Chu Group Building

Chu Corporation Building.

"This is outrageous! What do you mean, there isn't enough evidence? If this matter doesn't get a proper explanation, the Chu Corporation absolutely won't let it go!" Chu Feng glared at Liu Guodong, who sat across from her.

"W-well, Chairwoman Chu, it's not that we haven't tried. We really don't have any leads at all. We only found the body of one suspect connected to the Riyao Group, and there's no way we can convict them without evidence! After all, everything has to be backed by evidence." Liu Guodong gave a bitter smile.

After speaking, he glanced at Chu Xiaoxiao and Ye Min, who were sitting nearby. "But if Miss Chu and Captain Ye could cooperate with us and help with further inquiries, I'm sure—"

Before he could finish, Chu Feng cut him off. "Hasn't Xiaoxiao already cooperated with your investigation? She told you she was trapped in the cabin and didn't know anything! Her bodyguard, Ye Min, can confirm that!

"Are you expecting Xiaoxiao to play Sherlock Holmes and solve the case for you? What would we law-abiding citizens need the police for, then?!"

Liu Guodong was sweating a little.

"Uh, that's not what I meant. I was just wondering why Miss Chu went out to sea this time, and who she met afterward. If she could give the police a few clues, I'm sure it would help move the case forward!"

"I already told you, I just went out to clear my head that day. Right, Sister Ye?" Chu Xiaoxiao finally spoke up, winking playfully at Ye Min beside her.

Ye Min's mouth twitched. In the end, she silently nodded.

Well, I guess I'm stuck on this pirate ship now!

As soon as the case was over, Chu Xiaoxiao had immediately bought out Ye Min's lifetime contract from Longquan Security Company. In other words, Ye Min's new employer was now a member of the Chu Family!

Her young employer had told her to lie, and even threatened to dock her pay if she refused. What else could she do?

Besides, Nie Yun had saved her life. She couldn't very well refuse this small favor.

As for helping the police find the real culprit? Anyone with eyes could see what was going on. This was nothing but a cover story. If telling them about Nie Yun would help bring the mastermind to justice, she'd probably be more than happy to give him up.

Liu Guodong was at a loss after hearing the two women give matching answers. The first time, they'd said this; the second time, they'd said the same thing. Last time, they wouldn't tell him anything. This time, they didn't know anything!

Couldn't they do their civic duty and cooperate with the police? Besides, she was the victim!

His instincts as a veteran police officer told him there was definitely more to this, but what exactly were they hiding?

Chu Xiaoxiao wasn't cooperating and wasn't giving him a single clue. Even the cleverest cook couldn't make a meal without ingredients!

Thinking of the call he'd received from the provincial department that day, telling him to downplay the matter and keep it from escalating, he felt another headache coming on. When dragons fought, the fish in the pond suffered. He was caught in the middle, unable to please either side.

He left the Chu Corporation empty-handed and returned to the police station. As he stood frowning and lost in thought, one of his officers hurried over, looking excited.

"Director! We've got a lead in the case!"

"Hm? Which case?" Liu Guodong asked.

"The kidnapping of the Chu family's eldest miss!"

"What did you say?!" Liu Guodong jolted at the news.

"You're saying this man named Nie Yun is the lead?" Liu Guodong frowned at the document sealed in a clear plastic bag and the photo of Nie Yun in his hand.

The man in the photo was dark and skinny, and looked utterly ordinary.

"That's right, Director! We found this boat sale contract on the deceased, Wu Jianye. He was a manager at the Chu Corporation, and he accompanied the eldest miss of the Chu Family out to sea this time, where he was unfortunately killed. Based on our analysis, he was shot by that group of Annamese mercenaries."

(Manager Wu: Why... Why do I still have to wait until I've been killed off to get a full name?)

"Hmm, I was wondering why the eldest miss of the Chu Family would bring a manager along just to go out to sea and clear her head. Go on!"

"Yes. According to this sale contract, a man named Nie Yun bought a secondhand cargo ship from the Chu Corporation for 9.85 million. That part isn't unusual. But the important thing is that the contract was signed on the very day of the incident!"

"What?!" Liu Guodong was startled.

The contract had been signed on the day of the incident? That meant Chu Xiaoxiao hadn't gone out to sea without doing anything. She'd gone to meet this man named Nie Yun and sell him a secondhand cargo ship!

That also explained why she'd brought Manager Wu along. They'd gone there to make a deal!

But even so, why hide it? There had to be something fishy going on! A glint appeared in Liu Guodong's eyes.

"Have you investigated this Nie Yun?" Liu Guodong asked.

"We've already used his ID number to check the basic information in the citizen database, but all it says is that he's an ordinary fisherman at Nanwan Pier. He doesn't even have a registered permanent address."

"Good, good! An ordinary fisherman? Hmph! Could an ordinary fisherman afford to spend over eight million on a boat? It'd be one thing if you were clean, but it's great that you have something to hide! Get a team together and investigate this Nie Yun thoroughly!"

"Yes, Director!"

"By the way, this matter is extremely serious, and all sides are watching. Until we know the results of the investigation, no one is to leak any updates on the case. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Han Family villa, Xiacheng.

"Hm? You're saying the eldest miss of the Chu Family might have gone to meet a fisherman named Nie Yun that day? Are you sure you're not joking?" Han Yi stood before a huge floor-to-ceiling window, frowning.

A subordinate stood respectfully behind him.

"The information was secretly sent back by one of our people at the police station. It should be reliable!"

"The Chu family's heiress went out to sea specifically to meet a fisherman? Do you think it's April Fools' Day?" Han Yi said coldly.

The subordinate broke into a cold sweat.

"W-well, I don't know the full details either. But I just had the local thugs at Nanwan Pier do a preliminary check on Nie Yun. He really is an ordinary fisherman at Nanwan Pier, making a living with a small fishing boat.

"Also, someone saw the eldest miss of the Chu Family at Nanwan Pier shortly before the first kidnapping incident. And the first place she appeared after being rescued from that kidnapping was Nanwan Pier.

"So the group's intelligence team suspects that this man named Nie Yun might really know the eldest miss of the Chu Family!"

"Oh!" Han Yi exclaimed in surprise.

He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up and ordered, "Get someone to test the waters with Nie Yun immediately. But don't reveal your identity. If he has no powerful backers, use whatever means necessary to pry open his mouth! I want to know exactly what happened that day!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Meanwhile, Nie Yun, completely unaware that he had been exposed to both the police and the Riyao Group, was leisurely sunbathing and enjoying a holiday on the island.

As for something high-level like counter-surveillance awareness, for an elementary school kid, well, that simply didn't exist...