Chapter 100: The Mysterious Administrator and the Candid Photos

“Hmm…”

Zhong Tian pondered for a considerable time, yet no clear “suspect” materialized in his mind.

The scarcity of leads made directly pinpointing the illicit photographer seem impossible, leaving a sting operation as the sole viable method.

Before resorting to that, however, he resolved to gather more pertinent clues.

“Ren,” Zhong Tian called out, “add me to the group.”

“Oh, alright, just a moment.”

As an administrator, Li Jianren swiftly navigated the interface, granting Zhong Tian access.

To avoid tipping off their target, Zhong Tian opted to join the group using a secondary account he typically reserved for gaming.

This particular account was known only to Li Jianren, his frequent gaming partner, thus guaranteeing a degree of anonymity.

No sooner had he joined than Zhong Tian was met with a flurry of enthusiastic welcomes from the group members:

[Hello, newbie.]

[Oh, wow, a new person.]

[Oh, wow, a girl!]

[? How do you know it’s a girl.]

[The QQ profile states female, so it’s definitely a girl (confirmed).]

[Alright, then it’s a girl.]

[No, she’s my wife now.]

[?]

[?]

[?]

[@BELL My wife.]

The final question mark was Zhong Tian’s own.

‘Is there truly nothing else in this world for you to be concerned about?’

[? So anyone is your wife, is that it?]

[You’re insane. Aren’t these women all my wives?.jpg]

[Though, aren’t you Teacher Kezhong’s dog?]

[? Can’t a dog find a wife?]

[?]

[?]

[Damn, this is unbelievable.]

It truly was unbelievable.

Zhong Tian silently navigated to the group settings and activated the “do not disturb” feature.

Now, he decided, it was time to cut straight to the chase and simply ask.

[Um…] Zhong Tian deliberated over his words, [I was wondering, the photos of Teacher Kezhong in this group all appear to be candid shots… Is that truly alright?]

[No worries at all, the group owner is incredibly close with Teacher Kezhong.]

‘Incredibly close with Teacher Kezhong?’

Zhong Tian’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he swiftly tapped at his virtual keyboard.

[Really?]

[That’s what the group owner claims.]

[Indeed, we even have group rules that strictly prohibit sharing Teacher Kezhong’s photos outside this group.]

[Everyone here is very disciplined, so new member, please feel free to appreciate them without any psychological burden.]

[Yes, yes.]

Suddenly, a member bearing the ID “NanaNanaNa” chimed in.

The prominent “Admin” prefix adorning their ID instantly seized Zhong Tian’s full attention.

‘This is the one!’

[New member, rest assured, not only the group owner but I, too, am an acquaintance of Teacher Kezhong. Even though the photos were taken secretly, given my rapport with Teacher Kezhong, it’s definitely not an issue.]

‘Also an acquaintance?’

Zhong Tian certainly didn’t know anyone who peppered their speech with ‘nie’ constantly.

[Are you and Teacher Kezhong attending the same high school?]

[Yes, yes.]

[Classmates?]

[Yes, yes.]

……

Zhong Tian narrowed his eyes.

A “prime suspect” immediately sprang to mind.

He opened WeChat, located the chat window for “Jiang Nanjin,” and quietly composed a message.

[Nanjin, are you there?]

[I’m here, I’m here.] Jiang Nanjin’s reply was almost instantaneous, [What’s wrong?]

[It’s nothing major.]

[Huh?]

[Recently, I joined a mysterious fan group, and I encountered a mysterious administrator there. Do you have any clues?] Zhong Tian rapidly typed, [That mysterious person claims to be an acquaintance of mine, even a classmate. Can you guess who it might be?]

A prolonged silence hung in the air on the other end.

[I don’t know…]

Jiang Nanjin then retracted that message.

[I don’t know…]

[Where are you now? I’m coming to find you.]

[No, stop. I admit it, it’s me. I was wrong.]

‘To think she was exposed so effortlessly…’

[I’m not going to *kill* you. Where are you? It would be best if we discussed this in person.]

[At the convenience store…]

[Alright, I’m on my way.]

“It’s settled,” Zhong Tian declared, lowering his phone as he turned to Li Jianren. “Jiang Nanjin is the one behind the candid photos.”

“Huh? That’s all? I was hoping for some dramatic twist!”

“This isn’t a TV drama; there aren’t that many dramatic twists in real life,” Zhong Tian chuckled. “Come on, let’s go find her.”

