Lin Qingge's soft murmur drew Yan Tinghao, who was always curious, to poke his head over.
However, as soon as Yan Tinghao took a peek, his boss, quick as lightning, shut the book.
"Boss, why is there a photograph tucked into this book? The person in the photo looks like..."
Before Yan Tinghao could finish, Lin Qingge raised her hand and poked his ribs with the corner of the book, silencing his chattering mouth.
Immediately after, Lin Qingge's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the bottom drawer of the bookshelf.
Just as she was about to bend down to pull the drawer, Shangguan Yuyan shouted:
"Stop—!"
As if feeling her reaction was a bit too strong, Shangguan Yuyan steadied herself and said, feigning composure:
"Detective Lin, although you have the authority to enter the Shangguan residence freely under the guise of assisting the patrol office, you do not have any official search warrant. For randomly searching my room, I have the right to hire a lawyer and sue you!"
"Miss Shangguan, please don't get agitated~
If Detective Lin can't search, isn't there still me?~"
Hua Jinrong said cheekily, then took out a badge from his chest, opened it, and held it up to Shangguan Yuyan.
"Xia Chengye, Head of the Independent Reconnaissance Regiment of the Manchurian Army?"
Shangguan Yuyan mumbled the small print on the badge, which was thrust close to her face.
The next moment, Hua Jinrong quickly put the badge away.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry, I grabbed the wrong one, the wrong one~"
After fumbling in his pocket for a while longer, Hua Jinrong produced the badge belonging to a detective from the Daoli Patrol Office.
"Miss Shangguan, in my capacity as a detective from the Daoli Patrol Office, I am now going to search your room. I hope Miss Shangguan will excuse me~"
With that, Hua Jinrong reached out and opened the drawer Lin Qingge had not managed to open. At the very bottom, he found the special medicine transfer contract secretly signed with the powerful warlord Xia family.
"Miss Shangguan, please explain why a document that should have been in Mr. Shangguan's study is in your room~
Of course, it's fine even if Miss Shangguan chooses to remain silent~
After all, compared to how Miss Shangguan plotted to murder Mr. Shangguan, I'm more interested in Miss Shangguan's identity as a Japanese spy~
Guards!
Take Miss Shangguan back to the patrol office~"
"I'd like to see who dares!"
Shangguan Yuyan drew a miniaturized pistol she had tucked by her leg and pointed its muzzle at Yan Tinghao, who was closest to her.
Seeing this, Leng Ningyue, who had been about to act, stopped her advance.
"Leng Ningyue, what's with that look?
I don't need your pity!
Although I lost today, next time I will definitely destroy you!
I will take back the Shangguan family, take back everything that belongs to me!"
As Shangguan Yuyan spoke, she cast a deep look at Lin Moyuan in the distance.
At this moment, Leng Ningyue spoke coldly:
"I'm not pitying you; I just think your eyesight isn't very good."
"My eyesight isn't good?"
As soon as Shangguan Yuyan finished speaking, she felt a sharp pain in her wrist.
Immediately after, the world spun.
She crashed heavily onto the ground, the immense pain in her back making it impossible for her to even cry out. She could only gasp for air like a fish out of water.
"Whoosh~"
Lin Qingge let out a playful whistle and reassessed the simpleton before her.
"Not bad!
I didn't expect you, Yan Tinghao, to be such a hidden master!"
Praised again by his boss, Yan Tinghao quickly dismantled the gun in his hand into a pile of parts, then scratched his head with a simple smile.
"Boss, my father told me that the world is chaotic now, and my mind isn't the sharpest. Therefore, he told me to learn more self-defense skills so I can protect my life at critical moments."
"Tsk, your father is quite insightful."
After this interlude, Shangguan Yuyan, who could no longer cause any trouble, was taken away by the patrol officers.
The case finally came to an end.
Lin Qingge drew up an itemized bill, and although Hua Jinrong complained about the price, he paid the full amount.
"Detective Lin, I have another favor to ask~"
"No discussion!"
"One thousand silver yuan~"
"Detective Hua, with our relationship, talking about money is too vulgar.
If you need anything, just let me know. I, Lin, will definitely go through fire and water, even to death!"
"Detective Lin, you're too kind~
It's like this: Japanese spies intend to harm the young marshal of the Xia family, who is arriving in Haerbin.
Unfortunately, our patrol office is short-handed, so we'd like to ask Detective Lin to participate in the security work~
It's not that Detective Lin has to fight on the front lines.
The Japanese are always cunning and unpredictable, so I'd like to borrow Detective Lin's intelligent mind.
I can pay a deposit of five hundred silver yuan first~"
"Detective Hua, you are too polite."
Lin Qingge said so, but her movements to accept the money were exceptionally swift.
Furthermore, under the guise of an extra gift, she included Yan Tinghao, who was eager to try, and Lu Huaiying, who had his own mission.
After a sumptuous dinner, Lin Qingge looked at Lin Moyuan, who had been lingering at the Shangguan residence with no intention of leaving, and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"May I ask where Young Master Lin will be staying tonight?"
"Oh, I've just arrived in Haerbin and haven't had time to consider accommodation. Fortunately, Miss Leng is kind and allowed me to stay at her mansion."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge's fur bristled instantly.
"You want to stay here?!"
Although there was a butler, Butler Wang, and servants in the villa, Mr. and Mrs. Shangguan were dead, and Shangguan Yuyan had been arrested.
The incredibly beautiful Miss Leng, who inherited the entire Shangguan family's fortune, and this man who looked ill-intentioned no matter how you looked at him, living under the same roof...
Instantly imagining several indescribable scenarios, Lin Qingge shivered, then asked with sincere eyes:
"Senior Leng, it's getting late. May we trouble you for a night's stay?"
"Alright."
Leng Ningyue agreed without hesitation and immediately called for Butler Wang to prepare two guest rooms. Yan Tinghao and Lu Huaiying would each have their own room, while Lin Qingge was directly led back to Leng Ningyue's room after dinner.
Lin Moyuan: ???
The next evening.
As everyone eagerly awaited, the train carrying the young marshal of the Xia family finally slowly pulled into the train station.
Author's notes
Only one update today. Wishing all my darlings a happy May Day~