The Mistress Murdered Her Own Man?

Early the next morning, Feng Ze went to the office.

By the time Tao Zhiyan woke up, it was already noon. He grabbed a few bites to eat, then hurried to the launch venue to check the place out.

The launch was scheduled for that evening, and the guests were all prominent figures in the Imperial Capital. Nothing could go wrong.

As soon as Tao Zhiyan reached the entrance, he spotted a man lurking suspiciously in a corner.

The man looked to be in his forties or fifties. He wore dusty work clothes and had a scruffy beard.

In truth, both his clothes and his looks were those of an ordinary laborer. He didn't look out of place standing there.

But tiny specks of light were slowly gathering above his head, drawing Tao Zhiyan's attention.

Did he have a character introduction too?

Tao Zhiyan was puzzled.

Then a line of text appeared above the man's head: [Madam Yuan's true love, a muscular construction worker who murdered Feng Ze's Father with her.]

*???*

Tao Zhiyan's eyes widened.

Madam Yuan?

Murdered Feng Ze's Father?

Wait... wasn't this a love triangle? How had it turned into a murder mystery?!

The man hoisted two bags of cement onto his shoulder and was about to turn the corner when the text above his head shifted: [In one minute, he will receive a call from Madam Yuan.]

Tao Zhiyan hesitated for half a second, then resolutely followed him.

Sure enough, the phone in the man's pocket rang shortly afterward.

The man set down the cement, wiped away his sweat, and pulled out his phone. "Hello?"

Tao Zhiyan quietly hid behind the wall.

He watched in secret.

"Yeah, the police haven't traced it to me." The man sighed. "But I keep dreaming about him these days. That lover of yours has been cremated, right?"

"Where's he buried? Maybe I should go burn some incense. He's already dead. He needs to stop haunting me."

Tao Zhiyan drew a deep breath and covered his mouth.

Oh my god, this gossip was real!

So the car crash that killed Feng Ze's Father wasn't an accident. It was murder!

But hadn't they called the police right away? Hadn't anyone checked the dashcam?

"The venue? I just checked it," the man said. "There are front and back entrances. If Feng Ze doesn't want you getting in, he'll definitely post security guards."

"If you want to get in, you'll have to use the kitchen entrance."

The sun was scorching, and the man's face was bright red from the heat, but there wasn't a trace of impatience in his voice. "Don't worry. I've already made the arrangements. Just sneak over when it's time."

Whatever Madam Yuan said next made his smile deepen.

He softened his voice, giving Madam Yuan what sounded like a shot of reassurance. "Whether you can bring Feng Ze down or get a share of the family fortune doesn't matter to me."

"Whatever you want to do, I'll help you," the man said earnestly. "I'm your man."

Tao Zhiyan watched the man's honest, simple, yet utterly determined expression.

For some reason, he reminded him of the little mongrels back in his hometown...

The village dogs were just like that. They ate leftovers and never expected their owners to offer them any protection.

Loyal and obedient, they charged forward the moment their owners gave the word, no matter the reason.

Oh, crap.

Madam Yuan had actually found herself a devoted romantic!

Tao Zhiyan quietly turned around and tiptoed away.

Things had reached a point where this was no longer mere gossip. This was murder! A crime!

The problem was that Tao Zhiyan had no concrete evidence.

He couldn't exactly tell the police he'd transmigrated here and had a special ability that let him read the character introduction above the lover's head, could he?

After thinking it over, Tao Zhiyan decided to post about it on his anonymous social feed and ask for advice.

He organized his thoughts and recounted the incident as concisely as possible.

[Anonymous: Help! Huge gossip! Advice needed!!

I just found out that Madam Yuan, the woman in this household, has another lover on top of getting with both the father and the son!!!

A love quadrangle... Our old man down in the grave has officially been cheated on from every direction.

No, wait, none of that matters. The most important thing is! The old man didn't die in an accidental car crash. Madam Yuan and her lover deliberately ran him over! It was premeditated! It was murder!!

Even worse, they're going after the poor sucker of an eldest young master tonight!

...Madam Yuan is really on a killing spree.

Now I have a question: should I tell my employer? I don't have any concrete evidence, and I'm worried about tipping them off.

After all, Madam Yuan's lover is the ultimate ride-or-die romantic. I'm afraid he'll off me too.]

Not long after he posted, plenty of spectators gathered to enjoy the gossip.

[Anonymous]: This is getting more ridiculous by the minute. You're making it up, right? It's gone from a prime-time soap to a true-crime show...

[Anonymous]: In that situation, I'd stay out of it... You're just an employee. Why bother?

[Anonymous]: I'd advise against telling him. Rich families are all messed up and paranoid. Without evidence, they won't believe you!

Tao Zhiyan thought they had a point.

Without proof, no one would believe him.

But... Feng Ze had just showered him with cash yesterday. Could he really stand by and watch such a good employer get set up?

Tao Zhiyan was torn. He refreshed the post, and an anonymous reply popped up.

This response was brief, forceful, and a revelation.

[Anonymous]: Have the Fourth Young Master meet the lover tonight.

That's it!

Tao Zhiyan's eyes lit up. The Fourth Young Master and the lover definitely didn't know about each other!

If he made them meet, the ensuing epic showdown would leave Madam Yuan with no time to frame Feng Ze.

Better yet, he'd get to watch Madam Yuan crash and burn!

The thought actually made Tao Zhiyan a little excited.

Technological development had reached a bottleneck, so the emergence of the Smart Brain naturally attracted widespread attention.

That evening, the launch began, with wealthy and powerful families gathered in force.

