Yu Zhi Yan, standing at the door, raised an eyebrow at this and tightened his grip on the box of cookies.

Damn, he had been careless, not anticipating this move and letting her get ahead.

"President Bai, what brings you here?" Yu Zhi Yan knocked on the door and walked in with a polite smile. Seeing his little girl tightly embraced by someone else, his eyes turned sharp, though his face remained calm.

He lifted the box of cookies in his hand and waved it toward Ling Ji. "Ling Ji, I baked cookies for you. Come and eat."

Bai Luan inwardly cursed, and the next moment, the fragrant, soft girl in her arms slipped away like a fish, leaving her only with a lock of hair.

Bai Luan squinted at Yu Zhi Yan, whose eyes were gleaming with triumph, irritating her greatly.

"President Yu, President Bai, let's get down to business first." Hu Li quickly stepped in to mediate, giving her boss a discreet look.

Yu Zhi Yan, no stranger to social cues, glanced at the quiet girl nestled by his side, eating cookies. He toned down his smugness and boastfulness slightly.

"Alright, you talk. Do you need me to leave?"

Although he asked, his body, firmly seated on the sofa, showed no intention of moving, clearly just being polite without any intention of leaving.

"No need. You can also provide some insight." Although they needed help, Hu Li didn't forget her loyalty and wouldn't undermine her boss. Moreover, her boss knew plenty about the case.

So she detailed the new developments and difficulties of Mo Baobao's case.

"So you want me to find out who filmed the indecent videos of that girl and trace it back to the mastermind?" Bai Luan's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes grew colder, revealing her disdain for those scumbags.

"No problem," Bai Luan agreed readily.

Even without it being Ling Ji's request, she wouldn't sit idly by.

After being rescued by Ling Ji from human traffickers and returning to Pengcheng, she had been committed to defending women's rights and protecting their legal interests. This included cracking down on sites that profited from secretly filming women. However, such sites were like weeds, one gone soon replaced by another.

"Additionally, looking into the customers Xu Xinan served that night might yield some clues," she suggested, since the men in the videos could be potential leads. "Officer Zhao, have you found anything?"

Zhao Jiong replied, "I've asked my colleagues to investigate. We should have news soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, his phone rang. Checking the caller ID, he answered, "Brother Zhao, we've got a lead. Mo Baobao was not only a dancer at the Dark Night Bar but also a pimp. She controlled many young, beautiful girls, including Xu Xinan."

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"Some girls were willing, others forced. Those who resisted were threatened by the indecent videos she filmed, silencing most of them."

"Who was her video partner?" Since such blackmail required a reliable accomplice.

"That's the strange part," the chubby officer Cao Zhe said, sounding frustrated. "We checked all her social accounts, phones, tablets, and computers, but found no trace of this person."

It seemed someone had erased all evidence of this person before they acted.

No, not just one person.

"Brother Zhao, the bartender provided another piece of information," Cao Zhe continued, his small eyes gleaming. "Mo Baobao had a secret lover. This person was generous and wealthy but highly secretive. Hardly anyone at the bar knew about him."

The bartender had only seen her get into a luxury car one night when he went out for a smoke. The next day, she had a new designer bag worth tens of thousands.

"I have a hunch," Cao Zhe said confidently, squinting his eyes. "This person is influential and likely has a family."

Otherwise, with Mo Baobao's flamboyant nature, she wouldn't have kept it a secret. She would have flaunted it.

"Slap." A notebook smacked Cao Zhe's head, and Wu Song's voice came over the phone. "How many times have I told you? We rely on evidence, not hunches!"

"Brother Zhao, I have a feeling," Wu Song took the phone from Cao Zhe. "Mo Baobao's secret lover is likely the key to her murder."

Rubbing his head, Cao Zhe, feeling aggrieved, tried to reflect when he heard his boss seriously discussing an unproven theory.

Boss, isn't this a double standard?

Wu Song hung up, noticing Cao Zhe's upset expression. "Got a problem?"

"No," Cao Zhe shook his head like a wronged wife. "You're the boss, you're always right."

