Because of Lu Yunze’s remark, the atmosphere in the hall instantly grew strange, and the expression on Wang Xu’s face was no longer so forceful.
“What’s wrong, Chief Wang? Do you not believe what I said?” Lu Yunze asked.
“How could that be?” Wang Xu gave an awkward laugh. “Mr. Lu, you helped us so much last week. I trust your character.”
“Aren’t you afraid that I might not be what I seem?” Lu Yunze pointed at himself.
Wang Xu’s mouth twitched.
“That’s different. Mr. Lu, you’re so famous. All the information I can find talks about your identity and abilities—there’s never been a single negative word about your character. I believe in your personal virtue.”
Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult? Lu Yunze felt speechless.
After the laughter, Wang Xu’s expression turned serious again:
“Back to the matter at hand. I hope Mr. Lu can understand my position. I still feel it’s necessary to conduct a thorough investigation—not specifically targeting Miss Jiang, but so the case can be solved as soon as possible.”
Still clinging to me, huh? Are you an octopus? Tentacle after tentacle.
Both Jiang Sui and Lu Yunze grew impatient, thinking to themselves how could someone be so stubborn.
“I heard that the one truly in charge of this Manor is Miss Luo. I trust you don’t want any hidden dangers in your home to harm your own people, do you?”
Faced with Wang Xu’s suggestive words, Luo Yao elegantly took a sip of tea, then spoke coldly:
“Then go ahead and investigate.”
Wang Xu was overjoyed.
“But you are not allowed to take anyone away from here, and you’d best not disturb our lives.”
Wang Xu was shocked.
“Miss Luo, this… were you even listening to me?”
“I’ve always been listening, and I’m answering your question seriously.”
Luo Yao set down her cup, her expression cold, a queenly aura radiating powerfully.
“I’m quite confident in my own methods. Those who’ve already been investigated don’t need to go through the trouble a second time. Or does Chief Wang think I’m some naive young girl, and all I’ve done is pointless?”
“No, of course not.” Wang Xu was sweating profusely.
He’d heard of Luo Yao’s reputation—she was a genius in the Secret Arts World. But Wang Xu himself was just an ordinary man, not versed in any Secret Arts. If things really went south, with the Luo Family’s wealth, losing a police chief would mean nothing to them.
“In that case, Chief Wang, please leave. If there are any new developments, or if you need our help, you can come to me anytime.”
Luo Yao clapped her hands, issuing her order to see the guest out.
“What a pity, truly.”
As Wang Xu stood up, he cast a resentful glance at the others.
Only Jiang Sui noticed this fleeting detail. She narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing.
Even though the troublesome guest was gone, the heavy atmosphere in the hall did not immediately dissipate. Lu Yunze and Luo Yao still sat stiffly in their seats.
As for Jiang Sui, she had already run off on the excuse of changing into her work clothes, not even bothering to thank Lu Yunze for helping her out of the predicament.
Even separated by some distance, Lu Yunze could still clearly feel the oppressive aura radiating from Luo Yao. She pretended to idly browse her phone, but in just a few minutes, she had drunk several glasses of water, pursing her lips after each sip.
In the end, it was Lu Yunze who had to speak first:
“Luo Yao, thank you for earlier. If it weren’t for you, Jiang Sui would have been forcibly taken away by him.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Yao managed to squeeze out a slight smile, but her voice still carried a trace of impatience.
“I helped Jiang Sui because I trust what Brother Lu says, and I believe that Brother Lu is innocent.”
At this, she paused, her gaze sharpening.
“Speaking of which, why did Brother Lu come back with Jiang Sui?”
Lu Yunze took a sharp breath, his mind racing. “It was a coincidence, just a coincidence. Don’t you know Jiang Sui goes to the same school as us?”
“That I do know. I just didn’t expect you two would happen to go home together after class. The way you spoke just now, you seemed really worried about her?”
“No way, I wasn’t worried about her. I was thinking of you! Think about it, that police chief knows you’ve already thoroughly investigated the household staff, yet he still wanted to take Jiang Sui away. Isn’t that a slap in your face?”
