To take the case or not?
Detective Luo mulled it over for a full two minutes. He desperately wanted to keep his agency running, but if he couldn’t pay rent in three days, he’d be shuttered.
“Kid, this isn’t just about catching a cheater, is it? You haven’t mentioned your uncle-in-law once,” he said.
Wen Ying grinned. “It’s catching a cheater, but also not. I heard you’re Chengdu’s top private detective. Is catching cheaters all you can handle, or are you too scared to take on other cases?”
This kid was using reverse psychology on him!
Luo bristled. “Who says I’m scared? I’m saying your case is tricky. If you want me to take it… you’ll need to pay more!”
The three thousand yuan Wen Ying had placed on the table was substantial for 2004’s average income. Most clients paid a small deposit upfront, making her offer generous.
Luo wanted to bend his principles and accept, but hesitated, hoping a higher fee would scare her off and ease his conscience.
At his age, roughly Wen Ying’s pre-rebirth age, his little tricks were transparent to her. She didn’t call him out, instead adding two thousand more.
“Enough? I can add more if needed!”
Luo’s face turned green.
Kids these days were richer than him—what could he say?
He triple-checked that the five thousand wasn’t stolen from home. Wen Ying assured him it wasn’t, and he finally accepted, drawing up a contract.
Wen Ying’s eyes twitched at the document.
What kind of contract was this? Riddled with errors, it was a lawsuit waiting to happen. A shady client could take Luo’s findings and sue him with this paper. In 2004, Luo was too green. The world was harsh—Luo needed to wise up!
Of course, the sloppy contract favored Wen Ying. She wouldn’t tip him off until the investigation was done.
She signed without a peep.
The five thousand covered everything—Luo bore all investigation costs, no extra fees for Wen Ying.
She almost lit a candle for him.
Jiuyanqiao’s nightlife wasn’t cheap. A few visits could eat up most of the five thousand.
This might explain why Luo’s agencies kept folding. Feeling a rare pang of guilt, Wen Ying promised extra thanks if the results satisfied her.
Luo didn’t take her promise seriously.
Only then did she hand over a photo of Deng Shangwei—stolen from home, unlike the money.
“This is my uncle-in-law. I think he’s on the verge of cheating but hasn’t crossed that line yet. His target is Lily, the one I mentioned. Or I could be wrong, and he’s already gone further. Either way, I need your help. I suspect Lily was sent to set him up.”
Luo studied the photo. The man was handsome, making Wen Ying’s suspicions seem overblown.
“Maybe she just likes his looks.”
“Thanks, he’s good-looking, but I bet his money’s even more attractive.”
Luo rubbed his chin. “You suspect this Brother Wen?”
Wen Ying nodded. “But I have no proof. He and my uncle-in-law are close. If I said Wen’s out to get him, do you think he’d believe me?”
Luo put himself in Deng Shangwei’s shoes. If his teenage niece claimed his buddy was scheming without evidence, he’d think she was being silly, no matter how much he doted on her.
With proof, it’d be different—he’d trust his niece over a friend.
Initially, Luo resisted Wen Ying’s case. Kids chasing rumors, accusing uncles of cheating? It wasn’t a game!
But after a calm chat, he found her young but articulate, not manipulative despite her age. Her reasoning was sound and convincing.
Her suspicions might hold water.
The five thousand solved his rent crisis, but the money already felt hot.
This wasn’t a simple cheating case!
Still, he’d taken the cash—no backing out now.
“Stay in touch. I’ll update you on progress.”
“Great. Text me—don’t call. I’m in summer tutoring, like every student.”
“…”
Once Wen Ying left, Luo couldn’t sit still. He headed straight for Qingshiqiao seafood market.
Jiuyanqiao’s nightlife wasn’t open yet, and finding someone at the music college was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Like Wen Ying, he started with the two named seafood bosses, suspecting they were tied to Brother Wen.
…
When Wen Ying returned to the company, Deng Shangwei was heading out. Seeing her, he smiled. “Got your phone card sorted?”
His relaxed, cheerful demeanor showed no guilt. Wen Ying wondered: Had Sister Fang not told him about Lily’s visit? Or was his acting Oscar-worthy, fooling even her?
She leaned toward the former—Fang hadn’t spilled.
“Yup, it’s done. Heading out again, Uncle?”
“There’s a lunch meeting. I heard you treated the staff to milk tea yesterday. Several employees praised your generosity today, and Fang said you’re sharp and eager to learn. Little Ying, you’re really impressing me.”
Deng Shangwei saw Wen Ying as more than just inwardly talented—she was a gem, yet to be polished.
Her introverted nature dimmed her shine. As an elder, ignoring her potential after noticing it would be negligent.
An idea struck him. “The lunch is with Boss Qin. You were curious about him yesterday, asking all sorts of questions. Here’s your chance—want to come meet him?”
Wen Ying was tempted but didn’t jump at it. “Uncle, it’s a business meeting. Won’t I be in the way?”
Deng Shangwei was pleased.
She didn’t leap at the chance to see the world but considered whether her presence was appropriate.
This kid was sharp—she’d truly come into her own!
