As it happened, Mai Shining and Li Mu arrived in a whirlwind. Once Fan Mi finished her tasks, she hurried out from behind the bar. Seeing the gathered crowd, Xia Yinuo knew she couldn't keep the matter hidden, nor did she have any reason to. She explained the entire situation from beginning to end.
Mai Shining was livid. "Dammit, what a lowlife! Using such underhanded tactics!"
Xia Yinuo patted Mai Shining’s belly. "Don't use such language; you'll scare my goddaughter."
Li Mu chided, "You’re still in the mood for jokes? Where is Sister Juejun?"
"She had an appointment with a friend tonight," Xia Yinuo replied. "I came here after having dinner at Sanhe Villa."
Mai Shining shot her a sharp look. "Hey, hey, don't get sidetracked. We’re talking business! Let’s break down the case. Here’s the situation: if Little Treasure doesn't agree to Jiang Yang's demands, he’ll give the photos to Auntie Lan. But if she does agree and tries to plead his case to her mother, no matter the reason, Auntie Lan won't agree easily. She’ll definitely become suspicious, and in the end, Little Treasure will have to tell the truth anyway. No matter how you calculate it, Auntie Lan is bound to find out the truth eventually. At that point, what leverage will Jiang Yang have left? Would he take it to her company? The affiliated hospital? Or C-University? That would involve far more people. We just don't know how ruthless this Jiang Yang person is willing to be..."
Fan Mi, Li Mu, and Ke Dinghao all fell silent, their expressions darkening.
Xia Yinuo’s expression remained clear, though an uncontrollable tremor of anxiety was fermenting in her heart. After a moment of deliberation, she spoke with certainty. "That is exactly what I’m most worried about. Whether at the university or the hospital, I don't want any rumors or gossip to trouble my senior or my mother. But we absolutely cannot let ourselves be intimidated by this. First of all, these photos don't prove anything substantial. They only show that my senior and I are very close. If he tries to make a scene with them, the evidence is far too weak. Secondly, we can't overlook one point: Jiang Yang wants a profit. Since he wants something, he also doesn't want things to blow up. After all, a 'burn the bridge' scenario benefits no one. As for my family, my parents must hear the truth from my own lips. It absolutely cannot come from the malicious slander of someone with ill intentions. Coming out was always just a matter of time for me. Perhaps this is actually an opportunity."
Li Mu silently squeezed Xia Yinuo’s hand. Ke Dinghao looked worried. "Senior Xia, that’s easy to say, but rumors are fearsome things. A lie told often enough becomes the truth..."
Mai Shining slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "Don't go boosting the enemy's morale while crushing our own! Little Treasure is right. He wants something—that’s the key!"
Xia Yinuo said in a low voice, "What we need to do is seize the initiative."
Mai Shining followed immediately, "Exactly! Find Jiang Yang’s weakness and catch him by the tail!"
A flash of inspiration struck Xia Yinuo. She locked eyes with Mai Shining, and they exchanged a knowing look. "Give him a taste of his own medicine?"
Mai Shining’s gaze was like a general sweeping across a battlefield. She waved her hand grandly and declared, "We’re going to find a private investigator!"
Li Mu caught on and slapped her thigh. "Right! Why didn't I think of that? If he can hire someone to take secret photos, we can hire someone to dig up his dirty laundry!"
Fan Mi suddenly felt the situation becoming interesting. "Whoa, how did you guys come up with this? That’s so wicked!"
"Hmph, the wicked one is me, the Queen. Little Treasure is just a little white rabbit who understands my mind," Mai Shining said with no small amount of pride. She patted Xia Yinuo’s shoulder with a satisfied expression, her pregnant belly protruding slightly. "Still, I feel like I’ve regained that feeling from when we used to team up to bully Ji Kang as kids!"
Xia Yinuo laughed in spite of herself. "But is this really appropriate? Hiring a private investigator?"
Mai Shining’s eyes burned bright. "Little Treasure, being soft-hearted toward your enemy is being cruel to yourself!"
Fan Mi gave Mai Shining a look of disdain. "The most poisonous thing is a woman's heart!"
Mai Shining lifted her head high. "What? Hurry up and bow down to your Queen!"
Li Mu was already doubled over with laughter. Watching the drama unfold between the women, Ke Dinghao timidly raised his hand. "Um... I have something to say! Actually... my cousin is a private investigator..."
Xia Yinuo was surprised. "Isn't your whole family in the legal system?"
Ke Dinghao chuckled. "My cousin’s main job is being a lawyer. The private investigator thing is a side business."
Xia Yinuo asked, "Oh! Is this the one you mentioned before, your aunt’s daughter?"
Ke Dinghao’s eyes lit up. "Exactly, that’s her!"
Fan Mi didn't quite understand. "If she’s a lawyer, why is she also a private investigator?"