“Is that so? Brother Lu is looking out for me?” Luo Yao’s brows relaxed.
“Of course. After all, in this Manor, who else can I care about but you?”
A seemingly joking remark, but it left Luo Yao stunned for a moment, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
“Alright, I’ll trust you, Brother Lu. It’s been so long since we went to and from school together. I really miss those middle school days, when I was the only one by your side.”
“Let the past stay in the past.” Lu Yunze let out a sigh of relief.
He didn’t miss those days at all. Back then, the other members of the Luo Family treated him like a thorn in their side. On the surface, everything was harmonious, but beneath it all, they were always scheming against each other.
“But Brother Lu, there’s something I hope you understand.”
After her sentimentality, Luo Yao’s expression turned serious again.
“We’re not children anymore. We can’t act on a whim. It’s good that Brother Lu has his own preferences, but I hope that for the sake of the family’s reputation, you can restrain yourself a bit. For example, with all that junk food outside, eat less if you can. If people see you running out for midnight snacks and treats all the time, they’ll laugh at you.”
“Mm, I understand.”
No matter how much Luo Yao favored Lu Yunze, at heart she was still a young lady of a prestigious family. Her concern for family affairs always outweighed her personal feelings.
Lu Yunze was quite glad he hadn’t actually gone to buy snacks on the way back, or she would have given him a scolding.
But after saying goodbye to Luo Yao, he couldn’t bring himself to smile. He felt as if something heavy had been placed on his heart. This kind of life, so full of restraints, was just too suffocating.
Feeling the room was too stuffy, he went out to the balcony, sat at the tea party table and chairs, and let the cool breeze wash over him.
Not wanting to think about anything to do with Luo Yao, Lu Yunze’s mind drifted back to what Wang Xu had said.
Could it be that the incident really had some unknown cause?
The whole thing started when Jiang Sui was attacked outside. Lu Yunze ran out to save her and brought her to the police station. As soon as he left, the Butler launched a second attack.
Wang Xu suspected someone had deliberately lured the Butler to the police station—and the suspect was Jiang Sui.
If it really was her, what was the goal? She nearly lost her life protecting me in the end; no matter how you look at it, she doesn’t seem like the Butler’s accomplice.
“Unless her target wasn’t the police station, but someone else?”
As if he’d uncovered a terrifying secret, Lu Yunze suddenly sat up straight.
“If she wasn’t targeting the police station, then what for—could it be me?”
Recalling all of Jiang Sui’s actions up to now, Lu Yunze actually thought this possibility was real.
Deliberately approaching him, even drawing danger to herself—all of it just to get something from him.
All her cheerfulness, her vulnerability, her injuries—were they all part of her plan?
Just thinking about it made all of Jiang Sui’s smiles seem shrouded in a strange, sinister haze.
“Hmm?”
A strange noise came from above and behind him. Lu Yunze instinctively turned to look, but there was nothing on the roof.
He thought maybe a cat was climbing up there. Maybe I’m just too tense.
Returning to his earlier thoughts, Lu Yunze tightened his grip on the chair’s armrest.
No matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn’t find a single flaw in his interactions with Jiang Sui. But it was precisely because it was so perfect that it sent chills down his spine.
If she really was an enemy coming for me, then what should I do?
Lu Yunze felt his mind growing muddled. Frightening thoughts and the girl’s smile mingled together, turning into a complete mess.
Lu Yunze rubbed his throbbing temples and muttered:
“If it’s true, should I…”
Just then, Lu Yunze’s vision suddenly went dark. Something soft covered his eyes, and a sweet, coquettish voice sounded from behind:
“Young Master, guess who I am.”
“…Such a childish joke, Jiang Sui.”
“Hee hee, Young Master is so smart.”
His sight returned, and Lu Yunze turned to look. It was Jiang Sui, already changed into her Maid Uniform.
“I was just looking for you, Young Master. I thought you’d slipped out on your own.”
“You… were looking for me for something?”
Jiang Sui seemed not to notice the odd look on his face. She smiled gently.
“Young Master, look, what’s this?”
As she spoke, she produced a small gift from behind her back: a cake.