Chapter 43: An Unorthodox Play

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: An Unorthodox Play

Yao Yuzhen trembled with rage, one hand pressed against her heart.

"You... you curse! Shut your mouth!"

"Aunt Zhen."

Sheng Hui, who had been observing with cold detachment, finally spoke.

Everyone fell silent, their eyes turning toward him.

"Can you guarantee that this comrade has absolutely no blood relation to you and Mr. Shen?"

Yao Yuzhen’s reply was sharp and decisive.

"Regardless of what Shen Zhenwu thinks, this person is no relation to me. To me, she’s a complete stranger."

When she finished, she shot Song Yao a venomous glare.

Sheng Hui nodded.

"Alright. I get it."

He tilted his chin back, his tone nonchalant.

"A suspected spy has surfaced in the Shen Family. Take her back for questioning."

The words had barely left his mouth when two men in black stepped out of formation and moved straight toward Song Yao.

Xiao Li strode forward, blocking their path.

Sheng Hui’s voice cut through the air, cold as ice.

"Interfere with a Special Operations Department mission, Li Hanchen, and I can end your life right here, right now."

Xiao Li didn’t back down an inch, staring right at him.

"Then give it a try."

Song Yao had no idea what this department actually did.

’All I know is that it’s mysterious, reports directly to the top, and isn’t someone an ordinary person can afford to cross.’

’But I know exactly what kind of character Sheng Hui is.’

’If I’m the hated villainous cannon fodder in this story, then Sheng Hui is the bona fide male lead, complete with a protagonist’s halo.’

’And I have no intention of letting the loyal and handsome Xiao Li throw his life away for nothing.’

Seeing the two were about to come to blows, Song Yao quickly tapped Xiao Li’s arm.

"The Special Operations Department is a big deal, right? If Sheng Hui really decided to make a move, could you take him?"

Xiao Li’s lips thinned into a line, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.

He knew his own position and the vast difference in status between himself and Sheng Hui.

But he couldn’t just stand by and watch his Young Miss be taken away.

After a few seconds, he said in a low voice,

"The Special Operations Department has extremely high clearance. More importantly... Sheng Hui’s father outranks Mr. Shen."

As soon as Song Yao heard that, everything clicked into place.

’No wonder this guy has been trying to dominate me from the moment he arrived. His backing is absurdly powerful.’

’I never underestimate anyone, but I’m also not afraid of people just because they have powerful connections.’

’The ones who truly make me wary are those who have both powerful support and personal capability.’

’Sheng Hui clearly has both.’

’A direct confrontation would do me no good; I’d just be playing right into his hands.’

She immediately raised her voice.

"Xiao Li, I have an important job for you."

Everyone’s head swiveled toward her, all eyes locking onto her.

Xiao Li looked up as well, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and hope.

He expected his next order would be to hold his ground to the death, to never retreat.

But in the next second, Song Yao raised her hand and pointed to the carpenter behind them, who was holding his breath in fear.

"Go back to the workshop with the craftsman and get my furniture. Before I get back, I want that room completely set up and ready to move into."

Everyone stared, stunned. No one expected her to be worried about furniture at a time like this.

"Young Miss, what are you...?"

Xiao Li opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat.

But Song Yao had already walked past him, stopping directly in front of Sheng Hui.

Meeting his gaze, which was so cold it could freeze water, she gave a half-smile and asked,

"Comrade Sheng Hui, if you take me away today, have you figured out how you’re going to write your report?"

Sheng Hui’s eyelid twitched, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

’In truth, I never actually planned to arrest her. Blowing this up wouldn’t do anyone any good.’

’I just wanted to intimidate her, make her back down completely.’

’But who knew this woman wouldn’t play by the book at all?’

’Instead of begging for mercy, she’d thrown the problem right back at me.’

’If I really take her away and can’t find a shred of evidence that she’s a spy, then when Shen Zhenwu decides to make an issue of it, I’ll be in serious trouble.’

