. To access each video, you needed to pay separately.

Gu Yanchen tried to enter but was redirected to an animation. Liao Qing said, “The members here are authenticated. Old members vouch for new ones, and ordinary people can’t get in.”

Gu Yanchen asked him, “What’s inside?”

Liao Qing said lightly, but Gu Yanchen knew what it meant. It meant that as long as those girls lived in the house, they would be watched at all times. A network of eyes watched over them, leaving no room for privacy. Eating, changing clothes, bathing, chatting with friends, sleeping… there was no privacy whatsoever.

Liao Qing added, “Those people bring in the houses, specially decorate them to the liking of young girls. In the slang, those houses are called fish tanks.”

Gu Yanchen asked, “And then, do you know how it works specifically?”

“After setting up the fish tanks, they’re rented out to single girls. These girls include those who are attending art schools, studying at universities, or just graduated. Most of these girls have simple social circles and come to this city alone without knowing anyone. Also, the girls must be attractive to be offered contracts. The fees are extremely low, just symbolic. Generally, they sign leases for six months to a year, no subletting is allowed, and deposits and rent paid in advance are non-refundable. There are about a dozen cameras installed in the house, all hidden in the most secretive places—inside cabinets, beside TVs, in ceiling lights, even under the floorboards to capture upskirt shots. The cameras can switch continuously, and everything can be seen clearly. Sigh, didn’t your police know about this?”

Gu Yanchen shook his head, naturally they didn’t know. How could they allow such a thing to exist if they knew?

Liao Qing continued, “Of course not. This video website is covert, it’s all connected to the external network. You need to bypass the firewall to access it, and it can’t be detected domestically. They even seem to get advance notice of operations and have never been inspected.”

Shen Junci, though he had some guesses, didn’t expect the situation to be so severe. He frowned. He had heard about similar cases both domestically and internationally, such as the “n rooms” scandal. He had even seen news online about cameras installed in dressing rooms in hotels. The police had conducted crackdowns before, but they quickly fizzled out. He hadn’t imagined that people’s invasions of privacy would be so bold, happening right under their noses.

But then Shen Junci realized that in life, there were a vast number of deviants, and even many businesses had such desires. That’s why they thought of doing this kind of business. Targeting only a small number of single girls with surveillance made it more covert and difficult to trace. Even rental websites and video streaming platforms would put on different facades. If they were discovered, they could claim ignorance, and without substantial evidence, they couldn’t be prosecuted.

Even if the girls felt something was wrong and moved out promptly, like what happened to Deng Anlu, they couldn’t find actual evidence to report to the police. Various reasons led to the development of this industry, even evolving into a lucrative business that people sought to profit from. The law found it difficult to define and judge such behavior, resulting in light penalties, which made the voyeurs increasingly brazen.

Liao Qing gestured with his hand, “And getting here is just the first step. The girls are like mermaids kept in tanks. Among them, the most popular girl is the mermaid princess. If you want to see a particular girl, you can reward them online. Once you reach a certain amount, you can ask for the location of the tank. Later, you can meet those girls in real life, and if you’re skilled enough, you can even get their contact information.”

Gu Yanchen understood now. The strange occurrences experienced by Xia Tian’en and Deng Anlu corresponded to Liao Qing’s explanation. He continued, “What about the second step? What’s the third step?”

Liao Qing held up three fingers, “Those companies don’t just keep women; they also keep men. After all, there are so many perverts in the world who like men. But the way they screen men is different. Most of the men are from humble backgrounds, college students who are good-looking, fit, and articulate. They deliberately lure these boys into gambling, drugs, or debt and manipulate them. Once the boys owe a huge debt, are photographed, or are lured by drugs, they are controlled. They’ll do whatever the bosses ask. These men are called bait in the slang, and the process of making them compliant is called baiting. Once the bait is made, they’ll offer money, cars, package these baits as rich second-generation, and then engineer chance encounters, making them start chatting up and pursuing those mermaids. If one fails, they switch to another. They cater to the types of boys the girls like until they’re hooked.”

In the eyes of the girls, handsome and charming men suddenly appear, passionately pursuing them, thinking they’ve finally met their Prince Charming, but they’ve fallen into another layer of trap. “Next, the girls fall in love, and the men start manipulating them, inviting the girls to various small hotels, which are naturally also equipped with cameras…”

Listening to this, Gu Yanchen felt chills down his spine. He thought of a famous movie, “The Truman Show.”

Liao Qing continued, “They record these videos, and the prices for selling them are very high.”

By this point, the girls are basically ruined. At this stage, people become objects to satisfy others’ desires.

Shen Junci asked, “What’s next? Organ harvesting?”

Liao Qing shook his head. The cameras in the dark room were trained on his face, his head extended forward like a badger poking its head out of a hole, “They wouldn’t bother with petty tricks like organ harvesting. At this stage, desires have reached their peak, and those wealthy people want to get involved personally!”