It seemed fated that Chen Yuan and the Jiangg Family were inextricably linked.

Just as Jiangg Ruxue had grown wary of the two sisters and was planning to come to Lanjing to make a move, Chen Yuan, by sheer coincidence, also arrived in the city to attend Division Commander Jiang Zhengfeng’s funeral.

While he was drawing considerable attention at the funeral,

Jiangg Ruxue had arrived at Fengting District.

…

“This place looks rather shoddy. It’s quiet, I’ll give it that, but aren’t they afraid it’s haunted at night?”

Jiangg Ruxue entered the residential complex and followed Qin Ting, her pace slow, as if she were merely on a stroll, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

In truth, Fengting District was considered a relatively high-end residential area in Lanjing. It wasn’t far from the city center and was near the university district. Of course, it was no match for the opulence of Mingzhu City.

Hearing her cutting remarks,

Qin Ting didn’t dare say a word.

She deftly changed the subject, asking with a smile in her eyes, “President Jiangg, you haven’t eaten, have you? Once you’re finished here, would you like me to arrange for dinner? I know a special—”

“No need. I have other business tonight.”

“Very well.” Qin Ting offered an awkward smile.

Saying nothing more, she led Jiangg Ruxue to the 13th floor, to the apartment where the two sisters lived.

She had used some connections with property management to get a key. Qin Ting wasn’t worried about Jiangg Ning finding out; she had left her own name, so if she were discovered, she could simply explain that she was there to pick something up.

It wasn’t as if she’d never been there before.

“This is it.”

“Mm.”

BEEP—

The crisp beep of the lock unlocking sounded piercing in the silent hallway. The door swung open, revealing the apartment the two sisters had lived in for three years.

Clutching her handbag, she walked right in and began looking around without a hint of hesitation.

Her gaze swept from the living room to the balcony, then took in the bedroom and kitchen.

Her behavior was like that of someone surveying her territory.

This wasn’t her territory, but Jiangg Ruxue judged everything as if it were her right, imposing her own subjective and domineering tastes. Her critical gaze was filled with disdain for anything she deemed cheap.

Although Ningning kept the entire apartment immaculate, tidy and cozy, and free from the clutter of gaudy luxury goods, Jiangg Ruxue simply disliked it.

Her main concern, however, was finding any trace of a man having been there.

If she found any, it would be the worst-case scenario she had envisioned. However, after a thorough inspection revealed no such clues, the knot in her stomach loosened slightly.

After a moment, she strolled into the spare bedroom that Yaoyao used for her livestreams.

Jiangg Ruxue ran a finger over the piano next to the computer, then lifted the key cover and stared at it in silence for a moment.

‘Using such a cheap instrument… Is the money I give them not enough to live on?’ she muttered to herself.

Qin Ting didn’t quite catch what she said and let out a confused, “Huh?”

Jiangg Ruxue ignored her. She dusted off her hands and turned around. “Alright, you’re done here. Return the key and go. I have other business to attend to.”

“I… I’m just leaving, then?”

“What else would you do?”

“Of course, President Jiangg. Call me if you need anything.”

For some reason, Qin Ting felt a wave of relief. The atmosphere around Jiangg Ruxue was oppressive, making her feel tense all over, as if the woman’s gaze were a thousand tiny needles pricking her skin.

Taking quick, small steps, Qin Ting hurried to the elevator and went down.

It was worth noting that as she was heading down, she happened to pass by Jiangg Ruxue’s assistant, who was on her way in.

They brushed past each other, both offering nothing more than a faint nod.

When the assistant stepped inside, Jiangg Ruxue was staring at a photo on a display shelf to the right of the living room. She had one hand slightly outstretched, as if about to caress the frame. In the picture, the two sisters were embracing, their faces bright with happy smiles.

Hearing the footsteps,

Jiangg Ruxue discreetly pulled her hand back.

“Did you find someone?”

“Yes. He can be here shortly.”

“Don’t let there be any mistakes.”

“Rest assured, President Jiangg. The person I found is a true professional. There won’t be any slip-ups.”

“How long will it take for him to get here? I don’t have the patience to wait all day.”

“He should be here… within half an hour.”

Jiangg Ruxue nodded and waved her assistant aside to wait. She then paced over to the window and stared out into the night.

‘Her two daughters weren’t exactly young anymore. Some women their age were already mothers of two. Even the other younger members of the Jiangg Family hadn’t married so late.’

‘But Jiangg Ruxue had always felt that Ningning and Yaoyao had never truly grown up.’

‘That’s why she was so worried. What if they were tricked by some man with ulterior motives?’

‘Jiangg Ruxue despised smooth-talking men more than anything. Yet those were precisely the kind of men that naive, inexperienced women fell for. The mere thought that both of her daughters could be sweet-talked into giving their hearts away…’

‘…made her sick to her stomach.’

…

「Half an hour later.」

“This camera isn’t affected by changes in light, right?”

“Rest assured, Miss. Absolutely not!”

The man in the baseball cap, who was fiddling with a laptop, answered Jiangg Ruxue’s question with firm assurance.

“Put one in the living room, too. Behind this shelf,” Jiangg Ruxue said, picking up a black, bottle-cap-sized camera to examine it.

“It’ll be easily spotted there. I can cut open this coin bank, install the camera inside, then place it somewhere high up. The camera can see the entire living room through this slit.”

The furtive man was clearly a professional. After picking up the ceramic jar, he even remembered to use his sleeve to wipe away the dust from the spot where it had been sitting.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep