Chapter 70: Try Touching A Single Hair On Her Head

For two days, the official leather suitcase lay quietly on the bed, its lid flipped open, revealing boxes of unopened agarwood inside.

A faint, warm fragrance filled the bedroom.

Early in the morning, Jiang Se received a call from Zhu Mingli.

Calculating the timing, the news of Zhu Yinlin’s expulsion from school should have reached her ears by now. Moreover, she must have also received the video of him smoking marijuana and cursing his father and stepmother.

In the video, his eyes were cloudy, his expression crazed, and he kept muttering, “I’ll kill them sooner or later.”

Quite a spectacle.

Suppressing her anger, Zhu Mingli said, “What’s your game? Ruining my brother—aren’t you afraid I’ll come after you?”

“Who ruined your brother? He cheated on exams and hired someone to take them for him. Isn’t it only natural he got expelled? Besides, that video was only sent to you. Your dad and stepmother haven’t seen it yet, so why are you panicking?” Jiang Se slowly closed the lid of the suitcase, speaking unhurriedly. “I told you it’s just an appetizer. Getting expelled and recording a video—what’s the big deal? With your brother’s talents, he’s done far worse.”

Zhu Mingli scoffed. “This is your attitude when you’re asking for my help? Cen Se, don’t push me to take you down with me.”

“You’ve got one thing wrong. I’m not asking for your help—I’m giving you and your brother a way out.” Jiang Se stepped off the bed, her bare feet touching the floor. “Your brother messed up big time before, nearly causing the Australia project to lose a fortune. The people in charge are furious and are questioning Fu Yun why he let someone like that into the project. This is your chance to open your eyes and see how Fu Yun really feels about you and your brother. They say you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin—well, I’ve prepared the coffin for you. Take it.”

Having not slept well for two days, Jiang Se was in a foul mood. She ended the call after a few curt words.

As the busy tone buzzed, Zhu Mingli nearly crushed her silver teeth in frustration.

The next second, a new call came in. Glancing at the screen, her brows lifted, and she softened her voice to answer, “Ah Yun, I was just about to—”

Fu Yun cut her off coldly. “Do you know how much trouble your brother has caused me?”

Zhu Mingli froze.

“He had the audacity to make promises to others in my name. A few drinks, and he’d say anything, claiming his sister and brother-in-law would cover for him. Cen Li said that if he stays on the project, I’ll be the one cleaning up his mess.”

Fu Yun’s voice grew increasingly impatient. “After I ended my engagement with Se Se, my relationship with Cen Li isn’t what it used to be. I don’t want to clash with him over Zhu Yinlin. I’ll have someone send your brother back. He got caught hiring a proxy for exams and made sure the whole world knew about it—I’m too tired to pull strings with the school. When he’s back in Beicheng, I’ll just arrange some random university for him to get a degree.”

“Some random university?” Zhu Mingli frowned. “Zhu Yin’ao is at A University right now. If Yinlin goes to a worse school, my dad will definitely stop pinning any hopes on him.”

“Pinning hopes?” Fu Yun gave a mild chuckle, but his words were blunt. “Your brother’s turning 20 soon. Think about what we were doing at 20, and look at what he’s doing now. What hopes are worth pinning on him?”

“Ah Yun, he’s my brother,” Zhu Mingli raised her voice slightly. “The brother my mom asked me to take care of before she died. Didn’t I tell you? I promised her I’d look after Yinlin.”

Standing in the president’s office of the Fu Corporation, Fu Yun gazed out at the sprawling skyscrapers symbolizing wealth below, a trace of disdain flashing in his clear eyes.

The eldest son of the Zhu family, with such a good hand of cards, and he squandered it like this—how could Fu Yun not despise him?

If he had been dealt such a hand back then, would he have ended up with so much blood on his hands?

From the rundown streets of Bo County to this top-floor office reserved for the Fu Corporation’s president, he’d even taken down his own uncle. He wouldn’t let anyone drag him down.

