“Wen Ying!”
Chen Li saw the curiosity etched on Detective Luo’s face and stood up, disapproval clear in her posture.
Though she hadn’t fully processed everything Detective Luo had explained, she realized she shouldn’t just hide behind Wen Ying, letting her niece shield her.
Wen Ying cleared her throat, “For this request, let my aunt handle it with you, you two discuss it, I’ll head downstairs for a bit.”
Wen Ying was dead-set on crushing Pan Li, Chen Li didn’t agree, but Wen Ying wasn’t about to back down, still, she wouldn’t openly defy Chen Li.
Deng Shangwei could anger Chen Li, Pan Li could hurt her, but Wen Ying only felt pity for her aunt, she’d never upset Chen Li over outsiders.
Wen Ying thudded downstairs, Chen Li couldn’t stop her, so she turned to Detective Luo.
Detective Luo looked nervous.
Taking a job from a minor seemed destined to stain his career forever.
Chen Li had no intention of blaming him, she’d heard Wen Ying brought money to him, asking him to investigate Deng Shangwei’s affair, her eyes welled up again… thinking back, Wen Ying’s sudden maturity after the high school entrance exam wasn’t her wanting to grow up fast, it was this silly girl forcing herself to, trying to protect her with her own strength!
Chen Li didn’t ask Detective Luo to return the money, she only had two questions:
First, was Pan Li’s child Deng Shangwei’s?
Second, if she retaliated against Pan Li, how could she avoid breaking the law?
Was Pan Li’s child Deng Shangwei’s?
Detective Luo could confirm Pan Li was involved with “Brother Wen,” but as for whose child it was, without a DNA test post-birth, he couldn’t swear to it.
Even if it was Deng Shangwei’s, he was absolutely set up, that much was undeniable.
Chen Li thought, if it really was his, setup or not, her bond with Deng Shangwei could never return to what it was.
The idea that Pan Li, barely older than Wen Ying, bore a faint resemblance to her younger self made Chen Li’s stomach churn!
Detective Luo, seasoned in this line of work, saw Chen Li’s reaction and silently lit a candle for Deng Shangwei… when a husband’s affair was exposed, loud fights and dramatics from the wife often fizzled out, but someone like Chen Li, quiet and resolute, rarely forgave infidelity.
This was between Chen Li and Deng Shangwei, neither Detective Luo nor Wen Ying could meddle.
But her second question, he could address somewhat.
Shamefully, what he knew came from Wen Ying consulting a “lawyer friend” and relaying it to him.
Regardless, using violence to harm someone was illegal, killing or maiming was out of the question, public opinion might cheer a wife beating a mistress, but the law wouldn’t, Detective Luo stressed, urging Chen Li not to consider hiring someone to disfigure Pan Li, “The law’s net is wide and misses nothing, if you act rashly and get caught, Pan Li could turn it around and send you to jail, there are ways to deal with her, but you must be cautious.”
Chen Li offered a hefty sum, pleading for Detective Luo to arrange it, a housewife like her didn’t know any thugs, but he surely had connections.
Detective Luo stood, “Sorry, I can’t take that money.”
In the past, he might’ve tried, as a private detective with a streak of chivalry, punishing wrongdoers for victims felt righteous to him.
But Wen Ying warned him, if he couldn’t separate detective work from thuggery, he’d face lawsuits and eventually jail time.
After mulling her words, Detective Luo saw she was right, he didn’t want short-term gains, he aimed to sustain his career, following the “lawyer friend’s” advice was his best path.
Chen Li didn’t get mad at his refusal, she smiled, asked him to wait, fetched twenty thousand in cash from the bedroom, and set it before him.
Detective Luo was puzzled.
Chen Li pushed the money toward him, “Take it, it’s your fee, even if I don’t go after Pan Li, Wen Ying won’t let her off, right? I hope you stick to what you just said, don’t break the law to deal with Pan Li, Wen Ying’s only sixteen, she has a bright future, her record must stay spotless!”
Detective Luo froze.
Wen Ying had been like a protective hen, shielding Chen Li from the start.
As for Deng Shangwei, he never considered telling Chen Li.
Their attitudes misled Detective Luo into thinking Chen Li was a clueless housewife.
But was she really?
Wen Ying and Deng Shangwei had underestimated her!
…
When Detective Luo went downstairs, Wen Ying was circling the complex, spotting him, she jogged over.
Ever dutiful, he reminded her, “No breaking the law, you’re the one who warned me, cool off first, we’ll talk tomorrow!”
With that, he bolted, afraid she’d chase him.
Wen Ying laughed and sighed, she’d been mad at him earlier, but she’d calmed down, why did he still look scared?
Even calm, Lawyer Wen’s heart still burned, mulling it over, she called Xie Qian, “Can you come with me to the music college?”
Xie Qian didn’t ask why, just told her to wait at the complex gate.
When she saw him, Wen Ying called Chen Li, “Auntie, I just remembered, Teacher Liang asked us to buy a study guide, I’m heading to the bookstore with Xie Qian now.”
Chen Li, having cautioned Detective Luo and hearing Xie Qian was with her, didn’t stop her.
After hanging up, Xie Qian said mildly, “What study guide do you buy at the music college?”
Wen Ying clasped her hands, pleading, “Xie, friends help each other out, right? In Rongcheng, you’re the only one I can turn to!”
Nonsense.
You’ve got more than me in Rongcheng.
Qin Jiao or Wang Shuang would charge in for you.
Xie Qian thought this but only nodded slightly.
Only he knew about Wen Ying’s aunt’s mess, probably.
Asking Qin Jiao or Wang Shuang meant airing family shame again, understandably awkward.
They boarded a bus, as it started, Xie Qian asked if she was going to the music college to fight, Wen Ying’s face flushed, “Am I that savage?”
Wasn’t she?!
Xie Qian wisely shut up, dropping the topic.
Wen Ying knew Pan Li’s details, her department, class, dorm room number, she’d wanted to confront her there many times but held back.
This time, she couldn’t, she went straight to Pan Li’s dorm.
