Chapter 12: A Murder Case That Deviated from the Plot

Yu Wangxiao rarely showed a speechless expression.

It was visible to the naked eye, so obvious that even Lin Jiangye could clearly distinguish it.

Of course, whether he believed it or not, Yu Wangxiao still chose to cooperate in a friendly manner. “Tomorrow I’m going to North City to discuss business. My flight is at eight in the morning. Calculate it for me?”

“Okay. Wait a moment.”

Lin Jiangye had not brought coins, so he simply used whatever was available and began fiddling with the two newly served plates of strawberry foie gras using his knife and fork.

He chose the plate in front of Yu Wangxiao and pushed the soft, rich foie gras forward with his fork. The fresh red sauce dragged along with it, leaving thick, full, wet streaks behind. Against the snow-white plate, it looked like blood.

Staring at the random pattern of lines formed by the sauce, as well as the fine scattered red droplets, Lin Jiangye fell silent for a long while, then swallowed the foie gras in one bite.

Yu Wangxiao patiently sat by the dining table. The document he had only half read remained unfinished. Instead, he began appreciating the beautiful pattern Lin Jiangye had created.

“How is it? Is my luck good?”

Lin Jiangye frowned slightly. “You’ll have an unexpected income. It’s money stained with someone else’s blood. To others, it’s very dangerous, but you… seem to be completely fine.”

How strange. The result of predicting his own fate was clearly a blurry mess with only a general direction. But now, casually reading Yu Wangxiao’s fortune actually allowed him to see such detailed lines.

The answer he observed instantly appeared in his mind, clear and distinct, as smooth and effortless as if he had borrowed the power of a god.

But Lin Jiangye knew very well that he absolutely had not used that special power.

Yu Wangxiao did not know the details, and continued to cooperate with a smile. “Thank you, Little Master Lin. I’ll pay more attention. How does the foie gras taste?”

“…Sorry. I ate your portion of foie gras.”

“Both plates are yours. Eat without worry.” Yu Wangxiao pushed the empty plate away and opened his document again. “If you like it, come have dinner with me next Saturday. We’ll go on a river-crossing cruise to see the night view.”

Lin Jiangye’s eyes lit up. “Really? Thank you. I like that very much.”

He discovered that it was very difficult for him to feel full. He needed to eat a lot of food. His constantly recovering body urgently required energy, and his unsatisfied spirit was still clamoring with desire.

Especially beside Yu Wangxiao, this walking opium poppy, after staying near him for too long, Lin Jiangye suspected he could eat an entire cow.

Even if that cow tasted like compressed biscuits made of soul residue, Lin Jiangye could pinch his nose and eat a few more bites.

After they agreed on the next time they would meet, Lin Jiangye spent the rest of the time eating.

The dishes at the birthday banquet were all served in small portions, which happened to suit his still-fragile stomach.

Yu Wangxiao, on the other hand, became busy. Guests kept coming upstairs specifically to meet and discuss things with him. Business partners from a neighboring city said they wanted to invite him to dinner, while others came to probe for information about the Yu Group’s next bidding project…

The document beside his hand still remained unfinished.

Lin Jiangye bit into the chocolate stick in his after-meal dessert and secretly observed. He discovered that even though Yu Wangxiao was constantly interrupted, he did not show any impatience.

As long as he did not turn cold-faced, his approachability was almost excessively strong. He could meet with anyone, and the conversations were all very pleasant.

But with such a good temper, would his normal life really not be disturbed?

***

Ten minutes later.

“Sorry, Chairman Yu is not receiving guests for now. I will not privately answer any questions related to the Tianqi Project.”

“Yes, Mr. Li. You must make an appointment with me three months in advance. This is my business card. Please keep it.”

“Miss Wang, please leave now. I will call President Wang and inform her in detail of your behavior in putting illegal drugs into the wine. Please conduct yourself with dignity.”

“The third button on the right side of your vest is a camera. The metal clip under your tie isn’t hidden properly… Which family’s reporter are you? Where is the Gu family security? Ask them to come over.”

Very quickly, the second floor became completely quiet.