“Someone who only causes trouble every day—keeping him from making more trouble is the best way to take care of him. Or what, now that we’re engaged, I’m supposed to be your brother’s nanny and wipe his ass every day?” His tone grew colder with each word. “Li Li, do I need to teach you how to handle someone who only holds us back?”

—

Fu Yun acted swiftly and decisively.

That very evening, Zhu Yinlin was flown back to Beicheng, and Zhu Mingli personally drove to the airport to pick him up.

Zhu Yinlin had always been a bit afraid of Zhu Mingli since childhood. Knowing he’d messed up this time, he didn’t dare make a sound the entire way.

Only when the car pulled up to Zhu Mingli’s villa did he mumble, “Sis, I know I was wrong.”

Zhu Mingli stared out at the night beyond the window, silent.

Seeing her not responding, Zhu Yinlin knew she was angry. As he’d done before, he deliberately brought up Fu Yun in a placating tone, calling him “brother-in-law” repeatedly.

“Brother-in-law said he’d find me another school and told me not to worry. You don’t need to worry either. He’s so capable now—once he takes over the Fu Corporation, he’ll definitely help us take down Zhu Yin’ao and his mom.”

Hearing this, Zhu Mingli finally turned to look at him, her soft, charming eyes carrying an unreadable emotion.

Zhu Yinlin’s heart skipped a beat under her gaze. “Sis, what’s wrong? Did someone upset you? Was it Zhu Yin’ao and his mom?”

The siblings had always been close, and his concern for her was genuine.

Zhu Mingli said, “Yinlin, don’t cause any more trouble now that you’re back in Beicheng.”

“I won’t, Sis. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do it.” Zhu Yinlin had said this countless times, and it rolled off his tongue with sincere ease. “Oh, by the way, Sis, did you know brother-in-law still has relatives in Bo County?”

Zhu Mingli’s expression shifted. “Who told you that?”

“A new friend I met. He knew the old brother-in-law—I mean, the one before the Fu family took him back. My friend’s relative used to work at a brewery in Bo County and knew brother-in-law. That brewery seems to belong to his family now.”

Zhu Mingli’s heart thudded. “What’s the name of your friend’s relative?”

Zhu Yinlin thought for a moment. “Zhao Zhi, I didn’t ask which ‘Zhi’ it was. Should I find out?”

Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhicheng.

Zhu Mingli gripped her platinum handbag tightly, looking at Zhu Yinlin as she asked, word by word, “When you called Fu Yun, did you mention this brewery or your friend? Did you?!”

Her expression was so severe that Zhu Yinlin grew uneasy under her shout. “No, my friend said brother-in-law was pretty down-and-out back then. Bringing it up to him would be like rubbing salt in his wounds, wouldn’t it? Sis—”

He studied Zhu Mingli’s expression. “Did something happen between you and brother-in-law?”

“Don’t meddle in my business with him. Listen, Yinlin, don’t contact him for now,” Zhu Mingli said sternly. “No calls, no messages, nothing. The brewery and his relatives—pretend you never heard about them. Don’t mention them to anyone, especially him. He doesn’t get along with those relatives, so you absolutely cannot bring them up in front of him! Got it?”

Zhu Yinlin was rattled by her words but didn’t dare ask more, only nodding.

Fu Yun was a busy man now, with social engagements almost every night. His secretary mentioned that tonight’s event was at the Mayfair Club, hosted by someone Zhu Mingli knew. After settling Zhu Yinlin, she drove straight to the club.

But she arrived to find he wasn’t there. Upon asking, she learned a call from the hospital had summoned him away.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Fu Yun rarely shared his whereabouts with her; she was always the one chasing after his trail.

As she left the private room, Zhu Mingli suddenly recalled the look Jiang Se had given her that night in the hot spring.

*“How did you end up like this?”*

*“What makes Fu Yun worthy of taming you like this?”*

It hadn’t started out this way. Seven years ago, when Fu Yun had Jiang Se kidnapped, he’d said it was to vent her anger.

*“Don’t you dislike Cen Se? Want me to take care of her for you? I’m not too fond of my nephew either—how about we ruin her together?”*

When the man said those words to her with tender affection, Zhu Mingli’s heart had raced.