Mai Shining sniped, "You used to study photography, so what are you doing now?" That one sentence left Fan Mi speechless.
Speaking of his only older cousin, Ke Dinghao’s expression immediately filled with admiration. "My cousin studied law and did work at a law firm after graduation. It just so happened that a friend of hers wanted to start a private investigation agency, so they partnered up. It’s a long story, and there are some personal reasons involved, though I’m not entirely sure of the details."
"Tsk, tsk, a private investigator!" Fan Mi’s imagination ran wild as she began to vividly picture it. "The kind of stories you see in movies! Peeling back the warm, tender mask of the bustling metropolis to find a group of mysterious people amidst the city’s hidden wounds and bloodshed, walking the line between law and morality... bright lights, wine, and decadence... people at a crossroads, hearts lost in the vast sea..."
Ke Dinghao laughed loudly. "Please, you’re overthinking it! You should know that in reality, most of a private investigator's business is just investigating extramarital affairs..."
Seeing everyone looking like they’d been struck by lightning, Fan Mi rubbed her curly hair and laughed sheepishly. "Uh, really? We ordinary folks haven't dealt with this stuff, so we feel a bit out of our depth!"
Mai Shining said, "Please, Fan Dami, were you sent here by the Monkey King to be a distraction? Go back and take care of business; the customers need you!"
Fan Mi protested, "You don't understand! Our business philosophy is that the staff and customers share a bond of mutual understanding. Therefore, we must not be too fawning, but rather create an atmosphere of equal communication between friends!"
Xia Yinuo found it truly ridiculous and patted Mai Shining’s arm. "Alright, stop joking around."
Li Mu reminded them, "We only have ten days. Ten days."
Ke Dinghao chuckled. "Don't worry, private investigators have their professional ethics, and my cousin’s friends are all very well-connected." With that, he took out his phone and began searching. "Here, I’ll give you her contact info. This is her private number; she’ll definitely pick up. I’ll send her a message first to give her a heads-up. Whenever you decide, you can call her anytime. Oh, her name is Song Nian."
"Okay," Xia Yinuo said.
"Wait?!" Li Mu’s eyes widened, her expression exaggerated. "Song Nian? No way?!"
"What is it?" Ke Dinghao asked.
Li Mu asked, "Is the Song Nian from Ke’s Law Firm your cousin?"
Ke Dinghao blinked. "Yeah, how did you know? One of the firm's partners, Lawyer Ke Yuxiu, is my aunt."
Li Mu could hardly believe her ears. "What a coincidence! I work at Ke’s!"
"No way?!" Ke Dinghao exclaimed.
"Why not! I’m in the Foreign-Related Special Legal Affairs Department. The fame of Lawyer Song Nian from the Matrimonial and Family Law Department is something even a workplace rookie like me heard about long ago!"
"Haha, I don't understand how your firm divides its departments. But my cousin is indeed a dazzling eccentric..." Ke Dinghao laughed honestly, scratching the back of his head before speaking hesitantly. "But, there’s one more thing. Actually... my cousin... she..."
Mai Shining was impatient. "She what?! Just say it, don't stutter!"
Ke Dinghao looked bashful. "She... also likes women..."
Li Mu was dumbfounded, nearly spitting out her coffee. Mai Shining, Xia Yinuo, and Fan Mi were also shocked. The amount of information tonight was staggering; the vibe had shifted several times.
Ke Dinghao sat up straight and said solemnly, "So, Senior Xia, don't worry. You don't have to worry about me not being able to accept your relationship with Teacher Liang. I’m very open-minded! I believe my cousin is too! She will definitely help you!"
After a moment, Mai Shining burst into laughter. "Pfft! Stop, you look like you’re about to take a formal oath!"
Xia Yinuo breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, I believe your cousin then."
Fan Mi asked, "But what if she can't find anything?"
Xia Yinuo replied, "Since Jiang Yang has been a pharmaceutical rep for so many years and his work style is like that, he must have used similar tactics before. Are you really afraid we won't find any clues?"
Mai Shining remarked, "Little Treasure, you’re actually quite a 'black-bellied' little white rabbit..."
"This isn't being black-bellied," Xia Yinuo said. "It’s called being resourceful."
"Can you not be so narcissistic?"
"No."
Mai Shining added, "Oh, by the way, why are these photos so 'clean'? Aren't there any explosive, R-rated spicy photos?"
Xia Yinuo: "..."
After all the teasing, her mood seemed to have relaxed considerably, and she felt more confident. Xia Yinuo kept telling herself that "concern leads to confusion," and she had to maintain a cool head.
When she got home, she tried to recount the evening's events to Liang Juejun in a lighthearted manner. Liang Juejun’s brow furrowed slightly, and Xia Yinuo didn't try to hide her concerns. "A gentleman seeks wealth through proper channels, but it’s inevitable that some people choose the crooked path. I don't care about myself at the company, but you’re at the university. I’m worried that if there’s any gossip, it will affect you... I’m also not worried about my family knowing, I just don't want things to reach the hospital. That would make things very difficult for my mother."