Because He Chen, who had been responsible for stealing the corpse, had finally returned.

Mr. Secretary acted swiftly and efficiently. He had changed into a suit identical to the one from earlier, put on his gold-rimmed glasses, and led two bodyguards to stand outside the door, driving away all visitors with a cold face.

Lin Jiangye seemed to understand.

So that was it. All the negative image was shouldered by He Chen. The more difficult He Chen was to approach, the gentler his boss appeared in contrast.

Aside from the different tones used by a few insiders, Yu Wangxiao’s outside reputation was indeed very good.

The original plot had also briefly mentioned that most rumors and gossip about the Yu family involved speculation about future battles over equity division, discussion of candidates for the next generation of heirs, and tracking possible illegitimate children…

There was everything, except any concrete scandal about Yu Wangxiao.

Those with intentions dug and dug, yet it seemed they had only unearthed Yu Lin’s insane mountain-ring racing behavior. But that news could not be published at all, let alone any other valuable clues.

Now, here came the question. If Yu Wangxiao merely wanted to protect the company’s image, he did not need to behave so gently. Even if he were extremely difficult to get along with, the Yu family name alone would still be enough to make people flock to him.

For him to spend extra resources and energy maintaining his good reputation and image… there had to be another use for it.

The plot in the book could no longer serve as a reference. Lin Jiangye needed to figure it out himself.

“Are you bored? Shall I take you to the rooftop terrace to play?” Yu Wangxiao suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

Lin Jiangye paused, and the back of his neck suddenly felt a little cold. He realized that at some point, his right hand had been wrapped inside the other man’s palm, and even his slightly cool fingertips were gradually warming.

He was losing vigilance too quickly. This was not a good thing. If he really got used to this man casually approaching him, then in the future, if Yu Wangxiao pressed a gun against his chest and fired, he probably would not even have enough time to react.

Lin Jiangye lightly pressed his lips together, then turned his hand over and pulled him toward the edge of the railing, his tone unchanged. “I’m not bored. I’m more curious how tonight will end.”

Yu Wangxiao smiled and obediently let himself be pulled over. “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

The two stood beside the exquisite carved handrail and looked down toward the first floor. This grand birthday banquet had already reached the gift presentation segment.

The “Old Madam Gu,” rumored to be in poor health, was also helped by her son to sit at the main table. Gu Jiu’an was treated well and had been arranged to sit at the old madam’s left side, his face tense and serious.

The old madam was dressed solemnly and magnificently, wearing a pearl-colored veil over her head. Her face could not be seen clearly, and both hands were covered with expensive purple and green jade jewelry.

As for the specific clothing details… they seemed completely identical to the corpse that had previously barged into the lounge.

“Is that Old Madam Gu’s stand-in?” Lin Jiangye asked curiously.

Yu Wangxiao’s answer was thought-provoking. “Hard to say.”

From that tone, could it be another strange corpse?

Lin Jiangye became interested. Without revealing anything, he narrowed his eyes slightly, and a fleeting bright silver flashed through them.

Sure enough, no image appeared above “Old Madam Gu’s” head. Instead, above the bold bald family head seated to her right, the death scene was very intriguing.

It was a night with moonlight like water. The faint sound of waves rose and fell. Moving, colorful spotlights swayed unsteadily, occasionally falling across the bald man’s bluish-white face.

He was not wearing clothes, and the murderer was not wearing clothes either.

The smoke from an expensive cigar curled through the air like ominous gray-white clouds. Lin Jiangye focused and distinguished the murderer sitting on the corpse. Very quickly, his pupils suddenly shrank.

A familiar refined face emerged from the fog. His neck was covered in finger marks from being strangled, his side profile stained with dark blood droplets, and the corner of his mouth was pulled into a strange cold smile that looked like crying but was not crying.

—It was Lin Jingyao.

It was actually Lin Jingyao who killed the Gu family head. That was Gu Jiu’an’s biological father!

This murder case did not exist in the original book. According to the plot development, Gu Jiu’an would keep waiting until five years later, then rightfully inherit his position.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?”

“No.”

Yu Wangxiao clearly did not believe him. He turned around, took his hand, and wanted to walk outside. “Tuantuan, your face is pale right now. We’ll go to the hospital first. This shouldn’t be delayed.”

“Wait. I want to ask you something.” Lin Jiangye grabbed his wrist and said seriously.

“Mm?”

“In your social circle, do you think Lin Jingyao’s current status is higher or lower compared to before?”

“After today, he may suffer a little. Some people like taking it upon themselves to vent anger for me, and they’re usually more proactive than I am.” Yu Wangxiao did not conceal anything and answered truthfully. “Isn’t this what you wanted to see?”

Lin Jiangye’s tone was bewildered. “I only hoped he wouldn’t bully me or come near me, because he smells bad. But not to the point of…”

Not to the point of completely walking down another extreme and insane path.

In the end, Lin Jingyao was actually the least insane person in the Lin family. His reasons for doing bad things all had logic.

Even though his methods were malicious and selfish in order to seize benefits and favor, in the original book, he had indeed achieved victory for many years.

But at the same time, he was also another powerless person in this story.

If not for Yu Lin’s extreme behavior and brainless blind obedience, if not for the Lin family’s extreme favoritism and placing all the chips for developing the Lin family business on him… a mere non-biological youngest son, who had not even entered Lin Corporation’s management, actually had no power to decide anything.

Infighting among the powerless would only be treated as a monkey show by those who held power. Lin Jiangye himself never robbed his coworkers’ soul reserves; he only liked robbing leaders.

So he did not really like seeing such an ending.

Lin Jingyao could become poor and destitute, be driven out of the house to sleep under a bridge, and be entangled with and drained by his biological parents. But he should not become the defeated party in a monkey show and be stripped naked by a bald man several decades older than him.

A night with the sound of waves and lighting arrangements—where would that be… The timing for the Gu family head and Lin Jingyao to appear at the same time was quite rare. It was most likely some business event.

Could it be the place where Yu Wangxiao invited him to eat—the river-crossing cruise next Saturday?

“…Ah.”

A sudden sense of weightlessness invaded. Lin Jiangye discovered that he had been lifted into a bridal carry again.

Yu Wangxiao carried him and strode outside, his tone turning slightly colder. “Stop wasting effort on other people, sickly little thing. I’m taking you to the hospital now. He Chen, stay behind.”

“Yes, Chairman Yu.” He Chen answered. Behind his lenses, the gaze he cast toward Lin Jiangye now carried a few hidden layers of meaning.

As they descended the spiral staircase, Yu Wangxiao’s presence was far too strong, and the guests all cast subtle gazes toward them.

But he only tilted his head and glanced at the bald man, nodded slightly, and never stopped walking.

Lin Jiangye lowered his voice. “Is it okay for you to leave now? Don’t you have business to discuss? And Old Madam Gu’s jewelry collection…”

“Don’t waste effort on me either,” Yu Wangxiao helplessly interrupted him. “Fine, I’ll tell only you the truth. I came here specifically to steal the corpse. That’s all.”

“Oh… Hm?”

“Curious about what I’m going to do? Want to hear my secret? Then close your eyes and rest now. Close your mouth too, or I’ll never tell you.”

What harsh conditions. He had been completely grasped.

Lin Jiangye did not dare speak again. He obediently curled up in the steady embrace and shut his eyes tightly.

The citrus fragrance inside the sedan carried warmth as it brushed over him. Ten minutes later, he fell asleep, though not very peacefully.

Yu Wangxiao quietly supported his head, lowering his eyes to observe every detail of this face inch by inch. Then… Lin Jiangye, still asleep, turned his head and bit him.

Lin Jiangye bit very hard. Bright red beads of blood spilled out in a rush, sliding down his wrist like gems from a broken chain.

Yu Wangxiao froze for a moment, but he did not hurry to wipe it away. He allowed the fresh blood to stain the pale skin of the person before him, blooming into beautiful blood-colored flowers like mist and clouds.

The favorability progress bar shone brightly, but no one knew.

“Hiss. So fierce.”