She was always overshadowed by Jiang Se, and even her mother had preferred Jiang Se.

But why should Jiang Se be the only one shining like the moon among the stars?

Why did everyone like and praise her?

Why, even now, did she still act so superior, mocking Zhu Mingli for slaving away for Fu Yun?

Her high heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor as Zhu Mingli headed toward the elevator. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a man standing at the end of the corridor.

Her steps faltered instinctively.

The man was leaning against the window, smoking. His features were refined, his demeanor aloof and elegant, his fingers occasionally tapping ash into a nearby ashtray.

Zhu Mingli was no stranger to this man.

If there was anything Jiang Se had ever failed to obtain, it was probably this man.

She knew Jiang Se had once liked him.

It was precisely because Jiang Se had liked him—and to make Fu Yun jealous—that Zhu Mingli had deliberately tried to flirt with Lu Huaiyan at her engagement party with Fu Yun.

But he saw through her intentions in an instant and, in a flat tone, suggested she go sleep with a few waiters instead.

In that moment, Zhu Mingli felt as if she’d been stripped naked and slapped across the face.

Humiliation, shame, and anger.

Yet she couldn’t afford to offend him and had to leave, biting her tongue.

Zhu Mingli had no real connection with Lu Huaiyan; he’d never given her the time of day. She should have kept walking to the elevator and left.

But she recalled a recent rumor that he’d gone to the airport to intercept someone—Jiang Se.

Jiang Se had confidently claimed she had a backup plan.

Zhu Mingli had been wondering what that plan could be.

Could it be Lu Huaiyan?

But weren’t the Lu and Guan families about to form a marriage alliance?

Old Master Lu’s attitude toward the Guan family’s daughter was practically that of a future granddaughter-in-law.

Zhu Mingli licked her dry lips and walked toward Lu Huaiyan.

The man’s gaze drifted over carelessly, his thin lips exhaling a slow puff of smoke. His eyes, behind his glasses, were obscured by the pale haze, their expression unreadable.

Her black high heels clicked closer and stopped in front of Lu Huaiyan.

Zhu Mingli flashed a charming smile. “Just a heads-up for Young Master Lu—be careful of someone using you with ulterior motives.”

Lu Huaiyan looked at her quietly, tapping the ash from his cigarette, and asked in a calm voice, “Who are you talking about?”

Zhu Mingli smiled noncommittally. “Young Master Lu is a smart man. You know who I mean. I only mentioned it because I ran into you tonight.”

Vague words should be left at that. Zhu Mingli gave a light laugh, turned, and walked toward the elevator.

Her heels clicked twice before the man behind her spoke. “If you’re talking about Jiang Se—”

Zhu Mingli’s heart skipped a beat. She froze, turning back to look at Lu Huaiyan.

His expression remained impassive. Extinguishing his cigarette, he met her gaze and said in a low, steady voice, “I’d be more than happy to let her use me. If you don’t believe me, try touching a single hair on her head.”

—

[Pick a time and place to meet.]

Jiang Se received Zhu Mingli’s WeChat message in the middle of the night but didn’t rush to reply.

“She’s letting you choose the place—she’s trying to show her sincerity,” Zheng Huan said, glancing at Jiang Se’s phone while chewing on a mint. “That’s how it is with people who aid and abet. Sooner or later, they get bitten back. But… how did you know Fu Yun wouldn’t help her brother?”

“He’s gone to such lengths to craft this perfect image for himself—how could he let Zhu Yinlin ruin it? Zhu Yinlin’s actions have already embarrassed him, and with my brother putting on the pressure, everyone’s watching his response. If he helps this time, he’ll be tied to Zhu Yinlin forever, forced to clean up every mess he makes.”

Groomed by Old Master Fu for over a decade, Fu Yun’s surface-level charm was second to none.

With Zhu Yinlin, he’d naturally choose reason over loyalty.

With Old Master Fu gravely ill and Fu Yun temporarily managing the Fu Corporation, his ego was at its peak, and his attitude toward Zhu Mingli… was naturally more dismissive.

