Chapter 86: Smiles and lies.

Watching her husband shudder made Liwu giggle. Slowly, she snaked her hand around his waist and leaned towards him. Her smile was sly and teasing, “Sweet Rose, are you scared that you will be targeted?”

Weijun pushed her hand away and snorted.

Liwu chuckled. She moved fast, slipping her hand right back to where it had been and pulled him closer. her other hand rose, fingers brushing his chin, lowering his face towards hers. In a playful voice, she said, “Don’t worry Sweet Rose, if any woman is going to tie you down to a bed, it will be me. I have the cuffs already.”

Weijun was flustered. His heart thudded like a drum. Heat rushed to his cheeks. He had never met a woman as forward and shameless as her. Okay—maybe he had met a few shameless women that propositioned him indecently but she was the first to make him consider saying yes.

“You’re blushing Sweet Rose,” she teased, voice smooth as silk. “I bet I can handcuff you to my chair right now.”

He stammered, pushing her gently away. “Detective Liwu, you…you…respect yourself. The door is wide open.” He bolted for the same door, nearly tripping over the rug in haste.

Behind him, her laughter rang out–light, victorious and far too knowing.

Ten minutes later, Liwu got a call from Mo Xia. There was a Chamber of Commerce Dinner and she was required to attend it. The thought of playing dress up and playing politics made her shudder.

She looked at her lucky handcuffs for a moment and considered handcuffing herself to the chair.

“Bad news?” Linlin asked as she strolled into the office.

“Depends.” Liwu answered. “How do you feel about Chamber of Commerce dinners?”

Linlin sunk into her chair. “I would go for the food and shoot some of the rich bastards on my way out. Good luck with the fake smiles and forced politeness.”

Liwu groaned.

Her friend and partner laughed. “You have rich people problems. Getting a glimpse into your world really opened my eyes.”

“I will cover your rent for a year if you wear a fake mask and pretend to be me for the night.” Liwu sprung up and smiled at her friend with hope in her eyes.

Linlin twisted her lips. “The last time we did that, I had to endure three hours with Elder Zhang. I am not falling for that trick again.” She switched her computer on. “Go and mingle with your kind. If you see someone we don’t like, send some bad luck their way.”

****

The grand ballroom of the Chamber of Commerce glittered with lion shaped chandeliers, polished marble floors and the sparkle of wealth. Waiters glided between tables carrying trays of shark fin soup, Peking duck, delicate porcelain glasses of wine and crystal cups of tea. The air was thick with perfume, ambition and the heavy stench of politics.

Liwu adjusted the silk hanfu her husband had insisted she wear over the tactical gear she had planned to show up in, initially. Tonight, she wasn’t detective or officer Tai Liwu of the Systems Operation Bureau. She was Madam Shen, wife of acting city master Shen Weifeng.

She hated it.

Politics was theater, and she despised theater. As a detective, she did not like anything that was premeditated. Like here, every smile was practiced, every handshake a transaction. Her detective instincts were screaming for her to unleash her handcuffs. Half the men and women here were system hosts disguised as business men and investors. Investors whose fortunes came from inventions that could save the world, change the way people lived or in some cases, destroy everything.

One such man was sitting at a table she had glanced at six times in five minutes. It was Liang Chen, a manufacturing mogul. He had a fleet of robots that were replacing the need for human employees in his factories. He had arrived in the city tonight. Liwu was sure there would be a demonstration tomorrow as people screamed for his factories to be shut down or dismantle the robots.

At another table was Hu Nancheng, a tech magnate that was showing off a prototype drone that could deliver medical supplies to remote villagers and combat zones. Charity was only a button away. He was admirable until you discovered that some of those drugs were narcotics.

At another was Lu Jian, notorious for his shady dealings. His connections to foreign countries were as massive as his size. There was a rumor that every dangerous system related device that slipped out of the country to a foreign nation passed through his hands. She would have loved to slap handcuffs on him right there.

Her husband was working the room, smiling politely, shaking hands with businessmen and hosts. He seemed to thrive so naturally in this world of polished lies. It reminded Liwu of the other part of the SOB, the one with agents and spies. It involved secrets and lies, she had worked there for three months and quit. Liwu had found that she thrived in exposing lies over making them up and it made sense for her to be a detective.

“Madame Shen,” purred a voice behind her.

Liwu turned. Standing there was Lin Xiu Yi, a glamorous businesswoman in a scandalous red gown. The slit was too high and top cut somewhat too low. People were used to her way of dressing and they knew better than to assume that it made her easy or gullible. She was ruthless. Her smile was sharp, her eyes sharper. And Liwu knew another fact–this was her of her husband’s exes.

“Oh goodie!” she murmured.

Lin Xiu Yi extended a hand to Liwu. “I don’t believe that we have been introduced. I am Xiu Yi.”

Like lightning that had been summoned, Weijun appeared a Liwu’s side. “Dear..” he said cautiously.

Lin Xiu Yi took her hand back and she looked at Weijun, her gaze lingering too long. “Fenge’r, it’s been a while. You look….distinguished. Marriage must be good for your soul.”

Liwu’s lips curled into a smirk. “Distinguished, yes. A happily married soul, that too.” She slid an arm through her husband’s, her grip firm. “I have heard about you Miss Lin, but we have never had the pleasure of meeting each other.”

Lin Xiu Yi smirked. “All good things I hope. They say you have a thing for persecuting the rich. I hope I am not your list.”

Weijun tugged at Liwu, urging her to move along. The conversation has lasted more than he liked.

Liwu laughed. “Don’t worry about that, my husband made sure that I left the handcuffs on our bed tonight so you will live to see another day. As for the good things I have heard about you, they include, tax evasion, insider trading and a few other white collar crimes.

If you ever want me to cuff you, just give me a call and confess your sins. I promise to listen better than a priest.” Reaching into her purse, she got her card and extended it to the woman.”

From her tone, Weijun knew that his wife was not kidding. Also, she had brought an awful lot of cards tonight. How many people did she want to arrest?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep