After they left, Zhou Yanran sighed in relief, but also felt strange. Yue Linze seemed to not care about Tao Yu’s life at all.
Yue Linying anxiously asked: “Was it Tao Yu who went in? This woman is indeed betraying us.”
“Yes, but don’t worry. I’ve already had her locked up. Yue Linze definitely won’t find her,” Zhou Yanran smiled. This time, she was determined to teach Tao Yu a lesson.
Yue Linying nodded: “What about that thing? Did she find it?
Zhou Yanran was about to speak when a servant approached, clearing her throat and saying, “I found her, but she couldn’t take it away. I’ve already confiscated her phone, so she can’t contact anyone.”
“That’s good, Yanran. Thank you this time,” Yue Linying finally relaxed, rewarding her with a kiss on the cheek. “After today’s event, I’ll take you to choose some jewelry.”
Zhou Yanran blushed and nodded, her heart filled with satisfaction. She had originally wanted to say the item was broken, but then thought that since it was a secret that couldn’t be revealed and would ruin someone’s future, wasn’t it better that it was damaged? It wasn’t convenient to say more now, so she would wait until she had free time.
Yue Linying wanted to go and check, but the servant came over and said that Gu Yansheng was angry about him leaving without permission and wanted him to return immediately. Yue Linying hesitated, and given the servant’s presence, he didn’t go back to check, but instead went to the hall with Zhou Yanran.
On the other side, the butler was pushing Yue Linze out. As soon as they reached an open space, Yue Linze reached out his hand, and the butler immediately pulled up the wiretapping app on his phone. Yue Linze entered a series of complex passwords, and soon a “beep… beep…” sound came through.
Tao Yu was staring helplessly at the enclosed surroundings when she suddenly felt a vibration in her chest. Looking down, she saw the light blue gemstone at the center of her brooch suddenly light up. Curious, she pressed it and then heard Yue Linze’s voice: “Tao Yu.”
She was stunned, and only responded after he called her name again, quickly taking off the brooch and saying helplessly, “Boss, how are you so sure the person holding this is me? And isn’t this just a piece of jewelry? How can it be used as a phone?!”
“Who’s a boss?” Yue Linze’s lips curved slightly when he heard she was fine.
“Nothing, just joking,” Tao Yu laughed awkwardly and got to the point. “Sir, I found the item, but Zhou Yanran came in with people, and I couldn’t take it out intact.”
The butler immediately looked nervously at Yue Linze, but Yue Linze showed no reaction: “Never mind. Where are you?”
Tao Yu was stunned. How could he be so casual about something that meant so much to him? But she quickly recovered and added, “But you said before that the item couldn’t be damaged, and if it was broken, the video would be transferred to the police system. So I thought it was better to break it myself than let Zhou Yanran take it, and you could find a way to retrieve the data.”
“How clever!” the butler couldn’t help but praise, then quickly stopped laughing when Yue Linze’s gaze swept over, speaking seriously, “The police have been investigating the sir’s car accident, and now the video evidence has been transferred. They should be coming soon. I’ll go wait at the door.”
He then left decisively.
Yue Linze finally looked at his phone, repeating calmly, “Where are you?”
Hearing the butler’s words, it seemed the matter could be resolved soon. Tao Yu rubbed the goosebumps on her arm and said in a normal tone, “Zhou Yanran locked me up, but it’s quite peaceful. Don’t worry about me first. Deal with Yue Linying. He hurt you, and I want him to pay.”
She thought that if Yue Linying was dealt with, and seeing Gu Yansheng’s angry face, and then getting back what belonged to him, his resentment might instantly dissipate, and she wouldn’t need to find him.
“Where?” Yue Linze frowned.
Tao Yu was helpless, “In a room, locked up. I’m really fine. Go solve your business quickly and come find me.”
Her voice was full of genuine concern, as if she would make any sacrifice just to make him happy. This was not the first time he had felt this sincerity.
Police sirens could be heard faintly outside. Yue Linze’s face looked unusually calm in the divided light and shadow, his gaze moist and his expression cold: “Okay, wait for me.”
Tao Yu smiled gently, pressed the blue gemstone on her brooch to ensure no sound, and then groaned, stomping her feet. Zhou Yanran was truly vicious, locking her in an abandoned cold storage room and turning on the freezing mode, clearly wanting her to die.
Just moments ago, when the temperature hadn’t dropped too much, she didn’t feel cold. But now she felt increasingly uncomfortable. If she weren’t eager to return to the real world to earn her first commission, she would have definitely asked Yue Linze to rescue her first.
But thinking she would be able to return after freezing a bit more, Tao Yu couldn’t help but laugh.
In the hall, Yue Linying was constantly worried about the item in the room, and was somewhat distracted. After making several mistakes, Gu Yansheng called him aside and reprimanded him.
He sighed and finally couldn’t help saying, “Dad, I need to go back to the room for something. Can you let me go back for a moment?”
“What do you think I’m hosting this birthday banquet for? Absolutely not!” Gu Yansheng said sternly, his voice causing passing servants to look back frequently.
Yue Linying was already anxious, and now seeing Gu Yansheng give him no face at all, he felt increasingly dissatisfied. As a son, why could Yue Linze do whatever he wanted, while he was restricted in everything? Just as he was about to retort, police sirens suddenly sounded outside.
Yue Linying was stunned, suddenly having a bad feeling. He immediately pushed past Gu Yansheng and rushed into the banquet hall, grabbing Zhou Yanran’s wrist and asking in a trembling voice, “Didn’t you say nothing happened to the item? Why are there police cars?”
Zhou Yanran, who was socializing, was startled. Ignoring the surrounding people’s curious looks, she nervously replied, “I said the item wasn’t taken by Tao Yu, but she… she broke it…”
Slap!
“Idiot!” Yue Linying roared with bloodshot eyes, turning to flee.
Zhou Yanran was completely stunned, incredulously watching his disappearing direction. People gradually surrounded her, and the socialites who had been flattering her now looked at her with sympathy. She felt like she was standing naked in the crowd, being scrutinized and mocked.
Soon, people stopped paying attention to her because police suddenly appeared everywhere, quickly surrounding the banquet.
Gu Yansheng, embarrassed and angry, went forward: “What are you doing?!
Arrest the suspect Yue Linying.” The police said sternly.
Gu Yansheng was furious: “Nonsense! This is completely absurd!” He had gone to great lengths to organize today’s reception to help Linying gain acceptance in high society, but these police officers burst in with such claims. Regardless of whether they were true or false, how could Linying’s reputation remain intact?
The police paid him no attention and immediately left to search for Yue Linying after finding she wasn’t present. Just as Gu Yansheng was about to chase after them and demand an explanation, Yue Linze’s voice suddenly rang out from the speakers. He whirled around to see Yue Linze already standing on the high platform, his eyes filled with contempt.
Hating the Yue family’s innate arrogance, he was about to stop him when Yue Linze coldly spoke: “Eight months ago, I was in a car accident that left my right leg disabled. The surveillance footage from that road segment went missing, so the hit-and-run driver was never found.”