“Got it.”

****

Upon arriving outside the school’s convenience store, Zhong Tian and his two companions spotted Jiang Nanjin from a distance, seated at a small table.

“You’re here…”

“Why such a downtrodden tone, Nanjin?” Zhong Tian asked, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he took a seat opposite her. “Just relax.”

“…I know I was wrong, please don’t pressure me!” Jiang Nanjin hunched defensively on her chair, her arms wrapped around her head. “I honestly just thought it was a bit of fun; I had no ill intentions.”

“I understand you didn’t harbor any malicious intent,” Zhong Tian began, adopting a subtly lecturing expression. “As the saying goes, ‘to err is human, to correct is divine.’ Now that you’ve acknowledged your mistake, shouldn’t you proceed to rectify it?”

“Rectify it… You’re not going to ask me to delete the photos, are you…?”

“What else would I ask?”

“Oh, no… But everyone really likes them…”

“…Very well, you can keep the photos of me in casual wear, but the ones in school uniform and the Cosplay album must be deleted. Agreed?”

“Well… the Cosplay album wasn’t actually created by me, so I can’t delete it myself. I’d have to contact that administrator or the group owner for them to remove it.”

“Who is the group owner?”

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know them?” Zhong Tian questioned, a hint of confusion in his voice. “Didn’t you claim they were an acquaintance of mine?”

“That’s what *she* said, but I truly have no idea who she is.”

A beat of silence followed.

Ever since learning that Jiang Nanjin was an administrator, Zhong Tian had instinctively equated the group owner’s identity with Lin Yu—a plausible assumption given their personalities—yet Jiang Nanjin’s current denial challenged his certainty.

“So, how exactly did you become an administrator?” Li Jianren asked, instinctively reaching for a drink on the table. He brought it halfway to his lips before realizing it wasn’t his, hastily returning it. “Ahem, did you also ‘V’ the group owner fifty on ‘Crazy Thursday’?”

“Well, I’ll be! So *you* were the new administrator!” Jiang Nanjin exclaimed, abandoning her defensive crouch to point an accusing finger at Li Jianren. “You two-faced traitor!”

“How am I a traitor? Do you even comprehend the profound value of enduring humiliation and abandoning the darkness for the light?”

“Damn you—”

Zhong Tian raised a hand, effectively halting Jiang Nanjin, who had been poised to charge, armed with a ramen fork.

“Please, I need you to contact either the group owner or that other administrator and, speaking on my behalf, request that they delete those albums.”

“Ah—soul now—”

“Consider yourselves lucky I’m letting you keep even one,” Zhong Tian stated. “Furthermore, I intend to join the group as Teacher Kezhong himself. Please inform the group owner to issue a group announcement regarding this.”

“Join the group as Teacher Kezhong? Why?”

“Well… it would allow me to better understand my readers’ perceptions of my manga.”

“But then I won’t be able to see the group members’ ‘sick’ literature anymore, will I?” Jiang Nanjin lamented, looking utterly crestfallen. “Oh, no, don’t do that! Those are my few remaining pleasures!”

“And curbing their ‘sick’ literature happens to be one of my objectives.”

“Damn it, Zhong Tian, you have no heart!”

“There’s no room for negotiation on this.”

Despite her outward resistance, she dutifully pulled out her phone and sent a message to the group owner.

“I’ve told them; it should be implemented very soon…”

No sooner had her words faded than Li Jianren’s phone, lying on the table, vibrated. He tapped it open, and there, prominently displayed, was a new group announcement from the chat titled “I will always love Teacher Kezhong!!!”

“That was quick!”

Zhong Tian, too, opened his phone to verify the group chat, discovering he had been appointed as the group’s fourth administrator.

[Group Announcement: Welcome Teacher Kezhong himself to the group chat! (At Teacher Kezhong’s personal request, the group albums “Cosplay” and “School Uniform” have been removed. We ask for all group members’ understanding).]

The moment the group announcement appeared, messages began to flood the chat, appearing at an astonishing pace.

[Ahhh?]

[Teacher Kezhong himself is here?]

[Is it the new member?]

[@BELL This one??]

[Oh wow, they became an admin, it’s true!]

[??]

[??]

[Where did that guy who was calling her ‘wife’ just now go?]

[He probably retreated to his faithful doghouse. (No mercy)]

****