One Zhu Yinlin was enough to show her where she stood in Fu Yun’s heart.

The best way to wake someone from self-deception is to trample on what they hold dear.

“You’re really planning to work with her?” Zheng Huan toyed with the candy wrapper in her hand, glancing at Jiang Se. “She’s one of the people who hurt you back then.”

“Why not?” Jiang Se smiled. “She’s the closest to Fu Yun and the only accomplice still alive. Working with her will yield the best results. Of course, she’s not my only partner. Bringing Zhu Yinlin back from Australia in disgrace wasn’t just to make Zhu Mingli hesitate—it was also a show of sincerity to their stepmother.”

“Zhu Mingli and Zhu Yinlin’s stepmother?” Zheng Huan tossed the wrapper aside, her eyes lighting up. “That stepmother… she’s no pushover. Her son’s impressive too—beaten down like that and still managed to grit his teeth and get into that University, your junior.”

The Zhu family had narrowly survived a crisis thanks to the Fu family’s help. Zhu Mingli had been insufferably arrogant at home for the past six months, while her stepmother and half-brother had bided their time.

If the Cen family could offer them leverage, Jiang Se didn’t believe they’d pass up the chance.

She understood the feeling of living in hatred better than anyone.

“If that mother and son were pushovers, would Zhu Mingli have sent her brother abroad?” Jiang Se glanced behind Zheng Huan. “Did Uncle Mo bring me any beer this time?”

“Uncle Mo’s memory is sharp as ever,” Zheng Huan snorted, pulling a market-style basket from under the desk. “A whole dozen.”

Jiang Se took a bottle from the basket, examining it.

Jiatsu, green bottle.

Identical to the one Zhao Zhicheng used to bring back.

Zheng Huan glanced at the beer in her hand and suddenly said, “By the way, someone’s been looking into me these past few days.”

Jiang Se looked up from the bottle. “Looking into you? Who?”

“More precisely, they’re trying to get to you through me.” Zheng Huan lazily crossed her legs, her expression calm. “They’re being upfront about it, like they don’t care if I notice. Probably someone you know, and they don’t seem to have bad intentions.”

Jiang Se’s gaze paused briefly, then she said lightly, “Got it.”

Her expression was as calm as Zheng Huan’s. She put the bottle back in the basket, unlocked her phone, and moments later, Zheng Huan’s phone pinged with a notification. She glanced down—a bank transfer.

“Sister Huan, this is the final payment,” Jiang Se said, pocketing her phone and smiling at Zheng Huan. “My case is officially closed today.”

She extended her hand to Zheng Huan. “Pleasure working with you.”

The girl’s slender hand gleamed subtly in the dim basement light, as delicate as fine jade.

Zheng Huan couldn’t help but recall their first meeting.

Five years ago, outside Dr. Gina’s clinic in the parking lot, this girl had suddenly tapped on her car window.

“I heard you used to be a cop and now you’re a private detective?” The eighteen-year-old had smiled, her refined features carrying a maturity and composure beyond her years. “I’ve looked into the cases you’ve solved. I admire your skills. Would you take my case?”

Zheng Huan had seen her a few times in the clinic’s consultation room and could tell from her demeanor that she was a pampered heiress from a wealthy family.

Intrigued, she asked, “What kind of case?”

“A kidnapping,” she’d said, her dark eyes heavy and opaque, yet burning with fire. “There’s a sixteen-year-old girl still trapped. I want to bring her back.”

Even now, Zheng Huan could recall the look in her eyes.

It was the same look Zheng Huan had when she was determined to track down the serial killer who murdered her sister—a willingness to risk everything.

“Sure?” Zheng Huan looked at Jiang Se, asking solemnly, “You’re really closing this case?”

“Yeah, just a few loose ends I’ll need you and Uncle Mo to handle.”

“Alright.” Zheng Huan stood and gripped Jiang Se’s hand firmly, her expression unusually serious. “Remember what I told you five years ago?”

“I do.” Jiang Se smiled. “When you don’t even have a single card to play, don’t take reckless risks.”

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