’After all, that old man from the Shen Family has connections just as deep as my own father’s.’

’If I offend him over some baseless accusation, he could make things difficult for me at every turn. I’d be the one losing out in the end.’

’But back down now?’

’Impossible.’

’I’ve already made a public declaration. If I retreat now, people will just say I’m all bark and no bite.’

’I’d lose face, and I, Sheng Hui, can’t afford that kind of humiliation.’

So, Sheng Hui replied, his expression unreadable.

"Mr. Jiang needn’t worry about that."

This was his declaration that he wouldn’t back down, that he would see this through even if it was a trap.

He was also gambling on his own judgment.

As long as he controlled the scene, he still held the upper hand.

Song Yao gave a slight shrug, her attitude one of complete indifference.

’I’m all alone, no family, no career. Let them investigate. What’s there to be afraid of?’

"Excellent! Brother Hui!"

Seeing this, Cheng Hai was so excited he nearly jumped for joy.

"This girl has been suspicious from the start! Does she look anything like someone from the countryside? Her posture, her accent, that calm look in her eyes—she’s nothing like someone who’s never been far from home."

"And look at her hands—they’re soft and delicate. When has she ever done a day of farm work? She’s clearly faking it! Maybe the real Song Yao was murdered, and this one’s an imposter! Or maybe her whole family is a gang of con artists!"

"Brother Hui, you have to grill her hard! Pry her mouth open and get some justice for Shuangshuang!"

Yao Yuzhen had been a bit hesitant at first.

It wasn’t that she felt any sympathy for Song Yao, but she was afraid that if Sheng Hui arrested the wrong person and couldn’t produce any evidence, he would just be asking for trouble.

But after hearing Cheng Hai’s speech, the tension in her brow eased, and her eyes brightened.

’If it’s really as he says, then this Song Yao is indeed highly suspicious.’

"Xiao Sheng,"

she began, her voice softening.

"You’re doing this for the public good, and for Zhenwu’s sake as well. I know you’re always careful and wouldn’t frame an innocent person. Even if the investigation turns up nothing, I’ll make it clear to Zhenwu that you’re not to blame."

"Just do what you have to do, don’t have any reservations. All we can do is trust the organization and trust people like you to handle things."

Listening to those words, Song Yao felt a chill creep into her heart. Even though she’d long given up any hope that this woman—her mother—would help her, it still stung.

But she didn’t yell or protest.

’In a place like this, in front of people like them, crying and making a scene would only make me look guilty.’

She just stared quietly at Yao Yuzhen.

Her eyes were so calm they were unsettling. For some reason, Yao Yuzhen’s heart clenched.

She suddenly found she couldn’t meet Song Yao’s gaze and instinctively looked away.

"With your assurance, Aunt Zhen, I naturally won’t disappoint anyone."

Sheng Hui finished speaking and turned to leave.

He stopped at the door, however, and turned back to look at the carpenter.

The man was still frozen in place, his face ashen.

"Oh, right. One of my men just reported that he’s already placed an order with your workshop for a full set of furniture. Said the family has a new member and needs to furnish a room. So, you tell me. Do you want to take my order, or would you rather try to curry favor with a woman of unknown identity and suspicious background? That shouldn’t be too hard to understand, right?"

The carpenter’s face instantly drained of all color.

A moment ago, he’d been thinking about making a bit of extra money by selling the furniture to Song Yao.

But now, he realized, if they had the power to just take a person away, what did a set of furniture matter to them?

’Who am I to get involved in something like this?’

He immediately bowed his head in apology.

"I’m sorry, Comrade! Since the furniture was ordered by this leader, I can’t sell it to anyone else! Please, take this money. Consider it my apology!"

Trembling, he pulled a few bills from his pocket, shoved them into Xiao Li’s hand, then grabbed his apprentice and fled.

He took two steps, glanced back, and seeing no one was following, let out a small sigh of relief before picking up his pace and hurrying away.