Chapter 105: Found It! Help Me Invite Someone

When I emerged, my gaze intentionally wandered over Z. She was shivering—not just from the cold, as I held her coat, but because she was wearing very little. Z had a beautiful figure, and her thin clothing outlined every curve of her body.

Z gritted her teeth and asked if I had seen enough.

I shrugged, offering a wicked smile. "I’ve already seen the most important parts. What’s a few more glances going to do?"

Z bit her lower lip, snatched her coat from my hand, and after putting it on, said to me, "Mr. Fang Han, please have some self-respect." She started to walk away, but after only a few steps, she stopped. Late at night, the hospital corridor, though lit, felt exceptionally eerie.

Fearful, Z had no choice but to wait for me. By the time I returned her to the ward, Charlie was already asleep. After the bodyguard left, Z finally lay down on the bed. Only after making me promise repeatedly not to leave did she finally close her eyes. Not long after, my phone vibrated. It was the unknown number Wang Yazhuo had used to call me before.

I stepped out of the ward to answer. Wang Yazhuo’s voice was barely a whisper. She asked if I had found a way to rescue her. For a moment, I didn't know how to respond, because the truth was, I had never intended to bring Wang Yazhuo out, and frankly, I lacked the ability to extract her from the Wang family courtyard.

Wang Yazhuo called my name several times before I snapped back to reality. I told her not to worry, but she was clearly at her breaking point. She said that ever since she had been locked up, Wang Jianming had refused to see her. She felt that this time, Wang Jianming was serious; it wasn't just a punishment.

Wang Yazhuo was terrified that she would be imprisoned there for the rest of her life.

Her murmuring made me feel irritable and restless. My tone grew cold: "Wang Yazhuo, I told you, either you wait, or you call the police directly. There is no other way."

"I don't want him to be arrested," she replied.

I was about to hang up, but her next words stopped me. She said she knew the truth about the fire all those years ago. I froze; I hadn't expected her to tell me this. The fire she referred to was the one at the karaoke bar, the one that occurred when I first met Wang Jianming.

The person I had been looking for had been inexplicably burned to death in that fire. I had long suspected it was arson, intended to prevent me from finding him and learning the whereabouts of Duan Kun.

I didn't press her for details immediately; instead, I asked how she knew I was investigating that fire.

Wang Yazhuo played coy: "Fang Han, I’m not lying to you. I know that fire is important to you, and I know you’re investigating it. More importantly, I know exactly what happened. Save me, and I’ll tell you everything."

"I hate being bargained with," I answered coldly.

Wang Yazhuo spoke with the tone of someone who had me cornered: "If you aren't willing to help me, you’ll never know the truth about that fire for the rest of your life."

I scoffed. "You approached me with an agenda, didn't you?"

"Fang Han, think about it," she said. "I’ll call you again. Remember what I said: keep your phone on." Before she hung up, she whispered an apology. It was soft, but I heard it clearly.

After putting my phone away, I gritted my teeth and cursed under my breath.

Back in the ward, I couldn't stop thinking about what she had said. My fears were coming true: my connection to the Wang family was growing tighter, yet I had no idea why everything felt so orchestrated. This was no coincidence.

***

At the first light of dawn, Z woke up and began to apply makeup, preparing to head out. She was beautiful even without it, but days of fear and anxiety had left her looking haggard. Her heavy makeup masked much of that exhaustion. Since the police would surely be looking for Charlie again, we left early in the morning.

Charlie kept reminding Z to be careful with her contract negotiations and not to let herself be taken advantage of.

As we drove to the film studio, I asked Z if Charlie had always been this kind to her. She expressed deep gratitude, calling him her savior and saying that without his unwavering support, she would never have had a chance at a comeback.

Once we reached the studio, Z headed into a conference room prepared for the crew. I didn't go in. While they were talking, I took the opportunity to head to the small woods behind the studio. It was still desolate and deserted, and this time, I observed the terrain more carefully.

Beyond the woods lay a high earthen dam; even an adult couldn't scramble down it in a short amount of time.

A smirk played on my lips as I returned to wait for Z outside the conference room.

Their meeting lasted a long time. While I was smoking, Chen Fan brought me news. He said the favor I asked of him was a complete dead end. He told me Tang Jia had been watching him closely, repeatedly warning him not to associate with me. Even though Chen Fan insisted I was his informant, Tang Jia didn't believe a word of it.

I asked if Tang Jia had made any other moves.

Chen Fan lowered his voice, saying Tang Jia had been holding frequent meetings, but the content was strictly confidential; he hadn't been able to find out anything. Hearing this, I guessed she was likely planning how to investigate Luo Feng. Chen Fan also noted that Tang Jia was like two different people at work and at home.

At work, he described her as a "tigress," but once she clocked out, she was all over Gong Yuanhai. He would pick her up every day, embracing her without a care for who was watching.

"Shut up and get to the point," I snapped. I knew Chen Fan hated her, and he was definitely exaggerating.

"There’s nothing else," he said. "We haven't made any progress on the Kuman Thong case, either."

I nodded. "Fine. Don't worry too much about that case. As long as you listen, you’ll get the credit. Just keep an eye on how the police are handling Luo Feng."

After hanging up, I felt a wave of anxiety. Chen Fan couldn't help, and Luo Feng’s subordinates in the harbor district were making no headway.

However, my luck wasn't entirely bad. Just as I was worrying, Zhou Sheng’s father called me back.

Zhou Sheng was a true titan of the harbor's business world. What Chen Fan and Luo Feng couldn't accomplish, he had resolved in a single day.

I listened intently to what he had to say, and my emotions surged. The information I had been hunting for was finally in my hands.

As I hung up, Z walked out of the conference room.

She looked exhausted. She asked if I could accompany her again tonight. I draped my arm around her in a flippant manner and whispered in her ear, "Sleep at my place tonight."

Z froze, then immediately pushed me away, glancing around to make sure no one had seen.

***

Z didn't respond to me and kept walking. Watching her back, I dropped the frivolous expression, my lips curling into a cold, mocking smile.

The harshness of winter was slowly fading, and the sun was bright. Z seemed as if she hadn't seen the sun in a long time. She walked with her arms outstretched, sighing, "I wish it could be daytime forever."

I walked beside her. "You’re afraid of the night."

Z nodded.

"Enjoy the daylight while you can," I stared at her. "There isn't much time left for you to enjoy it. Night will be here soon. But the darkness isn't scary. If you aren't afraid in your heart, what difference is there between day and night, other than the light?"

Z thought for a long time before asking if I could go one more place with her.

She wanted to visit a temple to pray. I shook my head in frustration; even now, she thought those dead idols could save her.

Still, I didn't refuse.

We found a nearby temple. While Z knelt in prayer, I secretly called Luo Feng.

Luo Feng asked when I was coming back, saying the "little ghost" had started calling my name again.

"Tell the little ghost I'll be back soon, and I'll be bringing someone home to sleep with," I said.

Luo Feng asked, "You didn't hook up with Z, did you?"

"You'll know tonight," I replied. "By the way, help me invite someone to the capital."

"Who?"

"The key person to solving the case."