Wu Song snorted, "I have a theory. To poison Mo Huanhuan unnoticed, it had to be someone she trusted."

Mo Baobao had many enemies, but few could make her drop her guard. The secret lover was the most suspicious.

Zhao Jiong agreed but couldn't find the person through police channels, so he had to explore other avenues.

"Those who film such videos usually have their own circles. This will need your help, President Bai." Mo Baobao must have leaked some videos; finding a familiar person in that circle could identify her collaborator.

Understanding his point, Bai Luan started arranging for an investigation.

"Hu Li, you know many people. Ask if anyone has seen Mo Baobao's lover," Zhao Jiong suggested. "Check the bar, her home, and her usual spots."

Hu Li nodded. "I'll call Si Konglang."

Si Konglang, a wolf demon, had settled in Pengcheng ten years ago and quickly became the leader of all dogs in the city, with ears everywhere.

"Alright, let's end here for today. I'll return to the station and question Xu Ximing again, see if he recalls anything," Zhao Jiong said, then hesitated, turning to Ling Ji. "Master, if convenient, can we meet at your place tomorrow at ten to discuss progress?"

Ling Ji nodded, then added, "Just so you know, I don't provide food. You need to bring your own."

Bai Luan, finishing her call, looked at Zhao Jiong incredulously. "You visit Master and don't bring food?"

Zhao Jiong: "..."

No, I did.

"That was for me," Ling Ji added, as if reading his mind.

Zhao Jiong felt the gaze at him growing colder, ready to cry.

Master, I never said I'd freeload.

"Also, did you arrange the house at Guan Ming Garden?" Bai Luan asked.

Zhao Jiong: "Yes."

Bai Luan's expression turned understanding yet disdainful. "Master, that place is too small. I'll show you some new houses later."

Checking her watch, Bai Luan continued, "Before that, let's have lunch. I know a place with great food. You'll love it."

Ling Ji, initially indifferent, brightened up at the mention of good food and stood up. "Let's go."

Bai Luan smiled victoriously, linking arms with Ling Ji, ready to leave.

"Wait." Yu Zhi Yan grabbed Ling Ji's other arm. "I also have several new houses with excellent lighting, convenient transport, and a nearby food street. You don't even need to go out; one call, and food is delivered."

Ling Ji's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

Yu Zhi Yan nodded. "Really."

"Then..." Ling Ji started, but Bai Luan interrupted, "Master, you said I'd handle your living arrangements. Besides, President Yu has many responsibilities. This small matter shouldn't trouble her."

Bai Luan's words subtly suggested Yu Zhi Yan was an outsider while they were insiders.

Ling Ji blinked, unsure if she had ever said such a thing.

Seeing Ling Ji waver, Yu Zhi Yan grew anxious. "Of course it's no trouble. Ling Ji's matters are my matters. President Bai, you're overthinking."

Seeing Ling Ji still hesitant, Yu Zhi Yan played her trump card. "Jianghuai insisted I take good care of you. If you go with someone else, I can't face him."

She lowered her head, pretending to wipe away tears.

"I'll go with you." Hearing Ye Jianghuai's name, Ling Ji agreed immediately. "Don't cry."

"Okay, I won't cry," Yu Zhi Yan smiled, her eyes clear with no sign of tears.

Bai Luan clenched her teeth, eyes shooting daggers.

Typical actress!

Yu Zhi Yan, satisfied with the result, ignored Bai Luan's glare and mentally praised her own son, smugly challenging Bai Luan.

Hear that? We're family. You're an outsider!

Humph!

Bai Luan: "..."

Bai Luan gripped the scale hanging around her neck, her heated mind regaining some coolness. She raised a corner of her mouth, silently exhaling.

"Hmph."

You don't even know Master Ling Ji's true identity, yet you claim to be family? Don't ask how she knew the other didn't know Ling Ji's identity.

A woman's intuition can be irrational like that.

But...

"Where did that rascal Ye Jianghuai come from, and why does Master Ling Ji change her mind in his name?" Bai Luan wondered, her bright eyes scrutinizing Yu Zhi Yan.

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