Liang Juejun hadn't expected so much to happen in one night. She knew that besides the situation being tricky, Xia Yinuo must be in a bad mood because of it. Hearing her say, "I never thought he would become such an extreme person, and I never thought that one day, to solve a problem, I would need to hire a private investigator," Liang Juejun couldn't help but feel heartache. She took Xia Yinuo’s hand and placed it over her heart, comforting her. "Mary is a Christian; she often tells me that 'one's real enemy is the old Adam'—the inherent evil in human nature. Since Jiang Yang chose to do this, he must bear the risk. You don't need to feel regret or sadness for the defensive measures you’re forced to take."
Xia Yinuo nodded solemnly.
The next morning, Xia Yinuo dialed Song Nian’s number.
"Hello, is this Lawyer Song Nian?"
"Mhm, yes." A casual voice answered, the surrounding environment sounding a bit noisy.
"I’m a friend of Ke Dinghao. I need your help with something, Lawyer Song."
The other end of the phone suddenly went quiet, but the response wasn't what she expected. "Tsk, your voice... it sounds very familiar..."
"..."
"But I can't place it for the moment... Oh right, you’re Ah-Hao’s senior, right? He mentioned yesterday that you were looking for a private investigator?"
"Yes. The matter is a bit urgent. I know it’s the weekend, but I wanted to ask..."
The other person muttered again, "The voice really is familiar!"
Xia Yinuo paused, then continued, "I wonder if you have time, Lawyer Song? Perhaps we could meet and talk?"
"Oh, oh! I’m free today." The other person finally snapped out of it. "Which area do you live in?"
"I live near C-University."
"Oh, really? Then I’ll head over this afternoon. Any place is fine."
"In that case, there’s a coffee shop on C-University’s North Street called 'A Slice of Coffee.'"
"A Slice of Coffee?"
"Or anywhere else is fine, whatever is convenient for you."
"No, no, no, that’s great! A Slice of Coffee it is! I know the place."
"Alright, then it’s a plan?"
"Mhm. So, Senior, how should I address you?"
"My surname is Xia. Xia Yinuo."
The bright late-summer afternoon sun shone through the glass windows. The sound of an ocarina was clear and brisk, carving out a moment of tranquility. At this hour, there weren't many customers in A Slice of Coffee. Liang Juejun sat in an inconspicuous corner, a laptop and a cup of coffee on the table. Sunlight bathed her face, and her loose hair was gilded with a dazzling halo.
Over at the bar, Fan Mi was giving two servers a theoretical lecture on coffee. Xia Yinuo, wearing a server’s apron, stood behind them listening quietly. Liang Juejun squinted her eyes as she looked over, a trace of sweet smiling and worry lingering at the corners of her mouth.
Before long, a tall, slender woman pushed open the door and entered the shop. She stood still with her hands in her pockets, scanned the room with a sharp gaze, and then walked to the bar, sitting on a high stool. Fan Mi stopped her lecturing. A server stepped forward to ask what she wanted, but the woman only stared intently at Xia Yinuo.
The server nudged Xia Yinuo with an elbow. Xia Yinuo looked up and met a bright, smiling face.
Chestnut-colored, shoulder-length hair was casually tied back in a small ponytail. She wore a formal women's shirt and trousers. Her face was free of makeup, with bold eyebrows and bright eyes, radiating spirit.
Xia Yinuo thought to herself that the person before her looked somewhat familiar.
To her surprise, the woman leaned in the next second, intentionally lowering her voice to whisper a mysterious phrase: "The King of Heaven covers the Earth Tiger!"
Hearing this, Xia Yinuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but she followed along: "The Pagoda suppresses the River Demon."
"Correct answer!" The woman snapped her fingers, her smile becoming incredibly radiant. "I’ve heard much of Boss Xia’s great name. I wonder if Boss Xia still remembers me?"
Fan Mi realized who it was, her face full of disbelief as she pointed at the woman. "You, you, you..."
The woman arched an eyebrow, her smile wicked and wild. "Me, me, me—what about me? Hmm? Curly-haired little sister?"
"It’s you!" Xia Yinuo suddenly understood. Wasn't this the woman who had appeared at the elevator when she was negotiating with the upstairs owner about the coffee shop’s ventilation vent?
The woman smiled with satisfaction. "Remembered? I thought Boss Xia was too busy to remember such things!"
Xia Yinuo was prone to face-blindness from time to time, so she could only smile and say apologetically, "I haven't thanked you for last time."
The woman winked suggestively. "If Boss Xia wants to thank me, I suspect there will be plenty of opportunities. Let’s reintroduce ourselves. Song Nian."
With that, Song Nian curled her lips into a smile and extended a hand.
***
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