Chapter 3 — After My Brother Passed Away, I Received a Mysterious Text Message

He is a programmer. Personality is a bit introverted but always treats me very well. The relationship between us is the only warm color in this family. Parents respect boys and despise girls. From a young age, I placed all my hopes on Chu Duong, and I was almost left alone. All resources in the house were focused on him. But my brother loves me very much. He secretly used his accumulated pocket money to buy a new dress for me. The delicious dishes my parents reward are always saved for me. Even my college tuition was the money he silently gave me after working. He once laughed and said:

"Tieu Tinh, I will raise you from now on."

After I went to work, he always told me not to be too reckless. Girls don't need to live so hard. But it is he who always tries the hardest. He once said he wanted to save money to buy a big house. Welcome your parents to stay with you. And save me a room. Such an honest man, loving his family... How could he be murdered? The taxi stopped at the foot of the building. This is a newly built residential area. The landscape is very beautiful but the number of households with lights still on is not many. I paid and got out of the car. The night wind blew past, carrying a few dry leaves with it. The surrounding was terrifyingly quiet. I stood under the building, raised my head and looked up at the floor where my brother lived. Eleventh floor. Dark as pitch. Maybe the police haven't arrived yet. But how do I get in? I don't have the key to your house. I impatiently walked back and forth on the ground floor. Suddenly, I remembered something. He once said he was afraid of forgetting to bring the key. So I hid a spare key in a magnetic box attached to the fire cabinet outside the door. I immediately went to the fire cabinet. Open the iron door and put your hand in to search. It's freezing cold inside. My fingers quickly touched a small metal box. I took it out. It's a black magnetic key holder. Open the box lid. A key lies quietly inside. I breathed a sigh of relief. Step into the elevator. Press the eleventh floor button. I was alone in the elevator. The stainless steel wall reflects a terrifyingly pale face. The elevator stopped. I walked out. The sensor light in the hallway immediately lit up. I found my brother's door. Take out the key. My hands were shaking so much that I couldn't turn the lock correctly several times. I took a deep breath. Try to force yourself to calm down. The key is inserted. The door opened. I quickly slipped inside and closed the door. Don't turn on the lights. I leaned my back against the door, trying to calm my violently beating heart. It's very dark in the house. Also very quiet. The air still lingered with the familiar scent of his lemon scented laundry detergent. As if he had just gone out. And will be back soon. The bridge of my nose is stinging. Tears almost fell again. I blinked hard a few times, forcing myself to stay awake. Now is not the time to grieve. Thanks to the moonlight shining through the window. I observed the room. Everything is exactly the same as the last time I came here. The shoes in the mysterious entrance are neatly arranged. Completely unlike the residence of a single man. It's not even like the scene of a sudden death. My eyes stopped at the floor area next to the window in the living room. I stepped forward. Squat down. Carefully inspect each floorboard. All are solid wood floors, tightly sealed to the point where gaps are almost invisible. I Use your finger to try typing. First plate. Second plate. The sound is very solid. Go to the third picture. The sound immediately became more hollow. This is the place. I went into the kitchen to find a fruit knife. Carefully insert the tip of the knife into the gap. Then use force to pry it up. The floorboards moved slightly. I put the knife down and then lifted it up with my hand. Below is an empty space. Inside there was a black waterproof bag lying quietly. I took it out. The bag is not heavy. Inside appears to contain a hard and quite thin object. I pulled the seal. Pour the contents into the palm of your hand. It's a black USB. There aren't any symbols. Is this what the mysterious person said was "what I wanted to find"? Inside it... Is the truth about his brother's death hidden? I'm planning on putting the floorboards back in place. Right at that moment. Suddenly there was a faint sound of footsteps outside the door. Right after that. It's the sound of a key entering a lock. Someone is opening the door. The blood in my body seemed to freeze in an instant. Whole body tense. Are you a police officer? Incorrect. If the police were examining the scene, they wouldn't secretly use the key to open the door like this. So who is it? Is it the person who sent me the message? Who murdered my brother? That thought made my whole body cold. There's no time to think anymore. I have to hide now. I hastily put the floorboard back in place. There's no point in paying attention to whether it fits perfectly or not. My hand tightened around the black USB. It is like a red-hot iron bar. I rolled my eyes and looked around. The living room has no place to hide. Under the sofa? Behind the curtains? Moonlight will reveal people's silhouettes. The only option... Is the bedroom. I bowed low and rushed into my brother's bedroom at my fastest speed. So gentle. I closed the door. Do not lock left. Any extra noise could expose me. I crouched in the darkness behind the door. The sound of my heart beating was like a war drum, bouncing straight into my eardrums. Through the crack in the door, I nervously looked toward the living room. The main door opens. A figure dressed in black crept in. Exactly like me just now. As soon as he entered the house, he immediately closed the door. Don't turn on the lights. That person is very tall. Also very athletic. Under the pale moonlight, I could only see a vague outline. He didn't make any sound. Like a ghost. He stood in the mysterious entrance for a few seconds. Seems to be adapting to the darkness in the house. He went straight towards the living room. The goal is extremely clear. It's the location next to the window. I saw him squat down. The movements are exactly the same as mine just now. He's looking on the floor. My heart jumped into my throat. He found it. He found the floorboard that I had pried open. I saw him stop.