Volume One, Chapter 3: Public Security

Jiang Jingguo believed her words halfway, mainly because Gu Man had also mentioned that necklace to him before. However, upon seeing its price, he thought it wasn’t worth it and didn’t buy it for her.

Taking a deep breath, he admitted, “Yes, Gu Man is my girlfriend. But she was afraid you wouldn’t be able to accept it, so she didn’t want me to tell you.”

Jiang Yingli nodded and kindly reminded him, “Then, brother, you should go find her quickly! I heard the two of them are planning to go to the Green House Western Restaurant.”

Jiang Jingguo couldn’t accept that his girlfriend was cheating on him, but even less could he bear having his own disgraceful deeds exposed. He was well aware of which was the lesser evil.

So, he remained where he was, continuing to stand off with Jiang Yingli.

She glanced at the watch on his wrist, let go reluctantly, and compromised, “Fine, I’ll let them go back first. Once you find Manman, we’ll discuss everything together.”

Half-convinced, Jiang Jingguo released her, opened the door, and followed her downstairs.

Seeing Jiang Yingli telling the reporting crew to come another time, he finally relaxed, grabbed his bag, and hurried toward the Green House Western Restaurant.

In the seventies, only the bourgeois and foreigners would frequent such a place, given the average cost per person started at five hundred.

He hadn’t even entered when a waiter stopped him. “Young Master Jiang, it appears you don’t have a reservation today.”

“Comrade, I’m just here to look for someone. The lady who often comes here with me, is she inside? I’m here for her.”

With that, he tried to push past the waiter to go in.

But the waiter blocked his way, unmoving. Jiang Jingguo, suppressing his anger, demanded, “Call your manager.”

As a VIP at the Green House, he was sure that as soon as the manager saw him, he’d be invited inside.

“Our manager is off today,” the waiter replied, circling back around to address him, his tone respectful.

Jiang Jingguo wasn’t stupid—he’d just seen the manager earlier! It was clear the manager was deliberately avoiding him.

But with so many people coming and going, all of whom knew him as the head of the Jiang family, he couldn’t throw a tantrum. Angrily, he walked off.

Clenching his leather bag so tightly that, with a creak, he actually poked a hole through it, Jiang Jingguo gritted his teeth and circled the restaurant, scanning for Gu Man. Finally, he spotted her in a corner.

Gu Man’s radiant smile was striking, and the diamond necklace around her neck made her look elegant and refined.

Sitting across from her was a fat, coarse-featured man whom Jiang Jingguo recognized at once—Qian Jing, the very man he had intended for Jiang Yingli to marry.

The Qian family had connections among the upper echelons in Hong Kong. If he handed Jiang Yingli over, he’d surely be given two permits to go to Hong Kong in return.

Though the Jiangs had some wealth, compared to the Qians, they were insignificant.

His leather bag was clenched so hard that he finally tore a hole in it. Well, well, Gu Man! No one knew about their relationship, so it must have been her who told the restaurant staff to keep him out!

Gu Man was forcing herself to smile through a wave of nausea when she suddenly sensed a burning gaze upon her. Looking up, she froze.

Why was Jiang Jingguo here?

Their eyes met, and Jiang Jingguo sneered coldly through the glass before turning and striding away.

Panic immediately seized Gu Man. She no longer cared whether Qian Jing would be angered. Grabbing her purse, she rushed after him.

Qian Jing watched her leave, his beady eyes glinting with a sinister and lascivious light as he placed his napkin back on the table and paid the bill.

“Jingguo! Jingguo, wait for me!”

Wearing calfskin heels, Gu Man couldn’t run fast. As she watched him turn the corner and nearly disappear, she bit her lip and suddenly stumbled to the ground. “Ouch—”

Jiang Jingguo stopped and turned back. The woman was clutching her ankle, her face contorted as if in genuine pain.

Despite his anger, he went over, crouched before her, pressed her foot, and then suddenly felt her grip tighten around his wrist. Gu Man smiled triumphantly.

He frowned. “Let go.”

“I won’t! Jingguo, let me explain!”

“Explain? The necklace is around your neck—what is there to explain?”

Gu Man’s eyes flickered guiltily for a second, but she quickly found an excuse, shifting the blame to Jiang Yingli.

“It was Jiang Yingli! She said she’d buy it for me, but when it was time to pay, she disappeared. Qian Jing saw I didn’t have enough money and helped me out.”

“That’s not what she told me.”

Their eyes met, and Jiang Jingguo suddenly stood up straight.

He’d been deceived! Jiang Yingli must have discovered something. Otherwise, why would she insist on donating the family’s assets, bring along the reporting crew, and especially send him away?

He flagged down a rickshaw, pulled the passenger off, and climbed aboard.

“To the Jiang residence!”

“Hey! What are you doing? That’s my ride!”

Jiang Jingguo tossed him two large banknotes. The man picked up the money and left without a word.

Gu Man scrambled into the rickshaw too, urging the driver to hurry all the way.

Before they even stopped, they saw two police cars parked at the entrance.

The Jiang family’s gate was wide open, and police officers were coming and going.

Paying the fare, Jiang Jingguo strode into the house, his face darkening at the sight of the tear-stained woman and the middle-aged man beside her.

“Uncle Guo, what brings you here?” he greeted respectfully.

The man beside Jiang Yingli was the chief of the Shanghai police bureau, who had taken her as his goddaughter at birth. If someone hadn’t already arranged an engagement for Jiang Yingli before she was born, she would likely have become his daughter-in-law.

Chief Guo didn’t look at him, gently patting Jiang Yingli’s back to comfort her. “Yingli, don’t cry. Godfather is here—no one will let you suffer.”

“Wuwu, godfather, I’ve already promised the leaders at work that I’ll donate the Jiang family’s property to the state through them. The reporting crew is already here!”

The two people standing beside the sofa looked as if they wished they could sink into the floor. Their camera equipment was currently being examined by the police.

They had just left the villa area for a meal, intending to return afterwards to finish filming. But right after the meal, Jiang Yingli summoned them back.

They had no idea why the change of plan, but finishing early meant one less task for them.

However, after following Jiang Yingli into the basement and barely having time to marvel at the scene, she cried out that half the family’s assets were missing.

They hurriedly followed her back upstairs, afraid of being suspected of theft themselves.

Less than ten minutes later, they saw the famous Chief Guo personally arrive with his men, embracing Jiang Yingli and calling her his goddaughter.

The day’s events alone would be enough for them to write a memoir.

“Chief! There are no signs of forced entry in the basement! We suspect it was an inside job!”

The officer in charge of the investigation saluted and reported. Chief Guo’s sharp gaze swept over to Jiang Jingguo, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Even I don’t know how to get into the basement. Looks like there’s a thief in the family. Take these two away!”

He was referring to Jiang Jingguo and Gu Man.

Wiping away her tears, Jiang Yingli raised her head to meet Jiang Jingguo’s eyes, the mockery in her gaze making him tremble.

How could she have such an expression? Wasn’t Jiang Yingli just a sheltered heiress who had never stepped outside the hothouse built for her by the Jiang family?

That look in her eyes—what did it mean…