Numerous reporters and media crews had already chosen their camera positions, ready to publish their coverage at the earliest opportunity.

Tao Zhiyan had just entered when he spotted two figures sneaking out of the kitchen.

Madam Yuan wore a short black bodycon skirt. With her long, wavy hair and vivid red lipstick, she radiated glamorous, commanding confidence.

The Fourth Young Master, meanwhile, wore an inconspicuous black tracksuit and kept his head lowered as he hid among the crowd.

"Butler Tao!" someone called from behind him. Tao Zhiyan withdrew his gaze and turned around.

A young man in a work uniform ran up. "Butler Tao, Mr. Feng has something urgent to take care of. He probably won't get here for another half hour."

"All right." Tao Zhiyan nodded. "Understood."

The young man nodded and hurried back to his post.

When Tao Zhiyan turned back, a line of text suddenly appeared above Madam Yuan's head: [In ten minutes, she will have a secret tryst with her lover in the second-floor corridor.]

Madam Yuan's lover was standing by the stairs. He exchanged a meaningful look with her, then headed up to the second floor.

Madam Yuan looked delighted and immediately lowered her voice to tell Feng Cheng, "Wait here. I have something to take care of."

Feng Cheng was terribly clingy. He immediately caught her hand and asked, "Where are you going?"

"The restroom." Madam Yuan smiled and ruffled Feng Cheng's hair, coaxing him like a child. "Don't make a scene when Feng Ze starts the launch. Wait until I come back before you act, understood?"

Feng Cheng nodded.

"Remember, don't lose the USB drive. It contains the Smart Brain's core."

"I know." Feng Cheng seemed to relish being spoken to like this, as though Madam Yuan truly couldn't stop worrying about him. It filled him with tender attachment. "Go on, then. Come back soon."

Madam Yuan smiled and nodded, then turned and hurried upstairs.

She seemed unable to wait, smiling even as she climbed the stairs.

Once Madam Yuan left, Feng Cheng lost interest in everything. He picked a seat at random and slumped over the table in a daze.

He picked up his wineglass, then put it down again, glancing upstairs from time to time.

Why was she taking so long...

Why wasn't she back yet?

Feng Cheng was so lost in thought that he never noticed someone approaching him.

"Fourth Young Master."

The speaker's voice was calm, but Feng Cheng still jumped. He shot up from his chair and turned to glare at him. "What do you want?!"

Tao Zhiyan stood behind him.

Remembering how Tao Zhiyan had warned him over the phone last night, Feng Cheng's expression changed abruptly. "Trying to throw me out? Forget it!"

"Not at all." Tao Zhiyan smiled. "It's just... there's something I'd like to tell you."

"I just saw Madam Yuan go up to the second floor with a man I didn't recognize."

"Ahem, as you know, there are a lot of people around, and reporters too." Tao Zhiyan put on a troubled expression. "It wouldn't look good if someone saw them. Maybe you could go talk to her?"

W-what?

Madam Yuan was upstairs with another man?

Feng Cheng frowned and unconsciously raised his voice, pointing at Tao Zhiyan as he snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

"She just went to the restroom!"

Feng Cheng was young and hot-blooded. How could he tolerate anyone slandering the person he loved most?

His face darkened as he warned, "Stop spreading lies about her!"

The outburst drew the attention of everyone nearby.

What was going on?

"Fourth Young Master," Tao Zhiyan said, "I'm not spreading lies-"

"Not what? You're still trying to argue!" Without listening, Feng Cheng grabbed Tao Zhiyan by the collar.

Tao Zhiyan stumbled half a step. His collar abruptly tightened, making it hard to breathe.

Someone nearby tried to break it up. "Bro, let's talk this out."

"Who the fuck is your bro?!" Feng Cheng shoved him away. "Don't fucking act like we're friends!"

The man choked on his words. Feng Cheng's response was so unexpected that he had no idea how to answer.

Taking advantage of the opening, Tao Zhiyan pulled free of Feng Cheng's grip and coughed lightly. "If you want to know whether I'm lying, why not go see for yourself?"

"Do you think I don't know what kind of person Madam Yuan is? She'd never sneak around with another man!"

Tao Zhiyan unhurriedly smoothed his clothes.

Of course she'd sneak around. Wasn't that exactly how you two got together?

Everyone who heard that instinctively raised their eyebrows.

What had they just heard? Madam Yuan was having a tryst with someone in a public venue?

...Good lord.

Were they really supposed to be hearing this?

The guests said nothing, but their faces were full of colorful expressions.

They exchanged looks, communicating entirely in unspoken hints.

Seeing everyone savoring the gossip pushed Feng Cheng over the edge. He slammed the table, his face flushed, and pointed at Tao Zhiyan. "Fine! I'll go look!"

"And I'm not going alone. You! All of you!" Feng Cheng pointed at the crowd. "Come with me!"

"We'll see whether Madam Yuan is really that kind of person!"

Tao Zhiyan drew a deep breath. Looking at Feng Cheng's expression, he let out a single, utterly sincere syllable of bewilderment. "Huh?"

Wait, he hadn't meant to make such a huge scene!

Taking this many people to catch them in the act? Wasn't that a little too dramatic?

Tao Zhiyan hurried to stop him. "Young master, you... please think this through!"

"Think what through? As if I don't know her!" Feng Cheng insisted. "She just went to the restroom! All of you who believed those rumors are about to be proven wrong!"

With that, he led everyone upstairs.

Tao Zhiyan stood rooted to the spot before hurriedly following.

No, wait, the guests were here for the Smart Brain launch!

Not the launch of Madam Yuan's affair!!